News

Passing of an Aboriginal rights activist

Passing of an Aboriginal rights activist By Margaret Allum Don McLeod has died in Perth, aged 91. Although non-Aboriginal, McLeod was a dedicated fighter for Aboriginal rights long before reconciliation became the word of the moment, espoused

Residents say no to loss of parkland

Residents say no to loss of parkland By Vannessa Hearman MELBOURNE — Residents in the Parkville and Carlton areas have united to protect permanently reserved parkland at Royal Park near the Royal Melbourne Zoo which is being threatened by the

Child-care centres close in Victoria

Child-care centres close in Victoria Victorian Trades Hall Council and trade unions have launched a campaign to halt more closures of child-care centres, after a union study found 57 centres, most of them non-profit centres, have closed since

Deakin Uni and Coles in private deal

By Jeremy Smith MELBOURNE — Deakin University and Coles New World announced a new private vocational and higher education institution on April 14. Although details of the new "Coles Institute" are sketchy, the announcement signals a new stage in

'Crime wave' blamed on youth

Crime wave' blamed on youth By Ruth Ratcliffe BRISBANE — According to the Queensland Victims of Crime Association, Ipswich is in the grip of a juvenile "crime wave" being waged by a small group of notorious child criminals. This claim follows

Rape Crisis Centre in crisis

Rape Crisis Centre in crisis By Stephanie Roper EESYDNEY — The NSW Rape Crisis Centre has been threatened with loss of funding after operating in deficit for the last two years. The centre says it has been forced into a budget deficit by the

Arrests at Jabiluka Westpac protests

Arrests at Jabiluka Westpac protests By Jim Green Protests outside three Westpac branches in Cairns, two in Brisbane and one each in Sydney, Surfers Paradise, Noosa and Canberra on April 13 continued the campaign to highlight the role of the

Plans for socialist activist conference

Plans for socialist activist conference SYDNEY — Marxism in the New Millennium, organised by the Democratic Socialist Party and Resistance, is a conference to discuss issues for socialist activists in various campaigns, socialist solutions to the

University pulls plug on community radio

University pulls plug on community radio By Corinne Batt-Rawden and Ritchie Logan LISMORE — Around 120 people gathered on April 13 at a public meeting to show their support for the future of 2NCR, after the local community radio station's

Rank and file strengthen CPSU ACT campaign

Rank and file strengthen CPSU ACT campaign By Stuart Martin CANBERRA — Nationally, the failure of the ALP-dominated leadership of the Community and Public Sector Union to defend the 5000 Centrelink jobs threatened by the Liberals shows it

Speak-out on Balkans war

Speak-out on Balkans war By Bea Brear SYDNEY — The socialist youth organisation Resistance organised a snap speak-out at Town Hall on April 16 against the NATO war on Serbia and Serbia's attacks on Kosova. Resistance organiser Sarah Peart spoke

CPSU members reject performance-based pay

CPSU members reject performance-based pay By Nick Everett — On April 14 the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) Centrelink Section Council voted to recommend to its membership the introduction of a new "performance-based" pay system within