2024

On 5 October, the National Council of the NTEU voted to endorse an institutional academic boycott of Israel.

Crackdown on the right to protest for Palestine at uni

Universities are cracking down on Palestine activism in a blatant attack on free speech and the right to protest.

ANU faces fight against restructures and hundreds of job cuts

Over 400 staff and students attended a rally on 16 October at ANU in defense of jobs and pay, marching to the Chancelry building and office of the Vice-Chancellor.

Over 100 days fighting for permanent visas

Almost exactly five years ago, then Immigration Minister Peter Dutton tried, and failed, to deport the Tamil family from Biloela to Sri Lanka.

Industrial action the key to ending CFMEU administration

CFMEU members in NSW are set to strike on 12 November in protest at the Albanese government placing the CFMEU into administration.

Disasters in Spain and Florida a sign of growing climate chaos

Last month, Hurricane Helene and Milton ripped through Florida, killing 241 people and wiping out hundreds of billions in homes and infrastructure.

New study says offsets scheme a sham

Many of Australia’s offset schemes remove almost no carbon from the atmosphere, a new study has found, despite claiming hundreds of million of dollars worth of credits.

Why hasn’t the US restrained Israel?

US President Joe Biden has spent the past 13 months tut-tutting over the death toll as Israel has committed genocide. But the flow of American weapons to the IDF has never stopped.

China’s rise and workers’ resistance

Griffin Phillips reviews a new book that charts China’s emergence as an economic power, the growth of an immense working class and the likely turmoil ahead.

Sub-imperialist powers fuel Sudan’s civil war

Sudan is being ravaged by a civil war between the country’s generals. Outside powers are feeding the conflict—but on this occasion it is mostly a struggle between sub-imperialist regional powers, not the world’s biggest states.

Israel’s bloody agenda in Lebanon and Hezbollah’s resistance

Hezbollah emerged as a resistance movement to Israeli occupation and has humbled Israel before but recent years have shown its limitations, argues James Supple.

The US working class—a history of radicalism and resistance

Far from any natural conservatism, ordinary people in the US have a history of bitter and explosive struggles against exploitation and racism, writes Jacob Starling.

Last minute lurch left not enough to save Queensland Labor

Labor has lost office in Queensland after nearly a decade. While early polling indicated an LNP landslide, in the end Labor managed to avoid total humiliation—but still suffered a substantial 7 per cent swing.

Now’s the time for a fightback against Albanese’s right-wing rule

Albanese’s right-wing agenda is bringing Labor unstuck. There is a widespread sense that he is running a useless government that is failing working class people.

Threat to CFMEU EBAs shows need to keep fighting administration

For the second time in a month, tens of thousands of CFMEU members across the country took strike action on 17 and 18 September to oppose the Labor-imposed administration of the union.

Support grows for CFMEU across the union movement

Support for the CFMEU has grown in the weeks since Labor imposed administration.

Melb Uni students rally to cut ties with Israeli university

Eighty students joined a Students Against War rally at Unimelb on 10 September demanding the university cut its ties with Israel.

SGM for Palestine draws 500 students at UNSW

More than 500 students showed up to join a Student General Meeting for Palestine at UNSW on 25 September.

Labor ramps up missile production as part of US war plans

The recent brutal suppression of protests against the Land Forces Expo in Melbourne shows Albanese’s Labor government is deadly serious about preparing for war on China and ramping up arms manufacturing in Australia.

Labor weakens environment law to please mining companies

The Albanese government has continued to prioritise profit over the environment, signalling their intention to make a deal with the Liberals to water down the powers of their proposed environment regulator, Environment Protection Australia.

‘Green’ Kurri Kurri plant to run on diesel

Almost three years after Anthony Albanese promised to build a new hydrogen-powered generator in Kurri Kurri in NSW using public funds, the plant is now likely to run entirely on diesel fuel for its first year.

Refugee encampments push Labor for visa justice

Despite persistent harassment from local councils and police, after more than 80 days the refugee encampments demanding permanent visas are still standing strong in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.

‘Black Thursday for the Kanak people’ as French repression continues in Kanaky

Four months after protests first broke out in Kanaky-New Caledonia, the French state continues to repress the Indigenous Kanak people.

Warning from Europe—fascists top poll in state election in Germany

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has made major gains in Germany’s recent state elections—even as it moves in a more openly fascist direction.

What has one year of Gaza genocide taught us?

After a year of slaughter, Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza shows no sign of stopping.

One year resisting Gaza genocide—is freedom for Palestine any closer?

