Australia and New Zealand
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) forum reviews lessons of nursing union sellout
By our reporter, 7 September 2018
Participants discussed the need for health workers to rebel against the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, build rank-and-file committees and unite with workers internationally, based on a socialist perspective.
US ambassador praises New Zealand’s Pacific “reset”
By John Braddock, 30 August 2018
Brown’s comments are an enthusiastic endorsement of Labour’s strengthening of New Zealand’s support for Washington’s drive to war against both China and Russia.
National Party seeks to prevent Chelsea Manning from entering New Zealand
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 30 August 2018
The National Party’s attempt to bar Manning, who exposed war crimes committed by the US, is part of a worldwide assault on free speech and other democratic rights.
Auckland nurse denounces union’s sellout deal in New Zealand
By Tom Peters, 29 August 2018
A nurses’ union member spoke with the WSWS over worsening conditions at the South Auckland hospital and the growing anger of health workers over the union’s betrayal.
New Zealand transport workers’ jobs and conditions under attack
By our correspondents, 25 August 2018
Rail and bus workers face a sustained assault by companies hired by the Greater Wellington Regional Council to run passenger services.
Bangladesh jute mill workers demonstrate; Paradip port workers strike in Orissa
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
25 August 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation lashes out at critics on social media
By Tom Peters, 24 August 2018
The union posted an inflammatory statement on Facebook aimed at intimidating opposition to its sellout of health workers.
Prime minister barely survives leadership challenge in Australia
By Mike Head and James Cogan, 21 August 2018
The constant factor in the turmoil of official Australian politics has been political tensions arising from ever more volatile international geo-strategic and economic conflicts.
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) to hold online forum: Lessons of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s sellout
20 August 2018
The SEG urges health workers to attend this online forum on September 1 to discuss the NZNO’s betrayal and the way forward in the fight against the Labour Party government’s austerity measures.
Lessons of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation’s sellout: Build rank-and-file committees! Unite the working class against the Labour government!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 18 August 2018
The sellout of the nurses’ struggle by the union bureaucracy raises the need for rank-and-file committees and a fight to unite the working class against austerity and for socialism.
Australian police killed mentally ill young woman seconds after arriving at scene
By Martin Scott, 18 August 2018
The Coroner’s Court was told that 42 percent of those shot by police in Australia between 1989 and 2011 were suffering from a mental illness.
Alcoa workers strike in Western Australia
By Terry Cook, 18 August 2018
The stoppage expresses growing opposition to the corporate giant’s global cost-cutting operation.
New Zealand primary teachers hold nationwide strike
By our reporters, 16 August 2018
Tens of thousands joined rallies across the country to demand better pay and conditions, while the teachers’ trade union used the strike to promote illusions in the Labour Party-led government.
New Zealand government launches sham inquiry into Afghan war crimes
By Sam Price, 16 August 2018
The inquiry into allegations that civilians were killed in a NZSAS raid in Afghanistan in 2010 is destined to be a whitewash.
China set to become largest aid donor to Pacific
By John Braddock, 15 August 2018
The ruling elites in Australia and New Zealand, the local imperialist powers that act in concert with Washington, view China’s rise as a threat to their interests.
Australia: Socialist Alternative promotes right-wing Labor leader Bill Shorten
By Oscar Grenfell, 14 August 2018
Amid a deepening crisis of the political establishment, the pseudo-left organisations are seeking to channel growing discontent back behind Labor and the unions.
Australian hospital staff have to raise money for patients’ basic needs
By E. Ballesteros, 9 August 2018
Footscray Hospital is one of three acute and sub-acute hospitals servicing a major working-class region of the Victorian state capital.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation rams through sellout pay deal
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 8 August 2018
The union is trying to present the agreement, which fails to address the crisis in the public health system, as a victory.
New Zealand teachers join growing wages movement
By our reporters, 6 August 2018
In a rebuff to the union leadership, 50,000 primary school teachers voted to strike on August 15.
