crikey--2020-09-08--Richo rewrites the Dismissal, the Oz publishes it — and we correct it

What 's the go with Graham Richardson 's bizarre rewriting of the Dismissal for The Australian ?
What 's the @ @ @ @ @ Restaurant , where Labor grandee Graham Richardson writes his column for The Australian on an @ @ @ @ @ before doves whisk it away to Holt St ?
According to Richo 's column today @ @ @ @ @ the Dismissal : Magnificence and majesty aside , Whitlam could be both the lion and @ @ @ @ @ by Sir John Kerr that he and his government had been sacked , Whitlam calmly @ @ @ @ @ ate a steak for lunch .

What’s the news from Richo’s Chinese restaurant, where Labor grandee Graham Richardson writes his column for The Australian on an Inn of Celestial Happiness napkin before doves whisk it away to Holt Street?
According to Richo’s column today, Gough Whitlam stuffed up the Dismissal:


crikey--2020-09-09--Engagement no more: China a huge risk for Australian firms and their workers now

Is China targeting Australian journalists only — or all Australians ?
It 's hard to know but it 's clear @ @ @ @ @ there .
Australia 's business engagement with China -- for decades the object of encouragement @ @ @ @ @ eager to take advantage of a massive economic opportunity -- is now a potential source @ @ @ @ @ journalists were targeted .
After facilitating the flight of journalists Bill Birtles and Michael Smith @ @ @ @ @ from Chinese police -- ostensibly related to the arrest and detention of Australian-Chinese TV anchor @ @ @ @ @ of Foreign Affairs confirmed its advice that Australians should not travel there given `` authorities @ @ @ @ @ 're 'endangering national security ' .
Australians may also be at risk of arbitrary detention @ @ @ @ @ slightly more guarded for Australians already there : `` If you ’ re already in @ @ @ @ @ to Australia , we recommend you do so as soon as possible by commercial means @ @

Australia’s business engagement with China — for decades the object of encouragement and enthusiasm by successive governments eager to take advantage of a massive economic opportunity — is now a potential source of vulnerability after three Australian journalists were targeted.
After facilitating the flight of journalists Bill Birtles and Michael Smith in the face of pressure from Chinese police — ostensibly related to the arrest and detention of Australian-Chinese TV anchor Cheng Lei — the Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed its advice that Australians should not travel there given “authorities have detained foreigners because they’re ‘endangering national security’. Australians may also be at risk of arbitrary detention.”
The advice is slightly more guarded for Australians already there: “If you’re already in China and wish to return to Australia, we recommend you do so as soon as possible by commercial means.”


crikey--2020-09-09--Australia takes moral high ground on China expulsions. But should it?

A little tit-for-tat on Australia 's part would n't necessarily be a bad thing .
The US reacted swiftly when @ @ @ @ @ expelled .
Now that it ’ s become clear China was deliberately targeting Australian journalists @ @ @ @ @ in the escalating diplomatic stoush between the two countries , perhaps it ’ s time @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not just the AFR ’ s Mike Smith and the ABC ’ @ @ @ @ @ targeted and driven from the country .
The new ABC bureau chief-in-waiting Sarah Ferguson and @ @ @ @ @ Eryk Bagshaw have been cooling their heels for 10 and eight months respectively , awaiting @ @ @ @ @ told Crikey last night that it was continuing to pursue a visa for Ferguson but @ @ @ @ @ many local Chinese it has working in its Beijing bureau or whether they were still @ @ @ @ @ .

Now that it’s become clear China was deliberately targeting Australian journalists as some sort of tit-for-tat in the escalating diplomatic stoush between the two countries, perhaps it’s time to consider some reciprocity.
It’s not just the AFR’s Mike Smith and the ABC’s Bill Birtles who were targeted and driven from the country. The new ABC bureau chief-in-waiting Sarah Ferguson and Nine’s China correspondent-in-waiting Eryk Bagshaw have been cooling their heels for 10 and eight months respectively, awaiting their visas.
The ABC told Crikey last night that it was continuing to pursue a visa for Ferguson but would not comment on how many local Chinese it has working in its Beijing bureau or whether they were still being paid or on leave.


crikey--2020-09-09--How bad is Victoria’s financial position? Let’s count the ways

Victoria 's balance sheet is in more strife than any other Australian government .
There 's very little left in @ @ @ @ @ Morrison and Josh Frydenberg really want to pressure Dan Andrews to lift Victoria ’ s @ @ @ @ @ ve got a very big card they could play : financial support .
The Victorian @ @ @ @ @ in more strife than any other Australian government because the pandemic has forced it to @ @ @ @ @ its revenues have plummeted .
And now the Morrison government is using the not-so-subtle pages @ @ @ @ @ proclaim that Canberra is waiting for Dan Andrews to unveil Victoria ’ s fiscal plan @ @ @ @ @ afloat .

If Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg really want to pressure Dan Andrews to lift Victoria’s lockdown early, they’ve got a very big card they could play: financial support.
The Victorian budget and balance sheet is in more strife than any other Australian government because the pandemic has forced it to spend like never before as its revenues have plummeted.
And now the Morrison government is using the not-so-subtle pages of The Australian to loudly proclaim that Canberra is waiting for Dan Andrews to unveil Victoria’s fiscal plan to keep the private sector afloat.


crikey--2020-09-10--Pauline Hanson puts real junk in junk mail, but is that a reason to block her?

Do political parties have a right to send offensive material through the post ?
And does anyone else have the right to stop them ?
Pauline Hanson has built a lucrative career on being a grubby troll , frequently with the help of commercial media who happily disseminate her appalling views while professing to abhor them .
In June , though , the racist anti-vaxxer went too far even for the Nine Network , which dumped her from its breakfast television show after she described public housing tenants in lockdown in Victoria as “ drug addicts ” and “ alcoholics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and didn ’ t follow social distancing guidelines .
In July , according to a good get by Nine ’ s Rob Harris today , she decided to go further and troll the people she ’ d smeared , sending them stubby holders accompanied by a note “ No Hard Feelings ” , as if she was the one who ’ d been offended and abused .
Complaining that people are alcoholics but then sending them a beer holder is classic trolling , particularly when you know perfectly well that many residents of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the buildings were in lockdown , Australia Post delivered the addressed items from Hanson to Melbourne city council officers who were overseeing the lockdown and delivery of goods to the residents .
As Harris details , after discovering the contents of the Hanson letters , they decided not to distribute them , eliciting legal threats from Australia Post .
Harris links it to the possibility that federal Labor might seek to disallow Senate regulations which allowed Australia Post to reduce service frequency , meaning Australia Post and the government would need One Nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefers to frame it as an issue of its obligation to make sure all mail is delivered .
Usually it can do that because it controls deliveries ; in this case it didn ’ t .
There ’ s a pretty fundamental point here : the postal service is a network that should operate regardless of the content that is distributed across it .
Unless the goods are dangerous , the network operator doesn ’ t decide what does and doesn ’ t get delivered .
Offensive material gets posted and delivered all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another public institution , a local council , has intervened to decide something shouldn ’ t be delivered .
From the council ’ s point of view , distributing material intended to troll and offend the residents of the locked-down blocks was probably not conducive to public order .
Quite possibly council officers were correct , especially after consulting with police , as Harris reports they did .
But ultimately the decision was a paternalistic and patronising one , made on behalf of people who ’ d already been infantilised and singled out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a more fundamental point , which is that political parties and politicians routinely use communications networks to bombard people with unwanted material — junk mail , robo-calls , online and media ads .
All generously paid for by taxpayers , and all exempted from basic consumer protections like privacy laws , laws against misleading advertising or Do Not Call restrictions .
There ’ s a pretty good case for applying all three of those protections to political parties , as well as cutting off taxpayer funding for distribution of electoral material .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post ’ s bottom line , however .
The postal service loses huge amounts of money on letter delivery services now ( as its effort to reduce frequency shows ) , but delivery of junk mail continues to be a strong source of income — though not as much as parcel delivery , which generates tens of millions in profit for the company and probably much more so in 2020 than in previous years .
A precedent where delivery of junk mail could be blocked on taste grounds would not be a happy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t get more junk than the garbage issuing from One Nation .

