Independent Australia
Thu, 17 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Coalition gaffes galore to the tune of an off-key ukulele
The Prime Minister's abysmal ukulele performance is a parable for the off-key tune by which the Coalition governs Australia. read now...
Mon, 21 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +1000 Frydenberg vs Staindl: Being bankrupted for asking local MP questions
Michael Staindl gives his side of the story on his decision to question whether Josh Frydenberg had dual citizenship. read now...
Mon, 21 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Media propaganda a scourge on democracy
What do news reports about Grace Tame’s bong, Jenny Morrison’s 60 Minutes fluff piece and Scott Morrison’s China scare campaign have in common? read now...
Mon, 21 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 No peace for Muslims in Morrison's Australia
Australia's Muslim community has endured much vilification over the years, continued in Scott Morrison's Religious Discrimination Bill. read now...
Mon, 21 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Morrison humiliates Australia further with lowest economic freedom ever
Heritage Foundation has graded all countries on prosperity, security and freedom and given Australia a huge F for FAIL. read now...
Sun, 20 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +1000 Indigenous Australians: 'This is the torment of our powerlessness'
As called for in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution would go a long way to bring justice to Australia's original inhabitants. read now...
Sun, 20 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +1000 The killer cop and the murder of Donald Mackay
Dr John Jiggins' book investigates criminal behaviour and drug trafficking, particularly marijuana, in Griffith and Sydney in the '60s and '70s. read now...
Sun, 20 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Healthcare complaints: A painful procedure
If the Health Care Complaints Commission has been effective, we should see a reduction in the number of complaints about practitioners — complaints in NSW more than doubled in the past ten years. read now...
Sun, 20 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +1000 Odds on regional banks will be gone despite inquiry
Despite the recently announced Government inquiry into regional banking services, it appears the process won't save individual bank branches. read now...
Sat, 19 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Sanctions driving Afghans to brink of starvation
On 8 February 2022, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Afghanistan sent out a bleak set of tweets. read now...
Sat, 19 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Extreme weather and temperatures sound alarm on climate change
Extreme weather seen in Western Australia sends us an unequivocal message that governments and corporations must address the climate crisis, writes Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter. read now...
Thu, 17 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Regional bank closures set to become election issue
Bank closures in regional Australia will be an election issue for the first time for years, as the findings of a Government inquiry are being handed down just before the Federal Election. read now...
Fri, 18 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 JOHN PILGER: War in Europe and the rise of raw propaganda
Marshall McLuhan’s prophecy that “the successor to politics will be propaganda” has happened. read now...
Fri, 18 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Coalition faces the final curtain
Disunity, disloyalty and incompetence abound as the L-NP abandons its chosen messiah and stumbles to the end of its season in power. read now...
Fri, 18 Feb 2022 09:00:00 +1000 CARTOONS: 'Dirty deeds done dirt cheap...'
Maybe next, the PM could manage to mangle that on the ukulele? read now...
Fri, 18 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Morrison's cruelty must come to an end
Capturing and accurately articulating the oafish, offhand, casual brutality of the current Australian Federal Government is virtually impossible. read now...
Tue, 15 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Bloody Idiot of the Week — Episode 25: Scomo's greatest hits
It's our first Bloody Idiot episode for 2022 and an election is nigh, which, of course, means idiots are strutting their stuff everywhere. read now...
Thu, 17 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Benefits of Australia's compulsory voting system largely illusory
Time and time again, we are told that making people vote improves representation and representativeness. read now...
Wed, 16 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Morrison plays the blame game over Religious Bill defeat
After his Religious Discrimination Bill was defeated, Scott Morrison has taken a path of self-pity and finger-pointing. read now...
Wed, 16 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 UK Trade Agreement a climate disaster
The promises and intent on the climate and environmental crisis given at COP26 are slowly melting away. read now...
Wed, 16 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 NBN is still a financial disaster
Reports from NBN Co reveal the company's financial troubles are far from over. read now...
Tue, 15 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Australia's defence program is dead in the water
Australia's defence program has been mired by inferior military equipment and unwavering loyalty to the United States. read now...
Tue, 15 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Scott Morrison can't even cut and run
Prime Minister Scott Morrison sure had a horror week. read now...
Thu, 10 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Scott’s religious devotion sacrifices sex abuse survivors…plus all non-god botherers
Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Religious Discrimination Bill comes at great cost, writes managing editor Michelle Pini. read now...
Mon, 14 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +1000 KERRYN PHELPS: Religious Discrimination Bill a ham-fisted display of bigotry
It has taken some time for me to process how I felt after the past week in Australian politics. read now...
Mon, 14 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Government neglect leaves koalas endangered
As a result of the Government ignoring the plight of koalas, the species has now been listed as endangered. read now...
