Seven arrested at Gunns mill protest

Police have arrested seven protesters who halted operations at Gunns' Triabunna woodchip mill on Tasmania's east coast this morning.

The activists arrived early this morning and seven of them chained themselves to a conveyor belt high above the woodchip pile.

They flew a banner saying "Gunns Limited equals Climate criminals" and they were angry about yesterday's 5 per cent carbon reduction target set by the Federal Government.

Police have now cut the protesters free and arrested them, ending the six-hour blockade.

Inspector Andrew Fogarty of Tasmania Police says the activists drove through the open front gate and will be charged with trespass.

They were driven out in a police van to jeers from contractors.

About 40 log trucks have started moving into the mill grounds to unload.

Gunns would not comment on the incident, only saying the company plants about 15 million seedlings a year, more than any other company in Australia.

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Sydney pensioners rally for long-term reform

Pensioner, retiree and welfare groups have rallied together in Sydney, calling on the Federal Government to improve their standard of living.

The Fair Go for Pensioners Coalition is urging the Government to make sure next year's pension reforms deliver an adequate pension over the long-term.

The coalition's chairman, Jon Bisset, says he is hopeful the Government will provide a boost.

"We understand that there are other economic issues on at the moment but they're not excuses for forgetting about pensioners in the future," he said.

Single-aged pensioner Noreen Hewitt says the constant worry about money is exhausting.

"There needs to be an increase for us to just survive," she said.

The coalition also plans to lobby the Government to introduce new cost of living indices just for pensioners and retirees.

Wage dispute: NSW teachers continue fight

Thousands of state school and TAFE teachers across New South Wales have walked off the job for two hours to protest against the State Government's latest pay offer.

The teachers will stop work for two hours from 9:00am (AEDT).

The action is part of the NSW Teachers Federation's seven-month campaign to improve the State Government's pay offer.

The federation's acting president, Bob Lipscombe, says he understands the frustration of parents over the disruption.

"Teachers are very reluctant to take industrial action. We'd hoped to avoid industrial action around these matters," he said.

Mr Lipscombe says there may be more industrial action in future.

"We're hopeful that when the Government sees the feelings of teachers in such an obvious way, as they will this morning, that they'll commence negotiations in good faith that will lead to a settlement around these issues," he said.

"But unfortunately if the Government is not prepared to reach some accommodation around these matters, then certainly consideration will need to be given to that in the future."

The Education Department says 90 per cent of schools will remain open, but parents should check directly with their children's school if unsure.

The department's director-general, Michael Coutts-Trotter, says he is disappointed teachers are pushing ahead with the action.

Greenpeace trio fined over smoke stack stunt

Protesters paint 'solar' on a smoke stack at Swanbank Power Station in July.

Three Greenpeace activists who scaled a smoke stack at a power station west of Brisbane have been ordered to pay more than $23,000 in damages.

Pete Cooper, Paul Grajewski and Julien Vincent, all from Sydney, pleaded guilty in the Ipswich Magistrates Court today.

In July, the protesters scaled the 140-metre high tower at Swanbank and painted the words 'Go Solar' in giant letters.

No convictions were recorded but they were each fined $500 and ordered to pay the clean-up costs.

Mr Vincent, 27, says he would do it all again despite the hefty clean-up bill.

He says he and his colleagues will continue to speak out.

"This sort of thing is happening all around Australia, so I think so long as this issue is still remaining remaining critical and so long as there is no real response from government which reflects what we need, then I think the culture is very much one where action on greenhouse emissions is becoming the norm," he said.

Charges against nine other protesters were also heard today.

All pleaded guilty and were fined $300 each.

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Greenpeace criticises clean-coal plans

The environmental group Greenpeace has called on the Federal Government to rethink its support for clean coal technology.

The Government has announced plans for a global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute in Australia next year, and two clean coal power projects are to be trialed in central Queensland.

Simon Roz from Greenpeace says it is unproven technology that will takes years to perfect, and there is a risk that captured gases could escape into the environment.

"If there's any sort of escape, that massive store of carbon dioxide would be released," he said.

"We know over time that there's movement with geological formations, how are they going to ensure this stuff would remain safe over time, and most importantly, who's going to have to pay for the potential clean up.

"Is it going to be the company that made the mess or is it going to be the taxpayers?"

Qld protesters declare climate emergency

A coalition of environmental activists will target the Queensland government and mining corporations in a series of protests in Brisbane this week.

The actions are planned for the city in what has been declared a Climate Emergency Week by environmental organisations across the country.

