Analysis

When the United Nations describes the Sinhalese army’s attacks on the Tamil areas of Sri Lanka as a “bloodbath on the beach” you know a massacre is going on.
Despite some new health spending on infrastructure and research, the recent budget failed to address the growing public health care crisis.
Plans are underway for the fifth national day of action for same-sex marriage rights. Rallies are already planned in seven cities across Australia on August 1.
Schools and clinics in many Aboriginal homelands and outstations are likely to close under proposed changes announced by the Northern Territory government on May 20.
Prominent journalist Jeff McMullen questioned the Northern Territory intervention at a forum organised by Reconciliation for Western Sydney on May 20 in Wentworthville.
“One hundred percent renewable energy in Australia by 2020!” That was the bold call endorsed by members of more than 150 climate action groups at the Climate Action Summit held in Canberra in January.
On May 11, ABC’s Four Corners screened an interview with a young woman from New Zealand. She recounted an alleged 2002 sexual assault in a Christchurch hotel room by at least 12 players and staff from the Cronulla Sharks.
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan delivered the Labor government’s second budget on May 12. Swan’s bleak message was clear: for those with a job, it’s a matter of work until you drop.
More than 100 members of the Australian-Afghan community and supporters protested in front of Parliament House and the Afghan embassy in Canberra on May 12.
Two hundred people protested at Parliament House on May 6 against the Victorian government’s proposed solar feed-in tariff legislation.
On May 9, local residents gathered in the remote Clouds Creek State Forest to protest Forest NSW logging operations.
On May 10, federal treasurer Wayne Swan announced that Australia will finally join the overwhelming majority of developed countries in implementing a national paid parental leave scheme. But the plan falls way short of what women need.