Australia and South Pacific
Australian union imposes 10 percent pay cut on steelworkers
By Oscar Grenfell, 8 October 2016
The Australian Workers Union is playing the central role in the destruction of the jobs, wages and conditions of steelworkers.
Australian politicians hold sham hearings on banks’ “unethical behaviour”
By Mike Head, 8 October 2016
Thousands of working class people, retirees, small business owners and family farmers have been ruined by the banks.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
8 October 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Australian Labor Party restates call for military challenge to China
By James Cogan, 8 October 2016
Labor’s statements indicate frustration within the US and Australian establishments over the Turnbull government’s refusal to order an operation in the South China Sea.
Fifteen years of the war in Afghanistan
By James Cogan, 7 October 2016
The US has been the central instigator of the Afghan tragedy for a period that now spans 38 years, with a toll in dead and wounded that numbers well over a million people.
US defence secretary announces “third phase” of military build-up against China
By Peter Symonds, 4 October 2016
Ashton Carter made clear that the US would sharpen its “military edge” in the Asia Pacific so as to remain the most powerful military in the region.”
Job cuts threatened at New Caledonia nickel plant
By John Braddock, 4 October 2016
The Koniambo job “review” foreshadows a major assault on workers throughout the nickel industry in the French colony and internationally.
Australia: Dean of arts college quits amid student protests
By Elle Chapman, 4 October 2016
The moves to close Sydney College of Arts are one expression of a broader assault on the social rights to education and culture.
Australia: Strike continues at Anglo American’s German Creek coal mine
By Terry Cook, 3 October 2016
The union continues to isolate a dispute by 140 mine workers at Anglo American’s German Creek coal mine even as the company moves to recruit strike-breakers.
Australian state government to privatise five hospitals
By John Mackay, 1 October 2016
The plan will set a model for the wholesale handover of health care to profit-making corporate operators.
Infrastructure breakdown plunges Australian state into darkness
By Mike Head, 30 September 2016
Power went out across South Australia, cutting off electricity to 900,000 homes and throwing the state into chaos.
Australia: Immigration employees take industrial action in public sector dispute
By Oscar Grenfell, 30 September 2016
The limited stoppages are a continuation of the union’s attempts to isolate public sector workers and prevent a unified political and industrial fight against the government’s attacks.
Ex-Australian Labor minister calls for deregulation of university fees
By Mike Head, 29 September 2016
Dawkins appealed for Labor and the Coalition government to develop a bipartisan policy to further slash education spending and deny access to working class youth.
Anti-China witch-hunt targets former Australian foreign minister
By Peter Symonds, 28 September 2016
The attack on Carr, an establishment figure with strong ties in Washington, is a sign that nothing less than full support for the US war drive against China will be tolerated.
International court dismisses Australian challenge over Timor Sea border dispute
By Patrick Kelly, 28 September 2016
The judgement marks another exposure of Canberra’s contempt for international law and its rank hypocrisy over the resolution of maritime disputes.
Papua New Guinea: Air Niugini sacks pilots over protest action
By John Braddock, 28 September 2016
Responsibility for the dismissal of the pilots rests with the trade unions, which claimed that individual protests would pressure the government to make concessions.
Australian government claims refugee policy “best in the world”
By Max Newman, 26 September 2016
At the UN summit, Prime Minister Turnbull urged countries to adopt Australia’s “border protection” regime.
New Australian “anti-terror” laws overturn basic legal rights
By Mike Head, 23 September 2016
The political establishment is moving, as a matter of high priority, to bolster the repressive police-intelligence apparatus.
More than a million Australians live in poor housing
By John Harris, 21 September 2016
Many families live in precarious conditions and their children are more likely to have long-term health issues.
Australian government launches far-reaching assault on welfare
By Mike Head, 21 September 2016
The government is trying to put new window dressing on measures designed to coerce some of the poorest layers of the working class into low paid jobs.
New Zealand: Maori king cuts ties with Labour Party
By John Braddock, 17 September 2016
The Maori tribal head, who presides over a substantial business operation, has thrown his weight behind an electoral alliance between the Maori nationalist parties.
