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Sex workers rally in Brisbane

Sex workers and their allies rallied for law reform and an end to stigma in Brisbane on March 8. It was the first public rally held by Respect Inc, a peer-led rights and support organisation for sex workers. Twenty people wearing red, holding signs and displaying red umbrellas gathered in Queens Garden and marched to Parliament House.

Speaking out against Queensland's 17-year-old sex work laws and chanting, 鈥淣othing about us without us,鈥 workers demanded the Labor state government consult with them to ensure legal changes that would decriminalise their work.

Argentine footballers strike over pay, reach agreement

Professional football players are the latest sector to hold strikes in Argentina amid a struggling economy and harsh austerity measures imposed by right-wing President Mauricio Macri.聽

Good news (for a change)

Commonwealth Bank to repay superannuation

The Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has agreed to repay employer superannuation to more than 7000 part-time workers that was not applied to overtime over the past eight years.

The CBA will repay the superannuation to all part-time workers since 2009, including those who have switched to full-time positions or have since left the bank. The average payment is $180 a year.

The CBA maintains it was not breaking the law by only paying superannuation on ordinary hours to part-time staff rather than extra hours or overtime.

US teen first openly gay football recruit

鈥淚 just don鈥檛 see how I could be living an honest, truthful life and have that in the background,鈥 said My-King Johnson, the first openly gay recruit in major conference American college football (grid iron) on his sexuality.

Mike Baird鈥檚 hopeless quest to build 'respect' for National Australia Bank

"Former NSW Premier Mike Baird has enthusiastically accepted a job at the National Australia Bank as chief customer officer, in order to spend less time with his family," The Chaser revealed on February 28.

"Baird has reported an exhausting five weeks spending quality time with his children. According to Lucy Baird, his eldest daughter, Baird's return has polled badly among the family, following his controversial policy of putting his children to bed two hours earlier than they were previously used to.

Brazilian, Costa Rican footballers stand against gendered violence

The Brazilian football team El Cruzeiro wore T-shirts highlighting the many issues that women in the South American country still face on a daily basis. Meanwhile, a similar initiative was announced by the Costa Rican football league. On March 8, players did not celebrate goals scored as part of a campaign meant to express solidarity with women victims of violence.

Voters want to keep penalty rates

An Essential poll released on March 7 found 56% of voters disapprove of the Fair Work Commission鈥檚 decision to cut penalty rates in the retail, hospitality, fast food and pharmacy industries, while 32% approve.

Asked what would be the result of the cuts, 57% said businesses would make bigger profits; only 24% thought more people would be employed.

On whether the government should legislate to protect penalty rates, 51% said yes while 31% said it should accept the decision.

Ex-Matildas star slams empty symbols, calls for action on women's sports

鈥淚鈥檇 like to call bullshit.鈥 So declared Melissa Barbieri, a former captain of Australian women鈥檚 football (soccer) team the Matildas, on the symbolic support for women鈥檚 rights offered by sporting clubs and bodies on International Women鈥檚 Day.

ACOSS: Robo-debt system an abuse of government power

The Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) said on March 7 it feared the system鈥檚 treatment of welfare recipients was scaring individuals away from exercising their right to claim income support.

Speaking as the Senate inquiry into the Centrelink debt recovery system began, ACT ACOSS Director Susan Helyar described the system as an abuse of government power that was undermining confidence in public administration.

鈥淪ome of our members have wondered whether individuals are being encouraged to stay out of the welfare system,鈥 she said.

MUA denied entry to inspect Barangaroo work death

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) said it was prevented from conducting a safety inspection at a construction site at the giant Barangaroo project at Darling Harbour, where a 32-year-old worker was killed on March 1. Tim Macpherson, father of a young family, was crushed to death when a large metal beam fell on top of him at the Barangaroo Ferry Hub worksite.

MUA Sydney deputy secretary Paul Keating said he attempted to inspect the site when his union was notified in November about concerns that the barge used at the site did not comply with maritime standards.

Rally called against WestConnex at NSW Parliament

The campaign against the NSW Coalition government's controversial WestConnex tollway is mounting. In addition to various locality groups maintaining their protests, a combined rally 鈥 鈥淕rand Theft WestConnex 鈥 has been called outside NSW State Parliament on March 30 from 4.30pm.

The rally has been endorsed by a number of anti-WestConnex groups, and is seeking further endorsements. The rally is demanding that the $1.6 billion federal loan for WestConnex, which is yet to be paid, be stopped.

Julian Assange on Chavez, Ecuador and WikiLeaks鈥 struggle for truth and justice

Letter sent by Julian Assange to the XV Encounter of the Network of Intellectuals, Artists and Social Movements in Defence of Humanity, held in Caracas, Venezuela over March 6-7, 2017.