Mon, 14 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Visa backlog a sign of weak border control
Despite all its tough talk on border control, the Government is overwhelmed with a backlog of visas that has built up over the years. read now...
Mon, 14 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Frydenberg's gross incompetence finally hits mainstream media
Josh Frydenberg was described as ‘lighter than helium’ and having ‘no agenda’ by one staunchly pro-Coalition media outlet. read now...
Sat, 12 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Morrison's Migration Act is cruel and callous
The Migration Act has become a fest of discrimination, deteriorating rapidly under the Abbott and Morrison Governments. read now...
Sun, 13 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +1000 'Piggy' banks rack up rural closures
The "big four" banks started pulling out of regional Australia more than 30 years ago, but lack of transparency has made confirming the scale of closures difficult. read now...
Sun, 13 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +1000 People are prepared to vote for stronger climate policies
The Coalition and Labor are seeking to discourage voters from turning to independents and minor parties, but their failure to achieve long-lasting policy change has voters looking elsewhere. read now...
Sat, 12 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 FLASHBACK 2019: Scott Morrison's religious freedom is damning the nation
Scott Morrison's fixation with getting the Religious Freedom Bill passed has blinded him to more important issues over the years. read now...
Fri, 11 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Joe Biden keeps the War on Terror alive
The Biden Administration is continuing the War on Terror through its own acts of hostility. read now...
Sat, 12 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Anti-vaxxers and the paedophile ring delusion
Many in the anti-vax brigade are caught up in the idea that they are crusading against a circle of elite paedophiles. read now...
Fri, 11 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 The men have spoken, now it's time for action
Following the parliamentary apology towards survivors of sexual abuse, it's time for real change from the men in government. read now...
Fri, 11 Feb 2022 09:00:00 +1000 CARTOONS: Scomo addresses his sceptics
"I'm gonna wash those doubts right out of your hair!" read now...
Fri, 11 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Morrison's misogyny continues despite apology
Despite his apology, Scott Morrison has not changed and continues to behave in the same toxic and misogynistic manner. read now...
Thu, 10 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +1000 Morrison's Religious Discrimination Bill is a huge step back
Scott Morrison's controversial Religious Discrimination Bill is a huge step backward for human rights. read now...
Thu, 10 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 U.S. embargo against Cuba turns 60
It all seems worn, part of an "aspic" approach to foreign policy. But U.S. President Joe Biden is keen to ensure that old, and lingering mistakes, retain their flavour. read now...
Thu, 10 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Coalition's failure to establish ICAC is electoral poison
The Coalition's refusal to establish corruption mechanisms will likely come to bite them at the upcoming Election, writes Dr Kim Sawyer. read now...
Wed, 09 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Van Onselen and the decline of journalism
A rise in media bias has resulted in a decline in journalistic integrity and truthfulness in reporting news. read now...
Wed, 09 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Facebook's future shaky after historic stock market drop
Facebook stock has fallen dramatically, which could be the beginning of the end of the social media giant. read now...
Wed, 09 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Faces of ‘freedumb’: The anti-vax leaders
The anti-vax movement features a list of usual suspects ranging from politicians to social media attention-seekers. read now...
Wed, 02 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Media mood turns on shameless Morrison (except for Channel 9 ... and Kyle)
When the Big Swinging Dicks Club starts to turn against you, is your time at the helm numbered? read now...
Tue, 08 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 EXCLUSIVE: Colbeck's negligence sounded Newmarch COVID death knell
Senator Richard Colbeck gave Newmarch House the green light to keep operating despite it failing over 80 per cent of its safety standards. read now...
Tue, 08 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Government ignorance sees animal activist campaigns rise
David and Goliath battles are looming for the animal welfare and environmental movement in 2022. read now...
Mon, 07 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Morrison's border backflip: PM's 'Teflon miracle' appears over
It is political orthodoxy that oppositions don’t win elections and governments lose them. read now...
Tue, 08 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Morrison's misinformation campaign is his greatest weapon
The Morrison Government has become so entangled in scandals and misinformation that it's difficult to determine what's real anymore. read now...
Mon, 07 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Instead of baring teeth, journos pampered Morrison during recent speech
The Prime Minister’s recent speech in Canberra revealed much about Australia’s press gallery, writes Alan Austin. read now...
Mon, 07 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 'It's not a race': Morrison palms COVID responsibility to the states
From RATs to the "stroll out", COVIDSafe to quarantine, the Morrison Government has shown it’s more about style than substance, writes Nicole Taylor. read now...
Sun, 06 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Farewell to Glenn Wheatley: Australia’s rock music maverick
Glenn Wheatley, a legendary mover and shaker in the Australian music industry for more than 50 years, has died from COVID-19 complications. He was 74. read now...