Pacific forum reveals regional geo-strategic tensions
By John Braddock, 16 September 2016
The admission of two French territories into the Pacific Islands Forum signals the involvement of another imperialist power in a bid to counter China.
Australian political establishment embraces Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
By Mike Head, 16 September 2016
Hanson’s first Senate speech, which was given wall-to-wall media coverage, focused on vilifying Muslims, China and welfare recipients.
US ambassador backs campaign against “Chinese influence” in Australia
By Peter Symonds, 15 September 2016
Berry’s intervention confirms American involvement in the anti-Beijing crusade, and highlights US determination to ensure Canberra’s support for its war drive against China.
Papua New Guinea nurses union calls off nationwide strike
By John Braddock, 15 September 2016
The Papua New Guinea Nurses Association is now collaborating with the government to enforce ongoing attacks on the health system.
Australia: Labor Party helps government slash welfare
By Mike Head, 14 September 2016
The Coalition-Labor pact sends a wider signal to the financial elite: Labor will try to shore up the fragile political establishment and deliver the austerity measures demanded by business.
BHP Billiton demands Australian coal miners accept three-year wage freeze
By Oscar Grenfell, 14 September 2016
The company’s move is part of a broader offensive against the jobs and working conditions of workers.
The witch-hunt against Chinese influence in Australia
By Peter Symonds, 14 September 2016
The campaign against politicians, commentators and businessmen not fully supportive of the US “pivot” against China is a warning of the advanced character of war preparations in Asia.
Australia: Juvenile prison abuse exposed in Queensland
By Erin Cooke, 13 September 2016
Media reports have revealed a state Labor government coverup of the violent mistreatment of teenage detainees.
Australian government exploits attack by mentally-ill man to whip up terrorism scare
By Mike Head, 12 September 2016
Prime Minister Turnbull equated the stabbing incident to the 9/11 mass terrorist attacks in the US, which were used to proclaim an endless “war on terror.”
Australian public sector union holds farcical protests amid one-day strike
By our reporters, 12 September 2016
The protests were aimed at appealing to the Liberal-National coalition government and preventing any serious political discussion among public sector workers.
Turnbull government expands Australian military powers at home and abroad
By our correspondent, 12 September 2016
The twin measures underscore the close connection between escalating militarism and domestic police-military repression.
Protest leaders barred from University of Papua New Guinea
By John Braddock, 10 September 2016
The victimisation of eight students is part of the O’Neill government’s suppression of opposition to austerity measures.
Australian senator falls victim to anti-China witch-hunt
By Mike Head, 9 September 2016
Dastyari’s removal sends a wider message to the parliamentary elite that no dissent will be tolerated to the bipartisan policy of backing Washington.
Australian Greens signal pro-business agenda in portfolio appointments
By Oscar Grenfell, 9 September 2016
Greens leader Richard Di Natale installed senators with “fiscally conservative” credentials to key frontbench posts.
Tens of thousands of Australian public sector workers set to strike
By Oscar Grenfell, 8 September 2016
The union is seeking to corral opposition to attacks on wages and conditions behind the Labor Party.
Knives out for Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull
By James Cogan, 7 September 2016
The political atmosphere resembles that before the June 2010 political coup that removed Labor leader Kevin Rudd.
Deteriorating Australian economy adds to pressure on Turnbull
By Mike Head, 7 September 2016
The corporate discontent with the prime minister’s performance is mounting amid falling business investment and stagnant retail sales.
Australia: Opponents of war with China labelled “rats, flies, mosquitoes and sparrows”
By James Cogan, 6 September 2016
The language provides an ominous warning of the chauvinism and hysteria that is set to engulf Australian politics.
Intelligence agencies reportedly question Australian PM’s “stance” on China
By James Cogan, 5 September 2016
The question mark over Turnbull’s allegiance to the US alliance and anti-China agenda has been raised under conditions in which he holds office by a thread.
