http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org News Fri, 09 May 2008 22:48:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Time to nationalise the banks and invest in public housing! Thousands of people face losing their homes in Australia, with more than a million households living in ‘housing stress’. This combined with the worst-ever house affordability figures and soaring rents points towards a serious housing crisis in Australia. Editorial from the ... http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/10/australia%e2%80%99s-housing-crisis/ The fight against electricity privatisation in NSW is the biggest battle taking place at the moment in that state. Since this article was written Premier Morris Iemma has pledged to ignore the decision of his own party's conference and press ahead with the privatisation plan. The pressure is now on ... http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/09/nsw-we-need-industrial-action-to-stop-the-sell-off/ SP Newsletter No.213 The Victorian Labor government is continuing with its campaign to further criminalise protest activity. Last month ten people who participated in the protests against the Melbourne G20 summit in November 2006 were sentenced in the Magistrates Court. Of the ten who pleaded guilty to charges including riot, affray ... http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/08/drop-the-charges-against-the-g20-arrestees/ After the recent strike at the Boeing plant in Port Melbourne, the Australian Workplace Ombudsman has issued Union Solidarity Coordinator Dave Kerin with a “Notice to produce documents”. If he fails to provide this information Dave could face up to six months in jail. The Ombudsman has asked Dave to ... http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/07/defend-dave-kerin/ On Friday May 2 activists targeted BHP Billiton's headquarters in the Melbourne CDB. They were there to highlight the fact that it is big business companies like BHP who are to blame for the problems of global warming. More actions have been planned for the future with the next one ... http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/06/activists-target-bhp-billiton/ The Sydney May Day rally got off to a good start with a large crowd gathering even before the official start time of 9.30am. It is estimated that almost 2000 people took part in the rally outside the venue of the New South Wales Labor Party conference on Saturday May ... http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/05/may-day-in-sydney-melbourne/ Socialist Party member, Dave Nellist, has re-won his council seat in Coventry with an increased majority. Dave's result was an exception to the general trend across the country where Labour suffered big losses. By Hannah Sell, Deputy Secretary Socialist Party England & Wales ‘The worst result for Labour ever’ ... http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/04/britain-sp-re-wins-coventry-council-seat/ The Sri Lankan government is engaged in a war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the north of the country. This year marks its 25th anniversary. This war has cost more than 70,000 lives and billions of rupees of the country’s national wealth. By Srinath Perera, United Socialist Party, ... http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/03/sri-lanka-25-years-of-war-and-conflict/ Reporters from our sister website chinaworker.info spoke to member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, 'Long Hair' Leung Kwok-hung. Today the Olympic torch will be paraded through Hong Kong accompanied by 3,000 police, according to Chief superintendent David Ng Ka-sing. The torch relay has been dogged by protests against ... http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/02/beijing-olympics-interview-with-long-hair/ SP Newsletter No.212 Protest against the climate criminals! Meet at BHP Billiton HQ at 4pm this Friday May 2nd, 180 Lonsdale St City. Say NO to big business destroying the planet for profit. For more information contact 0396399111. Recent polls have shown that the number one issue for Australians is the ... http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/2008/05/01/picket-bhp-billiton-in-melbourne/