Australia and South Pacific
Australian economy barely avoids contraction
By Mike Head, 8 June 2017
Without spending by deeply-indebted households, the country would officially be in recession.
Australian government exploits hostage-taking to escalate “war on terror”
By Mike Head, 7 June 2017
The evidence points to a deeply troubled young man with a long history of drug addiction, being preyed upon by both Islamic fundamentalists and the police-intelligence agencies.
Australian establishment falls into line with anti-China allegations
By James Cogan, 7 June 2017
Fears about growing anti-war sentiment motivate efforts to develop suspicion and hostility towards China.
Preventable deaths quadruple in Australian nursing homes over ten years
By Oscar Grenfell, 7 June 2017
The leader of the study said the data revealed a “systems problem” across the aged-care sector.
Australian authorities label Melbourne hostage incident a “terrorist” attack
By Will Morrow, 6 June 2017
Before any of the facts were known, newspapers featured front-page stories depicting the incident as an Islamic State assault.
Australian media renews campaign against Chinese “power and influence”
By James Cogan, 6 June 2017
As tensions rise between China on the one hand, and the US and its allies on the other, the Australian establishment is launching, once again, an anti-Chinese campaign.
“Catastrophic failure” of regulators led to black lung among Australian miners
By Oscar Grenfell, 5 June 2017
Queensland authorities failed to look for, or properly identify, coal miners’ pneumoconiosis for more than 30 years.
Socialist Equality Party forum discusses agenda behind Australian Education Union sell-out deal
By our reporter, 5 June 2017
A clear relationship exists between the anti-democratic, bureaucratic tactics employed by the AEU to obtain a majority “yes” vote and the regressive, pro-market content of its 2017 agreement.
Shangri La Dialogue: US Defence Secretary, Australian PM threaten North Korea, China
By Peter Symonds, 3 June 2017
The premier Asian strategic conference is taking place as the US threatens war against North Korea and continues its relentless military build-up.
Australian city council locks out electricians for imposing work bans
By Ellen Blake, 3 June 2017
The Brisbane City Council’s aggressive action underscores the determination of governments and employers across the country to dismantle workers’ conditions.
Reports expose Australian government coverup of armed attack on Manus Island detainees
By Max Newman, 2 June 2017
The Good Friday assault highlighted the dangers facing the more than 800 male asylum seekers held on the remote island.
Melbourne airport incident raises questions about Australian “terrorism” scare campaigns
By Mike Head, 2 June 2017
The police transformed an episode involving a mentally-ill young man into another major terrorist operation.
More warnings of a housing-led crash in Australia
By Mike Head, 1 June 2017
Any sharp downturn in the debt-fuelled property market would have far-reaching economic and political consequences.
Australian timber mill slated to close
By Will Morrow, 1 June 2017
The closure, in the state of Victoria, is part of a restructuring by Carter Holt Harvey and other producers across the timber industry.
Senator John McCain visits Australia to reinforce US alliance
By James Cogan, 31 May 2017
McCain issued appeals and warnings to the Australian ruling class not to deviate from its strategic alignment with the US.
Australia’s billionaires celebrate a “wealth boom”
By Mike Head, 29 May 2017
During 2016, the total wealth of the Rich 200 List mushroomed from $197.3 billion to $233.1 billion—a rise of about 18 percent—while average real wages fell.
One thousand staff stood-down after private college collapses in Australia
By Oscar Grenfell, 27 May 2017
The closure of Careers Australia, which had been accused of dubious enrolment practices, was apparently triggered by the withdrawal of substantial government funds.
Australian government demonises “fake refugees”
By Max Newman, 24 May 2017
Thousands of asylum seekers face forced removal to their countries of origin if they do not complete complex visa applications by October 1.
S&P downgrades small banks amid warnings of Australian housing slowdown
By Oscar Grenfell, 24 May 2017
The international credit ratings agency said its decision, which affects 23 financial institutions, was based on the likelihood of a sharp “correction” of the property market bubble.
Massacre of 17 prison escapees highlights deep social crisis in Papua New Guinea
By John Harris, 23 May 2017
State repression in PNG is aimed, not only at protecting the corrupt local ruling elite, but also Australian and US corporate interests.
