Universal basic income demand gains ground
The idea of welfare benefits being replaced by a ‘universal basic income’ (UBI) has resurfaced in recent years – a welcome discussion because it …
Housing: Reject the rule of the market
With the end of the mining boom, the main sector propping up the Australian economy is property. It is becoming more likely however that …
Don’t we need competition to spur on progress?
In many ways capitalist competition is a lie. Just look at the huge monopoly on the mobile phone market held by Apple and Samsung …
The myth of the “new breed of bludger”
Last month the pictures of two young women were splashed across the front pages of various News Corp publications. The papers described them as …
Say ‘No’ to welfare cuts – Demand proper jobs or the right to decent benefits
The Liberal government has made proposals, which if implemented, would gut the welfare system. Social Services Minister Christian Porter announced a $96-million-dollar scheme to …
Put the ‘big four’ banks in public hands
After a number of high profile banking scandals, ordinary people are rightfully angry at the criminal actions of financial institutions and banks. The Commonwealth …
Seventh record profit for CommBank
Commonwealth Bank Australia (CBA) reported its seventh straight record profit in August. It’s 2015/16 financial year cash profit rose to $9.45 billion, bringing its …
Is Daniel Andrews a different type of Labor leader?
Over the last few months the Labor premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, has been styling himself as a progressive figure on a largely conservative …
A real sharing economy would remove the profit motive
Today you can choose from hundreds of thousands of short-stay rooms in 192 countries as well as hail a ride in over 60 countries …
Homelessness increasing as housing crisis worsens
Over 80,000 houses are suspected to be lying empty across Melbourne while 35,000 languish on the Victorian public housing waiting list. A report released …
The steel industry crisis explained
In April, steel manufacturer Arrium went into voluntary administration, potentially threatening 8,000 jobs – 3,000 in Whyalla, South Australia, where the steelworks are. Arrium …
Poor hit hardest by cashless welfare changes
By Jeremy Trott The Turnbull government is trialling a new cashless welfare card in three rural towns in preparation for a planned national roll …
Wage growth slowest for decades
By Dane Letcher Wage growth was at the slowest pace on record for 2015, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Using their …
Socialist planning the alternative to capitalist free trade
By Tim Tran The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement was signed in New Zealand last month by its twelve member countries in the Asia Pacific …
Economic uncertainty source of major party woes
Editorial comment from the March 2016 edition of ‘The Socialist’ The recent stock market dives across the world are an indicator of deep problems …
Tax the rich, workers are already robbed!
The government has already put taxation on the political agenda for 2016. The issue of raising or broadening the base of the Goods and …
Film review: The Big Short
By Mel Gregson The Big Short is a Hollywood comedy about some of the people involved in the US housing market collapse that triggered …