News

Gladstone strike threatenedBRISBANE — A major row is brewing over the dismissal without warning of 90 workers at Comalco's Boyne Island aluminium smelter near Gladstone. Preparations for the use of scabs to keep the plant going

Official unemployment rose by 82,400 in March, bringing the total to 777,100 or 9.3% of the workforce. The greatest loss in jobs was in Victoria (59% of March losses) and NSW (27%), where most of manufacturing industry is located.

MELBOURNE — The Campaign Against Militarism is preparing protests against the Australian International Defence and Equipment Exhibition (AIDEX), scheduled for November. CAM argues that the exhibition is not in the best

WA students want Austudy reformPERTH — Western Australian students are calling for major improvements to student income support through reform of the Austudy scheme. Plans include a tent city and rally and a joint public forum

Vic ALP brawls towards defeatMELBOURNE — As the Victorian Labor Party staggers towards almost certain defeat at the next state elections, public brawling has intensified in the party's leading circles. With an election

Aborigines, environmentalists sign accordBRISBANE — Queensland environmental groups and Fraser Island Aborigines have signed an accord which many want to become the basis for state land rights legislation. (Premier Wayne

While green activists around the country discuss last week's call by Tasmanian independent MP Bob Brown for a national green party, it seems some leaders of the green movement are pressing ahead already. Green Left Weekly has received a report

BRISBANE — Three weeks after the March 23 Brisbane City Council elections, Labor's Jim Soorley was declared lord mayor on April 13. Soorley was elected after winning 70% of Green preferences. Green Alliance candidate Drew Hutton

The Committee to Defend Black Rights has launched a letter-writing campaign to press the federal and state governments to change conditions and practices leading to deaths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in police custody. The

SYDNEY — Red paint on cathedrals, media headquarters and government offices downtown and in Parramatta: Sydney's morning news on April 8 was dominated by the actions of a new, clandestine gay group, One In Seven. The previous

That's what they all say "Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and child." — US Vice President Dan Quayle. Only new ones? "New Members of Parliament should complete an induction program to teach them how to behave

Prisoner release 'a stunt' Israel's much publicised release of 1000 Palestinian political prisoners on April 9 was an "annual theatrical move" according to Palestine Liberation Organisation representative Ali Kazak. The prisoners released had