Pauline Hanson has built a lucrative career on being a grubby troll, frequently with the help of commercial media who happily disseminate her appalling views while professing to abhor them.
In June, though, the racist anti-vaxxer went too far even for the Nine Network, which dumped her from its breakfast television show after she described public housing tenants in lockdown in Victoria as “drug addicts” and “alcoholics” who didn’t speak English and didn’t follow social distancing guidelines.
In July, according to a good get by Nine’s Rob Harris today, she decided to go further and troll the people she’d smeared, sending them stubby holders accompanied by a note “No Hard Feelings”, as if she was the one who’d been offended and abused.


crikey--2020-09-10--The game has become obvious — China is planning to do us slowly

Australia has blundered into a diplomatic stoush with China with no plan and no apparent endgame .
Beijing , on @ @ @ @ @ what it 's doing ...
It is now clear that something of a perfect storm @ @ @ @ @ relationship and there are few signs that it will be moving on anytime soon .
@ @ @ @ @ its biggest trade partner over security -- and most explicitly Chinese interference in Australian politics @ @ @ @ @ comes at a time when the Morrison government is desperate to reopen the economy in @ @ @ @ @ shutdowns .
Yet growing hysteria by the federal government about the Victorian Labor government ’ @ @ @ @ @ dead weight on the Australian economy is at sharp odds with the ongoing program of @ @ @ @ @ .

It is now clear that something of a perfect storm has settled atop the China-Australia relationship and there are few signs that it will be moving on anytime soon.
The stoush between Australia and its biggest trade partner over security — and most explicitly Chinese interference in Australian politics, education and research — comes at a time when the Morrison government is desperate to reopen the economy in the wake of the COVID-19 shutdowns.


crikey--2020-09-11--The great NSW ‘Koalition’ crisis has been averted — for now

Gladys Berejiklian has survived another short-lived coup .
Will she be able to stop looking over her shoulder now ?
@ @ @ @ @ stared down a revolt by Nationals leader John Barilaro , who totally folded in a @ @ @ @ @ .
She had given her deputy premier a 9am deadline to decide whether the Nationals @ @ @ @ @ the Coalition government .
She let it be known just before 9am that she had @ @ @ @ @ swear in a whole new ministry if he did not back down over his threat @ @ @ @ @ the crossbench if koala protection legislation was not reversed .
But Barilaro wanted to keep @ @ @ @ @ benches as well , and that was not on according to his boss .

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has stared down a revolt by Nationals leader John Barilaro, who totally folded in a tense political showdown this morning. She had given her deputy premier a 9am deadline to decide whether the Nationals were in or out of the Coalition government.
She let it be known just before 9am that she had booked government house ready to swear in a whole new ministry if he did not back down over his threat to have them sit on the crossbench if koala protection legislation was not reversed.
But Barilaro wanted to keep his bum on the ministerial benches as well, and that was not on according to his boss.


crikey--2020-09-11--Why being an Australian premier is possibly the world’s worst job

Could there have been a week with more state governments in distinct crisis all at once ?
Looking at the @ @ @ @ @ government , veteran political marketing strategist Toby Ralph sums up Premier Daniel Andrews ' predicament @ @ @ @ @ no shortage of angry businesses going broke , terrified individuals submerged in debt , frustrated @ @ @ @ @ tin-hatted 5G deep state conspiracists and angle-hungry media getting stuck into Andrews , so he @ @ @ @ @ took the job .
As it turns out , the sentiment could be extended to @ @ @ @ @ of COVID-19 .
Could there have been a week with more state governments in distinct @ @ @ @ @

Looking at the various crises assailing the Victorian government, veteran political marketing strategist Toby Ralph sums up Premier Daniel Andrews’ predicament thus:
There’s no shortage of angry businesses going broke, terrified individuals submerged in debt, frustrated teens going stir crazy, tin-hatted 5G deep state conspiracists and angle-hungry media getting stuck into Andrews, so he must be wondering why he took the job.
As it turns out, the sentiment could be extended to any politician in this era of COVID-19. Could there have been a week with more state governments in distinct crisis all at once?


crikey--2020-09-11--Remembering S11, the day Melbourne showed how to shut down neoliberalism

Twenty years ago , Melbourne became the centre of an anti-globalisation struggle , shutting down the World Economic Forum exposing its 'world leaders ' as a self-appointed crowd of shonks .
It was 20 years ago today -- again , again -- that several thousand people , including your correspondent , gathered at the junction of the Queens ' Bridge and City Road , Melbourne out front of the black-polished behemoth of Crown Casino , to perform a mass citizen 's arrest of a gang of international criminals ... ... Or the WEF , the World Economic Forum as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crowd , the crew of prime ministers , CEOs , elite bureaucrats , spare Bonos , tame academics and a very few dissenters .
Outside , with several layers of cyclone fencing in between , were 10,000 protesters , give or take -- the rag tag army of the anti-globalisation movement ; activists , students , high school kids , all in that `` explosion in an op-shop '' style of the day ; together with trade unionists , with big CFMEU and maritime union contingents , Vietnam ( protest ) vets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shadows of the anarchist `` black bloc '' , and any number of people who 'd just heard about it on the radio ( a popular device of the time ) and thought they might go along .

