News

Queensland native title law passed

Queensland native title law passed By Bill Mason BRISBANE — The state Labor government's native title legislation was passed by the Queensland parliament on November 11, granting most of the mining and pastoral industries' demands. The law

Activists discuss the future of unions

Activists discuss the future of unions By Ben Reid MELBOURNE — The re-election of the Howard government threatens to bring in a new period of extensive attacks on workers' rights and trade unions. Seventy people attended a seminar, organised by

Centrelink workers prepare for industrial campaign

Centrelink workers prepare for industrial campaign By Nick Everett BRISBANE — Community and Public Sector Union members around the country will hold stop-work meetings on November 19 to discuss industrial and community action in response to

SA public sector pay dispute

SA public sector pay dispute By Melanie Sjoberg ADELAIDE — Industrial action is to disrupt the state public sector over the next few weeks because of workers' dissatisfaction with the state government's enterprise bargaining pay offer. Clerical

Workers, activists endorse steelworker candidate

Workers, activists endorse steelworker candidate By Stephen O'Brien and Alison Dellit NEWCASTLE — The Democratic Socialists have received support from a wide range of sources in the Newcastle by-election. Green Left asked some of those who

Dili massacre commemorated

Dili massacre commemorated November 12 was the seventh anniversary of the massacre by Indonesian troops of 270 East Timorese at the Santa Cruz cemetery. The unarmed East Timorese were attending the funeral of a student who had died during an

Campaign against arms fair

Campaign against arms fair By Emma Webb ADELAIDE — Resistance and the Anti-Adtech Alliance held a joint campaigning stall and information display in Rundle Mall on November 7. The stall was to build the rally against the Adtech Arms Fair, held

Unions question Longford gas disaster inquiry

By Susan Priceand Ben Reid MELBOURNE — The sincerity of the intentions of the state Liberal government's royal commission into the Longford gas disaster is being questioned. The fire at the Longford plant in September left much of Victoria

Protesters picket Liberal gala

Protesters picket Liberal gala By Chris Richards SYDNEY — Approximately 40 protesters picketed a Liberal Party gala on November 14 to protest against the Liberals and the Jabiluka uranium mine. The gala, held at Fox Studio, was to celebrate the

Pub promotes racist, sexist performer

Pub promotes racist, sexist performer By Zanny Begg BRISBANE — On November 6, the show at the Wickham Hotel, promoted as Brisbane's "premier gay dance venue", was disrupted by a protest against sexism and racism. Holding placards which read

Rally against nuclear ships

By William Thomas HOBART — About 200 people attended a November 14 rally outside parliament to protest against the presence of the US nuclear aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, visiting Hobart on its way back from the Persian Gulf. The rally was

New BHP steel agreement

New BHP steel agreement By Andrew Hall WOLLONGONG — A small proportion of the 5000 workers at BHP's Port Kembla steelworks met on November 6 and endorsed a new three-year steel agreement. The agreement "reflects a commitment by the company,