 |
National Leadership
After a week of front-page political chicanery we are to get more John Howard; who at a time of his choosing will pitch for a fourth election victory by going head to head with the son of a Whitlam Minister.
History: Nest of Traitors
Rowan Cahill uncovers a ripping yarn that could redefine the way we look at Australian involvement in World War II.
Interview: A Nation of Hope
Former PM Bob Hawke bemoans the demise of industrial relations but takes heart from the prospect of peace in the Middle East
Unions: National Focus
Noel Hester reports on a soap star rebellion, Howard’s plans to renuclearise South Australia, more historical atrocities in the north, the redundancy test case plus more in the monthly national wrap.
Safety: The Shocking Truth
It’s every power worker’s worst nightmare – and it happened to Adrian Ware. In a flash of voltage, his life changed forever, as Jim Marr reports.
Tribute: A Comrade Departed
From Prime Ministers to wharfies, the labour movement paid tribute to Tas Bull this week. Jim Marr was among them.
History: Working Bees
Neale Towart looks at a group of workers who got sacked so their boss could keep making the Bomb.
Education: The Big Picture
The NTEU’s Dr Mike Donaldson and Tony Brown join all the dots in the current debate around higher eduction.
International: Static Labour
Ray Marcelo argues there’s another side to the recent furore over Telstra’s use of cheap Indian IT contractors.
Economics: Budget And Fudge It
Frank Stilwell argues that Peter Costello’s latest budget plumbs fiscal policy to new depths.
Technology: Google and Campaigning
Labourstart’s Eric Lee argues the latest weapon for campaigning could be the humble search engine.
Review: Secretary With A Difference
Looking for a new job can be hard enough, without having to worry about sadomasochistic bosses and the threat of being spanked for forgetting to cross your ‘t’s, says Tara de Boehmler.
Poetry: The Minimale
The Labor Party leadership is in the news again, inspiring our resident bard David Peetz to song
Satire: Howard Calls for Senate to be Replaced by Clap-O-Meter
John Howard released a controversial policy statement today, arguing that the Senate be abolished in favour of a device measuring noise from the gallery of the House of Representatives.
 Allianz Claims on Sick and Dying
Back Pay Bill From Behind the Bars
Gloves Off for Local Voices
Stabbings Ground Job Cuts – For Now
Red Light for Cut Price Labour Hire
Sacked Workers’ Ultimate Insult
Electrolux Repays Survival With Bastardry
Survivor Urges Compo Rethink
Nurses: Bosses Should Foot Bank Fees
Telstra Workers Show Bottle
Rail Workers Telegraph Press Council Track
Call Centre Leak Shames Stellar
Malaysian Detainees Released
Western Sahara Tests UN
Activist Notebook
Politics
It’s Our Party
Long time union watcher Nicholas Way looks at the changing dynamics between the industrial and political wings of the labour movement. The Soapbox
Grass Roots
In his Maiden Speech, new MP Tony Burke argues that the ALP’s union links are nothing to be ashamed of.
Media
Opinion Forming Down Under
Evan Jones condemns the mainstream’s media coverage of the War on Iraq and the damage it is doing to our national psyche.
The Locker Room
Location, Re-Location!
It’s all fun and games until someone loses a club, writes Phil Doyle
Blowing Holes in Gittens
Negative Campaigning
Response to Gould
Aged Policy Looks Hairy
Tom's Turn
God Save Billy Deane
Solidarity Forever
More Bad Language
|
| other LaborNET sites |
|
Labor Council of NSW
Vic Trades Hall Council
IT Workers Alliance
Bosswatch
Unions on LaborNET
Evatt Foundation
|
|
|
News
Gloves Off for Local Voices
Australian performers have kicked off a campaign against free trade agreements that could spell the end of locally produced television, from Blue Heelers to Play School.
The Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance is warning that the US-Australia free Trade Agreement and the General Agreement on Trade in Services would both threaten local entertainment and arts.
Currently federal legislation mandates a quota of Australian-produced content on television, with federal funds supporting its production.
If these were ruled out by a Free Trade agreement it would spell the end of locally produced drama, comedy and children's television MEAA NSW secretary Jonathon Mill told the Labor Council.
Mill said the United States was the only country in the world that could produce television content without some form of regulation or subsidy.
The Labor Council has given its full backing to the Alliance campaign, with affiliates agreeing to distribute details through workplace delegates.
"We need locally produced drama to tell our stories, define our place in the world," Mill says. "If we allow our culture to be traded away we are destroying something basic in our society."
Mill says one of the difficulties in understanding the threat to Australian culture is that the talks are being held in secret. What is for certain though, is that once a deal is struck all future governments will be bound.
The Alliance is also calling on the Howard Government join 53 other countries including the UK, Canada, new Zealand and France to join the International Network on Cultural Policy, which is developing a charter to protect cultural diversity in the face of the free trade push.
The MEAA is convening workshops around the nation to support their 'Free to be Australian' campaign. Full details at their special campaign website: http://www.alliance.org.au/free2baustralian
 View entire issue - print all of the articles!
Issue 181 contents
|