It was 20 years ago today — again, again — that several thousand people, including your correspondent, gathered at the junction of the Queens’ Bridge and City Road, Melbourne out front of the black-polished behemoth of Crown Casino, to perform a mass citizen’s arrest of a gang of international criminals…
… Or the WEF, the World Economic Forum as it was and is known — the Davos crowd, the crew of prime ministers, CEOs, elite bureaucrats, spare Bonos, tame academics and a very few dissenters.


crikey--2020-09-11--Nationals are unfit for office, any office, any time

By attempting to pull down one of Australia 's most successful governments in the middle of a crisis , the NSW Nationals have again demonstrated that their party has no concern for the national interest .
As the only party in Australia with an explicit focus not on the national interest , but on sectional interests , the Nationals are predisposed to corruption , rorting , destabilisation and economic vandalism .
But for the second time in 2020 , they are confirming that there is literally no crisis big enough for them to shelve their wrecking and irresponsibility .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , Australia began shutting its borders , and the likelihood of a major recession became apparent , federal Nationals gathered in Canberra to fight again over the party leadership .
That involved a push for Barnaby Joyce , a man over whom there remains a series of unresolved sexual harassment allegations .
Last week , as if to remind voters of where their priorities really lie , the Nationals were again embroiled in speculation about dumping Michael McCormack .
Now , as NSW continues to work hard to prevent a persistent low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that would further cripple the economy , the NSW Nationals have tried to wreck one of Australia ’ s most successful governments , with Deputy Premier John Barilaro leading under the unusual banner of a demand for farmers to be able to mass-slaughter koalas .
This just months after catastrophic bushfires induced by climate change incinerated thousands of the animals .
Barilaro , by the way , is a climate denialist and says anyone who discusses climate change in relation to bushfires is a “ disgrace ” .
He is also a by-word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-interested wrecking .
Who can forget his brief flirtation with a run in Eden-Monaro , before pulling out , then undermining the campaign of the Liberal candidate ?
The Liberals certainly won ’ t .
Let ’ s not forget that was another part of the endless saga to replace McCormack .
As part of his brave War on Koalas , Barilaro — having failed to warn his Coalition partner Gladys Berejiklian — announced that the NSW Nationals would be moving en masse to the crossbench but would , of course , continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( with remuneration up to $ 300,000 ) .
Barilaro ’ s stunt was straight from the Joyce playbook .
Barnaby , too , thought he could enjoy the huge salary and privileges of being a cabinet minister while being free to publicly attack cabinet decisions .
Berejiklian did exactly what she should have done , and told Barilaro he was having himself on .
Either the Nats were in or they were out .
Barilaro promptly caved in completely this morning — a lesson that other Liberal leaders forced to put up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lure of the ministerial office and the big bucks in the bank account will always win out .
But the NSW premier would save herself considerable trouble if she followed through with her promise to appoint a Liberal-only ministry and leave the Nationals to stew on the cross-bench .
What are they going to do — vote no confidence in her ?
Back the shonks and spivs of NSW Labor ?
The more distance the toxic mess that is the National Party is from power , the more stable governments are .
Having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to spectacularly back down , Barilaro ’ s position is surely untenable — how can Berejiklian , or anyone for that matter , trust him ?
And now that we know , courtesy of both Eden-Monaro and today , that Barilaro likes to talk big but never follows through , what good is he ?
But we live in an age where traditional rules of politics no longer seem to apply and the electorate seems disinclined to punish even the most egregious political indiscipline .
Even by contemporary standards , though , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his MPs beggars belief .
It ’ s not as if the NSW government doesn ’ t have better things to do , like getting NSW out of recession and preventing hundreds of deaths .
But this narrow , sectional interest is dedicated to tearing the government apart mid-crisis .

As the only party in Australia with an explicit focus not on the national interest, but on sectional interests, the Nationals are predisposed to corruption, rorting, destabilisation and economic vandalism. But for the second time in 2020, they are confirming that there is literally no crisis big enough for them to shelve their wrecking and irresponsibility.
In February, as COVID-19 spread across the world, Australia began shutting its borders, and the likelihood of a major recession became apparent, federal Nationals gathered in Canberra to fight again over the party leadership. That involved a push for Barnaby Joyce, a man over whom there remains a series of unresolved sexual harassment allegations.
Last week, as if to remind voters of where their priorities really lie, the Nationals were again embroiled in speculation about dumping Michael McCormack.


crikey--2020-09-14--Security, sovereignty and the sweet smell of petrol

Australia does n't have a fuel security problem , but there will be few voices raised in objection to some old-fashioned protectionism about petrol supplies .
It 's a rule of thumb of politics in recent years that if you use the word `` security '' a lot , you 'll be taken seriously and people will switch off their critical faculties .
This used to only apply to national security , until other industries adopted it as well .
Biosecurity .
Information security .
Water security .
Food security .
Energy security .
And , of course , fuel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this morning announced a $ 200 million-plus investment to boost Australia 's fuel security .
`` Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia ’ s fuel security was essential for our national security , '' according to the press release .
“ Fuel security underpins our entire economy . ''
So it has to be , well , secured .
The word , or variants of it , is used a dozen times .
For good measure , `` sovereign '' is thrown in three times .
Everyone likes something `` sovereign '' .

It’s a rule of thumb of politics in recent years that if you use the word “security” a lot, you’ll be taken seriously and people will switch off their critical faculties. This used to only apply to national security, until other industries adopted it as well. Biosecurity. Information security. Water security. Food security. Energy security. And, of course, fuel security.
That’s why the government this morning announced a $200 million-plus investment to boost Australia’s fuel security. “Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia’s fuel security was essential for our national security,” according to the press release. “Fuel security underpins our entire economy.” So it has to be, well, secured.
The word, or variants of it, is used a dozen times. For good measure, “sovereign” is thrown in three times. Everyone likes something “sovereign”.


crikey--2020-09-14--Political medicine on a grand scale: the roadmap as the least worst option

Victoria 's roadmap to recovery may seem daunting .
But the alternative is much , much worse .
Rudolf Virchow @ @ @ @ @ and public health pioneer , once wrote that “ medicine is a social science , @ @ @ @ @ than medicine on a grand scale ” .
He was among the first to appreciate @ @ @ @ @ decisions and public policy on health .
Virchow ’ s words resonate strongly as we @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 .
After all , medicine is a balancing act aiming to ameliorate illness without @ @ @ @ @ the process .

Rudolf Virchow, a 19th century physician and public health pioneer, once wrote that “medicine is a social science, and politics is nothing more than medicine on a grand scale”.
He was among the first to appreciate the profound influence of political decisions and public policy on health.
Virchow’s words resonate strongly as we see elected officials grapple with COVID-19. After all, medicine is a balancing act aiming to ameliorate illness without unduly harming the patient in the process.


crikey--2020-09-14--Died with or from? The COVID death toll is more complicated than it appears

Sometimes people die of an unrelated cause , even though they tested positive to the virus .
To die with @ @ @ @ @ That is the question .
Australia 's federal tally clocks our COVID-19 death toll at @ @ @ @ @ in Victoria this morning are yet to be included ) .
But recent questions around @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 or with it has made many wonder just how accurate this tally is .
@ @ @ @ @ who died from the virus had no co-morbidities .

