News

Sand mining operations opposedBRISBANE — Conservationists rallied on North Stradbroke Island on August 18 to call for an end to sand mining operations, in the face of allegations that the company involved, Consolidated Rutile

SYDNEY — Plans for a campaign against the military crackdown in Indonesia were mapped out at an emergency meeting here on August 16. Called by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor, the meeting was attended by a broad

Tax workers suspend bansCommunity and Public Sector Union members employed by the Australian Taxation Office have voted in favour of the tax division executive's proposal to suspend the bans campaign and to resume it on September

Youth groups attack harsh anti-graffiti lawsBRISBANE — Youth and civil liberties groups here have criticised proposals for a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail for graffiti offences in the Queensland government's draft revision of

Shell workers strikeGEELONG — Workers at Shell's refinery are striking in response to a push for multi-skilling at the refinery. In negotiations over an enterprise agreement, workers have been pushing for a 12% pay rise over two

The government's decision to slash the budget of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) is petty and racist. In national monetary terms, the government's "saving" of $400 million over the next

HOBART — The destruction of old growth, wilderness and high conservation value forest for woodchips continues despite public outrage. Multinational company Boral Ltd. plays a major part in obliterating these forests. On June 27,

PERTH — Aboriginal activist and Vietnam veteran Lenny Culbong died on June 18, aged only 48. His exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam was a major factor in his early death. Despite increasingly bad health, Lenny

WOLLONGONG — Nico Warouw, Indonesian pro-democracy activist and international officer for the People's Democratic Party (PRD), visited the Illawarra district on August 13 and 14 as a part of a speaking tour of NSW organised by

SYDNEY — Three hundred supporters of Telstra's public ownership gathered in Lower Town Hall on August 15 for the launch of the Keep Telstra Public campaign. Speakers included Democrat Senator Cheryl Kernot; national president

Community acts over bike lanesSYDNEY — On the morning of August 14, three men dressed in overalls and orange safety vests, and carrying paint, brushes, witches hats and road safety barriers, started work on Abercrombie Street in

MELBOURNE — Workers at the ACI Spotswood plant, who have staged a month-long picket, were charged and bashed by mounted police with batons on August 16. The dispute started when ACI-BTR revealed plans to retrench 59 workers,