E D I T O R I A L

True Lies
While the Prime Minister's penchant for the porky finally appears to be catching up with him, perhaps the biggest lie of his leadership remains largely unchallenged.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: Trading Places
New ACTU International Officer Alison Tate cut her teeth delivering aid to developing nations through APHEDA. Now she is helping chart the global union agenda.

Safety: Snow Job
James Hardie has been drilled into our collective consciousness as a story of power, greed and immorality. It is also, as Jim Marr reports, a tale of human tragedy.

Politics: In the Vanguard
Damien Cahill reveals how neo-liberal think tanks have been at the forefront of the corporate assault upon trade unions and social movements in Australia.

Unions: Gentle Giant Goes For Gold
Don�t get between Sydney sparkie Semir Pepic and a gold medal in a dimly lit alley, writes Tim Brunero.

Bad Boss: 'Porker' Chases Blue Ribbon
Perfect Porker, Darren Vincent, brings a history of meat worker shafting to this month�s Bad Boss nomination.

International: Cruising For A Bruising
Europe�s big unions are bruised as they watch companies roll over some of their best-organised unionised workplaces demanding longer work hours � without any recompense, reports Andrew Casey.

History: Under the Influence
Was John Kerr drunk when he wrote and signed the letter dismissing Edward Gough Whitlam from the Prime Ministership in 1975? Geraldine Willissee investigates.

Economics: Working Capital
Where superannuation fits, where it fails and what we should we do about it. Neale Towart gives the tough answers.

Review: Fahrenheit 9/11
There's many a must see moment in Mike Moore's new flick but beating the propaganda machine at its own game wreaks havoc with wearied bullshit detectors, writes Tara de Boehmler.

Poetry: Bad Intelligence Rap
When Flood washed away the PM's sins, the truth was once again left high and dry.

Satire: Osama Bin Manchu
During a recent visit to an elderly relative in a nursing home, I was waylaid by an ancient gentleman who insisted I listen to what he had to say, writes Rowan Cahill.

N E W S

Hardie Chiefs Dodge Findings

Virgin Wants Them Young

RTA Counts Cheapie Cost

Miners Trump Rio Gold

Suits Star in Big Steel

Boffins Back Sweatshops

Tony Winner Bags an Ernie

Bush Fires Up

Kiwis Unfriendly, say Aussie Bankers

CPSU in Pay Cut Territory

Brains Over Buns Claim

AIG Backs "Cowards"

BHP Makes A Killing

Schools Fight for Equity

Activists What's On!

C O L U M N S

Parliament
The Westie Wing
The Labor Governments in each State must take the lead to stop the abuse of corporate law in Australia in the absence of action from the Federal Government, as the Inquiry into James Hardie�s has highlighted, writes Ian West.

The Soapbox
Cleaners Deserve Our Support
It's time the state's cleaners were given some support, loyalty and long service leave, writes Chris Christodoulou.

The Locker Room
Half Time At The Football
Phil Doyle wants to have his pie and eat it too.

Tribute
Faithful Servant
Frank Mossfield was one of the labour movement�s quiet achievers. Former Labor Council secretary Michael Easson pays tribute.

Postcard
Lessons From East Timor
Just back from a study tour to East Timor, National Reserach Officer with the Construction division of the CFMEU, Ben Stirling, writes about the experience for Workers Online.

L E T T E R S

WHAT YOU CAN DO

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Activists What's On!

Boycott and Picket the Safari Restaurant

SUPPORT UNPAID SUBCONTRACT BUILDING COMPANIES IN THEIR CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE

How can you help? Boycott the Safari Restaurant, Sign our Supporters Petition, Make a donation to the campaign and Picket nightly from 6.15pm - 28 King Street, Newtown.

