“The news that nine Australian special forces soldiers have been wounded in Afghanistan — the largest number of casualties since the Vietnam War — reminds us that, as in any occupation, there will be resistance”, Alex Bainbridge, a spokesperson for Sydney Stop the War Coalition (STWC), told Green Left Weekly on September 4.
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Fairfax journalists, photographers, artists and graphic designers returned to work on September 1 after a four-day strike. The strike affected the Sydney Morning Herald, the Australian Financial Review, the Age, the Illawarra Mercury and the Newcastle Herald.
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For construction union delegate Howard Byrnes, who is standing for the Socialist Alliance in the Marrickville council elections, the struggle over the privatisation of electricity, the alarming scientific news about climate change, and Labors cuts to services and wages have provided opportunities to talk up the need for a democratic, working-class party.
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The prescription of oral contraceptives to a 14-year-old without her parents knowledge has triggered a debate over adolescents access to confidential health care. The student of Bellarine Secondary College in Victoria was taken by a school nurse to a doctor, who prescribed the medication.
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On August 28, Gunns Limited announced to the Australian Securities Exchange that there is a possibility the controversial Tamar Valley pulp mill may not proceed.
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If the firm Altona Resources has its way, South Australia within five years will have a major new source of base-load electricity, set to feed into the power grid for many decades to come. Not only that, but the firm promises to supply the Australian market with as much as 10 million barrels per year of diesel fuel.
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The federal government’s climate adviser, Professor Ross Garnaut, told the National Press Club on September 5 that while climate change is “diabolical”, “intractable” and “daunting”, Australia is a “special case” and cannot be expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions to the same extent as other “wealthy nations”.
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On August 29, Dr Mohamed Haneef was officially declaredno longer a person of interest after more than 12 months of investigations that included detention without charge, the then-federal Howard government revoking his visa, and continual insinuations of support for terrorism, at a total cost of over $8.5 million.
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The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister have got it right on the ABCC [Australian Building and Construction Commission], wrote Wilhelm Harnisch, Master Builders Australias (MBA) chief executive officer, on August 28 on the ABC Unleashed website.
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The overwhelming public opposition to electricity privatisation in NSW has claimed the political scalps of former premier Morris Iemma, hated treasurer Michael Costa and deputy premier John Watkins.
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On August 27, education minister Julia Gillard tabled legislation enabling welfare recipients payments to be denied for up to three months if their children were regularly absent from school.
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Young people “are the present … whether we have a future or not depends on what we as young people do or don’t do”, proclaimed student leader and minister for the presidency, Hector Rodriguez, speaking on August 22 to thousands of members of the youth organisation of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, the PSUV Youth (JPSUV).