Melbourne chocolate protest less bitter than before
Anti-Israel demonstrators were much quieter in Melbourne on Friday night than at the violent July protest that resulted in the arrest of 19 people. The calls for boycotts of the Max Brenner chocolate chain store was restrained compared with the earlier protest where many demonstrators were charged with trespassing and assaulting police. Protest organiser Vashti [...]
Protesters clash at Southbank Max Brenner store
Protesters clashed outside chocolate cafe Max Brenner yesterday, when those in support of a boycott on the Israeli-owned business were verbally attacked by counter-protesters. About 40 members of the groups Justice for Palestine, Socialist Alliance and the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions on Israel movement, marched on the Southbank store in dismal weather conditions. Indignant [...]
Thousands call on Parliament to ban live animal exports
Thousands of people joined protests in capital cities over the weekend to urge the Australian Parliament to ban live export in Australia. The rallies follow a lift on a temporary ban put in place after footage of the mistreatment of cattle in Indonesian abattoirs was aired on ABC’s Four Corners program. Animals Australia advocate and [...]
Hundreds rally for same-sex marriage
Hundreds of people calling for legalisation of same-sex marriage protested outside Sydney’s Town Hall on Saturday. Co-convenor of the Community Action Against Homophobia, Cat Rose, told the crowd protests would put pressure on the Labor Party before its national conference in December when changes to the law would be debated. The group seeks repeal of [...]
Building workers rally in city
Hundreds of angry construction workers have marched on the Commonwealth Law Courts building to protest over contracts. In their second major protest this year the workers took action yesterday against alleged sham contracting in the construction industry. About 500 workers from four unions stopped work to protest the court’s recent finding against them, as well [...]
Hundreds march in protest at swearing fines
Hundreds of protesters marched in Melbourne on Saturday to protest against on-the-spot fines for offensive language in public. About 500 mainly young protesters chanted slogans demanding free speech not fines in the CBD. Yelling offensive words they marched from Flinders Street station and down Bourke St demanding the government scrap the legislation to fine people. [...]
Conservationists tackle fishing industry over marine park
A petition to create the world’s largest marine Park in Australia’s Coral Sea has stirred controversy with claims the park would damage the nation’s fishing industry. The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) has organised a petition calling for protection of marine life in the Coral Sea. But the proposal has left many in the fishing [...]
Meatworkers join rally against live cattle exports
Protesters gathered in Ipswich CBD on Saturday to demand the federal government ban live export of cattle to Indonesia, with chants of “We want live exports banned” and “Shame on Gillard”. Local stud owners and meatworkers joined the protest to oppose live exports – although meatworkers’ concerns seemed more with employment opportunities than animal welfare. [...]
Thousands rally in Brisbane to call for carbon tax
Thousands of people today rallied in Brisbane to support the federal government’s proposed carbon tax ‘Say YES’ organisers believe that up to 5000 people attended the rally at the Brisbane Riverstage. Waving placards, people called for action on climate change and supported a price on carbon. Among the audience was federal treasurer Wayne Swan and [...]
‘Sluts’ march in Brisbane to protest sexual assault
Hundreds of women marched through the streets of Brisbane yesterday to protest against victim-blaming and sexual assault at Australia’s first “Slutwalk”. The march followed Candian protests when a policeman told university students not to “dress like sluts” if they wanted to avoid sexual assault. The students created Slutwalk, which has quickly became a global phenomenon. [...]