Marxism Conference || Save Westernport Bay Campaign Victory || Ending of COVID Payments and it's Social Impacts

Green Left Weekly Radio

Featuring the latest in activist campaigns and struggles against oppression fighting for a better world with anti-capitalist analysis on current affairs and international politics. NewsreportsDiscussion from the presenters about proposals for solar export levy for homeowners point towards need to renationalise the electricity grid. Coverage by Bruce Mountain at renew economy shows the costs of upgrading to allow more solar penetration are fairly small at 3-5% of the overall capital works budget of grid operators; moreover large generators don't pay any grid connection fees whereas every household pays $1.20 per day to be connected even if they have panels and are a net generator of power. Of the 2.7million Australian households with solar panels, a majority are in working class areas.Right wing ideologue and ex federal Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella appointed to Fair Work Commission by Christian PorterScott Morrison's cabinet reshuffle does little to change the sexism built into the DNA of the Liberal party. Australian of the year Grace Tame has strongly criticised the appointment of Amanda Stoker as minister for women as Stoker has provided a platform for Mens rights activist Bettina Arndt.Interviews and DiscussionJacob & Zane speak with safe schools founder, equal marriage campaigner and socialist alternative member Roz Ward about this weekends marxism conference happening at the old Meat Market building in North Melbourne. Ward outlines some of the various discussion streams happening, and gives an overview of the various international guests attending the conference via videolink, who will discuss numerous social movements and battles past and present. You can listen to the individual interview here.Jacob and Zane speak with Jane Carnegie from the Save Westernport campaign group about the successful fight to prevent a massive gas import terminal being built at Crib Point near Hastings, South East of Melbourne. The Floating Storage and Regasification Unit proposed by AGL would have pumped half a billion litres of chlorinated waste water per day into the sensitive RAMSAR listed coastal wetland ecology and waters, decimating the ecosystem. You can listen to the individual interview here.Jacob and Zane speak with RMIT research associate Simone Casey about her analysis of cuts to jobseeker and jobkeeper coinciding with the end of the eviction moratorium. The cuts are set to exacerbate the existing situation and will see some 2.6million people grappling with poverty and rental stress. The situation is especially bad for single parents and the long term unemployed. Casey looks at various remedies for the situation such as increasing the rate of jobseeker and rent assistance, and/or implementing a job guarantee, and/ or investing in a rollout of more public housing. You can listen to the individual interview here.