Australia
Australian election dominated by false promises and diversions
By Mike Head, 19 April 2019
The mudslinging from all sides is to cover up the fact that there are no fundamental differences between any of these parties.
Australian filmmaker James Ricketson demands release of Julian Assange
By Richard Phillips, 19 April 2019
Ricketson was arrested in Cambodia in 2017 and imprisoned for 15 months on bogus claims that he was spying for “foreign states.”
Human rights advocate Professor Stuart Rees denounces attacks on WikiLeaks publisher
By Stuart Rees, 18 April 2019
“This is not a legal controversy. It is a massive political issue. The US culture of revenge has to be exposed and challenged. Grass roots outrage needs to be mobilised.”
Unsealed affidavit demonstrates US seeking to prosecute Assange for his journalism
By Oscar Grenfell, 17 April 2019
The extradition request is a pseudo-legal figleaf for an extraordinary rendition operation.
The media’s role in persecuting Julian Assange
By Andre Damon, 17 April 2019
The newspapers, the broadcast news, and, perhaps worst of all, the late-night talk shows have targeted crude insults against a persecuted man who cannot defend himself.
Australian political establishment rejects calls for defence of Julian Assange
By Mike Head, 16 April 2019
Both the ruling Liberal-National Coalition and opposition Labor Party have doubled down on their support for Washington’s decade-long operation to lock Assange away.
Prominent WikiLeaks supporter Somerset Bean speaks out in defence of Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 16 April 2019
“The powers that be want to use the persecution of a successful and effective publisher as a warning to us all not to challenge their power and their crimes.”
The Socialist Equality Party candidates in the 2019 Australian election
By the SEP (Australia), 16 April 2019
The SEP is standing Senate groups in New South Wales and Victoria and running candidates in the House of Representatives’ electorates of Parramatta in Sydney, Calwell in Melbourne and Ipswich in Brisbane.
Support the Socialist Equality Party in the 2019 Australian Federal Election
No to Militarism and War! For Socialism and Internationalism!
By the SEP (Australia), 16 April 2019
The vital issue facing the working class is not the futile attempt to change the mindset of the ruling elites through the ballot box, but the development of its own independent political movement for socialism.
Australia: Kimberly-Clark to shut Ingleburn plant and axe over 200 jobs.
By Terry Cook, 15 April 2019
The closure of the south-west Sydney plant is part of a global restructuring plan that will see 10 facilities shut down internationally and the elimination of over 5,000 jobs.
Workers and youth speak out at SEP (Australia) rallies in defence of Assange
By our reporters, 15 April 2019
“What they are doing though won’t stop us. We will find a way to free Julian and any other journalists who come under attack.”
Twenty years since the death of Australian Trotskyist and Aboriginal worker, Comrade Yabu Bilyana
By Linda Tenenbaum, 15 April 2019
On April 5, 1999, Yabu Bilyana, the first indigenous Australian to join the International Committee of the Fourth International, died at the age of 54. This obituary was written by then Socialist Equality Party assistant national secretary, Linda Tenenbaum, and published by the WSWS on April 7, 1999.
Message of condolence from David North
“He based his life on the ideals of justice, equality and human solidarity”
15 April 2019
“Had he not been so tragically disabled by illness, Yabu undoubtedly would have played a major role in the expansion of the party’s influence in the working class.”
Yabu Bilyana addresses ICFI World Conference: “Genocide of indigenous peoples is still practiced throughout Australia”
By Yabu Bilyana, 15 April 2019
Bilyana exposed the ongoing oppression of Australia’s Aboriginal population and the whitewash carried out by the Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody.
SEP (Australia) rallies demand freedom for Julian Assange
By our reporters, 13 April 2019
“Assange has performed his duty as a journalist to workers, to youth, to the mass of ordinary people around the world. Now, we are obliged to repay that debt which we owe him.”
The Assange arrest is a warning from history
Comment by John Pilger, 13 April 2019
John Pilger, well-known filmmaker and investigative journalist, issued the following statement on the arrest of WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London on April 11.
Prominent Australian journalist Mary Kostakidis speaks out for Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 13 April 2019
“Journalists, all over the world, who have published material that WikiLeaks made available, should stand up for Julian’s rights.”
Australian PM and Labor Party leader both reject any defence of Julian Assange
By Mike Head, 13 April 2019
On the opening day of the federal election campaign, there was sickening bipartisan agreement to help hand the WikiLeaks publisher over to the Trump administration.
Australian intelligence chief says no need for “reset” after New Zealand fascist attack
By Mike Head, 13 April 2019
The ASIO director-general’s testimony raises further questions about how the violent plans of an Australian fascist supposedly went unnoticed by the state agencies.
