John Passant

Oxfam released a report in January that found companies have hidden between $21 trillion and $32 trillion in offshore bank accounts to escape paying tax. That amount is double US GDP or about 20 times Australian GDP. One of the issues that will be discussed at the G20 meeting in Brisbane is how to set up an international framework to stop this tax avoidance. Unfortunately, it will not work.

For me it was the defining image of the year — Bob Carr on the steps of the NSW Parliament House giving the finger to unionists protesting against his workers' compensation cuts. It captured the ALP's contempt for ordinary

Disgracefully, shamefully and immorally, the Australian government is refusing entry to 438 mainly Afghan asylum seekers. All this is part of the campaign to re-elect Prime Minister John Howard. And the federal opposition Australian

"We have a great objective — the light on the hill — which we aim to reach by working for the benefit of mankind." So spoke Labor Prime Minister Ben Chifley half a century ago. Now Kim Beazley, celebrating the 100th anniversary

There are two emotions many Australian workers feel about globalisation — fear and anger. The fear is bred of insecurity about jobs, living standards and overwork. The anger is born of seeming helplessness. Ordinary working