*THE WORKER* Brisbane, October 19, 1895. Mail Bag.

 *THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, OCTOBER 19, 1895.

Mail Bag.

WANTED – (to prepare the way for Socialism in our time)

One Adult One Vote.

Land Tax.

Income Tax.

State Bank.

Shops and Factories Act.

Eight hours day where practicable.

Referendum and Initiative.

Taxation of every person according to ability to pay.

The State to find work for unemployed.

The State to fix a minimum wage.

Free Railways.Free administration of Justice.

________________________

The WORKER does not hold itself responsible for the opinions of its correspondents.

_________________________

P. M’L. -  Thank you.

W. FOTHGILL. - Thanks.

OLD BATTER. - writes in praise of the work being done by the A.L.F. organiser in the Charleville district.

STIFF’UN. -  We have every hopes that Mr. D. Bowman will be able to visit the whole of the bush districts at some time or other.

MOT. - 1. Yes, they can make application at the November Revision Court. 2. Your letter has been referred to the political executive.

J. P. of Northampton, complains that copies of the WORKERS are not sent to subscribers but are retained by a person who has no business to detain them.

J. G. - Those are matters which had better be thrashed out at the union meetings or at the shed. Publications in the WORKER will only cause friction. Thanks for good wishes and support towards the Enlargement Fund.

No. 1519. -  See WORKER Enlargement Fund: Subscriptions by the Welltown shed hands, £2; Welltown shearers, £5 6s. 8d. This money was posted on the 7th October but not received until the WORKER containing yours of 1st October was published.

_______________

ED. WORKER, - The  domestic servants seem to have as hard times  at Mackay as the men. At the few hotels I’ve put up in I noticed the servants were at work from 6 a.m. to 20 or 11 p.m., and on inquiry the girls all tell the same tale. After tea they have to do mangling, ironing, and repairing of clothing, or leave. Cannot the working men alter that for their sisters and help along the cause? - Yours &c., OBSERVER.

ED. WORKER, - The P.U. ‘94 agreement, clause 12, reads: “No shearer or shearer’s employ’e shall bring or cause to be brought any intoxicating liquor on to the station.” If  the shearer breaks this rule he promptly gets the sack, but the local rum-seller, who happens to be a female, sends over a case of grog at the finish with object of bringing the shearers to drink the money they earn at her shanty. The squatter winks at this kind of thing, simply because he is an interested party Women again! - Yours, &c., TARPOT.

ED. WORKER, - I used to be surprised at the present Government passing such a measure of State Socialism as the Sugar Works Guarantee Bill, but now I can see the meaning as all the land in the vicinity of the Central mills belong to landgrabbers, other singly or in syndicates. Before those mills came into operation the grabbers could not sell it at 10s. an acre, but as soon as a central mill is guaranteed they sell it to would-be farmers at from £5 to £10 per acre, while others again charge a royalty of 1s. per ton on all cane grown. Just fancy a rent of from 10s. to £3 per acre per annum; and then we say we are settling the people on the land. We are, but at what a price! - Yours, &c., OBSERVER, Mackay.

Renewables could meet 100% demand in Australia at certain times of day by 2025, report says.

Extract from The Guardian 

Energy

Energy market operator notes penetration of renewable generation reached record high of 57% twice in 2021.

Aemo report says if large-scale wind and solar development continues at current rates, renewables could meet 100% of consumer demand at certain times by 2025.

Katharine Murphy Political editor

@murpharoo

Tue 31 Aug 2021 03.30 AEST

Last modified on Tue 31 Aug 2021 03.32 AEST

Renewables will meet 100% of consumer demand for electricity at certain times of the day by 2025 if large-scale wind and solar development continues at current rates, the Australian Energy Market Operator has said.

Aemo’s annual grid reliability snapshot, to be released on Tuesday, notes the penetration of renewable generation in Australia reached a record high of 57% twice in 2021 – in April and again in August.

Solar power in Australia outstrips coal-fired electricity for first time

Read more

If Australia’s power system is engineered appropriately, based on current trends “there could be up to 100% instantaneous penetration of renewables at certain times of the day throughout the year by 2025”, it says.

The report predicts that total existing and committed large-scale solar and wind capacity, as well as solar panels installed by businesses and households, will be almost 10 gigawatts greater by 2025 than today.

It predicts an additional 8.9 GW of distributed solar capacity will be installed by 2025 and “these solar systems alone could supply up to 77% of total electricity demand at times by 2026”.

Growth in power generation from solar panels is also driving down minimum demand on the electricity grid. As solar systems allow households and businesses to be self-sufficient through generating and storing their own energy, they draw less power from the grid.

As a consequence, Aemo predicts, all mainland states will experience minimum operational demand during the next five years, which is the lowest level of demand from the grid during daytime. Declining minimum demand can create engineering challenges in the grid.

