Kamala Emanuel Putting health back into the system The health spending bidding war between Labor and Coalition politicians reflects the fact that Australians have indicated that health is the political issue of greatest concern, next to unemployment.
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The latest news in the federal election campaign is "the great debate" between Keating and Howard. We are meant to have been eagerly awaiting this moment of truth, when our electoral inclinations will become clear, as one great leader emerges from
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By Bill Mason BRISBANE — "The right to vote should be extended to 16 and 17 year-olds", Zanny Begg, the Democratic Socialist candidate for the seat of Brisbane in the March 2 federal election, said in response to the launch of Paul Keating's youth
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By Marcus Greville and Wendy Robertson Politicians continually assure the public that police corruption occurs only in isolated outbreaks and under exceptional circumstances — the "rotten apple" theory. However, if the royal commission headed by
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A modest proposal for easing our conscience I have it on good authority that a young healthy child, well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious, nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled. Infant flesh is in season
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By Jorge Jorquera Christabel Chamarette views the election as an important indicator of the success or otherwise of the Greens (WA). "People are much more aware that we have an overall review role in the Senate, so it will be an interesting test to
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By Pip Hinman SYDNEY — As the horse trading for preferences in the March 2 election starts up, conservationists have called for green and progressive parties and independents to swap preferences to ensure that neither of the major parties gains an
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By Ana Pararajasingam "The Sri Lankan Government's strategy of bringing peace through war was wrecked by Wednesday's bomb ... The net result of Mrs Kumaratunge's failed policy is clear. The epicentre of the war has moved from the remote and
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By Chris Spindler SYDNEY — "A call to suppress Tamil political and cultural organisations in Australia is totally unacceptable", said the Democratic Socialist candidate for Lowe, Max Lane, on February 11. Lane was commenting on the call by the Sri
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By Andrew Fuller Welcome to the education system. A place of socialisation into the norms of society. Please leave all your beliefs and values in the port rack. For your convenience, we have hand picked textbooks which conveniently set out
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By Chris Spindler SYDNEY — After almost 12 months in office, the Carr government in NSW seems to be costing the Labor Party. Labor's electoral popularity has plummeted. A recent Herald-AGB poll found that the Carr government's performance made 31%
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By Lisa Young BRISBANE — "Today marks a historic victory for women and women's services", stated Domestic Violence Resource Centre (DVRC) chairperson Betty Taylor, to the shouts and cheers of women and men supporters outside the Human Rights and
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һƷ̽ Weekly's PIP HINMAN spoke to MAX LANE, Democratic Socialist spokesperson on foreign affairs and candidate for the federal seat of Lowe, about his campaign and the differences between the Democratic Socialists and the Green parties.
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By Melanie Sjoberg ADELAIDE — ACTU president-elect Jennie George made a flying visit on February 8 and 9. She spoke to meetings of 50 plus union members at the Commonwealth Centre, Adelaide University and the Brecknock Hotel. George outlined the
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By Marina Carman Canberra — Protests are escalating against education cuts proposed by the Carnell Liberal government in the ACT. Students at a number of colleges and schools walked out of school on February 5 in response to cutbacks which would
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Under staffing Why long waits at the Commonwealth Bank for service? Went in there the other day and had to stand in a queue just on 16 minutes for service. On complaining to teller and calling for manager, was told they were short staffed that
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By Allen Myers Surfing the internet recently, I was amazed — even surprised — when my computer appeared to fall into a time warp and began spewing out news reports from the future. Following is a selection from those reports. February 6, 1996:*
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The 1996 federal election is the first major opportunity for the Australian Greens to present themselves as a serious, nationwide alternative to the major parties. On February 7, һƷ̽ Weekly's MARGARET GLEESON caught up with the Greens'
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By Lisa Macdonald There are around 70 Green parties in the world, almost all having grown out of the environment and anti-nuclear movements that developed in the advanced capitalist countries from the end of the 1960s. Throughout the '70s, these
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With preparations under way for International Women's Day, 1996, we are reminded of the demands of the women's movement over the decades. In the 1970s, women were demanding free, 24-hour child-care services for all. Two decades later, a large number
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No government funding to private schools Increase funding to public schools Write women back into textbooks End discrimination against gay and lesbian students End discrimination against pregnant students End corporal punishment in all schools End
