On Friday morning the police moved in to remove the Occupy Melbourne protesters that had been occupying Melbourne's Town Square. Unfortunately as those assembled at Town Square quickly found out, no-one was really paying much attention in the first place. That can be the only description given the calls for support fell on mostly...
A key report released yesterday by the Australian Government’s Climate Commission has served a grim warning to coastal regions of Western Australia about the effects of climate change.
Last Friday the Australian Government ratified three International Labour Organisation Conventions. This is a significant and welcome development as all three conventions provide important safeguards for workers’ rights.
Despite being two years away from an official federal election, the government’s knife edge majority has seen us move to an apparent permanent election footing. However while hard hat-wearing, baby kissing politicians are becoming more visible on our news screens, quality policy discussions on vital infrastructure issues appear to have taken a permanent back...
In recent times we have seen the debauch of the welfare state, the expansion of cartels, extortionate rent-taking from the financial sector, and the wholesale capture of regulators, the executive and most of parliament by an unholy marriage of corporate interests and secret police doublethink.
The Australian environment movement along with the union movement organised some of the biggest rallies Australia has seen in some time last weekend.
Spain, like many European countries, has been looted by the powerful, who now seek to foist their losses onto the public purse, and thereby onto the public.
Many commentators have pointed out how "soft" the Budget was compared to all the "tough" hype however despite this, it still failed to add additional funds into key areas.
The following essay (first published in Tristan's blog Left Focus) is a response to Australian Treasurer, Wayne Swan - who has recently written a Fabian Essay - whose obvious significance concerns the coming Australian Federal Budget for 2011-12.
Outgoing senator Guy Barnett chairs an inquiry into film and literature classification, and hopes to extend the scheme to all "artwork".
It is testament to man's tremendous ingenuity that we can harness forces of nature so mighty and terrible they threaten not only humanity, but the very survival of every organism on this earth.
In a cynical yet unsurprising move, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has decided that the time is right to play the ‘crackdown on welfare recipients’ card.
A report from Roy Morgan Research recently pointed out that Australian society has become more individualistic and “less available”.
Despite having ironed out some significant flaws of late, it seems that the PM's leadership is in terminal decline.
As part of theangle.org's "Independent Voices" series for the NSW election, we bring you a question and answer session with Janet Mays, Independent Candidate for the Blue Mountains. Passionate about the community, preserving the environment and healthcare, Janet is well-known as the founder of Blue Mountains HEAL (Hospital Equity & Access Lobby).
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally has called Pauline Hanson "a racist" after the announcement of the controversial former One Nation leader's decision to contest a seat in the NSW Upper House.
Victoria’s alcohol and drugs treatment services are failing to keep pace with the growing substance abuse epidemic after a decade of neglect, a report released by the auditor-general has revealed.
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has said uneven indexation increases to pensions aimed at meeting increases in the cost of living will see more than 300,000 unemployed slip further into poverty.
The recent announcement from the Multi-Party Climate Change Committee on a carbon price and mechanism, is avital step forward.
By Alex Schlotzer: There can be little doubt that Tony Abbott has stumbled into a wasps’ nest over his party’s opposition to a flood levy. Unfortunately for him, and his beleaguered colleagues, instead of compromising, he’s decided to try to smash his way out. It all started with what’s been dubbed as the “summer...
By Alex Schlotzer: Social media is the new political battle ground. We saw it during the federal election and the recent Victorian state election. Political parties around the world have quickly jumped on the band-wagon, especially after Obama’s overwhelming success using it during his election campaign. However with its meteoric growth in use and...
Well, another year recedes and we all know what happened last year. There's been much commentary and analysis of the past year's events, however, little has been said of the year ahead. And yep, you guessed it, this piece is a look at the political landscape in 2011.
A month since the Victorian election,the dust has settled and the victorious Liberal/National Coalition led by Ted Baillieu has won control of both houses. Time enough to consider in more depth the outcomes and the rhetoric spun by the parties and players to-date.
Senator Mark Arbib of NSW (as well as Michael Danby, MP for Melbourne Ports, and the retiring Senator Bob McMullan) has been exposed as a ‘protected source’ of the US embassy.
John O'Driscoll examines the recently-revealed dangers of having a US-centric control freak recommending war against the Chinese.
Much will be said over the coming days and weeks about the campaigns run by the parties and different high profile independents during the Victorian state election.
The NSW Government's decision to end its support for the Hunter's unpopular Tillegra dam has been described as a major victory for the community by the NSW Greens.
The second part of a series on the Victorian election. This article originally appeared in Tristran's blog Left Focus.
In this the first of a two-part series, theangle.org publishes a summary of Greens policies in the upcoming Victorian state election. This article was originally published at Left Focus.
The Victorian state election is proving to be another series of negative attacks being largely directed by the lacklustre efforts from the major parties.
The Victorian ALP betrayed their fears about losing government with a ferocious attack on the Greens on the day the Premier asked the Governor to issue the election writs.
The Australian Human Rights Commission today released its 2010 Christmas Island immigration detention report which recommends an end to mandatory detention and offshore processing on the islands.
