En Passant

As socialists we should argue for more money for the support of veterans and of course for the support of all people suffering mental illness, domestic violence , homelessness, poverty etc. Aborigines, victims of domestic violence, gays and lesbians, especially young gays and lesbians, refugees locked up in Australia’s concentration camps, for example, all have high levels of stress and anxiety, with PTSD and suicide rates well above average. Fund adequate services for them all. Make big business pay a fair share of tax to pay for these services. In relation to refugees, close down the mental illness camps. In relation to war, stop.

Ultimately however the only way to end war and its rotten consequences for all the combatants and all the peoples of the countries the West has invaded is to end the system that creates war – capitalism.

In this paper I use Marx’s analysis of rent to try to understand the complexities associated with the attempts to tax resource rents in Australia. To read this draft work in progress on SSRN click here.

We don’t need a radical centre in Australia today. We need a radical left.

Up to 500 people attended the Invasion Day Protest in Garema Place in Canberra on 26 January to highlight the genocide then and now against Aboriginal people. There was not one mention, not one photo of the protest in The Canberra Times.

I have a few suggestions for an Australia Day which reflects the class divided nature of Australian society. Hit the comments button to make your own class based suggestions.

Australia Day perpetuates the country’s ‘founding’ racist myths and is part of the system that enslaves our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brothers and sisters and, as a consequence, all of us. In the spirit of true reconciliation let’s abolish this celebration of genocide. Let’s instead celebrate the 65000 years of indigenous history and stewardship of this land. Recognise Aboriginal sovereignty, negotiate a treaty and pay the rent. It is time to fight for justice. It is time for justice.

Let’s ditch the Queen for a Presidential Council made up of elected representatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The Council would have the right and duty to pass or reject legislation. Membership of the Presidential Council would be decided democratically by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voters in the process of electing the Council. The Council would negotiate with the Parliament a treaty recognising prior sovereignty and paying the rent.

Stan Grant tells us about the genocide and racism against Aborigines. IQ2 Racism Debate: Stan Grant

Welcome to the hotel academia In a dark deserted classroom, stale odour in my hair Warm smell of exams, rising up through the air Up ahead in the room, I turned on the shimmering light My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim I had to stop research for the night There I was […]

In the latest edition of socialist magazine Solidarity, Geraldine Fela discusses the new film Suffragette, and how the fight for the vote polarised between wealthy and working class women.