The US has been at war for all but 17 years of the 239 the nation has been in existence.
Successive Australian governments have hastened to send troops into every war the US has provoked in the past 70 years. Many people consider Australia's strategies, priorities, and interests have been subsumed by those of the US.
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On June 23, Australia's parliament voted to reduce the Renewable Energy Target for 2020 from 41 to 33 terawatt hours of renewable electricity, following a long struggle by the government to win support from minor party Senators for the cuts.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he 鈥渨ould frankly have liked to reduce the number a lot more鈥.
The deal he cut in the Senate will see the potential for 鈥渨ood waste鈥 from logging of native forests to be burned to generate 鈥渞enewable electricity鈥 as part of the target.
It has become a disturbing hallmark of the current government that the degree to which Prime Minister Tony Abbott adopts the style of a Nazi leader addressing the Nuremburg Rally is a reflection of the policies being foreshadowed.
The Labor Party has backed federal government legislation that will, in some circumstances, force Australian internet service providers (ISPs) to block their customers from accessing certain online services.
Labor and Coalition senators passed the Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015 on June 22, with the Greens and a number of other cross-bench senators voting against the legislation.
Hundreds of people rallied in Melbourne on June 25 to protest against the transfer of a young baby, Asha, to the Nauru detention centre.
The rally occurred on the same day as the federal government, with support from the Labor opposition, voted to change the law to keep the prisons on Nauru and Manus Island open to defeat a high court challenge.
Pamela Curr from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre said: "We can defeat this criminal policy, but it won't be easy."
Brad Chilcott is the director of Welcome to Australia, a community organisation that, according to its Facebook page, is 鈥渄edicated to giving asylum seekers, refugees, new arrivals and long-term migrant residents of Australia a warm, dignified and positive Welcome to Australia鈥.
An article by Chilcott entitled has appeared on Chifley.org, a website for ALP members and supporters.
The article does not clarify Chilcott鈥檚 relationship with the ALP.
REGIONAL QUEENSLAND
Come to a National Peace Convergence over July 5 to July 12. Protest Talisman Sabre joint military exercises between US and Australian troops at Shoalwater Bay. Visit Peace Convergence 2015 on Facebook.
MELBOURNE
Come to a rally: Fight the fines on the jobless on Wednesday July 1 at 1pm. The unemployed can be fined for failing to attend a job search appointment with their Employment Service Provider. Max Employment, 470 Collins St. Organised by Australian Unemployment Union.
Melbourne rally to return baby Asha on June 25. Photo ASRC/Facebook
The campaign to bring back baby "Asha" (not her real name) from Nauru is gaining momentum. The five-month-old baby girl, her mother and father were forcibly transported from Melbourne's detention centre to Darwin detention centre and then to Nauru in early June.
Many people are dismayed that the Greens have supported the Coalition government鈥檚 age pension cuts. Greens鈥 social media has been awash with commentary, with many people venting their anger at the Greens.
Some have defended the deal, trusting the Greens to do the right thing and labelling criticism as Labor propaganda. Others just want an explanation.
The Abbott government鈥檚 Renewable Energy Target legislation passed by the Senate this week means consumers will think they are buying so called 鈥渞enewable energy鈥 when it is actually generated from burning wood from unsustainable native forest logging.
The Australian Forests and Climate Alliance released this statement on June 23.
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The Australian Forests and Climate Alliance (AFCA) has condemned today鈥檚 decision to make burning native forests eligible for Renewable Energy Certificates under the Renewable Energy Target.
If you suspect that neoliberal capitalist governments, including the Australian government, act as kleptocracies for the richest 1% and the large corporations, you have good reason to.
Whether you look at their tax system, the various privatisation or part-privatisation schemes they are forcing on the public, the 鈥渦ser-pays鈥 drives or the publicly subsidised private insurance scams, you can see how the public is being forced to subsidise the profits of powerful corporations and the super-rich.
Protesters in Sydney marked the eighth anniversary of the Northern Territory Intervention 鈥 renamed Stronger Futures 鈥 with a rally at Town Hall and march to the Block in Redfern on June 21.
Speakers at the protest included Ken Canning, Albert Hartnett, Eva Cox, Gerry Georgatos and Kyol Blakeney.
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