Issue 1425

News

A diverse group of union activists, running under the banner of Members Coalition, is contesting the Public Service Association of NSW elections for Central Council delegate and executive positions. Kerry Smith reports.

Josephine Langbien, a lawyer with the Human Rights Law Centre, told a forum organised by the Refugee Action Collective that Laborā€™s anti-immigrant laws are the ā€œharshestā€ in decades. Chris Slee reports.

The University of Sydneyā€™s threat to suspend Luna, a transgender refugee, for writing pro-Palestine messages on a whiteboard has drawn attention to its repression of campus activism. Pride in Protest reports.

The Jewish Council of Australia has reiterated its call on politicians to stop exploiting antisemitism, after the Australian Federal Police confirmed that anĀ abandoned caravan found with explosivesĀ was part of a ā€œfabricated terrorism plotā€. Kerry Smith reports.

The Blue Mountains Tibetan community and supporters marked Tibetan National Uprising Day on Dharug and Gundungurra country. Renee Lees reports.

Refugees protested outside Labor MP Andrew Gilesā€™ office in Thomastown and immigration minister Tony Burkeā€™s office in Punchbowl, calling for permanent visas.ĢżChris Slee and Zebedee ParkesĢż°ł±š±č“Ē°ł³Ł.

Safer World for All organised a candidatesā€™ forum in Wills, where discussion about Laborā€™s policies towards Palestine dominated discussion. Allen Jennings reports.

About 40 people formed a chain at Sydney Town Hall in solidarity with the women in Palestine on the eve of International Womenā€™s Day.ĢżJepke Goudsmit reports.

Victorian Public Service members are protesting Laborā€™s plans for job cuts.Ā Brandon M reports on two rallies.

About 2000 people, mostly women and union members, markedĀ International Womenā€™s Day with a lively rally and march. Mary Merkenich reports.

The NT Country Liberal Party has contracted the controversial private British-DanishĀ security firm G4S to provide ā€œmuch-needed reliefā€ in the corrections system.ĢżStephen W Enciso reports.

Gordon Dam

The Communications Electrical Plumbing Union has slammed the Tasmanian Liberal governmentā€™s proposal to sell off energy assets. Kerry Smith °ł±š±č“Ē°ł³Ł²õ.Ģż

Join rallies across the country on March 15 to say ā€˜Stop killing womenā€™ and demand an end to violence against women, domestic abuse and misogyny.Ģż

The Australian Council of Trade UnionsĀ is among many who are condemning the Coalitionā€™s plan to slash 36,000 public service jobs if it wins the federal election. Jim McIlroy reports.

The United Workers Union has called on the Queensland and NSW Premiers to guarantee the jobs of nearly 9000 workers employed by the Star Group. Suzanne James °ł±š±č“Ē°ł³Ł²õ.Ģż

While Adani, now Bravus, has not appealed a court hearing in which most of its key points against Galilee Blockade activist Ben Pennings were struck out, it has been given another month to resubmit.ĢżMargaret Gleeson reports.

Dying With Dignity Victoria is calling for four key equity of access changes for federal Labor to address before the election. Suzanne James reports.

Marching against Israel's violations of the ceasefire agreement, Gadigal Country/Sydney, March 2

Protesters took to the streets as Israel violates the ceasefire agreement again. Pip Hinman and Peter Boyle report.

One hundred and fifty public housing residents in the Waterloo South estate were just given eviction notices from Homes NSW, but many have vowed to fight back.ĢżKerry Smith reports.

A protest outside Labor MP Andrew Gilesā€™ office was called in response to the growing number of Islamophobic attacks that governments are downplaying.ĢżJordan AK reports.

Analysis

We need to keep the issue of settler colonialism here and in Palestine front and centre, arguesĀ Michelle Berkon,Ā asĀ Australia and Israel have shared values.

International classical pianist Jayson Gillham, who was cancelled after speaking out for Palestinian journalists during a Melbourne Symphony Orchestra recital, is seeking a public apology and compensation. Paul Gregoire reports.

What was supposed to be the Western Grassland Reserves, to secure theĀ conservation of some critically endangered ecosystems, is being illegally bulldozed. Ben Courtice argues it makes no sense.

The claim by capitalist economists that growing the ā€˜economic pieā€™ is the only way out of the cost-of-living crisis is a bald-faced lie to make the billionaire class richer. Peter Boyle °ł±š±č“Ē°ł³Ł²õ.Ģż

Dutton only has a handful of policies, mostly unpopular, but he is intent on pushing a culture war ā€” this time against women who favour work-from-home arrangements.ĢżJim McIlroy and Pip Hinman report.

The blowback against Rio Tinto for blasting a sacred rock shelter to pieces in the Pilbara was enormous. Cas Smith reports that WA Labor has passed the buck on mega mining approvals to the federal government.

Gwenael Velge argues that allowing for antisemitism to be conflated with anti-Zionism undermines foundational principles and the role of universities.

Suzanne James asks Jenny Rolfe, a community backed Independent candidate for the NSW seat of Riverina, about the housing crisis, social and gender inequality, regional service access, the cost of living crisis and the latest tranche of anti-protest laws.

Any party or MP facing off Donald Trumpā€™s attacks on trans, nonbinary people and women will have a fight on their hands, argues Rachel Evans.

While young people are generally more progressive, the far right is pushing misogyny to draw young men into their movement. Isaac Nellist reports.

Zionist social media influencers and Labor members Ofir Birenbaum and Sophie Calland are gearing up for the federal election. Wendy BaconĢż²¹²Ō»åĢżYaakov AharonĢż°ł±š±č“Ē°ł³Ł.

