Bill Mason

  • Conservationists slam Hinchinbrook go-ahead

    BRISBANE — Conservation groups are outraged at the federal government's July 9 decision to give the go-ahead for the controversial Hinchinbrook resort project, subject to developer Keith Williams signing an agreement to use "best

  • Discrimination against 'park people'

    BRISBANE — On June 19, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission held mediation talks between the Townsville City Council and Aborigines who live in the town's Hanrahan Park, known as the "park people". The Aborigines,

  • Queensland coal strike suspended

    BRISBANE — Striking unionists at the Dalrymple Bay coal loading terminal near Mackay voted on June 21 to return to work from June 23, to allow a hearing by the Australian Industrial Relations Commission to proceed on their demand to

  • Battle over woodchips looms

    BRISBANE — The battle over Australia's forests is set to erupt again with a Queensland company applying to the federal government for an annual licence to chip 140,000 tonnes of timber. Wilderness Society spokesperson Virginia Young

  • Nationals divided over gun control

    BRISBANE — The Queensland government's support for gun control could split the National Party, police minister Russell Cooper said on May 13. The warning came as Coalition MPs, including Cooper and Liberal leader Joan Sheldon, faced

  • Brisbane Aboriginal Legal Service cleared

    BRISBANE — The Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations on May 8 cleared the Brisbane Aboriginal Legal Service of any wrongdoing. Registrar Noureddine Bouhafs has advised the service that it will be able to go back to Aboriginal

  • Brisbane CPSU members debate response

    BRISBANE — A mass meeting of CPSU members here on April 30 discussed the Howard government's attack on the federal public service and began to plan an industrial response. The meeting in the Brisbane City Hall heard union state

  • ALP future debated

    BRISBANE — "The future of the ALP and the unions" was the opening topic for the inaugural Politics at the Club forum, held at the Paddington Workers' Club on April 24. Guest speakers were Senator Kim Carr, ALP Victoria, a convener

  • Outcry after Pinkenba Six let off

    BRISBANE — The decision to place the "Pinkenba Six" police officers on probation after an internal inquiry into their dumping of three Aboriginal boys at Pinkenba in May 1994 has been denounced by civil libertarians and the

  • East Timor protester jailed

    BRISBANE — Jim Dowling, a long-time peace activist and member of the Catholic Worker group, was jailed for three months on March 22, for a peaceful protest with other Christian demonstrators at the Defence Force Headquarters in the

  • Election threat over Century mine

    BRISBANE Premier Rob Borbidge on April 13 threatened to call a state election over Aboriginal opposition to the huge Century Zinc mine project in the far north of the state. After a confrontation with Carpentaria Land Council

  • Cape York alliance to defy Borbidge

    BRISBANE A landmark Cape York agreement between Aborigines, conservationists and pastoralists will go ahead, regardless of the opposition of Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge, according to Noel Pearson, Cape York Land Council executive