In a significant break through, a rank-and-file ticket 鈥 Members Voice (MV) 鈥 won the presidency in the NSW Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) elections in February.
Members Voice stood on a clear platform of opposition to privatisation. This was the first challenge to the ALP-controlled leadership since the 1980s.
麻豆传媒 Weekly鈥檚 John Coleman spoke to incoming president Tony Clear about his vision for the union.
Why did you decide to run in the elections?
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Thousands of people packed into Sydney鈥檚 Town Hall on March 16 to hear journalist John Pilger, independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Julian Burnside QC speak out in support of WikiLeaks and its editor-in-chief Julian Assange.
Assange fears he may be extradited to the US and face Guantanamo Bay-style incarceration for publishing leaked US embassy cables.
Sydney Peace Foundation chairperson Mary Kostakidis presented the forum. She asked the audience to send a message to politicians in Canberra saying, 鈥淗illary Clinton says WikiLeaks is a danger to the world 鈥 what do all of you think?鈥
In the midst of widespread anger at the on-going privatisation agenda, blatant corruption and developer connections of the New South Wales Labor government, the Liberal/National Coalition appears set to romp home in the March 26 NSW elections.
With a Coalition government likely to extend the privatisation agenda even further, including massive cuts to the public sector and public services, the NSW Greens鈥 have come under fire for failing to direct their preferences to Labor.
The government of Bahrain unleashed a brutal crackdown and invited in foreign troops on March 14 in an attempt to end pro-democracy protests that have lasted for more than a month.
The standard of living for the people of Greece has dropped dramatically since the signing of the first 鈥渕emorandum鈥 鈥 the agreement signed by the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) government with the IMF and European Union (EU) representatives last May.
The agreement has meant 鈥 among other things 鈥 unprecedented salary cuts, a rise in the allowed number of dismissals and a reduction in termination pay, and a cut in the minimum wage for those entering the workforce.
On March 17, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 鈥渆ffectively authorized the use of force in Libya鈥, the UN News Center said that day.
鈥淎cting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which provides for the use of force if needed,鈥 the report said, 鈥渢he Council adopted a resolution by 10 votes to zero, with five abstentions, authorizing Member States 鈥榯o take all necessary measures 鈥 to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamhariya, including Benghazi, while excluding an occupation force.鈥欌
鈥淲e have intelligence that your government has been exchanging information with foreign powers about Australian citizens working for WikiLeaks,鈥 Julian Assange told Prime Minister Julia Gillard in his video question as part of ABC's Q&A on March 14.
Assange's question came after Gillard had said: 鈥淚 can respect whistleblowing if your motivation is to right wrong.鈥 But she said she did not see any 鈥渕oral purpose ... at the centre of WikiLeaks鈥.
Gillard said she didn't have a 鈥済reat deal of respect鈥 for Assange and described his motivation as 鈥渟ort of anarchic鈥.
Star Fucking Hipsters are a New York-based punk band. It was formed in 2005 by members from other punk acts, including Leftover Crack, Ensign and The Ergs! The band鈥檚 third album, From the Dumpster to the Grave, is due for release this year.
The NSW Greens announced their Solar Thermal Power Plant initiative on March 13: a policy to build three baseload solar thermal power plants in NSW and create new green jobs.
At the official launch of the Greens' state election campaign at Balmain Town Hall, Greens MP and lead upper house candidate David Shoebridge announced:
鈥淭he Greens will work in the next parliament to deliver three solar baseload thermal power stations with heat storage to be built in the state's central West, funded by green infrastructure bonds.
Crime and Misconduct Comission (CMC) chair Martin Moynihan said on March 15 that the anti-corruption watchdog would take no further action against police accused of covering-up the death in custody of Palm Island Aboriginal man Mulrunji Doomadgee in November 2004.
In response, Aboriginal community leader Sam Watson said: 鈥淭he Queensland police service have blood on their hands. This result means that the CMC [Crime and Misconduct Commission] has blood on its hands too.鈥
I am sure we all shared similar reactions to last week鈥檚 earthquake-tsunami tragedy in Japan.
First, we blinked at reports of a big earthquake. Perhaps for a moment our response was dulled 鈥攚orn down by the string of recent disasters: the Christchurch earthquake, the Queensland floods and cyclones.
Anyway, this was Japan, a rich country and probably the most earthquake-prepared nation in the world.
After ousting former President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his supporters from office, the Tunisians have again hit the streets 鈥 this time, to demonstrate against the visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
About 300 people demonstrated at Tunis鈥 central Avenue Bourguiba against her visit on March 16, Reuters said.
The next day, Clinton met with President Foued Mebazaa and Prime Minister Beji Caid Essebsi. About 100 people protested, in the face of dozens of riot police, two military helicopters and a water cannon, Al Jazeera said.
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