The Age from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia • Page 5

News 5 THE SUNDAY AGE AUGUST 13, 2000 Bracks meaner than Jeff: ANF Disabled sailor back on dry land but only just Stalking tactic in forum protest By MINMN NKHOjLMN POLITICAL' ing beds improves nurse-patient ratios, so it improves care." Ms Morieson said Victoria's nurses had imposed an identical campaign of bans almost three years ago to the day in search of gains in the last enterprise agreement. In 1997 the nurses won an 1 1 per cent pay rise under Mr Kennett, compared with the 9 per cent now being offered by the Bracks Government. They also won significant career-path concessions, an extra 270 nurses, restructured shifts and paid maternity leave "for the first time "Those allegations about nurses taking action just because it's a Labor government are not true the government is now saying our claims are outrageous," she For this three-year enterprise agreement nurses are claiming a 24 per cent pay rise and boosts to nurse-patient ratios to resolve overwork, unpaid overtime and the flight of nurses from the profession. The ANF claims the package would cost the government about $250 million but efficiencies created by reforms would save at least $100 million. Premier Steve Bracks described the demands as grossly inflated and branded moves to close beds and restrict elective surgery as irresponsible.

SUNDAY FORUM 22: Editorial; Barry Dickins By PAUL MMNMN WORKPLACE EDITOR Victoria's nurses yesterday accused the Bracks Government of being mean-spirited by offering less in wages and conditions than the notably austere Kennett administration. And the Australian Nursing Federation, which will have closed up to 1500 public hospital beds by the end of the weekend, warned the new government had failed to grasp the scale of the hospital crisis that would haunt the system in several years' time. The accusations came as the ANF, the Health and Community Sector Union, which represents second-division nurses, the hospitals and the Victorian Government held four hours of talks yesterday in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission. During a break from the talks, ANF secretary Belinda Morieson said a government whispering campaign that implied the nurses had done little to combat the cuts applied to health during the Kennett years was "absolute She rejected comparisons with former ANF secretary Irene Bolger, who led nurses to a 50-day strike in 1986: "I wouldn't want to go down that path. I don't think striking is a good idea.

Nurses haVe great difficulty walking out on patients. Clos A coalition of anti-globalisation groups determined to shut down the World Economic Forum in Melbourne next month is planning to stalk delegates' partners while on excursions out of town. The reason for targeting the partners is unknown, but it is part of a well-organised global campaign to put maximum pressure on delegates while in Melbourne. Under the heading Protest Ideas, the coalition's website says: "Coming soon: pictures of WEF spouses' sightseeing locations." The coalition also threatens to nun Melbourne into "another Seattle" during the three-day event at the Crown complex, a reference to protests in last year that led to 5(H) arrests and million worth of property damage. 'The SU (September 11) group organising the protest says on its website that "global justice is coming prepare now" and declares "Seattle Washington Melbourne." The group has detailed plans to prevent hundreds of international delegates reaching the Crown complex and have collected photographs to aid a blockade, consisting of at least 10,000 people linking arms to An Inspiration: Hundvao's of fanagraat Lauwarsasha docks at Wllliamatown Plar tha culmination of Picture: MARIO BORG By STEVE WALDON 1 1 1 rrm ir.i 11 1 1 wm iibt.ii 1 fa 1 05 GOOraiPCG CLOEOOWl Within 15 minutes of returning to land after eight months at sea, an over-enthusiastic embrace nearly sent disabled sailor Vinny Lauwers back into the water, spinning back in his wheelchair to the edge of Williamstown Pier.

"Great," one observer said drily. "He survives eight months of the worst conditions imaginable, then we try to drown him as soon as he gets back!" More than 1000 people gathered yesterday at the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria to celebrate the return of a new champion the first disabled man to sail around the world, non-stop, solo and unassisted. Lauwers' heroic exploits, 1 0 years after becoming a paraplegic in a motor accident, had captured the public imagination but it was those closest to the epic struggle to help Lauwers fulfil his dream who understood the magnitude of his achievement. Lauwers later paid tributes to as many of them as he could recall under such overwhelming circumstances. There was his fiancee, Jacqui Gill, who had jokingly described herself as "a boat widow" in the months that Lauwers pitted his endurance against the ocean.

"I love you more than CrCiXiLiinj0SG0S(3 Vlnny Lauwara at aboard Vision Quasi. block entrances, between September 1 1 and September 13. The group's website invites visitors to "learn how to recruit a proposal police have described as "deplorable and It irunderstood leave for members of the Victoria Police has been cancelled while the protests are underway and that well over 1000 police will be available to deal with possible trouble. Deputy Police Commissioner Neil O'Loughlin said the police had done a great deal of planning and were prepared for any situation that might develop. He said the police were concerned that secondary school students were being enlisted to protest and Mr O'Loughlin urged parents and teachers to ensure that students did not get caught up with groups that aimed to stop the conference going ahead.

While some groups claim the protest will be peaceful, others use stronger rhetoric such as "fighting corporate tyranny" and "down with The socialist youth organisation, Resistance, is holding a two-day training camp for activists next weekend. The group says it will help arm them with the theory and hands-on skills for the protests at the forum and beyond. Training will include Marxist analysis of globalisation and socialist options, an activist's guide to the law, using radical journalism and the street press, "public and agitational" speaking and scenario-based workshops. A Victoria Police spokesman said police did not believe the protest would be marked by the violence of Seattle. "The organisers have told us they don't want that to he said.

anything, Lauwers said, acknowledging that Gill and her employer, Advantage Credit Union, had worked hard to keep lauwers' charity organisation, Parasail, growing in his absence. "I love the bloke he's my hero," said Bruce Hale, a sales and marketing executive at Skilled Engineering. Hale first met Lauwers at a boat show and told Skilled's chief executive, Frank Hargrave, about the paraplegic man with a mighty dream. The company assigned a team of workers to help Lauwers fit out Vision Quest for the journey and poured thousands of dollars into the project. Yesterday, Lauwers called Hargrave to the microphone and presented him with the compass used in the latter part of the voyage.

Hargrave was clearly touched. Then, Lauwers a natural showman brought howls of laughter when he reminded Hargrave: "Frank, you paid for it!" Premier Steve Bracks spoke of the inspirational qualities of Lauwers' achievement. Lauwers told of his plans to write a book, produce a documentary and travel the world to talk about his adventure. He also alluded to the process of self-belief of overcoming the doubts in his ability to withstand such a punishing mission, when common sense suggested it was a foolhardy venture. "Once the dream's big enough, the facts don't count," he said.

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