News

Moves to extend work for the doleLegislation to establish new work for the dole schemes was introduced into federal parliament on March 19, amidst news that unemployment figures for February had jumped to 8.8%, while

MELBOURNE — A 700-strong demonstration against National Action on March 15 signalled a strong beginning to the campaign against the neo-Nazi presence in the northern suburb of Fawkner. The rally and march

Doctors end strikeJunior doctors returned to work in NSW hospitals on March 19 as a precondition to negotiations between their union, the Public Services Association, and federal health minister Michael Wooldridge. After

Anti-militarism forumMELBOURNE — Pro-democracy activists in Indonesia and Burma confront increasing repression, the people of Bougainville struggle against Australian-trained and -equipped PNG troops, East Timor remains an

SYDNEY — Asthma, difficulty in breathing, skin problems, headaches and itchy eyes are common complaints among residents living near the disused Ford tip site in Sydney's Homebush West, not far from the Olympics 2000 site. They

MELBOURNE — A public forum here on March 16 discussed the prospects for forming a branch of the New Labour Party. Speakers were Elvie Sievers from the Friends of Richmond Secondary College and Bob Leach, the interim national

Gay law reform and the High Court "Gay Victory": this was how the February 27 edition of the Burnie Advocate referred to the unanimous High Court decision to allow our case to proceed. When we originally lodged our case, the Tasmanian government

Socialists assess Brisbane council resultBRISBANE — "In the context of alternative party politics in this country, the vote of more than 6% for Democratic Socialist candidates in the March 15 Brisbane City Council elections

Solidarity with students in East TimorMELBOURNE — Last month I travelled to East Timor as part of a six-member student delegation, which had the support of the National Union of Students, solidarity groups and East Timorese

Two faced "[First deputy PM Anatoly Chubais] is the face of Russia that appeals to important Westerners, who approve of his fluent English, intelligent conversation and his conviction that only the market can keep Russia from the abyss. There is

CANBERRA — A symposium entitled "Youth Employment: Looking for Solutions" was convened on March 8 by the Youth Coalition of the ACT and the ACT Southern Tablelands Area Consultative Committee. It provided few answers to

Environmental vandalism escalates On March 14, the federal government announced a decision to move the Coode Island chemical and fuel storage plant near Melbourne to Point Lillias. Port Lillias is protected by the international Ramsar convention