Politics with Michelle Grattan: two views on increasing the super contribution
The increase in the compulsory superannuation contribution, legislated to rise next July from 9.5% to 10%, is being fiercely debated following the release of the retirement income report. In this podcast we hear the views of Brendan Coates, Director of…
Landmark NSW energy bill passes after more than 30 hours of debate – Sydney Morning Herald
The Berejiklian government’s landmark renewable energy bill has passed the NSW upper house after more than 30 hours of continuous debate amid a concerted effort from One Nation to block it. One Nation leader Mark Latham moved to stymie the…
Knitting Nannas against gas call for ‘zombie’ PELs to be cancelled
Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you. For just $5 per month get the…
NZ needs a plan to help migrant workers pick fruit and veg, or prices will soar and farms go bust
The COVID border restrictions might be saving lives but they’re also threatening the livelihoods of New Zealand farmers, unless a way can be found to allow Pacific Island seasonal workers to return and pick the crops. Since its inception in…
Thailand at a critical juncture with pro-democracy protesters again set to clash with police
Throughout 2020, there have been vocal and highly visible protests in Thailand against the government of Prayut Chan-o-cha, who led the 2014 coup against the government of Yingluck Shinawatra. He then became the head of the junta that ruled Thailand…
Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is cheaper than Pfizer’s and Moderna’s and doesn’t require supercold temperature
The biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca has released data on what is now the third promising vaccine candidate against COVID-19 – and it has several advantages over those of its competitors, Pfizer and Moderna. On Monday, AstraZeneca released interim analysis of its…
So you think economic downturns cost lives? Our findings show they don’t
Throughout the coronavirus recession we’ve been told there’s a balancing act when it comes to lives. On one hand, lockdowns save lives by limiting the spread of coronavirus. On the other, they are said to cost lives by winding back…
One of Australia’s most famous beaches is disappearing, and storms aren’t to blame. So what’s the problem?
Storms or tropical cyclones usually get the blame when Australia’s beaches suffer severe erosion. But on the New South Wales north coast at Byron Bay, another force is at play. Over the past six months, tourists and locals have been…
Bad reactions to the COVID vaccine will be rare, but Australians deserve a proper compensation scheme
This week brings more good news on the vaccination front, with reports that yet another COVID-19 vaccine trial has produced encouraging results. According to the federal government, Australia is “on track” to administer the Oxford University AstraZeneca vaccine as early…
France Shocked by Violent Police Operation to Dismantle Paris Refugee Camp
Police broke up a makeshift arrangement of tents, then chased people through the streets with tear gas. Photo: Jerome Gilles/NurPhoto via Getty Images PARIS – Images of French police evacuating a makeshift refugee camp of about 450 people in the…
How Biden and Kerry could rebuild America’s global climate leadership
John Kerry helped bring the world into the Paris climate agreement and expanded America’s reputation as a climate leader. That reputation is now in tatters, and President-elect Joe Biden is asking Kerry to rebuild it again – this time as…
Giving thanks may make your brain more altruistic
Over Thanksgiving, in between mouthfuls of turkey and sweet potato pie, many of us will be asking ourselves: What are we grateful for? Taking a moment to practice gratitude like this isn’t an empty holiday tradition. It’s good for our…
A historian on the perils of chaotic White House transitions
President Donald Trump is still pretending he won the election. That’s embarrassing for him on a personal level, but there have been real-world consequences for the rest of us. On Monday evening, the General Services Administration (GSA) finally began the…
Get Your Office Ready Before the Vaccines Arrive
According to Gallup, about 58% of Americans have indicated that they plan to get vaccinated when one or more of the vaccines becomes available. This percentage will likely increase over the next few months, especially after we have a new…
