Analysis

  • ALP ranks respond to mass pressure on refugees

    ALP ranks respond to mass pressure on refugees The rumblings in the ranks of the ALP about the party’s disgusting sell-out of refugees are increasing. In Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, ALP state conferences passed motions

  • Breach the corporate bludgers!

    In another predictable round of dole bludger bashing, federal employment minister Mal Brough announced on May 19 that government-commissioned research, largely based on Centrelink surveys, had shown that some 16% of the unemployed were "cruisers" —

  • All out for June 22-23!

    All out for June 22-23! Federal immigration minister Philip Ruddock isn't the sort to admit to making errors of judgement. But try as he might, these days his nauseating smirk doesn't appear so convincing. While the tide of

  • Health care and income protection for all

    Health care and income protection for all Despite the federal government's $35 million handout to insurance fund United Medical Protection in March, on April 29 UMP’s directors announced its provisional liquidation. The collapse of the

  • Fighting for global justice after M1

    Fighting for global justice after M1 The 2001 May 1(M1) blockades of Australia’s stock exchanges rallied support for the cancellation of Third World debt and the abolition of institutions such the World Bank and the International

  • M1: Demand money for jobs, not war

    Since the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, First World governments have exploited the fear that was generated to justify the diversion of government funds from programs that benefit working people and the poor to the

  • Woomera and beyond

    Woomera and beyond The Easter protest at the Woomera immigration detention centre successfully highlighted the brutality of the Australian government's policy of mandatory detention of asylum seekers. It has added momentum to the

  • ALP trickle will become a flood

    ALP trickle will become a flood The response of rank-and-file unionists to Victorian Electrical Trades Union leader Dean Mighell's resignation from the Labor Party was predictable: “Good on yer mate, it's about time!” They don't want

  • Build the refugees' rights movement

    Since the Australian government's refusal last year to allow asylum seekers rescued by the Norwegian freighter Tampa to land in Australia, a significant protest movement in support of refugees' rights has developed across Australia. The movement has

  • Sacrificed on the altar of imperialism

    Sacrificed on the altar of imperialism “It is more dangerous, but at the end of the day ... the sure way to work against the enemy is to put people on the ground”, General Tommy Franks, the commander of Washington's war in Afghanistan,

  • The solution to airline crisis

    The solution to airline crisis The February 27 collapse of the Tesna bid from millionaires Lindsay Fox and Solomon Lew for Ansett will almost certainly mark the final end of that airline. As a result, Australians can look forward to

  • Howard must go!

    Howard must go! By February 22, it appeared that former defence minister Peter Reith had finally decided to hang on to the hot potato of blame in the “children overboard” scandal. Admitting that he knew the federal Coalition