Union archives threatened
CANBERRA — Australia's principal archival collection of union and company records is facing closure as a result of funding cuts at the Australian National University. The Noel Butlin Archives, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, has over 13,000 shelf metres of collections. Staff have been told that the centre may close its doors in December unless alternative funding can be found. Protest e-mails should be sent to the ANU vice-chancellor at Deane.Terrell@anu.edu.au.
Legislation condemned
SYDNEY — The NSW Labor government will introduce new "anti-gang" legislation in September, giving police power to disperse groups of three or more people when police have a "reasonable suspicion" that the group is likely to "obstruct, harm or intimidate" others.
Kilty O'Gorman from Justice for Young People said: "This legislation is aimed at clearing youth from the streets. It is a bandaid solution to the real problems facing young people, which include homelessness, cuts to education, unemployment and the lack of facilities and activities."For more information, telephone 9281 5407 or 9514 2914.
Timber mill jobs lost
PERTH — Work at the Bunnings sawmill in Jarrahdale, south of Perth, will end on September 19. Parent company Wesfarmers announced the closure on August 27, supposedly due to low profit levels.
The closure will have a severe impact on the small Jarrahdale community; 40 residents will lose their jobs, along with another 15 at the nearby Yarloop mill. Wesfarmers, which has a near monopoly on Western Australia's old-growth forest logging, has not investigated the possibility of selling the mill to preserve jobs because that would mean giving up timber leases it holds in the area.
The attitude to the sackings of the sawmill workers' union, the Australian Workers Union, is not yet clear.