Issue 1303

News

A parliamentary inquiry reveals the Berejiklian government's community grants scheme was a corrupt attempt to win political support, reports Jim McIlroy.

Matt Haubrick reports on a successful community campaign against another government attempt to introduce a draconian anti-protest law.

Chris Slee reports that a judge dismissed a charge of “incitement” against refugee rights activist Chris Breen.

Protesters again gathered outside the ACT Supreme Court to protest the secret trial of Bernard Collaery and Witness K, reports Kerry Smith.

Brisbane march. Photo: Alex Bainbridge

Thousands rallied on Palm Sunday rallies around the country. More than 1500 marched in Melbourne in the largest refugee rights rally since Victoria's COVID-19 lockdown ended.

Analysis

A new report has found that an Adani group subsidiary is continuing to support the Myanmar junta — and that Australia has millions invested too. Markela Panegyres reports.

Alex Bainbridge argues the Labor party’s policy conference demonstrated Anthony Albanese plans to continue its “small target” strategy, offering working people very little in a pandemic recession and climate emergency.

Denying permanent residency to a 6-year-old Australian-born child because he has cerebral palsy shows this government's complete and utter political and moral bankruptcy, writes Janet Parker

As COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out and lock downs and economic crisis measures wind up, the federal government is painting a rosy view of the economic recovery. But, as Neville Spencer argues, this is far from the reality for millions of casual and insecure workers.

Jack Williams argues that more staff in aged care homes would immediately make a difference to the lonely lives of their elderly residents.

The rapid growth of the gig economy has swelled the coffers of the international tech giants. Isaac Nellist reports on the growing push to end the exploitative business model which allows individuals to receive little pay while braving dangerous work conditions.

Those who work in the sector told Steve O'Brien that homelessness is an emerging humanitarian crisis

Guests Sam Wainwright (Socialist Alliance councillor) and Vivienne Porzsolt (Jews Against the Occupation) discuss the 2021 ALP policy conference.

New South Wales Police Commissioner Mick Fuller’s proposal for an app that records consent reveals how willfully ignorant he and government MPs are about the institutionalised nature of sexual assault, writes Isaac Nellist.

World

As tensions heat up on the Ukraine-Russia border, Vijay Prashad looks at the factors and interests behind what is happening.

Next year's French elections will take place in a context where the parties of the left and right are in grave difficulty and the COVID-19 pandemic poses new problems for capitalists and anticapitalists alike, writes John Mullen.

The Republican Party is rallying again around Donald Trump, in an attempt to win the elections in 2022 and 2024, by restricting the non-white (especially Black) vote, reports Barry Sheppard.

Voting rights are under attack in the United States, reports Malik Miah. In 43 out of 50 states, legislation seeks to limit voting rights for Black and Brown citizens.

The latest Israeli elections produced an electoral stalemate, but also a victory for ultranationalist and far-right parties, reports Rupen Savoulian.

Wherever the forces of destruction attempt to cut down trees, pollute our air and water, and rip away the earth for minerals, women have been leading the resistance, writes Jess Spear.

Culture

Kinetic Energy Theatre Company co-directors Jepke Goudsmit & Graham Jones have been readying the Sydney-based company’s body of work for publication.

Andrew Chuter reviews graphic novel, Stuck Rubber Baby, a powerful story of one person's growth to enlightenment within a turbulent period of social upheaval.

If you missed the event, you can now catch Green Left's March 27 birthday celebration on video.

Barry Healy reviews a new book researching the impact and consequences of anti-Semitism during the Russian Revolution.

Political and protest albums for March 2021

Here's a look back at March's political news and the best new music that related to it. You can also listen to a podcast of this column, including all the music, here.