Protest organiser Paul Benedek said he believed Australians were prepared to accept higher emission targets to protect and preserve their national heritage - but the federal government's Garnaut report had sacrificed the Great Barrier Reef.

"Having a conscious strategy that sacrifices - for eternity - one of the most unique natural wonders in the world, shows the utter insanity of those currently dictating climate policy," Mr Benedek said.

"The Queensland government is pretending to be leading a smart state while it is putting in billions of dollars in expanding the dirty, greenhouse-emitting coal industry.

"(Professor Ross) Garnaut, the Business Council and most politicians are putting protection of the market ahead of protecting the planet's irreplaceable reefs, rivers, land and air.

"But there is no economy on a dead planet - no business, no profits, no jobs - nothing."

Climate Emergency Week will include a Critical Mass cycle protest on Friday afternoon, and a rally outside Queensland Parliament House on Sunday.

Wanita Limpus from the Kiribati-Australia Association is scheduled to address the rally on the threat of climate change to the country.

Protesters then aim to march past Queensland government buildings and corporations like Xtrata and Waratah Coal.

Next Monday, they plan to target the Coal 08 mining conference in Brisbane.

Meanwhile, constituents of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's electorate of Griffith, in Brisbane, on Monday staged a sit-in at his Morningside office.

Holding signs, saying: "Rudd: missing in action on climate change," the protesters say the federal government's response to the climate change has been inadequate.

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NSW teachers continue transfer fight

Teachers from about 30 schools across New South Wales will stop work for two hours today as part of ongoing industrial action against the new transfer system.

A rally is also being planned outside Chifley College in Sydney's west in support of a teacher who was blocked by the Education Department from making a service transfer to fill a vacancy at a school of her choice.

Six schools in western Sydney will be closed between 9:00am and 11:00am (AEST) so teachers can attend the stop-work meeting.

The deputy president of the NSW Teachers Federation, Bob Lipscombe, says his members are angry about new staffing rules that will not allow the transfer of a Mt Druitt High School teacher.

"High schools in the Mt Druitt area will for all intents and purposes close during the stop-work," he said.

"The teachers there are very angry about what's happened. They're very upset about the staffing changes the State Government and Department of Education have put in place, and they're making their feelings known today."

The director-general of the Education Department, Michael Coutts-Trotter, says the action may affect the operation of up to 50 schools but will temporarily close only six.

"Parents have been notified that in the case of six schools in western Sydney," he said.

"The schools will be shut for two hours this morning in a completely unnecessary stop-work meeting. Those six schools will be effectively opening two hours later than normal."

Thousands of teachers walk off the job

Teachers will stop work for two hours from 9am (AEST), in a dispute over staff transfers and the Government's 2.5 per cent pay rise ceiling.

The NSW Teachers Federation has urged 2240 principals to close their schools and has refused to authorise minimal supervision for 750,000 students.

However, Education Department director-general Michael Coutts-Trotter said 88 per cent of schools would remain open during the strike period.

About 250 schools will have no supervision for students, he said.

"Parents have been advised of alternative arrangements by school newsletter or a note home and some schools have placed advice on their websites," he said.

The Government is planning to end the current transfer system, which gives priority for sought-after positions to teachers who have spent time at hard-to-staff schools.

Teachers Federation president Maree O'Halloran said the backlash from today's industrial action was worthwhile if it secured higher pay, retention of the transfer system and proper funding of public schools.

"When you take industrial action you could get the community offside," she said.

"But when you're dealing with the type of government we've got, it seems that nothing other than a crisis makes them listen.

"For these two hours they (the students) won't have lessons.

"But if the State Government doesn't start funding schools and TAFE colleges properly, doesn't start paying teachers properly and doesn't put the transfer system back in place there will be lots of schools who don't have enough teachers."

Ms O'Halloran would not comment on the possibility of future industrial action, saying the federation had successfully negotiated with the department in the past.

Olympics human rights ads pulled: GetUp!

Advocacy group GetUp says they expect to be reimbursed for advertisements protesting human rights abuses in China that were stopped from going to air during the coverage of the Olympic opening ceremony.

The organisation says they paid Channel Seven to feature the ads before and after the event and were given approval to do so.

GetUp's Brett Solomon says he is extremely disappointed by the decision not to air the ads.

"This is really a slap in the face to all the people who put in small amounts of money to fund the advertisement and so I guess there's a range of options at this point," he said.

GetUp says it will continue to try to get mainstream coverage for the campaign but will now approach other commercial networks.

