Opposition to Philippines copper mine
MELBOURNE — Pastor Avelino Sichon of the Alliance for Genuine Development in the Philippines addressed meetings in Melbourne on September 18. He also presented a statement to Western Mining Corporation opposing its Tampakan open-cut copper mine in Mindanao.
Sichon was also representing the B'laan people of south-eastern Mindanao Island, one of the major groups of the indigenous Lumad people. The B'laan people say the proposed open-cut mine is on a slope of prime ecological significance and could adversely affect river systems used for irrigation and drinking water.
Monash Uni occupation
Fifty students occupied the Monash University vice-chancellor's office on September 23 as 400 rallied outside. Students were protesting against cuts to the arts faculty being pushed by the VC.
The cuts will cause as many as 60 staff to be sacked and a 50% reduction in subjects. The occupying students refused to leave until their demand that the cuts be withdrawn were met. They received messages of support from campuses around the country.
At around 10pm, police told the occupiers they had "been there long enough" and gave them 30 seconds to leave. The cops broke through the door with sledge-hammers. Two students were arrested for trespass.
Huon Valley forest protest
HOBART — Sixty people protested against a new logging road into Tasmania's south-west forests by replanting native seedlings on September 20. The protest was organised by the Wilderness Society. New Zealand Green Party MP Rod Donald participated.
TWS spokesperson Amanda Sully said the road would pave the way for massive clear-felling and burning operations in pristine forests adjacent to the World Heritage Area. TWS believes the road was secretly commenced after the recent state election.
Forestry Tasmania has described the Huon Valley forest as "regrowth". TWS says this is misleading as the Huon Valley has never been logged, although it was partially burnt by bushfires in 1904 and 1934.
Hanson visits Tasmania
HOBART — Pauline Hanson avoided a repeat of last year's 6000-strong demonstration by keeping Hobart off her itinerary when she visited Tasmania on September 19-20. No more that 200 supporters attended her meetings across the north of the state. Media, security and protesters outnumbered supporters at many venues.
Resistance, Ocean Defence and other activists held spirited pickets outside her meetings. At Devonport, Resistance activists holding banners forced One Nation's media conference to move indoors. Ocean Defence activists interrupted filming of a One Nation advertisement.
Re-entry students oppose cuts
ADELAIDE — "Never in a million years did I think I'd get to uni", Judy, an adult re-entry student from Para West campus, told 150 protesters on the steps of Parliament House on September 23. She said she is a mother who had spent years at home with two children, and that adult high school offered her a second chance.
The rally was organised by students from adult re-entry schools across Adelaide. The schools are facing a budget cut of $3 million over the next three years. The Australian Education Union and Public Service Association members working in those schools supported the rally by taking strike action to attend.
Rally for ABC
ADELAIDE — Around 100 members and supporters of Friends of the ABC rallied at Parliament House on September 25 to protest against the Coalition's attacks on the national broadcaster.
Senate candidates Michael Pilling from the Democrats and Craig Wilkins from the Greens condemned the Coalition's slashing of the ABC budget by $66 million and the appointment to the ABC board of Liberal Party figures.
ALP senator Rosemary Crowley contrasted Howard's stated support for free speech with his attacks on investigative journalism by the ABC. The ALP will restore Radio Australia broadcasts and restore "much of what has been cut", Crowley promised.
NTEU candidates forum
SYDNEY — The National Tertiary Education Industry Union held a "meet the candidates" meeting at the University of Western Sydney's Kingswood campus on September
23.
More than 60 Students and staff quizzed candidates for the seat of Lindsay on higher education issues. Candidates representing the ALP, Democrats, Greens, Unity and the Democratic Socialists, who are standing in Senate, spoke.
The sitting Liberal member, Jackie Kelly, refused to attend.
Clothing companies threaten students
MELBOURNE — A display highlighting the poor working conditions of clothing and footwear outworkers has been on show at the Melbourne University Student Union since September 14. Part of the "Fair wear" campaign, it highlights the exploitation of outworkers and points out that the Howard government's two-year waiting period before new migrants can receive welfare payments forces people into such conditions.
Dangerfield and Stussy, two clothing companies which engage outworkers, have threatened legal action against the display.
Throw Howard out!
MELBOURNE — About 50 people attended a rally against the Howard government here on September 25. Speakers highlighted the anti-worker and bad environment record of the Coalition government. There was little criticism of Labor's policies, past or present. The rally was organised by the International Socialist Organisation.
At the Coalface launched
WOLLONGONG — More than 100 people attended the launch of At the Coalface here on September 23. Authors Fred Moore, Ray Harrison and Paddy Gorman spent 13 years collecting and compiling the oral histories of 70 workers and union activists.
The publication presents the stories of 12 miners and their partners who were active in workers' struggles early this century. As Moore told the audience: "Nothing was ever given. Today we risk losing conditions which were hard fought for by previous generations of workers."
At the Coalface is published by, and available from, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union.
Arson attack
BRISBANE — An arson attack has badly damaged the rear of the Grassroots Centre, a progressive meeting place in inner-suburban West End. Other premises housing the Bicycle Institute, the alternative printers Inkahoots and the Turkish Club were also damaged.
Norma Nord, spokesperson for the Grassroots Centre, said the fires were "highly suspicious" because the targets were all progressive organisations or linked to ethnic communities. Nord suspects racists are to blame.