The NSW Greens and the Labor state government have announced the result of negotiations to reform election funding and donations reform package in NSW.
As the minority Labor government settles in and things are relatively back to normal, I think it's a good time to look back at the effectiveness of the online battles fought during the federal election.
It wasn't too unexpected that the campaign against the Greens in the current Victorian election campaign would descend into vile, disingenuous and misleading tactics.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has built himself a reputation over the course of his political career as a supposed convictions politician.
Aid agency Oxfam Australia yesterday welcomed Australian foreign minister Kevin Rudd's proposal to give 0.15 per cent of Australia’s gross national income to least developed countries, saying the move would benefit "the poorest of the poor."
Kevin Rennie, writing in Global Voices, finds the distraction of the footy finals season and the negotiations over the first federal hung parliament in Australia in seventy years as the reason the mainstream media in the country has delivered scant attention to the real reasons behind the UN Millennium Development Goals Summit in New...
NSW Greens MP John Kaye has claimed Premier Kristina Keneally has failed in her attempt to implement meaningful campaign funding reform, describing the premier's announcement yesterday as a "lost opportunity."
BHP Billiton chief Marius Kloppers has called on the Gillard Government to introduce a tax on carbon ahead of international agreements to protect Australia's economic interests.
In the short time that the formal agreement for the Labor Party to form a minority government has been in existence, the Liberal-led Coalition has acted more like a pack of shrill sore losers than a 'stable' alternative government.
Newly installed Minister for Climate Change, Greg Combet, has said one of his main priorities will be to work towards a price on carbon.
If there has been one noticeable outcome from the outcome of the election, it has been that the Liberals cannot cope with a situation where they have to negotiate for 'power'.
A UN human rights committee has said discrimination against Aborigines is "embedded" in Australian society, criticising what it describes as the unacceptable level of social disadvantage experienced by Indigenous people in the country.
Well apparently we're in turmoil because of the outcome from the weekend's federal election.
NSW Greens MP Dr John Kaye has warned that probable domination of the state's Upper House by conservatives at the next election will do nothing to fix the state's problems.
The combined swing in primary vote against Liberal and Labor is almost entirely represented in the increased Greens primary vote, with the rest being distributed among the minor parties and independent.
Left Focus's Tristan Ewins gives us his perspective of the ongoing drama of Election 2010 and what went wrong for Labor.
By Viscount Doyle of Rabbit Flat: (August 22 2010, on the election of a hung parliament) In this din and bitter bilge Dustily, dankly Fine spots of smoke dust coldly strolling through sunlight beam The Government is fallen No replacement has risen to take its place The cartoon narrative of race and victor is...
Melbourne youth workers are calling on the Brumby government to release a long-overdue policy framework that would bolster supports for vulnerable young people
By “On the Ground in Melbourne” As expected in one of the closest races in the country, the last week has been a tornado of activity. Although there have been reports of tense moments reported at pre-polling stations, these haven’t been overly serious but reflect the intensity with which the Greens and the ALP...
Greens' candidate for the seat of Macquarie Carmel McCallum talks to theangle's Rich Bowden about her chances of victory in the western Sydney/Blue Mountains seat, the issues that most concern voters and her opinion of the strength of the asylum seeker issue.
As we approach polling day on Saturday 21st August, one of the most watched seats will be the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro. However with 48 hours of campaigning still to go, have the Liberals conceded the iconic seat?
One of the key battles in the country as we approach the finish line in Election 2010 is Lindsay Tanner's old seat of Melbourne where the Greens and Labor are battling it out.
An integrated water management system, though essential to protect developing nations facing climate change, is but one part of a wider “climate proofing” system, a report released by the UK-based sustainable development NGO Forum for the Future has said.
In this article Tristan Ewins of Left Focus examines some issues from a progressive perspective that could be crucial for Australians still to decide their vote for the August 21 2010 Australian Federal Election.
The last week of campaigning for the knife-edge seat of Melbourne has been a fairly uneventful affair as campaigns go, especially given how much is riding on this seat for the ALP and the Greens.
Greens' communications spokesperson, Senator Scott Ludlam, has launched a more comprehensive approach to cyber safety, as an alternative to the Government's contentious internet filter.
John Passant makes the case for the nationalisation of the Commonwealth Bank in his blog En Passant
There's a reason Tony Abbott didn't show up to the announcement of the Coaliton's national broadband policy. Lets face it, commentators and pundits have been too polite to describe it for what it is — a sh!t policy.
Lee Rhiannon, former NSW Upper House member, and now Federal Senate candidate for NSW speaks with theangle.org's Rich Bowden on accountability for corporate donations to political parties, how the Greens' policies look to take advantage of a green economy and outlines what she sees as voter frustration over the Government's inability to stand up...
By Rich Bowden: Rich Bowden talks to Major-General Michael Keating, chair of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM), about the growing support amongst Australians for a republic, how the ARM is raising the profile of the debate and the Major-General’s personal reasons for supporting an Australian Head of State. Rich Bowden: The republic debate appears to...
