Politics
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Robodebt was a Morrison fiasco at every stage (Peter Van Onselen, The Australian, 21.11.20)
The buck should stop with the PM, but he won’t be held to account. With summer just around the corner, this week’s $1.2 billion settlement of the Robodebt class action has shone a light on government failings. Continue reading »
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Investigating ADF murder is not an AFP core competency
The path to court for SAS murder suspects won’t be smooth, quick, certain or inevitable. Justice Brereton had a power federal police investigators will not have: he could compel soldiers to give answers, promising them that nothing they said could be used in cases against them. [Though they could be required to give evidence against Continue reading »
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Hong Kong is part of China. Our media fails to grasp this basic point.
Hong Kong was seized by Britain to facilitate its opium trade. After a century of humiliation for China, Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997 under a complex arrangement. Foreign countries should keep out of what is a domestic issue for China. CIA, take note. Continue reading »
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The national anthem is back on the playlist
Our national anthem is back on the playlist, and as always for the wrong reasons. Continue reading »
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Robodebt is far from dead, buried and cremated
Those who closely follow the news will believe that the dreaded Robodebt has been slain, “dead, buried and cremated”, with the Federal Government agreeing at the door of the court on 16 November to settle the Robodebt class action. But it’s not as simple as that. Continue reading »
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We were warned about the Brererton report – it is still shocking
Scott Morrison warned us that we would be shocked by the Brereton report on alleged war crimes and this is one promise he has kept. Continue reading »
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Responsible Lending? Coalition’s left hand not sure what its right hand is doing
The Coalition government is pushing hard to get rid of responsible lending obligations, but it doesn’t seem to realise that removing these obligations will pull the rug out from one of its signature pieces of legislation that Scott Morrison championed when he was treasurer – mandatory comprehensive credit reporting. Continue reading »
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A Warrior Culture
The Prime Minister warned us that we would be in for some shocking reading as the report into Australian war crimes in Afghanistan was released. That there were 39 alleged murders, and 19 Australian soldiers involved, is indeed shocking. Continue reading »
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Sunday environmental round up, 22 November 2020
Wealthy people and wealthy nations cause it but it’s the poor and vulnerable who suffer the most from climate change. Adani is behaving badly in Australia but moving into renewables in India. Recycling plastic recycling. Spotted and striated, pardalotes charmalot. Continue reading »
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Ministerial war crimes
Those who will not be put on trial as a result of investigations into Australian operations in Afghanistan will be those most responsible – the ministers who committed Australian troops to a protracted war where our forces could not readily distinguish friend from foe. Continue reading »
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Soldiers vs warriors: a distinction between Australian and US troops and Kerry Stokes!
What’s the difference between a soldier and a warrior? And in what environment is the distinction in danger of being lost? If Kerry Stokes wants to get involved he is entitled to – but, if he does, he should also step aside from his role at the Australian War Memorial. Continue reading »
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Bird’s eye view: the markers of government-sanctioned corruption
I joined the Australian Public Service (APS) with a typical expectation of working to serve the public. The brochure looked inviting; people working happily together, and a chance to progress in an organisation that valued such common-sense ideals as working in a supportive, accountable, a-political organisation with high ethical standards. Evidently, I was wrong. Continue reading »
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Saturday’s good reading and listening for the weekend
What people in other forums are saying about public policy Continue reading »
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It is a gross injustice to Mr Moselmane. Beyond gross.
The attacks on Mr Moselmane began months before the raids, with journalists and shock jocks being backgrounded to demonise him. Sky News’ Peta Credlin broadcast “If we really have foreign agent laws, why isn’t Moselmane being looked at?” She knew very well that he was being lined up. Another leak by his opponents. Another crime Continue reading »
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Where the bloody hell is it? Did Scott Morrison lie about the report that saved his bacon at Tourism Australia?
