The Guardian • Issue #1956 • April 5, 2021
Govt to hit Women’s super
Last month, Superannuation Minister Jane Hume (also Minister for Women’s Economic Security [sic]) announced that a draft bill would be released soon for superannuation changes, including new compassionate grounds for early access to super for victims of domestic violence. They would be allowed to apply for up to $10,000 “as an important last resort lifeline.”
Read moreEDITORIAL – Cabinet shuffle does not bode well
Last Monday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a cabinet reshuffle that saw Defence Minister Linda Reynolds and Attorney-General and Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter lose their portfolios.
Read moreNSW floods not a single story
In late March, floods covered 600 km along the NSW coast with tens of thousands of people evacuated from their homes. This event has been referred to in the media as a once in a 100-year event.
Read moreGovernment’s contempt for disabled people can no longer be ignored
It is hardly a shocker to hear of the Coalition government’s antipathy towards its nation’s most disadvantaged people. But with recent facts coming to light this month, the government’s attacks on disabled people have gone from predictable to egregious.
Read more
Issue #1956
Towards the 14th CPA National Congress
The CPA is just commencing the process of Party-wide discussion of the draft Political Resolution to be adopted by the 14th Congress to be held in Sydney on 29-31 October 2021. The upcoming break might be a good opportunity for all Party comrades to exercise their rights to participate under our internal democracy to analyse, discuss, amend and develop the Party document that will guide the Party’s political work for the next four years.
Read morePalm Sunday: Melbourne walks in solidarity with refugees
On Sunday, the 28th March was Palm Sunday, an important day on activist calendars for groups across the political spectrum. The Palm Sunday march is held each year on the Sunday before Easter in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney, and other cities across the country.
Read moreParliament calls for Royal Commission into Veteran Suicides
On 22nd March, the House of Representatives joined the Senate in passing a motion calling for the establishment of a Royal Commission into Veteran Suicides. The government has been reluctant to call for the establishment of a Royal Commission, taking the less drastic step of appointing a National Commissioner last year, but Scott Morrison eventually conceded that the government would support the motion.
Read moreArt in the name of exploitation: Dark Mofo’s Union Flag controversy
On 20th March, the organisers of the creative arts festival Dark Mofo put out a chilling call to First Nations people on Instagram: “we want your blood.” Once you read the text beneath the picture, they began to specify that they were asking for blood donations to be used for one of the festival’s performance pieces. The idea behind the “artwork” in question entitled “Union Flag” was to drench the British flag in the blood of First Nations people. This immediately drew swathes of criticism from First Nations peoples and was roundly condemned in the arts community and beyond.
Read moreBlinken blinks first at US-China Summit in Alaska
Top officials from China and the United States (US) exchanged verbal blows at the Alaska Summit last week, after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan opened the session by making false and unwarranted accusations about China’s governance and international affairs.
Read more
Issue #1956
REPORT: Brisbane International Women’s Day 2021
The 2021 IWD event for the Brisbane branch of the CPA was held as a joint activity with ASLA (Australian Solidarity with Latin America) on 7th March at the Redbrick Hotel in Brisbane.
Read moreIndependent & Peaceful Australia Network webinar on Defence and Foreign Policy
The lockdowns brought about by the pandemic have proved there is a silver lining to every cloud. It has introduced me to “zooming” and a wealth of wonderfully informative webinars: this one held on 25th March by IPAN, being no exception.
Read more