E D I T O R I A L

With Prejudice
For anyone doubting the ability of an incumbent government to control the political agenda, this week's sitting of the Cole Royal Commission into the Building Industry made fascinating viewing.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Class Action
NSW Teachers Federation general secretary Barry Johnson on Bob Carr's election budget and what he needs to do to win back the profession.

Safety: A Mother's Tale
Robin McGoldrick relives the tragedy that prompted her to confront Royal Commissioner Terence Cole over workplace story.

Unions: The Hottest Seat in Town
Nostalgia buffs should make a point of catching at least one session of Tony Abbott�s controversial, Royal Commission, playing to increasingly thin houses in Sydney. Jim Marr sat through the opening scenes.

International: Defensive Enterprise
How can men and women working in the unprotected "informal economy" be helped to better defend their rights? The ICTU grapples with the issue in The Congo.

Economics: A Super Deal?
Neale Towart looks at the debate raging within Labor circles around savings and investment.

History: A Radical Life
Stephen Holt gives an insight into one of the Australian Labor Party�s original true believers through his examination of papers held in the Manuscript Collection

Media: Cross Purposes
Stuart Mackenzie looks at the lines spun at the recent Senate committee hearing into media ownership laws.

Review: When the Force Is Unconscious
Cultural Theoritician Mark Morey reports on how a trip to the Sydney Writers Festival became a battle for intergalactic supremacy.

Poetry: Wouldn't It Be Loverly
For seven decades, Queensland aboriginal workers working under government control were 'paid' below-award wages which were placed into 'trust' accounts which were pilfered, levied, diverted and bled dry.

N E W S

Grieving Mum Turns Cole Around

Hamberger Grilled Over AWA Scam

Government Shrugs Off Death Sentence Charge

Action To Pay Foreign Crew Aussie Wages

Jockeys Face Insurance Crisis

Birds Get More Protection Than Workers

Budget Delivers - But Not For DOCS

Statewide Ban On Grain Loading

Howard Soft On Organised Crime?

UN Honours Building Union Drugs Program

Award-Winning Poet Wins Right To Write

Workers Out For Gay Games

Mahathir Told to Release Labour Activisits

Horta Backs Western Sahara Independence

Activists Notebook

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
It�s The Members, Stupid.
Those officials obsessed with union voting power in the ALP are missing the point, writes Luke Foley.

The Locker Room
Too Good To Be True
Phil Doyle castes his withering gaze over a week in sport that featured origin square-ups, the World Game in all its glory and a few drunken jockeys.

Bosswatch
In The Cauldron
It was another week of pull-outs, profits de-mergers and takeovers in the corporate world; but some bright news with a plan to make executive pay more accountable.

Week in Review
The Black Letter
Legal mechanisms, national and international, are throwing up challenges to all sectors of our community but the law is a beast of many shapes and sizes as Jim Marr discovers.

L E T T E R S

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When the Force Is Unconscious

**************

So there we were, all ready for John Ralston Saul having studiously listened to any radio interview in order to prepare ourselves for the intellectual onslaught. Having saved oneself for the Wharf Theatre on Sunday, one began to get the feeling that something was not quiet right, the force was out of balance. Upon arrival we were greeted by the usual sway of scarves, kaftans and generally tie-died attire that surrounds these types of festivals. You could smell the power of change in the air, either that or Resistance had set up another street stall.

As all good Australians do we joined the first thing that looked like a large queue and started reassuring ourselves that it was not that long and this would not disenfranchise us from participation in such an important even. Within ten minutes the disheveled and unhappy faces started to pass us by until one kind women stated, in a very post modern way the "fucking thing is full".

So what is one to do when your yearning to be enlightened and fulfilled is not met? Find the Force in the latest Star Wars film of course. Being an ardent Star Wars fan I must say I was a little disappointed by this one. Despite the fantastic graphics and action scenes I had the feeling that there was too much plot development preparing us for Episode III. The gaps between action scenes were just a little too far apart. When they did arrive they were great. The chase by Obi-Wan and Anakin for the assassin is fantastic although a little reminiscent of the Fifth Element, you keep looking for Bruce Willis to pop out. Yoda's fight scene is absolutely fantastic and worth the wait.

However, Hayden Christensen just doesn't do it for me nor does the stupid little ponytail at the back of his head. Once its got your eye it's hard to concentrate on anything else its so bloody annoying. He also fails to deliver a sincere performance as he appears too caught up in the whole angst of nice guy turning bad blah blah blah scenario. It just wasn't that real. Ewan McGregor on the other hand provides a lively and earnest performance as Obi-Wan. As the Jedi mentor, he is battling not only the issues before him, but also his charge, Anakin. He is a man sensing change but unable to identify or control it (sort of like Simon Crean). Natalie Portman is well, breath taking, wonderful, a delight etc, etc as Senator Padm� Amidala. Except for a couple of flaky scenes with the joke Christensen where the chemistry of the two lovers is something to be winced at, her performance is excellent.

Other human roles in the film are solidly played by actors such as Samuel L Jackson and Jimmy Smits. The best part is identifying the various actors know to use in Australia such as Jay Laga'aia and Joel Edgerton who well, apart from a couple of words and identifying himself as the half-brother of Anakin who will raise Luke, ain't no Oscar candidate.

The final part of the movie is, as always, the best. This is why you see it on the big screen. The battle scenes are filled with Lucas brilliance. The computer graphics are out of this world literally, and the individual one on one fight scenes are great, especially Yoda's.

Action is what we want, not substantial plot and character development. I want action, death, darkness, evil, light and then the world saved. Save the deep relationship and love scenes for the English Patient. I'm sure that now George has set the plot development out of the way Episode III will be worth the wait. Episode II is probably the weakest so for but then we all have an off day now and then. All in all, it's George Lucas and Star Wars so it never disappoints. Worth the money and make sure you see it on the big screen - 7/10

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