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Gay law reform victory close

By Tony Iltis HOBART — Tasmania's Legislative Council has finally agreed, in principle, to repeal the state's notorious laws which make homosexuality an imprisonable offence. At the time of writing, however, the upper house was still debating

'An MP should be a public servant'

Reprinted here is an abridged version of Pam Corkery's February 20 maiden speech to the New Zealand parliament. Corkery left her 19-year career in broadcasting to stand for the Alliance in the October general election. Her media career — in both

A grand sweep of history and class conflict

A grand sweep of history and class conflict World's Endby T. Coraghessan BoyleBloomsbury, 1996. 456 pp., $16.95 (pb) Review by Phil Shannon If the obsessively introspective focus of most novels these days either puts you to sleep or has you

New US nukes targeted at Third World

New US nukes targeted at Third World By David Muller The US government is stepping up the technological and nuclear arms race against the Third World. In early April, six radar-evading B-2 "Stealth" bombers were officially commissioned into

Wallis gives banks the green light on fees

By Chow Wei Cheng The Wallis Inquiry recommendations, released on April 9, head back towards the days of 19th century unfettered capitalism. While Wallis recognises that bank profitability is already in the "middle to upper range", the thrust of

Belgian troops tortured, murdered Somalis

Belgian troops tortured, murdered Somalis By Norm Dixon Leaked photographs and eyewitness accounts reveal that elite Belgian paratroopers assigned to the United Nations US-led "Operation Restore Hope" mission in Somalia in 1993 engaged in

Taking control of our lives

Events like the mass suicides of cult members in California recently are symptoms of an acute social sickness of extreme conditions of human alienation. There are other, more "ordinary", examples of this alienation in our daily lives. These

A trip worth taking

Get on the BusDirected by Spike LeeWritten by Reggie Rock BythewoodWith Charles Dutton, Ossie Davis, Andre Braugher, DeAundre Bonds, Thomas Byrd, Gabriel Casseus, Albert Hall, Harry Lennix, Hill Harper, Bernie Mac, Wendell Pierce, Roger Guenveur

Victorian CPSU leader opposes strike action

Victorian CPSU leader opposes strike action By Chris Slee MELBOURNE — Sue Mountford, secretary of the Victorian branch of the Community and Public Sector Union, argued against setting a date for strike action in support of the union's

Write on: letters to the editor

Sexist language? I am writing in response to Lisa Macdonald's comments on gender-specific terminology in "What's in a name?" (GLW #268). She was correct in pointing out that "language reflects rather than shapes reality". I also agree that it

Gay and lesbian rights: is there anything to fight for?

By Marina Cameron The Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney prompted an article in the Sydney Morning Herald on March 3 to pose the question, "What's the point of being gay?". Increased acceptance in some workplaces, more mass advertising aimed

Visible to all except the Australian government

Children of the Resistance: The current situation in East Timor as seen through the eyes of two Australian touristsBy Rebecca Winters and Brian KellyAustralians for a Free East Timor, 1996. 36 pp., $6 Review by Jon Lamb Children of the