Australia and South Pacific
Concern over Australian banks’ stability if housing bubble bursts
By Nick Beams, 7 April 2016
The official position is that the Australian housing market is sound but it is becoming increasingly clear that this view is not shared internationally.
New Zealand university professor subjected to pro-Zionist witch-hunt
By John Braddock, 6 April 2016
Academic Scott Poynting has been forced to take “study leave,” pending retirement, for likening the Israeli persecution of Palestinians to the Nazi treatment of Jews.
Australian government crisis intensifies over austerity agenda
By Mike Head, 5 April 2016
Prime Minister Turnbull’s new slogan—“We must live within our means!”—signifies that working class people must be made to pay for the worsening economic situation.
Australia: State electricity workers vote for industrial action
By Terry Cook, 5 April 2016
Essential Energy wants to axe agreements covering hundreds of workers to begin sackings and further slash working conditions.
New Zealand voters reject flag change in referendum
By Matthew Carrington and Tom Peters, 4 April 2016
The government and opposition sought to use the flag issue to whip up nationalism and encourage unquestioning respect for the military.
Australian government in disarray over spending cuts
By Mike Head, 1 April 2016
In his latest twist, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is seeking to shift the blame for devastating and deeply unpopular cuts onto state and territory governments.
Australian prime minister lurches from one crisis to the next
By Peter Symonds, 31 March 2016
Just a week after his move to bring on an early “double dissolution” election, Malcolm Turnbull has announced a new tax plan that could sow the seeds for a fracturing of the Australian federation.
New layoffs in New Zealand meat processing
By John Braddock, 31 March 2016
A new round of restructuring within the New Zealand meat processing industry is underway.
Australian Labor leader makes a cynical populist pitch
By Peter Symonds, 30 March 2016
Opposition leader Bill Shorten is preparing for this year’s election with false promises on “jobs, education and health” to obscure Labor’s commitment to austerity.
Australia: Pacific Islanders suffer slave-like conditions in fruit industry
By Paul Bartizan, 30 March 2016
The super-exploitation of Pacific Islanders who have no democratic rights under the Seasonal Workers Program is to be extended throughout the agricultural industry.
Australia: Socialist Alternative hails downing of Russian jet in Syria
By Oscar Grenfell, 29 March 2016
The declaration that Turkey’s flagrant act of war was “a small victory for humanity” underscores the pseudo-lefts’ support for imperialist provocations, including those that threaten to trigger world war.
New Zealand Labour Party leader attacks Asian immigrants
By John Braddock, 28 March 2016
Opposition leader Andrew Little singled out Indian and Chinese chefs as scapegoats for rising unemployment and worsening living standards.
Large protests in East Timor over ongoing Australian oil theft
By Patrick Kelly, 26 March 2016
The demonstration was among the largest in East Timor since the former Portuguese colony and Indonesian territory received formal independence in 2002.
Corporate elites maintain pressure on Australian prime minister
By Nick Beams, 25 March 2016
The Australian economy’s “transition” from the China-induced mining boom has been described as an “internal devaluation,” involving major attacks on wages and social conditions.
Australia: Socialist Alternative and the US “pivot to Asia”
By Oscar Grenfell, 25 March 2016
Socialist Alternative’s response to the Defense White Paper is aimed at obscuring Australia’s central role in the US drive to war against China.
Australian PM treads a fine line on foreign policy
By Peter Symonds, 24 March 2016
With an early election looming, Turnbull used his Lowy Lecture to spin his vision of bright economic opportunities in Asia, while seeking to answer critics’ demands for a tougher stance against China.
Socialism and the Fight Against War
IYSSE meetings in Australia and New Zealand—Build an International Movement of the Working Class and Youth Against Imperialism!
24 March 2016
The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) is holding meetings in Australia and New Zealand to alert students, youth and workers to the threat of a Third World War.
Public sector union cancels strike action at Australian airports
By Richard Phillips, 24 March 2016
The CPSU is anxious to prevent the pent-up anger among its members, after years of job cuts, wage freezes and the erosion of working conditions, from erupting out of its control.
