ADELAIDE — Major cuts to health, education and housing are set to dominate the state Liberal government's budget on August 25, its first since taking office last November. While cabinet is still in the process of discussing details around proposed taxation measures, the expenditure cuts outlined by Treasurer Stephen Baker in May have been confirmed by government sources. These include an estimated $100 million reduction to health and education spending. The May financial statement proposed cuts of up to $60 million in the health area and as much as $40 million in education.
ADELAIDE — Some 500 women attended a meeting on August 6 to discuss the state Liberal government's attacks on women's health centres. Currently there are four centres which are staffed by local women. Funding cuts could either force their closure, amalgamation or their location to hospitals. Health minister Dr Michael Armitage told the meeting that women's health, like other community services, will be cut by 5% over the next three years.
Jane Tassie, coordinator of the Dale Street Women's Health Centre, stressed that the special role of women's health centres would be lost if they were amalgamated with community health centres. She said it is crucial that separate women's health centres, run for and by women, remain funded. A motion to this effect was endorsed by the meeting.
BRISBANE — The Queensland rail system came to a 24-hour halt on August 20 as a result of industrial action by members of the AFULE and PTU. The train drivers, guards and locomotive assistants took action when talks with Queensland Rail broke down in the Industrial Relations Commission.
Queensland Rail wants to introduce two-driver operations with shifts of up to 12 hours. This is the result of the enterprise bargain with Queensland Rail Management. At present, the extension of shifts is only being proposed for the freight section. However, suburban train crews fear it won't be long before the hours of the suburban passenger system come under review. More industrial action is likely.
BRISBANE — Some 80 people attended the launch of Ernie Lane's 1937 classic Dawn to Dusk on August 4. Lane, a militant, helped establish the Australian Workers Union and the ALP in north Queensland at the turn of the century. His book is an account of his battles against careerists within the AWU and the ALP.
The gathering was addressed by Hughie Williams, Queensland secretary of the TWU, who said that Dawn to Dusk could help to reinvigorate trade union militancy. Clarrie Beckingham, Lane's son-in-law, told of Lane's campaign to get the AWU to establish a fund for the distribution of progressive literature to unionists. Eventually the AWU pledged 50 pounds. Despite attempts to sabotage the program, Lane managed to distribute progressive literature to remote shearing and mining camps where it was vigorously discussed around campfires.
SYDNEY — More than 200 people, opposed to the raising of the Warragamba Dam, braved a cold Katoomba night to attend a public meeting on August 14. The meeting was organised by the Kowmung Committee and the Blue Mountains Wilderness Society. Speakers included Milo Dunphy from the Total Environment Centre, Andrew Cox from the Kowmung Committee and Cliff Foley from the Tharawaul Land Council. A slide show of the pristine bush that the water will flood was presented by Dave Noble and poetic ridicule of the Water Board and developers was performed by poet lorikeet Dennis Kevans.
The meeting, chaired by Blue Mountains Councillor Carol Gaul, unanimously condemned the state government and the Water Board for their decision to raise the level of the Warragamba Dam without investigating alternatives or allowing public debate. The meeting demanded that the government protect the whole of the greater Blue Mountains National Park.