AUKUS Public Inquiry and MPG’s presentation to Sydney hearing

AUKUS Public Inquiry
Commissioners L to R: Karina Lester (Yankunytjatjara Anangu woman and ICAN Australia ambassador), Dr Carmen Lawrence (former WA Premier), Peter Garrett (Head Commissioner), Chris Barrie (former Chief of the Australian Defence Force) and Leanne Minshull (Co-CEO of The Australia Institute). Source: Michael West Media.

The AUKUS Public Inquiry was launched in Parliament House in Canberra on 2 June 2026.

Convened by the Australian Peace and Security Forum, it aims to provide transparent, evidence-based public scrutiny of the $368 billion defense pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The AUKUS defence pact was co-established by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison in September 2021 along with US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. It was developed in strict secrecy with the goal of contributing to the containment of China by equipping Australia with nuclear-powered attack submarines and the sharing of advanced military technologies.

While the federal ALP leadership and successive Labor governments led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have unreservedly endorsed the AUKUS pact since May 2022, opposition to the defence agreement has grown within Labor ranks. More than 100 local Labor party branches and federal electorate councils nationwide have passed motions since 2023 criticising or totally opposing the defence pact.

The AUKUS Inquiry’s primary objectives are to:

  • Assess National Security – Determine if acquiring nuclear-powered attack submarines genuinely makes Australia safer or turns the country into a potential nuclear target.
  • Evaluate Regional Impact – Examine how the trilateral pact affects regional peace, stability, and diplomatic relations with key trade partners like China.
  • Examine Financial Costs – Scrutinize the accuracy of the estimated $368 billion price tag and assess opportunity costs affecting health, education, housing, and other public sectors.
  • Review Sovereignty – Investigate whether the agreement compromises Australian independence or binds the nation too tightly to United States military plans.
  • Address Nuclear Safety  – Evaluate plans for high-level nuclear waste storage and broader non-proliferation consequences.

Continue reading AUKUS Public Inquiry and MPG’s presentation to Sydney hearing →

Vale Bevan Ramsden, an inspirational peace activist

Obituaries
Photo: 3CR Community Radio

It is with great sadness that we share the news about the passing of Bevan Ramsden on 27 July 2026.

Reproduced below is a tribute to Bevan published by the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN).

It covers many aspects of Bevan’s life, including his involvement in the movement against the Vietnam War and conscription and his co-founding of Melbourne’s community radio station 3CR. He later became a regular guest and contributor to 3CR programs, especially Alternative News and Tuesday Hometime.

Notable as well was his determined pursuit of an independent, peaceful and sustainable Australia. For many years he was a vocal critic of the U.S. military alliance and U.S. military bases in Australia, especially through IPAN where he served as a member of the network’s coordinating committee.  Continue reading Vale Bevan Ramsden, an inspirational peace activist →

Israel continues to commit genocide by deliberately targeting Palestinian children

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Image: MATW Project’s Post

On 23 June 2026, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem and Israel (the Commission) released a significant report entilted “The essence of childhood has been destroyed”: Israel’s deliberate targeting of Palestinian children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory – Report (A/HRC/62/CRP.2).

The report details a wide range of abuses and crimes committed against Palestinian children.  Continue reading Israel continues to commit genocide by deliberately targeting Palestinian children →

Mary Kostakidis wins Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award 2026

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Former SBS news presenter Mary Kostakidis has been awarded Consortium News’ 2026 Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award at a ceremony in Sydney.

The award was presented on Sunday, June 14, by Consortium News editor Joe Lauria, who praised Kostakidis for being part of a group of journalists who challenge mainstream narratives on foreign policy and war reporting.  Continue reading Mary Kostakidis wins Gary Webb Freedom of the Press Award 2026 →

Public inquiry into AUKUS announced at Parliament House

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An independent inquiry into the $368 billion AUKUS defence pact was launched in Parliament House in Canberra on 2nd June 2026.

This inquiry is a much needed response to growing concerns over the lack of scrutiny surrounding the nation’s most expensive defence project.  Continue reading Public inquiry into AUKUS announced at Parliament House →

Federal Court application seeking transparency over arms exports to Israel listed for Friday 29 May 2026

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Palestinian human rights groups are concerned about Australia’s arms exports to Israel that could have been used in breach of international law in Gaza. Photo: MSF.

In April this year, the Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) filed an application in the Federal Court against the Minister for Defence seeking transparency in relation to Australian arms exports to Israel.

The hearing is listed for Friday 29th May 2026, 2.15pm at the Federal Court of Australia in Melbourne.

ACIJ is representing three leading human rights organisations based in Palestine, namely Al Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights and Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights.  Continue reading Federal Court application seeking transparency over arms exports to Israel listed for Friday 29 May 2026 →

Reflections on Anzac Day – 25th April 2026

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Reflections on Anzac Day 2026, Marrickville Peace Park.
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Over 100 people from a wide range of backgrounds and age groups attended this year’s Reflections on Anzac Day. As in previous years, the event was held in Richardson’s Lookout – Marrickville Peace Park. This was the eighth time that the event has been held in the Peace Park since 2016.  Continue reading Reflections on Anzac Day – 25th April 2026 →

UN expert warns torture has become ‘state doctrine’ in Israel, making prisons instruments of torture and ill-treatment

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On 24th March 2026, Francesca Albanese presented her latest findings on the Occupied Palestinian Territories to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Albanese has served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories since 1st May 2022.

