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Issue No. 130 05 April 2002  
E D I T O R I A L

Lights Out on The Hill
If it's any consolation, the Labor Party is not alone in tying itself into knots over what it stands for in the 21st century.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Change Agent
ALP national secretary Geoff Walsh on the changing nature of politics, the influence of the corporates and the upcoming review of the party.

Industrial: Balancing the Books
Jim Marr talks to one of the beneficiaries of the historic equal pay decision for librarians and archivists.

Unions: Breaking Out
When a bank executive stepped into the witness box to defend the gagging of a worker from talking to the media, the excuses collapsed into a sea of psycho-babble.

Politics: Pissing on the Light on the Hill
Paul Smith argues that those who don�t like the ALP's Socialist Objective should consider joining another party.

History: Of Death and Taxes
He was a conservative economist who became the darling of the Left. Neale Towart looks back on the myth and realty of James Tobin.

International: Now That's a Strike!
After one of the largest mobilisations of workers in history, Italian trade unionists are planning to do it all again.

Satire: Mugabe Voted Miss Zimbabwe: Denies Election Rigged
The newly re-elected Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, has officially been crowned Miss Zimbabwe, describing his triumph as �a victory for black fashionablism�.

Poetry: Flick Go The Branches
Once upon a time, the song �Click Go The Shears� could be heard echoing through the pubs of vibrant country towns.

Review: Red, Red Clydeside
Renowned folk singer Alistair Hulett is currently touring Australia with his new album �Red Clydeside�. He speaks to Nick Martin.

N E W S

 NAB Gambles, Aussies Lose

 Brogden's Worker Creds On The Line

 Cole Cleans Up

 Melbourne Faces Budget Day Gridlock

 Equity Drive Gathers Steam

 Unions Call for Middle East Peace

 Queensland Casuals Step Forward

 Worker Stood Down for Dunny Action

 Zoo Workers in Wage Jungle

 Indigenous Jobs on Union Agenda

 Building Workers Honour Fallen Cop

 Robbo and Latham to Go Three Rounds

 ACT Health Workers Flex Muscles

 Small Victory at Shangri-La

 Casual Rights On Agenda As Full-Time Jobs Collapse

 Workers Health Centre Offers Affordable Care

 Activists Notebook

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
What's Wrong With the Liberals
Liberal figure and ARM chief Greg Barnes argues that the modern Liberal Party has little to do with liberalism.

Sport
When The Axe Comes Down
Phil Doyle braved the crowds at the Royal Easter Show to witness one of the giants of the wood-chopping game.

Week in Review
Battle Cries
What an Easter � Sydneysiders soak up the sun saluting Sunline while, elsewhere, the dogs of war are slipping their chains.

Postcard
Razor's Edge
Vince Caughley writes from Woomera where he participated in the protests over the Easter Long weekend.

L E T T E R S
 Puplick's Sermon
 Chikka's Legacy
 Socialists in the UK
 Organising Globally
 Grape Disappointment
 Union Resignations : Crisis or Opportunity?
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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News

Indigenous Jobs on Union Agenda


Unions and business are being urged to �get serious� about addressing the plight of indigenous Australians in the workplace.

Labor Council secretary John Robertson is offering to host a multi-party forum that will address the practical reality of getting Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders into meaningful training and employment.

"We should use our corporate contacts to get commitments on engaging local communities in developing structured employment programmes," Robertson says.

"Being a good corporate citizen is about more than signing a check and washing your hands of this issue and so is being a good trade unionist.

"If we are going to move beyond tokenism unions need to take a leadership role and part of that is ensuring that Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders are present at all levels of our own organisations."

Robertson was responding to an address from Kevin Tory, a trade unionist for 45 years, who convenes its Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Committee.

Tory asked Aboriginal Council delegates to identified themselves, an exercise which revealed just three of more than 100 worker representatives present were of indigenous descent.

His committee lists employment, training, education and pegging back frightening indigenous incarceration rates as targets for immediate action.


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