David Glanz looks at what the movement for Palestine has achieved in the last year and how it can move forward.

US election—falling behind Kamala Harris no answer to Trump

Fear of another Trump presidency means much of the left in the US is swinging behind Kamala Harris, weakening the movements that are needed to win real change, writes Matilda Fay.

Why is Albanese’s Labor so useless and right-wing?

Anthony Albanese’s Labor government has disappointed many who voted for it and betrayed others like the CFMEU. James Supple looks at why Labor has sunk so low.

Albanese complicit as Israel rains terror on Lebanon

Israel has murdered Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and is now on the brink of all out war in Lebanon.

CFMEU members stand firm against lockout from emboldened bosses at Etex

Around 40 CFMEU and ETU members at the multinational building materials manufacturer Etex in Matraville, Sydney are standing strong after being locked out for almost five weeks.

Build the resistance as Albanese and Labor race to the right

Albanese’s appalling union busting attack on the CFMEU with the support of the Liberals is a new low, as Labor lurches even further to the right

All out to defend the CFMEU—Stop Labor’s foul union busting attack

The Albanese Labor government has imposed administration on the whole CFMEU construction division.

Why the CFMEU is right to break bad laws

Australia has some of the most restrictive anti-strike laws in the developed world.

Albanese fans Islamophobia in attack on Palestine protests

The Albanese government is stirring up Islamophobia to try to demonise the Palestine movement and justify its efforts to keep out Palestinian refugees from Gaza.

Student activist Bea Tucker’s expulsion overturned

Student activist Bea Tucker has had their expulsion from the ANU in Canberra overturned by a university appeals committee, in a victory for free speech and the campaign for Palestine.

NTEU members back BDS and Palestine

Support for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel within the university staff union, the NTEU, is growing.

Refugee protest camps keep fighting to demand Labor deliver permanent visas

Refugees have begun a series of continuous 24-hour protests for permanent visas, with encampments in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane as well as protests in Adelaide.

Black incarceration crisis deepens as Labor races to the right

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are the most incarcerated group on the face of the planet.

Labor backs plans for more US warplanes in northern Australia

The high-level AUSMIN talks between Australia and the US in August underlined the Albanese government’s commitment to deepening its ties with the US empire.

Racist riots in Britain as far right takes to the streets

A surge of far right rallies and violence across Britain and Northern Ireland aimed at refugees and migrants shocked millions last month.

Fight for change must continue after students bring down Bangladeshi regime

In early August, a mass student uprising in Bangladesh overthrew the 15-year rule of dictator Sheikh Hasina.

Why the West hates Iran

US and Australian hostility to Iran is not driven by concern at the regime’s repression at home but by competition for influence in the Middle East, writes Miro Sandev.

Fighting the far right: Lessons from the 1930s popular front

The Popular Front against fascism in France in the 1930s weakened resistance and meant restraining one of the greatest workers’ upsurges in history, writes James Supple

Critical care—nurses’ unions and the AIDS crisis

In November 1982, the first case of AIDS was diagnosed in Australia. In the 1980s, life expectancy for those diagnosed with AIDS was three years. Geraldine Fela’s new book tells the story of the nurses on the frontline of the response. She spoke with Solidarity’s David Glanz.

Union power on display as CFMEU rallies against administration

Tens of thousands of construction workers walked off the job to protest the attack on the CFMEU on Tuesday in a nationwide strike.

Israeli aggression threatens wider war as support for Gaza spreads

Israel’s escalating aggression is again risking a war across the Middle East.

Mass meeting at Sydney Uni votes to cut ties with Israel and back Palestine’s right to resist

Over 600 students at Sydney Uni have voted overwhelmingly not just to cut the uni’s ties with Israel, but affirming the right of Palestinians to armed resistance and endorsing one, secular, democratic state in Palestine from the River to the sea.

CFMEU’s fight for workers’ rights at Brisbane’s Cross River Rail is no crime

As Solidarity goes to press industrial action at Queensland’s biggest infrastructure project, Brisbane’s Cross River Rail, continues.

Resisting the attack on the CFMEU

The CFMEU is facing a major attack that could leave the union seriously weakened and strip back safety, conditions and wages across the industry.

The truth about the claims against the CFMEU

Solidarity looks at the justifications for attacking the union and what administration will mean.

Julian Assange’s freedom a blow against the warmongers

Julian Assange is finally free, returning to Australia in June after accepting a plea deal following five years in London’s Belmarsh prison.

