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Doctors' dispute enters second week

Doctors' dispute enters second week By Lara Pullin CANBERRA — A dispute involving the ACT's visiting medical officers (VMOs) has entered its second week. The dispute has forced the closure of the two public surgical wards at Calvary Hospital.

Democratic Socialists rally against One Nation

By Tim E. Stewart BRISBANE — A lively public speak-out against the racist and reactionary policies of One Nation was held here on June 19. The Democratic Socialists' action in busy Queen Street Mall was the first community response to the

Jabiluka: the mine can be stopped

Against the wishes of the traditional owners, the Mirrar people, and against the wishes of 80% of Australians, Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) began construction of the Jabiluka uranium mine in Kakadu National Park on June 15. Just a few days

Fight for free speech in Adelaide

Fight for free speech in Adelaide By Jo Ellis ADELAIDE — Green Left Weekly is under attack here. The city council will not allow GLW to be distributed in the mall without a permit. The permit will cost $10 per week per distributor. The council

'Nationalise the banks', say socialists

'Nationalise the banks', say socialists By Bill Mason BRISBANE — "The answer to Pauline Hanson's right-wing populist policies is not to reaffirm the failed 'economic rationalist' program of the major parties, but to launch a socialist

Water giant threatens opponents

By Norm Dixon Biwater, the huge British-owned corporation that has been named the "preferred bidder" for the Nelspruit's water and waste services, in South Africa's Mpumalanga province, is threatening legal action against opponents of privatisation

Conference discusses strategies for Palestine

By Phil Stanford and Stan Thompson RAMALLAH — An international conference in Jerusalem on June 7-10 commemorated 50 years of dispossession of the Palestinian people. The conference overwhelmingly rejected the Oslo accords and discussed the

US agency bows to pressure on organic standards

US agency bows to pressure on organic standards After receiving more than 200,000 comments from farmers, environmentalists, consumers and others, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is backing down on proposed national organic

Building workers strike against award stripping

Building workers strike against award stripping By Shane Bentley The construction industry was halted by a 24-hour national strike on June 15 to protest against the award stripping provisions of the Workplace Relations Act. The strike went ahead

Benefit gig for Indonesian prisoners

Benefit gig for Indonesian prisoners BRISBANE — The fall of Suharto and his replacement by B.J. Habibie, while not representing fundamental democratic change in Indonesia, have led to the release of a small number of political prisoners. Despite

Seeking the truth about the Vietnam War

Cultural Battles: the meaning of the Viet Nam-USA warBy Peter McGregorScam Publications — 1998, 214 pp., $16.95 (pb) Review by Brendan Doyle As a contemporary of Peter McGregor who, like him, was first politicised by the Vietnam War, I welcome

Contracting dirty business on NSW railways

Contracting dirty business on NSW railways By Peter Perkins In January, the NSW branch of the Public Transport Union distributed a bulletin warning that the state rail system was under threat from privatisation. Under the “Hilmer