ADELAIDE — One thousand Electricity Trust of South Australia workers began three days of rolling stoppages on July 20. The stoppages were directed against ETSA management who are moving to employ contract labour. Martin Gibson, from the Electrical Plumbers Union, told Green Left Weekly that "contract labour is being introduced on the basis that it is more cost competitive; however, ETSA has not been able to monitor its own efficiency in order to compare it to contractors". Further industrial action has not ruled out.
- A lively Women's Liberation meeting on July 11 expressed concern about the future of women's health centres. It is feared that the Brown Liberal government intends to bring them under the administration of local hospitals. Other services used by women are also under threat from government cuts. It is therefore essential that concerned women exchange information and show support. A meeting of women's groups, to build a public meeting in September, will be held at the Women's Studies Resource Centre, 64 Pennington Tce, North Adelaide at 5.15pm on August 2.
- The Coalition for Better Health, a coalition of union and consumer groups, launched a campaign on July 18 to save the Modbury Hospital from privatisation. A public meeting attended by almost 500 people, put forward resolutions rejecting the privatisation of the only public hospital in the north east suburbs, and called for community participation in the review of health services. The state government intends to slash $65 million (half the funds of a major public hospital) from the health budget over the next four years.
BRISBANE — A July 12 meeting or more than 1000 angry northern suburbs residents demanded that plans for an airport tollway be dumped. At a packed meeting in Wooloowin, residents condemned the government's lack of consultation and demanded that they be consulted. Transport minister David Hamill was heckled as he attempted to defend the government's position. At least 70 properties would be affected if the government accepted a proposal to build a road from Bowen Hills through Wooloowin, Kalinga, Eagle Junction and Clayfield to the east-west arterial road at Toombul.
- Staff at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission struck from July 14, demanding the dismissal of their boss, Zrinka Johnston. The anti-discrimination commissioner is accused of being too lenient on sex harassment cases and lacking in knowledge of sexual and racial discrimination laws. Johnston has refused to resign, and the issue is now before the Industrial Relations Commission.
HOBART — Twenty supporters of gay law reform held a peaceful vigil outside an anti-gay meeting in Smithton on July 18. About 120 people attended the meeting in the state's north-west. A spokesperson for the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, Lavinia Savell, commented that the vigil was a useful counter to the misinformation spread by speakers such as federal Liberal MP Chris Miles. "Chris Miles says that he's only interested in state's rights, but tonight in the absence of TV cameras, he was blatantly homophobic."