Police attack teachers in Kolkata; thousands of Bangladesh jute mill workers protest
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
13 April 2019
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Australian police dismissed death threat by Christchurch terrorist
By Tom Peters, 12 April 2019
The revelation demolishes claims by Australian and New Zealand authorities that the fascist Brenton Tarrant was not “on the radar” of any state agencies.
British police arrest Julian Assange in Ecuadorian embassy
By Oscar Grenfell, 11 April 2019
“Assange’s expulsion from the embassy and his arrest are unprecedented crimes,” said James Cogan, the national secretary of the SEP (Australia). “A journalist and publisher, who has committed no crime, has had his asylum terminated and has been dragged off to prison in violation of repeated UN rulings upholding his status as a political refugee.”
WikiLeaks exposes spying operation against Assange in Ecuador’s London embassy
By Oscar Grenfell, 11 April 2019
The Ecuadorian regime, acting as a vassal of the US, has surveilled every aspect of Assange’s life.
Australian prime minister calls crisis election for May 18
By Mike Head, 11 April 2019
Prime Minister Morrison’s announcement is a bid to shut down parliament and go to the polls as quickly as possible before the economic situation worsens.
Australian trade unions hold pro-Labor “Change the Rules” rallies
By Patrick O’Connor, 11 April 2019
The union protests yesterday were called to promote the election of a yet another Labor government that will implement the demands of big business.
“Four Corners” broadcasts further claims of “Chinese interference” in Australia
By Peter Symonds, 10 April 2019
The “Four Corners” program signals a push to enforce the draconian “foreign interference” laws, passed last year with bipartisan support.
Australia: Another toxic factory fire endangers working-class suburbs
By Peter Byrne, 10 April 2019
Every sphere of social life is now subject to corporate profiteering, including the disposal of hazardous waste.
In leaked court testimony, Assange denounces his illegal detention
By Oscar Grenfell, 9 April 2019
The WikiLeaks founder declared: “No journalist, no citizen, should accept that what they speak about can be defined from day to day by reasons of political expediency.”
Workers and youth in Australia support Julian Assange
By our correspondents, 9 April 2019
SEP campaigners found a deep well of opposition to the persecution of the WikiLeaks founder over his exposure of the war crimes and diplomatic intrigues of the US and its allies.
Assange faces ongoing threats at Ecuador’s London embassy
By Oscar Grenfell, 8 April 2019
While the Ecuadorian government denied that Assange would be “imminently” expelled from the embassy, it did not dispute that plans had been afoot to terminate his political asylum.
UN Special Rapporteur: US extradition of Assange would be violation of international law
By Oscar Grenfell, 6 April 2019
The Ecuadorian regime, and its co-conspirators in the British and US governments, are engaged in a sordid and illegal conspiracy to terminate the political asylum of the WikiLeaks founder.
Australia: Tasmanian teachers take strike action
By Frank Gaglioti, 6 April 2019
Teachers in Tasmania are the lowest paid of any state in Australia.
WikiLeaks warns that Julian Assange faces imminent eviction from Ecuador’s London embassy
By Oscar Grenfell, 5 April 2019
The publisher warned that a “high-level source” within the Ecuadorian state had information that Assange would be expelled from the building and taken into British custody “within hours or days.”
Australian Labor Party leader offers false hope of “fair go” in budget reply
By Mike Head, 5 April 2019
Acutely aware of seething working class discontent towards the entire political establishment, Shorten sought to promote illusions in making capitalism less brutal.
More layoffs point to worsening jobs crisis in Australia
By Terry Cook, 5 April 2019
Major companies across a range of sectors continue to shed jobs amid forecasts of a worsening global slowdown, particularly in China.
Australian government sets global precedent with online censorship bill
By Mike Head, 4 April 2019
While nominally directed against the far-right, the bill will be used to step up the offensive against oppositional, left-wing and socialist postings.
After death on Australian construction site, evidence emerges of widespread safety violations
By Oscar Grenfell, 4 April 2019
Unsafe scaffolding on building sites—which caused the death of a young apprentice on Monday—was the subject of more than 100 breach notices by the state regulator last year.
Ecuadorian president threatens to evict Julian Assange from London embassy
By Oscar Grenfell, 3 April 2019
Moreno accused Assange of “repeatedly violating the conditions of his asylum,” to create a pretext to hand him over to British and US authorities.
Australian government delivers a callous, anti-working class budget
By Mike Head, 3 April 2019
The Morrison government handed down a vote-buying budget pitched at satisfying big business and the wealthy, while feigning concern for the rest of society.
