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Over 200,000 people have protested at the anti-hoWARd government rally in Melbourne, with at least 150,000 or more in other capital cities and in regional centres throughout Australia.
Huge crowds packed into Federation Square in Melbourne this morning.
Protesters marched across the city to the Carlton Gardens, where Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) secretary Martin Kingham said the rally was a huge success.
"Looks like 200,000 to me - the biggest industrial rally that I've ever seen in Melbourne," he said.
Thousands of building workers attended the rally despite the threat of a $22,000 fine each for taking part.
Australian Workers Union (AWU) secretary Bill Shorten says today's rallies are just the beginning of a campaign against the Howard Government.
"You asked what is the strategy for the next 700 days - the strategy is to fight - to fight in the workplace, to fight in the community, to fight in the media and to get rid of the Howard Government," he said.
Brisbane
In Brisbane, over 10,000 workers marched through the inner-city to the Queensland National party headquarters to protest against the industrial relations laws.
The protesters had earlier gathered at Southbank to hear the Queensland Premier Peter Beattie and union leaders speak.
Sydney
In Sydney, trucks and demonstrators blocked a major motorway as part of the protest.
New South Wales Transport Workers Union secretary Tony Sheldon says protesters on the M4 motorway wanted to draw attention to the impact they say the laws will have on the trucking industry.
"They're determined to protect motorists, their loved ones, their next door neighbours from the excesses of the Howard legislation that's going to cause more and more deregulation of the trucking industry and more unsafe rates and unsafe practices while there's a drive to the bottom," he said.
As expected the Labor Party bureaucrats were out in force to capitalise on the discontent for their careerist ambitions but interestingly the video of Bob Brown got a much bigger cheer than that of Kim Beazley, a nice contrast to the previous demo where workers were seen chanting "beazley, beazley".
Huge crowds certainly put a smile on most people's faces
Workers rally against Industrial Relations law
By Roy Garner 15 November 05
SYDNEY, Tuesday, 15 November: "Hundreds of thousands" of workers rallied in a day of national protest against the Howard Government's new industrial relations law.
In Sydney, a rally comprising "a genuine cross-section of the Australian community", and estimated by the ABC's reporter at "maybe 40,000", met at Belmore Park before marching though the city to Chifley Square to hear speakers against Howard's law.
An exuberant and very noisy march left observers in no doubt as to their resolve. At one point, there was an unnecessary diversion when some of the marchers taunted the visiting Uruguayan footballers, who were watching the procession in George Street.
A single handwritten banner, "Say NO to working poor", summarised the thrust of the new legislation, which Victoria's Premier Bracks declared had been the lot of many workers following the regressive legislation in that state by the former Kennett government.
The new laws have been an obsession of Prime Minister Howard for many years, and, contrary to its stated intention--to usher is a new era of "choice" in the workplace--promise to ignite more nation-wide protests from unions, who see the legislation as stripping away a century of hard-won rights for workers.
Opposition leader Kim Beazley promised a Brisbane rally, estimated by ABC reporters at about 10,000, that, if elected, he would "stand on the steps of Parliament and rip these laws up".
ACTU President Sharan Burrow told the Melbourne rally, which unions put at 150,000 to 200,000 (ABC Midday News), that the unions were defending "values that shape the way we care about each another". "We must not be the first generation of Australians who leaves our kids with fewer rights at work than we inherited, and we won't", she said.
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Bill: Who can take a sunrise,sprinkle it in spew, cover it in allegations and a lie or two?
A GROUP of Sydney men, targeted by prime meanster john hoWARd, (the coward) and accused of lots of 'things' on Australian soil, with war and greed, (where they happen to reside) and had 'specific eyes, (brown?), on places and seen specific sites, (looked at them?), as they toured? country NSW?
According to a 'government executive' they may even of had 'private meetings' 'somewhere' as recently as this month in preparation for a 'thing' at no place.
Bill: The neo-liberals can, the neo-liberals can cause they mixes it with fear and makes the world taste terror.
A computer memory stick found at the home of one of the men also contained instructions for the manufacture of explosives, Central Local Court was told last Friday.
But people would be aware that this information and similar information could also have been downloaded from the internet so perhaps having a memory stick is the real problem?
