Politics
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DAVID SOLOMON. Don’t panic. The economy is fine.
The economy is in good shape. Got that? Continue reading »
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IBA. IBAHRI condemns UK treatment of Julian Assange in US extradition trial (IBA 10.3.2020)
According to his lawyers, Mr Assange was handcuffed 11 times; stripped naked twice and searched; his case files confiscated after the first day of the hearing; and had his request to sit with his lawyers during the trial, rather than in a dock surrounded by bulletproof glass, denied. Continue reading »
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ALEX MITCHELL: NSW Parliament is a politicians’ tuck shop
All Liberal and National MPs in the NSW Parliament get a prize. Their basic salary is topped up by appointing them as junior ministers, assistant ministers, parliamentary secretaries or committee chairpersons. Continue reading »
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Brothers-in-Arms: the high-rotation revolving door between the Australian government and arms merchants
A disturbing number of Australia’s military personnel, senior defence and intelligence officials and politicians leave their public service jobs and walk through the ‘revolving door’ into roles with weapons-making and security-related corporations. Nowhere is government and industry more fused than in defence. Michelle Fahy reports. Continue reading »
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GIDEON LEVY. The Israeli Army Doesn’t Have Snipers on the Gaza Border. It Has Hunters (Haaretz.com 7.3.2020)
They’re the best of our boys. One is a “musician from a good high school,” another a “boy scout” who majored in theater.” They’re the snipers who have shot thousands of unarmed protesters along the Gaza border fence. Continue reading »
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JOHN FEFFER.- Will COVID-19 Kill Globalisation(Counterpunch 10.3.2020)
At a dinner party in mid-February, an architect told me that he was having a problem finishing his building projects. It was the carpets. Continue reading »
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PAUL LARIS. Making a virtue out of a renewables neccessity
How a transition to renewable power in SA also transited a change of government. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. Grand Prix’s grand claims
There may well be a benign side to the Australian Grand Prix’s consistent overstatement of how many people attend the event – the potential number of coronavirus infections will be correspondingly reduced by the multiple by which the Grand Prix exaggerates its attendance. Continue reading »
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TED TRAINER.-Why the rich and powerful want Assange silenced.
Now you will understand why it is so important to prevent people like Ellsberg and Chelsea Manning and Snowden and Assange from exposing the nasty things that are done to secure our empire. Continue reading »
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MARK BUCKLEY. Christmas Island – A huge waste of money
Who is to blame? When one is looking at the current Government, and its ministers, and rating their general demeanour, competence, and ability to deliver decent, law-abiding administration, choosing the worst performers is tricky. Continue reading »
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JOSEPH STIGLITZ.-Plagued by Trumpism(Project Syndicate9.3.2020)
For 40 years, Republicans have been insisting that “government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem.” Continue reading »
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Economic and money mismanagement
The Liberals claim they are better economic and money managers. But there is scant evidence to support that claim. Continue reading »
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JACK WATERFORD. The Life and Legacy of Len Hewitt
Jack Waterford writes on the life and legacy Len Hewitt, former secretary of the Prime Minister and feared government man. Continue reading »
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ROSEMARY O’GRADY. The Pell Appeal : A Hail Mary Pass
The Full Bench of the High Court sitting in Canberra this week is listed to hear the Appeal in M112/19 Pell and The Queen on Wednesday 11th March. Continue reading »
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MICHAEL GRACEY. ‘THE GAP’. A rhetorical thought bubble with good intentions
In February 2008 then Prime Minister Rudd stated that “our challenge . . . is to embrace a new partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians”. Continue reading »
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NOEL TURNBULL. The foundational U.S. myth
All societies survive on myths – whether fraudulent, foundational or both – but one of the most widely of those celebrated among Western world nations (other than Christmas and which encompasses both) is the US Thanksgiving holiday. Continue reading »
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BEN DOOLEY,MOTOKO RICH and HISAKO UENO.-Anger in Japan over virus begins to focus on Prime Minister(NYT 7.3.2020)
For nearly a month, as the coronavirus has threatened the health and economy of Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been almost invisible. Continue reading »
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MUNGO MACCALLUM.- Morrison’s Clayton’s Solution
The frazzled Josh Frydenberg more or less admits that his beloved surplus is about to become collateral damage; he will reluctantly kiss it goodbye. Continue reading »
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JOHN MENADUE: Justices of the High Court
No wonder we have lost confidence in institutions when Justices of the High Court act improperly Continue reading »
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JACK WATERFORD. Morrison needs new roadmap and more humility
One miracle is all he can hope for: now he needs something new to sell to a public that sees through him.The nation needs a leader it can respect Continue reading »
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DUNCAN GRAHAM Reporting from afar using mining models
The Australian Associated Press closure in June will shut Australians out of much domestic journalism. Courts, councils and commissions whose workings underpin democracy will often go unreported. Continue reading »
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MUNGO MACCALLUM.- Porky Pies
Scott Morrison has stopped even pretending to mount a coherent argument over his sports rorts plagued administration. Continue reading »
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LAWRENCE MOLONEY. The Pell trial and its polarising aftermath.
Contributors to a site called, ‘CCC Guys’, most of whom are former seminarians, have had much to say about the Pell trials and the looming High Court decision. Continue reading »
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JOHN TAN. More securitisation of policing functions? More democracy decay?
There is a concerted push to have ASD (Australian Signals Directorate) help in tracking paedophile suspects. Are there implications for law enforcement accountability, FOI, journalism, human rights and democracy? Take a look at some issues that have arisen in other countries. Continue reading »
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PETER SAINSBURY. Sunday environmental round up.
Three articles from the USA, all with relevance for Australia. Economist Jeffrey Sachs analyses the costs and timelines for decarbonisation; activist and writer Bill McKibben provides an overview of climate change and climate action at the start of the decade; and essayist Mary Annaise Heglar discusses the relationship between climate change and racism and oppression. Continue reading »
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ALEX MITCHELL: Move to expel Richo from NSW Labor
Graham Richardson, aka “Richo” or “Cardinal Richlieu”, has infuriated his comrades in Sussex Street with anti-Labor broadsides prompting moves to expel him. Is this a good idea? Continue reading »
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JAMES GRUBER. China has effectively contained corona virus.
It’s now clear that draconian measures imposed in response to the crisis have worked. Continue reading »
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DAVID MACILWAIN. The Beechworth Principles – setting demands for Integrity in Government
As claims the Federal Government is honestly serving and representing the people look increasingly hollow, Independent MP Helen Haines has presented a historic scheme to hold them to account in “the Beechworth Principles”. Continue reading »
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ANDREW FARRAN/GARY SAMPSON. Brexiting in Brussels – High Noon awaits?
As the UK/EU negotiators face up to the definitive stages of shaping their post-Brexit world, questions are being asked in London and elsewhere whether the Johnson Government is approaching these negotiations with serious intent having gone from “let’s get Brexit done’ to “let’s get our Sovereignty back”. Continue reading »
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JOHN CARLIN. The Mad Viruses
As in the case of Mad Cow’s Disease, if people believe there is a crisis, there is one. Continue reading »