To die with or to die from? That is the question. Australia’s federal tally clocks our COVID-19 death toll at 810 (seven deaths listed in Victoria this morning are yet to be included).
But recent questions around whether a person died from COVID-19 or with it has made many wonder just how accurate this tally is.
Just 9% of Australians who died from the virus had no co-morbidities.


crikey--2020-09-14--Tip of the Day: WA’s staycation drive fails to keep the bucks at home

Talk about shooting a perfectly good initiative in the foot .
Wotif ?
WTF ?
At the risk of alienating @ @ @ @ @ of our readers in the great state of Western Australia — please don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ guys !
— this is pretty outrageous .
WA ’ s Tourism Minister Paul Papalia @ @ @ @ @ campaign late last week encouraging people to holiday in the state which has had no @ @ @ @ @ months and has been able to return almost to normal — which is fair enough @ @ @ @ @ government is choosing to partner with Expedia offshoot Wotif for the $ 500,000 campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ businesses — particularly in tourism — are on the verge of collapse , surely there @ @ @ @ @ of public money than a US-owned business that employs virtually no one in Australia and @ @ @ @ @ paid zero tax here .

At the risk of alienating an average of 90% of our readers in the great state of Western Australia — please don’t secede from reading Crikey, guys! — this is pretty outrageous.
WA’s Tourism Minister Paul Papalia launched a “staycation” campaign late last week encouraging people to holiday in the state which has had no community transmission of COVID-19 for months and has been able to return almost to normal — which is fair enough.
Except, the WA government is choosing to partner with Expedia offshoot Wotif for the $500,000 campaign. At a time when local businesses — particularly in tourism — are on the verge of collapse, surely there’s a better recipient of public money than a US-owned business that employs virtually no one in Australia and, until very recently, paid zero tax here.


crikey--2020-09-15--Are people really allowed early access to their super with no scrutiny?

Paul Keating says 'there 's been no scrutiny whatsoever ' .
That is n't totally right .
But whether the scheme represents good public policy is a different question .
Hundreds of thousands of Australians have rushed to access their superannuation early as part of the federal government ’ s coronavirus response plan .
But with more than $ 30 billion now withdrawn , questions are being asked about the wisdom of raiding future retirement savings to pay for the present .
Paul Keating , who as treasurer and later prime minister oversaw the design and introduction of Australia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government of leaning on the system to pay for the coronavirus stimulus , arguing there had been no assessment of whether people were eligible .
“ There ’ s been no scrutiny whatsoever , ” Keating told an Industry Super Australia webinar on August 4 .
“ $ 20,000 , all up , and you can take it.
” Is it correct that Australians have been allowed to access their superannuation early with “ no scrutiny ” ?
The Australian Taxation Office relies on the self-assessment system to determine whether a person is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The self-assessment system , which underpins Australia ’ s income tax regime , requires individuals to make honest declarations about their financial circumstances .
Under this system , if an individual is found to have misrepresented their situation , they face being penalised .
In the case of the early access scheme , no accompanying documentation is required , at least at the application stage .
The take-up rate of the scheme has significantly exceeded initial expectations , with some analysis suggesting that a significant proportion of those people who have accessed their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raising questions about eligibility .
Shortly before Keating made his comments , the tax office confirmed to a Senate hearing it had not issued any fines to individuals for accessing their super while being ineligible , nor had it forced anyone to pay tax on their super withdrawals because of ineligibility .
While this reflects the present situation , this does not mean the scheme will be free from scrutiny in the future .
In a statement , the tax office confirmed that 2.7 million people had accessed their super by August 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 2000 applications “ for investigation ” and cancelled more than 130 .
The tax office has also noted it is conducting a “ pilot ” program in an attempt to determine the level of ineligibility .
It has also warned that should it find individuals accessing their superannuation who were not in financial hardship , or who were attempting to minimise their tax , “ we will consider taking further action ” .
While such action appears to have been applied sparingly , it is a stretch to say there has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some extent , it is self-evident that eligibility would not be heavily scrutinised at the point when people are given access to their retirement savings , given the scheme relies on the self-assessment system .
Whether the scheme represents good public policy is a different question .
How does the scheme work ?
On March 22 , as COVID-19 continued to spread in Australia , Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a series of crisis response measures to help insulate individuals and businesses .
Among them was a provision allowing people in financial stress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to $ 10,000 before July 1 , 2020 , and up to $ 10,000 after July 1 , 2020 .
At the time , Morrison explained the measure would be available “ through a simple declaration to the tax office ” .
Detailed eligibility criteria are set out on the tax office website .
Citizens or permanent residents of Australia and New Zealand must need the COVID-19 early release of super to assist them in dealing with the adverse economic impact of the pandemic .
In addition , a person must either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JobSeeker payment , Youth Allowance for job seekers , Parenting Payment , Special Benefit , or the Farm Household Allowance .
Alternatively , individuals are eligible if they were made redundant , experienced a drop in working hours of at least 20 % or , as a sole trader , experienced a drop in turnover of at least 20 % from January 1 , 2020 .
Data published by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority shows a rapid increase in the number of applications since the scheme was announced in March .
By August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been withdrawn , with an average payment of $ 7,689 .
About 97 % of the total applications submitted had been paid as at ( August 9 ) , with a further 1.4 % “ in progress ” .
Treasury initially predicted that $ 29.5 billion would be withdrawn under the scheme by September 24 .
Well in excess of that amount has already been accessed .
Following a decision to extend the scheme for three months until December 31 , a move announced in the July budget update in response to Victoria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now predicting $ 41.9 billion will be taken out by the end of this year .
The head of Treasury ’ s retirement income policy division , Robert Jeremenko , told a July 30 Senate committee that the revised estimate for withdrawals was “ still around 1.5 % of the total superannuation pool ” .
“ So it ’ s not a significant proportion , ” he said .
“ Obviously , depending on the particular funds and investment choices , there may be some flow-on impacts , but I would have thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does the tax office monitor the scheme ?
The tax office website notes that it had detected some “ people doing the wrong thing ” .
“ In some cases , we have stopped applications and prevented super money from being released , ” it says .
“ In other cases , we review circumstances after an application has been processed to ensure the integrity of the program.
” The tax office says it has a number of tools available at its disposal in order to make compliance checks .
It now requires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ via a software system known as Single Touch Payroll .
Every time a business pays an employee , they must report this information to the tax office , allowing it to monitor changes in income .
The tax office also has an extensive data-matching program , cross-checking information with other government services such as Services Australia ( Centrelink ) , Child Support and other third parties ( for example Uber and Paypal ) .
As noted , the tax office relies on the self-assessment system .
As it explains in a document outlining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for APRA-regulated superannuation funds : “ An individual will self-assess to determine eligibility for COVID-19 early release of super and certify their eligibility in the application .
Evidence is not required in the application process.
” However , the tax office does warn “ we are advising individuals to retain evidence to support their application.
” On its website it further warns : The tax office ’ s Second Commissioner , client engagement group , Jeremy Hirschhorn , told a July 30 Senate hearing that the tax office has information on “ everybody @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have information from systems in relation to things like how much people have been paid under Single Touch Payroll or whether they are in continued employment and whatnot , ” he said .
But Hirschhorn said while such detail was informative , it could not definitively determine eligibility .
For example , it could not assess one of the key eligibility rules , whether an individual had experienced a drop in working hours of at least 20 hours .
“ One of the tests is based on hours ; it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ There are various tests on why you can be eligible .
We have information which gives us hints that somebody may not be eligible , but it doesn ’ t tell us that they ’ re not eligible.
” Nor can the tax office quickly assess whether an individual has recently lost their job , another key eligibility criterion .
“ We don ’ t know at the time they apply , ” Hirschhorn said .
“ We might have reasonable information a month later when the next Single Touch Payroll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why it ’ s based on self-assessment.
” How many of the people applying are ineligible ?
At this stage , it is difficult to determine the extent of ineligibility .
Hirschhorn said while the tax office was examining some “ hundreds ” of applications as part of a pilot study examining eligibility , “ at this stage , we do not see that as affecting our process when we approve applications ” .
“ Again , it ’ s based on self-assessment .
We work on the assumption that Australians are honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to people .
So we will never have enough information to reject quickly .
We will give people their money on the basis of their say-so .
We are not proposing to do a compliance program before the release of the money.
” Hirschhorn said the tax office does reject a small number of applications .
“ That is generally when somebody has applied twice , ” he said .
“ You ’ re only allowed to apply once in the first year and once in the second year .
We are rejecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary visa holders in the first round .
So we do reject some.
” However , Hirschhorn confirmed the tax office to July 30 had not issued any fines or warnings to individuals for accessing their super when ineligible , nor had it forced anyone to pay tax on their super withdrawals because they were ineligible .
Data analytics company illion , along with economic consultancy AlphaBeta , analysed the de-identified information from more than 10,000 Australians who withdrew their superannuation .
It reported that 38 % of the people accessing superannuation had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the COVID crisis ; one in five actually saw an increase in their income of more than 10 % .
“ With no requirement for documentation to prove income loss prior to allowing access to early super , it raises the question of whether they really needed the extra money , ” illion ’ s report said .
It also found that the money was spent rapidly , with almost half of the total money withdrawn spent on purchases in the first fortnight .
“ On average , Australians withdrew around $ 7495 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first fortnight , compared with what they spent in a normal fortnight before receiving early super , ” it said .
“ As with the first round of early super withdrawal , people have used this money to increase their spending , not simply maintain it .
Almost two-thirds ( 64 % ) of this additional spending was on discretionary items such as clothing , furniture , restaurants and alcohol.
” AlphaBeta director Andrew Charlton , who worked as an economic adviser to former prime minister Kevin Rudd during the global financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published in the Sydney Morning Herald in June that eligibility criteria were very broad and included anyone who had experienced a period of unemployment or a 20 % reduction in hours during the course of 2020 .
“ No time period is specified , so anyone — including millions of casual and part-time workers — who had even a weekly fluctuation in hours over the past five months could theoretically qualify .
“ Second , there was no requirement for any supporting evidence , no income verification and no need to prove that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made up with government support .
Applicants needed merely to tick a box .
The whole process can be completed online in five minutes and then up to $ 10,000 arrives within five days.
” What the Australian Taxation Office says A spokesman for the tax office said the suggestion that the scheme was being accessed with no scrutiny was “ factually incorrect ” .
The spokesman said as at August 14 , $ 33.3 billion had been approved by the tax office for payments to 2.7 million applicants .
“ The ATO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the scheme , ” the spokesman said .
“ Like Australia ’ s income tax system , the scheme is designed on self-assessment .
The onus is on the applicant to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria , as well as ensuring the information they provide is correct .
“ Once we receive applications , we have a range of integrity checks in place which help us mitigate the risk of inappropriate behaviour by those applying .
“ The ATO continues to do significant compliance work on the scheme.
” The spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rejected as a result of a previously approved application , and about 5000 individuals who applied to access their superannuation in 2019-20 had been warned to review their eligibility before applying for a second time in 2020-21 .
“ We have stopped over 2000 applications for investigation and cancelled over 130 applications to date ( before payment has been made ) with work ongoing to contact individuals to discuss their circumstances throughout the remaining application period .
“ A review of more than 400 applicants is underway with individuals to confirm whether they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in serious cases where an applicant has deliberately applied knowing that they were not eligible will we apply penalties.
” • ilion , New real-time data : what has happened to all that Super ?
, August 14 , 2020 • Andrew Charlton , ‘ You may have just had the most expensive coffee of your life ’ , Sydney Morning Herald , June 1 , 2020

