Kyoto model funded by industry
The climate data and models used by the Coalition to justify its reactionary policy position at the Kyoto greenhouse gas emissions conference in December were compiled largely by fossil fuel industry representatives.
A report by the Commonwealth Ombudsman, Philippa Smith, released last week reveals that BHP, CRA, Exxon, Mobil, Texaco and the Business Council of Australia paid $50,000 each to be part of the research steering committee organised by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Organisations which could not afford the fee, such as the Australian Conservation Foundation, were excluded.
Youth forced onto streets
CANBERRA — A survey by Canberra Institute of Technology student Kerry Fry has found that unemployed young people are being evicted and forced to turn to crime to survive because of penalties imposed by Centrelink.
Failure to comply with any of Centrelink's "activity test" guidelines results in a 16% reduction in unemployment benefits for six months. A second breach results in an extra 26% cut, and third breach means total suspension for 8 weeks.
Some of those Fry surveyed had been penalised for being in custody instead of at an interview; being retrenched when a cannery closed down; leaving a job because they had not been paid for three weeks; and doing a taxi-driver test instead of attending a Centrelink interview.
Teachers sacked
JUNEE — The privately managed Junee Correctional Centre in southern NSW sacked 12 teachers with one hours' notice in January. This followed a recent enterprise bargaining agreement in which jail authorities gave the teachers no indication that their positions were under review.
During the two hours following the sackings all outside communications were shut down and there was a prisoner lock-down. One of the former teachers told of prison officers running drugs and working under the influence of alcohol.
Win for sacked miners
EMERALD — The CFMEU on February 2 won the biggest unfair dismissal case in Australian history over the sacking of the work force at Gordonstone mine in central Queensland.
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission ruled that the termination of seven workers at the coal mine was harsh, unjust and unreasonable, and awarded the dismissed miners full pay from the date of closure of the mine, October 1. Gordonstone Coal Management could face a compensation bill of up to $6 million.
The sacked workers welcomed the court decision, but said the fight was not over. "Our aim is to convince Gordonstone that the mine needs to reopen", CFMEU district vice-president Jim Lambley said, adding that the miners' picket line would continue until workers could return to work.