New terror laws will let ASIO off the leash
The government is using hysteria about terrorism to deliver a major boost to ASIO and police powers. They’ve devised an enormous number of new and modified anti-terror laws to make it easier to conduct surveillance and charge people with terrorism-related offences.
Federal public sector moves towards strikes
A huge fight is looming between workers across the Australian Public Service (APS) and the Abbott government.
ACTU plans another marginal seats campaign
The ACTU’S recently produced “Campaign Operational Plan: defending the living standards of working Australians” confims what we already knew. Firstly that the ACTU has given up campaigning to Bust the Budget; and secondly, that its campaign to defeat Abbott is overwhelmingly focussed on campaigning in marginal seats.
Left victory in Sydney Uni SRC can strengthen anti-Abbott fight
Left-wing activist Kyol Blakeney has won an overwhelming vote of 61 per cent to become President of the Sydney University SRC. He was supported by the Grassroots ticket which involved student activists, Greens members and Solidarity students.
No TPVs—refugees need permanent protection
On 25 September, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison announced a deal with Clive Palmer to re-introduce Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs).
Fiji election a defeat for racial division
Fiji returned to the polls last month in its first democratic election since the 2006 coup. The result was a decisive victory for popular former Rear Admiral, Voreqe Bainimarama, and his party Fiji First.
Ebola—a crisis world leaders allowed to happen
A humanitarian crisis, more than 4000 people dead, and thousands more to come if there is not sufficient medical aid...and the rich Western nations do next to nothing.
Eyewitness from Hong Kong: ‘Occupation of large sections of the city continues’
Matte Rochford writes from Hong Kong on the ongoing protests for democracy
Expanding Hong Kong’s umbrella revolution
The democratic uprising that has swept Hong Kong must feed into more serious working class mobilisation in order to achieve real change writes Kevin Lin.
US failure in Iraq returning to haunt it
In August, Barack Obama became the fourth consecutive US President to bomb Iraq and has also begun airstrikes inside of Syria. Tony Abbott has been the most enthusiastic member of his “coalition”, pledging Australian military support even before the terms of the war became clear.
US imperialism and the new world order
Paddy Gibson looks at the turmoil and renewed power games across the Middle East, Ukraine and Asia and what drives conflict among the world’s major powers.
Trade union officials and the working class
Caitlin Doyle-Markwick looks at the role played by trade union officials in the unions, and why they are a naturally conservative force.
Not a Class Act: McKew joins the education wars
Maxine McKew’s Class Act is sub-headed “Ending the Education Wars”. But it’s actually another shot in the war against teachers and poor, working class public school kids. There’s nothing...
Inspiring story shows how solidarity breaks down divisions
Pride is the brilliant and true story of Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners, a solidarity group set up to raise money for British miners during their historic strike of 1984-1985.
US bombs won’t help the Kurds
The relentless advance of the Islamic State (IS) on the Kurdish city of Kobane has drawn international attention to the plight of the Kurds, caught between IS, on the one hand, and Turkey on the other.