The claim
Hundreds of thousands of Australians have rushed to access their superannuation early as part of the federal government’s coronavirus response plan. But with more than $30 billion now withdrawn, questions are being asked about the wisdom of raiding future retirement savings to pay for the present.
Paul Keating, who as treasurer and later prime minister oversaw the design and introduction of Australia’s compulsory superannuation system, accused the government of leaning on the system to pay for the coronavirus stimulus, arguing there had been no assessment of whether people were eligible.
“There’s been no scrutiny whatsoever,” Keating told an Industry Super Australia webinar on August 4. “$20,000, all up, and you can take it.”


crikey--2020-09-14--Exactly who is running this show? Border debate reveals an inconvenient dilemma

The growing remit of Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young raises some awkward questions about who 's really in charge of the state ...
So it ’ s come to this : police stationed outside the home of Queensland 's top public servant , tailing her in order to keep her safe while she determines the state ’ s border policy .
Thus far , chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young has done a sterling job of keeping Queensland relatively COVID-free .
That ’ s not at issue .
This issue is : is this her job ?
Should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a premier , whose ambit is surely wider than any specific policy area ?
This is a health crisis first and foremost , but it ’ s also an economic crisis , a conundrum for schools , a mental health minefield and a dozen other things .
So why has one public servant been handed a role where she is being forced to make decisions on more than health .
This is the role Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has given her ; a role Palaszczuk has all but admitted trumps her own during @ @

So it’s come to this: police stationed outside the home of Queensland’s top public servant, tailing her in order to keep her safe while she determines the state’s border policy.
Thus far, chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young has done a sterling job of keeping Queensland relatively COVID-free. That’s not at issue. This issue is: is this her job? Should a public servant take over the role of a premier, whose ambit is surely wider than any specific policy area?
This is a health crisis first and foremost, but it’s also an economic crisis, a conundrum for schools, a mental health minefield and a dozen other things.
So why has one public servant been handed a role where she is being forced to make decisions on more than health. This is the role Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has given her; a role Palaszczuk has all but admitted trumps her own during COVID-19.


