News

50 years of Palestinian catastrophe

50 years of Palestinian catastrophe By Jennifer Thompson SYDNEY — Around 150 people gathered on May 15 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Palestinian dispossession by Israel. The seminar, organised by the University of Technology Friends of

ANU axes arts faculty staff

ANU axes arts faculty staff By Will Williams CANBERRA — An announcement was made in an ANU arts faculty meeting on May 11 that a further 12 staff would be axed from the faculty. The decision was made by the ANU council despite a student and

Budget continues education devastation

Budget continues education devastation By Sean Healy Despite the "sighs of relief" attributed to university vice-chancellors by the major dailies, the 1998-99 federal budget continues the privatisation of higher education. True, there are "no new

Unions to boycott Werribee toxic dump

By Ben Reid MELBOURNE — Trade unions have pledged to oppose construction of the Werribee toxic waste dump. The Australian Workers Union, whose members would build and operate the facility, has indicated that it may black-ban the dump. The

Police beat teenagers

By Chris Latham PERTH — Police are trying to defuse community concern following television news footage of the Tactical Response Group (TRG) kicking and beating people at a birthday party on May 10. The party, attended by 150 people, was raided

WA prisons in crisis

By Sean Martin-Iverson PERTH — WA's prison system is in crisis. There have already been 10 deaths in custody since the beginning of the year. In 1997, 12 died. Deaths are likely to continue to rise as overcrowding intensifies and funding is

Construction workers to rally

Construction workers to rally By Michael Bull The construction unions are aiming at the Howard government's latest anti-worker attacks with a national stoppage on May 20. The government and building employers are attempting to reduce the

MUA struggle continues

MUA struggle continues By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Tensions on and off the waterfront continue to simmer here as the Maritime Union of Australia prepares for the next round of its confrontation with the federal government and Patrick. On May 15,

Setback for tax office management

Setback for tax office management By Ben Courtice The agreement accepted by executive level two staff in the Australian Taxation Office will not be certified by the Industrial Relations Commission because management made corrections to the

Campaign to oppose library closure

By Kathy Pinkusand Kamala Emanuel HOBART — The Tasmanian University administration has announced plans to "amalgamate" two libraries on the Sandy Bay campus during mid-semester break. The Biomed Library will be closed and materials transferred to

Protesters condemn Turkish government

Protesters condemn Turkish government By Arty Titiz MELBOURNE — On May 14, some 100 Kurdish and Turkish people protested against the attempted assassination in Turkey of the Human Rights Association president, Akin Birdal. The attempt on

An election budget in Queensland

An election budget in Queensland By Bill Mason BRISBANE — “Queensland treasurer Joan Sheldon's budget is a confidence trick aimed at winning votes, while doing nothing for working people”, Democratic Socialist candidates in the state