E D I T O R I A L

Independent of Facts
John Howard's mastery of the big lie was evident again this week.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: The Month Of Living Dangerously
When the mobs took over the streets of Dili it was the people of East Timor that bore the brunt. Elisabeth Lino de Araujo from Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA was there to witness what happened.

Unions: Staying Mum
Penrith mums, Linda Everingham and Jo Jacobson, are at the heart of a grassroots campaign to boot Jackie Kelly, out of federal parliament. Jim Marr caught up with one half of the sister act.

Economics: Precious Metals
There's a lot of spin around AWAs in the mining industry, but Tony Maher argues all that glitters is not gold.

Industrial: The Cold 100
The Iemma Government has come up with 100 reasons why WorkChoices is a dud, with 100 examples of ripped off workers

History: The Vinegar Hill Mob
This month's Blacktown Rally was not the first time workers had stood up for their rights in the region, writes Andrew Moore.

Legal: Free Agents
Is an independent contractor a small businessperson or a worker? The answer depends upon whether the contractor is genuinely ‘independent’ or not, writes Even Jones.

Politics: Under The Influence
Bob Gould thinks Sonny Bill Williams is a hunk; he reveals all in a left wing view of The Bulletin’s 100 most influential Australians, questioning the relevance of some, and adding a few of his own.

International: How Swede It Was
Geoff Dow pays tribute to the passing of Rudolf Meidner, one of the architects of the Swedish model of capitalism.

Review: Keating's Men Slam Dance on Howard
These punk rockers are out to KO WorkChoices. Nathan Brown joins the fray.

N E W S

Howard Chews Up Lollipop Men

Ridout: WorkChoices “Revolutionary”

Voters: WorkChoices Rotten

Terror: WorkChoices Rule

Bussies Go Gangbusters

Strikers Drive Deal

Australia Faces Jobs Meltdown

Fat Lady Sings at Opera House

PM's Pick Burns Fire Fighters

Spooks Tail Early Risers

Telstra Boss Gets Crossed Line

Prof: Fair Pay Should Be Lower

TNT Snub is Dynamite

Activist's What's On!

C O L U M N S

The Soapbox
Work Choice: US Military Style
John Howard has learnt a few lessons on workers rights from his Texan buddy, writes Rowan Cahill.

Politics
Westie Wing
As Pru Goward slams into the glass ceiling of the NSW Liberal Party, Ian West considers how women are faring under the Howard-Costello Government.

The Locker Room
A World Away
Phil Doyle is pleased that a display of subtle beauty and athletic grace has been overtaken by some good old-fashioned mindless violence

L E T T E R S

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Bussies Go Gangbusters

Drivers have banned the use of buses with external emergency release buttons, saying they allow thugs to swarm onto buses, threatening drivers and passengers.

Almost 50 buses are affected, mainly at Waverly, Port Botany and Randwick depots.

The issue arose a year ago, with State Transit saying it would fit glass covers to the buttons, but drivers reacted when they discovered that the authority hadn't even ordered the glass as of last week.

With patience wearing thin at State Transit inaction, drivers moved last week to take buses that use off the road.

Services ran up to twenty minutes late and drivers reported no hostile reaction from the travelling public.

The drivers and State Transit ended up before the NSW Industrial relations commission over the dispute, with the IRC handing down a series of recommendations, which will go before drivers this week.

"The industrial relations commissioner is right," says Raoul Boanza from the Rail Tram and Bus Industry Union. "This is a very serious safety issue that affects members of the public as well as our drivers."

An incident at Bondi last year saw a driver and passengers fleeing in fear after gang members entered a bus through the rear door, using an emergency door opening button, and proceeded to trash the interior.

"The driver had to run for his life," says Wendy Wirth, a driver from Sydney's Waverly Depot. "He eventually escaped in a taxi.

"The video of the event is absolutely shocking.

"Last month another driver was physically assaulted and passengers harassed."

The bashed driver was left with facial injuries, with similar incidents being experienced by drivers and passengers over the last year.

Boanza called on State Transit to fix the problem immediately.

`

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Last Modified: 31 Jul 2006