Bill: Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in black, soak it in the media and make a dangerous terrorist act?
Children: The neo-liberals can?
The claims were made as one of eight Sydney men arrested in an ASIO fishing expedition applied for and was refused bail, while another man, Izzydeen Atik, was ordered to be extradited to Victoria to face communication related charges.
Belmore handyman Mirsad Mulahalilovic, 29, is accused of purchasing plastic caps and PVC piping - materials used in the packaging of explosives, the Crown alleged.
But john hoWARd makes, everything he bakes, illegal and seditious, talk about his political wishes, you can even eat the misses.
Even though Belmore handyman Mirsad Mulahalilovic, 29, should not be accused of purchasing plastic caps and PVC piping - materials used in the building industry - the law was reversed to make it look like a threat to national security and a public danger?
A quantity of cleaning material 'hydrochloric acid' was also allegedly found at his home, a product used widely, by bricklayers for instance, to clean the common house brick.
Authorities Sinister Plot
But the crown alleged it was used in the manufacture of explosives such as TATP - also known as triacetone triperoxide - which was alledgedly used in the London terror attacks.
Opposing bail Friday, Crown Prosecutor Wendy Abraham, QC, said Mulahalilovic - a Bosnian who came to Australia in 1996 - was part of a group that recently held secret gatherings as a prelude to a planned terrorist attack.
"The Crown will be alleging that this accused is one of those persons involved in covert meetings this month," Ms Abraham said.
So when were private meetings banned anyway?
Bill: Who can take tomorrow, dip it in a fear, separate the community, and collect up all cream?
The neo-liberals can.
Abraham: "There is evidence of hydrochloric acid and (plastic) caps and (PVC) piping (in relation to Mulahalilovic). It's obvious what the significance of hydrochloric acid is to this case.
Children: john hoWARd can!
Bricks?
Abraham: "A memory stick found at the home of one of the accused contained instructions and images for the manufacture of a particular explosive. The instructions included the making of TATP (involving) hydrochloric acid.
Found most likely on the Internet and the by-product of the introduction of computer memory sticks?
Abraham: "It is obvious ... there have been a number of attempts to obtain sufficient quantities of hydrochloric acid. The other items which the accused is involved in purchasing are items that are involved in the packaging of the explosive."
clutching at straws
clean bricks + hydrochloric acid = 58,000 references @ google
Any brickie will have up to 100+ litres on hand
http://melbourne.indymedia.org/news/2005/11/99166_comment.php#99229
Bill: Are you ready children?
Applying for bail on behalf of Mulahalilovic, barrister Phillip Boulten, SC, gave some insight into the Crown allegations against several of the other terror suspects.
Mr Boulten argued that, according to the Crown statement of facts, the alleged role of Mulahalilovic was not as integral to the plot as some of his alleged co-conspirators.
Bill: Who can take a sunrise, sprinkle it in spew, cover it in allegations and a lie or two?
"There's no evidence this man travelled to Melbourne to meet with anybody who is said by the prosecution to be part of this alleged conspiracy," Mr Boulten said.
"There's no suggestion ... that this man was a member of any of these trips that went to country districts of NSW.
"There's no evidence ... which suggests that this man was, in any way, surveilling, checking out or making observations of any particular potential site or target.
"There is no suggestion ... that he was with any of the others when any of the others did what they are alleged to have done."
Bill: Who can take a rainbow, wrap it in black, soak it in the media and make a dangerous terrorist act?
Children: The neo-liberals can?
Bill: The neo-liberals can, the neo-liberals can cause they mixes it with fear and makes the world taste terror.
Mr Boulten said his client became an Australian citizen after arriving as a refugee from the war in the former Yugoslavia.
He said Mulahalilovic worked as a handyman, lived with his wife, parents and brother and, with the help of family members, could provide around $1 million security to ensure his freedom until trial.
Refusing bail, magistrate Allan Moore said he expected further material from the investigation would involve Mulahalilovic.
"He is allegedly involved in activities which had the potential to create a great disturbance for this country," Mr Moore said.
But it's potentially disturbing to lock up a handyman.
Bill: And the world tastes terror cause the neo-liberals thinks it should.
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A Shield or A Sword?
