News

Residents group Friends of Banyule staged a protest on June 20 outside a meeting with state roads minister Tim Pallas. The meeting was an information session about the proposed freeway link between the Eastern Freeway and the Western Ring Road.

Victorian paramedics began industrial action on June 19, after enterprise bargaining negotiations with the state government broke down following a year of discussions. A ballot returned 94% support for industrial action.

The following article is based on a talk given to the Wollongong Climate Emergency Rally on June 13 by Vanessa Organo. Organo is the environment representative at Wollongong University Students’ Association and a member of Resistance.

The Victorian government released plans on June 17 to expand Melbourne’s Urban Growth Boundary for new housing developments. This overturns previous commitments in its “Melbourne 2030" strategy for limited urban sprawl.

Ninety workers stopped work on June 10 across the three manufacturing sites of Tieman Industries in a battle for a new collective bargaining agreement. Among their demands are a 36-hour week — in effect a nine-day fortnight — a better redundancy clause and a decent wage increase.

Thousands took the streets on June 13 for the National Climate Emergency Rallies. Protesters declared a climate emergency and demanded the Australian government take emergency action on climate change.

More than 200 supporters chanted “One law for all!” as construction worker Ark Tribe entered Elizabeth Magistrates Court through an arc of union flags and banners on June 9. He faces charges that could lead to a six-month jail term or a $22,000 fine.

A satirical group of Wollongong “billionaires” and representatives of the fossil fuel industry gathered in the city centre on June 10 for a “Stand up for Big Polluters” rally. They demanded “profits before people and the planet”.

Premier Anna Bligh’s push to privatise Queensland’s public assets is just how former National Party premier Joh Bjelke Petersen ruled Queensland said state secretary of the Electrical Trades Union, Peter Simpson.

Green Left Weekly’s Chris Peterson spoke to Indian student and Resistance activist Ajay Kumar who took part in the 5000-strong anti-racist protest in Melbourne on May 31.

A forum on human rights and media freedom in Sri Lanka attracted 200 people on June 6.

Last week was one of much activity in the regional city of Cairns, as the push for abortion law reform in the state shows no sign of slowing down.