Fun fact for our international followers: If someone in Australia cuts down a tree on public land to improve the view from their house, the local government will install a sign to block that view again

Link to the original map on the AIATSIS website, where you can zoom in and read things: https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia

C I N E M A T I C    P A R A L L E L S

it took australia like 3 years to actually understand eurovision, but when they did, THEY FUCKING BROUGHT IT

australia’s song aka the thing that actually got flat earthers mad at eurovision for promoting globe propaganda

it was like elsa mad max style

ah yes i see australia finally learnt how to eurovision

(via @pappagalli on twitter)

Right now the Australian government is making massive attacks on students

What’s happening?

In 2014, the government wanted to completely privatise and americanise the university system by allowing universities to charge as much as they wanted so that universities could make a larger profit (which would mean degrees that could cost hundreds of thousands for prestigious universities) . These never got through because of massive student protests that forced them to rescind these attacks. But this year, they plan to slowly implement similar attacks by first increasing student fees by 8% (on average $3,600 per student), all while cutting university funding and lowing the amount you need to earn before you have to pay it all back (to just above minimum wage - $42,000 pa).

Why is this totally unfair?

In Australia, it would cost only $8 billion to make education free for all students (including international students), but the new budget instead is giving $10 billion to the coal industry and implementing $50 billion in corporate tax cuts. And to able to do this they’re passing the bill onto students, when two thirds of Australian students live below the poverty line. We’ve also seen massive attacks on working class wages that affect students more than anyone (attacks on penalty rates, attempts to lower minimum wage, decreases to centrelink payments and the influx of centrelink debts).

Ordinary people deserve to be able to get an education and absolutely should not be barred from it because they cannot afford it.

What can you do:

Right now we absolutely have the potential to fight back against these attacks. We’ve won against attacks like this in recent years and we can do it again. And protests are really make or break for fighting these attacks on students.

If you live in Australia you should come along to the protests that are happening in literally every state on May 17th 2017: you can find where your closest one is here or check out the Make Education Free Again facebook page. This protest is being organised by the National Union of Students (NUS) and is going to be NATION WIDE. Bring anyone and everyone you know

If you live outside of Australia, SHARE THIS POST and sign the petition

Reblog if you’re part of a hostile nation that’s declared war on Australia

Oh my god though guys you don’t know the best thing!  The best thing is: he’s right.

The Gay and Lesbian Kingdom of the Coral Sea Islands is a micronation near Australia.  This is their flag:

The Gay Kingdom (as it is colloquially known) was founded in 2004 in protest against Australia’s legal stance against same-sex marriage.

Here are some of their stamps:

They are currently ruled by Emperor Dale I, and their currency is the Pink Dollar.

And, indeed - they declared war on Australia for not recognizing same-sex marriages performed outside the country.  (Second link.)

You’re telling me there has been a Gay Island this ENTIRE TIME and I’m only just finding out about it????

WHAT

Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine: Queens of the Sydney Underworld (1881-1964 and 1900-1970)

Book here. Patreon here. Website entry here. Art notes after the cut.

Keep reading

this is accidentally a better piece of art than anything banksy ever shit out

Aboriginal ‘Lifestyle Choice’ to Live in Australia’s Outback Will No Longer be Supported

Looming Australian government cut backs mean hundreds of Aboriginal communities will be cut off from services or forced to close down, creating concern and anger among indigenous and non-indigenous people alike.

Meanwhile, the country’s senate has called on Prime Minister Tony Abbott to apologize for describing Aboriginal Australians who live in remote communities as having made a “lifestyle choice.”

Federal funding for water, electricity, sewage, and other services in indigenous communities across Western Australia will end on July 1, 2015.