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Issue No. 151 | 06 September 2002 |
Looking for the Light
Interview: Packing a Punch Bad Boss: Basher Takes Back Passage Unions: Five Star Shafting Economics: TINA � Rest In Peace International: Against Bush's "War on Terrorism" Environment: Saving the World History: A Radical Scribe Poetry: With A Little Help From My Friend Satire: Colonel Gaddafi Promotes Himself to General Review: Workplace Dictatorship
Grassroots Drives Safety Campaign Deloittes Curry Favour on Sub-Continent Rail Workers Buck Individual Contract Wage Bribe Bush Regenerators Weed Out Dodgy Deal Hairdresser Wins Fight For Wage Justice Cabin Crews Argue for �Safety in Numbers� �Slave Labour� In Insurance Industry Beattie Plods into Risky Territory
The Soapbox The Locker Room Week in Review Bosswatch Women
Charity Begins At Home
Labor Council of NSW |
News Insurers in Redfern Rort
The Settlement Neighbourhood Centre was forced to close its doors on July 14 after more than a century of providing support and services to the largely Aboriginal community inhabiting the troubled area known locally as The Block. The Settlement made the decision to shut its doors after 12 brokers and 32 insurance companies failed to provide a Public Liability extension for its programs and activities. Furious Labor Council secretary John Robertson insisted on greater accountability for insurance companies that have taken premiums out of the area for decades. "Insurance in this country is unregulated," he explained. "You can find yourself in a situation, where having paid premiums for 30 years and never having made a claim, they can just walk away and refuse cover. "There is nothing preventing them from doing that." Union members, spearheaded by ASU representatives, will join the Redfern community in urging state government provide short term assistance at a rally outside parliament on Thursday. Joseph Hamilton, the Settlement's longest serving worker, said the stop-gap measure was necessary. "We work with desperately underprivileged kids from The Block. Right now they are sitting in the streets and, I can tell you, idle time means dangerous time," he said. "These kids are stuck behind the eight-ball. The majority have no access to the internet, or even organised sport, without the Settlement. "We are always fighting, even for essential services that should be seen as a basic right for our kids, such as safe programs and access to educational and social activities. "Now we are being dictated to by a group of people who don't understand the importance of what we do, yet they have the power to say we are no longer able to provide support to this community." Hamilton said insurance companies had covered similar set-ups in other South Sydney areas but continually balked at The Block. ASU assistant secretary, Sally McManus, said it was "outrageous" that insurers weren't required to justify such decisions. "We suspect it is because The Settlement is operating on The Block with largely Aboriginal clients," she said.
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