New Zealand nurses express frustration, anger in union broadcast
By our reporters, 2 August 2018
The union’s online event was a desperate attempt to sell the latest, widely opposed deal and shut down the rebellion among nurses.
Australian government promises changes to My Health Records following widespread opposition
By Cheryl Crisp, 2 August 2018
The “opt out” health database faces mounting public concern over official and corporate surveillance.
New Zealand Nurses Organisation presents fifth sell-out pay offer
By John Braddock, 26 July 2018
The latest offer to public hospital nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives is virtually identical to offers they rejected before the July 12 nationwide strike.
After nationwide strike: The way forward for New Zealand health workers
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 25 July 2018
The SEG calls on health workers to break from the pro-capitalist trade unions and form rank-and-file committees to unite the working class against the Labour-led government’s austerity policies.
New Zealand Labour-aligned Daily Blog posts pro-war, anti-China tirade
By John Braddock, 20 July 2018
The on-line blog hails the government’s military upgrade in preparation to join US-led aggression against China.
Australia’s new espionage laws target whistleblowers and political opponents
By Mike Head, 19 July 2018
The “anti-interference” legislation goes far beyond spying by foreign agents.
Australian PM promotes racist campaign over “African gangs”
By Oscar Grenfell, 19 July 2018
Malcolm Turnbull’s remarks are part of a broader attempt to whip up nationalism and anti-immigrant xenophobia.
Intelligence inquiry whitewashes New Zealand’s spying in the Pacific
By John Braddock, 18 July 2018
The inquiry was part of a damage limitation campaign following revelations by Edward Snowden.
New Zealand foreign minister: “Great Power competition is back”
By John Braddock, 17 July 2018
Peters’ speech underscored the strengthening alliance between the Labour-led government and the US in confronting China across the Asia-Pacific.
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) holds online health workers’ meeting
By our reporters, 17 July 2018
The SEG’s forum, which included New Zealand and Australian workers, discussed the political lessons of the July 12 strike by 30,000 nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives.
Growing strike movement in New Zealand
By our reporters, 14 July 2018
The first cross-department public sector strike for over a decade, was held three days before the 24-hour nationwide nurses’ strike.
New Zealand nurses stage first nationwide strike in 30 years
By our reporters, 13 July 2018
Nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives in public hospitals struck for 24 hours yesterday after rejecting a sellout deal backed by the union.
Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) to hold online forum: The way forward for nurses and health workers
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 11 July 2018
The online meeting will discuss a socialist strategy to fight for decent and well-funded public health services, in opposition to the Labour Party-led government and the nurses’ union.
New Zealand defence policy targets China, Russia
By John Braddock, 11 July 2018
In line with the US Trump administration, the NZ Labour-led government is preparing for war abroad and class war at home.
New Zealand nurses reject union-backed sellout, prepare nationwide strike
By Tom Peters, 10 July 2018
Nurses, healthcare assistants and midwives in public hospitals are preparing for a nationwide strike on Thursday, after rejecting a sellout offer recommended by the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.
Delhi Metro rail threatened with India’s essential services laws; New Zealand teachers vote in favour of strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
7 July 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
New Zealand nurses denounce union promotion of sellout deal
By Tom Peters, 6 July 2018
There is widespread anger as the nursing trade union tries to prevent a strike and impose an agreement that maintains low pay and hospital understaffing.
Persecution of WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange continues
By James Cogan, 5 July 2018
The US, British and Australian governments are utilising the Ecuadorian government to try and break Assange by denying him any external communication or visitors.
Outrage over union’s cancellation of New Zealand nurses’ strike
By Tom Peters, 3 July 2018
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has cancelled one of two scheduled strikes and is seeking to impose a sell-out deal, virtually identical to that rejected by nurses and other health workers last month.
New Zealand: Staff cuts and library closures at the University of Auckland
By Sam Price, 30 June 2018
University of Auckland authorities have responded to a funding freeze by the Labour government by announcing the shutdown of three specialist libraries and job cuts.