Hundreds of refugees in Australia face return to offshore camps
By Max Newman, 23 March 2016
Asylum seekers who have been receiving medical treatment in Australia are threatened with being sent back to Nauru or Manus Island.
Australian government threatens a “double dissolution” election
By Mike Head, 22 March 2016
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is trying to break through a political crisis that has increasingly engulfed the government and the parliamentary system itself.
Australian nickel refinery workers sacked without entitlements
By Terry Cook, 21 March 2016
Mining magnate Clive Palmer is making the Queensland refinery workers pay for the collapse of the mining boom.
Australian youth and workers denounce media and government racist hysteria
By our reporters, 21 March 2016
The continuing campaign against African youth by the media and political establishment has prompted a reaction amongst young people in working-class areas of Melbourne.
Australia: Fairfax journalists strike over job cuts
By Richard Phillips, 18 March 2016
The latest attack is part of a decade-long process of job destruction and restructuring at Fairfax Media.
Australian journalists condemn the axing of more Fairfax jobs
By our reporters, 18 March 2016
Striking editorial staff speak out against the latest attack on jobs and conditions by one of Australia’s largest media corporations.
Anti-protest laws attack democratic rights in Australia
By Mike Head, 18 March 2016
New laws in three states impose draconian punishments for allegedly disrupting or hindering business operations.
Australian Greens join government in ramming through Senate voting changes
By Mike Head, 17 March 2016
In the machinations over the electoral laws, the Greens have stepped forward, not just to assist the government, but to try to shore up the parliamentary system itself.
Australian media whips up fear campaign against African youth
By Richard Phillips, 16 March 2016
The state Labor government has seized on police clashes with youth in Melbourne on Saturday to demand greater police powers to “smash gang violence.”
Build the International Youth and Students for Social Equality!
A socialist program to fight the Coalition-Labor-Greens assault on education in Australia
By the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (Australia), 16 March 2016
The IYSSE is fighting for the development of an independent, socialist movement of the working class in opposition to the assault on education and the gutting of social spending.
Australian primary teachers resign in protest at standardised, assessment-based education
By Susan Allan and Linda Tenenbaum, 14 March 2016
The two teachers decided to go public, hoping to encourage other teachers to speak out about the escalating education crisis.
Australia: Despite deaths, no youth mental facility in Brisbane
By Declan O’Malley, 14 March 2016
The official inquiry is an attempt to cover up the refusal of successive state and federal governments to provide adequate mental health services.
US reignites controversy over Chinese lease of Australian port
By Peter Symonds, 12 March 2016
The Australian government is already feeling the heat from Washington for failing to carry out a military intrusion into Chinese-claimed waters in the South China Sea.
Arrium demands Australian mine workers take pay cuts
By Terry Cook, 12 March 2016
Under the threat of closure, steelmaker Arrium is working with the unions to impose a 10 percent wage cut in its iron ore mines.
Growing concerns about Australia’s housing bubble
By Mike Head, 11 March 2016
Australia’s economy has so far avoided a recession, largely because of debt-fuelled household spending, based on steep rises in house prices.
New Zealand: Anti-TPP protests promote Maori nationalism
By Tom Peters, 10 March 2016
At protests against the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the opposition parties have promoted Maori identity politics to block a unified struggle by workers against austerity and war.
US Air Force to boost presence in northern Australian bases
By Peter Symonds, 9 March 2016
Citing Chinese “militarisation” of the South China Sea, the US Pacific Air Forces commander insisted that the US had to maintain “a credible combat power” in Asia.
Australian government wracked by rifts over US military demands and austerity
By Mike Head, 9 March 2016
Sharp divisions within the political establishment lie behind recriminations within the Turnbull government.
Australia: Labor Party, teacher unions prepare further assault on public education
By Patrick Kelly and Frank Gaglioti, 9 March 2016
The Labor and union campaign for a new “Gonski” school funding model is a fraud from start to finish.
