ADELAIDE — Both a December 7 rally of more than 100 people opposing the occupation of East Timor by Indonesia, and an East Timor independence dinner of a similar size held on December 3, heard Fatima Gusmao speak about the struggle for justice and independence in East Timor. Gusmao recounted the horrific times of the Indonesian invasion and the brave struggle of the independence fighters. She encouraged the campaign to continue demanding that Xanana be released and be allowed to take part in peace talks and that pressure continue on the Australian government to stop trade with Indonesia.
- Two hundred people attended a spirited rally in Rundle Mall on December 10 to protest at the attacks of the Brown Liberal government on a wide range of community services. The rally marked one year of the Liberal government in South Australia. Speakers detailed the drive to privatise and cut back vital services; they stressed that the rally was the beginning of an ongoing campaign to oppose the direction of the government.
- Thirty members of the Transport Workers Union went on strike on December 5, against a plan by Pacific Waste Management to introduce contract owner-drivers for household collection services. TWU state secretary Rob Heffernan said: "Our members flatly refuse to invest between $140,000 and $150,000 in garbage collection trucks. They are workers earning basic wages of $400 plus overtime, and most are frightened stiff by the prospect of such an investment."
- On December 8 and 9 journalists, photographers and artists at the Murdoch-owned Advertiser and Sunday Mail went on strike against work contracts being offered by News Limited. Contracts are being offered to Advertiser media workers who resign from or do not belong to their union.
- On December 3, 50 people attended a counter-rally that outnumbered a National Action "reclaim" Eureka Day rally. Both rallies were held in the northern suburb of Salisbury, where the neo-nazi National Action recently fielded a candidate in the Taylor by-election.
- Proposed strike action by 3000 country teachers, members of the South Australian Institute of Teachers (SAIT), was called off after the union's demands were met by the Education Department. Education minister Rob Lucas had sought to fill 150 teacher vacancies next year with 70 contract rather than permanent positions.
BRISBANE — Dodie McGuinness, Sinn Fein councillor in Derry, called for Australians to support the Irish peace process and pressure the Australian government to play an active role, at a community reception sponsored by Australian Aid for Ireland at the Shamrock Hotel here on December 4. "People were shocked, surprised, even terrified" when the IRA announced its complete cease-fire, she said. But Sinn Fein had earlier "realised we couldn't carry on an armed struggle for ever. We had to discuss a political process." At a meeting for trade unionists sponsored by the ACTU Queensland branch on December 5, McGuinness explained, "We have reached the most challenging period of our nationalist struggle". McGuinness also addressed a breakfast about women's issues in Ireland, and other meetings, during the Brisbane leg of her Australian tour.
HOBART — One hundred people marched on December 9 to mark the 46th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on Human Rights. Large banners raised human rights concerns around many issues, especially East Timor, Tibet, lesbian and gay rights and Aboriginal rights. The State Liberal government was criticised for its backward position on gay law reform.
- Twenty people gathered outside the office of North Forest Products on December 8 to protest against woodchipping of high conservation value forests and moves to increase export woodchip quotas in Tasmania. The protest was organised by the Wilderness Society. "Not satisfied with the current level of woodchip destruction, North is pushing for an increase of 700,000 tonnes in woodchip exports from its huge new Hampshire woodchip mill", said Tasmanian Greens forestry spokesperson Peg Putt.
MELBOURNE — War tax resisters from the Australian Nonviolence Network and Australian Humanitarian Aid for Bougainville will protest against the use of Australian military taxes and weapons to kill the people of Bougainville. The action will take place at the Victoria Barracks in St Kilda Rd at 1pm on Tuesday, December 20. For further information ring Anita on 486 1336, Brendan on 481 6738 or Robert on 387 3398.
PERTH — On December 3, 1000 people marched through the streets of Fremantle to pressure the federal government against renewing woodchipping licences in Western Australia's high conservation value forest. Peter Robertson from the West Australian Forest Alliance and Jacquie Svenson from the Wilderness Society emphasised the successes of the campaigns this year, both locally and nationally. Through an ongoing campaign in Perth and the south-west of WA enough pressure has been applied that injunctions on logging have been granted for Kerr and Hester blocks.