News

Students demonstrate against BaldwinSYDNEY — A vocal group of 50 angry university students demonstrated outside the office of federal education minister Peter Baldwin on January 31. The protest was organised by the Cross

CANBERRA — In symbolic and tactical moves against what they call Australia's "illegal regime", about 100 Aborigines occupied, then peacefully quit, the old Parliament House in Canberra after the Invasion Day long weekend.

Life's tough "If ever I felt a sense of victory, it was that day when the last bird was taken off alert ... We understand the realities, but there's bound to be a letdown as the reductions come into force." — US Colonel George Sakaldasis,

Forum condemns youth crime billPERTH — A public forum on January 29 condemned the state government's juvenile crime legislation, under which children as young as 10 could be detained indefinitely. The 500-strong forum

MELBOURNE — On January 28, the day Greenpeace released a videotape of a large and rare reef endangered by an ocean sewer outfall due to begin operation at the famous Ninety Mile Beach in Gippsland, hundreds of dead penguins

Queensland to jail juvenilesBRISBANE — The Goss Labor government is drafting new legislation to increase the punishment which young offenders will face. The new legislation will include jail sentences for juveniles.

MELBOURNE - Active members and delegates from the Public Sector Union in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra held a national con- ference here on January 26 to discuss problems facing public servants and map out a strategy against the

Jailed women suffer mental stressBRISBANE — Women in prison suffer levels of psychiatric problems 150 times greater than women "outside", a survey has found. More than half the 92 women prisoners surveyed suffered

Report on Indonesian struggles NEWCASTLE — Green Left correspondent Michael Tardif addressed a forum on Indonesia here on January 29. Tardif outlined the broad progressive movement in Indonesia and the growing grassroots opposition to the

MELBOURNE — The Australian Workers Union has claimed that the health of fruit pickers is being endangered by uncon- trolled use of the pesticide parathion, and is demanding action from the Victorian government to end its

WOLLONGONG — Canteen workers at BHP's Port Kembla steelworks have struck for at least five days over plans by their new employer, Advance Food Systems, to reduce their number from 108 to 68. The new canteen contractor wants to

Wallsend Hospital holds firmNEWCASTLE — After six months, the picket line at Wallsend Hospital is as firm and determined as it ever was. Barbara Hardes told Green Left at the picket, "We are staying no matter what