The assessment forecasts there will be enough electricity supply to meet reliability standards for at least the next five years.

Aemo has not included the impact of the Snowy 2.0 expansion in the reliability assessment because it says the transmission to carry the energy to consumer centres is not yet committed. Snowy 2.0 is expected to add 2GW of capacity “gradually” between 2025-26 and 2026-27.

Australia’s energy market operator plans for net zero by 2050 as Morrison stalls

Read more

But the assessment does include the new taxpayer-funded gas-fired power station at Kurri Kurri in NSW, which is expected to be operational by 2023-24.

The chief executive of Aemo, Daniel Westerman, said in a statement the positive outlook for grid reliability reflected “a combination of newly committed generation, storage and transmission developments”. He said 4.4GW of new generation and storage capacity would come online over the next five years as well as new investments in transmission infrastructure.

“Significant renewable energy investments, and well progressed dispatchable generation projects, including gas plants, pumped hydro and battery storage, will all help replace retiring coal and gas plant,” Westerman said.

“The new dispatchable capacity will also enable higher penetrations of low-cost solar and wind generation into the market in the coming years.”

The snapshot notes Australia’s ageing coal power fleet is becoming less reliable. It notes the retirements of the Yallourn power plant in Victoria and two units of the Eraring plant have been brought forward, and the market operator expects the Vales Point power station will close in 2029.

Aemo says the reliability of the thermal generation fleet “generally stayed at historically low levels in 2020-21” and predicts “overall plant reliability will be at similar poor levels over the coming summer”.

“While some plant improvements are expected in the near term, most generators are anticipating a trend of decreasing reliability in the longer term, increasing supply scarcity risk.”

Australian Electricity Market Operator predicts stable supply despite closures of coal-fired power stations.

Extract from ABC News

By political reporter Melissa Clarke

Posted 6 hours ago

AEMO says the closure of Liddel power station and others in coming years won't lead to blackouts.

(Wikimedia Commons)

New battery storage and gas-powered generators have helped bring more reliability to the electricity grid on Australia's east coast, with no issues for electricity supply forecast over the next five years.

Key points:

• The manager of the country's electricity markets has dropped its warning that Australia faces a power supply shortage
• AEMO says the closure of coal plants in coming years will be shored up by new battery and gas plants
• Possible flooding at Yallourn station in Victoria remains the biggest short-term risk to supply

Previously, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) had identified a shortfall in electricity generation and possible blackouts in New South Wales following the closure of coal-fired power stations over the next five years.

But the company, which oversees Australia's power markets, found in its latest report on electricity supply "the previously identified reliability gap in NSW is no longer forecast."

The AEMO report shows adequate electricity supply for the coming summer and following years, though it does warn extreme weather events could disrupt the operations of ageing coal-fired power stations.

"An additional 2,245 megawatts (MW) of new capacity is forecast to be operational this summer, compared to what was available last summer. This includes 470 MW of dispatchable battery storage capacity, " the report found.

The improved forecast diminishes the case put by some Coalition MPs that a new coal-fired power station needs to be constructed. 

Hydro, gas and batteries powering new supply

The CEO of AEMO, Daniel Westerman, attributed the more positive outlook for the electricity grid to a range of factors.

Mr Westerman said new wind and solar farms, combined with plans for 'dispatchable' power (which incudes pumped hydro, gas plants, and battery storage), "will all help replace retiring coal and gas plant".

"No reliability gaps are forecast for the next five years, primarily due to more than 4.4 gigawatts (GW) of new generation and storage capacity, as well as transmission investment and reduced peak demand forecasts," he said.

Beyond the next five years, the outlook was a little more cautious, noting some coal-fired power stations in Victoria and New South Wales will close earlier than previously expected.

But the AEMO report found there were enough projects either planned or already underway to make up for the closures.

"There are well-progressed generation, storage and transmission projects, which, once operational, will maintain reliability as coal plants start to close earlier," Mr Westerman said.

The biggest short-term risk to electricity supply? Rain

The main risk to electricity supply over summer is further flooding at the Yallourn power station in Victoria.

In June, flooding in Gippsland led to cracks in the coal mine adjacent to the power station, limiting its operations.

The Yallourn open cut coal mine has flooded several times in the last decade, including for more than two weeks in 2012.

(Supplied)

Futher flooding could again limit Yallourn's power output, which could cause significant supply issues given the plant accounts for one-fifth of Victoria's electricity supply.

Similarly, Queensland's Callide power station still has limited capacity to generate electricity following an explosion at one of its units in May.

The AEMO report identified the reliability of coal-fired plants as remaining at "historically poor levels" and noted most generators "are anticipating a trend of decreased reliability" over the longer term.

