Editorial

The results of the Lindsay by-election in western Sydney on October 19 mean more attacks on working people with Howard claiming a new mandate. The strength of the Liberals' victory — a swing in the two-party preferred vote from Labor to Liberal

On October 16, the Democrats took a step closer to fulfilling Cheryl Kernot's prediction of a few days' before — that the Coalition's industrial relations law would be in force by the end of the year — by voting for the bill to move to the

Last week, the Howard government finally confirmed its intention to withdraw the limited land rights achieved by Australia's indigenous people over the last few decades. Of course, the announcement in parliament on October 8 was not worded so

As the Coalition government gears up to push its budget through the Senate, the strategy of the ALP in opposition is becoming clearer. The budget process has allowed an increased public profile for the ALP, attempting to win back some political

After two weeks of bluster and evasion, the ACTU Council has officially absolved itself from all responsibility for the actions of angry workers at Parliament House on August 19. In a cowardly and dishonest statement issued from its September 2-4

Cuts of $314 million to public hospitals and $2.6 billion to Medicare over the next four years ensure that the public health system will be a lot sicker as a result of the August 20 budget. Combined with the Coalition's subsidies to the private

Adding to the burgeoning list of lies that have accompanied the Coalition government, the bosses' media have been working overtime to sell Treasurer Costello's first budget as a "fair go" which "shares around the pain". The budget's vicious attacks

Revelations that Labor former prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Bob Hawke are on the payroll of billionaire businessman Richard Pratt should come as no surprise. After all, the former Labor government prided itself on its close relationship with the

The Howard government's reaffirmation of military ties to the United States more represents an ideological attack on mass antiwar sentiment than any great change in this country's "defence" policy. Since the ANZUS treaty was signed on September 1,

The August 20 federal budget should not be allowed to pass the Senate. The jobs, education, health and welfare of literally millions of people are at stake. Even without the support of Tasmanian independent Brian Harradine, the ALP, Democrat and

The federal government's June 11 announcement to increase the woodchip export quota by 1 million tonnes from public forests and an unlimited amount from private land spells disaster for what remains of Australia's native forests. While the

The formation last month of the Australia First Reform Party, following the mobilisation of tens of thousands of people at pro-gun rallies around the country, once again raises the issue of the growth of the far-right in Australian politics. It is