Refugees and Indigenous People in John Howard's Australia

The Western Sydney Peace Group invites you to attend a public forum on: Refugees and Indigenous People in John Howard's Australia

with guest speakers :

SenatorAdenRidgeway -(Democrats Senator for NSW)

Merlin Luck -(Big Brother Evictee and Refugee Activist)

Farshid Kerohallpour -(Iranian refugee)

Phil Glendenning -(Director of the Edmund Rice Centre)

7pm Monday 23 August at St Marys Memorial Hall, Cnr Great Western HwyandMamre Rd, St Marys.

Not Happy John!

Tuesday August 24 at 11am. It's the launch of the "Not Happy John!" campaign, which aims to unseat John Howard in his own electorate! The movement is gaining a lot of momentum. I believe a change of Government in Australia is vital for Australia to move forward and heal the wounds of past policy decisions that have been so tragic for ordinary Australians, Iraqis and asylum seekers. The movement is spear-headed by traditionally conservative voters with big hearts. The rally will be held at Eastwood Masonic Hall, 186 Rowe St, Eastwood, 11am. Ph 99296818 for details.

Dream on!

National competition for students - term 3

The Australian Council of Trade Unions' Worksite for Schools website (www.worksite.actu.asn.au) is currently running a national competition for school, TAFE and RTO students - Your Dream Job.

To enter, students must write about the job of their dreams. There is $100 for the student winner, $50 for 2 runners-up, and $25 for the winner of the special effort category.

The competition will not only give students a chance to win, it's a great way for them to learn about the workforce and get them excited about their working future.

Worksite is a terrific source of information about the workforce, providing statistics, encouraging debate, creativity and analysis.

The competition closes Friday 22nd October 2004. More information and an entry form can be obtained from the Worksite website - www.worksite.actu.asn.au.

Please call 1800 659 511 (toll free) or email [email protected] if you have any questions.

hoWARd the arseLIcKEr

-Written by D.B.Valentine - Directed by Mark Cleary

-The Edge Theatre - Cnr King & Bray Sts Newtown

-Advance previews Wed 4th & Thurs 5th August.

-Opening Friday 6th Aug to Sunday 29th Aug.

-Time: 7.30pm (tbc)

-Bookings 9645 1611 or www.mca-tix.com

-More info go to: www.newtowntheatre.com.au click on "The Edge"

Hiroshima Day March

Friday 6 August, 6.00pm at Town Hall, marching to Archibald Fountain in Hyde Park for a Crane and Candle ceremony.

Information: Hiroshima Day Committee, telephone Bronwyn Marks, 9982 4192.

Qld Conservation Council State Conference: August

20, 21 AND 22 AUGUST - Mercure Hotel, Brisbane

Different Voices: Common Cause?

Different Voices: Common Cause promises to deliver an environmental conference with a twist. The theme reflects an attempt to find common cause between differing perspectives on environmental issues. Can developers and environmentalists agree on anything? Is there room for the union movement to work with conservation groups to achieve better environmental and employment outcomes?

AGENDA

Friday Night: Dinner/Forum - The Environment and the Election.

Speakers include: Senator Kerry Nettle (Greens); Mr Kelvin Thomson MP (ALP); and Senator Lyn Allison (Democrats).

Places going quickly, so book now to hear what politicians have to say about the importance of the environment at election times. Includes dinner and drinks.

Saturday and Sunday - Two Streams

Environment Stream: Climate Perspectives; Urban Perspectives; Employment Perspectives; Water Perspectives; Northern Perspectives; Wildlife Perspectives.

Training and Development Stream: Managing Sponsorship; Managing Organisations; Managing Volunteers; Managing People; Managing Fundraising; Managing Media.

PRICING - includes GST

Dinner/Forum Only $70 (no concession available)

Full Conference Sat & Sun $120 ($100) + dinner $180 ($160)

Full Day - includes buffet lunch $70 ($60)

Half Day - includes tea & coffee $40 ($30)

Single Session - includes tea & coffee $ 20 ($15)

(Concessions available for current Full-Time Students and Health Care Card holders only).

http://www.qccqld.org.au/conference.htm

Places are limited. Contact Michael at

[email protected] for booking details or call

07 3221 0188.

