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Why politicians lie

By Danny Fairfax Everybody knows that politicians are liars. A recent survey showed only 7% of the population think that politicians are trustworthy. The election campaign for the March 27 NSW election only served to confirm people's suspicions.

Mandatory sentencing and non-violent protest

Mandatory sentencing and non-violent protest By Robert Milne DARWIN — The Northern Territory's mandatory sentencing laws have always been controversial. Now NT police are attempting to use these laws, originally designed to protect property, to

PRD-PST state: 'East Timor is not part of Indonesia'

By Max Lane The major East Timorese newspapers Suara Timor Timur and Novas carried lead stories on March 29 about Indonesia's People's Democratic Party's (PRD) position on East Timorese self-determination. That day, the Election Implementation

Russia and Yugoslavia: letting NATO off the hook

By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — With a shower of paint bombs, rocks, eggs and bottles, thousands of demonstrators outside the US embassy here on March 25 expressed outrage at the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. Next morning, an estimated 5000

Arguments for Socialism:Education should be for people

By Chris Caston What is the role of the education system in capitalist society? School is certainly not about helping to develop freethinking people with the courage to act on their convictions. The school system encourages competition more than

NTEU highlights education decline

NTEU highlights education decline By Jeremy Smith The stand-off between the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) and the senior management at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Sydney University, along with a proposed strike at

Whither goes labour?

By Grant Holden In the summer of 1938, my grandfather, Frederick Holden, worked for a brewery. He carried bags of malt up a stairwell and deposited the malt into a giant vat. At that time, you wore a canvas hood which covered you from head to waist

Mexican indigenous rights referendum a big success

Mexican indigenous rights referendum a big success By Peter Gellert MEXICO CITY — On March 21, almost 3 million Mexicans participated in a makeshift referendum on indigenous rights called by the Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN). The

How the union won at Australian Dyeing

By Sarah Lantz MELBOURNE — One of the bitterest disputes in the history of the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Union was resolved on February 5. Victory for the union members at Australian Dyeing Company (ADC) came after 67 days on the picket

MUA election issues begin to surface

MUA election issues begin to surface By Dick Nichols Last week, seafarer members of the Maritime Union of Australia attending their monthly stop-work meeting were given the latest issue of Voice, the journal of the Maritime Unionists Socialist

Company sacks 550 meatworkers

Company sacks 550 meatworkers By Bronwen Beechey ADELAIDE — Five hundred and fifty meatworkers in the small town of Murray Bridge were sacked following the sale of Metro meatworks to the Adelaide-based CR&S. Workers at the plant were stood

Close Kariong youth detention centre!

SYDNEY — On March 3, Legal Aid's Children's Legal Service convened a meeting to discuss the announcement by the Ombudsman's Office of a inquiry into serious allegations against management and staff at the Kariong Detention Centre. The centre is the