The long-term risk to supply is falling demand

The biggest risk to the electricity grid over the next 10 years isn't the lack of supply, but rather, the lack of demand.

With households and businesses continuing to install roof-top solar power, demand for electricity is falling, particularly through the day.

That reduces the minimum amount of electricity needed in the network, causing issues for coal and gas-fired power stations that have minimum operating restrictions.

In five years' time, roof-top solar could supply up to 77 per cent of electricity demands at some points in the day, which would cause the minimum operating demand for the National Electricity Market (NEM) to drop by two-thirds.

"Without additional operational tools, we may no longer be able to operate the mainland NEM securely in all periods from 2025 due to a lack of security services when demand from the grid is so low," Mr Westerman said.

The market operator said growth in rooftop solar could lead to low demands on the national electricity grid in future years.

(Getty Images)

Managing this is further complicated by uncertainty around how quickly the transport sector and heavy industry turn electric and the advancement of hydrogen technology.

Federal, state and territory ministers are currently considering a range of options to ensure the stability of the electricity grid in the long-term, such as a Retailer Reliability Obligation.

Their decisions wil be critical, given AEMO expects that by 2025, there will be times renewables could supply 100 per cent of electricity demand.

Former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell is being sued for billions over election fraud claims. She sat down with Four Corners.

Extract from ABC News 

Four Corners

By Sarah Ferguson, Laura Gartry and Lauren Day

Posted 1 hours ago

Watch reporter Sarah Ferguson grill former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell about her election fraud claims. She walks out mid-interview but comes back after some convincing.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-08-31/fox-news-trump-lawyers-lawsuits-election-lies-four-corners/100419234

For weeks after the US election, high-profile Fox News anchors peddled Donald Trump's "big lie" that the presidential election had been stolen.

Now, Fox's role in amplifying those claims could have major legal and financial consequences for the network founded and owned by Rupert Murdoch.

Fox provided a sympathetic platform to then-president Trump and his lawyers as they engaged in a campaign to persuade the American public that a massive fraud had taken place.

The stolen election claims were believed by large numbers and drove the violent assault in Washington on January 6 when thousands stormed the Capitol in a last-ditch attempt to prevent the election result being confirmed.

Trump persuaded his supporters that the election had been stolen from him and they must use "strength" to take it back.

(Reuters: Leah Millis)

At the centre of the allegations were two voting technology companies accused of conspiring to rig the election.

Smartmatic and Dominion are now suing Fox News, three of its anchors and Trump loyalists Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, for a total of $4.3 billion.

Interviewed by Four Corners, Sidney Powell is still claiming the election was stolen and repeating her attack on those companies, despite the legal threat hanging over her.

While there were many sources of disinformation after the election, former Fox insiders point to the culpability of the Fox Network because of its power over Trump's supporters.

Supporters at Trump's June 2021 rally still believe the election was "stolen".

(Getty Images: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency)

Former Fox political editor Chris Stirewalt, who was fired from the network after the election, says Fox had a particular responsibility to resist the poison of the big lie.

"Fox had the opportunity to use its position to tell the truth for the good of the country. And failed to use its power and resources that it had to stand up to Donald Trump," he said.

The big lie has since become embedded in a section of the American public. Many of his supporters believe Donald Trump is still their president.

Thousands of supporters came to the "Save America" rally for Donald Trump in Ohio in June.

(Getty Images: Scott Olson)

Why did Fox News back Trump and then peddle his lies?

According to Washington Post media reporter Sarah Ellison, Fox founder and owner Rupert Murdoch has always wanted access to an American president and he got it once Trump was elected. 

"It has been enormously successful for him," she said. "Rupert managed to have the kind of access to an American president that very few people have achieved historically."

Then-Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump (R) speaks to media mogul Rupert Murdoch in 2016.

(Reuters: Carlo Allegri)

Aligning itself closely with Donald Trump proved a ratings bonanza for the network and Trump's influence over Fox grew while he was president.

"Trump caught on with the Fox audience and so it became a self-licking ice cream cone, where you get great ratings because of Trump," said former Fox contributor retired Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters.

On election night last November, there was a rupture in the Fox and Trump relationship. 

Fox News was the first network to call the critical state of Arizona for Joe Biden on election night, spoiling Trump's momentum after some early wins. Trump treated the Fox call as a personal betrayal.

Trump attacked Fox relentlessly and the network's prime time ratings dropped.

"The audience was punishing them, their own audience that they had courted and created and built over these many years, was leaving them in droves," Ms Ellison said.

Washington Post media reporter Sarah Ellison desrcibes Rupert Murdoch as one of the most powerful media moguls in the world.

(Four Corners: Cameron Schwarz)

In an effort to win back Trump's supporters and to curry favour with the president himself, key Fox anchors began pushing the stolen election narrative.

