Issue 1346

News

Frack Free Kimberley and supporters rallied outside the inaugural AGM of Texan fracking company Black Mountain. Alex Salmon reports.

The federal election result shows that through grassroots community activism and outreach, socialist and progressive ideas can win popular support. Alex Salmon and Sue Bolton report. 

Hands off Glebe and Action for Public Housing organised a rally to demand the NSW government stop selling off public housing. Isaac Nellist reports.

You may have helped Socialist Alliance gain federal registration last year and recently seen us on the ballot. Can you now help us in New South Wales, Kathy Fairfax asks?

Pip Hinman spoke to members of the National Tertiary Education Union on the picket line at the University of Sydney.

Activists gathered at Sydney Town Hall to condemn the intimidation of opposition candidates in the Colombian presidential elections. Victor Hugo Munoz reports.

After 50 years of advocacy and polls consistently showing up to 80% support, Voluntary Assisted Dying is finally to become law in NSW. Suzanne James reports.

On election eve, more than 50 people gathered on Rundle Mall for a snap protest against the Coalition government's inaction on climate change. Renfrey Clarke reports.

Renee Lees, who is standing for Socialist Alliance in the Queensland Senate, said neither major party has put forward real solutions to the housing unaffordability crisis. Kerry Smith reports.

Kuku Yalanji woman Pat O’Shane has slammed the reported failure to find staff for polling booths in Cape York communities. Kerry Smith reports.

Tamils in Melbourne marked the 2009 Mullivaikkal massacre and demanded an end to the military occupation of Tamil land. Chris Slee reports.

On International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia day, protesters affirmed they would not let politicians promote bigotry. Kerry Smith reports.

Protesters commemorate Nakba in Melbourne

Respected Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was remembered at free Palestine rallies to commemorate the Nakba in Sydney and Melbourne. Kerry Smith reports.

Dying with Dignity campaigners

The NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill is heading back into the NSW Legislative Council this week, and advocates are urging MPs not to give ground to hostile amendments. Suzanne James reports.

On the march

Palestine solidarity activists commemorated the Nakba in Brisbane. Photos by Alex Bainbridge.

Analysis

Expectations are high that climate action will be on the agenda, now the climate-denialist Coalition has been booted out. But, as Alex Bainbridge argues, Labor's support for big fossil fuel projects must be challenged by building powerful grassroots action.

No one predicted Labor candidate Kristina Keneally could lose the Western Sydney seat of Fowler. Federico Fuentes looks behind the crumbling of Labor’s ‘red wall’. 

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers at the University of Sydney has not grown for a decade and is a key reason the NTEU took strike action. Awabakal man Jeremy Heathcote and Nick Riemer report.

New PM Anthony Albanese pledged his unswerving loyalty to the United States and its anti-China push at the Quad meeting in Japan, writes William Briggs

The cashed-up United Australia Party ran in every seat but only won 4.12% of the vote. Peter Boyle argues that it is the rise of the climate movement that holds the real promise to prevent right-populism from rising to US levels of support.

 

Australian parliamentarians can and do use their position to protect their thin skins. It is welcome news that Shane Bazzi won an appeal overturning a ruling that he defamed Peter Dutton. Binoy Kampmark reports.

Defying predictions, the Greens look set to win 2 seats in Brisbane and are in the running for another. Liam Flenady, the Australian Greens’ campaign manager for the seat of Griffith, reflects on three reasons why the campaign was so successful.

You probably noticed that there was nothing in the federal election attack ads by either major party which mentioned over-the-moon home prices, spiralling rents, and a rise in homelessness. Renfrey Clarke explains why.

The recent ASEAN summit, hosted by US President Joe Biden, was designed to bring the 10-country association closer to the US’ anti-China orbit. William Briggs reports.

The defeat of the right-wing Scott Morrison government indicates people want change and that there is a strong mood to act on the climate crisis and inequality, argue Sarah Hathway, Jacob Andrewartha and Sam Wainwright.

Socialist Alliance national co-convenor Sam Wainwright spoke to the Green Left Show about the federal election result, what it means and what happens next.

Matthew Alexander explains why the leadership debate about how to address cost-of-living rises and housing affordability is cynical, at best.

 

Scott Morrison's naming of Port Kembla as one of three locations being considered for the new submarine base prompted activists in Wollongong to spring into action. Alexander Brown reports.

The approach of those seeking to be elected to the Murray-Darling Basin and its water distribution plan needs to weighed up because too much water is still being allocated to irrigators. Tracey Carpenter reports.

The World Health Organization has offered a revised assessment of the COVID-19 death toll, saying the mortality figure is closer to 14.9 million. Binoy Kampmark reports.

Socialist Alliance Senate candidate Niko Leka believes the election will be a pivotal time for climate action and said his PhD in Public Health would see him prioritise preventative healthcare nationally. Maia O’Connor reports.

If Labor wins government on May 21 unionists must press for the right to strike, argues Chris White.

World

The following resolution was passed at the National Political Committee of the Anti-Capitalist Left, Italy on May 7.

Amuay refinery in Venezuela

Andreína Chávez Alava reports that United States President Joe Biden's administration has authorised Chevron to negotiate its licence and “the terms of potential future activities in Venezuela” with Venezuelan state oil company, PDVSA.

Free Palestine, Sydney

Israel’s announcement that it will not pursue an investigation into the killing of famed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was not surprising, writes Miko Peled.

Indigenous protest in Colombia

Paramilitary violence continues to take lives and wreak havoc in Colombia, reports Peoples' Dispatch.

Banner

West Papuans continue to protest the creation of new provinces, for a referendum on self-determination and against Indonesia’s plan to grant “special autonomy” status to the territory, reports Susan Price.

Abortion rights protest in the US

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across 600 cities and towns in the United States on May 14 in defence of abortion rights, reports Barry Sheppard.

Gustavo Petro and Francia Marquez

The leftist Historic Pact presidential ticket, headed by Gustavo Petro and Francia Márquez, is favoured to win Colombia's presidential elections on May 29. However, the candidates face ongoing threats, reports Tanya Wadhwa.

The cause of the Buffalo killings is the deep racism endemic in the US, rooted in slavery and the white justification of a false view of inferiority of Black people, writes Malik Miah.

Social Movement delegation at RGA conference

Dick Nichols reports on the May 13-15 Danish Red Green Alliance conference.

Culture

Light Shining in Buckinghamshire

Ben Radford reviews Light Shining in Buckinghamshire, Caryl Churchill’s 1976 play co-directed by Hannah Goodwin and Helpmann Award-winning Eamon Flack.

Ecosocialist Bookshelf May

Climate & Capitalism editor Ian Angus presents six new books for understanding and changing the world.

Bill Onus

Barry Healy previews a new documentary celebrating the life of Bill Onus, Australia’s first Indigenous filmmaker and a little-known but significant cultural and political figure.