Murdoch, Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos

Mainstream media outlets may pretend not to be mouthpieces for the powerful, but in the end they are loyal to their billionaire owners and the class interests they represent, writes Tamara Pearson.

The new Universities AustraliaĀ definition of antisemitism is an ugly attempt to silence the pro-Palestine movement on campuses and academics, university workers and students who critique Israel and Zionism.ĢżMarkela Panegyres and Jonathan Strauss report.

Anti-Zionist JewsĀ Judith Treanor, Suzie Gold and Michelle Berkon,Ā standing several metres from a synagogue entrance holding innocuous signs, were threatened with arrest for the alleged crime of ā€œcausing fear and alarmā€.

World

Rohingya refugee children

Among the myriad challenges facing Rohingya refugees is the denial of educationĀ ā€” a profound injustice with far-reaching consequences, writes Noor Sadeque.

three men

Zara Lomas looks behind the diplomatic row that broke out in February between Aotearoa New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

woman speaking

Activists in Aotearoa New Zealand marked International Womenā€™s Day and the start of Ramadan with solidarity rallies across the country, calling for justice and peace for Palestinian women and the territories occupied illegally by Israel, reports APR.

Rojava's defence forces

Peter Boyle reports on the historic agreement struck between the revolutionary forces in northeastern Syria, known as Rojava and Syria's transitional government.

DOE logo and US flag under smashed glass

The mass layoffs by Donald Trump's administration effectively gut the Department of Education, cutting staff by nearly one third, reportsĀ Natalia Marques.

Protesting in Guantanamo Cuba

More than 50,000 Cubans took to the streets in the southern city of GuantĆ”namo to reject United States President Donald Trumpā€™s plan to use the GuantĆ”namo Bay Naval Base as a detention centre for deported migrants, reports Ben Radford.

women marching with signs

Many thousands took to the streets across Latin America as part of International Womenā€™s Day, amid a concerning rise in gender-based violence and government attacks on womenā€™s rights, reports Ben Radford.

sudents camp out at Columbia University

Chants of ā€œNo ICE, No KKK, No Fascist USA!ā€ echoed through downtown Manhattan, as people protested the kidnapping and detention ofĀ Mahmoud Khalil, Palestinian activist andĀ Columbia University graduate, reportsĀ Saurav Sarkar.

Putin and Trump shake hands against backdrop of Ukraine flag

Russian socialists and anti-war activists have condemned the so-called ā€œpeace dealā€ for Ukraine being negotiated between Russia and the United States, warning it will only bring new wars. Federico FuentesĀ reports.

Putin and Trump shake hands against backdrop of European map

The Trump-Putin pact has plunged the European capitalist classā€™ post-war project into deep crisis ā€” that of building an ultra-liberal European Union as US imperialismā€™s privileged ally and NATOā€™s European pillar, argues Daniel Tanuro.

protesters

Europe must not become a clone of the United States, argues Belgian socialist Peter Mertens. Instead, it must dare to chart a new course.

Ferat Kocak

Die Linke (The Left), Germanyā€™s democratic socialist party, staged a huge upset in the capital, Berlin, winning 21.8% of the cityā€™s vote in the February 23 elections. Marcel Cartier looks behind the partyā€™s revival and the challenge in winning working-class support away from the far right.

Donald Trump mural

United States President Donald Trump has implemented a whirlwind of attacks and changes that are shifting politics internationally. Ā鶹“«Ć½'s Isaac Nellist spoke to US socialists Cyn Huang and Michaela Brangan about the devastating impacts of Trumpā€™s second presidency and the challenges in building resistance to it.

Members of The Hague Group

The Hague GroupĀ ā€” representing Bolivia, Cuba, Colombia, Honduras, Malaysia, Namibia and South Africa ā€” formed to hold Israel accountable under international law for its illegal occupation of Palestine and ongoing genocide against Palestinians, reports Ben Radford.Ģż

Boris Kagarlitsky

Supporters of imprisoned Russian sociologist, author and anti-war activist Boris Kagarlitsky released the following message, recorded from his prison cell, reports Susan Price.

crowd celebrates

Mary Merkenich looks at the good, bad and ugly aspects of the German federal election results.

Isaac Nellist asks US socialists Cyn Huang and Michaela Brangan, members of the Democratic Socialists of America Bread and Roses caucus, about Trumpā€™s attacks on immigrants, workers and human rights.Ģż

Nilufer Koc speaking

NilĆ¼fer KoƧ is the spokesperson for the Commission on Foreign Relations of the Kurdistan National Congress, a coalition of political parties and civil society organisations from Kurdistan and the Kurdish diaspora. She spoke toĀ Ā鶹“«Ć½Ā about the challenges ahead following the historic call by imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ɩcalan for the disarmament and dissolution of the Kurdistan Workersā€™ Party.

Messages to remember those who died are attached to a fence

The shopping centre collapse in Trujillo highlights the extent of government inaction and corporate greed that has allowed shopping centres to operate without meeting minimum safety standards, reports Ben Radford.

Salih Muslim and Abdullah Ocalan

Salih MuslimĀ spoke to Ā鶹“«Ć½ā€™s Peter Boyle about the significance for Rojava of imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Ɩcalanā€™s call for the disarmament and dissolution of the Kurdistan Workersā€™ Party.Ģż

Convictions against three Indigenous land defenders for blocking a gas pipeline in British Columbia remain, despite a Supreme Court judge finding that police violated their rights and made racist remarks during their arrest.ĢżJeff ShantzĀ reports.