Aussies’ cushy lifestyles may make them tougher on refugees – sociologist

Australians’ comfortable lifestyle may make them less sympathetic to refugees, a refugees advocate said yesterday. Sociologist and mental health nurse Jane Hasler said many people were driven by the “I’m all right Jack” philosophy. There was a prevailing attitude of “don’t come and play in my back yard”. Dr Hasler spoke to Newsbytes before the […]


Rally told public service cuts will hurt kids

Angry public sector workers marched through city streets waving dolls to represent children they said would suffer from public service job cuts. Community Service Department members said the children would not receive the same attention when the workers were gone. Secretary of the union Together, Alex Scott, said the loss of temporary jobs in these […]


Tent embassy protesters surround police watchhouse

Sovereign tent embassy protesters brought CBD traffic to a standstill today when they marched from Parliament to Roma Street watchhouse after their eviction from Musgrave Park. The Aboriginal elders and supporters took over the streets, causing chaos to lunchtime traffic. Around 200 people walked the route yelling slogans and waving signs. “One two three, sovereignty, […]


31 arrested at Musgrave Park tent embassy

Thirty-one people were arrested as hundreds of police officers moved to evict protestors from the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Musgrave Park, South Brisbane this morning. The Brisbane City Council ordered the eviction in preparation of this weekend’s annual Paniyiri Greek festival which uses the park. Police began closing nearby streets and surrounding the camp at […]


Union movement celebrates as Labor apologises

The Labor Party used today’s Labor Day march in Brisbane to apologise for the defeated state government’s privatisation policies. Queensland opposition leader Anastacia Palasczuk told marchers she would return the party to its traditional values. Ms Palasczuk apologized for privatisation under the Labor Government and promised she would “bring back the old values”. She received […]


Gold Coast celebrates a multicultural Labor Day

With flags fluttering and to the bagpipe strains of “Hills Of Argyle”, the Gold Coast Labor Day march set off this morning from outside the Southport Workers’ Club. After a tough 12 months dealing with issues like the health payroll crisis, the Queensland Nurses’ Union led the cavalcade along Scarborough Street to the Broadwater Parklands. […]


Sea of red as thousands rally for the disabled

Rallies were held around the country today to raise awareness of the financial difficulties facing people with disabilities and their carers and to promote the National Disability Insurance Scheme. About a thousand people including many with disabilities, Paralympians, carers and representatives of various disability groups including Endeavour, Cerebal Palsy League and Spinal Injuries Association of […]


Carers tell of financial challenges

Families of many disabled Australians suffer financial hardship caring for their loved ones. This was a common story told by carers and family members gathered at Reddacliff Place in Brisbane today to advocate for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Event organiser Fiona Anderson of the Every Australian Counts campaign had first-hand experience with the […]


Protestors call for stop to Chinese live organ harvesting

About 40 protestors held a candlelight vigil and gathered signatures in King George Square last week to draw attention to reported live organ harvesting of political prisoners in China. The Falun Gong group, a banned organisation in China, says 45,000 of its members have had organs harvested against their will. Falun Gong Queensland spokesman John […]


Assange’s mother fears for his life

Julian Assange’s mother Christine fears for her son’s life. She told a Wikileaks forum in Brisbane at the weekend the Australian government was not doing enough to help her son. “Our government does not stand up for its people and does not stand up for the freedom of press,” she said. Ms Assange said Julia […]


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 […]


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