On February 14th, Anthony Albanese stood over his despatch box to deliver an unsurprising and obligatory solidarity statement against what was at the time a potential invasion of Ukraine. Leaving aside the rank hypocrisy of Australian officials shedding crocodile tears for Ukrainians after conducting decades of imperialist war in Iraq and Afghanistan, alongside NATO “interventions” in Yugoslavia and Libya, what was unusual was Albanese’s mention of a particular Ukrainian Australian – Stefan Romaniw.

Just as they attacked the Adelaide and Melbourne street kitchens last year, now police are targeting CUDL’s community support activities in Martin Place, Sydney. Multiple fines have been given out by the ever-empathetic New South Wales Police Force for ‘crimes’ as minute as unloading on the footpath, erecting tables and stopping to unload for the homeless in the rain in a taxi zone.

On the 15th of February, the staunch members of the New South Wales Nurses and Midwives Association (NSWNMA) went on strike over the unsafe and unfair conditions they have been continually subjected to by the New South Wales Government. These conditions put the safety of these brave frontline workers at risk, as well as the broader public in the midst of a pandemic.

In Sydney on Monday the 21st of February, the New South Wales Government undermined negotiations with the Rail Tram and Bus Union to shut down the entire rail network for 24 hours, citing safety concerns. However, as the union stated at the time, this was nothing but a blatant lie so that the government could intimidate and scapegoat the union in the midst of negotiations that have been wrought with bad-faith on the part of the NSW Government over the last 9 months.