Australia and New Zealand
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.
High Court disqualifies five MPs, demanding “single-minded loyalty” to Australia
By Mike Head, 28 October 2017
The entire political establishment has immediately lined up behind the anti-democratic and deeply reactionary ruling.
Meeting in Sydney on December 17
100 years on: The significance of the 1917 Russian Revolution for today
28 October 2017
The Russian Revolution stands as irrefutable proof that the working class—providing it is guided by a genuine Marxist perspective and leadership—can overthrow the outmoded social relations of capitalism.
Labour Party details coalition agreement with New Zealand First
By Tom Peters, 25 October 2017
Despite winning just nine seats, the right-wing and anti-China NZ First has been given the key roles of deputy prime minister, foreign minister and defence minister.
New Zealand: Official silence over Taylor Preston meatworks death
By John Braddock, 23 October 2017
The ongoing silence serves to protect the legal and financial position of the company at the expense of workers.
Australian university union blocks debate at WSU stopwork rally
By our correspondents, 21 October 2017
Trade union enterprise agreements have been the vehicle for facilitating all the government-employer attacks on university staff and students.
Western Sydney University workers denounce cuts to jobs and conditions
By our correspondents, 21 October 2017
Academics and other campus workers condemn the worsening conditions for university staff and students.
Right-wing nationalists hand power to New Zealand Labour
By Tom Peters and John Braddock, 20 October 2017
The Labour Party’s coalition with New Zealand First is tasked with aligning with Washington against China and imposing deeper austerity measures.
US ambassador intervenes in New Zealand’s political crisis
By Tom Peters, 18 October 2017
Ambassador Scott Brown has stressed New Zealand’s importance as a US ally and defended Trump’s threats of war against North Korea.
New Zealand First delays decision on forming a new government
By Tom Peters, 14 October 2017
Three weeks after the election the right-wing, anti-immigrant NZ First still has not decided whether to form a coalition with the National Party or Labour and the Greens.
Australian economy “going into a hole”
By Nick Beams, 7 October 2017
The record run of the Australian economy, 26 years without a recession, has “flattered to deceive,” as major economic problems come to the surface.
New Zealand workers and youth discuss the growing danger of global war
By our reporters, 5 October 2017
“Whichever party makes up the next New Zealand government with NZ First’s Winston Peters, it will be devoted to attacking workers and preparing for war alongside US imperialism.”
New Zealand First to dictate make-up of next government
By John Braddock, 3 October 2017
The right-wing, anti-immigrant NZ First is only able to play the role of kingmaker because it has been relentlessly promoted by Labour, the Greens, and pseudo-lefts as “progressive.”
A reply to the RMTU on the anti-working class record of the New Zealand rail unions
By Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 29 September 2017
Butson, national secretary of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU), responded angrily to a WSWS article exposing the union’s complicity in attacks on workers.
New Zealand military mobilised during Auckland Airport fuel outage
By John Braddock, 27 September 2017
The week-long fuel crisis exposed the precarious state of infrastructure and the government’s growing use of the military to deal with domestic problems.
New Zealand: Workers and youth speak on election, social crisis and war
By our correspondents, 26 September 2017
Socialist Equality Group members spoke with people who were deeply concerned about homelessness, suicide statistics and the drive to war.
No clear winner in New Zealand election
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 25 September 2017
The incumbent National Party and the opposition Labour Party are both negotiating with the right-wing, anti-Asian NZ First Party to form a coalition government.
New Zealand election: Bipartisan agreement on war and austerity
By John Braddock, 23 September 2017
The final election debate between Labour and National Party leaders demonstrated that whichever party is elected will deepen the attacks on working people.
Anti-Chinese witch-hunt launched days before New Zealand election
By Tom Peters, 22 September 2017
The campaign against Chinese “influence” is intended to shift New Zealand into even closer support for US-led war preparations in Asia.
New Zealand election: The fraud of Labour’s “free education” policy
By Tom Peters and Daniel Bradley, 21 September 2017
Labour’s promise of three years’ tuition-free tertiary education would be fully implemented only in 2024.
