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PACIFIC: Australia blackmails Pacific Islands Forum

BY MICHELLE BREAR SUVA, Fiji — As the South Pacific region's major imperialist power, Australia is in a strong position to influence regional political and economic decisions. At the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), held here on August 19-20,

Basslink: a 'waste of public money'

BY ALEX BAINBRIDGE Basslink is a proposed under-sea cable linking the Tasmanian and Victorian electricity grids. The Tasmanian government is a strong proponent of the Basslink project and has officially approved it, while the Victorian and federal

Loose cannons

Via cruise missile "We don't seek revenge. We seek justice out of love." — George "The Crusader" Bush, August 28. As long as they don't live in Iraq "My call to people in this country is that if you want to join on the war on terror, if you

UNITED STATES: What's behind right-wing anti-war dissent

BY ROBERT JOHNSON PORTLAND, Oregon — There is a significant amount of dissenting noise regarding President George Bush's mad rush to war against Iraq coming from portions of the US right-wing. Brent Scowcroft, George Bush senior's national

Telstra sell-off: Regional customers will suffer

BY ALISON DELLIT "Barry ... said Sammy looked a little bit blue and he was gasping... [Barry] went to ... use the phone and it didn't work, so then he said 'I'll run [to the farm down the road] and I'll get an ambulance'... Later, Sammy made this

Socialist Alliance applies for registration

BY GRAHAM MATTHEWS MELBOURNE — The Socialist Alliance lodged its application for registration as a political party with the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) on August 29, submitting the details of its 763 Victorian members. Success in the

Campuses protest on Tampa Day

Curtin University JANE ARMANASCO & MARK HEWITT report that Curtin University Refugee Rights Action Network activists set up a mock detention centre and campaigning stall on August 26. More than 1000 leaflets were distributed to questioning students

Socialist Alliance selects candidate

BY PAUL MILLER MELBOURNE — The Melbourne West branch of the Socialist Alliance on August 27 selected Justine Kamprad as its candidate for Footscray in the next Victorian election. Kamprad is an activist in the Australian Manufacturing

Hundreds turn out for Skilled Six fundraiser

BY SUE BULL MELBOURNE — Despite much adverse publicity, 400 supporters of the Skilled Six turned out on August 30 at Williamstown Town Hall for a dinner to raise funds to help cover their legal costs. It was a tremendous show of

AMWU dispute explained

SYDNEY — The national and Victorian leaderships of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union are in dispute. The national leadership recently stood down the Victorian secretary Craig Johnston and, against the wishes of the Victorian branch,

Protest flotilla targets threat to Morton Bay

BY ANDREW PHILLIPS BRISBANE — Five-hundred people took the water on August 14 to protest the Queensland Labor government's plan to allow the Sun Aqua company to build a multi-million dollar sea cages and fish farms in a pristine part of Morton

Tampa Day across Australia

Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, Wollongong, WILL WILLIAMS, Brisbane"> Tampa Day across Australia Tampa Day across Australia Brisbane BILL MASON reports that around 150 people rallied and marched in inner