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BHP launches battle for individual contracts

By Anthony Benbow PERTH — Since mid-November, BHP Iron Ore workers at the company's operations at Mt Newman and Port Hedland in WA's north-west have had to deal with unprecedented individual contracts. For decades, workers at the mine and

Chile's social democracy struggling in election

Chile's social democracy struggling in election By Jorge Jorquera SANTIAGO — On December 12, Chileans will elect a new president. Extreme right-wing candidate Joaquim Lavin has been gaining ground on a campaign "for change"; Chileans are weary

Conference discusses US role in Colombian conflict

Conference discusses US role in Colombian conflict By Jorge Jorquera QUITO, Ecuador — On November 25-26, more than 60 international delegates and 300 Ecuadoran human rights and social justice activists met here at the Conference for Peace and

News briefs

Aboriginal death in WA prison PERTH — Murray Jones, the new chairperson of the WA Deaths In Custody Watch Committee, expressed his sorrow and anger on November 29 at the death of yet another Aboriginal man in custody. "How many more of our

Coincidence in media-land?

Coincidence in media-land? By Sean Healy The editors of the establishment newspapers — especially the "quality" broadsheets — claim that their editorial decisions on what is, and isn't, news are not influenced by the business interests of

Australian solidarity activist jailed in Jakarta

Australian solidarity activist jailed in Jakarta By Max Lane Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor member Chris Latham was arrested in Jakarta on November 29. Latham, who is a student in Sydney, was participating in a demonstration

Public meeting condemns white Australia policy

Public meeting condemns white Australia policy By Edward Johnstone BRISBANE — Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly hosted an emergency public meeting here on December 1, entitled "Reject the new white Australia policy", in response to the federal government's

ALP rejects funding for East Timor

ALP rejects funding for East Timor The Victorian branch of the ALP has voted against a proposal to provide the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT) with $5000 for urgent reconstruction work in East Timor. The motion, proposed by the Labor

Can the salt supertanker be turned around?

By Jim Green Australia faces "massive economic, environment and social challenges" due to excessive concentrations of salts in soils and waterways, according to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). Arresting the

Loose cannons

Well, yes "It shows that the little man ... can ... get justice. However, the fact that it took him nine years to do it proves that the system does have its problems." — Tasmanian Senator Paul Calvert on Geoff Marr, who had just won an unfair

Keep your finger on the pulse

Keep your finger on the pulse Just because Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly is taking a break for the next six weeks, you don't have to lose touch with what's going on in the green and left movements. Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly's TV show in Sydney (on channel 31) will

Radical LA band to play free

Radical LA band to play free By Norm Dixon SYDNEY — Ozomatli, a politically and musically incendiary band from Los Angeles' sprawling and distressed working-class suburbs, is coming to Sydney for three free concerts at Darling Harbour. No