Monthly Archives: November 2005

George Bush has threatened to stop a law which would prevent United States forces torturing prisoners. The bill by Senator John McCain, himself a victim of torture during the Vietnam War, would ban ‘cruel and degrading’ treatment of prisoners in … Continue reading →

The Immigration Department attempted to refuse a family permanent residency, on the grounds that one of the children had Down Syndrome. Tracey Robinson emigrated from Britain in 2001 with her husband and three children, one of whom, eight-year-old David, has … Continue reading →

The White House has denied a report that President George Bush had wanted to bomb the Middle Eastern television news network al-Jazeera. The British newspaper the Daily Mirror published what it claimed was a top secret government memo, which said … Continue reading →

A female Navy officer says she was bulled and eventually dismissed from her role after trying to get the Navy to take another female officer’s sexual harassment claims seriously. Lieutenant-Commander Robin Fahy – the former executive officer of Australia’s biggest … Continue reading →

The government’s new Industrial Relations legislation will effectively remove the right to claim unfair dismissal from all employees, not just those in businesses with less than 100 employees, according to a labour market specialist. Professor David Peetz from Griffith University … Continue reading →

Victoria’s corruption watchdog has uncovered links between organised crime and corrupt police, including claims that criminal networks are being protected and “green-lighted”. There also are allegations that some corrupt police are directly involved in drug dealing. The Office of Police … Continue reading →

Melbourne’s Deputy Lord Mayor has admitted involvement in financial ‘irregularities’ totalling more than $126,000 – but has been penalised less than $20,000 and suffered no other penalty. Gary Singer and his law firm partner Simon Parsons admitted to three charges … Continue reading →

Quote of the Moment: “seditious intention means an intention to effect any of the following purposes: (a) to bring the Sovereign into hatred or contempt;(b) to urge disaffection against the following:I. the Constitution;II. the Government of the Commonwealth;III. either House … Continue reading →

One in five sick Australians can’t afford the health care they need, according to a doctors’ group. Tim Woodruffe of the Doctors Reform Society said that the yearly Commonwealth Fund report showed that one in give patients are not not … Continue reading →

A British survey has suggested that workplace bullying is widespread and management responses ineffective. The survey by the Trades Union Congress found that businesses losing 18 million working days a year to the effects of bullying in the workplace. A … Continue reading →