By Bevan Ramsden The Pacific and Pacific Rim countries have a geographical commonality. They are encircled by, or have a border with, the vast, blue, peaceful Pacific Ocean. They also share a political commonality. The people and countries of this region are under pressure to lift their military spending at the expense of addressing their social needs. The pressure comes …

By Bevan Ramsden, Andrew Fullarton Donald Trump is not an aberration, but rather a symptom of the disease, not its cause. His election for a second term, an authoritarian racist and convicted felon, highlights the decay of the US empire domestically and internationally. It is surely high time for the Australian Government to abandon the dangerous illusion that being tied …

By Bevan Ramsden There has been a dramatic change in our strategic circumstances. United States reliability has been found wanting. This provides both a challenge and an opportunity. We now need an alternative self-defence policy which will safeguard our territory and enable the pursuit of peace in our region as an independent and responsible country. The US administration under Trump …

By Michelle Fahy Published with permission of the author https://undueinfluence.substack.com Australia’s independence has been dangerously compromised by Labor and Coalition governments, which have signed up to deep-rooted military agreements with the United States of America. These agreements have also underpinned the increasing militarisation of Australia: witness the 2022 speech by Labor’s Richard Marles, the newly appointed deputy prime minister, in …

By Shirley Winton This is a talk given by Shirley Winton at a public forum in Melbourne on 16 October, Fighting Inequality.  Shirley’s talk addressed military spending in Australia and the US Alliance.    Shirley spoke as a member of No AUKUS Coalition Vic and Independent and Peaceful Australia (Vic). Thank you for inviting me to speak at this forum.  …

By Bevan Ramsden Current Australian defence policy involves close integration with the United States military in all areas, making an independent foreign policy impossible and ensuring Australia’s automatic involvement in US-instigated wars such as a war with China, our major trading partner. A policy of neutrality would free Australia from involvement in such disastrous military adventures and enable the pursuit …

by Bevan Ramsden * War preparations began with the U.S. Force Posture Agreement providing a gateway for US military build- up in the Northern Territory and giving them unimpeded access to our seaports and air bases. War preparations have continued with huge expenditures on military acquisitions topped with $368 billion on nuclear -powered submarines. Now there are legislative amendments on …

18 March Melbourne Peace rally Talk by Shirley Winton (member of No AUKUS Victoria/AAAC and IPAN) On behalf of Peace Roundtable Melbourne welcome everyone and thank you for coming on this scorching hot day.   I would like to especially acknowledge the people who have travelled many hours from across Victoria to attend this important rally.  They are from South West …