Jacobin Australia

In 1975, the CIA orchestrated of Labor's last social-democratic Labor PM, Gough Whitlam. A decades-long campaign has recast the “dismissal” as a domestic political crisis, but retrospect, it’s even more obvious that America was responsible. Read more: jacobin.com/2025/11/whitla…

Australian Labor’s last left-wing PM, Gough Whitlam, made two mistakes: the first was appointing former CIA asset John Kerr as governor-general. The second was to challenge the CIA’s interests in Australia — and it cost him government. jacobin.com/2025/11/whitla…

The 1975 “dismissal” of Australian Labor PM Gough Whitlam is often seen as a constitutional crisis initiated by an old British-led establishment. In reality, it was a bloodless analog of other US-orchestrated coups against leftist governments. Read more: jacobin.com/2025/11/whitla…

Doubts about the colossal AUKUS military deal are growing. But Donald Trump’s protection-racket tactics and a subservient Australian political class mean it will probably survive: jacobin.com/2025/09/trump-…

The AUKUS deal isn’t about nuclear submarines. It’s about America is forcing Australia to pay a $245 billion tribute. jacobin.com/2025/09/trump-…

If Australian unions spent every dollar they have donated to the Labor Party on scratch lotto tickets instead, Australian workers would probably be better off: jacobin.com/2025/08/austra…

Between 1915 and 1924, the Queensland Labor Party set about building socialism in the Sunshine State. It was and remains one of the most ambitious reforming programs in Labor’s history. jacobin.com/2025/07/queens…

From early 19th century Fenian uprisings to the movement against World War One, Irish struggle against British colonialism is at the heart of Australian working class history. jacobin.com/2025/07/irish-…

In the 1910s and '20s, socialist Queensland premiers T. J Ryan and “Red” Ted Theodore challenged the power of wealthy pastoralists and the British financiers who backed them. It led to a showdown whose outcome still haunts the Australian Labor Party. jacobin.com/2025/07/queens…

Few today associate Queensland with socialism. But in the 1920s, Labor governments implemented ambitious reforms, nationalising key industries and challenging large landowners and the British bankers who backed them. Read more at... jacobin.com/2025/07/queens…

In 1804, Irish convicts in Australia rose up against their British jailers under the slogan “death or liberty, and a ship to take us home.” It was the first act in a history of resistance that defined the Australian workers’ movement. jacobin.com/2025/07/irish-…

When British authorities deported Irish rebels to their Australian penal colonies, they also exported a tradition of anti-colonial resistance. Read more at: jacobin.com/2025/07/irish-…

Last year, public servants in Victoria formed A Voice for Members, a rank-and-file group that’s campaigning for a more militant, member-led union. jacobin.com/2025/07/victor…

In Victoria, public servants are mounting a challenge against a union leadership that has held power for 32 years. jacobin.com/2025/07/victor…

For 32 years, the same faction has held leadership in the Victorian branch of Australia’s public service union. The rank-and-file reform group A Voice for Members is now mounting a challenge, saying it wants a more democratic and militant union. jacobin.com/2025/07/victor…

In the aftermath of Australia’s recent Federal election, mainstream commentators — and even the Prime Minister — were quick to blame the Greens’ loss of three seats on their left-wing program. It’s a cynical argument, aimed at shoring up the status quo. jacobin.com/2025/06/austra…

In the May election, the Australian Greens presented a forthright left-wing platform, centered on housing, cost of living and climate change. In the face of an unprecedented establishment smear campaign and a bruising result, the party isn't backing down. jacobin.com/2025/06/austra…

May’s federal election delivered a setback for the Greens. But they’re doubling down on a program centered around the cost-of-living crisis and redistribution. jacobin.com/2025/06/austra…

Saturday's election was a victory against Dutton's low-budget Trump imitation. But the Greens' loss of four seats is a setback for the whole Left — and it points towards major strategic challenges the minor party will have to face. jacobin.com/2025/05/albane…

On Saturday, voters rejected a localised version of Trumpism, and handed Labor a landslide win. But Albanese's answer to the cost of living crisis is the status quo — slow, managed decline — which is why his newfound popularity may be built on sand. jacobin.com/2025/05/albane…