The Guardian • Issue #1955 • March 29, 2021
Omnibus bill wounded but not buried
The Coalition’s omnibus industrial relations bill was torn apart in the Senate on Thursday 18th March, leaving only the section on casuals intact. On the same day Parliament passed a bill for the (pre-COVID base rate) unemployment benefit (JobSeeker) to be increased by an insulting and punitive $25 a week – just $3.57 a day extra – when the COVID supplement ceases at the end of March. JobKeeper is being withdrawn at the same time.
Read moreUnder capitalism corporate greed supersedes peoples’ needs
Yesterday JobKeeper ended, and the Coronavirus Supplement will end later this week. These payments have been vital in ensuring that workers can keep their jobs and those already on some form of government assistance get the extra help they need during this once-in-a-century pandemic.
Read moreNational crisis for Australian renters
The JobSeeker supplement ended on 28th March; four states have already extended their moratoria or do not currently have protections in place for tenants.
Read moreMcCormick’s picket
Thursday 25th March marked four weeks since workers at McCormick Foods factory went on strike late in February. Workers, with the support of the community, have been operating a 24/7 picket out the front of the factory in Clayton South in Victoria.
Read moreWollongong joins in Global Climate Strike
Despite the weather, plans went ahead on Friday, 19 March, for a demonstration in Illawarra’s CBD.
Read moreThen they came for Asians
A 21-year-old white male has admitted to shooting eight people to death, including six women of Asian descent in and around Atlanta, Georgia, US. Concerned groups have hit the streets ...
Read moreHostilities continue against DPRK
In mid-March, Reuters – followed immediately by CNN and other western media outlets – ran a story stating that “a senior Biden administration official” told them that “North Korea has not responded to behind-the-scenes diplomatic outreach since mid-February by President Joe Biden’s administration.”
Read moreCPA greeting to the 99th Anniversary of the foundation of the Brazilian Communist Party
Dear comrades, On behalf of the Communist Party of Australia, please receive warmest fraternal greetings on the 99th founding anniversary of the Brazilian Communist Party....
Read moreWA election a double-edged sword for workers
Western Australians went to the polls on the 13th of March in a historic state election. The Australian Labor Party (ALP), coming from a substantial majority in the last election, obliterated the two other major parties, and Premier Mark McGowan retained his seat for another term.
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Issue #1955
“Can’t tell their left from their right” ASIO obscures political ideologies
ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess announced on Wednesday the 17th of March that the agency will be dropping the labels “left-wing” and “right-wing” extremism as well...
Read moreLETTER – Struggle to unite all workers
Some are celebrating as a victory the removal of some of the clauses in the Omnibus bill on industrial relations. The ACTU and other union bodies are claiming victory, and certainly, some onerous provisions have been removed. The organised sector of the working class has had some benefit but the attack on all workers has continued.
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