New York lawyer Howard Kleinhendler was part of the chaotic legal team brought together on Trump's behalf to challenge the election result. 

"Fox, at least at the outset, was the only mainstream media outlet that was at least allowing this narrative … to go forward at the time," he said.

Youtube How Murdoch’s Fox News allowed Trump's propaganda to destabilise democracy | Four Corners

What's the case against Fox?

Chicago lawyer Erik Connolly is preparing the $US2.7 billion ($3.7 billion) defamation case against Fox News, three of the network's stars — Maria Bartiromo, Jeanine Pirro and Lou Dobbs — and two Trump lawyers on behalf of Smartmatic.

A Fox News segment featuring host Lou Dobbs (left) is named in Smartmatic's lawsuit.

(Supplied: Fox News)

The other voting machine company,  Dominion, is suing Fox News separately for $US1.6 billion ($2.2 billion).  A total of $US4.3 billion ($5.9 billion).

Mr Connolly described it as a "David and Goliath" battle but said the list of provable lies told about Smartmatic is extensive.

"It really did go from, Smartmatic was founded by Hugo Chavez, they are funded by corrupt dictators, conspired to rig this election, they own Dominion, their equipment is used to rig elections, they send votes overseas, they have backdoors that allow security breaches.

"And none of that is factually accurate."

Lawyer Erik Connolly is preparing for the biggest case of his life, taking on Rupert Murdoch’s Fox News.

(Four Corners: Cameron Schwarz)

Central to Fox's defence is the considerable protection given under American law to free speech, a fundamental principle which also protects media organisations covering controversial topics.

"Challenges to the outcome of the presidential election are newsworthy. I'm not contesting that," said Mr Connolly.

"What we are contesting is that when you do that, when you are doing that coverage, you can't intentionally lie about it."

In the case of Smartmatic, a simple crucial fact was missing from the Fox coverage. 

The company accused of orchestrating a nationwide election fraud had a single contract in the 2020 election to provide a new voting system in LA county, California.

Mr Connolly's key exhibits in the case include interviews broadcast on Fox with two Trump lawyers, Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani – who are also targeted in the suit. 

In those interviews, Powell and Giuliani describe a broad conspiracy funded by Communist countries to steal votes from Donald Trump by hacking the voting machines, what Ms Powell described as "cyber–Pearl Harbor."

Trump backers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell are both named as defendants in the Smartmatic lawsuit.

(AP: Jacquelyn Martin)

Ms Powell, a former federal prosecutor, was best known as the lawyer for the former General Michael Flynn, the national security advisor convicted of lying to the FBI and later pardoned by Trump. 

Powell's most memorable line from her post-election appearances was her pledge to "release the Kraken," her promise to prove the election was stolen with large amounts of evidence.

Fox News has rejected the cases against it, saying:

"FOX News covered the election in the highest tradition of the First Amendment"  

After the Smartmatic lawsuit was filed against Fox News, the company issued the following statement:

 "FOX News Media is committed to providing the full context of every story with in-depth reporting and clear opinion. We are proud of our 2020 election coverage and will vigorously defend against this meritless lawsuit in court."

'I'm not prepared to accept that fact': Sidney Powell

Four Corners travelled to Dallas to meet Sidney Powell. Despite being personally sued for billions of dollars, she continued to argue the election was stolen and the voting technology companies were involved.

Extended interview: reporter Sarah Ferguson questions Trump loyalist Sidney Powell.

When asked if she accepted the fact that the company she accused of stealing a national election only operated in one county, she replied:

"No, I'm not prepared to accept that fact. I think Smartmatic's involvement was far more significant than that. Do I think they're trying to minimise their involvement? Of course, I do."

She also rejected the assertion by government organisations tasked with verifying the election that it was the most secure ever.

"That's the propaganda they're putting out. I disagree with that completely, and we have and will produce additional evidence that shows otherwise."

Four Corners put it to her that she had shown no direct evidence of fraud, the affidavits she had produced were dodgy, and the witnesses she relied on had dubious credentials.

"That's your characterisation … You might as well be working for Dominion and Smartmatic," Ms Powell said.

Youtube Fox and the Big Lie Part Two: Trump returns to campaign trail amid 'stolen election' lawsuits.

Where did the lies lead?

Not everyone at Fox News bought the big lie.

While sceptical of the election result, Fox star Tucker Carlson rejected Sidney Powell's claims. Eric Shawn, an old-school Fox News anchor, questioned the stolen election narrative on air.

Erik Connolly sent a letter to Fox, on behalf of Smartmatic, on December 10, 2020, demanding a retraction. Within days, Fox broadcast statements repudiating its own coverage.

Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson said the lawsuits are very serious for the network.

"There may be some culpability there."