One worker killed, another critically injured after scaffolding collapse in Sydney
By Oscar Grenfell, 2 April 2019
The tragedy in Australia points to the subordination of workers’ safety to the profit demands of the construction companies and property developers.
Australia: Al Jazeera investigation targets right-wing One Nation party
By Oscar Grenfell, 2 April 2019
The program had the character of a politically-motivated sting operation, aimed at destroying the right-wing, anti-immigrant party.
Australia: NSW voters reject Labor Party’s phoney pitch
By Mike Head, 1 April 2019
Labor’s electoral disaster in Australia’s biggest state is part of a wider crisis of the whole parliamentary setup.
New Zealand fascist killer had known Australian far-right links
By Mike Head, 28 March 2019
Despite claims that Tarrant was a “lone wolf” whose murderous plans could not have been detected, he had intimate connections with a fascistic network.
Australian government exploits fascist atrocity in New Zealand to push online censorship
By Oscar Grenfell, 27 March 2019
The entire political establishment is seeking to cover up its responsibility for the fascist attack and exploit it to crack down on the democratic rights of ordinary people.
Teacher: One Woman’s Struggle to Keep the Heart in Teaching
An interview with Australian author Gabbie Stroud
By Sue Phillips, 27 March 2019
“It’s almost as if our system doesn’t need a reformation, it needs a re-creation. It’s like we need to dismantle it and start again from the ground up.”
Australia: NSW state election reveals mass hostility and alienation
By Oscar Grenfell, 25 March 2019
The primary votes of the major parties, Labor, the Liberal-National Coalition and the Greens, all fell sharply.
Australia: Striking Chemist Warehouse workers demand higher pay and job permanency
By Steve Streitberg, 25 March 2019
The conditions facing Chemist Warehouse workers are the direct result of cost-cutting agreements between the National Union of Workers and the highly profitable pharmacy retailer.
Special Counsel Robert Mueller delivers Russia probe inquiry report
By Kevin Reed, 23 March 2019
The report to the US Justice Department late Friday brings to a conclusion the 22-month investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 elections.
Australian PM seeks to cover up political roots of fascist attack in New Zealand
By Mike Head, 23 March 2019
While the events in Christchurch have come as a shock to many working class people, the record shows that the evolution of an Australian fascist is hardly accidental.
Australian property prices fall faster than during global financial crisis
By Oscar Grenfell, 22 March 2019
Analysts have warned that a host of global factors could transform the downturn into a full-blown economic crash.
Australian state election dominated by alienation and discontent
By Mike Head, 21 March 2019
Years of widening social inequality and deteriorating living conditions have created widespread social disaffection, which finds no voice in the official political setup.
Australia: DP World stevedoring workers set to take industrial action
By Terry Cook, 21 March 2019
Facing deepening competition, DP World is stepping up its drive to slash costs at the expense of its workforce.
Australian government targets China in new “foreign influence” register
By Mike Head, 19 March 2019
More than 700 political parties, universities, lobbying firms, media companies and politicians have been warned of serious legal consequences if they fail to register.
More voices from the Australian climate strike
By our reporters, 18 March 2019
“We have people in power, not just the government, but massive corporations, who are about profit and power.”
Australian royal commission into aged care begins second hearing
By Clare Bruderlin, 18 March 2019
Government cost-cutting has led to chronic under-staffing and poor care, particularly in facilities run for profit.
Tens of thousands of Australian students join climate strike protest
By Oscar Grenfell, 16 March 2019
Labor, the Greens and the unions are seeking to head-off a mass political radicalisation of students and young people.
James Cogan to participate in Unity4J online forum to defend Assange and Manning
Watch from Friday, 4 p.m., US eastern time, Saturday: 7 a.m., Australian eastern time
15 March 2019
The vindictive re-imprisonment of Chelsea Manning underscores the urgency of the fight to free Julian Assange from his arbitrary detention by the British government.
Rifts in Australia’s ruling coalition engulf rural-based National Party
By Mike Head, 15 March 2019
Factional warfare erupted publicly within the Nationals this week, laying bare conflicts that go far beyond the current government’s electoral prospects.
The struggle to stem climate change is the political fight to end capitalism!
Join the International Youth and Students for Social Equality!
By the IYSSE (Australia), 14 March 2019
The IYSSE will distribute the following statement tomorrow at high school student strikes demanding immediate action to resolve climate change and environmental destruction.
Australian unions try to push through another sellout deal at BlueScope steel
By Martin Scott, 13 March 2019
Working hand-in-hand with BlueScope management, the Australian Workers Union claimed that the fate of the multi-billion dollar company depended on “sacrifices” being made by its employees.
