ADELAIDE — On February 8 members of Sydney's campaign against the third runway treated people in Rundle Mall to tape recordings of aircraft noise as part of a national tour to highlight how intolerable the noise is. The demonstration aimed to encourage Adelaide residents to take action to prevent a similar catastrophe in their own city.
The state government, which plans to expand Adelaide's airport, argues that lengthening runways and improving infrastructure will enable larger freight planes to take off with enough fuel to take SA products to overseas markets in one haul. The Combined Western Suburbs Residents Associations want planning to relocate the airport and develop associated public transport and freight routes. A buffer zone should also be incorporated. Contact the Combined Western Suburbs Residents Associations at PO Box 111, Torrensville Plaza SA 5031.
BRISBANE — The $400,000 compensation package offered to Kelvin Condren, an Aborigine imprisoned for seven years for a murder he did not commit, was described on February 6 by his counsel as "a laughable pittance". Prominent civil liberties figure Terry O'Gorman said it was obvious the Queensland cabinet believed "a black fella was worth only half a white fella." O'Gorman was comparing the pay-out to Condren with the $900,000 compensation awarded to Lindy Chamberlain by the Northern Territory government for wrongful imprisonment.
HOBART — The state minister for parks and wildlife, John Cleary, is expected to allow shooters in Tasmania to continue their annual duck slaughter. Duck Rescue Tasmania says shooters' groups have been given ready access to the decision-making process, while conservation groups have been ignored.
Surveys in Tasmania and NSW have found a big decline in protected and legally hunted species over the last decade. Duck populations throughout southern Australia are suffering from drought. NSW, South Australia and Victoria have cancelled this year's duck shooting season. Duck Rescue Tasmania will be peacefully protesting and rescuing wounded ducks on the March 4-5 weekend. Contact Cath on (002) 369 603/202 839, or Sharon on (002) 348 535/323 510.
MELBOURNE — Phil Cleary, the independent member for the federal seat of Wills, is organising an alliance of independents to run in the next federal election. Cleary says that his bid for an alliance of independents is a response to a growing demand for an alternative to both Liberal and Labor. The alliance would target House of Representative seats in Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, where traditional Labor voters are fed up with the ALP, and would focus on specific issues which are sparking mass demonstrations and campaigns, including woodchipping, Sydney's third runway, the Tullamarine freeway in Melbourne, privatisation and unemployment.