This was her eighth report to the Human Rights Council, the fifth documenting the ongoing genocide by Israel against the Palestinian people.  Continue reading UN expert warns torture has become ‘state doctrine’ in Israel, making prisons instruments of torture and ill-treatment →

Former US ambassador Chas Freeman’s analysis of the US-Israeli war on Iran

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People run for safety as smoke rises after an air raid in central Tehran, March 5, 2026. Source: Al Jazeera.

Chas Freeman, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and former Assistant Secretary of Defense, has commented extensively on US-Israeli relations and on conflicts within the Middle East for many years

In a recent interview with Dialogue Works, an online news platform, he provided valuable insights into the US-Israel war on Iran, insights rarely found in the mainstream media’s coverage of the conflict.

Below is a summary of some key points made during that interview.  Continue reading Former US ambassador Chas Freeman’s analysis of the US-Israeli war on Iran →

Shortcomings of mainstream media’s coverage of the illegal war on Iran

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Graphic: Australian Media Bias Chart. Source: r/australia (Click to enlage).

In Australia, the mainstream media’s coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has persistently been criticised for prioritising Israeli narratives, lacking historical context and using terms that obscure the scale of Palestinan civilian casualties.

Unsurprisingly, much of the mainstream media’s coverage of the US-Israeli war on Iran has also been afflicted by a range of shortcomings. These include:
– a failure to hold the government to account
– using Orwellian euphemisms to hide ugly truths
– distorting the facts, and
– ignoring the historic record.  Continue reading Shortcomings of mainstream media’s coverage of the illegal war on Iran →

The US-Israeli war on Iran – the real objective

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Minab in southern Iran showing the aftermath of a U.S. strike on an elementary girls’ school where at least 175 people, mostly children, were killed. Source: The Guardian.

Following the US-Israeli attack on Iran which began on 28th February, there has been much speculation as to what the goals of the aggressors really are and the extent to which Iran would retaliate.

Would it be a repeat of the 12 day war in June 2025 which primarily targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities or would it be a much more extensive assault aimed at assassinating the Iranian leadership and the disintegration of the entire Iranian state? Continue reading The US-Israeli war on Iran – the real objective →

Bathurst holds protest rally against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia

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Matt Williamson

Kaat Demaere

Cate McCarthy & Mick Moffitt

Around 100 people attended a protest rally in Bathurst on Monday 9 February against the visit to Australia by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

The Bathurst rally coincided with up to 30 other rallies and marches across NSW that opposed the president’s visit.

Most media attention has focussed on the large Sydney Town Hall rally and associated police violence linked to severe restrictions imposed on the right to protest by the Minns state government.

However, together with city rallies, regional rallies like the one in Bathurst have also played an important part in galvanising public opposition to Herzog’s visit.  Continue reading Bathurst holds protest rally against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit to Australia →

Protest Israeli President Herzog’s visit to Australia – 9th February 2026

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Image: Khan Younis, Gaza. Inset: Isaac Herzog signing a bomb to be dropped on Gaza. Michael West Media.

Following the Bondi shootings on 14th December 2025, the Albanese government officially invited Isaac Herzog, President of Israel, to visit Australia. This superseded an earlier invitation to the president issued by the Zionist Federation of Australia.

A spokesperson for President Herzog has confirmed that he plans to travel between 8th and 12th February and will meet with members of the Jewish community.

Opposition

Predictably, this official invitation has provoked widespread opposition, both within Labor ranks and the community at large.  Continue reading Protest Israeli President Herzog’s visit to Australia – 9th February 2026 →

U.S. military forcibly removes President Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela

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Sydney Town Hall rally against US actions in Venezuela, Sunday 4th January 2026. Banner translation: TRUMP KILLER!! OUT OF VENEZUELA. Demonstrators called on the Albanese government to condemn the US intervention. Source: 7News Australia.

In the early hours of Saturday 3rd January 2026, the U.S. military carried out a high-intensity operation in Venezuela that involved air strikes targeting military and civilian sites in at least four states, namely Caracas, Miranda, Aragua and La Guaira.

It has been reported that the operation involved more than 150 aircraft launched from 20 bases around the Western Hemisphere, including F-35 and F-22 fighter jets, and B-1 bombers.

During the military operation, President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were abducted by a U.S. special operations squad called Delta Force from a heavily fortified compound in the capital and subsequently flown to New York city where they are being held in custody. They have been indicted on a number of alleged charges including “narco-terrorism” conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and possession of machine guns.  Continue reading U.S. military forcibly removes President Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela →

The targeted attack on Jewish people in Bondi and its aftermath

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SBS News – Mourners have placed flowers and other tributes at Bondi Pavilion since last Sunday’s attack. Source: AAP / Bianca De Marchi

The targeted attack on Jewish people during the first day of a Hannukah celebration at Bondi Beach on Sunday 14th December 2025 has been condemned by a wide range of community leaders and organisations, political parties and humanitarian agencies.  Continue reading The targeted attack on Jewish people in Bondi and its aftermath →