As polls continue to show Opposition Leader Tony Abbott in with a real chance of becoming prime minister later this month, ACTU Media Co-ordinator comments on the lack of scrutiny of the volatile leader from the media and lists the questions the media should be asking.
By “On The Ground in Melbourne” There has been a marked difference in the pace of the campaigns being waged by the Greens’ Adam Bandt and Labor’s Cath Bowtell here in the marginal seat of Melbourne. While both have increased their activity in the lead up to polling day, the Greens’ campaign is moving...
An opinion poll carried out by Auspoll on behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and WWF-Australia has found overwhelming support for more government spending on the environment, according to a WWF media release.
As part of a continuing series on the issues facing voters in selected marginal seats, theangle's Rich Bowden talks to Amy Bell, Independent candidate for the NSW seat of Macquarie.
Despite the proliferation of turgid slogans, the 2010 campaign is shaping up as the direct opposite to that of 2007.
By Rich Bowden: As part of our Election 2010 coverage of the country’s marginal seats, we talk to Suzie Wright, Greens candidate for the seat of Lindsay in outer western Sydney. Suzie tells us of the issues facing voters, the importance of Greens’ preferences and her take on the alleged “dog whistle” tactics employed...
One of the key marginals in the federal election 2010 is the Victorian seat of Melbourne. Our political correspondent reviews the candidates' performances in the battle between the Greens and Labor and finds the situation on the ground is not being clearly reflected in the mainstream media.
Peak hour commuters arriving at Melbourne’s Flinders Street, Sydney’s Martin Place and Brisbane’s Roma Street railway stations last week could not avoid the WorkChoices: whatever the name, never again campaign.
NSW Senate candidate Cheryl Kernot has revealed she and her running mate have lodged a split preference ticket similar to that which used to be practiced by the Australian Democrats.
Reading back over my very first article for theangle.org it's interesting to note the changes (or lack of them) to Australia’s policies regarding treatment of asylum seekers.
One of the more intriguing aspects of the 2010 election has been the rise of SenatorOnline, a direct representation model which aims to give Australians the opportunity to directly influence Parliamentary votes through the Internet.
The announcement yesterday by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott that a Coalition Government would end the current protection policy of Australia's waters highlights a lack of leadership over marine parks, according to environment group WWF-Australia.
As part of theangle's election coverage of marginal seats, Simon Hukin gives us an extensive overview of the WA seat of Canning including the main issues confronting the candidates and the most likely outcome.
The federal election 2010 is now well and truly underway and early observations suggest the mainstream media are taking rather a scattergun approach to the campaign.
Key environmental groups have greeted Prime Minister Julia Gillard announcement of a "citizen's assembly" on climate change a cool response.
Political commentator John Passant muses on the efforts to bury WorkChoices and concludes it is very much alive in Labor's Fair Work Act.
A Galaxy poll conducted for WWF-Australia has shown support for an emissions trading scheme continue to grow in the Queensland marginal seats of Brisbane, Bowman, Petrie and Ryan.
Just twenty-three days after deposing Kevin Rudd, our ranga (redhead) Prime Minister Julia Gillard has called a general election for 21 August. The Oz blogosphere is looking for substance not just spin in this campaign.
The treatment of deposed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is set to play a major role in the federal election campaign as early polls continue to echo voter disquiet over the manner of his ousting.
On 9 April 2010, the Minister of Immigration Chris Evans announced changes to Australian immigration processing, whereby the processing of asylum applications for both Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers was stopped.
With today's opinion polls showing the Gillard experiment is working for Labor, despite a number of gaffes and missteps in the three weeks of her reign as leader, theangle's Alex Schlotzer analyses the problems for the Coalition Opposition.
Melbourne-based writer, blogger and activist Kevin Rennie originally wrote this article on an East Timor solution for refugees for an international audience as part of the European Journalism Centre's Th!nk3 blogging project. We reprint it here with his kind permission.
when you look at the statistic that refugee and humanitarian visas make up just 0.03 percent of all visas granted last year, you wonder why this issue has become so politicized and such a sticky policy issue leading into the election.
MP3 and transcript of Julia Gillard's controversial 'Moving Forward' speech at the Lowy Institute yesterday is available from the institute's website here. Stay tuned at theangle.org for more discussion of the asylum seeker policies proposed by all parties in the lead up to the next federal election.
Refugee advocates have expressed concern over Prime Minister Julia Gillard's tough new approach to asylum seekers as the country prepares for a federal election as early as August.
Can't say that Prime Minister Gillard's almost immediate accommodation with the mining executives wasn't expected. But spare a thought for former PM Kevin Rudd as he contemplates the reasons for his removal by the Labor party,
A conference focusing on countries' adaptability to climate change has been described as a "turning point" for climate change science.
The Australian Government has signalled its intention to assist the development of its near neighbours' water infrastructure funding a multi-million dollar program to improve people's access to an adequate water supply and sanitation facilities.
It's been some time since we've seen Labor in government and last week's removal of Kevin Rudd as leader revealed their inexperience and obsessions with opinion polls.
While we were away the Prime Minister apparently went into self-destruct mode. The Emissions Trading Scheme was scuttled. The budget was judged as lack-lustre but politically safe.
