
Issue No 120		23 November 2001

LaborNET	Ask Neale	Tool of the Week

Trades Hall

Paul Howes Week on the Web

Our cleft-chinned good time boy is back to find all that's geekish is gold.


	Labor for Refugees

The wake and the way forward

With the tragic lost two weeks ago, the labour movement is now going through a period of re-assessment and debating the way forward. Some of this debate is taking place online so I thought this week I would highlight some of those sites.

The Refugee Debate

A group of unionists and ALP members in Queensland have set up a group called Labor for Refugees (Qld). The organisation is lobbying the Federal Parliamentary Labor Party to adopt a humane and measured response towards refugees and asylum seekers. The organisation has also launched a website located at http://www.labor4refugees.org, it features model resolutions to be passed at Branch Meetings, Supporters Lists and General Information on their campaign.

The demands of the group and their methods are quite broad and it is obviously something that should receive cross-factional support, in would be more encouraging to see something similar formed in NSW and other states.

Arena Magazine has quite a lot of information on the current situation with Asylum Seekers as well as a fantastic talk by Julian Burnside QC entitled "Authoritarianism in the Name of Freedom" definitely worth a look http://www.arena.org.au.

And just quickly the Victorian Refugee Action Collective http://www.rac-vic.org has organized a "Rock Against Racism" outside the Maribyrnong Detention Centre on Saturday 24 November 2001, also check out their site to see their other activities.

Rebuilding the Front Line

The Federal ALP website has finally been updated after the election and is started to build-up information on the new opposition frontbench and hopefully soon new policies http://www.alp.org.au.

New on the Web

Now on to something totally different since I've been away campaigning on the Central Coast several new LaborNET sites have been launched:

ASU National Net http://www.asu.asn.au

CPSU-SPSF National Site (State Public Sector Unions) http://cpsu-spsf.asn.au

RTBU NSW Branch http://www.rtbu.asn.au

IT Workers Alliance http://itworkers-alliance.org

All of the sites are up to the usual Social Change Online standard, but I would really encourage you all to check out the IT Workers Alliance site, this has some great potential.

Some other new site have been launched recently which are worth checking out:

Australian Labor Party (NSW Branch) http://www.nswalp.com

Australian Young Labor http://www.australianyounglabor.net

AFL-CIO (US Version of the ACTU) http://www.aflcio.org (I know this isn't a new site but its well worth having a look at, it's interesting to watch the US Unions' repose to the September 11 Attacks as well as the War in Afghanistan.)

If you have any site you would like Paul to review let him know at mailto:[email protected]

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Issue 120 contents

Interview: Civilising Capital
Peter Butler is a global investor with a difference. He believes that environment, shareholder democracy and workers rights make good business sense.

Industrial: All In The Family
In his opening submission to the landmark case, ACTU assistant secretary Richard Marles argues working hours are vital to life.

Unions: Saving Cinderella
It is a modern day fairy tale - a Cinderella from the suburbs, worked like a slave from morning to night injured and then abandoned.

International: Recognising China
Gough Whitlam draws the links, past and present, between recognition of China and the continuing struggle to achieve a genuinely inclusive Australian democracy.

History: The Speakers Square
A new book lifts the lid on Melbourne's radical past - including the soapboxes that dotted the city in the 1890s.

Economics: Back to the Pack
The big story in this year�s State of the States League Table is the end of the long reign of New South Wales at the top of the heap.

Satire: Man Reneges On Promise To Leave The Country If Howard Re-Elected
A Sydney man has decided he won�t leave Australia despite the re-election of the Howard Government.

Review: When Hippes Meet Unionists
A new book investigates how links between politics and culture reached a high point in the 1970s

» Calls for ALP Fundraising Code

» Mad Monk Keeps IR

» Ignored Warnings Bring Tragic Results

» ACTU Executive To Mark Union Bounce Back

» Workers Will Lose from Unfair Contract Changes

» Tassie On Top, While NSW And WA Slip

» Costa Gets First Union Call

» Hamberger in Hot Water

» Egan to Pay for Welfare Win

» Sweet Victory for Sugar Workers

» Selectron Demise Spells Death of Tech Inustry

» Telco Industry Growth Hits The Wall

» Shocking Conditions in Clothing Industry

» Workers Force Council Backdown

» New Dili Project Launched

» Airport Guards Welcome Work Study Case

» No News is Bad News for the Bush

» Getonboard Closes Doors

» Activists Notebook

» Organiser of the Year Nominations Open

» The Soapbox

» The Soapbox

» Trades Hall

» Tool Shed

» The Cost a Costa

» Unionism and the ALP - a Workers View.

» Is 60-40 Good Odds?

» Ancient OHS - The Wergild Sysstem

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