Nicholas Cowdery, a former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, told an NSW parliamentary inquiry that the personal use of cannabis should be decriminalised, also to reduce the rate of Aboriginal imprisonment. Kerry Smith reports.
Issue 1411
News
CFMEU members in Victoria are standing strong with hundreds of members attending an overflowing branch meeting keen to discuss a fight-back. Sue Bull reports.
Dozens of University of Sydney clubs, societies and groups held stalls on campus in defiance of management’s draconian new Campus Access Policy. Isaac Nellist reports.
The 42nd week of continuous protests against Israel’s genocide took place after a joint statement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Canada. Alex Bainbridge reports.
Advocates are pleased that the long-awaited Northern Territory Voluntary Assisted Dying Expert Advisory Panel Final Report recommends it be made available in the territory. Suzanne James reports.
More than 1000 people protested outside the NSW Labor conference at Sydney Town Hall, demanding it stop arming Israel and supporting genocide in Gaza. Jim McIlroy reports.
The Australian Education Union Victorian branch conference passed two pro-Palestine motions calling on Labor to pressure Israel for a ceasefire and protect teachers from disciplinary action. Adam Bremner reports.
Refugees demanding permanent visas have shifted their 24/7 protest to the Docklands office of the Home Affairs department and are encouraging people to visit. Chris Slee reports.
Thousands marched to end violence at rallies across the country as part of a national weekend of action initiated by What Were You Wearing. Isaac Nellist reports.
Isaac Nellist and Chloe DS discuss the rising repression of pro-Palestine protests and talk to Socialist Alliance co-convenor Sue Bull about the attacks on the CFMEU.
The Human Rights Law Centre’s latest report on anti-protest laws should concern all those trying to win more democracy from a system geared to limit it. Josh Adams reports.
Activists from the newly-formed Willoughby for Palestine spoke to their council about it supporting a ceasefire motion, as other councils have done. Pip Hinman reports.
Stop AUKUS WA’s anti-war protest outside the Indian Ocean Defence and Security Conference attracted more than 100 people. Alex Salmon reports.
Palestinian activist Sara Shaweesh was arrested at Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s electorate office after attempting to find out why her Gazan family’s visas had been denied. Rachel Evans reports.
The Kurdish community joined global protests against the Turkish military’s latest incursion into Iraqi Kurdistan with a rally in the CBD. Peter Boyle reports.
The 41st weekend of continuous pro-Palestine protests in Australia came as the International Court of Justice ruled that Israeli settlements are illegal. Alex Bainbridge reports.
On the first anniversary of Jesse Deacon's death, at the hands of NSW Police, calls are growing for a change in the way mental health crises are handled. Jim McIlroy reports.
Isaac Nellist and Riley Breen discuss the death toll in Gaza, healthcare workers taking action, the University of Melbourne's crackdown on activists and the campaign to disrupt Burrup Hub.
Members of the Jewish community and pro-Palestine supporters expressed solidarity with Hash Tayeh, CEO of the Burgertory, who is being accused of antisemitism for supporting Palestine. Chloe DS reports.
Australia’s nuclear regulator greenlit the Australian Submarine Agency to proceed with plans for a nuclear waste storage facility at HMAS Stirling Base in Rockingham, Western Australia. Pip Hinman reports.
Socialist Alliance Councillor Sarah Hathway launched her reelection bid for a spot in the City of Greater Geelong with a room full of activists and community campaigners. Sue Bull reports.
Analysis
Pre-class Aboriginal society suggests that people with significant impediments were integrated into community life, participating and contributing to society. Graham Matthews looks at the relationship between people’s disability and the means of production.
France’s Thales defence group offices were raided in France, the Netherlands and Spain, with prosecutors pursuing charges related to corruption, attempts to influence foreign officials and money laundering. Binoy Kampmark reports.
Renfrey Clarke writes that some of Peter Dutton’s nuclear power plan “facts” are comedic — in a very dark kind of way. But the Coalition’s endorsement of nuclear will have a deadening effect on investment in renewables.
The movement against genocide has highlighted PM Anthony Albanese’s intransigent support for Israel. This is a reason for the new crackdown on pro-Palestine protesters, argues Jacob Andrewartha.
The big four banks are pretending to be good climate citizens while they continue to fund fossil fuel projects, including via back door means. Alex Bainbridge reports.
The day after scientists marked the hottest day on record, Labor's federal resources minister Madeleine King announced new gas exploration permits for fossil fuel giants. Pip Hinman reports.
Climate activists Petrina Harley a spoke with Isaac Nellist and Riley Breen about the campaign to a recent lock-on protest to raise awareness about Woodside's Burrup Hub project.
The University of Melbourne is threatening 21 students with expulsion for taking part in the Palestine solidarity encampment and holding a sit-in at Mahmoud’s Hall. Isaac Nellist spoke to Reham Elzeiny, from UniMelb for Palestine, about management’s threats.
The International Court of Justice has found that Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, along with “the regime associated with them” are “being maintained in violation of international law”. Binoy Kampmark reports.
NSW Premier Chris Minns, who has dragged his feet on Labor’s promised drug summit, has just announced a four-day forum, with two regional dates also set. Paul Gregoire reports.
Sydney law firm Birchgrove Legal confirmed that the International Criminal Court has added its evidence on Australians MPs, including the Prime Minister, to the ICC’s investigation into the war in Gaza. Paul Gregoire reports.
World
International solidarity is needed amid massive overcrowding in Israeli prisons and crimes against humanity being committed daily by the Israeli occupying forces against prisoners and detainees, writes Hassan Abed Rabbu.
Venezuela's far-right opposition has refused to accept defeat in the country's presidential election amid simmering unrest and violence in the streets of Caracas, sparking warnings of another coup attempt, reports Jake Johnson.
Pablo Stefanoni is a journalist, editor and author of Has Rebellion Become a Thing of the Right?. Green Left’s Federico Fuentes spoke to him about the far right’s success in the recent European elections.
Journalist and author Pablo Stefanoni spoke to Green Left’s Federico Fuentes from Paris about the rise of France's far-right National Rally and how the left stopped it winning the parliamentary elections held over June 30 and July 7.
French President Emmanuel Macron does not plan to appoint a new Prime Minister until at least mid-August and is holding out hope he can cobble together a coalition and block the left from government, writes John Mullen.
Two years after the popular anti-government uprising, the struggle for democracy in Sri Lanka remains fragile, writes Janaka Biyanwila.
The southwest monsoon, exacerbated by super typhoon Carina (Gaemi) has caused widespread flooding and devastation in the Philippines and Taiwan, killing 25 people and causing mass displacement, reports Susan Price.
United Auto Workers leader Shawn Fain is being targeted because of his union's stance against Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza and support for divestment and a just transition for workers in the war industry, reports Malik Miah.
Au Loong-Yu is a long-time Hong Kong labour rights and political activist who now lives in exile. In the second part of this interview with Green Left’s Federico Fuentes, he discusses China’s economic woes and the significance of the White Paper movement.
Korean peace activists are taking action around the world on July 27, the anniversary of the Korean War armistice, to call for a de-escalation of military tensions in the Korean Peninsula, reports Peter Boyle.
Green Left's Peter Boyle spoke with "Zaria", a Bangali activist with @deshisforliberation, about the struggle by students in Bangladesh for justice in the face of unprecedented repression.
Culture
Mat Ward looks back at July's political news and the best new music that related to it.