Documentary exposes the fraud of New Zealand “peacekeeping” in Afghanistan
By Sam Price and Tom Peters, 20 September 2017
Afghan villagers say New Zealand's elite SAS forces desecrated bodies and terrorised a village in Uruzgan to deliberately provoke a battle in 2004.
No to war and social inequality! For world socialism!
Statement of the Socialist Equality Group on the New Zealand election
19 September 2017
Both major parties, Labour and National, support deeper austerity, attacks on immigrants and democratic rights, and preparations for war.
Anti-Chinese witch-hunt against New Zealand MP
By Tom Peters, 15 September 2017
Claims that National Party MP Jian Yang is an “agent” for the Chinese government are aimed at aligning the political establishment more closely with US war preparations.
Socialist Equality Group public meeting in Wellington
After the New Zealand election: The way forward in the fight against war
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 15 September 2017
The meeting will discuss the urgent need for a socialist alternative to war and austerity, in opposition to the entire capitalist political establishment.
New Zealand: The right-wing politics of the Opportunities Party
By Sam Price and Tom Peters, 9 September 2017
The Opportunities Party, founded by multi-millionaire Gareth Morgan, is falsely promoted as anti-establishment and in favour of social equality.
Australia’s refugee detention regime claims its fifth victim on Manus Island
By Max Newman, 19 August 2017
Hamid Shamshiripour’s story is one of immense psychological suffering, as well as abuse at the hands of guards, overseen by the Australian government.
Right-wing Australian senator stages anti-Muslim “stunt” in federal parliament
By Oscar Grenfell, 19 August 2017
Labor and Liberal-National MPs, who incessantly promote xenophobic nationalism, feigned moral outrage over Pauline Hanson entering parliament wearing a burka.
New Zealand government would “consider” joining US war against North Korea
By Tom Peters, 15 August 2017
For the government and opposition parties alike, the threat of war has been the great unmentionable in their campaigns for the September 23 election.
Australian unions, pseudo-left sign up to Labor’s re-election campaign
By Oscar Grenfell, 5 August 2017
Underlying the unions campaign is fear in ruling circles that widespread disaffection over social inequality threatens the stability of the parliamentary set-up.
New Zealand: Job cuts planned for Auckland rail services
By Sam Price, 28 July 2017
Auckland Council is working with private contractor Transdev and the rail trade union to eliminate as many as 300 jobs.
Green Party adopts fake “left” posture in New Zealand elections
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 26 July 2017
The Greens are seeking to position themselves to channel deepening popular alienation and opposition with establishment parties back into the parliamentary set-up.
Australia: Anger grows over fire at Melbourne recycling plant
By Will Morrrow, 22 July 2017
Firefighting services have been called to the plant nine times in the last five years—four times this year, three times in 2015 and once in both 2012 and 2013.
Disqualification threats hang over Australian MPs
By Mike Head, 22 July 2017
A witch hunt has been launched to identify every member of parliament who was born overseas or might have dual citizenship.
Fire risk in most New Zealand high-rise buildings
By Tom Peters, 21 July 2017
Following the Grenfell Tower inferno in London, experts in New Zealand have warned of the potential for a similar disaster.
New Zealand bus workers threatened with pay and job cuts
By our correspondents, 18 July 2017
The Greater Wellington Regional Council is seeking to slash wages under a deal with Tranzit Group.
Pseudo-lefts promote Corbyn as model for New Zealand Labour Party
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 13 July 2017
Ahead of the national election in September, New Zealand’s pseudo-lefts are seeking to revive illusions in the Labour Party, which is widely seen by workers as a pro-business and pro-war party.
New Zealand Labour Party deepens anti-immigrant campaign
By John Braddock, 4 July 2017
Labour’s proposals, which blame foreigners for the worsening social crisis, are a sign of the right-wing agenda being advanced in the coming election campaign.
New Zealand: Mana Party leader calls for Chinese drug smugglers to be “executed”
By Tom Peters, 30 June 2017
The Maori nationalist party, which is supported by New Zealand’s pseudo-left groups, is joining the Labour Party and NZ First in seeking to whip up anti-Chinese sentiment.
