ADELAIDE — Some 1000 public sector workers attended a stop-work rally on November 15 outside Parliament House, called by the Public Sector Association to oppose the Public Sector Management Bill being debated in parliament. The bill would enable the state government to employ workers on a contract basis. New workers could be employed on a contract while existing employees could be sacked. The bill will not pass through the upper house if both the Democrats and the Labor Party vote against it.
BRISBANE — Four members of a radical Christian group entered the offices of Petroz Mining Company on November 11, the eve of the anniversary of the Dili massacre, and poured human blood on the boardroom table and the company logo, in a protest against the illegal exploitation of oil from the Timor Gap properly belonging to the East Timorese people. Two of the group who refused police orders to leave were handcuffed behind their backs and dragged out by their wrists and necks (photo). Jim Dowling and Ciaron O'Reilly will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 3.
- Residents and community groups have planned a rally and march from inner suburban Kelvin Grove to the city in a bid to save two heritage Moreton Bay fig trees from being cut down to allow road widening, and to campaign to "stop the freeway madness" now facing the city. Kelvin Grove residents have covered the trees with yellow ribbons. The "Yellow Ribbon Rally" will meet outside 159 Kelvin Road at 10am on Sunday, November 27, and march via Roma Street Forum to King George Square.
MELBOURNE — More than 1000 people rallied at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on November 15 to protest against plans to build a race track for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park. Much of the surrounding parkland will be destroyed. The Kennett government has rushed legislation through to stop any environmental effect statement from being conducted. The Save Albert Park group is calling on the government to move the race to Sandown, where there is already a track.
- Four people were arrested as 40 protesters tried to block the start of work on the Eastern Freeway extension at Alexandra Parade, Fitzroy on November 11. The protest was organised by the Coalition Against Freeway Extensions. Eighty police were on hand to remove protesters. Those arrested were attempting to stop workers ripping up the nature strip in the middle of the road. Further actions have been planned, including a blockade and another rally.
NEWCASTLE — On November 5, the "Meeting of the Two Tribes", involving the Aborigines of Newcastle and the Igorots of the Philippines took place within the Wollutoka Aboriginal Education Centre. The Igorots are indigenous people in the Philippines. In the early 1980s, the government wanted to build several dams within the Igorots' land. They fought the US-backed project and won. At the meeting of the two tribes, the Igorots performed their rituals, ceremonies, dance, songs and stories to make a "peace pact" with the Aborigines of Newcastle. The afternoon was attended by local members of the progressive community, as well as activists and members of the Igorots who had travelled from Sydney for the occasion.
PERTH — Four hundred people attended a public meeting on November 3 to protest against the expected closure of the North Perth migrant resource centre following a federal government decision to withdraw funding. The federal government will now fund a migrant centre in Perth's northern suburbs. Staff from the centre acknowledge that there is a need for a centre in the northern suburbs, but many migrants are still using the present centre. "It still is a fact that many migrants settle in the inner city", Margaret Fitzpatrick, the employment coordinator for the centre, explained to Green Left Weekly.