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Hundreds of public sector workers have rallied outside the New South Wales Government's Sydney offices as part of a state-wide day of action against its 2.5 per cent capped pay rise offer.

Police are refusing to issue fines for minor offences as part of the day of action, which also involves firefighters and teachers.

Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) workers have unfurled a banner from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to draw attention to the anger.

All state departments are banning communication with ministers or ministerial officers.

Unions NSW secretary John Robertson told the rally the Government needed to pay frontline workers more because the offer was far below the inflation level.

"I remember Morris Iemma's election campaign: 'Better services for the people of NSW'," he said.

"Well, you don't deliver better services if you are not paying people a decent wage."

Firefighters have also taken part a separate rally at east Darling Harbour.

Protests have also been held in Wollongong and outside Treasurer Michael Costa's Newcastle office.

The workers, including police officers, firefighters and teachers, say the offer is far below the inflation level.

Greenpeace arrested over port protest

Environmental group Greenpeace says nine of its activists have been arrested after painting slogans on about 20 ships queuing at a central Queensland port, in protest against Australia's coal exports.

Campaigner Simon Roz said activists in inflatable boats had painted messages including "Rudd Exporting CO2", "Barrier Reef Gone", "Ice Caps Gone" and "Stop Coal Expansion" on ships queuing at Hay Point, near Mackay.

The protest began about 6am (AEST) Monday and continued until a police boat arrived at the scene around 9.30am.

He said three of the boats had been intercepted and nine activists arrested.

Mr Roz said the action was intended to draw attention to the environmental concerns linked to Australia's growing coal export industry

"The action was all about trying to highlight the contradiction between prime minister (Kevin) Rudd and premier (Anna) Bligh's stated intention to urgently reduce greenhouse pollution while presiding over a doubling of Australia's coal exports," he said.

"Greenhouse pollution doesn't know any borders so coal burnt anywhere will be destroying pristine environments all around the globe including the Great Barrier Reef and the Murray Darling."

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There are calls for state and federal govts to abandon new transport changes to get trucks back on the road.

The organiser of a national truck driver shutdown says he expects Australia's transport industry to be crippled in a matter of days.

The two-week stoppage began at midnight AEST last night over state and federal government transport changes, which include increased registration fees, new fatigue laws and changes to the fuel excise.

Organiser Mick Pattell, of the National Road Transport Forum, says he hopes the public will back drivers' concerns.

He says state and federal governments must abandon new transport changes to get trucks back on the road.

"Hopefully the government will come to the table fairly quickly and not allow this to happen to the public," he said.

"We've really got to do this to highlight the plight of this industry.

"One of the things that has come to our attention is that the sale of through the big multinational stores has exceeded Christmas time levels, so people are stocking up and getting ready for it."

Mr Pattell says he is proud of the industry for standing up for something they believe in.

He says the only concessions during the shutdown will be the delivery of food for animals in feedlots.

"Where you've got cattle in a captured environment that need to be fed, those people cannot stay out for very long and we don't expect them to," he said.

"We certainly don't want to create any hardship for any animals and it's the same for any essential services that've got to be provided but the general freight and the cattle freight, fuel tank freight is certainly going to be shut down for a good period of time."

Agforce support

Farm lobby group Agforce says the public must get behind the shutdown, even if it causes short-term pain.

Agforce spokesman Greg Brown says it is disappointed with the attitude of the state and federal governments, as well as the trucking organisations that are not supporting the shutdown.

"I mean if they're not supportive I can understand that but they're out there white-anting these people and I think that's pretty disappointing," he said.

"I think all they have to do is sit on their hands and I think there's an enormous amount of support for this out in the bush because people are aware that in time to come we're just not going to be able to wear it."

Mr Brown says he hopes the public supports the shutdown.

"Unless they're aware, we're never going to make a mark on either the state or federal governments, so I think we need their help and the truckies are just trying to attract their attention," he said.

"There doesn't appear to be any other way."

'Unreasonable action'

But Queensland Deputy Premier Paul Lucas says the shutdown will not achieve the outcome the industry is looking for.

Mr Lucas says the industry is taking unreasonable action.

He says changes to fatigue management laws are needed, not only in Queensland but across the country.

"About a third of the fatalities last year on Queensland roads involved heavy vehicles," he said.

"The Queensland community wants us to be fair when it comes to cracking down on fatigued driving and the like in our trucks.

"The Federal Government have now indicated that they're going to inquire into the nature of contracts for heavy vehicles that drivers enter into - that's good news."

Meanwhile, a roadhouse in western Queensland will lock its bowsers from today in support of the truck stoppage.

