We're on a path to war. How can we stop it? National Zoom Meeting
We’re on the path to war. How can we stop it? Implications of the government reports on AUKUS, nuclear submarines, war powers reform & the Defence Strategic Review. National Zoom Meeting, Sunday 26 March, 6.30pm AEDT. Free registration details inside.
National Zoom Meeting
Sunday 26th March, 6.30pm AEDT
Speech by Kellie Tranter: Australia - Silent Collaborator against Assange
Previously published 7 March 2023 on Consortium News and on 4 March 2023 at Declasified Australia: At the Belmarsh Tribunal for Julian Assange, held at Sydney University’s Great Hall on Saturday 4 March, Kellie Tranter (@KellieTranter), a lawyer, researcher, and human rights advocate, in a 7:40 minute speech, reported that despite private and public requests for diplomatic assistance for the WikiLeaks publisher, Canberra’s policy — shown by FOI documents — has been one of complicit inactivity in the face of his persecution:
Land-price related Cost-of-living pressures trigger record demand for Lifeline's resources
Recent analysis claims that in 82 of Sydney's 2019 residential postcodes, a single tenant needs to be making at least $100,000 a year to avoid being in housing stress.
Planning Democracy Convenor's Report No 23
Contents: Page 1 – Heritage Amendment Bill 2023; Victorian Departmental Restructure; Australian Architecture President Bells the Cat; Legislative Council Planning and Heritage Inquiry; Page 2 – Submissions Closing on World Heritage Management Plan for Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens; Speech to CROWAG, and April Forum; Level Crossing Removal FOI; War on Plastic – Clean Up Australia Day; Page 3 – South Australia’s Planning Minister Flags Change
Submission on the Revised Draft of the World Heritage Management Plan for the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens
I appreciate the opportunity for public comment on this important issue. I was the Federal Shadow Minister for Environment and Heritage when the then Federal Minister for Environment and Heritage announced the move to nominate the Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Gardens for World Heritage listing. I have followed the history of this site with considerable interest.
Protecting democracy and public amenity
Presentation by The Hon. Kelvin Thomson, Convenor of Planning Democracy, to Combined Residents of Whitehorse Action Groups, (CROWAG) Wednesday 15 February, Blackburn Lake Visitor Centre.
Video: The Disappearing of Julian Assange - In my wallet - by Caitlin Johnson
Video: Vile proposed new UK spy laws could lead to similar in Australia
The UK parliament is currently evaluating changes to the UK Official Secrets Act that would see jail for life for people who let others know of law-breaking in government and corporations (whistleblowers). Changes to the Act are aimed to prevent any public interest journalism. Journalist Mohamed Elmaazi reports on the draft legislation in fascinating and chilling detail in John Kiriakos' interview. Public interest would be erased as a defense.
4 March - The Belmarsh Tribunal comes to Sydney - the case of Julian Assange
In person and online event this Saturday 4th of March the Belmarsh Tribunal reconvenes for its fifth session in Sydney University Great Hall.
Grampians National Park - MP warns: Be Alert - and alarmed re Vic Governments plans
The Victorian Government's increasingly draconian controls over the Grampians National Park continue to be revealed. In recent weeks, Member for Western Victoria, Bev McArthur, has questioned the Andrews Government’s ‘set-aside’ regulations for the park which effectively reverse public access rights provisioned in the National Parks Act 1975.
Planning Democracy Convenor's Report No.22 - February 2023
In this issue: Victorian Parliament Resumes; Protecting Democracy and Amenity – 15 February Blackburn Speech; Facebook Page; Save Lake Knox; Ryman Healthcare; Mount Eliza Development; CROWAG April Public Forum – Save Our Canopy Trees; Stop the Great Wall of Frankston; Long Reserve Langwarrin; Concrete coming out of the Moonee Ponds Creek; War on Plastic; Kilmore Land Upda
Planning Democracy Convenor's Report No 21 – January 17, 2023.
In this issue: 1.WELCOME TO 2023; 2.VCAT DELAYS; 3.STOP THE GREAT WALL OF FRANKSTON; 4.SUNBURY HIGH RISE TO GO TO VCAT; 5.KILMORE BUSHFIRE EVACUATION ISSUE; 6.BAD NEWS ON THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA; 7. KINGSWOOD GOLF COURSE; 8.477 SYDNEY RD. COBURG – BIKE SPACES, BUT NO CARS PLEASE; 9. PLANNING DEMOCRACY FACEBOOK PAGE; 10. WORLD HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN OVERVIEW; 11.
Australia's population ballooning to disaster yet government forces migration numbers ever higher
Recently the South Australian premier called for higher immigration in his water-scarce state. This was followed by a similar plea from the Northern Territory government, which is seeking more workers, and is spending $12.8m on a campaign to attract them for the hospitality industry.
New report confirms population growth causes long-term housing inflation: SPA
A new report confirms beyond doubt that rapid population growth is the main cause of Australia’s housing affordability crisis, notes Sustainable Population Australia (SPA). While interest rates and government policies influence short-term trends in house prices, it is population growth that has driven house price inflation long-term.