Gretchen Carlson was a star at Fox News for 11 years, including co-anchoring the popular show Fox & Friends.

(Four Corners: Cameron Schwarz)

"I just think about the impact that it's had on the American people. And people will say, 'well, it's up to them to be able to make up their own minds'. Yes. But it's also up to the morality of news operations to provide factual information."

Some of Fox's best-known anchors had put their credibility behind the big lie, adding to the storm of outrage that was brewing in American households.

On January 6, that storm burst into the Capitol building as pro-Trump rioters converged.

Rioters stormed the Capitol building during the insurrection.

(Getty Images)

Adam Kinzinger is one of two Republicans on the House Committee investigating the assault on the Capitol.  Mr Kinzinger said Fox News and its owners Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch have questions to answer.

"If you own the network, certainly you have to make a decision. What do I want this network to be based on? … Is it going to push lies? Is it not?  

"When you have anchors pushing lies as facts, it's really dangerous," he said.

In a statement to Four Corners, Fox News said inquiries earlier this year into the insurrection on January 6 "did not implicate" the network.

"Congressional hearings and the Biden Justice Department not only did not implicate Fox, but other media companies were cited as platforms for inciting and coordinating the Capitol riots," its statement said.

Rupert Murdoch pictured at Fox News studios.

(Supplied: Headpress)

For 10 years, retired Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Peters was a Fox News strategic analyst. His analysis now is damning of Rupert Murdoch.

"My country gave him so much. And how did he repay that? By cynically backing Donald Trump," he said.

"Rupert Murdoch today is doing direct harm to my country. And it bewilders me that there's no mechanism to stop him. I am not in favour of censorship of ideas. I'm in favour of combating lies."

The 'big lie' is still believed

"He's coming back … because he didn't lose the election, they stole it," a Trump supporter told Four Corners.

Thousands chanted "Trump won" for hours while waiting for their political messiah to appear.

For 90 minutes, Trump whipped up the crowd at his Ohio rally in June with his own interpretation of the big lie.

(Getty Images: Stephen Zenner/AFP)

Donald Trump is back on the road staging rallies like this, claiming he won the election in 2020 and vowing revenge on Republican "traitors" who argue against him.  

"I know he's the President. This is all fake," another supporter said.

With almost absolute control of his party, Trump himself intends to take the "big lie" all the way to 2024.

In the meantime, the network that promoted his lies faces potentially significant financial penalties and a reckoning of its role in one of the darkest events in contemporary America.

Rudy Giuliani's law license has already been suspended in New York and Washington for his role in promoting the big lie, on the grounds his behaviour represents an immediate threat to public safety.

Ms Powell and Mr Kleinhendler have been sanctioned by a Michigan judge for their roles for filing what the court called a "frivolous" election fraud lawsuit.

A hearing is set in Texas to consider disbarring Ms Powell.

*THE WORKER* Brisbane, October 19, 1895. General News Summary.

 *THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, OCTOBER 19, 1895.

General News Summary.

FOR THE WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 16.

Queen of Corea killed by her subjects.

N.S.W. revenue shows a big decrease.

A woman in Sicily poisons 33 children.

West Australian Parliament prorogued.

General Booth lectures in New Zealand.

Big fire at Coolgardie; damages £250,000

J. Delaney drops dead in a hotel in Mackay.

Rich discovery of gold at Wedderburn, Vic.

Police prevent a Kanaka battle in Bundeburg.

Massacre of Armenians in Turkey still continues.

Robert Roberts found drowned in the Brisbane River.

A woman falls through a skylight at Ballarat and is killed.

Spain borrows £3,000,000 to prosecute the war in Cuba.

Bundeburg citizens agitate for a railway to Burnett Heads.

Australian live sheep sold in London at about 40s. each.

Hostilities in Africa between the Italians and Abyssinians.

James Kilch, aged 8 years, crushed to death by a cart in Sydney.

Steamship Bezwada leaves Gladstone with 254 horses for India.

Robert Miller commits suicide on his wife’s grave at Normanton.

Melbourne police raid betting shops and make several arrests.

George Horace Lynch sentenced to death at Adelaide for murder.

Judge Paul temporarily appointed to the Supreme Court bench.

August Voght unsuccessfully attempts suicide at Georgetown.

Queen of Madagascar accepts French terms and disbands her army.

Prime Minister of Madagascar arrested by the French commander.

Bowen Downs poisoning cases at Muttaburra further adjourned.

Turks actively engaged in laying down torpedoes in the Dardanelles.

Steamship Rakaia leaves Rockhampton with a cargo valued at £128,464.

The  ketch Gambier Lass sunk by a steamer when entering Port Pirie.

Good prices for Australian wool still continue in the London markets.

Frank Nosworthy accidentally shoots himself dead at Conmurra, S.A.