Australian building workers hit by construction company collapse
By Declan O’Malley, 23 May 2017
The Brisbane shut-down is another indicator of the danger of a wider collapse in the residential construction boom, threatening tens of thousands of jobs.
Australia: Teachers explain why the AEU-government deal should be rejected
By our reporters, 22 May 2017
“The union has become the policeman to enforce agreements that sell our conditions down the drain.”
Sweden’s investigation into Julian Assange was a political frame-up from the outset
By David Walsh, 20 May 2017
The entire affair was aimed at discrediting and paralyzing WikiLeaks and creating conditions under which Assange could be extradited or abducted to the US, to be executed or condemned to a lifetime in prison.
Student protests in Australia promote Labor and the Greens
By our reporters, 20 May 2017
The poorly attended demonstrations reflected alienation from the NUS and its support for the major parliamentary parties.
Australian budget fallout deepens political crisis
By Mike Head, 20 May 2017
The conclusion is being drawn in corporate boardrooms that Turnbull has failed, generating fractures throughout the parliamentary order.
Australia: Contract teacher voices opposition to the AEU-government agreement
By our reporters, 20 May 2017
“I feel as though we’re teaching to a test, and not spending enough time on building our relationship with our students, and building on their strengths.”
SEP and Victorian Teachers and ES Staff Forum
The political issues in the fight against the AEU-Labor government EBA
20 May 2017
The forum on May 28 will present a detailed critique of the Australian Education Union’s sell-out deal with the Andrews Labor government, and clarify why teachers and ES staff should reject it.
Falling wages fuel social crisis in Australia
By Mike Head, 19 May 2017
Real wages have been declining for four years, driven by the destruction of full-time jobs and the forcing of workers into part-time employment.
Sydney bus drivers strike against privatisation
By Oscar Grenfell, 19 May 2017
The transport union has appealed to the government for “consultation,” underscoring its willingness to collaborate with privatisation.
Australian teachers support campaign against AEU-government deal
By our reporters, 18 May 2017
Teachers who attended recent delegates meetings on the new enterprise agreement voiced support for a “No” vote.
Australia:
Teachers criticise anti-democratic character of AEU delegates’ meetings
By our reporters, 17 May 2017
“I think people voted without understanding the nitty-gritty of the agreement.”
Australian university student protests
A socialist perspective to fight the government assault on education and the drive to war
By the IYSSE (Australia), 17 May 2017
The National Union of Students called protests today to confine the growing anger of students to impotent protest appeals to the Labor Party, the Greens and the populist “cross-bench” parties in the Senate.
Vote “NO” to the EBA!
Australian Education Union pushes through industrial agreement at delegates’ meetings
By our reporters, 16 May 2017
SEP members and supporters who work in public education are campaigning for a “No” vote among rank-and-file teachers and ES staff.
Australia: Tribunal to hear challenge to union-company wage-cutting deal
By Oscar Grenfell, 16 May 2017
The unions and the major corporations are fearful that the case against the deal threatens the entire pro-business framework of enterprise bargaining.
Australian Labor’s budget reply and the fear of political unrest
By James Cogan, 13 May 2017
Shorten’s reply to the budget was a populist attempt to revive illusions that Labor is the “lesser evil.”
Australian budget: Drug-testing intensifies war on welfare
By Mike Head, 12 May 2017
The measures are aimed at humiliating, vilifying and punishing the jobless, and stripping them of basic legal and democratic rights.
Australian budget set to heighten social and political antagonisms
By James Cogan, 10 May 2017
On every front, the budget seeks to deepen the decades-long assault on the living standards and social rights of the working class.
Australian media union shuts down week-long Fairfax journalists’ strike
By Oscar Grenfell, 10 May 2017
The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, having done everything to contain and weaken the strike, made clear that it will do nothing to oppose the axing of 125 jobs at Fairfax.
Australian rail union responds to Pacific National lockout by resuming talks
By Oscar Grenfell, 9 May 2017
The union will use the negotiating period to try and dissipate anger among freight drivers to the proposed cuts to their wages and conditions.
Trump and Australian PM Turnbull stage mutual embrace in New York
By Mike Head, 6 May 2017
A ceremonial dinner to highlight the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea against Japan became a platform for vows to “fight together” in Asia and the Middle East.
