Australia
Australian government seeking to prosecute journalists over exposure of war crimes
By Oscar Grenfell, 16 July 2019
The federal police are investigating journalists over the 2017 publication of the “Afghan Files,” which revealed Australian military involvement in extrajudicial killings and other crimes.
Melbourne rally participants speak in defence of Assange and Manning
By our reporters, 15 July 2019
“I don’t believe any government will stand up for Assange. I think that it comes down to normal people standing and fighting.”
Talisman Sabre: US and Australia prepare for war with China
By Oscar Grenfell, 15 July 2019
The massive military exercise in northern Australia, in preparation for conflict in the Indo-Pacific, has been treated as a non-event by the political and media establishment.
Rally in Melbourne demands freedom for Julian Assange
By our reporters, 15 July 2019
Amid cold and wet weather, about 130 people rallied with determination to demand Assange’s freedom.
Elderly poor suffering hypothermia in Australia
By Margaret Rees, 13 July 2019
The “Cold and Lonely” study points to an often-hidden social crisis—the avoidance or under-consumption of heating by people who must ration their energy use so they can pay their bills.
Three months since arrest of WikiLeaks publisher
UK government holds “media freedom” conference while imprisoning Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 13 July 2019
The “media freedom” conference was held seven miles from Belmarsh Prison, where the world’s most famous persecuted journalist is jailed.
Indian aeronautic workers threaten national walkout; Pakistan power workers demand safe, permanent jobs; Taiwan union ends flight attendants’ strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
13 July 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Prominent Australian academic suggests building nuclear weapons
By Peter Symonds, 11 July 2019
The debate over nuclear weapons is another warning of the advanced preparations for war being made in capitals around the world.
Australian police monitoring journalists’ travel and internet data
By Mike Head, 10 July 2019
New reports demonstrate an escalating effort to criminalise exposures about key military and intelligence operations.
Australia: DP World stevedoring strike against attacks on conditions
By Oscar Grenfell, 10 July 2019
While the stoppage expresses growing militancy among dock workers, the union is seeking to contain any struggle and enforce a sell-out agreement.
Australian retail giant to cut jobs, wages
By Eric Ludlow, 9 July 2019
Woolworths, one of Australia’s two major supermarket chains, last month announced a restructure that endangers thousands of jobs across the country.
SEP (Australia) holds rally in Brisbane to demand freedom for Assange and Manning
By Gary Alvernia, 8 July 2019
Despite downpours of rain, workers and young people came from far afield to join the event, demonstrating the underlying support for the WikiLeaks founder and the courageous whistleblower.
Australian Labor Party backs government’s tax cuts for the wealthy
By Mike Head, 6 July 2019
By voting for the massive tax cuts, Labor further repudiated its bogus election rhetoric against “the big end of town” and for a “fair go” for working people.
SEP meetings review political lessons of Australia’s federal election
By our reporters, 6 July 2019
Labor’s defeat in the May 18 elections poses the urgent necessity for an intensification of the fight for socialist and internationalist consciousness among workers and youth.
Australian workers and youth discuss SEP election campaign
By our reporters, 6 July 2019
“I’ve seen the Labor Party and the unions working hand-in-glove at the expense of the workers throughout my entire working life.”
Punjab Roadways workers strike for three days; thousands of Bangladesh municipal workers strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
6 July 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Was the Australian army placed on alert during last year’s political crisis?
By Mike Head, 5 July 2019
Whether or not the military was actually activated, Australia was on the brink of a constitutional crisis last August.
Australian workers and youth speak out at vigils for Assange’s birthday
By our reporters, 5 July 2019
“The things he has done have changed the world. The people who hate him are usually the people who are in power.”
Australian filmmaker James Ricketson calls on journalist Peter Greste to defend Assange
4 July 2019
Ricketson’s “Open Letter” debunks Greste’s claim that Assange is not a journalist and therefore not deserving of support, and calls on him to defend the WikiLeaks founder, as he did Ricketson who was wrongly jailed in Cambodia.
Australian central bank cuts cash rate to record low
By Mike Head, 4 July 2019
The second cut in two months is a sign of fear in ruling circles of the intensifying impact of the global turmoil on the domestic economy.
South Australian teachers strike for better wages and conditions
By Sue Phillips, 4 July 2019
South Australia teachers have joined their counterparts in New Zealand, other Australian states and around the world, to strike against their current, unsustainable wages and conditions.
