News

'Don't privatise electricity'NEWCASTLE — One hundred people heard Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Leigh Hubbard address an open meeting of the Newcastle Trades Hall on July 24. He argued that the privatisation

Students fight cuts to TAFEBRISBANE — Queensland TAFE students and workers have won a small victory in their struggle to stop huge cuts to the system by the Borbidge government. In response to community outrage, the

HOBART — The state Liberal government is set to introduce legislation following the August budget to hold a referendum on changing Tasmania's parliamentary system. The government has cited the perception that Tasmania is

'Fairwear' campaign active in AdelaideADELAIDE — Shoppers in Adelaide's Rundle Mall on July 20 were exposed to the appalling working conditions of outworkers providing garments for the fashion industry as part of a

The Mortimer report @box text intro = "Spend $21 billion on new jobs, Howard told", was the way the July 24 Australian headlined the Mortimer report on industry assistance. This reflects the Murdoch philosophy of journalism: if you have to

Tax management aims to cut conditionsAustralian Taxation Office (ATO) management has begun an attack on both the working conditions of its employees and their right to union representation. Management's approach to a new

TAFE teachers launch reinstatement petitionMELBOURNE — A petition to reinstate three teachers sacked from Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE was launched at the Australian Education Union (Victorian branch) annual

Another fatal shooting by Victorian policeMELBOURNE — Yet another person has been shot dead by Victorian police, after they were called to a domestic dispute on July 17 and the victim allegedly attacked police with a

HOBART — The signing of the Tasmanian regional forest agreement (RFA) has been postponed for a second time. Originally scheduled for June 30, then postponed until July 18, it is now due to be signed in early to mid-August.

Work injuries increaseWork injury rates are beginning to rise, according to a recently released publication by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission. The federal government last year cut the budget

Loose cannons Learned something "I long ago stopped expecting to be treated fairly by the system." — Brian Burke, former ALP premier of WA, after his conviction for stealing from the ALP was overturned on appeal. Perfectly ordinary

MELBOURNE — Tram, train and bus workers employed by the Public Transport Corporation will hold a 24-hour strike from midnight on July 28. The action will protest against the state government's persistent refusal to grant a