Independent Australia

Australia

Fighting the last battle

Share The monarchists are still fighting the battles of yesterday, writes Lewis Holden. If you’re going to fight republicans today, it doesn’t really make sense to fight the battles of yesterday, avoiding the battles of...

20 January, 2012 4:56 pm / 4 comments

100th anniversary of 1912 Brisbane General Strike

Share18 January 2012 is the centenary of the 1912 Brisbane General Strike — one of the defining episodes in the history of unionism in Queensland. Three years later, as a direct result of the events of 1912, there was an electoral swing...

18 January, 2012 1:52 pm / no comments

The sad cherub of Susannah

Share“Winged cherubs are often found on gravestones for babies from the early colonial period in Tasmania. This tradition may have drifted over the years, as in 1855 the symbol is found on the gravestone of a teenage girl in Rokeby,...

16 January, 2012 12:44 pm / no comments

A woman’s work

ShareMabel Engeman (pictured in 1914) Managing editor David Donovan’s great-aunt, Mabel Engeman, in a 1913 school essay, illuminatingly describes the role of women at that time in Australia. Tuesday, April 22nd, 1913 Essay A Woman’s Work Click...

15 January, 2012 10:07 am / 1 comment

Our history does early Australian convict women a grave injustice

ShareEarly female convicts transported to Australia have had their reputations unfairly tarnished by history, says Riaz Hassan. Some years ago while researching for my book on suicide in Australia, I thought it would be interesting to begin...

13 January, 2012 12:01 am / no comments

Australia’s oldest Republican Party turns 30

ShareLast night the Republican Party of Australia celebrated its 30th Birthday with a lavish dinner in Castle Hill, a site of great significance to Australian Republicans. The RPA was founded on 11 January 1982 by Peter Consandine and has...

12 January, 2012 8:07 am / 1 comment

Gambaro goes the raw prawn

Shareby contributing editor-at-large Tess Lawrence Keep Australia fresh and fragrant! With Opposition Parliamentary Secretary Teresa Gambaro saying immigrants should be taught to deodorise — fellow “Mediterranean” contributing editor-at-large...

11 January, 2012 12:01 am / 2 comments

Can’t buy monarchists love

Share “Despite the monarchists’ devilish efforts at deception and self-promotion, the Republican cause is strengthening and gaining momentum,” writes Andrew Douglas. We are well into the 21st Century; the technological revolution...

9 January, 2012 2:39 pm / 7 comments

Real inglorious bastards

ShareMost Vietnam veterans are the finest of men, says fellow veteran and bestselling author Don Tate — yet also hiding within is a vicious, hypocritical, element. Whenever Vietnam veterans march, be it Anzac Day or Long Tan Day, they purport...

8 January, 2012 9:20 am / no comments

Judas rising

ShareDespite claims to the contrary, John Howard plotted, cajoled, manipulated and lied to bring down the Australian Republic in 1999 — and has now received his due reward from the Queen. Managing editor David Donovan gives the definitive...

6 January, 2012 3:16 pm / 2 comments