crikey--2020-09-14--How US climate deniers are working from Australia’s playbook

From 'greenies ' to 'arsonists ' : Australia is watching the West Coast wildfires with an eerie sense of déjà @ @ @ @ @ the pictures out of California provoke an eerie sense of déjà vu -- a reminder @ @ @ @ @ d rather forget .
San Francisco choking under apocalyptic blood-red skies .
Homes and livelihoods @ @ @ @ @ of shell-shocked evacuees .
In the United States , the links between climate change and @ @ @ @ @ are as obvious as they were obvious during our black summer .
But just like @ @ @ @ @ Coast wildfires have been accompanied by a barrage of disinformation downplaying the connection with climate @ @ @ @ @ Gavin Newsom begged the country to take action on a climate emergency , President Donald @ @ @ @ @

For Australians, the pictures out of California provoke an eerie sense of déjà vu — a reminder of a summer we’d rather forget. San Francisco choking under apocalyptic blood-red skies. Homes and livelihoods incinerated in minutes. Lines of shell-shocked evacuees.
In the United States, the links between climate change and a devastatingly severe fire season are as obvious as they were obvious during our black summer. But just like in January, the west coast wildfires have been accompanied by a barrage of disinformation downplaying the connection with climate change.
Greenies, not climate change
As California Governor Gavin Newsom begged the country to take action on a climate emergency, President Donald Trump found another cause.


crikey--2020-09-15--Why $1 million may not be enough to advance Advance Australia’s cause

This flailing group just scored a big injection of cash .
But will it be enough to actually compete with @ @ @ @ @ Australia has had a quiet pandemic .
But the conservative activist group , that bills @ @ @ @ @ to progressive GetUp , finally got a bit of attention today , after receiving a @ @ @ @ @ former fund manager Simon Fenwick .
Fenwick told the Financial Review he is worried about @ @ @ @ @ Dan Andrews and “ that Australia ’ s freedom , prosperity and security is being @ @ @ @ @ .
His injection of cash could be a much-needed boost for an organisation that has @ @ @ @ @ in the pandemic ’ s battle of ideas .
It ’ s been almost two @ @ @ @ @ set up .
It 's the most recent version of the right ’ s long-held @ @ @ @ @ .

Advance Australia has had a quiet pandemic. But the conservative activist group, that bills itself as the right-wing antidote to progressive GetUp, finally got a bit of attention today, after receiving a $1 million donation from former fund manager Simon Fenwick.
Fenwick told the Financial Review he is worried about “dictatorial” politicians like Dan Andrews and “that Australia’s freedom, prosperity and security is being undermined by leftwing agendas”. His injection of cash could be a much-needed boost for an organisation that has fallen behind its left-wing rivals in the pandemic’s battle of ideas.
What happened to Advance Australia?
It’s been almost two years since Advance Australia was set up. It’s the most recent version of the right’s long-held dream of creating an anti-GetUp.


crikey--2020-09-15--Australia needs so many more workers in aged care. But where will they come from?

Minimum staffing levels is an issue that 's been around for nearly a quarter of a century .
We 're @ @ @ @ @ solution .
With Labor committing to minimum staffing levels in aged cared and the royal @ @ @ @ @ encouraged to mandate minimum levels , the biggest challenge in aged care is yet to @ @ @ @ @ committed Labor to `` minimum staffing levels in residential aged care '' in a recent @ @ @ @ @ skirt the issue last year .
He had already committed to implementing all the recommendations @ @ @ @ @ commission .
In their interim report last year , the commissioners noted `` our final @ @ @ @ @ to options to ensure staffing levels , and the mix of staffing , are sufficient @ @ @ @ @ care '' .
Counsel assisting the commission have submitted a 160-page paper explaining the history @ @ @ @ @ the case for recommending the commission endorse minimum staffing levels sufficient that facilities reach a @ @ @ @ @ guidelines .

With Labor committing to minimum staffing levels in aged cared and the royal commission into the industry being encouraged to mandate minimum levels, the biggest challenge in aged care is yet to be faced.
Anthony Albanese committed Labor to “minimum staffing levels in residential aged care” in a recent speech, after appearing to skirt the issue last year. He had already committed to implementing all the recommendations of the aged care royal commission. In their interim report last year, the commissioners noted “our final report will give close consideration to options to ensure staffing levels, and the mix of staffing, are sufficient to ensure quality and safe care”.
Counsel assisting the commission have submitted a 160-page paper explaining the history of the issue and detailing the case for recommending the commission endorse minimum staffing levels sufficient that facilities reach a care standard based on US guidelines.


crikey--2020-09-18--Melbourne goes postal as it readies for council elections, lockdown-style

The pandemic looms large over next month 's council elections .
Nominations for Victoria ’ s 76 statewide local government @ @ @ @ @ Melbourne in hard lockdown until at least September 28 it 's going to be a @ @ @ @ @ campaigning severely limited .
Candidates have until midday Tuesday to nominate ahead of a postal @ @ @ @ @ to October 24 .
In the City of Melbourne , Australia ’ s hardest-hit local @ @ @ @ @ we have the bizarre situation of independent Lord Mayor Sally Capp being so focused on @ @ @ @ @ yet to announce who will be running on her ticket .
Capp is being challenged @ @ @ @ @ deputy lord mayor she inherited from her disgraced predecessor Robert Doyle .
Wood has shrugged @ @ @ @ @ and is pitching to the business community , which has a unique gerrymander in that @ @ @ @ @ renter is given two votes .

Nominations for Victoria’s 76 statewide local government elections opened yesterday and with Melbourne in hard lockdown until at least September 28 it’s going to be a unique fully postal election with campaigning severely limited.
Candidates have until midday Tuesday to nominate ahead of a postal voting period from October 6 to October 24. In the City of Melbourne, Australia’s hardest-hit local government area by COVID-19, we have the bizarre situation of independent Lord Mayor Sally Capp being so focused on the pandemic that she is yet to announce who will be running on her ticket.
Capp is being challenged by Arron Wood, the deputy lord mayor she inherited from her disgraced predecessor Robert Doyle. Wood has shrugged off his association with Doyle and is pitching to the business community, which has a unique gerrymander in that each non-residential ratepayer or commercial renter is given two votes.


crikey--2020-09-18--Theologian answers Dan Tehan’s uni funding model call to prayer

The latest twist and turn in the Dan Tehan higher-ed funding boondoggle stuff-up saga is that Uni of Tasmania vice-chancellor @ @ @ @ @ for it .
Which is of course an attempt to get the vote of Jacqui @ @ @ @ @ to the Senate inquiry , Black noted that the funding scheme would help UTAS `` @ @ @ @ @ which he meant -- surrrrprise -- make it an overseas student destination .
Tasmanians wanting @ @ @ @ @ in the lowest median income state ?
They would have to saddle themselves with $ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of salary expectations is more like $ 75k , given the absence of @ @ @