The operators of the Kynuna Roadhouse, north-west of Winton, say the petrol and gas bowsers will remain locked until the shutdown is over.

It means there will be no petrol on the Landsborough Highway between McKinlay and Winton.

Updated 5:00pm (AEST)

Truckies sacked for stopping work


Stopwork truckies sacked (Get Image)

A spokesman for South Australian truck owners and drivers, Robert Harrowfield, says the drivers all worked for the same company.

They were warned they would be out of a job if they joined the national stoppage.

About 70 truck drivers met in Adelaide to discuss concerns including fatigue and higher fuel prices.

A further meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday.

One driver's partner, Glenda, hopes the public will sympathise with drivers and their families.

"My partner works very, very hard - he's constantly tired and when he gets home he just wants to fall into bed," she said.

"Weekends are spent trying to catch up on that sleep - basically you don't have a life.

"He's trying to do his best and it's not easy when nobody wants to give him a break."

Anti-Gunns protest at Mac Bank's AGM

The Wilderness Society is protesting outside the Macquarie Bank's annual general meeting in Melbourne.

The society believes the bank is considering helping to fund the controversial pulp mill planned for northern Tasmania.

Protesters are dressed as Tom Cruise from the movie, Risky Business.

Geoff Law from the Wilderness Society says Macquarie is considering whether to become involved after the ANZ Bank's decision not to fund the mill.

"Well we've been told by people within the bank that they are looking to assist Gunns with a share issue later this year so that equity can be raised to fund the pulp mill and the bank is also considering getting involved in other ways," he said.

Truckies' fuel protest clogs highway

Truckies want Commonwealth compensation for fuel and repair costs.

About 100 truck drivers are protesting against rising fuel and repair costs by driving slowly into south-west Sydney in a convoy, causing heavy traffic on the Hume Highway.

A slow-moving convoy of trucks has travelled north along the Hume Highway and the M5 motorway from the Sutton Forest service centre, south-west of the city, to the Crossroads at Casula at about 60 kilometres an hour.

Drivers travelling north from Wagga Wagga, Albury and Melbourne joined the go slow along the way, in the second protest to be staged by truckies this month.

Highway traffic is heavy between Narellan and Casula, in south-west Sydney.

Transport Workers Union spokesman Richard Olsen says unfair contracts have forced truck drivers to absorb a spike in fuel prices, while Coles and Woolworths pass on cost increases to customers.

Mr Olsen says the truckies are calling on the Federal Government to introduce legislation that would allow cost recovery from major retailers and compensate drivers for repair costs.

"A lot of these guys have not only mortgaged the house but everything else they own to keep the truck on the road," he said.

"We're still attempting to get a national determination to cover truck drivers, employees and owner drivers to get cost recovery and have safe sustainable rates within our industry for truck drivers to get paid for the work they do."

NSW given ambulance ultimatum

Ambulance officers have given the New South Wales Government 48 hours to commit to increased staffing levels or face a lengthy industrial campaign.

About 200 officers have marched to Parliament House in Sydney this morning, calling on the Government to hire an extra 300 ambulance officers and 60 patient transport officers.

They also want the service's senior management sacked over what they call a culture of bullying.

Health Services Union general secretary Michael Williamson says officers have had enough but will not take action that puts lives at risk.

"That would be totally irresponsible to do that," he said.

"This is a group of people who aren't irresponsible but they're frustrated.

"The government has an opportunity to fix this. This is not rocket science, all they have to do is put the sharp on, this problem can be rectified."

Mr Williamson says ambulance officers cannot cope any longer.

"We are currently at the same levels of staffing that we had in 2002 and these not withstanding, also there's been an increase in workload of 5 per cent per year every year since then," he said.

He says the rally has the support of every ambulance officer in the state.

Court dumps WYD 'annoy' law

Two Sydney activists have won a Federal Court challenge to special World Youth Day laws which carry $5500 fines for annoying or inconveniencing pilgrims.

NoToPope Coalition members Rachel Evans and Amber Pike took the NSW government to court over the police powers granted for the month of July seeking a declaration that they were unconstitutional.

Justices Catherine Branson, Robert French and Margaret Stone today ruled the specific clause relating to annoying and inconveniencing pilgrims went beyond the intention of state parliament.

In 2006, the parliament passed the World Youth Day Act which allowed the World Youth Day Authority to pass the annoyance clause in 2008.

In dismissing the other points of the coalition's claim, Justice French found that parts of the act banning the sale of certain items including stickers, badges and T-shirts did not infringe upon the right to free political communication.