Australian supermarket chain sheds hardware stores and jobs
By John Roberts, 5 September 2016
The closure by Woolworths of Masters and Home Timber and Hardware stores reflects the impact of slump and deflation on the retail industry.
Australian government shaken by defeats in parliament
By Mike Head, 2 September 2016
Last night’s chaotic scenes underscore the ongoing instability of the political establishment.
Australian Labor senator branded a “Manchurian candidate”
By James Cogan, 2 September 2016
Payments accepted by Dastyari have been linked with political positions he advanced on China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Students denounce Sydney College of the Arts merger
By our reporters, 1 September 2016
Sydney College of the Arts students and staff are continuing their protests against the University of Sydney administration’s attempts to transfer the highly-regarded fine arts tertiary institution onto another campus. Students spoke to WSWS reporters about the impact on their studies and their artistic work.
Australian establishment discusses prospect of US-China war
By James Cogan, 1 September 2016
ASPI began with the question “under what circumstances would Australia join in a war against China?”
Australia: Students occupy Sydney College of the Arts
By our reporters, 1 September 2016
The ongoing protest coincided with a march on parliament by National Art School students and staff opposing merger plans at their facility.
New Australian government seeks to impose deep cuts
By Mike Head, 31 August 2016
The prime minister appealed for all parliamentarians to unite behind a program of austerity, military spending and expanded powers for the security forces.
Ruling party wiped out in Australia’s Northern Territory election
By Mike Head, 30 August 2016
The result is a barometer of broader trends wracking Australia’s political establishment, driven by disaffection and economic slump.
Australia: Arrium steelworkers reject 10 percent pay cut
By John Roberts, 29 August 2016
From the outset, the union had no intention of waging any struggle to mobilise workers to oppose the cost cutting and fight the threat of closure.
French shipbuilder DCNS hit by massive data leak on Scorpene submarine
By Kumaran Ira, 25 August 2016
The leak has raised concerns about whether DCNS’ multi-billion dollar plans to build submarines for Australia could also be compromised.
Papua New Guinean landowners end blockade of major gas project
By John Braddock, 25 August 2016
Protesting traditional landowners, claiming millions of dollars in unpaid royalties, disrupted vital LNG supplies.
Mining giant’s record loss highlights Australian economy’s reversal
By Mike Head, 24 August 2016
BHP Billiton’s plight underscores the depth of the world slump and the particular vulnerability of Australian capitalism.
Hanoi scales back Australian attempt to commemorate Vietnam War battle
By John Roberts and James Cogan, 24 August 2016
The actions of the Vietnamese authorities were greeted with arrogant indignation by the Australian government.
Mounting calls for Australian universities to slash enrolments
By Oscar Grenfell, 23 August 2016
The corporate elite is calling for universities to be subordinated ever-more directly to the immediate profit needs of big business.
Australian government seizes on NAPLAN test scores to justify budget cuts
By Patrick Kelly, 22 August 2016
The NAPLAN scores are being used to prepare the ground for new austerity measures for public schools and attacks on teachers’ conditions.
Australian prime minister appeals for bipartisan budget cuts
By Mike Head, 19 August 2016
There is mounting concern in ruling circles that Turnbull’s government has failed to impose the required austerity agenda.
Australia: Greens select former military intelligence officer as parliamentarian
By Oscar Grenfell, 18 August 2016
The result of the selection contest underscored that the Greens have dispensed with any, even nominal, opposition to militarism and war.
Australian university releases plans on arts college closure
By Elle Chapman and Richard Phillips, 18 August 2016
Under the plan, academic and professional staff positions will be slashed by 60 percent, or about 50 full and part-time jobs, and various specialised courses eliminated.
Australia becoming “geopolitical flashpoint” amid sharpening US-China rivalry
By Peter Symonds, 17 August 2016
The Financial Times comment underscores the dilemma facing the Australian ruling class as its strategic ally, the US, confronts its largest trading partner, China.
Pacific island economies hit by global slump
By John Braddock, 17 August 2016
Led by falling commodity prices and sharp declines in the Pacific’s largest economies, growth across the region will fall sharply in 2016.
