The rise of the resistance

IA founder Dave Donovan says there are a lot of terrible things happening in the world, but there are still reasons to be cheerful.

INDEPENDENT READING A.AUSTRALIA can often be a bleak affair. Covid-19, the rise of white supremacists, the Gaza genocide, the Iran War, fuel prices and the cost of living, attacks on free speech, the Epstein files, Trump and his cabal of villains, Hanson and his terrifying accomplices… the list goes on… and on…

We know that daily doses of death, destruction, disease, and depravity can be depressing.

But IA. I have good news for you: there are reasons to be cheerful. It’s been a bleak few years since COVID and then Trump’s re-election, but we may have finally reached the darkest hour and be starting to see the first few rays of a new, better day. Below we briefly present a few of these “rays” (or causes), starting first with the home.

AUSTRALIA SHOWS STRENGTH

Independent A.Australia has recently criticized the Australian Government for not pursuing more progressive policies and for repeatedly bowing to the United States. Recent examples can be seen in Prime Minister Albanese’s establishment of a completely unnecessary practice. Royal Commission on Antisemitism and this week’s cowardly capitulation to the gas industry on exports and taxation.

However, the next Prime Minister of Australia, Dr. Under the brilliant management of Jim Chalmers, the Australian economy is performing outstandingly. As inflation rose to 4.5% this week due to rising fuel prices, the Government announced unprecedented support for first home buyers, which will effectively provide them with a deposit. These are the kinds of policies progressives should support.

Also most heartening is watching America’s aggressive President attack Australia for not sending troops to support his criminal war in Iran. While the government has remained weak over the Gaza genocide and has mostly succumbed to American impositions and insults, perhaps for the first time since Federation Australia has not sent the cream of its youth to fight and die in an unjust imperial war in the Middle East.

Independent A.Australia says bravo, Australia’s independence.

HANSON’S PREJUDICIAL PATRIOTISM WILL LOST

Following the brutal decline in the Liberal Party’s fortunes following the lackluster leadership of Sussan Ley and the support of bots, fake AI news and Rinehart’s millions, Pauline Hanson’s deeply bigoted One Nation party is on the rise. Or is it?

in 2026 South Australia State electionsWhile One Nation is predicted to win a number of seats, some reports suggest its poll numbers are approaching Labour’s. Like meA. As has been confidently stated in several articles before, this was just inflation. In fact, One Nation won only four seats, even fewer than the Liberal Party, despite receiving slightly more primary votes (PHON 22%, LPA 19%).

A Nation has another chance to prove its reputation in important countries Farrer Federal by-election in NSW next week. And given that the Coalition parties have decided to favor One Nation over One Nation’s main rival, the Independent candidate, he should have every chance. Michelle Millthorpe. Millthorpe was running the retiring member, the same Sussan Ley, at fairly close range. last election.

And judging by the latest poll figures, Millthorpe would be almost certain to win this seat if Taylor’s Liberals had not opted for PHON. The Nationals’ preference for PHON is particularly interesting, considering they ran a particularly brutal attack ad on One Nation last week.

However, despite all this, Independent A.Australia doesn’t believe Hanson’s group of Islamophobic incompetents will win in Farrer. We’re pretty sure they don’t actually want to win.

After Hanson happily accepted a $1.5 million “sexy” plane from Gina Rinehart this week, his argument that it’s for the average Australian, not billionaires, is laughable. The wheels are turning as it is revealed that the candidate donated to Millthorpe’s campaign at the last election and is trying to join the Labor Party. If Farley steps as far out of line as possible, One Nation will be destroyed in the next big test, the progressive beacon of November’s Victorian State election.

The disappearance of these scammers, as they surely will, is a reason to be cheerful.

RISE OF THE RESISTANCE

Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the US-Israeli attack on Iran, and Israel’s ethnic cleansing attempt against Southern Lebanon shocked the world. It is an appalling recent development that Western governments around the world, including our own, have also sought to limit attempts to protest these actions, declaring any criticism of the nation-state of Israel as a bigoted attack on Jews.

But the tide is turning. In Australia, 300,000 people marched on the Harbor Bridge last October to express their anger at Israel’s war crimes in Gaza, despite the Minns Government in NSW doing everything possible to stop this peaceful, principled protest. Jillian Segal, chair of Anthony Albanese’s antisemitism working group, who could reasonably be called anti-Indigenous, initially called the protest antisemitic.

He was forced to admit at a forum in Victoria this week that it wasn’t, but deluded himself by saying it wasn’t conducive to “social cohesion”. It could be argued that a royal commission into a bias that Australians don’t particularly have is also not a great way to promote social cohesion to avoid criticism of heinous actions by our main ally, the US.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has introduced legislation in NSW to stop reasonable protests against Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the alleged war criminal who, among other things, signed off on bombs destined for Gaza. At this protest, NSW Police officers were filmed striking elderly and young people who posed no threat with excessive and appalling force.

Minn.’s unjust anti-protest laws that led to such ugly scenes were challenged in the courts and declared invalid in April. Unrepentant Minns, of course, arrogantly condemned the judiciary. With his disdain for the public but also for the justice system, Minns has placed Labor in near-minor party territory in NSW and is likely to be defeated any day by the fractious caucus. If such a thing happens, let it get well soon, but more importantly, let it be brought to justice. It renews faith.

Here in Queensland, Independent A.After it aired in Australia, in a pocket-sized version that the Newman Government rejected, Prime Minister David Crisafulli introduced hilarious laws banning the words “river to sea”. Apparently, according to Crisafulli, this is an antisemitic statement because Palestinians sometimes say it. Israelis, including Netanyahu, also use this term. And it’s actually used in John Farnham’s hit song ‘Two Strong Hearts’. Many people have already been charged in Queensland for saying the phrase or having it on artwork or a T-shirt.

But here’s the good part. Two of the people arrested for using these words, a student carrying a banner and a Catholic priest on a billboard, are today (Wednesday, April 30, 2026), as am I.A. He writes that he denies the charges brought by Queensland Police. There were hundreds of people dancing and singing outside Brisbane City Hall last week, wearing John Farnham’s blonde mullet wig. ‘Two Strong Hearts’.

Resistance is increasing. Worldwide resistance is growing. This editorial, with the help of space, would describe how these terrible recent events have led to increased not only private resistance, but also resistance of nation states to this imperial oppression. U.S. and Israeli overexertion is bringing people together from Left and Right, encouraging better ties between the developing world and the First World, causing middle powers like Canada and Australia to enter into serious talks about developing a more multipolar country.

All of these are pleasing developments and although it is unknown where they will lead, they are pleasing reasons.

(With due apologies Ian Dury and the Blockheads.)

Follow IA founder Dave Donovan on X/Twitter @davrosz and Bluesky @davrosz.bsky.socialIndependent Australia on Bluesky @independaus.bsky.socialX/Twitter @independentaus and Facebook HERE.

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