News

  • Metal workers vote on enterprise agreements

    ADELAIDE — An amendment to the Metal Trades Federation of Unions' (MTFU) national executive recommendation, which would have set a minimum of 15% for wage increases sought in enterprise agreements, was narrowly defeated at

  • Tarkine campaign continues

    Tarkine campaign continuesHOBART — On March 11, around 200 people attended a sleep-out/vigil in support of the Tarkine Wilderness direct action blockade, which is occurring in the north-west of

  • Greens gain seats as Liberals win ACT government

    CANBERRA — Following elections which gave a parliamentary majority to neither major party, ACT Liberal leader Kate Carnell has formed a minority government. The Liberals won seven of the 17 seats in the ACT Legislative

  • UNSW staff vote to support student strike

    UNSW staff vote to support student strikeThe academic staff union at UNSW has voted to support the National Day of Action on March 23, by cancelling classes and holding a stop-work meeting. A well-attended meeting of

  • ACT Greens in federal by-election

    ACT Greens in federal by-electionCANBERRA — The ACT Greens are standing James Warden, environmentalist, historian of politics and writer, as their candidate in the March 25 by-election for the seat of Canberra, formerly

  • Loose cannons

    Dear Santa ... "The enduring values and beliefs my parents instilled in me as a child are what sustain me today." — NSW Premier John Fahey. Bulldoze 'em! "There is nothing valuable on that peninsula ... It is substandard, inhabited by

  • Fight continues against school closure

    Fight continues against school closureADELAIDE — More than 100 angry people packed the school hall of Port Adelaide Girls High on March 15 to hear education minister Rob Lucas attempt to justify the closure of the school.

  • Rallies protest against marijuana laws

    Rallies protest against marijuana lawsBRISBANE — Some 500 people rallied in King George Square for a "pot-nic" on March 18 as part of a national day of action called by HEMP (Help End Marijuana Prohibition). Speakers

  • Unions see MIM confrontation

    Unions see MIM confrontationBRISBANE — Unions at strife-torn Mount Isa are predicting a major industrial confrontation following the March 10 appointment of Comalco Ltd's Nick Stump to head giant Queensland mining company

  • Stoppages planned against SA education cuts

    Stoppages planned against SA education cutsADELAIDE — The South Australian Institute of Teachers is planning a series of rolling stoppages on March 14, 16, 21 and 23. The demands are prevention of further cuts to

  • CJC slams Pinkenba Six

    CJC slams Pinkenba SixBRISBANE — The Criminal Justice Commission has called for the sacking of a senior police officer over the "Pinkenba Six" incident, in which six police were charged over the abduction of three

  • Liberals threaten SA hospital lockout

    Liberals threaten SA hospital lockoutADELAIDE — The state Liberal government has threatened to lock out workers who refuse to carry out full duties from Sunday, March 11. Cleaners and orderlies have maintained bans for