Naming of Australian lawyer police informant highlights top-level involvement
By Mike Head, 12 March 2019
The use of such a well-connected figure as an informer would hardly have occurred without the authorisation of the most senior police commanders.
Workers and young people speak out at Melbourne rally to free Assange and Manning
By our reporters, 12 March 2019
“If Julian doesn’t receive freedom, if Chelsea Manning is not released, then we are going down a slippery slope.”
Lawyer charged for exposing Australian war crimes in Afghanistan
By Mike Head, 11 March 2019
A former Australian military legal officer faces lengthy imprisonment for leaking damning documents.
Melbourne rally calls on workers and youth to defend Assange and Manning
By our reporters, 11 March 2019
James Cogan declared that “the fight to free Assange must become part of all the actions by workers.”
Australia: Chemist Warehouse workers vote to take industrial action
By Terry Cook, 9 March 2019
The union’s concern is to maintain its position as a labour hire agency and an industrial police force.
More ministers quit as factional war wracks Australia’s ruling coalition
By Mike Head, 8 March 2019
The Liberal-National Coalition, a pillar of corporate rule, is being torn asunder.
Support builds for Melbourne March 10 rally to demand freedom for Assange
By our reporters, 8 March 2019
The SEP and IYSSE have won the backing of workers, young people and students for the March 10 Melbourne rally to demand the freedom of WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange.
“Julian Assange is a significant international citizen who has made a stand for truth-telling”
Address by Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees to the Sydney Free Assange rally
By Professor Stuart Rees, 6 March 2019
When the controversy about Julian first started, a Republican senator from New York, King, said: “Why doesn’t somebody take a gun and shoot the son-of-a-bitch? I know it’s illegal, but it would be wonderful for Americans’ freedom if that happens.”
IYSSE (Australia) convenor Oscar Grenfell’s speech to the Sydney Free Assange rally
By Oscar Grenfell, 6 March 2019
“They’re persecuting Julian Assange because they know how much he and WikiLeaks have done to politically educate an entire generation of young people.”
More voices from the Sydney Free Assange rally and Brisbane Livestream meeting
By our reporters, 6 March 2019
“We need to demand of the government, ‘what are you going to do to assist Julian now?’ We should not be beating around the bush because his life is in danger.”
The political lessons of the March 3 Free Assange rally
By the Socialist Equality Party (Australia) Political Committee, 5 March 2019
The demonstration in Sydney won broad support on the basis of mobilising the working class to defend democratic rights and class war prisoners such as Julian Assange.
Media Serve the Governors, Not the Governed
Speech by Joe Lauria, March 3, 2019
By Joe Lauria, 5 March 2019
Joe Lauria, the editor-in-chief of Consortium News, delivered this speech to the rally organised by the Socialist Equality Party in Sydney to demand the freedom of Julian Assange.
Opening remarks to March 3 Sydney rally by Socialist Equality Party leader, Linda Tenenbaum
Hundreds defy slanders, lies and media censorship to demand freedom for Julian Assange
By Linda Tenenbaum, 5 March 2019
Julian Assange has never been charged with a crime; he has an Australian passport; he is an Australian citizen and, as such, the Morrison government is obligated to defend his democratic rights.
Workers and youth speak out at Free Assange rally in Sydney
By our reporters, 5 March 2019
“People want to bring him home so he can continue his work of bringing these corporate and government criminals to justice.”
Freedom for Julian Assange depends upon the intervention of the working class
Speech by James Cogan, March 3, 2019
By James Cogan, 4 March 2019
The following speech was delivered by Socialist Equality Party National Secretary, James Cogan, to the SEP’s March 3 rally at Sydney’s Martin Place to free Julian Assange.
Warnings of further housing plunge and job losses in Australia
By Mike Head, 4 March 2019
With a federal election due in May, the corporate elite is insisting that austerity measures must be imposed.
Sydney rally issues strong demand for the freedom of Julian Assange
By our reporters, 4 March 2019
James Cogan declared: “We are sending a clear message to Julian Assange today and he will hear it—you are not alone, you have not been abandoned, you have not been forgotten. You will be freed.”
“Julian Assange will never obey Big Brother”
Speech by John Pilger, March 3, 2019
By John Pilger, 4 March 2019
John Pilger gave this speech at a rally organised by the Socialist Equality Party for Julian Assange in Sydney on 3 March.
Australia: Sydney residents protest downgrading of Mona Vale Hospital
By John Wilson and John Harris, 2 March 2019
Protests continue against the hospital’s closure in the lead up to the March 23 New South Wales state election.
