Australia and South Pacific
Australia: NSW teachers union censors debate at mass meeting
By Laura Tiernan, August 28, 2009
Nearly 2,000 teachers packed the Rosehill Racecourse last night to oppose the publication of school league tables. But the New South Wales Teachers Federation worked to block any discussion, debate or...
Defeat Labor’s pro-market “education revolution”!
For a national boycott of NAPLAN by teachers, parents and students!
August 28, 2009
The Rudd Labor government’s “education revolution” constitutes a seismic shift, with every aspect of education, from early-childhood through to adult education, being subject to the full blast o...
Australia: Bus drivers strike in defiance of union
By Mike Head, August 26, 2009
A six-hour strike by 130 bus drivers in western Sydney against the imposition of new timetables has produced furious denunciations in the media because the workers defied their union.
Australia: Court case against West Gate workers ends in plea bargain
By Terry Cook, August 26, 2009
The decision to seek a plea bargain, rather than launch a public campaign to defend the 12 men, was primarily aimed at burying the issue and defusing a potentially explosive confrontation between buil...
Australia: Growing opposition among Victorian paramedics to Brumby-union sell out deal
By Margaret Rees, August 25, 2009
Opposition is rapidly developing among Victorian paramedics against an “in principle” three-year industrial agreement announced by the state Labor government and Ambulance Employees Association on...
Australian teachers union calls for streamlined dismissals
By Erika Zimmer, August 24, 2009
The New South Wales Teachers Federation is openly calling for streamlined procedures to dismiss teachers deemed “poorly performing”.
Australia: Aboriginal residents of Ampilatwatja walk out over housing conditions
By Susan Allan, August 21, 2009
Residents of the remote Aboriginal community of Ampilatwatja walked out of their settlement last month. The WSWS interviewed a spokesperson.
“The government is not reducing the gap between the communities but increasing it”
Indian students in Australia speak to WSWS about recent racist attacks
By our reporters, August 20, 2009
The World Socialist Web Site recently spoke with three Indian students about their experiences in Australia.
Australia: Rudd government toughens anti-terror laws
By Mike Head, August 19, 2009
The Australian Labor government has unveiled a package of measures to strengthen anti-terrorism laws introduced since 2002.
Australia: West Gate employer uses Rudd government’s new laws to attack workers
By Chris Sadlier and Terry Cook, August 14, 2009
One of Australia’s largest construction firms is using the Rudd government’s new workplace laws at a key project in Melbourne to deepen the attack on workers’ wages, conditions and basic rights.
Australian officials exclude WSWS from reporting on Pacific Islands Forum
August 14, 2009
In a blatant act of political censorship, Australian officials organising the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) denied media accreditation to World Socialist Web Site journalists, Patrick O’Connor and Ric...
Australian government tightens grip over Pacific Islands Forum
By Frank Gaglioti, August 14, 2009
Despite earlier statements from a number of Pacific governments expressing disquiet over Canberra’s stance on a range of issues, every Forum member state toed the line and signed the final summit co...
