Archives

Independent Australia

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Scott Morrison really should resign, oui?
Morrison must resign. The fact he won’t and will not be forced to do so illustrates the desultory state of Australian democracy and its ostensible guardians — the Fourth Estate. read now...

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 16:00:00 +1000
IA Book Club: 'Why You Should Give A F*ck About Farming'
Revelly Robinson explores a book that looks at how we take food security for granted and why we need to think wisely about agricultural productivity. read now...

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Avi Yemini and his ilk are anything but journalists
Right-wing propagandists calling themselves citizen journalists are nothing more than frauds and opportunists. read now...

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +1000
Facebook rebrand: Why Meta is not better
Critics of Facebook believe its recent name change is merely a smokescreen, meant to distract us from looking at the social media giant's practices. read now...

Sun, 07 Nov 2021 08:00:00 +1000
Last throw of the dice for Julian Assange
Regardless of the court battle to prevent his extradition to the U.S., there appears to be little hope for Julian Assange — the Americans are relentless read now...

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Eddie Obeid is a symptom of a greater problem
Part of the solution to ending corruption from the likes of Eddie Obeid is to eliminate the financial incentives for such practices. read now...

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +1000
EXCLUSIVE: ICAC gun club figures don't add up
Financial reports from the gun club at the centre of the NSW ICAC investigation have raised questions relating to the $5.5 million government grant. read now...

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Australia must help Afghans deprived of lives, dreams and futures
Afghan law and political science student Nazdana Soltanfar expresses the tragedy of life under the Taliban and calls on Scott Morrison and the Australian Government to do more to assist vulnerable Afghans. read now...

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Tim Smith and the death of political accountability
If there ever was a sign that the personal responsibility of the political class had evaporated, then the sorry show of Victoria Liberal Tim Smith provided it. read now...

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +1000
CARTOONS: Mark David is COP-ping it in Glasgow
Both home and away, he's on the nose! read now...

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Twitter fights against Porter, van Onselen and Laming’s defamation threats
The defamation action against Professor Gemma Carey by Porter, van Onselen and Laming is about exercising power and control, writes Hayden O'Connor. read now...

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Morrison Government continues to trash Australia's reputation on climate
The Government's refusal to sign up to the global methane pledge is another example of how it's a laggard on climate change, writes Dr Graeme McLeay. read now...

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Federal Government prevents medical community from assisting refugees
The policies and practices of the Federal Government obstruct medical professionals trying to provide healthcare to refugees and asylum seekers in  detention, and it needs to end. read now...

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 16:00:00 +1000
WHAT'S ON: Eternals — big, bold and beautiful
A group of god-like beings are sent to Earth at the dawn of time to protect humanity, but discover their biggest threat comes from within. read now...

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 06:30:00 +1000
The Plan: Winking, blinding and eye-watering Coalition negligence
The Morrison Government is fobbing us off with a tissue of lies, a wink, a nudge and a glossy pamphlet, writes managing editor Michelle Pini. read now...

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 16:00:00 +1000
Flashback 2014: Arthur Sinodinos goes down the gurgler
Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has had her time in the ICAC chair, denying and forgetting as much as possible in an effort to avoid the truth. read now...

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 15:00:00 +1000
How Scott Morrison's climate action wishlist was cobbled together
Having faced criticism over lack of climate action, Scott Morrison unveiled an emissions reduction plan containing passages written at the last minute. read now...

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +1000
New pathway to permanent migration encourages gaming of visa system
Amendments made to the visa system will give temporary entrants an opportunity to exploit it in what seems like a big mistake on the part of the Government. read now...

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Interplanetary internet: Communication out of this world
Various global agencies are contributing to the expansion of the internet for deep space communication. read now...

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 16:00:00 +1000
JOHN PILGER: Justice for Assange is justice for all
The injustice brought against WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange is an affront to not only truth in journalism but human rights for all. read now...

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 15:00:00 +1000
COP26 omits biodiversity loss from agenda
A glaring omission from media releases and political statements relevant to the Glasgow COP 26 meeting is biodiversity loss. read now...

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 12:00:00 +1000
Assange appeal day two: The CIA and empty assurances
On day two of Julian Assange’s extradition appeal hearing, the defence covered the plot by the CIA to silence the WikiLeaks publisher. read now...

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Morrison gets cold reception at G20
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has cut a lonely figure at the G20 in Rome, with most leaders apparently unwilling to publicly engage with him. read now...

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 16:00:00 +1000
ON IA: Ask Dave — 1 November 2021
If you've ever had a burning question that you wanted to ask IA founder and publisher David Donovan, now is your chance. read now...

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 15:00:00 +1000
It's not 'cancel culture', it's audience feedback
What if “cancel culture” doesn’t exist and it’s just powerful people complaining that the audience doesn’t like their ideas? read now...

