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Minister at large

Beholdthe ambassador of silenceaportfolio carrying grave responsibility in an age wherewordsspew like raw sewageintothecollective consciouswithsilencethe only insurancerealagainst the perverse influenceofpost truth double speakshut upplease Will

Life on the outside

Sarah Stephen "In the euphoria of their release, most of these people have little inkling of what lies in store for them outside the razor wire", former human rights commissioner Marcus Einfeld told guests at a recent fundraising dinner. There

Tasmanian health campaign negotiations restarted

Jenny Forward & Susan Austin, Hobart The unions involved in Tasmania's Allied Health Professionals Campaign — the Community and Public Sector Union-State Public Service Federation and the Health and Community Services Union — are celebrating

Green Left Weekly $100,000 Emergency Appeal

'Keep going and you will get there' Chris Williams After seven weeks, Green Left Weekly's special emergency appeal is still on target, with $73,413 having been donated. The donations from subscribers and supporters are often accompanied by

NEW ZEALAND: Workers' Charter launched

Grant Morgan, Auckland On August 18, a draft Workers' Charter was finalised by a steering committee elected at a meeting of unionists and left-wing activists in Auckland on July 2. Over the next year there will be broad discussion of the draft

CANADA: Ottawa steps up support for US-led war efforts

Roger Annis, Vancouver The commander of Canada's armed forces, General Rick Hillier, is speaking out boldly in support of the US-led imperialist war effort in the Middle East and Asia. He is spending the summer months on a lecture circuit as the

National tour against Gunns lawsuit launched

Jim McIlroy, Brisbane "Can you imagine being sued for trying to protect something irreplaceable?" That was theme of a public meeting of 150 people held in the Powerhouse on August 30. The meeting launched a national tour sponsored by the

Howard government threatens academic freedom

Gavin Mooney As Peter McGregor noted in GLW #639, I recently resigned in protest from a committee of the federal government's National Health and Medical Research Committee (NHMRC) and called for a boycott by academics of government committees

BRITAIN: Gate Gourmet workers' struggle continues

Alex Miller The bitter Gate Gourmet airline catering firm dispute, which led to the temporary shutting down of London's Heathrow Airport last month, shows no sign of being quickly resolved. On September 2, Tony Woodley, general secretary of the

ALP sells students out on VSU

ALP sells students out on VSU James Crafti ABC News Online on August 24 reported that Labor leader Kim Beazley had "challenged" the federal government to accept a compromise plan on voluntary student unionism (VSU). Beazley's plan involves a

Young workers face 'super sized' exploitation

Tim Cobon & Susan Price Most workers understand the harsh future they face if the federal government's next round of draconian workplace "reforms" are implemented. Young workers will be among the most severely affected. Recent surveys reveal that

Sydney Social Forum discusses campaigns

Graham Matthews, Sydney More than 300 people attended the Sydney Social Forum (SSF), held over the weekend of August 27-28 at Petersham West TAFE. A "super session" at the old mint building in Macquarie Street was held on the evening of August 29.