�鶹��ý

Big performer “Allan Moss is worth 446 construction workers, 669 graduate teachers, 335 GPs or 108 prime ministers. The head of Macquarie Bank, who was paid $33.49 million last year, is worth 747 times the average Australian worker, who was paid $862 a week. It would take Mr Moss just three hours to earn that worker’s yearly income of about $45,000… But Mr Moss only gets paid so handsomely if he performs. Virtually all of his pay is tied to the bank’s profit performance, and his day-to-day salary is just $670,819 a year.” — Sydney Morning Herald, May 16.

On May 18 the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) expressed its support for Iraqi railways workers, who on May 15 began an indefinite strike to win a pay rise and basic rights. The strike action, backed by the vast majority of rail workers, paralysed the country’s main north/south rail corridor. Workers wanted improvements in salaries and conditions, as well as improved safety, protection from attack and fundamental workers’ rights. The ITF’s Mac Urata commented: “It beggars belief that the dictatorial anti-union laws of the Saddam Hussein era are still in place. Legislation denying rail and other public services workers the right to strike and belong to a union must be removed immediately. The ITF fully supports this legitimate action.”

The standard of health of Aborigines lags almost 100 years behind that of other Australians, according to the World Health Organisation.

MELBOURNE — Smells Like Sulphur is an exhibition of political art that is being billed as ‘a tribute to Venezuela and the art of telling Bush to piss off’. It will feature paintings by western suburbs artist Van Thanh Rudd, including works from his ‘Carriers Project’, which involves carrying political artwork for display on the streets and in public spaces around Melbourne. The exhibition will also feature photography of Venezuela’s unfolding revolution by Roberto Jorquera. The exhibition will run from May 23-June 9 at the Trocadero Art Space in Footscray. On June 2, Venezuelan charge d’affaires Nelson Davila will be special guest at a special opening night with live music from The Conch and Nicolas Jorquera. The Trocadero Art Space is open 11am to 6pm, Wednesdays to Saturdays.

Amidst allegations of intimidation and politically orchestrated violence in the wake of East Timor’s recent presidential election, political parties are preparing for the June 30 legislative election. The ruling party Fretilin, which won a majority of seats in the 2001 constituent assembly election, is facing the prospect of a significantly reduced representation in parliament.