Issue 1292

News

Sarah Hathway reports on the new federal omnibus industrial relations amendment bill. Unsurprisingly, it includes measures that advantage businesses over workers.

Climate Emergency banner leads the march

More than 250 people disrupted Brisbane's CBD as part of Extinction Rebellion's 'Defy Disaster' action, reports Alex Bainbridge

Farmers are increasingly concerned about the federal government's push for a gas-led recovery, reports Coral Wynter.

Unionists and supporters took action outside a temporary warehouse in Prospect to protest the supermarket giant Coles' lock-out of 350 workers. Jim McIlroy reports.

Analysis

Thanks to all of Green Left's supporters; we wouldn't have done it without you, write Susan Price and Pip Hinman.

Several detailed studies have now shown up the “gas-led economic recovery” plan as a fraud. Peter Boyle argues that the corporate sector cannot be trusted to make the urgently-needed shift to decarbonise.

Many Australians watched the shit-show of the recent United States elections and questioned the level of democracy in that country. Alex Bainbridge asks if there's much of a difference here.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is facing increasing pressure, externally and internally, over her links to alleged corruption and her brazen normalisation of pork barrelling, writes Jim McIlroy.

The recession, we're told, is over. But, as Graham Matthews details, Australia’s unemployed and underemployed are about to face more pain as the COVID-19 subsidies are withdrawn.

Former PM Malcolm Turnbull was keen for Australia to become a top military equipment exporter and committed billions to a loan scheme for arms manufacturers. Suzanne James investigates.

China's restrictions on a range of Australian goods has come about because of Australia's double standard on human rights and its alliance with the United States, argues Chris Slee.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating and disproportionate impacts on women’s lives, jobs, future career prospects and long-term financial security, writes Zita Henderson.

Polls show a majority of Australians are fed up with the waste of money and needless cruelty of immigration detention, argues Niko Leka.

Amin Afravi, a refugee who came to Australia under the Medevac laws from Manus, speaks to Green Left from Brisbane Immigration Transit Accommodation.

World

Democracy protest outside Siam Commercial Bank Bangkok

Despite growing number of democracy activists facing charges under Thailand's notorious lèse majesté law, the youth-led movement keeps up its mass mobilisations, reports Peter Boyle.

The provisional State of the Global Climate 2020 report, released this week, shows that climate change continued its relentless march in 2020, reports Climate and Capitalism.

UNES presidential candidate Andrés Arauz Ecuador elections

The establishment are trying every trick to exclude leading opposition ticket Union for Hope from the presidential election, writes Harvey Goldberg.

To increase the “ease of business”, India's government has committed to liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, effectively throwing Indian workers and farmers under a bus, writes Gauri Gandbhir.

North Macedonia is being bullied by its neighbours, which are demanding it give up its national identity and history in exchange for European Union membership, writes Marija Petrovska.

Protest against Moreno in Quito

The ruling class’ brutal project of neoliberalism in Ecuador is making life unbearable for the people reports Yanis Iqbal.

Voting in Venezuela's elections

The United Socialist Party of Venezuela’s strategy has paid off, winning back control of the National Assembly in the December 6 elections. But it has come at a high price, writes Federico Fuentes.

Covid-19 and Third World debt

Rather than provide debt relief to developing countries struggling to bring COVID-19 under control, global financial institutions are continuing to impose neoliberal structural adjustment measures, write Eric Toussaint, Emilie Paumard, Milan Rivié.

The Stop Adani campaign, which is fighting the development of Adani’s new coal mine in Central Queensland, has released the following statement in solidarity with the peaceful protests by farmers in India.

Before Donald Trump, no US president had declared themselves the winner after losing, writes Malik Miah. Trump is becoming increasingly theatrical in his desperation to hold onto power. What happens next is not known.

Solidarity Party of Afghanistan member Shayaan discusses the nearly two-decade-long war in Afghanistan.

Culture

A poem for the times, by playwright and performer Jepke Goudsmit.

Originally from Austria, Billy Wilder was a force to be reckoned with in Hollywood from the 1930s, gathering 28 Oscars in his illustrious career. Reviewed by Barry Healy.