Fiji cyclone: Australian and New Zealand military mobilised for “humanitarian” relief
By Richard Phillips, 8 March 2016
While thousands of Fijians desperately need assistance, Canberra and Wellington have seized on the disaster to advance their own geo-strategic interests.
Leaked Australian document reveals plans for mass surveillance of immigrants
By Max Newman, 7 March 2016
The Australian government is preparing continuous monitoring of immigrants and more severe visa and citizenship tests to block access to permanent residence.
Australia: Qantas reaps record profits by slashing jobs and wages
By Terry Cook, 5 March 2016
Deep cuts have been imposed on the airline’s workers through a combination of intimidation and the collaboration of the trade unions.
IYSSE campaigns against war at universities in Australia and New Zealand
By our reporters, 5 March 2016
The IYSSE’s campaign initiated a serious discussion among broad layers of students about the socialist and internationalist alternative to the preparations for World War Three.
Australia: Job cuts threaten Sydney water safety
By Richard Phillips, 4 March 2016
The elimination of vital jobs wipes out decades of expertise and imperils the quality of water for Sydney’s 4.5 million residents.
Australian Greens cover up Defence White Paper plans for war on China
By Mike Head, 3 March 2016
The Greens, who once postured as an anti-war party, have sent another signal of their readiness to support the US-led military build-up against China.
Ex-Australian PM calls for “freedom of navigation” challenge to China
By Peter Symonds, 2 March 2016
Abbott’s comments are part of growing demands for the Australian government to mount a military intrusion into Chinese-claimed territory in the South China Sea.
Australian Greens back government’s Senate voting “reforms”
By Oscar Grenfell, 2 March 2016
The legislation is aimed at shoring-up the political establishment and clearing out the Senate to push through the sweeping austerity measures demanded by big business.
The Australian Defence White Paper and the drive to war
By James Cogan, 1 March 2016
The militarist agenda spelled out in the White Paper is incompatible with the democratic and social rights of the working class.
Tens of thousands homeless in Fiji cyclone disaster
By Oscar Grenfell, 26 February 2016
Australia and New Zealand have responded by dispatching substantial military hardware to Fiji.
Hundreds of Australian climate-change science jobs to be axed
By Perla Astudillo and Richard Philips, 25 February 2016
The CSIRO cuts are a major setback for scientific investigation into ocean temperatures, greenhouse gas levels and other climate-change issues.
Australian media use US admiral’s comments to push for confrontation with China
By James Cogan, 24 February 2016
The aim was to lend an air of urgency to a decision by the Australian government to order a military response to alleged Chinese “expansionism” in the South China Sea.
At least 29 dead, thousands displaced after Cyclone Winston hits Fiji
By Oscar Grenfell, 23 February 2016
The most powerful storm ever recorded in the region has produced a mounting humanitarian crisis.
Australia: BlueScope Steel profits leap on back of union-imposed job cuts
By Terry Cook, 23 February 2016
After the AWU and other unions helped impose savage cost cutting, the Australian steel manufacturer doubled its profits.
Australian health care rallies promote election of Labor and Greens
By Zac Hambides, 23 February 2016
Not one of the speakers mentioned the cutting of health spending by the last Labor government, kept in office by the Greens.
Arrium threatens to close Whyalla steelworks in South Australia
By Oscar Grenfell, 22 February 2016
The Australian Workers Union, working hand in hand with the company, is preparing to impose another round of job cuts and attacks on working conditions.
Build the International Youth and Students for Social Equality!
A socialist program to fight war, austerity and dictatorship!
By the IYSSE (Australia), 22 February 2016
Young people confront the stark alternative outlined by the great revolutionary Rosa Luxemburg following the outbreak of World War One—either socialism or barbarism.
Labor Party steps up demands for Australia to “stand up” to China
By James Cogan, 20 February 2016
Labor is serving as the catspaw of the US military establishment and seeking to dramatically ratchet up military tensions with Beijing.
Fiji orders second arms consignment from Russia
By John Braddock, 20 February 2016
Moves by Russia to establish itself as a Pacific power, in response to the US drive to dominate the region, will only heighten tensions in the Asia Pacific.
