Analysis

Maritime Union of Australia Victorian branch deputy secretary David Ball speaks about the difficulties of keeping workers’ working and safe during the COVID-19 lockdown.

National secretary of the United Workers Union Tim Kennedy believes the system is ‘cactus’ and that now's the time to push hard for workers' rights.

Jack Mundey, a path breaker in militant unionism and a pioneer of the Green Bans movement in Australia, leaves a lasting legacy and a set of challenges for ecologists and socialists, writes Jim McIlroy.

Despite warnings from climate scientists and economic analysts, Australia is embarking on a dangerous attempt at a fossil fuel-led economic recovery from the pandemic, write Margaret Gleeson and Pip Hinman.

The federal government is exerting a lot of pressure on states to reopen schools. But what is the reality on the ground for school teachers working in the midst of a pandemic? This episode of Green Left features a roundtable discussion with school teachers Mary Merkenich, David Linden and Vivian Messimeris.

Those with a psychosocial disability are being failed by the government’s arbitrary decision-making on who qualifies for vital health and community services under the COVID-19 lockdown, writes Marie Butler-Cole.

The slogan ‘There’s no going back to normal’ has gained considerable popularity as governments are forced by social necessity to take emergency steps they would not normally countenanced. Peter Boyle looks at how we can keep and extend these measures to cope with the next crisis.

Green Left’s Rachel Evans asked a number of environmental activists about the ongoing issues and organising despite the COVID-19 lockdown.

Aged care home Newmarch House has become the new epicentre of COVID-19 in New South Wales. Jim McIlroy reports how privatisation and deregulation of aged care has contributed to the neglect.

International students cannot survive the COVID-19 shutdown without government and university support, writes Adrian M.

Migrant workers protesting

Labor’s immigration spokesperson Kristina Keneally wants a post COVID-19 migration policy that privileges skilled workers. Pip Hinman argues that this calculated intervention is both racist and dangerous.

The federal Coalition government is exerting a lot of pressure on states to make schools re-open. But it should only happen if schools are safe for teachers and students, argue Mary Merkenich, David Linden and Vivian Messimeris.