Australia: Fairfax journalists strike, but union appeals to corporate investors
By our correspondents, 6 May 2017
The sackings, which follow almost a decade of cost-cutting, will eviscerate Fairfax Media newspapers and lead to further job destruction.
Australian Fairfax journalists strike for a week over job destruction
By Mike Head, 4 May 2017
By launching the longest strike by editorial staff in recent history, the Fairfax workers are taking a stand against the ongoing demolition of jobs by the financial elite.
Australia: Victorian teachers speak out against agreement after union delegate meeting
By our reporters, 4 May 2017
Teachers raised concerns about the impact of growing workloads and the promotion of standardised testing in public schools.
Australia: Anzac Day and the official silence about anti-war opposition in WWI
By Richard Phillips, 4 May 2017
Contrary to government claims, Australia in 1917 was sharply divided along class lines and its involvement in World War I deeply unpopular.
Socialist Alternative joins pro-war witch-hunt of Australian academic
By Oscar Grenfell, 3 May 2017
The pseudo-left organisation endorsed the media attacks on Tim Anderson for rejecting the claims about chemical weapons used to justify Washington’s bombing of Syria.
Teachers oppose Australian Education Union sell-out deal at Victorian delegates meeting
By our reporters, 3 May 2017
The Melbourne meeting revealed mounting hostility among teachers to the union’s bureaucratic methods and to the agreement itself.
Australian budget to slash welfare and education
By Mike Head, 2 May 2017
Cuts target the working class, as the government plans billions more for the military and handouts to big business.
The Victorian teachers’ agreement and “performance pay”
What the Australian Education Union is suppressing
By David Cohen, 1 May 2017
The AEU’s claim that its deal with the Labor government is a blow against the “performance pay” regime and standardised testing is a fraud.
Australia: Growing opposition to sell-out agreement among Victorian teachers and support staff
By our reporters, 29 April 2017
Teachers from at least five schools have convened meetings to reject the agreement between the Australian Education Union and the Victorian state Labor government.
Australian Anzac Day celebrations promote militarism and war
By Oscar Grenfell, 27 April 2017
The celebrations of past conflicts were explicitly tied to Australia’s current involvement in predatory wars and military preparations.
Fiji Times publisher, editors charged with sedition
By John Braddock, 27 April 2017
The politically-motivated charges, alongside other anti-democratic measures, are bound up with deep-seated conflicts within the Fijian ruling elite.
Australian Socialist Alternative conference: In the service of imperialism
By our reporters, 26 April 2017
The gathering issued a full-throated defence of American imperialism and explicitly denounced any fight to build an anti-war movement of the working class.
Australian senator warns of war with China
By Oscar Grenfell, 25 April 2017
Nick Xenophon’s remarks last week made clear that Australia is on the frontlines of the US confrontation with China.
Thousands join March for Science demonstrations in Australia
By our reporters, 24 April 2017
In contrast to the concerns of protestors, rally organisers sought to sow illusions about pressuring governments to withdraw their attacks on science.
More warnings about the Australian housing market
By Oscar Grenfell, 22 April 2017
Credit ratings agencies have said the property market, built on a mountain of debt, is among the most susceptible in the world to an economic shock.
SEP (Australia) and IYSSE public meetings
Stop the drive to world war! For peace, equality and socialism!
22 April 2017
The meetings will outline the socialist and internationalist perspective required to prevent the descent of the global capitalist system into a catastrophic third world war.
Australia: After ABC program, Labor calls for investigation into One Nation
By Cheryl Crisp, 21 April 2017
The “Four Corners” program could signal a turn by the media and political establishment against Hanson and her right-wing party.
The political issues in the fight to reject the Victorian teachers’ EBA
By the Socialist Equality Party (Australia), 21 April 2017
The most detrimental, long-term aspect of the workplace agreement is that it includes sweeping commitments by the teachers' union to enforce a “performance-ranking” system.
Turnbull government announces anti-immigrant “Australia first” policies
By Oscar Grenfell, 20 April 2017
The abolition of 457 visas for foreign workers and the tightening of citizenship requirements are aimed at diverting mounting social discontent in a xenophobic direction.
