On February 23, Will Saunders and Dave Burgess were recalled to the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal for judgement on the appeal against their conviction and sentences for painting "No war" on the Opera House the day
US President George Bush announced the invasion of Iraq.
The court dismissed the appeal, upholding that the pair maliciously damaged the Opera House and were not acting in self-defence. The court also upheld the nine-month periodic detention sentence handed down early last year, of which approximately six months remains. The $151,000 compensation bill also remains. Leave to appeal against the sentence has
been granted.
An appeal to the High Court is being considered.
Dave Burgess
Bus drivers strike for jobs
ADELAIDE — Drivers employed by Serco, which currently runs half of Adelaide's bus services, began a 48-hour strike on February 18 in an attempt to save jobs. From April, Serco's routes will be taken over by Southlink and Torrens Transit, which have secured tenders at Serco's expense.
On February 19, the Industrial Relations Commission ordered the drivers to return to work. However, Transport Workers Union state secretary Alex Gallacher told the February 21 Advertiser that further action was not ruled out.
While Southlink has given a written guarantee that it will take on 180 of Serco's 646 employees, Torrens Transit has refused to say how many workers it will hire, or if Serco drivers will be given jobs. "All we want is that the work force that's there [gets] a guarantee of a job — they've done nothing wrong", Gallacher said.
Bronwen Beechey
Walk Against Want
SYDNEY — Oxfam Community Aid Abroad's Walk Against Want will take place in 16 locations around NSW on March 13.
"By participating in the Walk Against Want, Australians are supporting our work with communities around the world who do not have access to clean water, education or health services", said Kelly Mapleston, NSW Walk Against Want Coordinator.
"Money raised will go a long way. Just $35 can provide a month's supply of rice for a family in the Solomon Islands, while $50 can help educate a child who has lost a parent to HIV/AIDS in South Africa."
To register, phone 1800 034 034 or visit <http://www.oxfam.org.au/walk>.
Selena Black
From Green Left Weekly, March 2, 2005.
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