As electioneering for the looming federal election gathers pace, the political hacks continue to pretend that this is normal times and business as usual. A good indicator of this is the focus on two-party preferences as the litmus test for their predictions. Either they can’t seem to see the changing political landscape or wish to bury the truth. Continue reading The coming federal election will not end growing dissatisfaction with the major parties
Last week, from 11 to the 14 September to be precise, an important protest against the holding of the Land forces convention in Melbourne took place, and it attracted an unprecedented and violent police response. There are still quite a few good people who still don’t appreciate the truth of what happened, since they have been influenced by prejudiced media that reversed the truth and ongoing loyalty to Labor or the Coalition. Continue reading Police violence in Melbourne last week undermined right to speak
Only 37 percent of Australians are satisfied with “how democracy is working in Austral” according to the latest Essential Poll. The use of the word democracy is not the appropriate one here though. Saying that this is the proportion of Australians see that the political system operates in their interests. This has profound implications. Continue reading Australia no believes in the present political system
Donald Trump has been convicted of a list of felonies. Don’t expect him to be locked up. In fact, his convictions will help him to become President of the United Sates for the second time. Trump and his backers know how to use spectacle, and the convictions are being used to portray him as a victim of a powerful elite controlling government, the law, and society. Continue reading Donald Trump represents the elite and not the people
Two days ago, Julian Assange scored an important win in London, where the High Court ruled that his legal team have the right to lodge an appeal against the attempt by Washington to extradite him to the United States, continuing mistreatment, and life imprisonment. This is big time global news because of its potential implications. Continue reading Campaign has won Julian Assange’s right to appeal
Last week, German government worked overtime to prevent a conference organised by Jewish organisations from taking place. Outright lies were used to justify suppression of free speech, and it attracted little comment from the governments and media of western nations. Is this a glimpse of where are heading towards? Continue reading Conference to support Palestinians violently shut down in Germany
By Joe Montero
Whistleblower David McBride will face the start of his trial today (Monday 13 November), and last week, a group of other high-profile whistleblowers signed an open letter to the federal government to call on it to honour the promise to legislate protection for whistleblowers and cut down the cost of waging a legal defence. Continue reading David McBride’s trial for whistleblowing Afghanistan war crimes has just begun
David McBride, the whistleblower on war crimes in Afghanistan perpetrated by Australian military personnel faces court on 13 November. He was charged over disclosures that revealed the murder of non-combatant civilians. He faces up to 50 years in prison. None of those who committed the killings have been charged.
This double standard has not gone unnoticed. Public opinion is on McBride’s side. This has resulted in the backdown from holding a secret trial in a closed-door tribunal. There will now be a trial by jury – except that anything deemed to be of national security will still be heard behind closed doors. A fair trial is by no means guaranteed.
McBride deserves the support of everyone.
This interview with investigative journalist Michael West reveals all this and the human side of David McBride.
