Gun control rally
HOBART — A 6000-strong rally here on May 4 called for tighter legislative controls on gun ownership and usage. The rally, which was addressed by speakers from the Coalition for Gun Control and the Royal Hobart Hospital, didn't call for the outright banning of guns but for greater restrictions than currently exist.
Security conference picketed
CANBERRA — Protests were held outside a conference at Parliament House on May 1, and the conference dinner the next day at the Australian National University was picketed. "The New Security Agenda in the Asia-Pacific Region" was jointly organised by the Strategic Defence Studies Centre, based at the ANU, and the International Institute for Strategic Studies, based in London. Speakers included the prime minister, the minister for defence, the chief of the Australian defence forces and Vice Admiral William A. Owens of the US Navy.
The protests were organised by an independent coalition of activists and supported by organisations including Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor (ASIET), Resistance, the ACT Greens, the Democratic Socialist Party, Canberra Program for Peace and Campaign for an Independent East Timor (CIET).
Save Albert Park digs up dirt
MELBOURNE — Around 120 people attended a demonstration on April 27 at Albert Park in protest against the damage the Grand Prix has caused there. Despite the fact that the GP was held over two months ago, the government has done nothing to fix up the park.
Demonstrators also took part in a clean-up in and around playing fields and former recreation areas. This was a response to an incident in which a man playing football recently gashed his leg on rubbish which is making its way to the surface from land fill dumped as part of Grand Prix preparations. A huge pile of rubbish was retrieved consisting of glass, rusting metal, nails and sharp porcelain material.
Anti-VSU day of action
MELBOURNE — La Trobe University SRC and the Student Unionism Network (SUN) have called for a day of action on May 8. The action will take place at 1pm at the Agora at La Trobe. Students will be demanding funds for student newspapers, funds for clubs and societies, restoration of full funding to student unions and dropping of the charges against the anti-VSU 4 (charged with the occupation of La Trobe's administration last year).
Curfew opposed
BRISBANE — Civil libertarians and children's rights organisations have expressed alarm at police minister Russell Cooper's plan to impose a midnight curfew on children under 13. Under proposed legislation announced on April 29, children found on the streets between midnight and 5am will be taken into police custody, and taken home or placed in a refuge.
The Queensland Council for Civil Liberties has expressed "serious concerns" at Cooper's proposals. Representatives of the Safe House program, which provides a refuge for children in danger, have strongly condemned Cooper's plan to use their houses as dumping grounds for children seized by police off the streets.