Thousands of West Bengal textile workers locked out; New Zealand nurses union cancels planned strike
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
30 June 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Another suicide in Australian immigration prison camp
By Max Newman, 27 June 2018
A tragic death shows how desperate and vulnerable people are being deliberately subjected to inhuman conditions to deter others from seeking asylum in Australia.
New Zealand’s “First Baby” fuels media frenzy
By John Braddock, 27 June 2018
The orchestrated fawning over the “First Child” is designed to divert attention from the sharpening class struggle within New Zealand and increasing global turmoil.
New Zealand nurses reject third sellout deal, prepare to strike
By Tom Peters, 22 June 2018
The nurses’ union is desperately seeking to avoid two 24-hour strikes scheduled for next month.
New Zealand rally demands freedom for Julian Assange
By our reporters, 20 June 2018
Tom Peters from the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand) addressed a rally outside the Australian High Commission in Wellington to demand that the Australian government secure Assange’s freedom.
New Zealand Labour government to extend bans on strikes
By John Braddock, 15 June 2018
The “Fair Pay Agreements” framework, supported by the unions, will outlaw stoppages across entire industries during wage negotiations.
SEP Australia national secretary demands Australian government act to free Julian Assange
14 June 2018
In the wake of the Vault 7 leaks, the US state apparatus is even more determined to silence WikiLeaks and silence Assange.
New Zealand Labour government’s budget fails to address health crisis
By Sam Price, 8 June 2018
Patients across the country are suffering because successive governments have starved the healthcare system of funds.
Vote no to sellout of New Zealand nurses! Build rank-and-file committees!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 7 June 2018
The SEG calls on health workers to break from the unions, build new organisations and fight to unite the working class against the Labour government’s pro-business agenda.
Indian garment workers demand higher pay, teachers demonstrate in China
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
2 June 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
New Zealand nurses vote for nationwide strike
By Tom Peters, 30 May 2018
Public hospital nurses and other health workers are fighting an effective wage freeze by the Labour Party-led government.
Indian port workers to walk out, 30,000 municipal workers remain on strike in Haryana state
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
26 May 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
New Zealand nurses mount nationwide protests
By our reporters, 15 May 2018
Thousands marched in 15 towns and cities to demand better pay and conditions.
New Zealand Labour government makes “left” feint on education
By John Braddock, 14 May 2018
Some 50,000 NZ teachers are set to follow their counterparts in the United States and other countries in the fight for jobs, decent wages and working conditions.
Is The Changeover just Twilight set in New Zealand?
By Tom Peters, 8 May 2018
The Changeover, highly praised in New Zealand, is a formulaic supernatural teen romance imbued with definite class prejudices.
Decision not to prosecute over New Zealand building collapse ignored crucial evidence
By Sam Price, 4 May 2018
The police and judicial system is shielding those responsible for the Canterbury Television crash during the 2011 earthquake.
New Zealand nurses begin voting on nationwide strikes
By Tom Peters, 3 May 2018
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is seeking to reach a sellout deal with the Labour Party government to avoid any campaign for better wages and conditions.
New Zealand prime minister strengthens military ties with France
By Tom Peters, 28 April 2018
Jacinda Ardern sought increased military cooperation with France and Britain in the Pacific, to push back against China’s strategic and economic influence.
New Zealand rail union rams through pro-company collective agreement
By our correspondent, 26 April 2018
The Rail and Maritime Transport Union has imposed a deal that attacks wages, jobs and conditions.
New Zealand: IYSSE and SEG meeting opposes Internet censorship
By our reporter, 24 April 2018
The speaker explained that censorship and the persecution of WikiLeaks was the response to opposition to war and social inequality.
Union seeks to derail New Zealand nurses’ struggle
By Tom Peters, 18 April 2018
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation is working with the Labour Party-led government to prevent a strike after nurses rejected a sellout deal.