Global volatility triggers concerns about Australian banks
By Mike Head, 20 February 2016
The ongoing collapse of commodity prices has placed question marks over the exposure of the banks to losses in the resources sector.
Australian union escalates nationalist campaign over shipping layoffs
By Oscar Grenfell, 19 February 2016
The Maritime Union of Australia is seeking to divide workers along national lines and obscure its own role in facilitating the job destruction.
Australian foreign minister echoes US demands against China
By James Cogan, 18 February 2016
Bishop’s visit to Japan and China underscored Australia’s role as a key partner of Washington’s aggressive “pivot to Asia.”
Australia’s “Closing the Gap” fraud: Indigenous conditions worsen
By Mary Beadnell, 18 February 2016
Deteriorating social conditions are hitting the entire working class, with Aborigines among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.
Australian ministerial reshuffle underscores political impasse
By Mike Head, 17 February 2016
Amid deteriorating economic conditions, Prime Minister Turnbull is under mounting criticism by the corporate elite.
Australian government-union conspiracy to sack “underperforming” teachers
By Richard Phillips, 15 February 2016
The unions have torn up teachers’ hard-won struggle for job security by implementing new anti-democratic inspection regimes and streamlined sacking procedures.
Australian government refuses to help children trapped in Syria
By Mike Head, 13 February 2016
The government’s reaction to the plight of these six Australian children displays its true contempt for the millions of victims of the predatory US-led war in Iraq and Syria.
New wave of job cuts in Australia as global slump deepens
By John Harris, 12 February 2016
The mining and resources sector is now in headlong decline, and the fallout is spreading throughout the economy, including the retail sector.
Australian shipbuilding workers sacked in takeover deal
By Terry Cook, 11 February 2016
Forgacs workers were escorted off the job following the completion of a takeover by Civmec, as part of a sweeping restructuring of the industry.
Human Rights Watch underscores Australia’s abuses of refugees
By Max Newman, 10 February 2016
The report documents Australia’s stripping of asylum seekers of basic democratic rights and the build-up of repressive police powers.
Australian establishment condemns government’s retreat over increased consumption tax
By James Cogan, 10 February 2016
Raising the GST is viewed in corporate circles as the most rapid means of shifting more of the tax burden onto the working class.
Trans-Pacific Partnership signed in New Zealand amid mass protests
By Tom Peters, 10 February 2016
The protest organisers do not speak for the working class but express the interests of less competitive sections of business that fear losing out to global rivals.
Australia’s High Court backs indefinite offshore detention
By Mike Head, 9 February 2016
The ruling sets a new global benchmark for the incarceration of innocent and desperate people in what amounts to Guantanamo Bay-style legal black holes.
Australian public hospitals face growing funding crisis
By Mike Head, 8 February 2016
According to the AMA’s annual hospital report card, waiting times lengthened in 2014–15 and funding shortfalls will worsen in 2017 when the latest cutbacks come into effect.
Australia: Sydney city council locks out community theatre group
By Richard Phillips, 8 February 2016
Closure of the inner-western Sydney Archway 1 theatre and exhibition space takes place amid ongoing federal and state government cuts to the arts.
Unstable government in Vanuatu following snap election
By John Braddock, 8 February 2016
Deepening popular opposition to the political elite has left no single party able to form a government.
UN panel condemns detention of WikiLeaks founder
Stop the persecution of Julian Assange!
By Bill Van Auken, 5 February 2016
Despite a ruling that Assange has been subjected to “arbitrary detention,” both the UK and Sweden vow to continue his persecution.
Australian High Court sanctions indefinite offshore detention of refugees
By Mike Head, 4 February 2016
The decision sets a new global benchmark for the incarceration of men, women and children in conditions that amount to torture.
Doctor challenges Australian government over refugee conditions on Nauru
By Max Newman, 2 February 2016
A paediatrics professor who worked in Nauru has condemned the indefinite detention of asylum seekers as torture, defying the police-state secrecy provisions of the Border Force Act.
Pressure mounts on Australian government to challenge China in South China Sea
By Peter Symonds, 2 February 2016
“Freedom of navigation” is the threadbare pretext used to disguise US-led preparations for war with China.
