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  Issue No 69 Official Organ of LaborNet 01 September 2000  

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Letters to the Editor

Tragedies Waiting To Happen


Why has there been so little discussion or debate over the Federal Government's legislation to send in the troops in our ranks.

There has simply been no justification of the need to introduce troops. There has been no use of the army in any civil situation for 50 years.

We are witnessing the introduction of repressive legislation on demonstrating and even on handing out leaflets in 'proclaimed areas'. We have the ludicrous spectacle of the Olympic disorganisers trying to ban the Aboriginal flag.

The army has had no training in crowd control, which makes any confrontation potentially more dangerous - if you thought the Victorian police were dangerous, wait until you see untrained soldiers whose only crowd control weaponry is guns. It is almost certain that there will be large scale demonstrations in Melbourne at the World Economic Forum (S11) and in Sydney at the Olympics. There are tragedies waiting to happen here.

Why are we just rolling over and copping this. It's an outrageous attack on our civil liberties. Why have our political and union leadership been so timid about this? Try to stiffen their spines to respond to this onslaught on our rights. Contact your parliamentary representatives at both Federal and State level to make known your opposition to these attacks on our basic rights.

jules wynhausen


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*   Issue 69 contents

In this issue
Features
*  Interview: Global Warrior
International unions have won a game of political football with soccer`s hierarchy - and Aussie Tim Noonan is behind the victory.
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*  History: King of Broken Hill
John Shields recounts the colourful life of William Sydney 'Shorty' O'Neil (1903-2000) and his place in the rich history of a remarkable town.
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*  International: History Repeats At Firestone
More than 8,000 workers, members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA), are set to strike at nine Bridgestone/Firestone plants in the United States at midnight tonight.
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*  Politics: The Past We Need To Understand
In his Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture Malcolm Fraser retraces the path of Australian race relations and laments the terrible impasse we've reached.
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*  Unions: Economic Democracy
Sharan Burrow on making Working Australia's money talk and reforming corporate culture for the 21st Century.
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*  Satire: Another windscreen washer joins millionaire list
SYDNEY, Monday: After just a year in his new job, John Samuels has added his name to the burgeoning list of enterprising Australians who have made their fortunes by offering partial car-washing facilities in convenient inner city road-side locations.
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*  Review: No Long Term
Much political commentary is about the global marketplace and the use of new technologies as hallmarks of the new capitalism. Richard Sennett investigates another dimension of change: new ways of organising time, particularly working time.
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News
»  New Benchmark In Bank Greed
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»  Olympics Deal Sparks Soccer Ball Victory
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»  Two Day Strike Hits BHP Mines
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»  Leightons, SOCOG Tremble Before Haka
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»  Hilton Hotels Limp As Strike Bites
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»  Wran Lends Boffins A Hand
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»  ACTU Meets Joy
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»  Barracks Workers Put The Pinch On Local MP
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»  Olympic Win For Taxi Drivers
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»  Australian Unions Keep Spotlight on Fiji
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»  Staff Eye Telstra Prize
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»  Dice Loaded Against American Workers
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»  NZ Union Federations Heal Split
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»  Pressure Mounts On Nike To Live Olympic Ideal
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Columns
»  Away For The Games
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»  Sport
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»  Trades Hall
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»  Tool Shed
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Letters to the editor
»  Tragedies Waiting To Happen
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»  Kudos For OHS Officers
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»  Open Letter To William Shawcross
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»  Chippo Politics forums
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