Zedlines 24/ 11/ 08

Reported by Elena, Jamie, Jerome and Siobhan

Blogged by Jamie.

Greens Senator and spokesperson for gender and sexuality Sarah Hanson-Young led a rally in Melbourne over the weekend to support same-sex couples rights.

The Equal Rights Now campaign was organised by the National Union of Students, where Senator Hanson-Young was presented with a petition of 30, 000 signatures supporting same-sex marriage.

Senator Hanson-Young says Federal legislation needs to be changed to reflect the growing number of Australians who support gay marriage.

Almost 200 people gathered at Eraring Power Station on Saturday to protest the Government's failure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Rising Tide group of Newcastle protested against the power station in Lake Macquarie, which is one of the largest coal-powered stations in Australia.

The power station's carbon dioxide emissions reach over 12 million tonnes per year.

Spokesperson for Rising Tide Newcastle Georgina Woods says in the lead up to the UN Climate Talks in Poland, it is important to highlight greenhouse gas emissions are still on the rise.

We have not had any response from the Federal Government but in a week's time the UN Climate Talks are going to start in Poland and we are really looking for Australia to stop hesitating, to stop vacillating, and to act decisively to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions from the year 2010 onwards.

A water safety group in south-east Queensland has accused the State Government of not notifying the public about fluoridation of south-east Queensland water.

Queenslanders for Safe Water, Air and Food, spokesperson Merilyn Haines says the public notice about fluoridated water in south-east Queensland from December 1, 2008 is insufficient.

It is absolutely disgraceful, they have spent millions of dollars on publicity by propaganda with all the advertisements on TV, newspapers and radio. Promoting fluoridation and to put one advertisement on page 85, when everyone in Queensland gets a free newspaper delivered to their household. Yet they had to go and put it in one newspaper, on one day, a newspaper that you have to go and buy."

Following a report released today concerning the number of domestic violence-related killings, State leadership can be expected to revamp their as yet lukewarm response to the reccommendations of the Ombudsman report of two years ago.

Murders within homes in New South Wales have taken a toll of 29 women and children after the report was released, leaving the leadership's war on domestic violence in question.

This week is Zero Footprint week, encouraging individuals, families and businesses to reduce their ecological footprint caused by food consumption.

The week is organised by the One At A Time Foundation, who point out 35 per cent of our ecological footprint caused by food consumption.

The One At A Time Foundation is promoting simple steps to help change this figure, such as buying in season produce and products with less packaging, in order to minimise transport and household waste.

The Federal Workplace Ombudsman plans to distribute thousands of flyers to schools, shopping centres and cinemas to warn students against being subjected to unnacceptable workplace conditions during summer employment.

Workplace ombudsman Nicholas Wilson says young people are often caught up in the excitement of first-time employment, not paying enough attention to whether they are getting a fair deal.

Common areas for concern are failure to meet minimum wage requirements, unpaid "trials" and not getting paid for training meetings.

For advice on fair workplace conditions the Workplace Authority info line can be contacted on 1300 363 264.


Under a new Government initiative Indigenous people will be given mentoring, business skills development and networking opportunities to help turn business ideas into reality.

Minister for Employment Participation Brendan O'Connor announced the Australian Government's support for the program.

Mr O'Connor said over the next two years, the Government will focus on establishing a new business hub called the Adelaide Indigenous Business Centre, in an effort to ensure economic opportunities for all Australians.