Australian teenager arrested for documents “connected” to terrorism
By Mike Head, 1 February 2016
The vague charges underscore the increasingly repressive sweep of Australia’s “anti-terrorism” laws.
Former army chief named “Australian of the Year”
By Oscar Grenfell, 29 January 2016
The award is part of a broader campaign to normalise military involvement in political life, under conditions of escalating militarism and war.
Australian Treasury head demands deep spending cuts
By Mike Head, 29 January 2016
Fraser’s speech is part of a mounting ideological offensive by the financial and corporate elite to combat public hostility to the austerity agenda.
Russian arms consignment arrives in Fiji
By John Braddock, 28 January 2016
The shipment underlines the deepening geo-strategic tensions in the Pacific.
Australian maritime union isolates and betrays Portland seamen
By Oscar Grenfell, 27 January 2016
The Maritime Union of Australia’s “Our Coast. Our Jobs” campaign divides workers and obscures the union’s role as the enforcer of sweeping cuts demanded by big business.
New Zealand government arrests alleged student loan defaulter
By Tom Peters, 27 January 2016
The arrest of Ngatokotoru Puna sets the stage for more attacks on thousands of students and former students, who owe a combined total of $14.8 billion.
Australian Dulux workers return to work but job cuts loom
By Mike Head, 26 January 2016
Together with the other trade unions, United Voice is seeking to contain the growing anger among workers over the mounting destruction of jobs.
Australia “central” to US plans for war with China
By James Cogan, 26 January 2016
The CSIS report demands a build-up of the Australia military, as well as US bases across the north of the continent.
CSIS report: A blueprint for US war with China
By Peter Symonds, 25 January 2016
The study is a master plan for an accelerating arms race in Asia in preparation for a conflict that would draw in the entire region and the world.
US threatens to withdraw from major Pacific fisheries treaty
By John Braddock, 25 January 2016
The US withdrawal from the 27-year-old Tuna Treaty threatens to devastate the economies of many small island states.
Australian industrial court bans port strikes
By Oscar Grenfell, 23 January 2016
The ruling will likely be invoked by the union to strike a backroom deal with the port company.
Australian prime minister visits US military commander in Hawaii
By Mike Head, 23 January 2016
Over the past year, the admiral has played a vocal role in inflaming tensions with China, particularly over its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Imprisonment periods lengthening in Australian immigration detention centres
By Max Newman, 22 January 2016
Detainees are now being incarcerated for an average 445 days, resulting in severe mental distress.
Labor Party in Australia demands “action” against China
By James Cogan, 21 January 2016
Shadow defence spokesman Stephen Conroy’s column underscores the Labor Party’s role as the most fervent supporter of the US-Australia alliance.
Australian government unveils new cuts to health care
By Mike Head, 21 January 2016
Malcolm Turnbull’s government has made the slashing of basic health services one of the priority targets of its austerity agenda.
Obama thanks Australian prime minister for war efforts
By Peter Symonds, 20 January 2016
While the tone was not as strident as his predecessor, Turnbull’s underlying message was the same: full support for US militarism around the world.
Australian nickel refinery crisis threatens thousands of jobs
By Mike Head, 20 January 2016
The livelihoods of workers in the northern city of Townsville and the French colony of New Caledonia are imperiled by the threatened closure of the Queensland Nickel plant.
Australian stocks fall sharply on China and global fears
By Mike Head, 12 January 2016
A new year sharemarket rout highlights Australian capitalism’s acute vulnerability to the slowing growth and signs of economic instability in China.
Two dead, scores of homes destroyed in Western Australian bushfire
By Oscar Grenfell, 12 January 2016
Residents of Yarloop, a town virtually destroyed by the blaze, were given almost no warning and were left without water.
Thirty-eight percent of Australia’s large companies paid no tax in 2013-14
By John Roberts, 11 January 2016
Tax office data reveals that the country’s major firms pay little or no company tax, while demanding an increased goods and services tax and the slashing of government spending.
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