Police constable Clarke accidentally shot dead at Alton Downs station.

John Stephenson fined £10 in Brisbane for illegally selling a bottle of ale.

Attempt to fix a minimum price for selling Australian beef in London fails.

A number of Brisbane shopkeepers fined for selling tobacco without a license.

Proposal to municipalise the Brisbane Gas Works postponed by the Council.

Four persons seriously injured at Warrnambool, Vic., by a flash of lightning.

The revoking of poisoner Dean’s free pardon considered by N.S.W. Government.

The Czar of Russia congratulates the French Republic on its victory in Madagascar.

Dean, the notorious Sydney poisoner, committed for trial on a charge of perjury.

Inhabitants of the island of Crete have organised a rebellion against Turkish rule.

John Olsen charged at Rockhampton with intent to murder two men at Lake’s Creek.

A Chinaman at Bendigo seriously wounds two of his countrymen with a meat chopper.

Insurgents in Goa, India, capture a detachment of Portugese soldiers sent against them.

English syndicate formed to take over Brisbane tramways and adopt the electric system.

Cape Colony Government offer to supply two warships equipped to the Imperial Navy.

Joseph Ellick, a fireman on the S.S. Oruba in Sydney commits suicide by cutting his throat.

Foreign Ambassadors in Constantinople protect Armenian refugees from Turkish soldiers.

Professor Kennedy, the mesmerist, at Sydney, sends a man into a hypnotic sleep for a week.

British  and American marines landed in Corea to protect lives of British and American citizens.

London branches of the Irish National League urge the expulsion of Tim Healy from the party.

Two brothers named Wilson sentenced to four years in goal for setting fire to their shop in Sydney.

John Newby, a sugar mill proprietor at Maclean, N.S.W., fined £30 for running an illicit still.

A schoolboy, aged 11 years, committed for trial at Goulburn, N.S.W., for stabbing a schoolfellow.

Shop Assistants’ Association presents a petition to the Legislative Council in favour of early closing.

Baxter and Saddler lowest tenderers for section 2A of the Bundeburg-Gladstone line; amount £98,858.

London bankers trying to injure the credit of South Australia for attempting to float a loan without them.

A Sydney waiter for putting brandy in customers’ coffee is fined £30 for not having a license to sell spirits.

Maryborough Municipal Council refuses to give General Booth a public reception at the request of the mayor.

Mayor of Sydney requisitioned to call  a public meeting to assist the wife and child of notorious poisoner Dean.

A miner named Bottrell dies from the effects of injuries received through an explosion in a Charters Towers mine.

Collision in the North Sea between a German steamer and a  French barque; the latter sunk and 12 seamen drowned.

James M’Lean, who fatally stabbed a shipmate on the steamship Australasian in Sydney, sentenced to three years in goal.

Green, the fourth person wanted by the Sydney police in connection with the Dean conspiracy case, gives himself up.

Howard Freeman charged with murder in connection with an illegal operation performed in Brisbane is committed for trial.

Cabinet meeting of Turkish Ministers at Constantinople accepts the demand of the Great Powers for reform in Armenia.

The Pope says the Italian Government shows an intention to perpetuate the conflict between Church and State and repaganise Rome.

Public meeting at Winton protests against the appointment of a Select Committee to consider the proposed Hughenden-Winton railway.

In connection with the alleged poisoning at Bowen Downs Baxter has been discharged, Bristowe remanded, and Langborne committed for trial.

An Indian hawker at Warwick shoots another Indian dead and then fires his revolver at the police and several other people. Sergeant M’Namara wounded in the heel.

*THE WORKER* Brisbane, September 28, 1895. Mail Bag.

 *THE WORKER*

BRISBANE, SEPTEMBER  28, 1895.

Mail Bag.

WANTED – (to prepare the way for Socialism in our time)

One Adult One Vote.

Land Tax.

Income Tax.

State Bank.

Shops and Factories Act.

Eight hours day where practicable.

Referendum and Initiative.

Taxation of every person according to ability to pay.

The State to find work for unemployed.

The State to fix a minimum wage.

Free Railways.Free administration of Justice.

________________________

The WORKER does not hold itself responsible for the opinions of its correspondents.

_________________________

BLUE BURN - New that matter has been settled, is it wise to “rub it in?”

J. F. P. - Until case is decided it would be contempt of court to comment on it.

WOOLSHED. says there were several cases of waiting for dead men’s shoes in his district.

HOUB M’Lean, Ruthven. - Your order to Co-operative Boot Factory was dispatched last week.

JUSTICE.- Have inserted par.rehospital. The remainder of your letter contains about£100,000 worth of libel actions.

THROUGH pressure of space we are compelled to hold over until next week Mr. Cross’s reply to Mr. Boyd Mackay on the question of a State Bank.