Leaked files reveal brutal regime in Australia’s Nauru refugee camp
By Max Newman, 16 August 2016
The government and Labor opposition remain committed to punitive “offshore” detention as a means of deterring refugees from trying to reach Australia.
Latest Australian “terrorism” arrests set dangerous precedents
By Mike Head, 16 August 2016
Amid rising social and class tensions, the “anti-terrorism” powers are being prepared for use against the working class.
Border and immigration workers strike at Australian airports and ports
By Terry Cook, 15 August 2016
Over 100,000 public sector workers have had no pay increase for three years.
Families of New Zealand mine disaster victims seek justice
By Tom Peters, 15 August 2016
Sonya Rockhouse and Anna Osborne, who lost family members in the 2010 Pike River explosion, are seeking a judicial review of the decision to drop charges against CEO Peter Whittall.
Senate result underscores Australian government’s instability
By Mike Head, 6 August 2016
The outcome highlights how far the election backfired for the government and the entire parliamentary establishment.
Amnesty report denounces Australia’s “cruel” refugee regime on Nauru
By Mike Head, 5 August 2016
The Australian government has set a brutal model for countries around the world to punish and bar entry to millions of desperate refugees.
Australian Workers Union pushes pay cuts for Arrium employees
By Richard Phillips, 3 August 2016
The union is seeking to blackmail Whyalla workers, by declaring that if they reject the enterprise agreement, Arrium’s steel plant and nearby mines will be closed.
Australian PM sinks Rudd’s bid for UN secretary general
By Peter Symonds, 30 July 2016
The fracas this week over former Prime Minister Rudd has not only highlighted deep divisions in the Coalition government, but also raises a question about Washington’s hand in events.
Post-election rifts intensify in Australian Greens
By Mike Head, 26 July 2016
Founding party leader Bob Brown publicly called for the ousting of the Greens’ executive in New South Wales.
Australian artists and students speak out against closure of fine arts college
By our reporters, 26 July 2016
Many within the arts community have denounced the plans to amalgamate Sydney’s three main arts colleges into one “super-campus.”
SEP public meetings review political lessons of Australian election
By our reporters, 26 July 2016
Explosive political developments in the past weeks have vindicated the analysis and perspective fought for by the SEP in the July 2 federal election.
Australian workers and youth voice interest in SEP’s perspective
By our reporters, 26 July 2016
Attendees speak about their concerns over US plans for war against China and the government’s austerity agenda.
US stokes divisions over South China Sea at ASEAN summit
By Peter Symonds, 25 July 2016
The Philippines and Vietnam are at loggerheads with Cambodia over a reference in the final communiqué to the recent UN-backed court ruling negating China’s maritime claims.
Take up the fight against war, austerity and dictatorship!
Build the IYSSE on Australian campuses and schools!
By the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (Australia), 25 July 2016
Developments since the Australian federal election have underscored the preparations by the ruling elite for war with China and authoritarian forms of rule.
US vice president’s trip triggers debate on US-China conflict
By Mike Head and James Cogan, 23 July 2016
A full-scale US assault on China would almost certainly escalate into a nuclear war, in which millions would die.
Papua New Guinea government survives no-confidence motion
By John Braddock, 23 July 2016
With protests and strikes set to continue, yesterday’s parliamentary vote will not end the country’s political crisis.
US vice-president makes menacing warning to China
By Peter Symonds, 21 July 2016
Biden’s speech in Sydney made clear that the US will not tolerate any equivocation by Canberra and other regional allies in supporting its war preparations in the Indo-Pacific.
In Australia, US vice president issues belligerent challenge to China
By Mike Head, 20 July 2016
Biden’s trip to Australia came in the immediate aftermath of the arbitration court decision in The Hague declaring illegal Chinese land reclamation activities in the South China Sea.
US admiral holds “frank” talks in Beijing over South China Sea
By Peter Symonds, 20 July 2016
The Chinese regime is playing directly into Washington’s hands by resorting to its own reckless military measures that heighten the danger of conflict.