Sun, 06 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +1000 Documentarian reveals unethical CIA experiments on children
The U.S. and the CIA have a long history of conducting unethical experiments on people without consent, writes Dr Binoy Kampmark. read now...
Sun, 06 Feb 2022 12:00:00 +1000 Women's rights are paramount: The world is failing on gender equality
I'm sitting in Rarotonga, the capital of the Cook Islands. A small island nation located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is beautiful. read now...
Sat, 05 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Repeated failures by Coalition Government expose us to COVID risk
With COVID cases now in the hundreds of thousands, there's something lacking in the narrative when it comes to tackling all the new variants that will come in 2022. read now...
Sat, 05 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Voters in battleground states support a green transition
There are signs that support for green energy is sweeping the nation, writes Michael Mazengarb. read now...
Sat, 05 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Future of working holiday visa unclear
Working holiday makers (WHM) have been a key part of Australia’s immigration arrangements since at least the 1970s. read now...
Fri, 04 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Fossil fuels put climate crisis price tag in the billions
Governments across the USA are suing major climate polluters for the damage caused by their ‘intentional, reckless and negligent’ actions. read now...
Fri, 04 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Cashing in on Christ — The Eyes of Tammy Faye
With church scandals still making headlines, a new film depicting the life of Tammy Faye Bakker feels sadly relevant. read now...
Fri, 04 Feb 2022 09:00:00 +1000 CARTOONS: Fan mail or 'man fail'?
Only Gladys knows. read now...
Fri, 04 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 How Scott Morrison unleashed a COVID wildfire
As COVID-19 case numbers explode under the Morrison Government, the PM still tries to pass the blame. read now...
Wed, 02 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Mark McGowan is not the dictator in your life — your boss is
WA Premier Mark McGowan's firm stance on border protection doesn't deserve as much criticism as the capitalist society that controls our lives. read now...
Thu, 03 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Diplomacy dies on the dung-hill of Australia-China relations
In dealing with the expansion of Chinese power and influence in our region, the Morrison Government has displayed little diplomatic skill or maturity. read now...
Thu, 03 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Indefinite detention is a disgrace: We must vote to end it
Some of Australia's refugees have been detained for a horrifying nine years. Meanwhile, we've kept voting for the people who are doing it. read now...
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 12:00:00 +1000 Solutions to COVID problems lack STEAM
The ability to deal with large scale systems due to COVID-induced change is sorely testing our political process. read now...
Wed, 02 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Scott Morrison goes back to school
With the new school year beginning, PM Scott Morrison chose to address students of fine breeding at Geelong Grammar School. read now...
Wed, 02 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 The consequences of accessible technology
As sophisticated technology becomes more affordable and readily available, there lie dangers of it falling into the wrong hands. read now...
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Perrottet ignores school COVID safety
The Perrottet Government isn't doing enough to ensure the safe return of kids to schools amid the Omicron wave. read now...
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 16:00:00 +1000 Election polls reveal Morrison slipping
The idea of the Morrison Government holding office took another blow with this year’s first Newspoll. read now...
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Barrier Reef funding smells like another Morrison Government rort
Scott Morrison has pledged funds to save the Great Barrier Reef, conveniently at a time when he needs to win votes. read now...
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Happy second anniversary to Morrison’s mishandling of the pandemic
Two years ago the Morrison Government made its first concrete announcement regarding Australia’s policy around the emerging threat of COVID-19. read now...
Tue, 01 Feb 2022 13:30:00 +1000 Rock-and-roll nun Sister Janet Mead remembered
Great humanitarian and unlikely rock star Sister Janet Mead has died of cancer, aged 83. read now...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 16:30:00 +1000 Barty rewards believers, winning Aussie Open after 44-year drought
Ash Barty joins an elite club of only four other players to have won a major on all three surfaces after winning this year's Australian Open women's singles title. read now...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Federal Government continues spin and inaction on environment in 2022
Watching Prime Minister Scott Morrison on TV clutching a koala, claiming concern for the species was more than most could stomach. read now...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +1000 News Corp's shoddy 'journalism' again dominates Press Council complaints
Australia’s media watchdog found more than two-thirds of all complaints upheld for violations of the media code of ethics in 2021 were against News Corp, Alan Austin reports. read now...
Mon, 31 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +1000 A tale of two stories: Tame attacked while Colbeck off 'Scott-free'
The constant attacks on Grace Tame and the indifferent shrug towards Minister Richard Colbeck's disgraceful conduct highlight media bias in this country, writes Paul Begley. read now...
Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Australia Day: Flag 'freed', date still in chains
The fact we celebrate Australia Day each year on this date, January 26, is a glaring example of just how deeply ingrained is the casual racism of the nation towards First Australians. read now...
