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Issue No. 321 25 August 2006  
E D I T O R I A L

Crude Politics
It is one of the great mysteries of Australian politics that the Prime Minister has managed to emerge unscathed from one of the most profound geo-political misadventures since history was first recorded.

F E A T U R E S

Interview: A Life And Death Matter
Macquarie Street and Canberra are squaring off over safety in the workplace, NSW Minister for Industrial relations, John Della Bosca, explains what's at stake.

Unions: Fighting Back
When John Howard's building industry enforcer started threatening people's homes, one couple hit the road. Jim Marr met them in Sydney.

Industrial: What Cowra Means
The ruling on the Cowra abattoir case highlights the implications of the new IR rules, according to John Howe and Jill Murray

Environment: Scrambling for Energy Security
Howard Government hypocrisy is showcased in its climate change manoeuvring, Stuart Rosewarne writes:

Politics: Page Turner
A new book leaves no doubt about whether the faction came before the ego, Nathan Brown writes.

Economics: The State of Labour
The capacity of the state to shape the political economy and thus improve the social lives of the people must be reasserted, argues Geoff Dow.

International: Workers Blood For Oil
A new book by Abdullah Muhsin and Alan Johnson lifts the lid on the bloody reality of US backed democracy for Iraq's trade unions

History: Liberty in Spain
Worker Self-Management is good management. The proof in Spain was in Catalania, Andalusia and continues in the Basque Country, as Neale Towart explains.

Review: Go Roys, Make A Noise
Phil Doyle thought he'd find nostalgia, but instead Vulgar Press' new book, Maroon & Blue is a penetrating insight into the suburban mind under stress.

N E W S

 Howard Amps Up Repression

 Andrews on the Fiddle

 Robbo Flags Mobile Holidays

 Shop Group Maroons Kids

 Condition Critical

 BHP Confronts Chilean Resistance

 The Thin Yellow Line

 Safety Goes to the Dogs

 Pollies Wings Clipped By Junket Ban

 Technicians Win Action Ballot

 Academics Take Contract Lessons

 Hardie, Ha, Ha - Directors Laughing

 Amcor Sends Hundreds Packing

 Warren Goes to Ground

 Activist's What's On!

C O L U M N S

The Locker Room
Ruled Out
Phil Doyle plays by the rules

Fiction
Tommy's Apprentice
Chapter One - Tommy and "The Boy"

Politics
Westie Wing
Ian West wonders what might happen if the NSW Coalition actually did win power next March at the State elections.

L E T T E R S
 Seek and Ye Shall Find
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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News

Pollies Wings Clipped By Junket Ban


NSW Parliament House officers will refuse to process information for politicians planning overseas travel as part of a series of bans protesting a ten per cent cut to the House's budget.

Member of the Public Service Association will walk off the job this week, bringing House sittings to a standstill, as part of a growing backlash against $2.8 million in cuts to the public service.

NSW treasurer Michael Costa has earned the ire of workers, closing the MP's private dining room and bottle shop as part of across the board cuts.

But opposition leader Peter Debnam is no cheer leader for the workers, having set the target of 29,000 public sector jobs cuts if he wins the election.

Workers have placed a series of bans already including banning room service, cleaning MP offices, delivering mail and newspapers and refusing to issue security passes to visitors.

PSA assistant general secretary Steve Turner says the workers were taking a stand on behalf of all public service workers.

"These workers at the heart of public policy are facing the same cuts to resources, job threats and lack of respect as all NSW public service workers," Turner said.


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