Australian students and staff oppose closure of fine arts college
By Elle Chapman, 20 July 2016
The plans to close the Sydney College of the Arts are part of a pro-business restructure of the University of Sydney, and a broader attack on the arts.
Doctors strike against Papua New Guinea government
By John Braddock, 19 July 2016
Ahead of a parliamentary no-confidence motion on Friday, doctors have joined pilots, maritime workers and energy workers in anti-government protests.
Australian prime minister reshuffles his ministry
By Mike Head, 19 July 2016
Turnbull is attempting to address the two acute pressures bearing down on his government—from Washington and the financial markets.
Papua New Guinea government faces strikes, no-confidence motion
By John Braddock, 16 July 2016
The country’s Supreme Court ordered a one-week delay before the vote of no-confidence, giving the opposition time to gather support to bring down the government.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
16 July 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Fractured Australian government under intense US and economic pressure
By Mike Head, 15 July 2016
Even before Prime Minister Turnbull names his ministry, the government is wracked by recriminations and rifts.
Australia: BlueScope suing steel union over one-day strike
By Oscar Grenfell, 15 July 2016
The legal action against the Australian Workers Union is aimed at intimidating steelworkers hostile to the conditions imposed by the company-union deal last year.
The Hague ruling: A dangerous step toward war
By Peter Symonds, 14 July 2016
The court decision on the South China Sea will heighten tensions and the risk that a minor incident spirals out of control and triggers a conflict between the US and China.
Following South China Sea ruling, Australian Labor Party again demands military action
By James Cogan, 14 July 2016
Australia’s central role in the US preparations for war with China has proceeded despite the misgivings of sections of the ruling elite.
Pauline Hanson’s One Nation returns to Australian parliament
By Mike Head, 14 July 2016
By posturing as an anti-elite candidate, Hanson exploits the social crisis caused by successive Labor and Coalition governments.
Hague court decision sets stage for US confrontation with China
By Peter Symonds, 13 July 2016
Yesterday’s tribunal ruling branding China’s actions in the South China Sea as “illegal” provides another pretext for the US to ramp up its military expansion in Asia.
SEP’s 2016 election campaign in Australia furthers fight for international anti-war movement
By the Socialist Equality Party (Australia), 12 July 2016
At the centre of the campaign was the development of political analysis to clarify workers and young people on the necessity for a socialist and internationalist perspective.
Coalition parties to form unstable government in Australia
By James Cogan, 11 July 2016
After the political and media establishment did everything possible during the election to prevent any debate on the rising danger of war, that issue is set to erupt.
UN court to deliver decision on South China Sea disputes
By Peter Symonds, 11 July 2016
With a ruling imminent, the US has cranked up its propaganda apparatus and military activity in the South China Sea, setting the stage for a dangerous confrontation with China.
Australian parliamentarian calls for Iraqi war crimes trial
By James Cogan, 9 July 2016
Andrew Wilkie declared that he would like to see an international court to hear the “pretty compelling case” against George Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard for war crimes.
Australian election outcome heightens divisions within the Greens
By Oscar Grenfell, 9 July 2016
Poor election results by the Greens have provoked bitter recriminations in the party's ranks.
Financial markets intervene in Australia’s political turmoil
By Mike Head, 8 July 2016
Standard & Poor’s has decreed that the next government must “forcefully” impose severe cuts to social spending and other austerity measures.
Australian election crisis fuels rifts in governing Coalition
By Mike Head, 7 July 2016
Even if Turnbull is able to form a government, the result will be an unstable administration, wracked by divisions.
Australia: Brewery maintenance workers rally to defend jobs, wages
By Frank Gaglioti, 7 July 2016
The unions organised the rally to place pressure on company executives to collaborate with them in driving down workers’ wages and conditions.
Australian voters speak on Brexit and the political issues facing the working class
By our reporters, 7 July 2016
The remarks of workers and young people underscored the widespread hostility towards the political establishment.
Follow the WSWS