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 11:00:00 +1000
American politics in a state of chaos
President Joe Biden is attempting to enact his legislative agenda in the face of a Republican opposition hell-bent on political vandalism and chaos. read now...

Mon, 01 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Morrison Government humiliates Australia at G20
As Prime Minister Scott Morrison met world leaders in Rome on Saturday, he represented a country a shadow of its former self. read now...

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
EXCLUSIVE: Lost for words, Dominique Grubisa resorts to plagiarism
A self-help booklet written by self-professed finance and law maven Dominique Grubisa bears more than a striking resemblance to a book written in 2010. read now...

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +1000
Goward article galling
If we examine Pru Goward's recent Australian Financial Review story about our workforce, many Muslim Australians, among others, should be offended. read now...

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +1000
Religious discrimination bill: The devil is in the details
A report finds the not-so-secret agenda of conservative religious activists is unpopular among many Australians — including the religious mainstream. read now...

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
WHAT'S ON: Love You Like That — Cupid's arrow misses the mark
The discovery of a mysterious woman on a beach causes the residents of a seaside community to understand what matters most in their lives. read now...

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 11:30:00 +1000
Full employment not necessarily the holy grail in a flexible market economy
Alternative economists have long argued that the pathway to perfectly functioning markets does not necessitate full employment. read now...

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
U.S. appeal against Assange opens
The U.S. has begun its legal appeal to extradite Julian Assange with lawyers criticising Judge Baraitser's decision to block the extradition. read now...

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Labor needs to stand up
With the Liberal Party's popularity slipping, now is the time for Labor to formulate strong policies to take into the next election and win government. read now...

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Australia needs a federal human rights act
A human rights act would repair much of the damage caused by the Government's lack of compassion to disadvantaged citizens. read now...

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +1000
CARTOONS: Scotty's Claytons climate plan
The plan you're having when you're not having a plan. read now...

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +1000
From climate to corruption, the Morrison Government needs to go
The Morrison Government's track record of democratic failure is extraordinary and needs to change for our nation to progress. read now...

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
China may be Morrison's last hope for re-election
Having failed Australia through environmental and health catastrophes, Scott Morrison will likely focus on saving the nation from China to win re-election. read now...

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Perrottet pushes mass migration harder than Morrison
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet appears to have backed an 'explosive surge' of 400,000 migrants a year. read now...

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
EXCLUSIVE: Europe says 'No' to Assange extradition
Three European MPs discuss the relation between the Julian Assange hearing and the destiny of similar media freedom cases. read now...

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
The Goward's punch
The Financial Review taps Pru Goward on the padded shoulder to spruik on the underclass from her verandah anthropologist’s armchair of irrelevancy. read now...

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
The time is now: Western Sahara must gain independence
The question of Western Sahara is, anew, being examined by the UN Security Council. This is an opportunity to kickstart the peace process in a strategically important region. read now...

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
KERRYN PHELPS: Passing the COVID buck risks more than government reputations
The management of the COVID-19 pandemic has displayed the fault lines in the relationship between the levels of government in Australia. read now...

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Boris Johnson fails to act despite damning COVID-19 report
The refusal by Boris Johnson to take urgent COVID-19 action shows he has learned nothing from a damning report on the mishandling of the pandemic. read now...

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Telstra’s Digicel buy is politically motivated
The acquisition of Digicel by Telstra was solely based on insistence by the Government in an effort to beat China to the deal. read now...

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +1000
Flashback 2016: Whence the Commonweal: The rise of the dunces
Now linked to the ICAC investigation, Premier Dominic Perrottet is proving a poor choice to lead the NSW Government. read now...

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
National Farmers Federation needs to embrace climate adaption
Australia's farming sector lobby group is siding with the National Party and its reluctance to co-operate with emissions targets. read now...

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Nationals ridiculous net zero deal doesn't even matter
While the National Party holds Australia's future to ransom with climate demands, Scott Morrison's future as Prime Minister looks increasingly dim. read now...

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Further details emerge as Premier Perrottet linked to ICAC gun club grant
The $5.5 million grant to fund a 1,000-person convention centre at a gun club in Wagga Wagga was the only one – of over 90 grants – in the NSW Murray-Riverina region that went to a non-government entity. read now...

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 14:00:00 +1000
Tudge flags freedom of speech while whitewashing Australia's past
Education Minister Alan Tudge continues to argue that an obscure version of our history – one that students 'can be proud of' – is the only one worth teaching. read now...

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
The Liberals must call Nationals' bluff on climate
The Morrison Government is widely understood to be held hostage on climate targets by National Party politicians in its ranks. read now...

