Perth Indymedia

Protesters gathered in central Perth yet again on Sunday 28th January to cry out in anguish and anger at the suffering of the Palestinian people. The event was also an opportunity to express solidarity with indigenous people in Australia who themselves continue to battle oppression in a colonial-settler state. Meanwhile, governments throughout the Western world have ignored the International Court of Justice's interim orders relating to Israel's genocidal assault, and instead chosen to cut off funding to the United Nations Relief & Works Agency, one of the few lifelines for a population in Gaza now facing mass starvation.

Argentinian-Australian political commentator, author and analyst, Federico Fuentes, joined Alex Whisson to discuss the recent election of Javier Milei as President of Argentina. Is he a populist? A libertarian? An anarcho-capitalist? Or an out-and-out fascist? And what are the political implications of his election, not only for Argentina, but the Latin Amerian region as a whole?

Joni reports on the 7th January rally for Gaza in the Perth CBD - the 10th march in a row since the IDF's current bombardment of Gaza began.

Indymedia's Joni Boyd chats to newly elected City of Bayswater Councillor Nat Latter about the power of local government, adapting to climate change on a local level and a whole range of other topics like homelessness, accessibility and transparency. Broadcast on 8th Jan 2024 on RTRFM92.1

For the final episode of the year, Alex Whisson surveys the state of the world.

Disrupt Burrup Hub's Gerard Mazza joined Alex Whisson to discuss why an activist with the group, Marek 'Maz' Misiewizc, chose to lock himself on to a barrel in the boot of a 4WD, parked right outside the office of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority.

Several campaign groups came together on Friday 8th December outside the Perth convention centre, to give their warm season's greetings to a gathering of defence industry bigwigs, including representatives from Babcock and BAE Systems, and featuring special guest speaker, the UK Minister of State for Indo-Pacific, Anne-Marie Trevelyan. The protest speakers featured are Stop AUKUS - WA campaigner Sam Wainwright, veteran environmentalist & peace campaigner Jo Vallentine, Unionists for Palestine WA's Alex Whisson, Students for Palestine's Ella Marchionda, and Nuclear Free WA activist KA.

Former seafarer, rank-and-file leader of the Great Patrick’s Dispute of 1998, and now National Secretary of the CFMMEU, Christy Cain, set a firestorm through both the Australian trade union movement, and the Palestine solidarity campaign, with an impassioned speech at a mass rally for Palestine in the centre of Melbourne on Sunday 3rd December. He joined Alex Whisson to discuss why he gave that speech, which among other things, directly called on other union leaders, and specifically ACTU Secretary Sally McManus, to do more, much more, for the people of Palestine, and why it was so important to him both personally and politically.

The AUKUS agreement, signed in September 2021, is one step of many designed to reinforce, intensify, and scale up a wider network of Western military alliances, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. As the US empire continues its geostrategic shift towards confronting its great rival China, the so-called 'pivot to Asia', Australia is set to play potentially a key role, as Washington's loyal lieutenant, in attempting to extend American global domination well into the 21st century. Sam Wainwright, spokesperson for the campaign group Stop AUKUS - WA, joined Alex Whisson to discuss the nature and purpose of AUKUS, its connections with the local weapons industry, and how all of this business of death and destruction ties in with the unfolding genocide in Gaza.

Alex Whisson provides an update on the current situation in Gaza, after the ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar collapsed and the Israeli slaughter of Palestinian civilians recommenced.

Irish Indymedia contributor Saoirse Nash speak to Joni Boyd about the violent race riots in Dublin last Thursday. Saoirse tells us what happened on the night, speaks on the various responses from authorities, political parties and community groups and contextualises the rise of the anti-immigrant movement in Ireland. Broadcast 27/11/2023 Image from Reuters

Continuing our coverage of the campaign against property developer Niche Living, which has left dozens of families in financial distress as their homes face interminable construction delays, Alex Whisson attended a protest near the company's main office in Northbridge and spoke to some of those caught up in the scandal.

We speak to MUA member and organiser with Unionists For Palestine, Erima Dall, about a recent blockade of Port Botany in NSW that targeted the Israeli ZIM shipping company - highlighting their connection to the Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Media adviser for Disrupt Burrup Hub, Jesse Noakes, joins Alex Whisson to discuss the ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation by the WA Police force directed towards the group's activists, in light of his conviction for failing to comply with data access orders that would have compromised his sources and freedom to act as an independent journalist.

Unionist, academic and frustrated homebuyer Richard Hamilton joined Alex Whisson to discuss interminable construction delays on dozens of home builds by property developer Niche Living. Facing ongoing uncertainty, heartache and stress, after waiting years in some cases for their homes to be finished, affected families throughout Perth have decided to take action, launching a campaign group, We Need a Home, and staging a protest outside Niche Living's Perth offices.

Joni Boyd chats to Gem Walsh from the Loud Jew Collective about the occupation of Defense Minister Richard Marles' office in Geelong on Wednesday the 1st November - a Jewish lead action including reading the names of Palestinian dead and traditional Yiddish songs of peace. The action called for a cease fire in Gaza and an end to Israeli Apartheid. Broadcast 6/11/2023 on RTRFM92.1

Joni Boyd reporting on a Friends of Palestine action on Wednesday the 1st of November, when roughly a hundred protesters marched on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to demand Australia call for a cease fire in Gaza and an end to the Israeli Apartheid. Broadcast on 6/11/2023 on RTRFM92.1

Joni chats to Nova Sobieralski from Queer Liberation Boorllo about upcoming rallies calling upon Labor to finally implement the reforms to discrimination and ID laws that were promised to the LGBT+ community since taking office in 2017.

Indymedia's Nova Sobieralski was with striking Coles and Woolworths workers with the Retail and Fast Food Workers Union asking why they went on strike. Presented by Joni Boyd Image via Chuffed.org

On Saturday 28th October 2023, some 3000 people marched through the streets of Perth in solidarity with Palestine. In so doing, they added their voices to the millions mobilising around the world in growing opposition to Israel's genocidal assault on the people of Gaza. Speakers include Friends of Palestine WA chairperson Nick Everett, NSW Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi and the Palestinian Community of WA's Ayman Qwaider.