Stonewall speak-out
CANBERRA — Around 20 people attended a speak-out on June 28 organised by Resistance to commemorate the 28th anniversary of the riots at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. Speakers addressed the history of the riots, past and present laws on sexuality, sexuality and socialism, issues confronting young lesbians and discrimination against bisexuals.
Bougainville protests
On June 23, the Bougainville Freedom Movement held actions in Sydney, Canberra and Brisbane in support of four non-government organisation staff charged by the PNG government with "unlawful assembly". The four had participated in peaceful protest against the PNG government's attempt to send mercenaries to fight in Bougainville.
Vikki John told the Sydney protest, "Julius Chan's cabinet hired mercenaries to exterminate the people of Bougainville. The wrong people are in court." When the four appeared in a Port Moresby court on June 25, the case was adjourned to July 25.
Rally against racism
BRISBANE — More than 100 English as a second language teachers and students rallied against racism on June 15. Speakers included ESL teacher John Lambert, the Australian Democrats' Andrew Bartlet and an ALP representative.
Several speakers accused the Campaign Against Racism of encouraging violence, negativity and hatred, and CAR activists were refused permission to announce an upcoming protest on the Gold Coast against One Nation.
Radco workers still fighting
ADELAIDE — Retrenched workers at Radco Crane Hire have ended their camp outside the company premises after management threatened to remove them under clauses of the new industrial relations legislation, and also because there had been no attempt to restart the business since workers were locked out several weeks ago. The workers are still challenging their dismissals through the Industrial Relations Commission.
Aid for Ireland meets
ADELAIDE — Australian Aid for Ireland held its annual general meeting at the beginning of June. Activists from all over Australia gathered at the Irish Club for two days of intensive discussion and to elect a committee for the coming year.
AAI president Michael Morgan congratulated members on their efforts in the past year, in particular the $10,000 sent to prisoners' families aid.
AAI's main objectives in the coming year are: to raise money and awareness around the 700 Republican political prisoners around the world; to carry on the legal battle to overcome Gerry Adams' visa denial; and to prepare events commemorating the 200th anniversary of the rising of 1798.
Let Adams speak!
BRISBANE — Around 250 people attended the Visa for Adams Committee's fundraiser at the Queensland Irish Association on June 26. The event was sponsored by Australian Aid for Ireland, and supported by the ACTU (Qld).
Council for Civil Liberties President Terry O'Gorman told the gathering that Australians had a right to hear Gerry Adams speak and make up their own minds about the situation in Ireland.
Illawarra network formed
WOLLONGONG — Residents of the northern suburbs of Illawarra met on June 22 to form the North Illawarra Social Justice Network. The network hopes to promote education, action and information exchange on social justice issues. Contact Ian Miles (042) 672 608 or Bruce Reyburn by e-mail: reyburn@peg.apc.org.
Aboriginal rights march
DARWIN — A march and concert in support of Aboriginal rights is planned for August 2. Titled "Walking Together", the event is intended as a focus for community support for Aboriginal people against the government's attacks on native title and its failure to deal with the consequences of the stolen generation and Aboriginal deaths in custody.
Participants will gather at Myilly Point at 4pm for the march to Mindil Beach, where speakers from Aboriginal, community and church groups will be followed by an evening of entertainment. To contact the steering committee, fax Jane Christsen on (08) 8948 2134, or post to PO Box 727, Nightcliff NT 0814.
McDonald's picket
ADELAIDE — Organised by Animal Liberation, on June 28 around 50 people picketed the McDonald's restaurant in Rundle Mall in response to the verdict in the long-running "Mclibel" case in London.
Protesters handed out leaflets highlighting McDonald's cruel treatment of animals and copies of the original "What's wrong with McDonald's" leaflet that led to the libel case.
Assassination condemned
MELBOURNE — Sixty East Timorese and supporters protested outside the Indonesian consulate on June 27 against the assassination of East Timorese guerilla leader David Alex. A picket, to continue until July 4, has been established. Organisers ask supporters of East Timorese freedom to join them at the consulate, 72 Queens Road, South Melbourne.
Bondi Junction developments opposed
SYDNEY — Four hundred people rallied in Bondi Junction mall on June 28 to protest against plans by companies Westfield and Meriton to develop sites on both sides of Oxford Street east of Grosvenor Street, the site of the bus/rail interchange and the Adelaide Street car park.
Meriton's proposal for the interchange includes exceeding local height limitations of 56 metres, with two apartment blocks reaching 78 metres and 93 metres.
Westfield's application involves linking the two sides of Oxford Street with an overhead bridge and an underground tunnel. The complex would hold 230 shops and a cinema complex, impacting on already inadequate parking facilities and public transport.
Workers defend award
SYDNEY — Around 2500 workers from a range of unions rallied on June 26 in opposition to provisions of the Howard government's Workplace Relations Act allowing the stripping of awards to 20 minimum conditions, which come into effect on July 1.
Workers marched to state parliament, where they joined the NSW Labour Council's rally against the privatisation of the NSW electricity industry, attended by more than 1000 electricity workers.
Launch of Racial Respect
CANBERRA — The ACT branch of Racial Respect was launched on June 25. Racial Respect has its roots in the Immigration Reform Group (IRG), which assisted in the overturning of the white Australia policy in the 1960s. Racial Respect, the Council for Civil Liberties and the Ethnic Communities Council are organising a community forum on August 16.
Workers picket Sara Lee
SYDNEY — Workers are maintaining a 24-hour picket outside the Sara Lee plant at Kirrawee after being told on June 17 that the plant would close that day, and all 80 workers would be sacked. Two-thirds of the work force were casuals, and despite being long-term workers, got no redundancy payments.
Workers are calling for a boycott of Kirrawee products like Coles Farmland cakes, Woolworths Home Brand cakes and a range of Bon Gateaux cakes.
Speak-out against CYA
BRISBANE — On June 26, Resistance held a speak-out against the youth dole cuts in the Howard government's common youth allowance. The speak-out, held outside the Department of Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs offices in the city, began with street theatre.
Resistance organiser Zanny Begg said that the CYA as "is being used to scapegoat youth for the unemployment problem so the government doesn't address the real issues". Other speakers attacked the work for the dole scheme.
Solidarity with Mexico
BRISBANE — Thirty people attended a rally here on June 27, organised by the Committee in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean as part of a national day of action in solidarity with the Zapatista movement in Mexico.
Sponsors included the Brisbane Zapatista Front, El Salvador Solidarity, the Democratic Socialist Party and Resistance. CISLAC is circulating a petition calling on the Mexican government to release all political prisoners and to sign a peace accord with the people of Chiapas.
TWU takes removalist to court
CANBERRA — Around 60 workers attended a rally outside the Canberra offices of the removal firm Atlantis Relocations on June 26. Atlantis has forced workers to sign an Australian Workplace Agreement under which workers are paid a flat rate of $12.50 an hour, with no overtime penalties.
Transport Workers Union branch secretary Trevor Santi said that Atlantis workers "work a lot of overtime — outside of hours at night and the weekends because they're doing office relocations and the only suitable time to do those is when the offices are empty".