IBAC special report highlights improper conduct on board of Victorian Planning Authority by ex MP Theo Theophanous
Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) Today the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) tabled a special report in Parliament highlighting improper conduct by former Victorian Government Minister Theo Theophanous in his role on the board of the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA).[1] [Candobetter comment: Note that the VPA is is a major decisi
Video - Such wilful blindness by ABC Australia - filmed Assange vigil but only reported Gay Pride
It was the 169th Assange Friday night vigil outside Sydney Town Hall and, for once, ABC Australia turned up. But they were there for a Gay Pride event at the town hall.
German parliamentarian leads demands for debate and investigation of Nordstream 2 destruction
In a terrific 15 minutes, Sevim Dağdelen, a leading member of Die Linke (left wing German opposition party) speaks on Hersh Nordstream scoop to an almost empty Bundestag (German parliament.) Those present from Die Linke and AfD parties enthusiastically approved.
Steep decline in Australian hospital beds per capita since 1960s as population numbers soared
In 1960 Australia had 9.65 hospital beds per 1000 people. This number shrank to 3.84 hospital beds in 2016, with a low in 2013 of 3.74. A very slight increase to 3.9 beds per 1000 people in 2017-2018. Between 1960 and 2021 Australia's population grew from 10.28 million to 25.69 million people. This is a growth of 150.0 percent in 61 years.
Nationwide Campaign against AUKUS 24 Feb
Nationwide Campaign Against AUKUS 24 February 2023 Outside MPs' Electorate Offices. Details for different states inside.
Nationwide Campaign Against AUKUS
24 February
Outside MPs Electorate Offices
Details for actions in different states below.
How you can help make Australia's Parliament act to free Assange
In the early hours of Thursday 16 February, the last day on which the House of Representatives, the lower house of Australia's two houses of Parliament, is to sit until the next sitting begins on Monday 6 March, I have been individually emailing members of the House with my Open Letter entitled "Lift Parliament's gag on discussion about Julian Assange - an Open Letter to members of the Julian Assange Parliamentary Support Group".
Lift Parliament's gag on discussion about Julian Assange - an Open Letter to members of the Julian Assange Parliamentary Support Group
The following Open Letter has been sent to all 40 members of the Bring Julian Assange Home Parliamentary Support Group (Julian Assange Parliamentary Support Group).
Rally in support of Syria 12 noon Sunday 19 Feb 2023, Marrickville, Sydney
Hands Off Syria is calling for a rally in support of Syria. After the catastrophic earthquake, people around the world want to help Syria, however, the criminal US sanctions are impeding assistance, in particular reconstruction.
Sanctions kill, sanctions starve; sanctions stop reconstruction efforts. End the Sanctions Now. The Syrian people need our help now.
Australian Sanctions are killing Syrian earthquake survivors
Prime Minister Albanese should take note from the young female Syrian in the embedded video below: The illegal sanctions which Australia, the US and its other allies have imposed against Syria, made life close to unbearable for Syrians, even before the earthquake. Those illegal sanctions are now causing death as those struggling to rescue earthquake survivors are deprived of life-saving equipment and medicine as consequence of the sanctions.
Australia's ABC News shocking failure to report Seymour Hersh on US and Norway blowing up Nordstream 2
Hersh, one of the most famous and respected journalists in the world, has just published an investigative report showing that the United States, in cahoots with Norway, conspired and executed the destruction of Nordstream2. The United States, Norway (and investors in Norway petroleum) were the obvious immediate beneficiaries. See Seymour Hirsh, "How America Took Out The Nord Stream Pipeline," Substack News (8 Feb 2023)
From Melbourne Parliament House this Saturday, march in Solidarity with the Global Carnival for Julian Assange
From 4pm, this coming Saturday 11 February, come down to the Victorian State Parliament to celebrate Julian Assange for the Global Carnival Worldwide Mobilization for Assange. Meet at Parliament Steps at 4pm Saturday 11 February 2023.
Syria and Turkey united in massive 7.8 earthquake
February 6, 2023: Latakia, Syria At least 780 are dead in Syria, with another 2,300 injured according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) after a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck at 4:17 am local time today. Rescue teams look for survivors under the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake in the regime-controlled northern Syrian city of Aleppo on February 6, 2023.
Open letter to members of the Bring Julian Assange Home Parliamentary Support Group: Please raise your voice for Julian Assange this week
Update, 8 Feb 2023: I have received a reply from Josh Wilson and responded further below. They both now precede my original "Open Letter" of 6 February, which is further below.
Video & Transcript: Kevork Almassian & Col.Richard Black do best round-up ever of how we got into the Mid-East-Ukraine mess
Outstanding interview on imminent international relations breaks new ground. Interviewer, Kevork Almassian, originally from Syria, currently living in Germany, knows what questions to ask formidably intelligent Vietnam Veteran and retired US State Senator, Colonel Richard Black. Black actually has answers. The interview starts with why Trump reversed his original policies on Syria and Afghanistan.
Half of Western Sydney foodbowl land may have been lost to development in just 10 years - Article by Nicky Morrison and Awais Piracha
More and more farming land is being lost to other land uses such as housing on the outskirts of our cities. But how much land is being lost? And why does it matter?
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