Textile workers protest tariff cuts
MELBOURNE — Hundreds of textile and clothing workers from across Victoria rallied in central Melbourne on June 3 to protest against proposed cuts to tariffs on textile imports.
"If the Productivity Commission succeeds in these tariff cuts, the total benefit to every Australian would be only 75 cents per year. Our jobs are worth more than that", Michele O'Neil, state secretary of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia, told the protesters, who marched to the Collins Street hearing of the commission.
Save the Ridge rally
CANBERRA — On May 30, a small group of protesters staged a lunchtime rally outside the ACT Legislative Assembly to demand the ALP uphold its election promise to ensure that, for environmental reasons, any extension of Gunghalin Drive does not go through the O'Connor Ridge area.
The rally was addressed by Democrats MLA Roslyn Dundas, Greens MLA Kerry Tucker and Nicola Davies of the ACT Conservation Council.
More information on the campaign is available at <http://www.savetheridge.org.au>.
Vigil for Palestine
CANBERRA — On June 5, 40 people braved freezing weather to attend an evening vigil to mark the 36th anniversary of Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Organised by the Australians for Justice and Peace in Palestine, the vigil was addressed by Pat Power, Catholic bishop for Canberra and Michael Shaik, who spent the first four months of the year in Palestine working as a media co-ordinator for the International Solidarity Movement. Shaik slammed the US backed "road map for peace" as a sham.
Protest planned against Thai 'drugs war'
CANBERRA — On June 12, protesters will hold a lunchtime rally outside the Thai embassy as part of an international day of action against human rights abuses in Thailand.
The protest will highlight the violence being perpetrated by the Thai government in the name of the "war on drugs". The drugs campaign requires authorities to meet targets for arrests and drug seizures, resulting in the killing of victims who have not been proven to be drug dealers.
For more information contact Nicole Wiggins (manager of the Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy) on (02) 6262 5299 or <cahma@apex.net.au>.
Greens call for tax cuts to be blocked
CANBERRA — On June 4, Greens senator Kerry Nettle announced that they will call on the Senate to redirect treasurer Peter Costello's $4 a week personal income tax cuts into spending on higher education.
"The $2.4 billion income tax cuts along with the tax breaks for multinationals should be blocked in the Senate", Nettle said, announcing the ALP had agreed to join the Greens in opposing corporate tax cuts worth $270 million over fours years.
Council opposes Medicare cuts
MELBOURNE — The Darebin City Council will sponsor a town hall meeting to plan a campaign to "defend and extend Medicare", by defending bulk-billing for all and including dental care under Medicare coverage.
John Smith, the council's policy officer, said that "we, along with Martin Ferguson, the federal ALP sitting member, the Preston/Reservoir Progressive Association and the Darebin Health Service are all concerned at the attacks on Medicare proposed in the budget".
Telstra job cut protest
MELBOURNE — Two-hundred Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) members gathered in the foyer of the Telstra head office on June 5 to launch a campaign against company's plans for an extra 3000 job cuts, on top of the 50,000 jobs lost over the past decade.
Acting CPSU national president Mark Gepp told the rally that the cuts would affect not only the sacked workers and their families, but also those who remain, who will have to work longer hours. Already some Telstra staff work 43 out of every 49 days.
MRC closure protest
MELBOURNE — On June 7, 50 people gathered in the Footscray mall to protest the closure of the local Migrant Resource Centre. The centre was closed when it ran out of funds for the year and the federal government refused to advance any more.
To join the ongoing campaign to restore the centre, phone Joe Montero on 0402 679 201 or Ben Courtice on (03) 9332 8566.
From Green Left Weekly, June 11, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.