May Day this year has even more significance than usual, given the global rise of fascism and resistance to this trend, and the challenges we face here in Australia. You are invited to join us on this special day.
This year, the march will be led by defenders of Palestinian rights. Speakers will also address the issues of freedom for Julian Assange, union rights, and AUKUS, war and the battle against imperialism.
Talk about misrepresenting a situation. Media stories have sounded that the AUKUS deal has been saved. Central to it was the nuclear-powered submarine deal that supposedly handed over Australia these submarines. Australia gets to pay 368 billion for them, of course. The other reality is that they would never be under the control of Australia. These submarines are part of the forward pivot directed against China and would always be under the control of the United States. Continue reading Australia has not been guaranteed the AUKUS submarines and we don’t need them anyway→
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→
It appears that Australia’s prime minister is shifting towards greater interventionism to repair Australia’s economy. Does this mean neoliberalism has ended for Labor? Or does it mean something else?
Labor’s proposed Future Made in Australia Act it is claimed, is a package to do just this, and it even boasts that a part that will see significant government investment to rebuild Australian manufacturing, which will create thousands of new jobs and provide an opportunity to move towards a sustainable low carbon economy. Continue reading Albanese promises a new manufacturing economy for Australia→
Anger against big price rises by the Coles and Woolworths supermarket duopoly has been on the rise in recent times. The Australian community believes that the extent of these price rises is unjust and that it amounts to robbing their customers. This makes perfect sense when you look into it. Continue reading Public anger results in promise to curb supermarket monopolies→
The following is a statement by the president (Victoria) Joe Montero on behalf of and endorsed by the Steering Committee of Fair Go For Pensioners
The announced new age pension rise coming in effect on 20 March is being used to pretend that this group of pensioners are getting good deal. The truth is that they are still being cheated. The new base rate of $510 per week, or $8.80 for singles and $14.70 for couples, does little to address years of neglect. This miserly rise is an equivalent of two cups of coffee and a newspaper and does little to correct years of decline. Continue reading Latest Age Pension increase is an insult that does almost nothing to address years of neglect→
Over the two day public hearing on the 20-21 February 2024, thousands of people took to the streets. We cannot thank you enough for speaking up, showing up and standing up for Julian Assange. His fight is all our fights. Thank you. However, the fight continues. If you are able to contribute financially, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on Stella’s Substack:
In this exclusive (The Guardian 27 February 2023) Nina Lakhani comments on the Israeli strategy to starve Palestinians and calls this an act of genocide in Gaza. The United Nations is speaking more loudly about this now and continuing its call for a ceasefire. She interviews Michael Fakhri, the UN special rapporteur on the right to food.Continue reading UN expert says Israel is deliberately starving Palestinians→
Some of the agencies that tell us how the Australian economy is going seem to be exhibiting a bit of honesty. The reason for saying this is that analysis and predictions are routinely conditioned by business needs. Institutions like banks and financial advisers, and others profiting from providing good news to their clients, have an incentive to mould their reports in this direction, Government agencies have their own incentive to take account of the political agenda of the government that that employs them.
The following (published by Comon Drams 25 January 2024) by Media Benjamin cofounder of Codepink and rights organisation Global Exchange, with Nicolas Davies, independent journalist, and researcher for Codepink, is about the dangerous road being taken by President Joe Biden. In addition to providing carte-blanche support to the slaughter of Palestinians, he is following the game plan of the Netanyahu government in Israel that is extending its attack on Gaza into other theatres. The intention, it is suggested, is to draw in United States ground forces, even if it risks regional and world war.
