Bankstown Fire
Australia: Engineer speaks with WSWS about building safety
By Richard Phillips, 16 January 2013
Laddie Assey discusses safety problems at the multi-storey Q1 apartment tower, and the Euro Terraces fire in Bankstown.
Australia: Owners Corporation Network spokesman discusses building safety
By Richard Phillips, 3 January 2013
Stephen Goddard speaks to the WSWS about the Bankstown apartment blaze and the impact of deregulation and private certification.
Australian state government imposes fire station shut-downs
By Mark Church, 29 December 2012
Across Sydney and other urban areas, stations are being temporarily closed on a daily basis, increasing the danger of another fire tragedy.
Australia: Fire safety problems in new student accommodation
By Mark Church, 14 December 2012
Scores of new student apartments are not fire proof because of an unclear definition in Australian building codes.
Australia: Safety experts discuss Bankstown apartment fire
By our reporters, 27 November 2012
Experts voice concerns about fire safety in multi-storey apartments and inadequate building codes.
Residents voice concerns about fire safety at Bankstown apartment
By Richard Phillips, 17 November 2012
False alarms and other fire safety issues continue to plague Euro Terraces residents in south-west Sydney.
Australia’s worsening housing affordability crisis
By Mark Church, 10 November 2012
Over the past two decades, the cost of buying a home has almost trebled, compared to average incomes.
Fire safety problems in Australia’s tallest apartment block
By Richard Phillips, 1 November 2012
A flawed fire escape in the Q1 tower highlights the result of the de-regulation of the building industry.
No decision on coronial inquiry into Bankstown fire for months
By Richard Phillips, 27 October 2012
The response by all levels of government to the plight of Euro Terraces fire victims has been one of callous indifference.
“The local council and governments have a lot to answer for with this fire.”
By our reporters, 22 October 2012
Residents discuss need for independent investigation into the fatal fire at the Euro Terraces complex in Bankstown.
Building workers raise questions about Bankstown fire
By our reporters, 20 October 2012
The WSWS spoke to construction workers about poor building standards, the de-regulation of building codes and the housing affordability crisis.
Commentary from a building designer
Building regulations and the Bankstown fire
By Paul Bartizan, 18 October 2012
The Hawke and Keating governments introduced the Building Code of Australia as part of the Labor Party’s program of “economic reform” and de-regulation.
Residents condemn Bankstown council and Labor Party
By our reporters, 17 October 2012
Bankstown residents spoke to the WSWS about the responsibility of the federal, state and local governments for the conditions that led to the September 6 fire.
Residents speak to WSWS about the Euro Terraces fire
By our reporters, 16 October 2012
Participants spoke about their reaction to the SEP meeting and why they supported the resolution calling for a committee to organise an independent investigation.
SEP meeting resolution on the Bankstown fire
16 October 2012
The resolution was adopted unanimously at the SEP’s public meeting on the Bankstown fire.
SEP public meeting calls for Bankstown fire investigation
By our reporters, 16 October 2012
The meeting voted unanimously to establish an independent committee to examine the causes of the Bankstown apartment fire and the wider social issues behind it.
Students expose lack of decent, safe, affordable housing
By our correspondents, 15 October 2012
Domestic and international students at several universities explained the substandard and unsafe accommodation that many students experience.
Bankstown tragedy highlights fire service cuts
By Mike Head, 13 October 2012
For decades, one government after another has been responsible for running down the fire service.
Bankstown fire victim deported from Australia
By Mike Head, 12 October 2012
The young man’s removal from the country is another expression of the contempt of all levels of government toward the working class victims of the fire.
Eye-witnesses raise concerns about Bankstown fire tragedy
By Mark Church and Mike Head, 11 October 2012
A pharmacist and a co-worker, who watched two Chinese students jump from a fifth-floor window to escape the Bankstown apartment fire, speak out about the issues raised by the terrible event.
Bankstown fire building residents still given no date to return
By our reporters, 10 October 2012
Apartment owners and tenants of the fire-damaged building face further delays and mounting expenses.
Bankstown fire exposes plight of international students
By Mark Church, 9 October 2012
Thousands of international students, as well as immigrants and workers, are forced to live in unsafe and over-crowded conditions because of soaring rents and house prices.
Chinese student group condemns unsafe and over-crowded housing
By Mark Church, 9 October 2012
A representative of the New Voice blog discusses the accommodation crisis facing international students in Australia.
Residents find no answers at Bankstown Council’s safety expo
By Mark Church, 8 October 2012
Bankstown City Council held a safety expo to promote the notion that fire safety is the responsibility of individual residents, ignoring the underlying causes of the fatal Euro Terraces fire.
Government subsidies funded Bankstown fire complex
By Mike Head, 6 October 2012
Under the guise of providing “affordable housing”, the federal and state governments helped finance the construction of the buildings in 2009.
SEP calls public meeting to initiate investigation into Bankstown fire
By Socialist Equality Party (Australia), 5 October 2012
Authorities at all levels have already washed their hands of any responsibility for the disaster, while the victims have been treated with official contempt.
Australia: Police called in against Bankstown fire survivor
By Richard Phillips, 3 October 2012
Three police cars were sent to Euro Terraces yesterday after security guards stopped a displaced resident using shopping trolleys to collect items from his apartment.
“The apartment block was like a bomb ready to go off”
Australia: Terry Li, boyfriend of Connie Zhang, speaks about Bankstown fire
By Richard Phillips, 1 October 2012
The fire victim’s partner comments on the unsafe conditions that led to the tragedy.
Australia: Bankstown fire points to safety de-regulation
By Mark Church and Mike Head, 28 September 2012
A system of “private certification” and “self certification” allowed the Euro Terraces building to be certified as fit and safe for occupation.
Australia: Bankstown council shuts fire victims out of meeting
By Richard Phillips, 26 September 2012
Last night, the council posted security guards outside its closed-door meeting to prevent residents from attending.
Australia: Funeral ceremony held for Bankstown fire victim
By Richard Phillips, 24 September 2012
Family, friends, students and teachers attended the service for a Chinese student who was killed in a Sydney apartment fire.
Demand Bankstown council provides accommodation and answers for Euro Terraces residents
By Socialist Equality Party (Australia), 22 September 2012
More than 300 students and workers have no idea when they will be able to return to Euro Terraces Building B or whether the serious faults in the construction of the building will have been rectified when they do.
Australia: After Bankstown apartment fire, residents demand answers
By our reporters, 18 September 2012
Residents are asking why the apartment block was approved with fire safety flaws.
Australia: Official wall of silence over Bankstown fire
By Richard Phillips, 15 September 2012
Government authorities are refusing to provide any detailed information about the conditions that produced the apartment fire.
Australia: Hundreds of Bankstown fire survivors remain locked out
By Mark Church, 14 September 2012
Hundreds of residents evacuated after a fatal fire in a Sydney apartment block have been left without homes or government support.
Australia: Residents denounce lack of fire safety
By our reporters, 10 September 2012
Unit owners and tenants expressed shock and anger over the tragedy and the poor fire safety measures in the building.
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