Rock Against the Free Trade Agreement

Wednesday August 25th. Annandale Hotel

A night of excellent, up-and-coming artists showing the talent and promise of the local music industry, threatened by a Free Trade Agreement with the United States. Come and enjoy a mixture of sublime acoustic and pop music, punk, electronic wizardy, hard-rock and funk.

Celebrate it and save it!

8:15-8:45

Night-hour

Mezzinine stage

8:45-9:15

Wons

Band Stage

9:15-9:45

Urban Guerillas

Mezzinine stage

9:45:10:15

Joshua

Band Stage

10:15-10:30

Talk about FTA

Mezzinine stage

10:30-11:00

Andorra

Band Stage

Wednesday August 25th. Annandale Hotel

Parramatta Rd (Crn Nelson St), Annandale

$8 at the door

Republican Film Night - Tuesday 31 August 2004

Further details at

http://www.republic.org.au/ARM-2001/news&events/NSW_Film_Night_31_August_2004_Flyer.PDF

An Hour Of Power

Can the power sector save us from Climate Change? And would it if it could? Find out at a free debate moderated by Premier Bob Carr from 6 to 7pm Monday 6 September at Coles Theatre, Powerhouse Museum, 500 Harris Street, Ultimo. Full invitation with map and speaker details available from

http://www.wwf.org.au/climate/powerswitch_debate.pdf

RSVP is essential to reserve your place. Email your details to [email protected]

Helen's War: Now Showing

Postgraduates for Peace are holding a screening of Helen's War: Portrait of a Dissident - an award winning documentary made by former University of Sydney Arts-Law student Anna Broinowski. It profiles Anna's aunt, the trail-brazing anti-nuclear campaigner since the 1970s, Dr. Helen Caldicott, as she resurfaces to take on the Bush administration in the post 9/11 world. Anna Broinowski and Helen Caldicott will speak at the free screening from 6pm Thursday 2 September. RSVP: [email protected]

Films, Politics and Learning Conference

Organization: OVAL Research, Faculty of Education, University of Technology

6 & 7 Dec

These nights aim:

- To bring together radical film-makers, radical film buffs, and radical educators.

- To inspire educators about ways they can use film in their work.

- To inspire film-makers about ways they might facilitate learning about politics.

- To foster discussion and advocacy about this field of practice.

We are seeking videos and films under 2 categories:

1. Agitprop: protest, guerrilla, activist, political, subversive short films /videos.

2. Participatory film-making: community films/videos as social intervention.

The nights will focus on short films and video from artists, activists and educators from the international scene. Your work will be presented to an audience of educators, activists and artists delegates from of the "Education and Social Action" international conference and the general film buffs interested in activism.

The nights are a non-profit event without competition. There are therefore no prizes and no pay involved, but of course you keep the rights.

There is no limitation of geographic origin but speaking Films/Videos must be in English, or subtitled in English. Fiction, documentary, animation or experimental are accepted. Videos must be no more than 10 minutes.

The only format accepted is DVD.

Send copies with entry form to Celina McEwen, The Centre for Popular Education, UTS, PO Box 123, BROADWAY NSW 2007 AUSTRALIA. Entry copies will not be returned, so don't send originals. To confirm receipt your video/film, send a self-addressed stamped postcard.

Deadline for entries is September 30, 2004. Individuals and organisations can submit unlimited number of films, but should complete a separate entry form for each film. All the films may be put on the same tape.

Entry forms can be downloaded from www.cpe.uts.edu.au/pdfs/FPLentry.pdf

For further information email Celina on (02) 9514 3847 or [email protected]

Make A Diff For Nix

Conservation Volunteers Australia is offering a range of weekend and week-long projects that the environmentally inclined can assist on around the state and throughout the country. From wildlife projects to clean-up bees, find out more at http://www.conservationvolunteers.com.a

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Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005