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Australian economy languishes while Ireland, Singapore, NZ soar
The Independent Australia Ranking on Economic Management (IAREM) for 2021 reveals Ireland leading the world and Australia still languishing outside the top 20, reports Alan Austin. read now...

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Dominic Perrottet drawn into ICAC gun club scandal
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet was responsible for the $5.5 million Wagga Wagga gun club grant according to internal Government emails. read now...

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +1000
'Death of a Whale: The Challenge of Anti-Whaling Activists and Indigenous Rights' — an excerpt
In this excerpt from his book, Captain Paul Watson shares the haunting memory of a harpooning and the great whale that died screaming with Paul's face seared upon his retina. read now...

Sun, 24 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +1000
Iconic Afghanistan: Life before war
Photography campaign Prints for Afghanistan preserves a memory of the country, pre-Taliban, reminding us of a time when its people were full of pride and prosperity. read now...

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +1000
IA Book Club: Confronting the global climate crisis
This short book, The Human Scaffold: How Not to Design Your Way Out of a Climate Crisis appears to be written for a small audience of cognoscenti. read now...

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Citizen journalism on the rise in Australian fringe politics
The anti-lockdown movement has given a platform to “citizen journalists” seeking fame and determined to incite hate and disturb the peace. read now...

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 10:00:00 +1000
ON IA: BREAKING NEWS — Perrottet exclusive with Anthony Klan
The background behind our ongoing investigation into the NSW ICAC hearings, now involving two premiers, a deputy premier, a host of public officials and counting. read now...

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Medicare cuts prove the Coalition is bad for our health
Recent sweeping changes to Medicare rebates have been rushed through under cover of night, with scarcely a murmur from the Morrison Government or its media cheer squad. read now...

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Update of Australia’s biggest ever labour trafficking scam
The Government is contemplating a substantial increase in immigration, so it's worth reflecting on where things are at with Australia’s biggest ever labour trafficking scam. read now...

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
UN and Bangladesh work together to protect the Rohingya people
On 9 October 2021, the UN agreed to cooperate with Bangladesh in the Bhashan Char refugee camp for the Rohingya. read now...

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Universities, governments and companies can help avert climate catastrophe
Universities and other large institutions have a responsibility to drive Australia towards a carbon-free future, writes Greenpeace Australia Asia Pacific CEO David Ritter.  read now...

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
ABC showing Liberal bias in lockdown coverage
State border restrictions have been an important tool to protect citizens from COVID-19 but the ABC has reported on them in a politically biased manner. read now...

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +1000
CARTOONS: Mark David is checking the climate
Not much policy from the Coalition, just a lot of gas coming down the pipeline. read now...

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +1000
WHAT'S ON: The Last Duel — #metoo goes medieval
After being raped by the friend and squire of her husband, a woman seeks justice which leads to the last judicial duel fought in medieval France. read now...

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Despite royal family’s scandals, Australia is unlikely to ditch monarchy
The royal family is facing its biggest crisis since the abdication of Edward VIII, as Prince Andrew is accused of sexual assault by Virginia Roberts Giuffre. read now...

Thu, 21 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Undeterred by pariah status, PM to wave 'green and gold' at Glasgow
While the East Indian Dipole has temporarily soothed our epigenetic despair two years since the bushfires began, it’s worth remembering how the Murdoch press chose to present the findings at the time. read now...

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 06:30:00 +1000
How Murdoch manipulates the climate of Australian politics
News Corp suddenly promoting climate change action is just another example of how the Coalition and the MSM operate in tandem to create and control the political narrative. read now...

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Skilling Australians Fund: A fee for no service
Poorly drafted legislation to levy businesses that sponsor migrants for a work visa has resulted in businesses receiving no benefits or refunds. read now...

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 13:00:00 +1000
Indigenous communities suffering most from Australia's climate inaction
While climate change is a threat to all Australians, it's the Indigenous communities who will bear the burden of our Government's ignorance the most. read now...

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Government unaccountability: Over 1,000 days and counting
If there’s one thing we know about the current crop of Australian politicians, it’s that they really don’t like being held accountable for their actions. read now...

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Using smart cities to protect democracy
The connectivity of smart cities can be used as a tool against neoliberalism, bringing people together and reviving the spirit of democracy. read now...

Sun, 03 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +1000
Australia's music scene plunges deeper into poverty
With more and more musicians leaving the industry out of economic necessity, we face a generation of silent performers. The Federal Government must step up its arts support. read now...

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +1000
Flashback 2015: Coal comfort: The atomic emasculation of Malcolm Turnbull
Australia's inability to formulate effective climate policy is the result of voters continuing to elect maladroit political leaders. read now...

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Transparency lacking in Australian defence policy
Some of the most prominent think tanks on defence and foreign policy are receiving funds from companies that rely on war and threats of war. read now...

