Action updates
ADELAIDE — Around 20 people attended the launch of Student Underground at the Resistance Bookshop on February 15. Student Underground is a new radical newsletter compiled by high school students. It takes up issues such as student rights, the environment and social justice issues. Spokesperson Emma Webb said, "In this society, where high school students are denied even the most elementary rights such as the right to organise in their schools — Student Underground provides an important tool in bringing students together and struggling for their common interests and a better world."
MELBOURNE — The launch of Student Underground was attended by 40 people on February 15. Speakers covered a range of topics, including the education crisis, youth unemployment and the environmental crisis. People took keenly to the idea of building Student Underground as the voice of high school students, a focus for networking between different high school groups and building campaigns around issues of concern to young people today. The meeting decided to hold monthly writing collectives and to start to campaign around the issue of choice in response to the banning of The Fact and Fantasy File, which was written to publicise a high school student hotline on AIDS and STDs.
PERTH — The WA Family Planning Association launched its own safe sex campaign at the Festival of Perth in opposition to Health Minister Keith Wilson's official, "safe sex" campaign, which advocates abstinence. FPA staff attended most Festival events and distributed "Play It Safe" brochures and colourful single packs of condoms. One spokesperson said, "We don't want to hammer young people over the head with all the negative scary stuff. We want to say it is OK to have sex if you do it safely." The FPA's budget was more than halved last year as a result of its criticism of the minister's campaign.
- The WA Aboriginal Legal Service on February 7 petitioned federal minister for Aboriginal affairs Robert Tickner to protect Aboriginal sites threatened by iron mining at Marandoo. Legislation protecting the mine from Aboriginal land rights claims has been passed by state parliament. After consulting state Aboriginal affairs minister Judith Watson, Tickner sided with the state government.