T.L.M. - Not much. We exchange. Do not know the editor. That will be all right. We have great hopes of enlarging the WORKER at the end of this year.

W. ALLDEIDON, of M’Donald’s Flat, writes to inform those interested that will he was one of the discoverers of the Croydon goldfield. Some man at Mt. Barker is endeavouring to rob him of his renown.

H.W. - “ Whatever you have to say, my friend,

              Whether witty or grave or gay,

               Condense as much as ever you can,

               And way in the readiest way;

               And whether you write of rural affairs

               Or particular things in town,

               Just take a word of friendly advice-

                                                                   Boil it down.”

ED. WORKER,- One way of purging the rolls; In a district not a thousand miles from Muttaburra, the latest dodge is for the Political Association to employ the P.M.'s son to go round the neighbouring stations finding out from the managers what men have left who had their names on the electoral roll, proceed to the town, and, having free access to the books of these men “left,” perfectly headless of the fact that these men may be working on an adjoining station.-TRUTHFUL DICK.

ED. WORKER, - Hearing that the Hospital Committee at Isisford have given the medical officer three months’ notice the men here are of opinion that this goes to support the rumour that steps are being taken to reappoint Dr. -----. As the shearers and labourers contribute from 5s. to 2s. 6d. each shed per man it has been decided by those working here that, until the appointment of a surgeon, no moneys will be contributed towards Isisford Hospital. In the event of Dr. ------'s appointment, moneys collected will be divided between the Blackall and Longreach Hospitals. It was also added that the charge of 10 per cent for collection of funds for this institution by the secretary was an imposition. - C., labourer, Ruthven.

ED. WORKER, - On my way from Gladstone to Gin Gin I paid a visit to a provisional school at Mooboolaman, a very neatly kept little school under the supervision of a Miss Barrett, with seventeen of an attendance. On looking round the walls I saw there was no committee, with the exception of one member. The teacher could not give any reason why she had no committee. On making further inquiries outside I was informed that two other members had been nominate, but, owing to their being members of the W.P.O., Gin Gin, the Education Department rejected the two men chosen by the parents of the children to represent them. Now, sir, I think this should not be allowed. Clause 84 of the Act says that the teacher must keep constantly suspended on the walls of the school the names of the committee. D. H. Dalrymple boasts of British fair play. Bah! This kind of fair play would stink in the nostrils of even Mick Duffy and reminds one of the British fair play meted out to the unfortunate convict Wiemen, who died under a proud British flag while grubbing trees on the memorable old estate, Eagle Farm. - MOOLBOOLAMAN.

ED. WORKER, - Whilst travelling up the Warrego a short time ago I called at Spring Grove, at which place shearing was in full swing. I strolled up to the galley to get a feed as is customary. To my surprise I was accosted by the party who it appears was boarding the shearers at so much per week, and I was asked to show my union ticket before I could get a feed. This, of course, I declined to do so, although I am sure I hold more union and levy tickets than ever. Mr. Boardinghouse-keeper did. So I went away as I came. I did not see the shearers about the matter, but I take this opportunity of letting them know. A few days after I met a drover (who occasionally is shed overseer) who passed there and was invited by some of the shearers who knew him to camp the day (being Sunday). On the Monday morning Mr. B. H. K. cause to him (the drover) and said that he had no right to come to his place for a meal. But, anyhow, the system is a bad one and should not be encouraged as it tends to bring about the competitive system against which we are fighting. Now this year Mrs. Smith cooks for 17s. per week; next year she will do the same, but then Mrs. Jones will do it for sixteen bob and Mrs. Brown for fifteen bob per week, and of course she (Mrs. Brown) will get the job. But then the shearer must put up with rougher food and no traveller can get a feed although they agree to feed all travellers. Anyhow I hope the shearers at Spring Grove will see this, and then they will know how things were carried on whilst they were in the shed shearing. I hope men at other sheds will take notice as the same thing is being carried on in other places, where the man is shearing, the woman cooking, and the children working on the shearing board. Whilst there are dozens of men (cooks) travelling the country penniless looking for work, why let one family grab all and the rest starve. - TRUE BLUE, Warrego River.