However, the judge said the annoyance clause was invalid because it could not have been the intention of parliament to make such vague and extensive limits to free speech.

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Greenpeace protesters scale 140m chimney

Greenpeace protesters have scaled a 140 metre power station chimney in southeast Queensland in protest against coal-fired energy.

A police spokesman said protesters arrived at the Swanbank Power Station, west of Brisbane, about 5.30am (AEST) on Friday.

Nine have already been arrested for trespass and police were currently monitoring protesters who had climbed onto the plant, he said.

A Greenpeace statement issued Friday morning said four activists had scaled a smokestack and two others had unfurled a banner reading "Energy Revolution" on the roof of the plant.

Campaigner Julien Vincent is one of the activists climbing the smokestack.

He said the station could be switched off if every home in Queensland changed to solar hot water.

"Queensland has the best solar resources in the world and it is a tragedy that the Sunshine State isn't leading the way in renewable energy," Mr Vincent said before beginning the climb.

Police continue to monitor the peaceful protest.

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The state's community legal centres are calling for an inquiry into the expansion of police powers in New South Wales ahead of World Youth Day.

The Combined Community Legal Centres Group has investigated the way new powers have been given to police by the State Government, especially for last year's APEC summit in Sydney.

In a report to be released today, it warns the powers have often been introduced without sufficient debate and proper safeguards.

It warns the powers could also be used inappropriately during World Youth Day.

Shirley Southgate from the Kingsford Legal Centre says police have often been given new powers without sufficient debate or proper safeguards.

"It beggars belief that police are going to be able to consistently and sensibly enforce that," she said.

Ms Southgate says the regulation allowing police to fine people for annoying World Youth Day pilgrims is the latest example.

"They've kind of crept up on us, that stealthy derogation of these rights and freedoms, and the interpretation is not clear," she said.

"There's a great deal of uncertainty around them, so the effort in policing them is going to be massive I would imagine."

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Greenpeace protesters shut power station

Eight Greenpeace protestors have chained themselves to a coal conveyor belt at Erarang Power Station on the Central Coast, shutting it down in protest against climate change.

About 27 supporters of the environment group breached security to gain access to the power station this morning.

Police rescue personnel are on site, and the protestors are expected to be removed soon. Nineteen of them have already been arrested.

The power station, one of eight in NSW that rely on coal to produce electricity, reduced its power output as a safety precaution but is still supplying power to the grid, a spokeswoman said.

"They have prevented about 2000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being released," a Greenpeace spokeswoman said.

The protest action comes eight months after Greenpeace temporarily shut down the nearby Munmorah Power Station, to highlight that plant's contribution to global warming.

Coal-fired electricity production accounts for almost half of the state's carbon emissions, the group said.

"Coal communities have been taken advantage of by coal companies and governments," Greenpeace said in a statement. "Renewable energy is the future and it's bright. Workers must be retrained and re-skilled so that they don't miss out."

Charity calls for petrol relief

A charity is calling for petrol companies to help them cope with the rising cost of fuel.

Mission Australia's uses vans to provide services for homeless people on the streets of inner Sydney.

But it says the vans cost $100 to fill up and it is struggling with the high cost of petrol.

Charity spokesman Daniel Petsalis says it wants petrol companies to make a donation.

"It'd be great to see one of our petrol companies come forward and help us with a donation or talk to us about discounting our fuel costs longer term in recognition for the problem and assisting us," he said.

Mr Petsalis says he wants to see fuel companies donate petrol or offer discounts.

"Charities do have a number of vehicles, other charities do, but Missionbeat's sort of the only one service of its kind across the country that's providing that street outreach and assistance to homeless people," he said.

More time urged for abused ward compo

Hundreds of Tasmanians have already been compensated for the cruelty, violence and neglect they suffered while in state care.

Tasmanian Premier, David Bartlett is being urged to extend the deadline for people who were abused as wards of the state in Tasmania to apply for compensation.

Hundreds of Tasmanians have already been compensated for the cruelty, violence and neglect they suffered while in state care.

But after complaints from people who missed out on the first scheme, the Government opened a new and final round, with three months to apply and $10 million on offer.

The Government says at the beginning of May, 390 people had applied for redress.

Leonie Sheedy, from the support network CLAN, says the June 30 deadline should be extended, or others will miss out.

"We're going to be faced with the same situation all over again, in six months time," she said.

"I'd like to ask the Premier of Tasmania to extend the deadline for people to put in their applications, because the Queensland Government have extended their redress scheme."

Ms Sheedy says she is still hearing from people who have only just heard of the compensation scheme.

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