The latest twist and turn in the Dan Tehan higher-ed funding boondoggle stuff-up saga is that Uni of Tasmania vice-chancellor Rufus Black has signed up for it. Which is of course an attempt to get the vote of Jacqui Lambie.
In a submission to the Senate inquiry, Black noted that the funding scheme would help UTAS “pursue its goals” by which he meant — surrrrprise — make it an overseas student destination.
Tasmanians wanting to do an arts degree in the lowest median income state? They would have to saddle themselves with $50k of debt. Which in terms of salary expectations is more like $75k, given the absence of regional adjustments.


crikey--2020-09-17--Left and right trading places on security — but neither grasp the need for rights protection

When it comes to pandemic lockdowns , the left and the right completely reverse their roles adopted in areas like national security — reflecting how poorly Australians grasp the need to protect ourselves from governments .
In what is an increasingly febrile and tribal debate about pandemic restrictions , maintaining a nuanced position on the impact on basic freedoms of government lockdowns is a risky endeavour .
The version from the right and the government , backed by News Corp and The Australian Financial Review , is that Victoria ’ s lockdown and state border closures are a disastrous left-wing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is carefully edited to leave out that a non-Labor state like Tasmania is every bit as aggressive on border closures , and that Scott Morrison ’ s own North Korean-style border blockade is far more economically damaging than people being unable to visit Queensland .
But don ’ t sweat the detail .
The version from the left is that any criticism of Daniel Andrews or the Palaszczuk government is part of a corporate death cult that would sacrifice seniors for the sake of shareholders , combined with a government playing politics with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That version is edited to omit the absurd excesses of the Andrews government and its police force , including handcuffing and arresting people in their homes for Facebook posts , citywide use of numberplate recognition technology to track motorists , mobile surveillance cameras and a dramatic expansion in police powers .
Confusingly , this is a Freaky Friday role-swap of traditional positions in what passes for the national security debate .
In national security , the right — self-styled advocates for small government — are enthusiasts for ever-greater state power and hardline policing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relaxed about police raids if they ’ re aimed at journalists or opposition politicians , and regard any critic as a supporter of terrorism , while the left are automatically suspicious of government claims about the need for crackdowns and resistant to increased powers for security agencies .
Health security and national security , though , are just variants of the same idea — that a government official , possessed of greater expertise and knowledge than the public , can and should be able to suppress basic freedoms in the name of defeating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Just to strengthen the analogy , they both involve a resistance to disclosing information to the public .
Morrison spent much of March refusing to release the modelling that formed the basis of the “ national cabinet ’ s ” decision-making , on the basis that the public couldn ’ t handle it , before relenting in April .
Now Andrews is refusing to release the modelling that informs his decisions .
All very reminiscent of national security — especially that , in both cases , we can legitimately suspect that political considerations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the “ operational secrecy ” is intended to hide that , not protect the populace .
Plus , more generally , our politicians and bureaucrats , more than most around the developed world , prefer to keep the rest of us in the dark .
At least , as economist Saul Eslake recently noted to Crikey , with national security — according to the government — there ’ s some sinister would-be terrorist or spy who might benefit from “ operational information ” , whereas it ’ s not as if coronaviruses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press conferences to work out how best to attack us .
The reversal of health and national security roles partly reflects who is affected by government actions .
The right is relaxed about national security because white people , at least until recently , never had to worry about the attention of security agencies .
But white people are treated no differently to radical Islamists under a pandemic lockdown ; privilege counts for nothing when everyone is confined to their homes .
There ’ s nothing like being subjected to apparently arbitrary police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into civil libertarians .
The other part is that we don ’ t have a developed public discourse around civil rights and protecting them from governments .
Our rights policies and debates focus more on the government itself regulating interactions between people , rather than preventing government from infringing on citizens ’ basic freedoms .
Accordingly , watching politicians , journalists and lawyers in Australia try to discuss issues affecting basic freedoms is , with only a handful of exceptions , like watching children perform Shakespeare .
As I ’ ve noted many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a deep civil society with the capacity to seriously push back against government overreach ; some bodies notionally committed to freedom are funded by corporate interests , so come to debates with bad faith and inconsistency ; and the debate about a bill of rights — something that unites even the most adversarial of tribes in the United States — is marked here by partisanship and culture warring .
The United States , though , is founded upon and marked by a scepticism of government and a fascination with ways to limit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and primarily in relation to white people ; Black Americans and other minorities have rarely been afforded the kind of basic protection from government overreach that white Americans assume as their right .
That ’ s very different from white Australians , who have always relied on government to protect and support them and instinctively feel aggrieved if such backing isn ’ t forthcoming .
And very different from Australian companies , which have always sought to use influence and cash to secure their own protection and support .
Ultimately Australians may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect themselves from it .

In what is an increasingly febrile and tribal debate about pandemic restrictions, maintaining a nuanced position on the impact on basic freedoms of government lockdowns is a risky endeavour.
The version from the right and the government, backed by News Corp and The Australian Financial Review, is that Victoria’s lockdown and state border closures are a disastrous left-wing assault on the economy.
That version is carefully edited to leave out that a non-Labor state like Tasmania is every bit as aggressive on border closures, and that Scott Morrison’s own North Korean-style border blockade is far more economically damaging than people being unable to visit Queensland. But don’t sweat the detail.


crikey--2020-09-17--Disability providers escape fines despite delays in reporting deaths

Why are disability providers failing to report deaths — and why is the NDIS letting them off scot free ?
@ @ @ @ @ reporting the deaths of hundreds of people with disabilities to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards @ @ @ @ @ s troubled watchdog , new data shows .
The NDIS watchdog receives reports of 11 @ @ @ @ @ -- but nearly 20 % aren ’ t reported for more than five days .
@ @ @ @ @ were fined for not reporting the death in a timely manner as required by the @ @

Disability service providers have delayed reporting the deaths of hundreds of people with disabilities to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, the sector’s troubled watchdog, new data shows.
The NDIS watchdog receives reports of 11 deaths a week on average — but nearly 20% aren’t reported for more than five days.
Despite this, no providers were fined for not reporting the death in a timely manner as required by the commission.


crikey--2020-09-17--Barbados quits the Queen, striding where Australia dares not step