New details on how Australia pushed the US for nuclear subs

Andrew Fowler's new book documents in meticulous detail the way in which Scott Morrison’s government campaigned to win US support for the project.

Imane Khelif row exposes sexism and transphobia in sport

A toxic wave of sexism, racial stereotypes and transphobic hate was unleashed after Algerian boxer Imane Khelif beat Angela Carini in just 46 seconds in the Paris Olympics.

Mass protests topple Bangladesh’s authoritarian leader

Bangladesh’s authoritarian leader Sheikh Hasina has resigned and fled the country following weeks of mass student demonstrations.

Kamala Harris’ record is no different to Joe Biden’s

The Democratic Party establishment is piling in behind Kamala Harris after Joe Biden bowed out of the United States presidential race.

How Labor’s union busting broke the BLF

There are lessons for the CFMEU today from the way Labor succeeded in breaking the Builders' Labourers Federation in 1986, argues Tom Orsag.

Settler-colonialism and the working class in Israel and Australia

Although Australia and Israel share a history of settler colonialism, workers here have history of fighting for Indigenous rights while those in Israel cannot, writes Paddy Gibson.

Is racism the cause of genocide and war?

Racism accompanies every major war, and while it can serve as a justification the fundamental cause of war is imperialism and capitalist competition, argues Jack Stubley

NSW nurses rally to demand 15 per cent pay hike

Thousands of nurses and midwives across NSW held protests outside hospitals in late July as part of their campaign for an immediate 15 per cent pay rise.

Former WA Labor member speaks out on Gaza: ‘There’s a lot of members resigning or expressing discontent’

Adam Demir, who resigned from Labor's WA Multicultural branch, spoke to Solidarity about Fatima Payman and the party's betrayal over Gaza.

Vic teachers win union to stand with Palestine

Members of Teachers and School Staff for Palestine made a big impact as the Australian Education Union conference in Melbourne took significant steps in solidarity with Palestine.

Payman’s stand shows pressure on Albanese over Gaza still growing

Senator Fatima Payman’s resignation shows that the pressure on the Labor government over Gaza is still growing.

Israel fails to crush Gaza resistance after nine months of horror

Israel has failed to achieve its goal of eliminating Hamas after nine months of war and the butchering of 38,000 Palestinians in Gaza.

Fighting for Gaza after the end of Sydney Uni encampment

Although all encampments except those at Canberra, Wollongong and Newcastle have ended, the Palestine movement has emerged stronger from the experience.

Universities crack down on student protests for Palestine

Melbourne Uni has brought misconduct charges against 21 students involved in the encampment for Gaza and the sit-in at Mahmoud’s Hall.

Pine Gap base aiding Israel’s operations in Gaza

The Albanese government is directly aiding Israel’s war in Gaza through allowing the sharing of intelligence information from the spy base at Pine Gap.

Dutton’s nuclear power plan aims to extend coal power

Coalition leader Peter Dutton has attempted to breathe new life into nuclear power as a serious energy policy option.

Children the losers as the right fights its reading wars

As if relishing his power to demoralise teachers and take the crisis in schools to new lows, Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll has joined the other state and federal education ministers throwing their weight behind the right wing of the reading wars.

Eleven years of refugee torture, enough!

Eleven years ago, on 19 July 2013, the then Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, announced that the government had struck a deal to transfer all asylum-seekers who arrived by boat to Manus Island in PNG.

British Labour takes office but little enthusiasm on show

Labour won a big majority in Britain’s election. But the results saw a surge towards the far right Reform UK party while pro-Palestine independents won five seats.

How can the rise of France’s fascists be stopped?

Despite the fascists’ failure to take government in France, they will continue rising if the left relies on electoral deals to halt them, argues Cooper Forsyth

Why are union leaders dragging their feet over Palestine?

Chris Breen examines why most union leaders still haven’t mobilised their members to support Palestine, despite the efforts at rank-and-file action

Islam, imperialism and the fight for change

Islamic politics inspire some of the most powerful movements against imperialism in the Middle East. Luke Ottavi looks at how the left should respond

Why revolution is the only route to real change

Radical parties that have tried to introduce sweeping change through parliament have continually failed, argues James Supple, because the system is set up to stop them

Pressure gets to Albanese as anger at genocide complicity grows

The pressure from eight months of protests is getting to the government. Albanese has launched a wild series of attacks on Palestine protests and The Greens.

Wider support needed to force universities to break ties with Israel

The Gaza solidarity encampment at the University of Sydney has rejected an offer from management designed to have the camp clear out “and not resume”.