Video: Watch the Sydney Free Assange rally
4 July 2019
The demonstration is one of a series of rallies organised by the Socialist Equality Party to defend Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning; the next will be in Brisbane on Saturday followed by Melbourne on Sunday July 14.
Australian prime minister lines up with Trump at the G20
By Peter Symonds, 3 July 2019
Trump made clear that he expected Morrison and the Australian government to back the US in its confrontations on all fronts—in particular against Iran and China.
Australia: Hundreds of students and staff protest against trimesters at UNSW
By our reporters, 3 July 2019
“Orientating the uni towards profit rather than education is not a good thing overall for education.”
Video: Protesters at SEP (Australia) rally speak out in defence of Assange and Manning
2 July 2019
“I came to support Julian because of all the time he has lost to help the poor people and the oppressed around the world.”
Australian media chiefs seek to divert anger over police raids
By Mike Head, 2 July 2019
There was no mention of the violent arrest of Julian Assange, which opened the floodgates for a broader assault on free speech.
Australian PM refused to raise persecution of Assange with Trump
By Oscar Grenfell, 2 July 2019
At the G20 summit Morrison fawned over Trump, who is seeking to imprison the WikiLeaks founder for life, or execute him.
SEP (Australia) holds Sydney rally in defence of Assange and Manning
By our reporters, 1 July 2019
“If two million people can come out on the streets of Hong Kong against extradition legislation, then we can surely build such a mass popular movement on a global scale to free Assange and Manning.”
Watch the Sydney rally to free Assange live!
28 June 2019
The SEP rally is among the first events to be held since the WSWS International Editorial Board called for the formation of a Global Defence Committee to demand freedom for Assange and Manning.
Terry Hicks, father of former Guantánamo Bay prisoner David Hicks, demands freedom for Assange and Manning
28 June 2019
“There’s only one word to describe the victimisation and persecution of Assange and Manning, and that word is barbaric.”
Far-right Australian senator disbands party in favour of Coalition government
By Mike Head, 27 June 2019
Bernardi’s decision underscores the ongoing refashioning of the political establishment in a right-wing populist direction to try to divert seething social discontent.
Join the Sydney rally this Saturday demanding freedom for Julian Assange!
By Oscar Grenfell, 27 June 2019
The demonstration will insist that the Australian government take immediate action to prevent the WikiLeaks founder’s extradition to the US, where he faces life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Australian filmmaker James Ricketson to speak at SEP rally in defence of Assange
26 June 2019
“We must do all in our power to prevent Assange’s extradition to the US. Signing petitions is not enough. We must make our presence felt in the streets at vigils and demonstrations.”
Australian teachers establish new Facebook “support network” against ongoing victimisation
By Erika Zimmer, 26 June 2019
Three victimised teachers have launched a new “Bullied Teachers Support Network,” under conditions where nearly 25 percent of NSW high school teachers claim to have been bullied.
Students and staff to protest imposition of trimesters at Australian university
By Martin Scott, 25 June 2019
The University of New South Wales management has put commercial interests ahead of education.
Australian Labor Party embraces huge tax cuts for richest 5 percent
By Mike Head, 25 June 2019
Labor has signalled its readiness to accept, directly or indirectly, the government’s plan to slash income taxes for those receiving more than $200,000 a year.
Australia: NSW government tries to minimise political and economic fallout over unsafe apartments
By John Wilson, 24 June 2019
Hundreds of Mascot Tower residents still have no idea when the structurally unsafe building will be repaired, so that they can finally return to their homes.
Australian Labor MPs push for huge tax cuts for wealthy
By Mike Head, 22 June 2019
The wealthiest layers of society would enjoy the biggest tax handouts since the Hawke and Keating Labor governments of 1983 to 1996.
Australian Labor Party leader determined to expel building union official
By Mike Head, 21 June 2019
Corporate outlets have declared that John Setka’s removal is the first “test” of Anthony Albanese’s leadership in turning Labor further to the right.
Australian workers and youth support SEP rallies defending Assange
By our reporters, 21 June 2019
The hostility of ordinary people to the US attempts to prosecute Assange stands in stark contrast to the complicity of the political and media establishment.
Australia: NSW government unveils thousands of public sector job cuts
By Oscar Grenfell, 20 June 2019
The state budget includes 3,000 retrenchments, a deepening offensive against social services and massive handouts to big business.
