BRISBANE — The Queensland government has issued a special permit to developer Keith Williams which will prevent demonstrators entering his controversial Hinchinbrook project site. The permit to occupy a marine park was pushed through by the Premiers's Department and gazetted on November 11. It allows Williams to eject protesters from land which was previously regarded as public space. Environmentalists are campaigning against the destruction of mangroves at the Oyster Point project, near Hinchinbrook Island on the Queensland central coast.
HOBART — Five hundred people protested outside the World Ecotourism Congress at the Wrest Point Casino on November 11. The rally was organised by the Wilderness Society to highlight the hypocrisy of the Tasmanian Forestry Corporation, which says that its work in the forests is good for ecotourism. Bob Brown, Christine Milne and Peg Putt from the Tasmanian Greens addressed the rally, as did delegates to the conference Penny Figgis, president of American Wildlands Sally Ranney and botanist David Bellamy.
PERTH — Around 5000 gays and lesbians marched in the annual Lesbian and Gay Pride march through the centre of inner suburban Northbridge on the evening of November 5. There were many floats organised by gay venues, gay and lesbian organisations and AIDS support groups. Organisations attending included Dykes on Bikes, WA Leather Pride and the WA AIDS Council. Thousands of supporters lined the streets. Following the march, many participants went on to an all-night Pride Party.
SYDNEY — A fundraising dinner for the ReWorking Australia Movement will be held at the Harold Park Hotel in Glebe on the evening of November 28. The event will be chaired by Freda Whitlam, AM, former moderator of the Uniting Church in NSW. Guest speaker is John Langmore, Labor MHR for Fraser. Cost of the three-course dinner is $30. Bookings essential on 310 4441 or (ah) 825 2381.
- Library staff at the Sydney Institute of Technology, covering seven campuses, stopped work for two hours on November 9 to discuss a 10% cut to the staffing budget of campus libraries. The proposed cut was to be achieved by terminating 12 temporary staff occupying permanent positions, nearly one-third of staff rostered to service points. PSA/CPSU members in other Â鶹´«Ã½ said the cuts were being applied to their Â鶹´«Ã½ also. The staff voted to ban night shift from the following evening, pending the results of a delegation to the library management. After meeting with the staff delegation, management decided to retain the 12 staff and to leave the library staffing budget intact.