News

  • Loose cannons

    Great new ideas #573 "Labour's task is to identify with the hopes and aspirations of individual men and women across the country, so that they in turn identify with us." — From Agenda for Change, the British Labour Party's blueprint for

  • Mobil expansion threatens school, residents

    MELBOURNE — About 200 people attended a September 12 protest against the proposed Williamstown Mobil oil refinery expansion into a two-kilometre buffer zone around the plant. Construction in the zone, which

  • Public radio barred from NSW budget lockup

    Public radio barred from NSW budget lockupSYDNEY — Three journalists from public radio station 2SER-FM was denied entry to the September 15 NSW budget "lockup". According to current affairs producer Stafford Sanders, 2SER

  • Multiplex destroys reconciliation

    Multiplex destroys reconciliationPERTH — Building contractor Multiplex sent in workers with bulldozers to destroy the Grove of Reconciliation, a plantation of 50 trees on the old Swan Brewery site, on September 14.

  • Socialist candidate wins 9%

    Socialist candidate wins 9%BRISBANE — In the best vote for an openly socialist campaign here in many years, Susan Price gained 9.2% for the Democratic Socialists in the seat of Brisbane Central on September 19. "I'm

  • Barbra Q stirs a storm

    Barbra Q stirs a stormMELBOURNE — Shane Tonks alias drag performer Barbra Quicksand, is running for inner-city Albert Park in the Victorian elections as a gay, independent candidate. His relatively high media profile is

  • The crash of the pound

    LONDON — Even by its own criteria, the British Tory government is an economic failure. Talkback radio programs have been inundated with questions from a British public still in a daze from four changes to

  • Nightcap Forest Festival

    Nightcap Forest Festival Residents of Nimbin on NSW's north coast are gearing up for their spring Nightcap Forest Festival, to be held between October 1 and October 5. The festival will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the historic

  • Rainbow Festival in south-west

    Rainbow Festival in south-westPERTH — A Rainbow Festival will be held next month in Cambray, just outside of Nannup 300 km south-west of Perth. Cambray is renowned for its spectacular bushland and natural springs. The

  • Real issues dodged in Queensland poll

    Real issues dodged in Queensland pollBRISBANE — As the Liberals and Nationals desperately thrash around for an issue that can stop the Goss Labor band wagon rolling to victory on September 19, the real issues remain largely

  • The 'free traders' and wheat exports

    US President George Bush's announcement of a $1.4 billion expansion of the US Export Enhancement Program (EEP) for wheat exports could cut the price of Australian wheat exports by as much as $40 per tonne. The 29 million tonnes of subsidised wheat