Construction workers walk off to support ANU encampment

Construction workers walked off the job at ANU in Canberra to support the Gaza solidarity encampment after a series of threats from the university.

Palestine activist expelled at ANU

ANU has decided to expel student activist, Palestine supporter and participant in the encampment, Beatrice Tucker, for comments they made in an ABC radio interview.

Labor dancing to Dutton’s racist tune on immigration detainees—again

On 7 June, Immigration Minister Andrew Giles caved in yet again to the Coalition’s relentless racist campaigning against immigration detainees.

Reject Dutton’s racism—migrants aren’t to blame for housing crisis

Liberal opposition leader Peter Dutton is blaming migrants for the housing crisis gripping Australia but it is rich Australian investors and the government that are to blame.

CFMEU strikes for safety and conditions on Brisbane’s Cross River Rail

Construction workers on Brisbane’s $7 billion Cross River Rail project staged a one-week strike last month as part of a major dispute over substandard conditions.

NSW Labor funds coal power extension in climate failure

The Minns Labor government in NSW has struck a deal with Origin Energy to extend the life of the coal-fired Eraring power station from its original closure date of 2025 until 2027.

British Labour set for office as purge against the left continues

Britain’s Labour Party is a near certainty to win the snap general election on 4 July.

University of California workers strike for Palestine

More than 30,000 workers across six campuses of the University of California have taken weeks of strike action in solidarity with Palestine protests on campus.

Voters punish ruling ANC in South African election

The African National Congress, the party of Nelson Mandela, has slumped below 50 per cent of the vote for the first time in the general election held at the end of May.

Palestine movement can’t afford to dismiss Labor dissidents and unionists

Involving dissenting Labor members in the Palestine movement is necessary to pull in the large number of Labor supporters and unionists we need to win, argues Ian Rintoul

The Kanaky-New Caledonia revolt and imperialism in the Pacific

Riots in Kanaky-New Caledonia are a response to France’s attempts to rule out any hope of independence for the Indigenous people, writes Paddy Gibson.

Workers and the alternative to capitalism

The history of workers’ struggles shows the possibility of a socialism based on mass democratic control of society, writes Judy Cox.

Public servants attacked over open letter opposing Israeli arms trade

More than 2000 public servants have signed an open letter since 30 May, condemning the Australian Government for its complicity in the Palestinian genocide.

Albanese aids Israel and smears protests as horror unfolds in Rafah

Israel has begun its long-threatened assault on Rafah. Hundreds have already been killed, thousands more will likely die as Israel’s savagery continues.

Encampments show spread of solidarity with Gaza

The spread of student encampments for Palestine around the world has been an inspiration for all those fighting to end Israel’s genocidal slaughter in Gaza.

ANU threatens to discipline students and disperse Gaza solidarity camp

ANU management in Canberra is demanding a number of students leave their encampment in solidarity with Gaza, threatening them with disciplinary action if they refuse.

Labor’s cost of living band-aids in budget leave real problems ignored

Labor’s budget is about making it look like the government is acting on the cost of living, in the hope of dampening the anger workers feel about it in time for an election in the next year.

Labor backs more money for weapons in $330 billion plan

In the run-up to the budget, Labor unveiled its new National Defence Strategy, announcing over $330 billion in spending on new weapons and military hardware over the next decade as it gears up for war on China.

Unions support Palestine at Sydney 1 May rally

Thousands of workers downed tools to march through Sydney on 1 May, with construction and maritime unions making May Day an annual stop work rally.

Labor locks in gas expansion in new crime against the climate

Labor’s new gas strategy pledges its support for a massive fossil fuel expansion, going all out to back mining industry profits.

Approval laws delayed in further effort to do the bidding of coal and gas industry

New environmental protection laws promised before the last election have been put indefinitely on hold, in another effort by the Albanese government to serve the coal and gas industry.

Ukraine faltering as US agrees to feed in more weapons

After months of delays, the US Congress has approved a further $90 billion of aid as Ukraine faces growing pressure from fresh Russian advances.

Haunting Holocaust film that resonates amid Gaza genocide

Director Jonathan Glazer’s speech after winning Best Picture at this year’s Academy Awards punctured the banality of the ceremony.

