Tuesday, September 30, 2003
"We advise against all travel outside [the capital city] Kabul. Warlords control many areas and overland travel can be very dangerous … You should consider permanent armed protection. You should be aware that even these precautions cannot guarantee your safety".
Australian Government (DFAT), travel advice for Afghanistan, August 2003. The government is forcibly deporting refugees back to Afghanistan, claiming that it is safe enough for them to return.
(Source: Socialist Alternative magazine)
Australian Government (DFAT), travel advice for Afghanistan, August 2003. The government is forcibly deporting refugees back to Afghanistan, claiming that it is safe enough for them to return.
(Source: Socialist Alternative magazine)
7300 workers at the Commonwealth Bank will lose their jobs after Commonwealth Bank CEO David Murray described them as "unnecessary".
Unions say that banks are giving less and less service to ordinary customers, in favour of more profitable investors.
Customers who are not sufficiently profitable are referred to in the banking industry as 'bozos' - short for "below zero value".
(Source: The Guardian [Australia])
Unions say that banks are giving less and less service to ordinary customers, in favour of more profitable investors.
Customers who are not sufficiently profitable are referred to in the banking industry as 'bozos' - short for "below zero value".
(Source: The Guardian [Australia])
Six months after the Cole Royal Commission into the building industry, no one has been charged with any crime.
The government said that it would investigate corruption in the industry, on the part of both employers and unions. However the majority of the Commission's time was taken up with criticism of unions.
Unions say that the Commission effectively ignored detailed evidence that they provided on over 200 companies. Unions says the industry has many problems such as abuse of immigrants, tax evasion, money laundering, companies failing to pay their employees, and ignoring rules on health and safety, which were effectively ignored in favour of accusing unions of crimes. More working days are lost in the building industry due to industrial accidents than to strike action.
The Commission cost over 60 million dollars.
(Source: The Guardian [Australia])
The government said that it would investigate corruption in the industry, on the part of both employers and unions. However the majority of the Commission's time was taken up with criticism of unions.
Unions say that the Commission effectively ignored detailed evidence that they provided on over 200 companies. Unions says the industry has many problems such as abuse of immigrants, tax evasion, money laundering, companies failing to pay their employees, and ignoring rules on health and safety, which were effectively ignored in favour of accusing unions of crimes. More working days are lost in the building industry due to industrial accidents than to strike action.
The Commission cost over 60 million dollars.
(Source: The Guardian [Australia])
The United States government is reported to be recruiting former security and army officers from Saddam Hussein's regime, to deal with unexpectedly strong resistance to the occupation from Iraqis.
(Source: The Guardian [UK])
(Source: The Guardian [UK])
Monday, September 29, 2003
A law presently before Federal Parliament, if passed by the Senate, would allow immigration officials to collect "biometric data" on all non-citizens entering Australia. Biometric data includes records of a person's face, iris, fingerprints, signature and body measurements.
Immigration officials would be able to collect such data on anybody who "appears" to be a non-citizen. Once collected, the data could be given to foreign governments. There would be no oversight mechanism to ensure that the data is not abused.
The Migration Legislation Amendment (Identification and Authentication) Bill 2003 was introduced into the House of Representatives on June 26. On September 17, Labor MPs voted with the government to pass the bill. It will now be debated in the Senate.
According to a July press release from federal justice minister Chris Ellison, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is considering the addition of biometric data to Australian passports.
(Source: Green Left Weekly)
Immigration officials would be able to collect such data on anybody who "appears" to be a non-citizen. Once collected, the data could be given to foreign governments. There would be no oversight mechanism to ensure that the data is not abused.
The Migration Legislation Amendment (Identification and Authentication) Bill 2003 was introduced into the House of Representatives on June 26. On September 17, Labor MPs voted with the government to pass the bill. It will now be debated in the Senate.
According to a July press release from federal justice minister Chris Ellison, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is considering the addition of biometric data to Australian passports.
(Source: Green Left Weekly)
New research shows the Federal Government's planned changes to Medicare would increase the average out-of-pocket expense for visiting a doctor by about 56 per cent.
The Australian Institute for Primary Care carried out the study at the request of a Senate committee considering the proposed changes.
The study also predicted that bulk-billing rates would fall from 68 per cent to around 50 per cent.
(Source: ABC News website)
The Australian Institute for Primary Care carried out the study at the request of a Senate committee considering the proposed changes.
The study also predicted that bulk-billing rates would fall from 68 per cent to around 50 per cent.
(Source: ABC News website)
