A Beautiful Set of Numbers?
In the coming week the NSW Government will hand down the first budget of its third term. Few things are certain in politics, but rest assured the budget will be characterised as �tough and responsible�.
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.
Task Force Sleeps Through Killing
Go To Gaol � Do Not Collect $500,000
Green Pollie in Picket Blue
D-Day for Media Diversity
Putting Steel into Government�s Spine
Fortnight in Killing Fields Anyone?
Underpaid Worker Fights Deportation
Truckies Deliver Death Watch
Job Cuts Caught in Spill Cycle
Mum Wins Family Friendly Hours
Allianz Plans Bite the Dust
Aussies Back Zimbabwe�s Gaoled Strikers
Boral Faces Stadium Stoush
Drought Claims More Jobs
Bridge Chaos Looms
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
Questions for Cuba
Is Beazley's Popularity a Winner?
Rank Marchers
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News
D-Day for Media Diversity
Australia's media diversity is under dire threat after independent senators cut a deal with the Howard Government to dump laws preventing media moguls Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Packer dominating the industry.
Despite indications to MEAA lobbyists this week that they would block passage of the Media Ownership Bill, the key independent and One Nation representative will kill the laws that have kept Murdoch out of television and Packer�s hands off the Fairfax Press.
The legislation seeks to implement the Coalition's 2001 Federal election commitment to provide for exemptions from the cross media rules and to remove the foreign ownership restrictions contained in the Broadcasting Services Act 1992.
MEAA federal secretary Chris Warren says the government has agreed to some minor tinkering proposed by the independents.
"But none of these will change the fundamental thrust of the bill," Warren says. "The big media corporations will get bigger as newspapers and television will fall under common ownership
"If this bill gets passed it will be an enormous free gift to some of Australia's richest families."
The Alliance is calling on all supporters of media diversity to urgently email the relevant Senators.
Brian Harradine mailto:[email protected]
Shayne Murphy mailto:[email protected]
Meg Lees: [email protected]
Leonard William Harris: [email protected]
A briefing paper on the impact of the bill is available at http://www.alliance.org.au/ownership
More details at
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Issue 183 contents
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