Australian Politics

Lowering the voting age to 16 would improve the health and well-being of young people, the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) has proposed.

A few Zionist colleagues of mine at the University of Sydney are currently trying to take me and fellow staff member John Keane to the Human Rights Commission for racial vilification, because we have dared to oppose this genocide. It’s classic ‘lawfare’, and it’s based on the baseless and absurd argument that when we say ‘Zionists’, we actually – so they tell us – mean ‘Jews’. We are, they claim, toxic antisemites.

If that’s what they thought, they could have come to my office at the university to talk about it. I would have bought them coffee, and made it clear just how far from the truth this is. Instead, they went direct to the Human Rights Commission, making a complaint that miraculously turned up on the front page of The Australian before it had even been acknowledged by the AHRC itself.

The federal government's decision to have the fund invest in housing and green energy has ruffled Coalition feathers.

[...]

But [treasurer Jim Chalmers] has broken a bipartisan practice that had lasted 18 years: resisting the temptation to ask the fund to do anything other than chase financial returns.

It opens up a debate about what Australia does, and should do, with the hundreds of billions of dollars it has squirrelled away.

In a surprise move, the Coalition has announced it will vote against Labor’s bill to cap international student numbers. This follows previous Coalition comments saying it would work with universities to “put a cap on foreign students”.

The Greens opposed caps from the start. Between them, the Coalition and the Greens have a Senate majority, which means the Albanese government’s plan to cap international students seems dead.

For universities, TAFEs, private colleges and potential international students, this news will be cause for relief, but not celebration.

There are multiple other measures still in place to reduce international student numbers. The Coalition has also previously committed to capping international student numbers in the major cities.

So while the Coalition has now opposed Labor’s student caps, it is not opposed to the idea of caps altogether.

I realise that all the screenshots of evidence make this article look longer than it is, so I've written some bullet points, but the whole article is worth reading (if you're willing to handle content mentioned in the warnings). Breaking federal laws, offering lawyers to neo-Nazis, getting into tiffs with said neo-Nazis when they turn out to be misogynist turds, it's a ride.

• In short: Anthony Albanese will seek to exploit Donald Trump's pledge to slash investment in the United States' clean energy industries.

• The prime minister is using meetings in South America to pitch Australia as a safe and reliable trading partner in the hope it could lure billions that otherwise would have been invested in the US.

• Mr Albanese will also seek to meet with China's president during his visits to Peru and Brazil.

We must fix the #PIDact. Government whistleblowers like David McBride, Richard Boyle are not protected by the current legislation and are gaoled instead.

"As an ADF lawyer, McBride was a respected expert on the rules of engagement, and he also taught the PID Act to soldiers."

Paul Gregoire explains the David McBride case in the below article, extensively quoting McBride's lawyer Eddie Lloyd https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/mcbrides-appeal-is-in-jeopardy-as-the-respected-lawyer-needs-finances-to-fund-it/

Successive governments have tried to convince Australians that private health is better than the public system. Australia doesn't agree.

• 11:00am Tuesday 12 November
• Belmore Park near Central Station

Join us to rally for the rights of the CFMEU and defend our democratic rights.

The new legislation targeting the CFMEU, stripping away its democratic processes based on unproven rumours is still standing. This is a dangerous precedent, threatening every union member’s right to organise and be heard. This precedent is undemocratic and anti-union! Let’s show up and demand these unjust laws be repealed!

It's important to understand the administration as a precedent, rather than specifically looking at the CFMEU. This has already had a chilling effect on other unions wanting to avoid similar repression, and just like many times before, sets up an attack for the Liberal Party to extend when next elected. That's why it's critical for other workers like us to stand together in solidarity, before there's no strong unions left to stand for ours. I urge those who can to come and bring friends, and those who can't to donate to the campaign - since the administration has seized the union's funds, they are relying on the generosity of other unions and political parties for printing fliers, buying flags, providing spaces and other basic organising needs.

See also this excellent article shared by @zero_gravitas recently: https://aussie.zone/post/14941033

Imprisoning children instead of feeding them, pandering to our royal masters and sacrificing our kids in foreign wars are all signs of Australia's distinct system of privilege.

From war crimes and robodebt to the Leppington Triangle and the Thales scandal, no-one suffers real consequences for any abuse of public office.

In short:

Frontbencher Murray Watt says Qantas has not been given a soft treatment in return for flight perks.

Anthony Albanese reportedly requested free upgrades directly from Qantas boss Alan Joyce, among several others he was offered.

What's next?

The opposition says Mr Albanese must explain whether he made personal requests to Mr Joyce.

46 per cent of Australians have put off treatment due to cost, and 76 per cent have struggled to find bulk-billing doctors. Expanding Medicare to cover dental has overwhelming support.