Papua New Guinea soldiers attack refugees in Australian-run prison camp
By Max Newman, 18 April 2017
At least three asylum seekers were injured by armed soldiers who assaulted the refugee detention centre on Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island.
How the AEU is attempting to push through a sell-out of Victorian teachers
By Susan Allan, 17 April 2017
If the agreement is such a “significant gain” then why is there no framework or democratic process where teachers can discuss, debate, and seek clarification on its contents?
Australian worker challenges union-company wage-cutting deal
By Oscar Grenfell, 15 April 2017
The agreement struck between the SDA and Coles saved the supermarket giant tens of millions of dollars.
Australian academics witch-hunted for challenging US lies on Syria attack
By Mike Head, 14 April 2017
The media campaign, designed to silence public discussion about the latest US aggression, is a flagrant attack on the basic democratic right of free speech.
The Coming War on China: A pacifist appeal
By Richard Phillips, 14 April 2017
Pilger’s documentary exposes something of Washington’s escalating war plans against China but suggests that protests can prevent a nuclear conflagration.
Australian prime minister visits India to boost strategic ties
By Mike Head, 13 April 2017
The outcomes were in line with the ongoing push by Washington for US allies throughout the region to strengthen their military relations with each other.
Australia: Victorian teachers denounce union-backed agreement
By our reporters, 13 April 2017
The AEU has sought to suppress discussion of its latest sell-out, while falsely claiming it is a “victory” for teachers.
Australian pseudo-left promotes fraudulent posturing of new union head
By Oscar Grenfell, 13 April 2017
The pseudo-left have hailed the attempts by new ACTU head Sally McManus to rebuild the influence of the unions, in order to head-off mounting discontent.
Australia’s role in US plans for war on North Korea
By James Cogan, 12 April 2017
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has publicly endorsed Washington’s bellicose rhetoric against the Pyongyang regime.
Australian PM accused of interfering in Papua New Guinea election
By John Braddock, 12 April 2017
Turnbull’s trip was undoubtedly motivated by concern over Australia’s commercial and strategic interests.
Australian government revokes Palestinian activist’s visa
By Oscar Grenfell, 11 April 2017
The anti-democratic move is part of a broader campaign to suppress opposition to the escalating US-led war in the Middle East.
Australian workers and youth speak out against US strike on Syria
By our reporters, 10 April 2017
The anti-war sentiments of ordinary people stand in sharp contrast to the militarist positions of Labor, the Liberal-Nationals and the corporate media.
Australian establishment backs US strike on Syria
By James Cogan, 10 April 2017
The line-up behind Washington by the government and opposition Labor Party has been replicated across the media.
Mounting concerns over Australian housing bubble
By Oscar Grenfell, 8 April 2017
Underlying the fears of a crash is the divergence between soaring house prices and stagnant or declining incomes.
Papua New Guinea government intensifies military operations at ExxonMobil plant
By John Braddock, 7 April 2017
The police and military operation against villagers living near the ExxonMobil plant is aimed at suppressing increasingly explosive social unrest.
Australian flood crisis continues as questions mount over government preparations
By Oscar Grenfell, 6 April 2017
Governments at all levels have resisted calls for the construction of levees around the most flood-prone cities, on the grounds that they are too expensive.
Australian teachers’ agreement: The reality behind union “victory” claims
By Susan Allan, 6 April 2017
On every key issue the teachers’ union and the Victorian Labor government have worked together to entrench and deepen the assault on the public education system.
Australia: Labor and unions facilitate Hazelwood power station closure
By Frank Gaglioti, 5 April 2017
The shutdown will exacerbate the social crisis in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley, which has already been hit by decades of job cuts in the energy sector.
Australian opposition parties block extradition treaty with China
By James Cogan, 3 April 2017
With shameless cynicism, China is labelled both a totalitarian state and a threat to the US-dominated global rules-based order.
East coast of Australia hit by catastrophic floods
By Oscar Grenfell, 3 April 2017
At least five people have perished in the disaster, with fears that the death toll will rise over the coming days.
Thousands of Australian asylum seekers face deportation
By Max Newman, 31 March 2017
Refugees living in limbo inside Australia have been given less than 60 days to complete visa applications.
