Perth Indymedia

We speak to long-time Javanese author, researcher and activist Al-Fayyadl about the political and social implications of Indonesia's recent elections.

Trade unions across the country flexed their muscles last Wednesday, with a display of strength in support of the Australian Council of Trade Unions' Change the Rules campaign. As many as 200 000 people took to the streets of Melbourne, effectively shutting down the centre of the city. In Perth, some 3000 workers gathered outside State Parliament House. Alex Whisson was there to capture the highlights. The speakers, in order, are Meredith Hammat, the Secretary of UnionsWA, Carolyn Smith, Secretary of United Voice, Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, Steve McCartney, and finally Dave Noonan, the National Construction Secretary of the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union.

When it comes to federal budgets, we hear the same blathering nonsense from politicians year in, year out. While major corporations pay little or no tax on multi-billion dollar profits, we're told the rest of us must tighten our belts, and be fiscally responsible in the face of economic headwinds and mounting debts and deficits. Above all, we must as a nation constantly work towards budget surpluses, a theme so often repeated it might as well be a religious mantra.

Union membership and strike activity remain at record lows across Australia. In recent times however, a few vitally important episodes of industrial action have bucked the historical trend. Last year in our own state for example, 1600 Alcoa workers went out on the grass for no fewer than 53 days. Meanwhile on the eastern seaboard, Chemist Warehouse workers, members of the National Union of Workers, have just emerged victorious from a two-week strike. Alex Whisson spoke to the General Branch Assistant Secretary of the NUW, Godfrey Moase.

Indymedia's Alex Whisson speaks to Dr Yassir Morsi on the culture of xenophobia and Islamophobia connected to the tragic terror attack in Christchurch.

Freight operator Aurizon are taking legal action against anti-coal activists in Queensland who are trying to stop the expansion of the coal industry. Raymond Grenfell spoke to Tess from Front Line Action on Coal to find out more about the legal case and the FLAC campaign.

Indicted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Darfur, guilty of the large scale repression and impoverishment of his own people, the rule of Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, who came to power in a 1989 coup, is now under serious challenge from a popular uprising calling for his resignation. Ray Grenfell spoke to Nidal Saeed from the Australian Sudanese Activists Group WA, and began by asking her what gave rise to this current wave of protests.

Indymedia's Ray Grenfell hits the streets during the Perth Strike for Climate protest and chats to some attending students and supporters on why this movement is important.

We speak to researcher and activist Marine Benoit on the current state of the Yellow Vest movement and the French governments plans to criminalise protest.

In the wake of the Christchurch terror attack we speak to long time organiser Ezekiel Ox on the need for antifascist and antiracist militancy.

High school students 16-year-old Justin Alford and 15-year-old Siobhan Sutton chat to us about the up coming Strike for Climate protest worldwide March 15th.

Last Friday marked International Women's Day. It's a day not only for the celebration of past achievements in the struggle for women's liberation, but an opportunity to refocus on the struggles of the present. It's also a day which has its origins in the labour movement. UnionsWA, the peak body of the trade union movement in Western Australia, held a Working Women Change the Rules rally late on Friday afternoon in the Supreme Court Gardens to mark the occasion. These are some of the voices and highlights from the day.

Federico Fuentes, political commentator and co-author of Latin America's Turbulent Transitions: The Future of Twenty-First Century Socialism, joins us again to discuss the latest developments in the US-backed coup attempt in Venezuala. Alex Whisson began by asking about Washington's strategic and political objectives in attempting to deliver so-called humanitarian aid to Venezuela.

We speak to Indonesian musician and independent music label manager Rian about a controversial draft music bill currently being proposed by the Indonesian government.

We speak to organiser Erima Dall regarding the NSW Right to Strike campaign and the importance of workers being able to take militant industrial action to protect and expand their rights at work.

We speak to long-time activist, journalist and researcher Federico Fuentes about the unfolding political situation in Venezuela and the US state's involvement.

We speak to author, journalist and film-maker Antony Lowenstein about the ongoing privatisation of the war in Afghanistan

We speak to organiser Jaime Evans about the global Womens March movement.

We speak to policy analyst and researcher Michael Smethurst about the issue of pill testing at festivals in Australia

We speak to Indymedia's Alex Whisson on the streets of Paris as he joins the Yellow Jackets demonstrations.