New Zealand government supports imperialist assault on Syria
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 17 April 2018
The Ardern government’s response underscores that it is prepared to take the country into a catastrophic war instigated by its US and European allies.
New Zealand barrister defends principle of presumption of innocence
By John Braddock, 11 April 2018
Michael Bott said that an automatic “believe the victim” starting point in a prosecution “can and must have no place in criminal trials.”
New Zealand government under pressure to expel Russian diplomats
By Tom Peters, 5 April 2018
NZ’s Labour Party-led government is under pressure from the opposition National Party, the media and Australia to fully line up with war preparations against Russia.
Australian train workers denounce NSW rail sellout
By Oscar Grenfell, 29 March 2018
Workers question the legitimacy of the postal ballot and condemn the sordid manoeuvres of the Rail, Tram and Bus Union.
Britain pressures New Zealand government to join anti-Russian sanctions
By John Braddock, 26 March 2018
Britain’s High Commissioner to NZ has successfully pushed the Ardern government to cancel planned free trade talks with Russia.
New Zealand: No end in sight for Christchurch earthquake rebuild
By Tom Peters, 21 March 2018
Seven years after the 2011 earthquake, thousands of houses are still damaged and insurance claims unresolved.
Australia’s industrial tribunal allows “super-union” merger
By Terry Cook, 19 March 2018
For decades, the three unions that amalgamated this month have imposed cuts to the jobs, wages and conditions of maritime, mining, textile and construction workers.
New Zealand: Reject the union sellout of Wellington rail workers!
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 16 March 2018
The RMTU, private companies Transdev and Hyundai Rotem, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council want to impose a pro-business deal that freezes wages and paves the way for job cuts.
New Zealand’s “Pacific reset” aims to reassert imperialist dominance
By Tom Peters, 12 March 2018
Prime Minister Ardern’s government has outlined a strategy to reassert neo-colonial hegemony over the South Pacific and push back Chinese influence.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
10 March 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
New Zealand opposition leadership change reflects tensions over social unrest and drive to war
By Tom Peters, 7 March 2018
National Party leader Bill English’s resignation followed criticism from the US ambassador of his government’s refusal to fully endorse Trump’s warmongering against North Korea.
Obituary: Jim Anderton, a pivotal defender of New Zealand capitalism
By John Braddock, 3 March 2018
As leader of NewLabour and the Alliance, Anderton played a critical role defending the capitalist order by blocking any rebellion against the Labour government.
New Zealand governments lied about “non-combat” role in Iraq
By Sam Price, 2 March 2018
Successive governments falsely claimed that New Zealand soldiers in Iraq are engaged in a training capacity.
New Zealand government intensifies campaign against Chinese “interference”
By John Braddock, 1 March 2018
The government’s investigation into claims of Chinese “intimidation” of an academic points to a state intelligence operation.
Australian and New Zealand transport workers must unite their struggles
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 28 February 2018
The trade unions in both New Zealand and Australia are seeking to isolate workers in each country from each other in order to facilitate further attacks on jobs, wages and conditions.
Job cuts continue in New Zealand under Labour government
By Sam Price, 23 February 2018
The ongoing job destruction exposes the Labour Party-led government’s claims that it will raise living standards.
New Zealand: Breakdowns and lack of safety in Wellington’s rail network
By our correspondents, 21 February 2018
Wellington’s passenger rail service has been repeatedly crippled by infrastructure failures this year.
New Zealand government makes false promises to address Maori poverty
By Tom Peters, 19 February 2018
The Labour Party-led government has handed millions of dollars to Maori tribal capitalists, while offering empty promises to tackle inequality.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
17 February 2018
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Families’ spokesman on New Zealand earthquake building collapse: “Are there people who are above the law?”
By Sam Price, 6 February 2018
Maan Alkaisi, whose wife died when the CTV building crumbled during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, condemned the police decision not to prosecute anyone over the disaster.
