News

BRISBANE — The US government faces "deficits" on a number of fronts in its occupation of Iraq, leading US peace activist Phyllis Bennis told a public forum at the Avid Reader Bookshop on July 27. The forum was sponsored by the Brisbane Social Forum

NEWCASTLE — John Pilger's latest film Stealing a Nation was screened on July 23, and given media coverage by several local papers. The film tells the story of Diego Garcia, an island territory of Britain whose population was forced off their land

HOBART — The Hobart Organic Food Co-operative distributed free food to 60 people in a Food not Bombs activity on Parliament House Lawns on July 22. Food not Bombs is a volunteer organisation dedicated to creating a world free from coercion and

Sue Bolton Victoria's South West Trades and Labour Council is organising a community rally in Warrnambool on August 6 against PM John Howard's plans to take the axe to workers' rights. SWTLC assistant secretary Margaret Brabender told Green Left

DARWIN — A 20-year-old Aboriginal man was confined to a wheelchair on July 16 after being dragged behind a police wagon until the toenails and skin were torn off his feet. Police spokespeople told the July 24 Sunday Territorian that the incident

MELBOURNE — Rob Stary, the lawyer defending Jack Thomas against terrorism related charges, told a July 27 public forum on the "war on terror" that the government prosecutor had applied for Thomas' trial to be held in camera. "We think there

Kerry Smith A peaceful walk into Wandella State Forest, near the town of Cobargo in south-eastern NSW, turned into a terrifying experience for about 25 people on July 23. The adults and children were trapped in the forest for more than three hours

ARMIDALE — Since the July 1 Sky Channel meeting and rally to defend workers' rights, attended by 500-600 workers, unionists have been meeting weekly to organise a family picnic and rally on August 7, and to inform the community about the effects

NEWCASTLE — On the morning of July 29, 200 workers rallied outside the office of federal Coalition MP Bob Baldwin in the town of Raymond in a display of solidarity with the nine-week-long strike by maintenance workers employed by Boeing at the

BRISBANE — "The trade union movement is facing the biggest challenge in its history" from the Coalition government's planned anti-union laws, environmentalist and former NSW Builders Labourers Federation secretary Jack Mundey said at the July 24

Sue Bull, Geelong As the campaign against PM John Howard's industrial relations legislation hots up, 88 women unionists in Geelong met over dinner to discuss the fight ahead. The July 21 dinner brought together women from all sections of the

Liam Mitchell, Sydney A recent case of workers being forced to sign AWAs has ended with a victory after a two-and-a-half week campaign by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). When workers at Masterton Homes were told they