The Refugee Action Collective just released this press statement that highlights the seeming inability or unwillingness of Serco and the Immigration Department to handle the influx of asylum seekers: At least one Tamil detainee has been seriously injured on Christmas Island as overcrowding in the tension centre has seen a series of fights erupt over…
Showing all posts tagged Australia
My Favourite Teacher book collection
We all have a mentor or somebody in life who has inspired us. I was asked to contribute to the just released book, My Favourite Teacher (New Press) on a person, when I was younger or today, who has shaped me. My chapter is about former journalist Margo Kingston, a woman who helped me realise…
Israel doesn’t believe in Egyptian democracy
My following article appears in today’s edition of Crikey: While the Egyptian masses are uprising in unprecedented ways across the country against a Western-backed dictator, Israel fears the worst. The country’s President Shimon Peres said last week that, “no matter what they say, we owe Mubarak true gratitude for being as steadfast as a rock…
If Israel was a person, Gillard would ask the hourly rate
Here’s our Embarrassment in Chief Prime Minister Julia Gillard on last night’s ABC 4 Corners talking about that glorious democracy in the Middle East (yes, I thought she was thinking about Egypt but how wrong I was): Oh, I am a strong supporter of Israel. Obviously also a strong supporter of a peace process there…
Australia sees the Middle East as its Zionist mates tell them
The Middle East is in turmoil and yet here’s the Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, speaking a few days ago in Greece, on what he thinks the region should look like. Nearly everything is reactive and the “peace process” between Israel and the Palestinians should continue as if it’s nearly achieved resolution. Somebody should tell…
We stand with Assange in Australia
I attended this Wikileaks rally in Sydney to show support for Julian Assange and what Wikileaks stands for: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has the support of the “greatest minds in the world”, according to his stepfather Brett Assange. Speaking at a rally held at Sydney’s Town Hall in support of the 39-year-old Australian, Mr Assange…
Fighting the privatisation beast
The Greens are the only major Australian political party to reject the spurious “progress” of privatisation. It’s a disease so widely accepted by the corporate press and mainstream politicians that even suggesting it’ll lead to worse services for the public is almost never uttered. Well, it should be and loudly: The NSW Greens have vowed…
Standing with the Egyptian people in Sydney
I was there today, in the heart of Sydney, on a sweltering day showing solidarity with the millions of Egyptians demanding change. No to Mubarak. No to Israeli/US backing of Arab dictatorships: Hundreds of demonstrators have staged an emotion-charged rally in Sydney demanding that beleaguered Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak stand down. In a passionate outpouring…