Australian workers and youth speak out against Maruti Suzuki frame-up
By our reporters, 31 March 2017
Many of those who spoke to SEP campaigners signed the petition demanding the release of the victimised Indian car workers.
Australian Education Union agrees to sell-out deal with Victorian state Labor government
By Susan Allan, 30 March 2017
Teacher union claims of a “great win for our members” are a fraud.
China makes overtures amid strategic uncertainty in Australia
By James Cogan, 29 March 2017
Behind the scenes, frank exchanges undoubtedly occurred on Canberra’s stance towards growing tensions between China, its largest trading partner, and the US, its strategic ally.
Widespread damage after Cyclone Debbie batters north-east Australia
By Oscar Grenfell, 29 March 2017
The impact of the category four cyclone appears to have been exacerbated by houses not equipped to cope with a storm of that magnitude.
Australian government withdraws “omnibus” bill but cuts childcare
By Mike Head, 28 March 2017
Last week’s childcare package manoeuvre represents an intensification of the crisis of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s government.
Australian private health insurance premiums soaring
By Michelle Stevens, 28 March 2017
Many working class people are now being forced to consider dropping their coverage, intensifying the healthcare crisis.
Australia: Worker killed at Sydney harbour building site
By Virginia Browne, 27 March 2017
Twenty-nine workers, including 7 in the construction industry were killed in industrial accidents during the period between January 1-March 1 this year.
Beryl Hood: 29 November 1938–21 March 2017
By Mike Head, 25 March 2017
A Trotskyist for four decades, Comrade Beryl was a fine and steadfast representative of the most advanced layers of the working class, attracted, above all, to internationalism.
ANZAC Heroes: Promoting war to children
By Sam Price and Tom Peters, 24 March 2017
A New Zealand government-funded children’s book glorifies Australian and New Zealand involvement in World War I and II.
Report documents extent of US-Australia economic ties
By Nick Beams, 23 March 2017
A recent paper argues that any shift by Australia away from its foreign policy alignment with the US could have potentially dire economic consequences.
New Australian union head feigns concern for workers’ rights
By Will Morrow, 22 March 2017
McManus’s elevation is part of the unions’ preparations to try and divert rising working-class anger behind the return of a Labor government in 2019.
Australia: Education Department head calls for police in schools amid anti-Muslim witch-hunt
By our reporters, 21 March 2017
The media and government authorities are continuing to use unsubstantiated allegations of “Islamic extremism” in schools to whip-up an atmosphere of right-wing hysteria.
Australia’s energy crisis exposes market failure
By Mike Head, 21 March 2017
The privatised electricity market—dominated by profiteering power generation, distribution and retailing companies—is creating an economic and social disaster.
Australian Labor’s “self-managing schools,” seven years on
By Erika Zimmer, 21 March 2017
The devolution agenda is deepening the education gap between advantaged and disadvantaged, working class students, paving the way for US-style for-profit “charter schools.”
Former Australian ambassador calls for foreign policy turn toward China
By James Cogan, 20 March 2017
FitzGerald’s proposals reveal the impotence of the Australian ruling elite in the face of the decline in America’s global dominance.
Australian Labor Party and unions assist closure of Hazelwood power plant
By Paul Bartizan and Oscar Grenfell, 20 March 2017
The state Labor government’s union-backed worker transfer scheme will not defend a single job.
Foreign minister warns US to guarantee Australian interests
By James Cogan, 17 March 2017
Washington now looms as the greatest risk to Australian trade interests and the so-called rules-based order.
Australian media directs anti-Muslim witch-hunt at primary school children
By Oscar Grenfell, 17 March 2017
The hysterical campaign, alleging that 10-year-olds are dangerous Islamic “radicals,” is based entirely on the dubious claims of an anonymous woman whose comments are shot through with racism.
Australian public hospitals relying on private patients
By Gary Alvernia, 16 March 2017
Funding cuts initiated by the last federal Labor government have forced hospitals to double the number of private patient services since 2008.
Australian government imposes phonics test on six-year-olds
By David Cohen, 15 March 2017
The new measures are aimed at extending the impact of the former Labor government’s NAPLAN testing regime and further undermining public education.
Follow the WSWS