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Environment in peril as Premier urged to increase population
To achieve post-pandemic recovery, the NSW Government is advising an immigration surge that would be disastrous for the environment. read now...

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
The people versus Scott Morrison
A frustrated voting public is becoming increasingly louder against the Government's lack of policy and endless incompetence. read now...

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Australians must be wary of Trump's 'big lie' infiltrating our politics
"The big lie", effectively used by former President Donald Trump the Republican Party, now casts a shadow over Coalition federal and state government announcements. read now...

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Media inequality shows Labor scandals covered more than Liberal
While scandals happen on both sides of the political spectrum, the mainstream media tends to showcase Labor's faults over those of the Liberal Party. read now...

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Billboard mocks Morrison as Australia prepares for COP26
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has decided to attend the COP26 Conference as Australians launch a campaign to demonstrate our shame to the world. read now...

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Australia needs an ICAC, but also mandatory gaol sentences
Without severe penalties, political corruption in Australia will continue to flourish, writes Alan Austin. read now...

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +1000
Returning to the office post-COVID: It's not set in concrete
The popular view is that once we've got on top of COVID-19 through vaccines, occupancy of offices will return to normal. But new habits die hard. read now...

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +1000
To improve mental health systems we must connect with their users
If we want to understand how to bridge gaps in Australia's mental health systems, our national leaders need to listen harder to those with lived experience. read now...

Sun, 17 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +1000
COVIDSafe app: Missing the mark Coalition-style
A prime example of Federal misspending, COVIDSafe never replaced the sleuthing efforts of human contact tracers and may have even inhibited them.  read now...

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
An open letter to Prime Minister Scott Morrison
Graeme Doyle takes a moment to thank our “wonderful” Prime Minister for all of his “accomplishments” that have made our country so “great”. read now...

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Grassroots campaign against Christian Porter grows
Since the Government refuses to investigate many of the allegations against Christian Porter, concerned citizens are beginning to speak out. read now...

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 08:00:00 +1000
Outgoing NSW Premier Gladys 'The Great' Berejiklian joins 'Insniders'
Gladys Berejiklian shares her reasons for resigning and what the future holds for the trailblazing leader, yet unlucky woman in love, who saved Australia, in an 'Insniders' exclusive. read now...

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +1000
WHAT'S ON: Where To Invade Next — Moore ideas for a better world
To discover what the USA can learn from other nations, Michael Moore playfully “invades” them to see what they have to offer. read now...

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Football season a big win despite pandemic fears
Dodging the world disease in Australia almost proved too much for sports industries trying to keep up elite entertainment for thousands of spectators. read now...

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Pro-vax, pro-union, anti-fascist: Three things to be proud of
Dr Martin Hirst explains why he's been tweeting the hashtags #ProVax, #ProUnion, and #AntiFascist a lot recently. read now...

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
EXCLUSIVE: Gun club financial report shows mystery grant 'costs'
The regional gun club at the centre of the NSW ICAC investigation incurred “costs” in obtaining its $5.5 million grant that were so substantial, they dinted its 2016 financial position. read now...

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +1000
CARTOONS: Old King Coal is changing his tune
Would that be the Scott-ish King of Coal or His Rupertness? read now...

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 16:00:00 +1000
Flashback 2016: ICAC, Baird and corruption par excellence
As a corruption investigation into the NSW Government continues, with casualties at the top level, we're reminded that the state has had a history of poor premiership. read now...

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
Lack of perspective on Taiwan-China tensions
When we look at the issue of Taiwan we must also reflect on how Taiwan was taken by the U.S.-backed Kuomintang nationalists and how it was not a peaceful takeover. read now...

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
How we are trying to buy an identity in capitalist economies
Trade deals are not really about trade. read now...

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 16:34:00 +1000
On IA: Weekly recap — 13 October
IA's digital editor Dan Jensen takes a look back at some of the most important stories through the week. read now...

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
A brief history of the Coalition’s fake social media accounts
If Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants to weed out anonymous trolls on social media, he might want to start with his own government. read now...

Thu, 07 Oct 2021 07:00:00 +1000
Friendlyjordies and the NSW Government’s demise
The resignations of the Premier and Deputy Premier of NSW, blaming ICAC and Friendlyjordies, respectively, signal the worst time of mourning for establishment media. read now...

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 15:00:00 +1000
What living with COVID would really mean for Australia
Through careful management and planning, it would be possible for the Australian Government to take control of the COVID-19 pandemic. read now...

Wed, 13 Oct 2021 11:00:00 +1000
Coalition complacency worsened NSW COVID winter
The winter season added to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in NSW, which was already mismanaged by the Liberal Government. read now...



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