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Gay pride march MELBOURNE — The first Pride march for some years was held on February 4 and met with great enthusiasm. Some 11,000 people from more than 60 community groups participated, including independent media, gay and lesbian support and
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By Chris Spindler SYDNEY — Of the 4200 homes officially recognised as affected by aircraft noise none have yet been fully insulated. Approximately a third should have been insulated by now. At the current rate, it would take 10 years to complete
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The media and women's rights By Alana Kerr and Kathy Seaone MELBOURNE — On January 24, Wayne Carey, captain of the North Melbourne football team, pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault of a woman. Carey, who has the status of a demigod
News
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By Paul Howes SYDNEY — On February 22 a statewide teachers' stop-work meeting will be held to discuss a 12% pay rise and teachers' rights to lodge grievances about school management without the fear of harassment. The latter dispute is centred on
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No carrots "It's not a carrot; it's a great big lump of money." — PM Paul Keating, asked whether a promise of $44 million for a new ferry between Tasmania and the mainland was a vote-buying carrot. Small expectations "I couldn't put myself in the
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By Iggy Kim HOBART — The Democratic Socialist candidate for the seat of Denison, Sarah Stephen, speaking at her campaign launch on February 10, attacked the Labor Party for giving young people no future to look forward to. "We wondered whether
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By Barry Healy SYDNEY — Fierce debate has erupted within the Aboriginal community centred in Eveleigh Street, Redfern, locally known as the Block, over the community's continued existence. The Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC), which owns the land,
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By Tim Gooden CANBERRA — Frustration and anger at the Carnell minority government's approach to industrial relations has led to thousands of union members walking off the job throughout the public sector. Hundreds of students and white collar and
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By Melanie Sjoberg ADELAIDE — The Department for Education and Children's Services (DECS) has been prevented from using young people as cheap labour by the combined action of the Public Service Association (PSA) and the South Australian Institute
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By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Wayne Goss was unanimously re-elected leader of the Queensland ALP on February 8, but his government is on the verge of oblivion. Even while describing his re-election as "a great honour", Goss is set merely to keep the
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By Lisa Macdonald Prison officers at Castlemaine's Loddon prison have begun a campaign of harassment and intimidation against a socialist inmate who has been writing articles for һƷ̽ Weekly which are critical of prison services and the profit
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By Bronwyn Powell SYDNEY With the resumption of school for this year, several thousand students across NSW found themselves having to walk to and from school, or to fork out money each day for a bus fare, because of the state Labor government's cut
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By Alison Thorne MELBOURNE — A memorial meeting celebrating the life of Gloria Martin, author, civil rights activist and women's movement leader, will be held on February 25. Martin died of cancer in Seattle, USA, on November 22. A working mother
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By Sarah Stephen HOBART — Six hundred people crowded into the Town Hall on February 7 to hear Greens candidates speak about their campaign for the House of Assembly and their vision for Tasmania. Polls are predicting that the Greens may win another
Analysis
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When the people of Australia go to the polls on March 2 they will be deciding between a Labour or a Liberal government. Whether or not any "third force" wins sufficient votes to hold the balance of power, Australian parliaments, state and federal,
World
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By Jennifer Thompson In early January the British government rejected an application for asylum by Saudi dissident Mohammed al-Mas'ari. Home Office minister Ann Widdecombe acknowledged that the decision to deport al-Mas'ari to the Dominican Republic
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Can British socialists get together? Since breaking with the British Labour Party in 1992, Militant Labour has rapidly gained an independent profile and is perhaps the most influential socialist group in Britain today. This was reflected in its role
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By Eva Cheng China's Prime Minister Li Peng warned on January 30 that Beijing would "use force" against Taiwan if it declared independence or was "encouraged by anti-China forces to do so". The warning came shortly after the New York Times reported
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By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — From late January, a powerful strike wave has swept across Russia, involving close to three-quarters of a million workers. A massive stoppage by teachers has been followed by an exceptionally large and well-coordinated
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By Norm Dixon The Shell oil company has been forced to admit that it imported weapons to help Nigerian police "protect" its oil installations in Ogoniland after the Nigerian press revealed the company had called for tenders from arms suppliers. The
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In an article to be published in the February 26 issue of the US left/liberal weekly The Nation, investigative reporter Allan Nairn charges that the US Central Intelligence Agency has placed agents inside the newly created Haitian National Police.