Direct action, mass protests and the fight for Palestine

Direct action protests that disrupt business as usual should not be seen as an end in themselves but as part of a broader strategy of mass action, writes Adam Adelpour

Frantz Fanon—Decolonisation and violence

Frantz Fanon’s writings on racism and the difference between colonial violence and violent resistance to it remain valuable today, writes Miro Sandev

Blood for oil—Why the West arms Israel

Control of the Middle East has been a key focus for the world’s big powers due to its immense reserves of oil, and Israel remains vital to preserving it, writes James Supple

End systemic pressures inside the family to end violence against women

The problem is not straightforwardly men’s power over women but the unbearable pressure on everybody to perform socially recognisable gender roles in a nuclear family.

Melbourne Uni students occupy to cut ties with Israel

Students at Melbourne Uni have occupied the Arts West building three weeks after they began their encampment in solidarity with Gaza.

NTEU at Sydney Uni backs the academic boycott of Israeli universities

Sydney University staff have passed an unprecedented motion that will push forward the movement in Australia for the boycott, divestment and sanction of Israel.

Albanese keeps backing Israel even as aid workers murdered

After six months of slaughter, Israel’s atrocities in Gaza are becoming more and more obscene.

Australia’s defence industry is arming Israel’s genocide

Recent months have seen an increasing number of protests directed at the arms industry in Australia and its role in Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Pine Gap aiding Israel’s war

Spy base Pine Gap is almost certainly playing a key role feeding intelligence to Israel for use against Gaza.

Albanese’s weakness risks LGBTIQ+ rights in schools

In a fresh demonstration of the federal government’s cowardice, Anthony Albanese has sought Peter Dutton’s support to take a bipartisan approach to religious discrimination laws that risk opening LGBTIQ+ people up to further bigotry.

AUKUS and the nuclear subs: delayed, dirty and dangerous

The AUKUS military pact is burning huge sums of money and has the potential to make Australia a global destination for nuclear waste, as well as accelerating the drive to war between China and the US.

Dutton’s nuclear push intended to delay climate action

The Coalition’s Peter Dutton has launched a push for nuclear power. The move is a product of hostility to any serious increase in renewable energy.

Labor governments set to throw more Indigenous kids in prison

State governments nationwide are stepping up their war on Indigenous kids, with measures that will see more children in jail.

Labor wants Trump-like powers to deport refugees

The new Bill is Labor’s latest shocking, and desperate, measure to trash refugee rights.

Despite Labor’s claims, cost of living still rising faster than wages

Workers are still feeling the cost of living crunch, with Anthony Albanese refusing to do anything that would make a real difference.

Modi’s Islamophobia on full display as India faces election

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on track to win India’s upcoming election, giving him a third term in office and allowing him to cement his reactionary and racist agenda.

Antisemitism and the origins of Zionism

Zionism emerged as a response to antisemitism in Europe but its aim of building a state with the support of imperialist powers has proven disastrous, writes Jacob Starling

How colonial war led to revolution in Portugal

The revolution in Portugal beginning 50 years ago in 1974 with a revolt in the army, saw workers take control of hundreds of factories, writes Luke Ottavi

How Indonesia’s people fought colonial rule

A new book by author David Van Reybrouck reveals a fascinating history of resistance to colonialism in Indonesia, writes Simon Basketter

The hidden history of Jewish anti-Zionism and radicalism

Clare Fester reviews a new book that looks at the history of Jewish working class radicalism and struggle that Zionism has sought to hide.

Albanese an accessory to murder as Israel bombs and starves Gaza

After five months and well over 31,000 dead, there is no end in sight to Israel’s onslaught on Gaza.

Israel starving Gazans to death

Gaza is on the brink of widespread starvation, with Israel refusing international appeals to let aid shipments in.

Student Gaza protest shows challenge ahead

The nationwide “Student Strike for Palestine” on 29 February showed both the potential and the striking amount of work still to be done to win students to taking action over Gaza.

Smears of antisemitism over Palestine ring hollow

As the death toll mounts and hunger stalks Gaza, supporters of Israel are finding it harder to defend the genocide. Instead, they are turning to smearing supporters of Palestine as antisemitic.

Labor’s naval build-up pours billions more into war

In late February, the war-hawk Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, announced Labor would spend an extra $11.1 billion to double the number of Navy surface ships, taking total naval spending in the next decade to an eye-wateringly obscene $54.2 billion.

‘I’m comfortable’ says Albanese as Labor embraces offshore detention

When 39 asylum-seekers were discovered at Beagle Bay, 150 kilometres north of Broome on 19 February, Opposition leader and former offshore detention jailer, Peter Dutton, thought he was on a winner for the Dunkley by-election just a couple of weeks away on 2 March.