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 08:00:00 +1000 Fact-based journalists under fire
As misuse of communication technology rises, fact-based journalism to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda is under even more attack. read now...
Sun, 30 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Wage theft still amounts to big bickies despite new laws
Accusations of wage theft in Australia are escalating, despite recent laws making it a criminal offence to deliberately underpay or withhold workers' wages. read now...
Sat, 29 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Serbia stomps on Rio Tinto’s lithium mining project
The Serbian Government has bowed to protests and cancelled a multi-billion dollar Rio Tinto mining project. read now...
Sat, 29 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +1000 COVID apathy is contagious
Just because our governments have given up on the pandemic doesn't mean we should do the same. read now...
Sat, 29 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +1000 No plan to address asylum seeker exploitation
The results of Peter Dutton's labour trafficking scam are still lingering as asylum seeker applications continue to surge. read now...
Thu, 16 Dec 2021 15:00:00 +1000 Labour trafficking of asylum seekers could resume in Australia
As vaccinations have allowed a slow reopening of borders, there is a possibility that asylum seekers will again be exploited by employers in large numbers, writes Dr Abul Rizvi. read now...
Mon, 24 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Visa changes target low-skill employment with few worker protections
As visa changes are likely to continue the influx of migrants, the Government is prioritising low-skill work that doesn't guarantee the rights of migrant workers, writes Dr Abul Rizvi. read now...
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 13:00:00 +1000 Grace Tame’s non-smile speaks volumes
Grace Tame was magnificent in her refusal. And as a survivor, I thank her with all my heart. read now...
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Technology isn’t ruining lives, that’s the Government’s job
While some frown upon technology as diminishing our quality of life, it's our political leaders who have truly misguided us. read now...
Thu, 27 Jan 2022 16:00:00 +1000 Australia's corruption score plummets to shameful new low
Australia's corruption score has reached a new low, highlighting the urgency for a national integrity commission. read now...
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 16:00:00 +1000 Australians look in vain for independent foreign policy
One of the most disturbing features of contemporary politics is the almost complete absence of any difference in the foreign policy of the Coalition and Labor parties. read now...
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 09:00:00 +1000 CARTOONS: Mark David gives a fork
... he just doesn't give a RAT. read now...
Fri, 28 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Peter van Onselen's misogyny should be taken off air
Grace Tame’s refusal to appease Morrison with a smile has set off a typical reaction from privileged, middle-aged men, including Peter van Onselen. read now...
Thu, 27 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +1000 USA and Europe react to Russian moves against Ukraine
Amid tensions between Russia and Ukraine, a display of unity is being achieved between European countries and the U.S. read now...
Thu, 27 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +1000 KERRYN PHELPS: NSW school return plan exposes children to heightened COVID risk
The start of the school year is always exciting. But this year is different, writes Professor Kerryn Phelps. read now...
Tue, 25 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Colonial myth pushing government right-wing agenda
Perpetuation of the myth that White settlers are the superior people of Western nations is inspiring racism and right-wing extremism. read now...
Tue, 25 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Saving democracy: Bridging the Left/Right divide
Finding a common ground between both sides of the political spectrum is key to saving democracy in Western cultures. read now...
Tue, 25 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Assange wins right to appeal against extradition
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is allowed to challenge the decision over extradition in the UK Supreme Court. read now...
Thu, 20 Jan 2022 12:00:00 +1000 EXCLUSIVE: Morrison and Hunt's tricky denial of RAT requisitions
As Australians struggle to access RATs tests, Greg Hunt and Scott Morrison have publicly denied allegations of stockpiling. read now...
Mon, 24 Jan 2022 13:00:00 +1000 Meat Loaf: Heaven will be rockin'
Marvin Lee Aday, better known as the musical sensation Meat Loaf, has passed away of unknown causes, surrounded by family and friends. He was 74. read now...
Tue, 25 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Barnaby acts as epidemiologist and coroner as Coalition ignores COVID deaths
Political leaders have brushed off the seriousness of COVID-19, displaying a lack of concern for affected citizens. read now...
Mon, 24 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +1000 Border controls demonised as WA effectively shuts out COVID
The media relentlessly attacks the measures imposed to protect people from COVID instead of reckoning with the severity of this virus, writes Dr Victoria Fielding. read now...
Mon, 24 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +1000 Frydenberg's record proves he would be worse PM than Morrison
Opinions are being aired that Josh Frydenberg would be a better PM than Scott Morrison, yet his outcomes achieved as Treasurer suggest otherwise, says Alan Austin. read now...
Sun, 23 Jan 2022 15:00:00 +1000 Ripped off: NDIS users failed by clueless Coalition
The NDIS continues to embed structural stigma into its service delivery. Meanwhile, the Coalition ignores those floundering in the messes that ill-considered public policy maintains. read now...