ADELAIDE — A cross campus network has been formed following a meeting of around 40 people on February 13. The CCN will be organising South Australia's involvement in the two National Days of Action, called by the No Fees Conference held in Melbourne last December. The March 23 NDA will start at Victoria Square at 1pm, followed by a march through the city. Issues to be highlighted will include a need for increased education funding and opposition to the Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice fee, which is rumoured to be introduced in South Australian universities next year.
- City streets echoed the chants of 1000 nurses calling for an "8% pay increase now!" during lunchtime on February 17. This is the first time in 10 years that nurses have demonstrated publicly. They were participating in a National Day of Action in support of consistency in wages across the country. NSW, ACT, and Queensland have already won the 8%. Hospitals are also being hit by industrial action from cleaners and orderlies in support of a wage claim by the Miscellaneous Workers Union for $20, plus a further $48.
BRISBANE — Two hundred people attended a rally organised by the Coalition of Women for a Realistic Criminal Code in King George Square on February 17. "The state government has ignored the suggestions by women in its review of the Criminal Code", said June Anstee of the Queensland Civil Liberties Council executive. The rally was supported by 30 women's and legal community groups.
- "The URNG [Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity] has inherited the best historical struggles of our people", Vinicio Molina, representing the Guatemalan Workers Party (PGT), told a Guatemalan solidarity night, attended by some 80 people, at the Resistance Centre here on February 11. Held to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the URNG, the Guatemalan national liberation movement organisation, the event was sponsored by the PGT representatives in Australia, the Committee in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean, the Democratic Socialist Party and Resistance.
- A video presentation showing Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams debating representatives of the establishment Irish political parties was the feature of a dinner supporting the Irish peace process at the Australian National Hotel here on February 18. Some 80 people attended the dinner, sponsored by Australian Aid for Ireland, which was addressed by Pat Brennan, president of the Queensland Irish Association, Liam McKay, national general secretary of Young Labor, and Sean Whelan, representing Australian Aid for Ireland.
CANBERRA — Two people were arrested at a February 14 protest against Australia's secret war against Bougainville. The action targeted the adjoining offices of the Australian Defence Forces and AIDAB, the government's overseas aid agency. Speakers pointed out that the Australian "aid" budget provides arms, training and military and police advisers to the PNG security forces. The two protesters arrested were later released without being charged.
- More than 400 people packed the Albert Hall on February 10 to hear a panel of speakers oppose the government-subsidised pulping of old growth forest. The federal Senate candidate for the Greens, Dr Bob Brown, headed the panel and Senator Dee Margetts of the WA Greens chaired the meeting, which was organised by the Wilderness Society.
DARWIN — Twenty East Timorese and members of Australians For a Free East Timor (AFFET) participated in a street theatre demonstration in front of the Indonesian Consulate on February 14 to demand an end to the continuing harassment and kidnapping of East Timorese by Indonesian armed forces. Recent attacks, such as that on Armandina Gusmao, sister of imprisoned resistance leader Xanana Gusmao, by a section of the Indonesian military labelled "ninjas" have been reported in the Australian media. The demonstration gained significant local media coverage.
HOBART — On February 16, 50 people gathered outside ALP Senator Duncan Kerr's office to protest against logging in areas which have been nominated for protection federally and in which the state Liberal government has allowed logging to proceed. The action, organised by the Wilderness Society, followed a blockade the day before of one of the logging coupes in the Picton forests in the south. A mass anti-woodchipping rally will be held on March 18. Phone Kate on 349 366 for information about the organising meetings or to get involved.
MELBOURNE — Fifty people attended a Democratic Socialist Party public forum, "Time to End Woodchipping", on February 15. Martin Daley, of the Forest Network, emphasised greater discourse with loggers and bureaucrats along with consumer boycotts and civil disobedience as tactics for the environment movement. Tim Anderson of the Wombat Forest Society discussed the reluctance of the federal government to take any action to protect the forest, which is a significant water catchment area. Claudine Holt of the DSP expressed concern over short-sighted unions propagating the idea that caring for workers and the environment were mutually exclusive. Holt said it was a mistake for the environment movement not to organise a mass national response to the recent loggers' blockade of Canberra.
NEWCASTLE — 1000 people attended a Rally for the Forests here on February 18. Beginning in heavy rain, a spirited march made its way from Pacific Park in the city centre to the Workers' Club. Slogans taken up by the marchers included: "Jobs, not woodchips; plantations now" and "No jobs on a dead planet".
PERTH — Nursing staff at WA hospitals held stop-work mass meetings in support of wage rises on February 17, with 800-1000 nurses from the Perth area rallying in Fremantle, and a further 200 gathering at Bunbury. The nurses are demanding action on an 8% pay claim, which employers have been stalling in over seven months of negotiations. The meetings voted to withdraw from enterprise bargaining, to set up a special commission to arbitrate pay increases and to enforce work bans and rolling stoppages as needed.
SYDNEY — More than 60 supporters welcomed the launch of the Democratic Socialist NSW election campaign here on February 17. Speakers were Fairfield candidate Mike Karadjis, Marrickville candidate Karen Fletcher, and upper house candidate Bruce Threlfo. Democratic Socialists are also standing in Newcastle and Wollongong. Fletcher, a member of the International Women's Day Collective, said, "It is crucial that people see that there is a real alternative to Labor and Liberal. One important way of doing this is to be part of the Democratic Socialist campaign."
SYDNEY — The NSW Greens launched their state election campaign on February 12. Speakers included Tasmanian Green Bob Brown, West Australian Greens Senator Dee Margetts, and upper house candidates Jo Faith, Leeza Dobbie and Ian Cohen. "In 1991 we came within a handful of votes of winning a seat" Cohen said. "This time it will be our turn to win and hold the balance of power."