Scott Morrison was sacked as managing director of Tourism Australia in 2006 with a year left to run on his contract. For 14 years the reason for the sacking has remained one of the best kept secrets in Parliament. Now, FoI documents accessed by Jommy Tee reveal the PM either lied about a critical probity report, or Continue reading »
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Crown Sydney casino opening delayed
Crown Resorts’ board sat on its hands and so the NSW regulator has intervened and ordered the new Sydney casino’s opening to be delayed. Continue reading »
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LobbyLand: Department of Defence captured by foreign weapons makers Thales, BAE
The culture of cosiness; the revolving door; and undue influence. The relationship between government and military industrial companies is just one strand of the evidence showing the urgent need for a national anti-corruption commission. “Undue influence” is a noted marker for corruption. Continue reading »
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NBN update. Let’s not compound a history of poor policymaking by people who claim to be good economic managers
In years to come Malcolm Turnbull will be remembered as the communications minister who, under instruction from then prime minister Tony Abbott, ‘demolished’ Labor’s 21st Century National Broadband Network. But another prominent politician had earlier inflicted enduring damage to any nascent aim of becoming an innovation nation and set us back as a player in Continue reading »
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A grog ban in Indonesia!
Hard hit by the pandemic, Indonesia is in recession. The government is desperate to revive the economy and draw overseas investors, particularly into the tourist industry which earned almost AUD 20 billion a year before Covid-19. So not the ideal time to tell potential travellers that prohibition is proposed. Continue reading »
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Sermons beginning again in Melbourne
It’s easy and cheap to insult sermons and sermon-givers, which of course makes it utterly irresistible to me. Continue reading »
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Have your say: Senate inquiry into media diversity in Australia
After more than 500,000 people signed a petition launched by former prime minister Kevin Rudd raising concerns about the influence of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, the Senate is to hold an inquiry into media diversity. Continue reading »
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George Orwell, are you listening? Truth warping about Afghanistan war crimes
We are being asked to believe that a cosy coterie of retired public servants and academics are going to drive Army change and make things all wonderfully transparent for us. What rubbish. Where do I get my tickets for that show? Continue reading »
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Where to now for Myanmar?
Two dysfunctional semi-democracies held national elections in the first week of November. The USA and Myanmar. Continue reading »
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A mad King twitters from his fortress
When Gough Whitlam had his commission as prime minister withdrawn by Sir John Kerr 45 years ago last week, one of his many immediate tactical mistakes was to drive to the Lodge, rather than (old) parliament house. There he tucked into lunch with a number of his senior colleagues, though not, fatally, Ken Wreidt, the Continue reading »
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What will Australia and Japan want from Joe Biden? (AFR Nov 16, 2020)
Mr. Morrison’s foreign policy initiatives usually suggest determination rather than calibration. But today’s visit to Tokyo is notable for both. In the time of Corona, it is gutsy in domestic terms -and considered international policy. Continue reading »
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Joel Fitzgibbon and Labor’s environment policy
Joel Fitzgibbon’s resignation from the front bench does not change the policy of the Labor Party. nor its leadership. But it does change the mechanics. Continue reading »
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Will the toughest Trumpites be willing to bear arms?
Donald Trump seems rather more anxious than his die-hard supporters to replenish his election war-chest for legal expenses rather than that they gather for a last-ditch defence of the guns they will need to defend themselves from the socialism — and perhaps enforced abortion — which Biden seems to threaten. Continue reading »
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Apologising to Shaoquett Moselmane – a touch of courage needed
Courage to say sorry to anyone wrongly offended is an invaluable quality in personal relations and in the cement which builds a dignified civil society, but courage and dignity is still absent in the treatment of NSW Labor MP Shaoquett Moselmane. Continue reading »
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One does not accept for a moment that America is exceptional. (The Scrum Nov 9, 2020)
A humane health-care system? No—Biden has already said so. A proper infrastructure program? No. A jobs program, a Green New Deal? No and no. On the foreign side, renovated, 21st century policies toward Russia, North Korea, China, apartheid Israel? No, no, no, and emphatically no. What about the Iran nuclear accord—yes, that one, the one Continue reading »
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Morrison’s faulty logic in opposing a net zero carbon emissions target.
Contrary to Scott Morrison’s contention, we can usefully set a target date to achieve net zero carbon emissions without exact knowledge of the cost and how the target will be delivered. Continue reading »