New Zealand: Police suppressed images of bodies in Pike River mine
By Tom Peters, 29 June 2017
Families of the 29 men who died in the 2010 mine disaster have obtained footage showing at least two intact bodies in the mine.
The way forward for New Zealand meat workers
By the Socialist Equality Group (New Zealand), 27 June 2017
A struggle to defend jobs and conditions is only possible through a break with the Meat Workers Union and the Labour Party, the formation of independent workplace committees and a political fight based on a socialist and internationalist program.
New Zealand: Public Service Association complicit in Auckland library job cuts
By Sam Price, 20 June 2017
The union has worked hand-in-hand with the Labour Party-controlled Auckland Council to eliminate around 194 jobs.
Library staff cut in New Zealand’s biggest city
By Sam Price, 19 June 2017
Just months after the election of former Labour Party leader Phil Goff as mayor, Auckland libraries are cutting staff in a cost-saving restructure.
New Zealand government to raise retirement age
By Tom Peters and Daniel Bradley, 15 June 2017
Commentary on last month’s budget did not mention government plans to raise the superannuation entitlement age from 65 to 67.
A reply to ANZAC Heroes author, Maria Gill
By Sam Price and Tom Peters, 14 June 2017
Gill objected to the WSWS review of her book and claimed that she was an “anti-war person.”
US secretary of state visits New Zealand to counter China
By Tom Peters, 9 June 2017
New Zealand’s government has aligned itself more closely with the US military encirclement of China and threats of war against North Korea.
New Zealand: Wellington transport workers face attacks on jobs and conditions
By our correspondents, 6 June 2017
The Labour Party-dominated Wellington Council has awarded bus and rail contracts to private operators to cut costs at the expense of workers.
New Zealand budget deepens austerity
By Tom Peters, 3 June 2017
The election-year budget, fraudulently portrayed as a boon for working families, deepens the assault on health, education and other basic services.
New Zealand: Ashburton meat works closure threatens 370 jobs
By Tom Peters, 26 May 2017
The Meat Workers Union has accepted the closure of Silver Fern Farms’ factory in the South Island town, which is part of a wave of job cuts and attacks on meat workers.
Agreement terms expose New Zealand meat union’s sellout at Taylor Preston
By Tom Peters, 18 May 2017
The pro-company agreement pushed through by the Meat Workers Union entrenches poverty wages and gives Taylor Preston sweeping powers to cut hours and sack workers to boost profits.
New Zealand: Police suppressed video recorded in Pike River mine
By Tom Peters, 17 May 2017
Families of the 29 men who died in the 2010 Pike River Coal mine disaster spoke to the WSWS about their outrage that footage showing it is possible to re-enter the mine was withheld for six years.
Library jobs cut in New Zealand’s biggest city
By Sam Price, 13 May 2017
Just months after the election of former Labour Party leader Phil Goff as mayor, Auckland city is slashing library staff numbers.
New Zealand: Taylor Preston meat workers condemn union pay deal
By Tom Peters, 9 May 2017
The World Socialist Web Site has spoken to workers, who expressed their anger about the sell-out deal pushed through by the Meat Workers Union.
New Zealand: Peace Action Wellington endorses Anzac Day
By John Braddock, 8 May 2017
Far from opposing the Anzac celebrations, the middle-class pacifist group abjectly capitulated to the government’s war propaganda.
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.
New Zealand: Gender pay deal used to promote unions, government
By John Braddock, 3 May 2017
The pay settlement, which follows in the wake of a court decision on equal pay, will not lift chronically underpaid workers out of poverty and grinding exploitation
New Zealand: Anzac Day glorifies imperialist war
By Tom Peters, 29 April 2017
Politicians and the media used the annual holiday to promote war to young people in particular, and to demonise any criticism of the military.
Anti-immigrant campaign intensifies in New Zealand
By Tom Peters, 27 April 2017
The entire political establishment is promoting nationalism and scapegoating immigrants.
New Zealand fast food workers hold nationwide stoppage
By our reporters, 26 April 2017
Workers voted to strike after Restaurant Brands refused a pay rise of 10 cents an hour above the minimum wage each year, for three years
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?
