News

Rally against toxic waste dumpMELBOURNE — On August 31, 400 people rallied on the steps of parliament to meet a cavalcade of 40 farmers' tractors and trucks which had made its way in from the outlying suburb of Werribee.

Charges against unionist dropped CANBERRA — On September 1, charges of criminal damage to Parliament House were dropped at the Canberra Magistrates Court against CFMEU Adelaide organiser Davie Thomason. The charges arose from the ACTU rally on

Precedent "The Indonesian government used to complain about the Australian media like this. I just never thought I would hear it from an Australian foreign minister." — Indonesian journalist Ratih Hardjono on Alexander Downer's complaint that

Rally defends native titleNEWCASTLE — Sixty people attended a rally and march here for Aboriginal land rights and democratic rights for migrants and refugees on August 30. Speakers condemned Howard's proposed amendments

Campaigning against racism CANBERRA — Around 100 people rallied at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on September 3. The rally, organised by the Campaign Against Racism (CAR), was called to protest against the federal government's racism and job

Campaign defending native title growsThe Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission has rejected the government's native title bill, introduced to parliament on September 4, calling it unfair and divisive. The

PERTH — This week, Curtin University and the University of Western Australia will be electing the student guilds of 1998. Most tickets promise to provide students with plenty of cheap beer and more bands in the tavern, but

Protest against One Nation in RobertsonROBERTSON — At the second One Nation meeting in the NSW southern highlands, protesters outnumbered supporters by about four to one. Despite the violence by Hanson supporters at a

Action against racism in WA By Anne O'Callaghan PERTH — Action Against Racism organised a picket on August 29 outside a One Nation supporters' meeting at Warwick community hall. Despite only five days' notice, AAR mobilised more than 50

DARWIN — While the Northern Territory elections returned the ruling Country-Liberal Party to government (with 18 seats to Labor's seven), a significant vote was recorded for progressive candidates in a range of electorates. The

Tax workers campaign against sackingsMELBOURNE — Members of the Community and Public Sector Union Tax Section have begun rolling stoppages and pickets aimed at pressuring management not to sack staff. So far pickets have

Opposition to public housing changesMELBOURNE — Several hundred people took to the streets on September 5 to voice their opposition to the state government's current public housing "reform" package. The rally at the Town