The bushfires in NSW and QLD have been worsened by climate change, according to former Australian fire chiefs, emergency leaders and national parks authorities. They’ve urged the Federal Government to act on climate change immediately as the country faces an unprecedented bushfire season.
Coup in Bolivia leads to a political crisis
By Jim Hayes
Not doubt about it. The ending of Evo Morales’s presidency in Bolivia was a coup, engineered by the United States, in partnership with Bolivia’s privileged elite. Continue reading Coup in Bolivia leads to a political crisis
Our government is trying to hide that the bushfires are unprecedented
From New South Wales
The venom with which leading politicians in the government’s ranks have thrown against those, who suggest the unprecedented wave of bushfires over a large part of Australia, has some connection to global warming, underlies the extent of the nervousness of these politicians. Continue reading Our government is trying to hide that the bushfires are unprecedented
Spain’s election raises the threat of fascism results in a progressive coalition
By Joe Montero
On the weekend Spain went to an election yet again. It was the second one for this year. In April, no party won enough votes to form a government. No coalition could be formed, and the nation went into caretaker mode for half a year. Continue reading Spain’s election raises the threat of fascism results in a progressive coalition
Some comments on the Labor election review
By Joe Montero
Given that there is widespread concern over the Labor’s election review and the importance consequences of how it is acted on, there is good reason to make a few comments. Continue reading Some comments on the Labor election review
Stop Morrison’s attack on working people and our unions
The following comes from Australian Unions and is about the Federal Government’s Integrity Bill, designed to be a major attack on the whole union movement in Australia, and as its authors claim, merely a means to deal with those who act unlawfully. If it was, there would not be a bill targeting only unions. It would target all those in important positions. Politicians and company directors for instance. This affects all workers, and it stands to flow onto the whole community. The statement has been reproduced in full. Continue reading Stop Morrison’s attack on working people and our unions
Concern over raids and mass arrests of activists in the Philippines
This article is from the Philippines based human rights organisaion, Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (Karapatan) Continue reading Concern over raids and mass arrests of activists in the Philippines
Scott Morrison promises his backers to crack down on Australian activism
By Jim Hayes
On Friday last week, Scott Morrison launched a tirade against what he called progressivism.” He insisted that this is a direct threat to the liberties of Australians and made it crystal clear, that he is going to do something about it. Continue reading Scott Morrison promises his backers to crack down on Australian activism
How America and Britain crushed the government of Australia
John Pilger reposted this article on 4 November. It first appeared in 2014 and might have been penned today, given the rise in global tensions and predatory American foreign policy. Australia is shifting to increasingly authoritarian government. What we don’t know yet, is the role in this played by the Anglo-American connection and the operations of the intelligence services. Given Australia’s track record, we know that they are there. We also know that much of the history of the Whitlam era has been buried – conveniently for some. Especially the details surrounding the coup that took place on 11 November 1975. A declassified telegram showed that media tycoon Rupert Murdoch communicatred with US Consul General Robert Brand about the prime minister. He informed the diplomat about his “kill Whitlam” order to editors. This article is a timely reminder of what is at stake.
Continue reading How America and Britain crushed the government of Australia
There is nothing right about the attack on John Setka
By Joe Montero
The concerted attack on the Victorian secretary of the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) is a gross violation of some basic principles.
Yes. John Setka did have some arguments with his wife during the time they were separated. And he did plead guilty to inappropriate behaviour towards her during that time.
Anyone who has gone through this sort of traumatic experience, appreciates that it it brings emotional turmoil, that it complicated, and often generates with both men and women, responses that are out of character.
This in no way justifies bad behaviour towards women. But to use this as a vehicle to attack an individual to further an unrelated agenda, is a disgrace. It belongs in the gutter.
Continuing to peddle the allegation that Setka denigrated Rosie Batty at a meeting, when there are no credible witnesses, and others who were there say it didn’t happen, is not about seeking justice.
It is about carrying out a political vendetta. giving it quarter is to particpate in this political vendetta being driven by the enemies of the union movement.
When major developers and the Coalition ride on allegations like these, it makes a certain sense. The union has had a degree of success in defending jobs, pay and conditions that would be hard to match in any other industry.
Developers and the government they are so cosy with, hold that those who work in the industry take too much and the employers too little. They want to redivide the cake, and to do so, they must make the leadership more compliant and tame the union.
It is something different altogether, when leader of a political party that claims to stand up for the workers uses this as an opportunity to rebrand his party as more like the Liberals.
Saying this might make some people a little uncomfortable. It must be said anyway.
Anthony Albanese’s attack on John Setka is inseparable from the move to rebrand Labor to make it more acceptable to the big end of town, and to market that a range of policies important to Labor Party members and supporters must be reversed, as being the only way to win government.
What would be the point anyway, if it means being a government that imitates what the Coalition does when it’s in government?
It won’t work anyway, and is more likely to cause disillusionment.
Labor has the right to decide who its members and leaders are. The same right applies to other organisations, and this includes unions. Putting external pressure to remove someone is wrong, and a violation of the labour movement’s principle of democratic control.
Protecting each other has always been a pillar of the union movement, and has played a major part in delivering rights inside and outside the workplace.
Precisely when these rights are under greater threat than they have been for a long time, there are those who do not have the balls to stand up for them and are falling over themselves to surrender.
Just a few more words. The rise of gossip as a political weapon is causing considerable problems. The expansion of social media has provided a platform for scoundrels, who use gossip to manipulate others.
For example. Women are not always treated well by men. This must be taken on. But there can never be justification for using this principle to hoodwink people into believing the interests of women are being protected, when nothing could be further from the truth.
It is not John Setka but those who fail to stand for principle, who have paved the way for a serious attack on the ongoing existence of unions.
The Ensuring Integrity Bill is an important part of this attack. Unlike normal laws, which at the very least apply equally to all on paper, this one is deliberately directed towards only unions. It is not meant to be applied to those in business and politicians, where allegations of corruption and other forms of wrongdoing are rife.
The reality is that any union official or delegate properly representing his or her members and carrying out their wishes, must operate under the the difficult conditions of the Fair Work Australia Act, deliberately designed to be discriminatory against unions.
Inthe Act’s application, unions and their representatives are routinely charged and brought before the court. Employers, their organisations and representatives almost never are.
It means union officials and delegates who properly represent the members, will eventually be charged and found guilt of an offense. If it gets up, many will be barred form holding positions, and this could achieve the ambition of rendering the union movement totally ineffective.
Those who join in the John Setka bashing, whether they are conscious of it or not, are actually helping to bring this about.
An end to this bashing is needed, and this must be replaced by a willingness to stand to stand together against the real threat.