Professor Stuart Rees to speak at SEP rally to defend Julian Assange
20 June 2019
“The rally must increase public awareness of the outrageous injustice if Julian is extradited to the US to face a possible 170 years in prison.”
John Pilger urges participation in SEP (Australia) rallies to defend Assange
19 June 2019
“In my career, there has never been a more important case. If we lose Julian and Chelsea Manning to the dungeons of a rogue America, once-liberal societies will never be the same again; democracies will be in name only.”
Prominent Australian journalist Mary Kostakidis calls for campaign to free Assange
18 June 2019
“We must not wait till it is too late to recognise the broader significance of the persecution of Julian Assange and fail to defend his human rights.”
Australian whistleblower trials shrouded in secrecy
By Mike Head, 18 June 2019
The government’s determination to block any public scrutiny of these crucial hearings constitutes wartime-like censorship.
Two protesters arrested at Melbourne rally in defence of Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 17 June 2019
The arrests were aimed at intimidating supporters of WikiLeaks and preventing broader layers from joining the campaign to defend Assange and all democratic rights.
Australia: Another Sydney apartment block evacuated over major structural cracks
By John Wilson, 17 June 2019
The event underlines the escalating crisis in housing and apartment building and the cost-cutting methods used during the past two decades.
Australian Labor Party leader reinforces pro-business message by denouncing building union official
By Mike Head, 14 June 2019
The John Setka affair is an initial “test” set by the corporate elite for the Labor and union leaders of their capacity to suppress rising working-class unrest.
Australia’s industrial tribunal maintains poverty-level minimum wage
By Terry Cook, 13 June 2019
The ruling is part of a decades-long assault on workers’ pay and conditions enforced by successive governments and the trade unions.
Australian Labor Party’s hypocrisy on police media raids exposed
By Mike Head, 12 June 2019
The opposition Labor Party has joined hands with the ruling Coalition to pass legislation handing unprecedented powers to the police and intelligence agencies.
Australian journalist calls on colleagues to defend Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 12 June 2019
Andrew Fowler warned: “If Assange is left to swing in the breeze, it will be an open invitation for any journalist, anywhere in the world, to be extradited to the US.”
US issues formal request for Assange’s extradition
By Oscar Grenfell, 11 June 2019
The Trump administration is pressing ahead with its attempt to prosecute the WikiLeaks founder over his role in the exposure of US war crimes and diplomatic conspiracies.
SEP (Australia) calls rallies demanding freedom for Julian Assange
11 June 2019
The protests will demand that the Australian government take immediate action to prevent the WikiLeaks founder's extradition to the US and secure his complete freedom.
Australia: Telstra to destroy 10,000 contract jobs over two years
By Oscar Grenfell, 10 June 2019
The announcement of new sackings targeting contractors coincided with reports that Telstra has already eliminated many of the 9,500 permanent jobs it is seeking to destroy by 2022.
Australian workers and youth defend Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning
By our reporters, 10 June 2019
“Assange is a genius and a hero and if it wasn’t for him, people around the world would not know about government war crimes and other illegal things that they have been doing.”
Australian police chief links media raids to US-led “Five Eyes” spy network
By Mike Head, 8 June 2019
Gaughan’s statement points to the targeting of journalists in order to cover up Washington’s preparations for wars and mass political surveillance.
“Is there going to be a future for journalism?”
Australian media workers denounce police raids
By our correspondents, 8 June 2019
ABC workers spoke of their shock and alarm at the arrival of federal police in their building.
Murder of homeless woman in Melbourne a result of housing and mental health crisis
By Tessa Hugo, 7 June 2019
The tragedy exposes a deep crisis within Australia’s healthcare system, which leaves scores of young people and workers unable to receive the treatment they often desperately need.
The global war on journalism
By Mike Head, 6 June 2019
The arrest of Julian Assange has set a precedent for the state persecution of journalists, triggering police raids in Australia and France against reporters documenting government crimes and corruption.
Australian Federal Police raid journalists over exposures of government spying, war crimes
By Oscar Grenfell, 5 June 2019
The raids, targeting a News Corp journalist and the Sydney offices of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, are part of an expanding assault on democratic rights and press freedom.
Australian government forces refugees back to face repression in Sri Lanka
By Max Newman, 5 June 2019
At least 20 more asylum seekers have been detained by the Australian navy and deported to Sri Lanka to face possible torture and imprisonment.
