
Issue No 19		25 June 1999

News

Brassed Off: Birch Not Out of the Woods

Unions have called on Olympic Minister Michael Knight to guarantee that all performers at the 2000 Games are Australian after he overturned a plan to use foreign marching bands at the Opening Ceremony.

The SOCOG Board this week overturned ceremony director Ric Birch's decision to import college bands from America and Japan under the weight of widespread community opposition.

But the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance is concerned that Games organisers could be tempted to import other big names overseas acts for Games-related events.

MEAA organiser Megan Elliott says the Games have to provide opportunity for Australian performers.

"With the international spotlight on Sydney, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to promote all types of Australian culture," she says.

"We would be wanting to see Australian artists given every bit as much support as the Australian athletes."

The union also wants SOCOG to look at the arrangements for those who do participate in the Opening Ceremony.

Elliott says she understands band members will be expected to pay up to $1500 in training and accommodation for the privilege of performing at the Opening Ceremony.

"If these games are really about creating opportunities for Australians on the world stage, there should be a due recognition of their contribution," she says.

   Visit the MEAA

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 19 contents

Interview: Moore for the Battlers
NCOSS director Garry Moore gives the community sector's response to this week's State Budget

Unions: AWU's Bush Blitz
"This is AWU Country". That's the slogan for the Australian Workers Union as it launches its campaign to address the specific needs of workers throughout regional and rural Australia.

Indigenous: Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide
A United Nations committee slams Australia on indigenous native title rights.

International: Unions Post-War Stand
The world labour group demands KFOR track war-crimes authors and says social dimension central to Balkan reconstruction.

History: How Swede It Was
Swedish seafarers play an important role in South Australia's maritime history.

Review: If He Had Only Listened To Me ...
If Michael Thompson had listened to me the current debate raging in the nation�s opinion pages about his book may not have been as hysterical.

» Dirty Linen: Cleaners Beat Hotel Giant

» New Years Pay: Casino Workers Win Triple Time

» Budget Gaps Tell Bigger Story

» Oakdale Miners Take On Canberra

» Second Wave Means Zero Tolerance

» For Olympic�s Sake Let�s Become Weekend Warriors

» Brassed Off: Birch Not Out of the Woods

» No Ship is an Island

» Firey Country Conference to Fuel Bush Resurgence

» Pay Anniversary Marks New Challenges

» Join the Labor Council Team!