ED. WORKER, - All the sheds along the Warrego have either finished or about finishing shearing. With the exception of a few, agreements have been P.U., 1894. The country is in a fearfully dry state, consequently the stock is in poor condition - so poor that Tinninburra and Brewarra had to cut short their shearing, not being able to get their sheep in. The want of grass has prevented the usual large number of horsemen from being about looking for shearing, and thus the number of men at the roll calls was not over large, although more than enough for the requirements. In most places P.U. references were required. Off the Warrego, Thurlagoona Nos.1 and 2, and Bundaleer, have started. At No.1 shed a great number of men were congregated, and at the roll-call things were pretty lively. Dave Bowman has been amongst the sheds, and the hope is to be entertained that he will allay the friction that exists in minor matters. So far along the line he has had good receptions. The general opinion is that he is the right man in the right places. He has gone on to Thurlagoona and Bundaleer, and will visit as many sheds as possible in the Charleville district. Good luck attend him! His Brisbane mates will be glad to know that he is doing his best for the co-operative business. It is satisfactory to know that the people of Cunnamulla are awakening to the necessity of preparation for the coming election, and that a lawyer has been engaged to attend each revision court and look after the names applying for registration. This is as it should be, and it behoves all other places in Queensland where legal advice can be had to take example thereby and many names will be added to the National Ass. “Another C” has pointed out that if the blue vault of heaven has been your roof as long as you have been in the district you are entitled to a vote. So, workers, see to it. What can be done in one electorate can be done in another. Is it not time that you awoke from your lethargy and lent your assistance to oust a coercionist and tyrannical government and place in power one that will legislate for the great mass of the people and not for burst up and boodle banks, and subsidised lascar-worked mailboats. &c., &c., ? - C.

Doherty Institute urges caution in lifting Australia’s Covid restrictions in updated advice to government.

Extract from The Guardian

Health

Friday’s national cabinet meeting will discuss rollout of vaccines to children and updated expert modelling.

• Follow our Covid live blog for the latest updates
• NSW update: rules relaxed for vaccinated despite record 1,029 cases
• Restrictions: NSW; Vic; Qld; borders; Hotspots: NSW; Vic; Qld
• Vaccine rollout tracker; get our free news app; get our morning email briefing

The Morrison government was due to adopt expert advice green-lighting vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds ahead of a national cabinet meeting.

Katharine Murphy and Paul Karp

Thu 26 Aug 2021 20.14 AEST

Last modified on Thu 26 Aug 2021 23.24 AEST

Updated advice from the Doherty Institute, emphasising “caution” in lifting public health restrictions once 70% of the population over the age of 16 is vaccinated, will be presented to national cabinet on Friday.

Guardian Australia understands the update, to be considered by leaders, suggests that coronavirus epidemics will continue to happen locally, and, increasingly, in under-vaccinated pockets of the Australian community, even when national vaccination rates are higher than 70%.

The expert epidemiological modelling underpins a four-phase plan for Australia to reopen once vaccination rates increase. Leaders will meet virtually again on Friday afternoon after a week of robust community debate about the safety of a national reopening plan.

Scott Morrison has spent the parliamentary sitting week attempting to build political momentum for easing restrictions. He’s declared the strategy “the safe plan to ensure that Australia can open up again with confidence”.

Why is Australia at odds over the Doherty report and what does it say about opening up the country?

Read more

But some state and territory leaders have pushed back vigorously against pre-emptive easing given Delta infections continue to rise, particularly among unvaccinated young people. The current national vaccination targets exclude people under the age of 16.

New South Wales on Thursday reported a new daily record of 1,029 coronavirus cases while Victoria reported 80, with half those cases in the community while infectious. The Australian Capital Territory reported 14.

The NSW chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, acknowledged infections in Australia’s most populous state “may well go way above a thousand cases”.

On Thursday evening, the Morrison government was due to adopt final advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation green-lighting vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds. Once supplies of Pfizer and Moderna allows, jabs will be given concurrently with adults, initially by general practitioners.

Friday’s national cabinet meeting will discuss the looming rollout of vaccines to children and teenagers, consider the updated Doherty advice, and also consider the first cut of work that the governments of Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory have prepared detailing options on how restrictions can be eased for vaccinated Australians once rates hit 70%.

Some states want children under 16 included formally in the vaccination targets in the four-phase reopening plan. But Morrison said on Thursday, given Australia was administering 1.8m doses in a week, the current rollout had the capacity to vaccinate 12 to 15-year-olds “in parallel” with the population aged 16 and over.

While claiming that 12 to 15-year-olds can expect to be vaccinated “in the weeks and months ahead”, Morrison has so far declined to specify a precise timetable for the rollout for teenagers.

On Thursday Labor’s shadow health minister, Mark Butler, said it “doesn’t make sense” that 12 to 15-year-olds were not counted towards targets and said Morrison “at the very least needs to tell parents” what proportion would be vaccinated before restrictions were eased.

The updated Doherty modelling includes refinement of the transmissibility of Covid-19 among children, including in school settings. Morrison on Thursday rejected arguments that the widespread transmission of Delta among children necessitated a revision of the national targets.

The main scenarios modelled in the initial Doherty report estimated how rapidly and how far a single outbreak involving 30 individuals would spread through the Australian population at the time of transition to phase B of the national plan.