New Zealand meat union pushes through pro-company deal at Taylor Preston
By Tom Peters, 15 April 2017
The contract means another two years of poverty wages for meat workers while the cost of living, especially for housing, continues to soar.
New Zealand government and opposition back US war in Syria
By Tom Peters, 14 April 2017
Both the government and the Labour Party support Trump’s attack on Syria, with Prime Minister Bill English declaring he would consider sending troops.
Book details killing of Afghan civilians in New Zealand SAS raid
By Tom Peters, 5 April 2017
The book Hit and Run, by Nicky Hager and Jon Stephenson, indicates that the New Zealand government and Defence Force have covered up war crimes in Afghanistan.
Australian government withholds report on death of unemployed teenager
By John Harris and Oscar Grenfell, 1 April 2017
The Liberal-National government is covering-up the dangerous conditions facing unemployed workers and young people forced onto Work for Dole programs.
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.
New Zealand Labour Party installs new deputy leader
By John Braddock, 22 March 2017
Jacinda Ardern has been elevated as part of Labour’s desperate attempt to reverse the collapse in support caused by the party’s right-wing policies.
New Zealand union complicit in Cadbury factory closure
By Sam Price, 17 March 2017
The E Tu union opposes any industrial campaign against the closure of the Dunedin factory and 350 job losses.
Australian government flags “foreign policy reset” in response to Trump
By James Cogan, 4 March 2017
The Trump administration’s “America First” agenda has produced consternation within the political and strategic establishment.
Discontent and political volatility dominate Western Australian election
By Mike Head, 4 March 2017
Because of Labor’s pro-business record, the WA election has become a testing ground for Pauline Hanson’s anti-immigrant One Nation party.
New Zealand’s Maori parties sign election pact
By John Braddock, 3 March 2017
Mana and the Maori Party both promote Maori nationalism, which serves to divide workers and block a unified struggle against the ongoing attacks on living standards.
Former police union leader to stand for New Zealand Labour Party
By Matthew Carrington, 28 February 2017
Labour’s new candidate Greg O’Connor is a staunch defender of police brutality and shootings and calls for officers to be more heavily armed.
New Zealand Labour Party feud over candidate selection
By John Braddock, 27 February 2017
Former Alliance MPs are being brought into the Labour Party to give it a phony veneer of concern for the urban poor and Maori.
Ongoing investment plunge in Australia
By Mike Head, 25 February 2017
The slump has serious implications for jobs, economic growth and the government’s large budget deficit.
Inequality deepens in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 24 February 2017
In line with global trends, inequality levels are surging due to financial parasitism and the relentless assault on the working class.
New Zealand: Taylor Preston meat workers take industrial action
By Tom Peters, 21 February 2017
The Meat Workers Union is seeking to isolate and wear down the workers at the Wellington factory in order to impose a sell-out contract.
Australian stripped of citizenship, setting dangerous precedent
By Mike Head, 18 February 2017
By targeting Khaled Sharrouf, the government is continuing a pattern of using individuals demonised by the media to set legal precedents that threaten basic democratic rights.
Families demand investigation into New Zealand mine disaster
By Tom Peters, 17 February 2017
Families of men who died in the 2010 Pike River catastrophe have told a parliamentary hearing that the mine must be searched to recover the bodies and gather evidence to prosecute the company bosses.
Australian government reintroduces sweeping welfare cuts
By Mike Head, 11 February 2017
By resuscitating previously blocked budget cuts, Turnbull’s government is intensifying the assault on welfare entitlements.
New Zealand: Auckland protest against Trump’s anti-Muslim travel bans
By our correspondents, 8 February 2017
Demonstrators in Aotea Square voiced their anger over US President Trump’s actions, which the New Zealand government has refused to condemn.
Trump browbeats Australian “ally”
By Mike Head, 4 February 2017
Just two weeks in office, Trump’s aggressive “America First” economic nationalism and militarism are sending political shockwaves around the world.
Australian prime minister’s speech points to growing political crisis
By Mike Head, 4 February 2017
Donald Trump’s election as US president has sent shockwaves through the parliamentary elite and accelerated the global turn to trade war and war.
