Russell Goldflam (@russellgoldflam)

I was moved today to write to Marion Scrymgour MP, the Member for Lingiari (NT). I said this: Dear Marion, I am one of your Jewish constituents.  Most of my father's family were murdered in the Holocaust.  As a schoolboy I was subjected to vicious antisemitism at the prestigious private school I was sent to in my hometown of Perth. I believe that this formative experience was the seed of my lifelong commitment to oppose racism.  In the 40+ years since I made Mparntwe/Alice Springs my home, I have worked and campaigned against racism and the ideologies that underpin it. The Bondi massacre affected me deeply, but the Prime Minister's address to the nation delivered immediately after that calamity was exactly what I, and our shocked community needed:  to put our arms around each other, to grieve together, to embrace the common values and diverse cultures of Australia, to reject extremist violence and terrorism.  Thank you, Albo. In the days that followed, however, I was appalled to see these tragic events being cynically politicised to advance a dangerous, unconscionable and racist strategy that, if implemented will have disastrous consequences for the cohesiveness of the Australian polity and community, and encourage authoritarian regimes elsewhere that use violence and oppression to persecute civilian communities. I urge Federal Labor to stand firm in its rejection of narratives that stoke fear and division in Australian society.  I urge Federal Labour to reject calls to react to the terrorist atrocities committed in Bondi by suppressing the right to protest against governments, including Netanyahu's Israeli government, that perpetrate war crimes and crimes against humanity.  I urge Federal Labour to resist the pressure to adopt the Segal Report, which, if implemented, would stifle legitimate political expression, and stigmatise those who, like myself, support the rights of Palestinian people to live in peace and safety on their ancestral lands.  I urge Federal Labor to maintain its commitment to effective gun ownership reform. I urge the Federal government to lead our nation at this time of profound grief by promoting the core Australia values of community, harmony, openness and tolerance.  We must not go down the dark path of suppressing dissenting views, locking out refugees and migrants, and retreating from our commitment in the international arena to protect human rights.  Going down that path will not make Australian Jews, or Australians from other racial, religious and ethnic backgrounds, safer.  It will breed anti-semitism, division, racial hatred and communal distrust.  Our country can do better.  It must do better.

Substack
Truth in Political Advertising Laws Before the Next Election

It's perfectly legal to lie in a political ad. It shouldn't be. Tell the Australian Parliament to pass truth in political advertising laws before the next election. #auspol ADD YOUR NAME to the petition: >

The Australia Institute

Governments haven't done enough to save us. We had the means in our hands and they threw the chances away.

Think about that next time an SUV passes by our another road is built.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/oct/24/crunch-time-for-real-un-says-time-for-climate-delays-has-run-out

#climate #climatecrisis #auspol2024 #auspol #AlbaneseGovt #Albanesegovernment #auslabor #fossilfuels #globalwarming #greenhousegases #greenhousegasemissions

‘Crunch time for real’: UN says time for climate delays has run out

Means to stop catastrophic global heating exist, says UN chief, but political courage is needed to end world’s fossil fuel addiction

The Guardian

So... my mum lived through the London Blitz in 1940.
250,000 ppl made instantly #homeless. A massive #Housingcrisis in the extreme for the Govt, and not just in London.

There was a *Housing For All Policy* to get ppl into accommodation, albeit temporary #housing until permanent #socialhousing could be built.

It worked.
My parents lived comfortably and safe in "prefabs" for 3 yrs KNOWING a proper home would be given to them.

There are ways to sort this social housing crisis now. It's easy in comparison to post war Europe when governments had zero available cash. Its been done before on a far greater scale.

#auspol2024 #affordablehousing #australia #socialhousing #costofhousing #Costoflivingcrisis #australianpolitics #auslabor
#albaneselaborgovernment #AntonyAlbanese #AnthonyAlbanesePM #AustraliaPrimeMinisterAnthonyAlbanese

I just received an email from #Albo about gender-based violence.
If anyone from #AUSLabor is here, please tell your PR consultancy to stop using neoconservative euphemisms. They can use those with their other client.
This is male perpetrating, domestic violence and killing. Not gender-based wishy washy shite to appease the right wing faction of the left faction, which already is a neoconservstive outfit close enough to Howard that they could brush his eyebrows.
Queensland Labor may water down proposed ban on faith-based schools discriminating against gay teachers

Exclusive: Queensland attorney general Yvette D’Ath hoping to avoid ‘a fight with the churches’ before state election, source says

The Guardian

Watch both Labor & LNP run for cover on this one. Real time disclosure and truth in advertising scare the shit out of them.

#auspol #auslabor #lnp
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/mar/18/independents-move-to-ban-mega-donations-in-far-reaching-political-transparency-overhaul?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Independents move to ban mega donations in far-reaching political transparency overhaul

Crossbenchers including the Greens and the Jacquie Lambie Network back proposal that would ban $1.5m-plus donations and tighten the definition of gifts but does not include spending caps

The Guardian

Looking for a nice way to end your Friday? Consider writing the Environment Minister a letter re. the Gregory coal mine expansion. That #AusLabor is allowing coal mines to continue operating into the 2070s (?!) is a betrayal of everything they should stand for.

#AusPol #GregoryCoalMine #ClimateChange #WTF