Australian PM’s trip to Solomon Islands highlights intensifying US confrontation with China
By Mike Head, 4 June 2019
Morrison’s visit, his third to the southwest Pacific this year, was to send a blunt message to Pacific Island states to line up against Beijing.
SEP Australia meetings on Labor’s election debacle and the defence of Assange
4 June 2019
The leftward movement of workers and youth can find no means of expression within the present political framework. It must be developed into a conscious political movement, based on a socialist perspective.
Britain and Australia dismiss UN report that Assange has been tortured
By Oscar Grenfell, 3 June 2019
The brazen responses demonstrate the criminality of the US-led vendetta against Assange, which is proceeding in violation of due process and the fundamental tenets of international law.
Mental health crisis in Australia’s refugee camps
By Max Boddy, 3 June 2019
So torturous are the conditions confronting the more than 500 asylum seekers still on Manus—some for nearly seven years—that many have inflicted bodily injury to themselves.
Sydney Peace Prize recipients demand Australian government defend Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 3 June 2019
The statement was a powerful indictment of the Australian political and media establishment, which has abandoned the WikiLeaks founder or openly participated in his persecution.
Australian billionaires celebrate soaring wealth, while wage case leaves millions in poverty
By Mike Head, 1 June 2019
The annual Rich List, along with the outcome of the latest minimum wage case, underscore the acceleration of social inequality in Australia and around the world.
Australia: Children detained in adult watch houses in Queensland
By John Harris, 31 May 2019
Children as young as ten have been held in maximum security facilities, where they have been subjected to horrific abuses.
Amid grave concerns for his health, Assange transferred to Belmarsh Prison medical wing
By Oscar Grenfell, 30 May 2019
The WSWS demands Assange’s immediate release from the maximum security prison and his transfer to a hospital with the best medical care available and with doctors of his choice.
Despite Assange’s ill-health, Swedish court rejects delay to hearing
By Oscar Grenfell, 29 May 2019
The ruling is the latest example of the international legal vendetta being perpetrated against the WikiLeaks founder.
Australian Labor Party’s new leader signals further pro-business shift
By Mike Head, 28 May 2019
Albanese has vowed to boost “wealth creation” and pursue bipartisanship with the extreme right-wing Liberal-National government.
Australian government, Labor opposition silent on espionage charges against Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 28 May 2019
Labor and the Coalition are signalling their support for the US-led persecution of Assange, for his exposure of war crimes and diplomatic conspiracies.
Australian youth speak out at climate change rallies
By our reporters, 27 May 2019
“There’s not a solution in one country. The whole world has to make a move for climate change.”
“Truth ultimately is all we have:” Julian Assange appeals for public support
By Oscar Grenfell, 25 May 2019
In the first publicly-released comments to supporters since his arrest, Assange detailed his conditions of isolation at Belmarsh prison and called for supporters to mobilise in his defence.
Actor Geoffrey Rush awarded record payout in defamation damages
By Linda Tenenbaum, 25 May 2019
The Oscar-winning actor was granted a total of nearly $2.9 million, in general and special damages, due to the Murdoch media’s defamatory articles.
Who is Scott Morrison?
Australia’s right-wing, US-backed prime minister
By Mike Head, 25 May 2019
Morrison has clawed his way to the top job by pledging fealty to the US military alliance, mobilising the military to repel refugee boats and slashing social welfare entitlements.
Socialist Equality Party wins important support in Australian federal election
By Oscar Grenfell, 25 May 2019
Thousands of workers, students and young people signalled their support for a socialist alternative to war, budget cuts and authoritarianism.
Australian voters speak out
Workers and youth condemn major parliamentary parties
By our reporters, 24 May 2019
“I’d like someone in charge who thinks of the 98 percent, rather than the 2 percent of the highest earners in the country.”
Australian voters speak out
Workers and young people warn about the mounting social crisis
By our reporters, 23 May 2019
“The most important thing for me is jobs, security and the economy—we need real action on jobs.”
Australian Labor Party in crisis after election debacle
By Oscar Grenfell, 22 May 2019
The election result demonstrated a deep-going rupture between the working class and the big business Labor Party.
Australia: Tasmanian paramedic protests ambulance ramping
By Margaret Rees, 22 May 2019
The high incidence of ramping is product of the wider crisis of the hospital system which has been chronically underfunded by Labor and Liberal governments alike.
