News

  • Jail sentence for no-war activists

    Anna Samson, Sydney There is little difference between "an irresponsible drunken man" wantonly vandalising private property and two individuals attempting to "make a serious political point" by marking a public building. This is what Justice John

  • Migrant student faces deportation

    Shua Garfield, Hobart University of Tasmania student Munyaradzi "Munya" Chiramiro is facing deportation to Zimbabwe after incorrectly completing a bridging visa application. Munya has lived in Hobart since mid-2001 and is one semester short of

  • Loose cannons

    Blues in the Green Zone "The CPA [Coalition Provisional Authority] is locked inside the Green Zone, this massive area in the heart of Baghdad that's protected by armed guards, tanks, and lots of big concrete walls... living conditions in the Green

  • NSW cops to set up anti-Arab squad

    On January 18, NSW police commissioner Ken Moroney announced that he will recommend to police minister John Watkins that Taskforce Gain, which focuses on gangs linked to "Middle Eastern organised crime", be given extra resources

  • WA teachers to vote on new agreement

    Chris Latham, Perth On January 16, the Western Australian branch of the Australian Education Union indicated that it will recommend acceptance of a new offer negotiated between the AEU and the state education department for a certified agreement

  • Marrickville Council 'Barrymandered'

    Peter Boyle, Sydney At a raucous meeting on December 15, the ALP-controlled Marrickville Council, in inner-suburban Sydney, rammed through a proposal to bolster the ALP's chances of keeping control after the March 27 local elections. By

  • Public servants target government revenue

    John Nebauer, Adelaide Industrial action by state government employees has pressured the SA Labor government to negotiate around a new industrial agreement. Four months ago, the Public Service Association of SA lodged a claim for a 12% pay rise

  • Postal union bans move to parcel facility

    Sue Bolton, Melbourne The postal and telecommunications section of the Communication Workers' Union (CWU P&T) set up an indefinite picket outside Australia Post's new Melbourne parcel facility on January 23, after negotiations with management broke

  • US socialist speaks on Iraq war

    Newcastle — Long-time US anti-war activist and socialist Barry Sheppard spoke at a public forum organised by the Newcastle branch of the Socialist Alliance on January 17. Sheppard argued that the US-led invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan were not

  • Pilger addresses packed meetings

    The University of WA held two public meetings with radical journalist John Pilger on January 12 and 13. Despite limited publicity, the first night attracted 900 people while the second 350, with hundreds of people turned away. Pilger discussed the

  • Doctors blocked from visiting Nauru

    Sarah Stephen An independent medical team calling itself the Professional Alliance for the Health of Asylum Seekers and their Children, which had been raising money to make a trip to Nauru on January 19, was forced to suspend its trip when the

  • Protest actions draw attention to logging practices

    Shua Garfield, Hobart On January 13, four men were arrested for unfurling a protest banner as the Spirit of Tasmania III ferry left Sydney on its first voyage to Devonport. The protest highlighted the continuing battle between conservationists and