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By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — For large numbers of Russians who grew up during the 1970s, the tunnel at Severomuysk, east of Lake Baikal in Siberia, remains an icon of their youth. The Severomuysk project was vigorously propagandised during the later
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By Norm Dixon Swaziland's trade unions called of their general strike for democracy on January 29. The strike, which began on January 22, was the longest in the small, landlocked kingdom's history and paralysed the country. It is estimated to have
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On January 31, radioactive steam was released through a reactor valve in an experimental fast breeder reactor in Dimitrovgrad's Scientific Research Institute of Atomic Reactors (NIIAR). The reactor was shut down after the alarm system turned on. The
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February 15 is the 30th anniversary of the death in combat of the Colombian priest and revolutionary, Camilo Torres. LUIS AUGUSTO GARCIA GUERERO of the Camilista Union — National Liberation Army (UCELN) remembers Torres' life and work, and reflects
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By Renfrey Clarke MOSCOW — Emboldened by President Boris Yeltsin's open shift to authoritarian-nationalist positions, Russia's security services are resurrecting an ugly practice — arresting and prosecuting dissidents under vague catch-all
Culture
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La Haine (Hate)Directed by Mathieu KassovitzReviewed by Vannessa Hearman "I hate people who only mind their own business", says 25-year-old director Mathieu Kassovitz. His La Haine won the 1995 Best Young European Film of the Year Award for its
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Peace SignWarARG Records through BMGReviewed by Norm Dixon There was a time when soul music provided some very political and socially aware music. Like today's hip hop, and like most earlier styles of African American music, soul reflected the
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Shinjuku BoysMardi Gras Film FestivalReviewed by Jen Crothers Shinjuku Boys is a revealing look into the lives of women who live as men in Tokyo. The women work in the New Marilyn nightclub, where they host their (presumably) heterosexual, female
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Front UpSBS, TuesdaysReviewed by Dave Riley Where would television be without its regular fodder of talking heads? In any given day, the console is visited by a fresh batch of chatty craniums. Generally, such company is warranted by reputation alone.
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By Jon Singer Although news of the "death of Communism" is greatly exaggerated (only Stalinism is on the skids), there has been a crisis of confidence in socialism among many on the left. Among the many temporarily debilitating results has been the
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A View from the BridgeBy Arthur MillerDirected by Adam CookBelvoir Street Theatre, SydneyUntil March 3Reviewed by Pip Hinman Arthur Miller described the story which became A View from the Bridge as a Greek tragedy. It's a story about compulsive,
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William Morris: A Life For Our TimeBy Fiona MacCarthyFaber and Faber, 1995. 780 pp., $29.95 (pb)Reviewed by Phil Shannon One reason for the continued interest in William Morris 100 years after his death is the relevance this great 19th century artist
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700 positionsA solo performance by Celia WhiteDirected by Gail KellyState Theatre 2, SydneyUntil February 17Reviewed by Kath Gelber 700 positions is a contemporary exploration of lesbian sexual practices, identities, behaviours, desires and
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Prevailing Winds MagazineCenter for Preservation of Modern HistoryPO Box 23511, Santa Barbara, CA 93121, USAAnnual subscription is US$32Reviewed by Jane Howarth Prevailing Winds is a new magazine with an ambitious agenda. Originally a catalogue, it
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Kissing Angels on the Eve of RevolutionBy Robin DavidsonBoris Books, PO Box 1388, Woden ACT 2606$9.95 Reviewed by Craig Cormick Robin Davidson wears many masks. He has been a performer, writer, clown, activist and poet. The poems collected in this
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BacklashRagewarCybercore through Shock RecordsReviewed by Jen Crothers Ragewar is a band highly influenced by the insane society in which we all live. The nine songs on this debut release all pack a political message. The song titles reveal all:
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When you first begin to feel The disquiet you can't explain Discontent or sorrow; Anger — subversive inclinations; The thirst for some kind of justice! Personal, legal SOCIAL? — Heed it. Take note, Encourage it And let it grow — It is power.
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They wanted everything, so they took it: the leaves from the trees ... and the trees; movement and stillness and the light from the sun ... and from where I stand on the filthy beach outside the yacht-club, even the surface of the water. We are