Australian voters speak out
Mass support for Assange as workers and youth oppose militarism and war
By our reporters, 21 May 2019
Many workers passionately oppose the persecution of Assange and Manning hailing them as “heroes,” “legends” and similar appellations.
Right-wing Australian government re-elected as voters turn against Labor
By Oscar Grenfell, 21 May 2019
The election result reflected widespread hostility among workers, students and young people to Labor and the entire political establishment.
The Australian Labor Party’s election debacle and the fight against the far-right
By Oscar Grenfell, 20 May 2019
The election outcome exposes the bankrupt claims by the unions and the pseudo-left that the rise of the extreme right can be opposed by supporting pro-business centre-left parties such as the Australian Labor Party.
Only socialist policies can resolve the Australian public education crisis
By the Committee for Public Education, 18 May 2019
Teachers and parents should treat the sham election promises of Labor, Liberal and the Greens on education with the contempt they deserve.
Bob Hawke, former Australian Labor prime minister, 1929-2019
Ruling elites pay tribute to a favourite servant
By Nick Beams, 18 May 2019
Some of the most hated figures in world politics have come together to praise Hawke and laud his achievements.
18 May 2019
Labor’s promise on childcare wages—another cynical deception
By Terry Cook, 17 May 2019
Labor leader Bill Shorten’s pledge is designed to prevent a rank-and-file struggle for a genuine improvement in wages and working conditions.
Vote 1 Socialist Equality Party! Take up the fight for socialist internationalism!
By the Socialist Equality Party (Australia), 17 May 2019
The SEP is campaigning to build a revolutionary, socialist movement of the working class against the entire parliamentary establishment and the capitalist system that it defends.
Mass unemployment, climate change and a toxic dump in Oxley
By Michael Smith, 17 May 2019
The following is an edited version of the speech delivered by Michael Smith to the Socialist Equality Party election public meeting in the Brisbane electorate of Oxley.
Strong response to SEP’s socialist program at final election meetings
By our reporters, 17 May 2019
There were animated and extended discussions at SEP public meetings in the working-class electorates of Parramatta, Hunter, Calwell and Oxley this week.
Workers and youth discuss Julian Assange, social conditions and war at SEP election meetings
By our reporters, 17 May 2019
One worker said: “It is absolutely vital that we have meetings like this in working-class areas. Having this meeting, as a party, is one step ahead towards the goal of achieving equality.”
Speech by Oscar Grenfell
Millions in Australia “view Assange as a hero who is being attacked for revealing the truth.”
By Oscar Grenfell, 17 May 2019
We are publishing here the speech of Oscar Grenfell, a leading member of the Socialist Equality Party (Australia) and national convenor of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, at the May 12 meeting in London in defence of Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning.
Australia’s housing crisis to worsen whichever party wins election
By Richard Phillips: SEP senate candidate for NSW, 16 May 2019
A new housing loan scheme announced by Liberal leader Morrison and endorsed by the Labor Party will do nothing to resolve the acute housing problems facing millions of workers.
Labor and the unions responsible for social crisis in western Sydney
By Oscar Grenfell: SEP candidate for Parramatta, 16 May 2019
Grenfell explained that Labor and the unions have presided over “an onslaught against manufacturing and industrial jobs.”
Australia’s central bank slashes growth forecasts
By Mike Head, 15 May 2019
Regardless of whether Labor or the Coalition wins office, the next government will be one of even more severe austerity.
Hunter “Meet the Candidates” Forum exposes major parties
By our reporters, 15 May 2019
SEP candidate Max Boddy said that “the elephant in this election campaign is the deafening silence on the persecution of Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning.”
Australia: Rally to defend Julian Assange held in Broadmeadows, Melbourne
By our reporters, 14 May 2019
The event drew a small but determined crowd of SEP members and supporters, local workers, and WikiLeaks’ supporters.
Factory fire symptomatic of social devastation in Calwell electorate
By Peter Byrne: SEP candidate for Calwell, 14 May 2019
“Where factories once employed workers who actually made things, they are now rented and filled with toxic waste, then abandoned.”
A socialist program needed to halt assault on university students and staff
By Mike Head: SEP candidate for Oxley, 14 May 2019
The Socialist Equality Party is alone in calling for a vast redistribution of wealth to secure the basic social right to free, high-quality public education at all levels.
Follow the WSWS