Video: SEP national secretary James Cogan urges maximum participation in Free Julian Assange rallies
2 March 2019
Cogan demanded the Australian government answer why it does not accept the UN ruling that Julian Assange is being ‘arbitrarily detained.’
Joe Lauria, editor-in-chief of Consortium News, endorses Free Assange demonstrations
2 March 2019
“Supporting Assange and WikiLeaks is supporting the people against the state.”
Greetings from the Sri Lankan Abbotsleigh Estate Workers Action Committee to the Assange defence rallies in Australia
2 March 2019
Tea plantation workers struggling for decent working conditions have expressed their solidarity with the fight to free WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange.
Australian government refuses to defend Julian Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 1 March 2019
In a Senate committee hearing, Foreign Minister Marise Payne reiterated the government’s refusal to secure the freedom of the persecuted WikiLeaks founder.
Australian filmmaker Curtis Levy demands freedom for Julian Assange
28 February 2019
Veteran documentarian Curtis Levy speaks out in defence of the WikiLeaks publisher and freedom of the press.
Australian workers and youth support March 3 and March 10 rallies demanding freedom for Assange
By our reporters, 28 February 2019
“I’m going on March 3 and I think everyone should come because we need to take action to free Assange and end war.”
Australian media union complicit in the persecution of Julian Assange
By Oscar Grenfell, 27 February 2019
The MEAA claims to defend journalists, but only those who have not fallen afoul of the US and Australian governments and the major media conglomerates with which it collaborates.
Australian port workers threaten strikes against DP World’s cuts to wages and conditions
By Terry Cook, 26 February 2019
The Maritime Union of Australia is seeking to prevent a unified struggle by port and stevedoring workers facing similar attacks on their jobs, wages and conditions.
Terry Hicks, father of former Guantanamo prisoner David Hicks, speaks on the defence of Julian Assange
26 February 2019
Terry Hicks, who waged a determined five-year battle to secure his son’s release from Guantanamo Bay and repatriation to Australia, spoke out on the campaign to free the WikiLeaks publisher.
Australian teachers pass workplace motion endorsing Free Assange rallies
By our reporters, 26 February 2019
The motion was moved by a member of the Committee For Public Education (CFPE), which is actively promoting and campaigning for the demonstrations on March 3 and March 10.
Australia: Victorian Labor government’s bogus healthcare promises
By Margaret Rees, 25 February 2019
The Andrews government is preparing to accelerate the privatisation of the health system.
SEP national secretary James Cogan calls for maximum participation in rallies to free Julian Assange
25 February 2019
Cogan explains the connection between the fight for Assange’s freedom and the fight against the escalating government attacks in every country against freedom of the press and other basic democratic rights.
The working class and the fight to free Julian Assange
By James Cogan, 23 February 2019
The persecution of Assange is the spearhead of a global offensive against freedom of speech and for censorship of oppositional voices on the internet.
More lawyers could be police informants in Australia
By Mike Head, 23 February 2019
After eight years of official coverup, the affair has thrown a question mark over the entire legal system.
Elizabeth Vos, editor-in-chief of Disobedient Media, urges support for Free Assange demonstrations in Australia
23 February 2019
“We are collectively obligated to protect the ‘rebel library of Alexandria’ that Assange and others have built.”
Authorities confirm Assange’s Australian passport was renewed last October
By James Cogan, 22 February 2019
News that the WikiLeaks publisher’s passport was renewed last October does not reduce by one iota the danger that he confronts.
Australia: Royal commission finds that Murray-Darling Basin Authority acted unlawfully
By Martin Scott, 22 February 2019
The investigation found that a triumph of political considerations over “best available science” led to environmental catastrophe.
NSW universities increasingly integrated into Australian military build-up
By Hugh Peters, 21 February 2019
The Defence Innovation Network is aimed at subordinating university research ever more directly to the ruling elite’s preparations for war.
Alleged hacking of Australian parliament feeds anti-China frenzy
By Peter Symonds, 20 February 2019
The hacking claims are bound up with Australia’s alignment with the escalating US confrontation with China over trade and economic issues, and the military build-up in the Indo-Pacific for war.
Australian youth defend WikiLeaks and support demonstrations to free Julian Assange
By our reporters, 20 February 2019
“I’m going to come to the rally to defend freedom of speech and freedom of the press”—Adam, University of NSW.
Chinese community in Australia voices concern over xenophobic “foreign interference” campaign
By James Cogan, 19 February 2019
People fear that the banishment of Huang Xiangmo is the prelude to a campaign of persecution directed against all those of Chinese background.
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