Victorian Electrical Trades Union Secretary Dean Mighell has been made the sacrificial lamb by the ALP to appease the gods of capitalism. “We expel the most militant union leader we can find to prove to you our credentials to run this capitalist system”, is what, in effect, Rudd and his deputy Julia Gillard told the bosses yesterday. (more…)

Australia is feeling the power of the sun. The state of New South Wales is suffering an unprecedented five years of drought, probably caused by global warming. Fresh water is running out. In the next few weeks the Australian government has to choose between providing water for the population of New South Wales or its crops and livestock. (more…)

SP Newsletter No.173
In perhaps the worst kept secret in Australian politics Greg Combet, the current leader of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), has announced his decision to leave his job and stand for a federal parliamentary seat as a Labor candidate. The ALP executive has made the decision to ignore the pre-selection process and install Combet as the preferred candidate despite objections from the party rank and file. (more…)

The fast-food giants - McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Pizza Hut - have been caught underpaying their young workforce in China. They pay as much as 40 percent below the already abysmally low legal minimum wage.
By Vincent Kolo, Beijing (more…)

Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city saw its worst political violence in decades on 12 May. Over 50 people were killed and more than 150 injured in clashes and gunfights between the pro-government Muttahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM - a chauvinist reactionary party which primarily bases itself amongst the Mohajir minority) and opposition groups.
By Khalid Bhatti, Socialist Movement Pakistan, Lahore (more…)

Capitalism is based on the private ownership of production - the firms, workplaces and finance system. Under capitalism everything is a commodity that can be bought and sold. Basic necessities like food, water, clothing and housing all must be paid for and are a source of profit to the bosses or capitalist class – sold for more than they cost to produce or supply.
By Antony Alder, Socialist Party Melbourne (more…)

SP Newsletter No.172
Southern Ireland’s general election for the Dail, Ireland’s Parliament, on 24 May gives working-class people a chance to say what they think of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ economic boom that has made huge profits for big business and the fat cats but little for them. (more…)

The world capitalist economy has been buoyed up by a tide of liquidity, a flood of cheap credit. This has fuelled the frenzied financial speculation of the last few years, a profits bonanza for the super-rich. Underlying this, however, are unsustainable imbalances and deepening contradictions in world economic relations. LYNN WALSH looks in depth at the processes taking place. (more…)

SP Newsletter No.171
In September 2007, Australia will host the APEC forum. APEC stands for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation and in the lead up to September it plans to hold more than 100 meetings spread across every state and territory. The main event however will be held in Sydney on September 8 & 9. This will be the biggest meeting of world leaders ever held in Australia. (more…)

The Mayfield East Residents Group (MERG) has been active in opposing a Development Application (DA) from One Steel, a local steel producer, to have a new plastification plant opened in a residential area of Newcastle.
By Simon Raine, Socialist Party Newcastle (more…)