In the spotlightIt is a now a commonplace that the untimely death of Princess Diana has put the spotlight on the media. But the issues raised go far deeper than questions of media intrusion into the private lives of
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Cancer fear in the IllawarraWOLLONGONG — The recent release of a long-awaited government report on leukaemia clusters in the Illawarra will do little to allay community concerns. The report, by a special committee set up
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Is 'human nature' up to it?If patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel, "human nature" is often the final defensive position of apologists for capitalism. Any sort of truly egalitarian society is impossible, it
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Crime and punishmentCrime and punishmentCrime, especially violent crime, is a favourite staple of the capitalist media. Murders, assaults, sex crimes, paedophilia, robberies, home invasions, gang violence — they can
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The ecological crisis is perhaps the strongest argument for socialism. Despite the business-as-usual attitude of the capitalist media, this is not just one more crisis: it is a looming catastrophe that threatens the survival of
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Would socialism work?Would socialism work?Socialists condemn capitalism because it has failed the overwhelming mass of humanity in the most decisive way. It promises freedom, democracy and prosperity but spectacularly
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MELBOURNE —"Life wasn't meant to be easy": in its day, Malcolm Fraser's quip became notorious. Its haughty Tory disdain summed up perfectly the outlook of the capitalist class and the Coalition government towards the needs and
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MELBOURNE — As expected, the March 30 state election returned Jeff Kennett's Coalition government with a slightly reduced majority. The ALP gained a very modest two-party preferred swing of 2.4%. However, fuelled
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MELBOURNE — From the opening public meeting on Thursday evening, which was addressed by Russian socialist Boris Kagarlitsky, to the final Sunday afternoon plenary discussion on the vexed question of the Labor Party, the
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MELBOURNE — Last December, when the Kennett government announced that the 1996 Australian Formula One Grand Prix would be held in inner-suburban Albert Park, the media did their best to provide an
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In Melbourne on May 1, about 1500 people took part in the annual Sunday afternoon May Day march and rally. As usual, the bulk of the participants came from the various left-wing, migrant and solidarity organisations.
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Nazi thugs chased out of BrunswickMELBOURNE — Some 30 neo-nazi toughs trying to hold a "white power" demonstration in multicultural, inner-city Brunswick on March 12 got more than they bargained for. For hours they were