CIA files expose New Zealand Labour Party’s anti-nuclear posture
By John Braddock, 30 January 2017
Lange’s anti-nuclear weapons stance was a manoeuvre to put a “left” veneer over Labour’s pro-market assault on the working class.
Pseudo-left’s phony “socialist” campaign in New Zealand by-election
By John Braddock and Tom Peters, 28 January 2017
The campaign by Socialist Aotearoa, like the efforts of Sanders in the US and Corbyn in Britain, is an attempt to block the growing radicalisation of the working class.
Opposition parties feign support for New Zealand mine disaster families
By Tom Peters, 26 January 2017
The Labour Party and its allies, including the trade union bureaucracy, are complicit in the unsafe conditions that led to the 2010 Pike River tragedy.
Thousands protest Trump in New Zealand
By our reporters, 23 January 2017
Workers and young people attending the rallies were concerned about the danger of war, the rise of nationalism and bigotry, and social inequality in the US.
Australian state premier’s sudden resignation highlights political instability
By Mike Head, 21 January 2017
While Mike Baird claimed to be resigning for family reasons, he sent a barbed political message to Prime Minister Turnbull.
New Zealand prisoners subjected to abusive treatment
By Sam Price, 7 January 2017
As New Zealand’s prison population increases, the Ombudsman’s office has revealed widespread abusive and humiliating treatment of inmates.
Holiday season highlights social desperation in New Zealand
By John Braddock, 3 January 2017
Record numbers of people seeking assistance from charities over Christmas reveals deteriorating social conditions.
Soaring prison populations highlight social crisis in Australia
By Robert Campion, 31 December 2016
There has been virtually no media coverage of the spiralling trend, because it raises serious questions about the rising level of social inequality.
Australia: Political instability deepens as Liberal Party faces potential split
By Linda Tenenbaum, 29 December 2016
Returning from a three-month stint in the US, where he fraternised with Trump supporters, right-wing Liberal backbencher Cory Bernardi is testing the waters for a new far-right party.
Australia: Video reveals agonising death of Aboriginal woman in custody
By Zac Hambides, 29 December 2016
Although racism undoubtedly plays a role in the cruel treatment of indigenous people by the police, Dhu’s death points to the high rate of deaths for all prisoners.
Australian government exploits “Christmas terror plot”
By Will Morrow, 24 December 2016
Although the circumstances of the police raids remain unclear, the political establishment and media are using the events to foment an atmosphere of crisis.
Australia: Sacked brewery workers return after union “productivity” deal
By Chris Sadlier, 24 December 2016
The unions have repeatedly boasted of their role in boosting productivity and profitability at the CUB plant.
Trump’s election fuels foreign policy debate in Australia
By Peter Symonds, 22 December 2016
The disputes centre on the basic dilemma facing the ruling class: how to balance between China, Australia’s largest export market, and the US, its longstanding strategic partner.
Professor Marmot’s lectures in Australia chart extent of health inequality
By Cheryl Crisp, 21 December 2016
The lectures establish the connection between social inequality, the living and working conditions of the poor, and the deterioration in their health outcomes.
New Zealand: Labour candidate wins Auckland by-election amid low turnout
By Tom Peters and Sam Price, 14 December 2016
The by-election revealed widespread hostility toward the National Party government and the Labour opposition, which both support austerity, militarism and attacks on immigrants.
New prime minister installed in New Zealand
By Tom Peters, 13 December 2016
John Key’s replacement by his deputy Bill English has exposed tensions within the government, accompanied by demands from big business for harsher austerity measures.
Inquest evidence shows Australian government was responsible for asylum seeker’s death
By Max Newman, 8 December 2016
The medical evidence makes clear that Hamid Kehazaei died as a direct consequence of the refugee detention regime imposed by successive Australian governments.
Australia: Thunderstorm-related deaths expose impact of health cuts
By Kurt Brown, 7 December 2016
Melbourne, a city of more than three million people, ran out of ambulances as thousands of people suffered potentially fatal thunderstorm-related asthma.
Shock resignation by New Zealand Prime Minister
By Tom Peters and John Braddock, 6 December 2016
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announced his resignation from politics after eight years in the role and a decade as leader of the National Party.
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