Chris Bowen announces new government’s climate policy

 By Jim Hayes

Chris Bowen, Australia’s new climate minister has vowed to cut taxes on electric vehicles and a $20 billion “rewiring the nation” commitment to build a renewable energy grid. A climate bill will be introduced into the parliament. This bill includes a target to reduce carbon emissions by 43 percent by 2030, compared with 2005 levels. There will be discussions with state governments on how to implement this. The Climate Changer authority will be returned to its former authority, to give science-based advice on a new emissions target by 2035. Continue reading Chris Bowen announces new government’s climate policy

Building the Future Australia

SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2022 AT 2 PM – 5 PM

Face to face and Zoom
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union
251 Queensberry St Carlton in Melbourne
If you are not able to make it in person. you can join in via zoom.
Meeting ID: 845 4371 9158
Passcode: 364574
We are facing challenging times. The economy is not meeting the needs of society and may soon fall over the precipice. Global warming brings a threat on a scale that we have never seen before. Democratic rights are being curtailed. Meanwhile, the billionaires continue to have their pockets filled by crooked politicians. This should not be the Australia we want.
The onus is on us, to find a way out of this mess and chart a clear alternative direction. We must focus on what is most important and leave differences behind.
Australian for a New Democracy has emerged to champion this cause. We are not associated with a political party.
Progress can only be made through widespread consultation and the involvement of many within their communities, organisations, and workplaces. Join us.
Come along to this forum. Hear the speakers and contribute to the discussion. The aim is to achieve agreement on some practical measures that will take us onto the next step.

A Bucketload of whitewash: Sue Gray’s report shows consequences are for the little people

There is immunity for the silver spoons sand none for the working-class British, says Owen Jones The Guardian 25 May 2022). The Partygate investigation reveals that security staff and cleaners were treated abysmally. The police brass refused to investigate the illegal parties. Meanwhile, those without the protection of power were treated harshly. prime Minister Boris Johnson’s excuse is long hours of work at 10 Downing Street. A pity similar consideration hasn’t been offered to nurses and other health workers battling the Covid pandemic. Their real wages have been cut. But Partygate is not their greatest crime. They have done much worse.

Continue reading A Bucketload of whitewash: Sue Gray’s report shows consequences are for the little people

New York Times documents failure of U.S. in Ukrainemes shifts prowar narrative

According to John V Walsh (La Progressive 20 May22022), until recently a professor of of Physiology and Neuroscience at the University of Massachusetts, The New York Times is the leading propagandist for the United State’s role in the events unfolding in Ukraine. Its sudden shift on this proxy war signals recognition that it is going bad, that it is time to rethink and avoid getting stuck in the quagmire. Meanwhile, the United States military leader is talking to his Russian counterpart. Read on.

Continue reading New York Times documents failure of U.S. in Ukrainemes shifts prowar narrative

Wages and social security justice should be at centre stage of election campaign

Contributed 

A few days into the election campaign and two big issues are already being ignored, the falling share of wages and the even worse opposition faced by those trying to live on social security payments. If campaigning had been about people, surely, what determines the standard of living of every adult and child in Australia would rate far greater importance? Continue reading Wages and social security justice should be at centre stage of election campaign

Australia’s secret interrogation centre

The following by Mark WillacyJosh RobertsonStephanie March and Kyle Taylor, is the result of an investigation for the ABC’s Four Corners program about an ugly episode of Australia’s involvement in East Timer (Timor Leste). The torture of detainees by members of the Australian contingent of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET), is another episode of human rights abuses in the new emerging nation. Here too there is evidence of cover up by the military brass. This time it is of the existence of a torture centre and what it was doing. There has still been no one taken to account for the wrongdoing. The report reproduced below was published on 11 April 2022.

Continue reading Australia’s secret interrogation centre

France’s presidential election and the fall of traditional politics

By Jim Hayes

Following France’s presidential election has been instructive. Like in Australia, it is obvious that a large part of the population has lost faith in its politicians. This became marked 2017 with the rise of Emmanuel Macron and his new party La République En Marche (LREM). Macron won the presidential race then and he rest is now history. Continue reading France’s presidential election and the fall of traditional politics

Official site of the May Day Committee (Malbourne)