Australian government unveils sweeping anti-democratic “foreign interference” bills
Part 2: Criminalising overseas links and donations
By Mike Head, 1 February 2018
These measures have serious implications for freedom of political expression and organisation.
Australian Labor leader sounds alarm about popular hostility to political establishment
By Mike Head, 1 February 2018
Shorten told the National Press Club that the first “mission” of the political elite was “restoring faith in parliament.”
Australian government continues deportations of New Zealanders
By Tom Peters, 17 January 2018
New Zealanders who have spent most of their lives in Australia are being detained and expelled for minor offences or on “character” grounds.
New Zealand spy agency illegally accessed immigration data
By Tom Peters, 15 January 2018
For decades the Security Intelligence Service accessed Customs data illegally to monitor people entering the country.
New Zealand police refuse to prosecute over Christchurch building collapse
By Sam Price and Tom Peters, 9 January 2018
No one has been held accountable for the unsafe design of the CTV building, which collapsed in the 2011 earthquake killing 115 people.
New Zealand government seeks to contain outrage over Pike River mine disaster
By Tom Peters, 6 January 2018
The Labour Party-led government has no intention of holding any corporate leaders responsible for the 2010 explosion that killed 29 people.
Australia continues punitive treatment of refugees on Manus Island
By Max Newman, 5 January 2018
Despite protests and UN condemnations of Australia, the detainees confront worsening conditions.
New Zealand government offers false promises to reduce poverty
By Tom Peters, 30 December 2017
The Labour-led government’s meagre welfare increases and social spending are subordinate to keeping corporate taxes low and upgrading the military.
Anti-Chinese witch-hunt against New Zealand MP intensifies
By Tom Peters, 28 December 2017
Deputy Prime Minister Peters denounced Yang as a “Manchurian candidate.”
Continuing attacks on New Zealand public transport workers’ jobs and wages
By our reporters, 22 December 2017
The Labour Party-aligned Auckland and Wellington councils are moving to axe jobs and working conditions.
New Zealand: Wellington rail workers hold 24-hour strike
By our reporters, 22 November 2017
Rail workers struck for 24 hours over attacks on conditions by the private transport companies contracted by the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Campaign continues over “Chinese influence” in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 21 November 2017
The aim of stirring up paranoia over China is to pressure the incoming government to further align itself with Washington’s drive to war.
New Zealand Labour-led government prepares attacks on working class
By John Braddock, 10 November 2017
Labour Prime Minister Ardern, with trade union approval, has threatened to further proscribe the right to strike.
New Zealand PM visits Australia, confirms Labour government’s support for war
By Tom Peters, 9 November 2017
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has endorsed the war in Iraq, threats against North Korea and Australia’s brutal treatment of asylum seekers.
New Zealand: Labour-led government promotes nationalism and militarism
By Tom Peters, 7 November 2017
The recently-installed Labour-New Zealand First-Greens coalition is scapegoating immigrants for the social crisis, while promoting militarism and war.
New Zealand pseudo-lefts embrace new right-wing government
By John Braddock, 4 November 2017
The line-up of pro-Labour commentators, trade unions and pseudo-left groups is fraudulently portraying the Labour-led coalition government as “progressive” and “left wing.”
Rising death toll from health sector cuts in New Zealand
By Sam Price, 3 November 2017
Underfunding of health care by successive National and Labour governments has contributed to shortened lives and baby deaths.
More MPs face disqualification after Australian Senate president quits
By Mike Head, 2 November 2017
Parry’s resignation demonstrates that what has become, in effect, a nationalist purge of parliament, is far from over.
Australian rail union suspends industrial action in Pacific National dispute
By Terry Cook, 2 November 2017
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union called off all industrial action as it moved to broker another sell-out agreement.
New Zealand: Socialist Equality Group meeting discusses new Labour-NZ First government
By our reporters, 2 November 2017
The meeting in Wellington discussed the danger of world war, the right-wing character of the new government and the need to build a New Zealand section of the ICFI.
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