Anthony Albanese’s election win has given him a dominant position in parliament, with the Coalition reduced to a demoralised rump.
The election saw Peter Dutton’s embrace of Trumpism decisively rejected. Yet the Liberals’ talk of dropping his policies triggered a temporary split with the Nationals.
The Coalition is staying together, for now, but looks set for further infighting as right-wing MPs question even its rhetorical commitment to climate action, calling for an end to support for net zero emissions by 2050. The Nationals even want to stick with support for nuclear power.
The Liberals’ irrelevance gives Labor wide space to map out an agenda for change. But Albanese is determined to cling to the same right-wing approach of his last three years, faithfully serving the interests of capitalism.
Practically the government’s first decision was to show its support for mining company profits, approving Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project for another 45 years.
This carbon bomb will produce gas for export releasing four billion tonnes of carbon emissions over its life, equivalent to ten years of Australia’s emissions. Even its domestic emissions every year from gas mining and processing will be equivalent to another coal power station.
The decision to let the project run until 2070 makes a mockery of the idea of reaching net zero emissions by 2050.
Labor’s new Environment Minister Murray Watt has also said that finalising new Environmental Protection laws, stalled before the election after pressure from mining companies in WA, is another priority.
He has already shown Labor’s intention to bend over backwards for business through calling on new Liberal leader Sussan Ley to help pass the legislation saying, “We know the business community is keen to see reform.”
Sanctions on Israel now
As Israel launches a horrifying new stage in the genocide in Gaza, withholding aid to starve the entire population and openly setting out to ethnically cleanse Palestinians, demands for sanctions are growing louder and louder.
A joint statement from the British, French and Canadian governments on 19 May declared, “We strongly oppose the expansion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable” and threatening to impose “targeted sanctions”.
The European Union also announced a review of its trade and cooperation agreement with Israel.
Spain’s Prime Minister called Israel a “genocidal state” and his government has urged other countries to impose an arms embargo.
This is course deeply hypocritical from leaders who are continuing to arm and fund Israel.
But it shows that Western governments are under growing pressure to act. It followed enormous protests around Nakba Day, with half a million taking to the streets in London.
And it increases the pressure on Anthony Albanese, who has tried to pretend Australia has no role in what’s happening in Gaza and can do nothing.
Albanese wants to keep protecting Israel as part of Australia’s support for US imperialism. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles even said the government was “very much up for” a discussion on further increasing military spending, after meeting Trump’s Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Albanese refused to sign on to the call to consider sanctions on Israel from Britain, France and Canada. Yet Australia currently has sanctions on 17 other countries, including Russia, Myanmar and Iran.
The union peak body the ACTU has called for an end to “all military trade (including parts and components) with Israel” and 1000 artists signed a statement calling for a total arms and energy embargo.
Even from within the Labor Party there have been calls for sanctions from MP Ed Husic and former Foreign Ministers Gareth Evans and Bob Carr—albeit limited to targeted sanctions on individual members of the Israeli government.
The scale of Israel’s depravity and the unending horrors in Gaza means there is renewed scope to broaden the movement for Palestine.
There needs to be immediate sanctions on weapons exports, including parts for the F-35 fighter jets, and a halt to all trade. Israel’s ambassador should be expelled.
But to get that kind of action, the movement needs to build bigger demonstrations by reaching out more broadly, to unions, local communities and other organisations, with well planned and promoted actions, not just routine weekly rallies.
Students at Sydney Uni mobilised over 200 people to a Student General Meeting through weeks of leafleting and announcements in classes, despite serious intimidation from management. Building on campus drew up to 400 students at Melbourne Uni to a protest on Nakba Day.
In particular, the ACTU statement is an opportunity to build deeper roots in the unions. Union action was crucial for the fight against South African apartheid and the Vietnam war.
Building an anti-imperialist movement with more grassroots campaigning and protests is what’s needed to fight Albanese’s right-wing government and the system it stands for.
