National Day of Protest - that's a lot of people

Well it was big, around 150,000 people marched through Melbourne as a show of support to say NO to unfair work laws. I started at Trades Hall with fellow travellers from the AMWU, the Plumbers, the ETU, the ASU and many, many more. From there we made our way, as much as possible to the Bourke St Mall.

I saw lots of people from the Dandenongs there, a great effort for them to get into town. It was also terrific to see a contingent from our very own Shire of Yarra Ranges.

I was really pleased to see the committment of our Shire staff to come along and join with thousands of others to send a message to the Federal Government about these draconian and unfair workplace reforms.














There is no doubt the Government's new IR reforms push down workers' wages and cut conditions. Today we heard 3 different people talk about their unfortunate experience under the new laws. In every case there was a negative outcome and it was a real demonstration of how brutal these new laws are.

It's important to continue the campaign not just for the workers of today but the workers of the future. It's been a long and hard battle to get to where we are today and we need to continue the fight before we lose too much.

Unite and rally against Howard's draconian IR laws

It's time to show your support and unite with Unions and the Community to rally against Howard's unjust IR laws on June 28, 10am in Melbourne.

Already we have begun to see the real impact of an industrial relations system that removes rights and conditions from working people and leaves them with no real protection from unscrupulous employers. We find we are faced with an industrial relations system that gives far too much power to employers to decide the fate of working people, a system that overturns 100 years of achievements that have been gained for workers.

June 28 Day of Community Protest is shaping up as a huge day. There will be four starting points for people to rally at 10am before converging on the corner of Bourke and Swanston Sts. Locations are:
Trades Hall – Cnr Lygon and Victoria Sts
State Parliament – Cnr Spring and Bourke Sts
Federation Square – Cnr Swanston and Flinders Sts
Southern Cross Station – Spencer St

If you'd like to know more visit http://www.vthc.org.au/

Belgrave streetscape works

A very big thankyou to all the regular shoppers in Belgrave, it's certainly been challenging getting around and about the current streetscape works.

There has been a few unknowns to throw our schedule out, but hopefully we are only 3 or 4 weeks behind. It seems that once you start digging in Belgrave you never know what you might find. We are working on completing the pedestrian crossing area first then the laneway and finally Terry's Avenue corner, however just a little bit more short term pain for a long term gain.

Our town will look so much better once the works are completed and be yet another step on the journey to cementing Belgrave as a contemporary, vibrant and sustainable place to shop, not only for locals but visitors too. Please be patient - it will be over before you know it.

World Environment Day 2006

What a great day in Melbourne, people turned out in their thousands to say no to the logging of old growth forests.

Estimates on the day say 15,000 people marched and included the young, the old, families, you name it - they were there. I spotted plenty of people from the Dandenongs - we were well represented.

It's imperative Mr Premier, please protect Victoria's old-growth forests now.

If you want to read more about the march visit http://www.wilderness.org.au/