Over 300 people attended a demonstration to launch UNITE’s Boost Our Pay campaign on Friday March 30. The demonstration was held on the busy Swanston Street in Melbourne outside the main strip of fast food restaurants.
By UNITE reporters, Melbourne (more…)

It was hardly a surprise when Beijing’s nominee Donald Tsang was re-elected on Sunday as Hong Kong’s chief executive. The undemocratic election system based on rules laid down by the former colonial masters, Britian, and China’s central government, which regained control of Hong Kong ten years ago, has drawn angry protests from civil rights and pro-democracy groups.
By Laurence Coates, Rättvisepartiet Socialisterna (CWI Sweden) (more…)

Four years on from the invasion of Iraq, and what have the Iraqi people got? A more dangerous and insecure situation than ever. 2006 was the most violent since the occupation began, with 44% of all violent civilian deaths under the occupation occurring.
By Greg Maughan, Socialist Party (more…)

Climate change has become a huge issue throughout the world. Recent months have seen the publication of stark reports and a major film by former US vice president Al Gore which have all highlighted the dangers posed to the planet by the increase in the earth’s temperature.
By Michael Murphy, Socialist Party (more…)

SP Newsletter No.165
On Friday September 7 workers in the Sydney CBD will enjoy a public holiday! This is not due to the generosity of the New South Wales state government, but to allow a police lockdown of Australia’s largest city. This is so that many of the world’s ‘leaders’, including George Bush and some of the world’s richest bosses, can get from their hotels to a conference centre in proper time to attend the APEC Summit! (more…)

Reviewed By Niall Mulholland, CWI London
Religion appears to be on the march everywhere. Islamic Fundamentalism grows across the Middle East and other parts of the neo-colonial world. Christian Fundamentalism is on the rise in ‘Middle America’, and evangelicalism sweeps Latin America and Africa. In the US, Europe, and elsewhere, ‘intelligent design’ attacks Darwinism and undermines the teaching of science. (more…)

Socialist Party says it’s either neo-liberalism or socialism Doug!
Leader of the Labor Party, Kevin Rudd has attacked the leader of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), Doug Cameron after he suggested that Labor should impose a new ‘super-tax’ on mining company profits.
By Socialist Party reporters Melbourne (more…)

23 February 1917 (8 March in the new style Gregorian calendar) marked the beginning of the socialist revolution in Russia that sparked a revolutionary wave that would travel around the world. Peter Taaffe (Secretary of the Socialist Party in England & Wales) analyses the lessons of February for the working class today and how the leadership of the Bolshevik party, particularly Lenin and Trotsky, was decisive in ensuring the victory of the revolution in October. (more…)

SP Newsletter No.164
‘Anti-Terror’ police were used to arrest protesters in Sydney this week. It was alleged that the protesters were involved in the G20 demonstration held in Melbourne last November. The protesters homes were raided and their doors were kicked in. They were then dragged away to be charged with offences such as riot and affray. (more…)

The US disaster in Iraq has strengthened the strategic position of Iran in the Middle East. Iran, with a population of 71 million, has the second largest oil reserves in the world and huge gas reserves. Its army is 350,000-strong and its air force has 79 F14 Tomcat fighter jets.
By Stephen Jolly, Socialist Party Melbourne (more…)