It 's a move that could cause ripples across the Caribbean — but any winds of change are unlikely to sway Australia towards a republic .
The British empire is about to lose another of its scattered remains — Barbados has announced plans to become a republic .
“ The time has come to leave our colonial past behind , ” its Governor-General Sandra Mason said when delivering an address on behalf of Prime Minister Mia Mottley .
It ’ s a move which could have ripples across the Caribbean where , like Australia , many countries remain in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for republicanism .
Barbados won independence in 1966 , when Britain ’ s stage-managed imperial collapse was in full swing .
But until now Queen Elizabeth II has remained head of state .
For years it has toyed with the prospect of a republic .
Because its constitution requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority — rather than a cumbersome referendum — the path to a republic is much clearer .
Mottley , a committed republican , led her party to a sizeable majority in elections two years ago .
But there ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for Barbados .
The Guardian reports that the Black Lives Matter movement , and the lingering effects of the Windrush scandal ( where thousands of migrants who came to Britain from the West Indies in the pre-colonial era were threatened with deportation decades later ) may have unleashed a wind of change across the Caribbean .
Neighbouring Guyana , Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica all became republics in the 1970s .
Once Barbados dumps the Queen , Jamaica could be next .
Its Prime Minister , Andrew Holness , has already touted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grand referendum ” on the cards .
Australia out in the cold ?
Of the 16 countries that still have the Queen as head of state , nine ( including Barbados ) are in the Caribbean .
If Barbados triggers a new wave through the region Australia ’ s system of constitutional monarchy could look a little anachronistic .
It seems unlikely , though , that those winds of change could reach as far as Australia .
Here republicanism seems stagnant , due in part to the ongoing popularity of the royal family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a referendum Australians have already rejected .
But the process of dumping the Queen has been a little slow and patchy everywhere .
Before Barbados , the last former Commonwealth realm to become a republic was Mauritius in 1992 .
And since Australia ’ s last flirtation with republicanism in 1999 , Tuvalu and St Vincent and the Grenadines have voted to keep her .
Elsewhere , recent prominent independence referendums have failed .
New Caledonia will hold its second vote on leaving France next month , two years after the first failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remain part of the UK ( although post-Brexit support for Scottish independence has been on the up ) .
Barbados has the benefit of a smoother constitutional process and strong political support for a republic .
In Australia , where we tend to vote referendums down and where Bill Shorten ’ s pre-election promise of a renewed republican push never eventuated , we could be waiting a while .

The British empire is about to lose another of its scattered remains — Barbados has announced plans to become a republic.
“The time has come to leave our colonial past behind,” its Governor-General Sandra Mason said when delivering an address on behalf of Prime Minister Mia Mottley.
It’s a move which could have ripples across the Caribbean where, like Australia, many countries remain in the halfway house of constitutional monarchy despite bubbling support for republicanism.


crikey--2020-09-17--Australia — a banana republic in the grip of crony capitalism

When political and business leaders are in bed together things are rosy for both .
But the pickings are slim if you 're not a mate .
Crony capitalism noun ( derogatory ) : an economic system characterised by mutually beneficial relationships between politicians and business owners .
Collins Dictionary .
That getting rich in Australia is mostly about working your political connections in heavily regulated industries like mining , property development and finance has been known for quite a while .
Cameron Murray and Paul Frijters explained how in the excellent Game of Mates .
If anything , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australian economy is centred on favours for the well-connected is only becoming greater , particularly under Scott Morrison .
Morrison , after all , began his prime ministership saying : “ My value is : we look after our mates.
” If nothing else he ’ s lived up to that .
This week ’ s energy policy announcement , centring on a commitment to build an unnecessary power plant and pipeline infrastructure to boost gas consumption , continues Morrison ’ s pattern of rewarding major political donors Santos and Origin Energy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil-fuel industry ’ s carbon capture and storage scam , which the government is announcing handouts for today .
But Australia ’ s economy is littered with examples of the same forms of crony capitalism .
Media policy has always been the clearest form of crony capitalism in this country but it has become purified to an unprecedented level in the government ’ s extortion of Google and Facebook at the behest of News Corp , which literally dictated the legislation and the treasurer ’ s talking points .
Agriculture and water policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with massive handouts delivered to the agriculture industry ( though never enough to satisfy its political representatives , the Nationals ) .
In its most recent review of taxpayer subsidies , the Productivity Commission ( PC ) reported that the government had increased handouts to farmers by more than $ 1 billion under the guise of drought relief , despite repeated warnings from both it and farming groups that such handouts rewarded inefficient and lazy farmers and punished those who had prepared properly for drought .
The latest win for agriculture is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ environmental water buybacks in favour of handouts to irrigators to upgrade their water infrastructure — despite years of advice from the PC that irrigation infrastructure investment was a far more expensive way to reduce water loss , and extensive evidence of water theft and rorting in the Murray-Darling Basin by irrigators .
National Party connections are also at the heart of one of the more blatant examples of crony capitalism during the pandemic : foreign-owned regional operator Rex Airlines , chaired by former Nationals transport minister John Sharp , received tens of millions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t get .
Australian banks , big financial institutions and their customers still pay the price for another especially blatant form of crony capitalism — the long period in which the Liberal Party , in exchange for huge donations , protected the big banks and AMP from regulatory scrutiny and proper , customer-centred financial planning rules .
Unusually , this ended up blowing up in the faces of both parties , with the banks so egregiously abusing the privileges bought from the government that a political backlash resulted so violent as to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and industry restructuring .
The big banks have been replaced as major donors to both sides by the big four accounting firms , which enjoy hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts , secured through a deliberate government strategy of cutting the public service and outsourcing policy work to the big four , who are even more pliable than bureaucrats .
If you ’ re not a mate , of course , and you don ’ t give generously to the Coalition , you can expect no favours .
The government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector and the much-hated industry super funds while sitting back and watching the arts sector expire .
Labor is gripped by its own form of crony capitalism .
Key unions — which bring membership numbers and massive donations — heavily influence state and federal policy .
The people of New South Wales and Queensland paid a heavy price for the role played by unions in blocking electricity privatisation in those states , leading to higher power bills and lower infrastructure investment in the name of preserving union featherbedding .
Unions are also behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propping up inefficient , carbon-intensive sectors such as aluminium smelting , and costly local procurement requirements that inflate the cost of taxpayer-funded projects and services .
But under the current government , the Australian economy — always small , prone to oligopolies and special dealing enabled by an unregulated and opaque system of political influence-wielding — more than ever resembles a banana republic where the best way to make money is to befriend the ruling junta .

Crony capitalism noun (derogatory): an economic system characterised by mutually beneficial relationships between politicians and business owners. Collins Dictionary.
That getting rich in Australia is mostly about working your political connections in heavily regulated industries like mining, property development and finance has been known for quite a while. Cameron Murray and Paul Frijters explained how in the excellent Game of Mates.
If anything, however, the extraordinary extent to which the Australian economy is centred on favours for the well-connected is only becoming greater, particularly under Scott Morrison.


crikey--2020-09-17--Australia’s power trip has lit up a classic class-culture struggle

For some people solar energy is the future .
But millions of working class people fear it will make them surplus to requirements .
It 's essential that every government initiative , if it is to succeed , has clear targets .
The Morrison government 's Hunter Valley gas plan has a clear target : Joel Fitzgibbon , the embattled member for Hunter , whose once safe seat is now marginal after a 21 % vote for One Nation last year .
Fitzgibbon is fighting for his life -- and his honour .
Hunter is a Labor legacy , held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two Labor father-son teams : the Jameses and the Fitzgibbons .
To avoid being the bloke who lost this dusty jewel in the crown , Fitzgibbon has become a de facto independent within the Labor fold , running a relentless war against Labor policy on coal , renewables etc .
Labor could expel or deselect him , but it wo n't of course .
It 's the usual one-two .
Fitzgibbon goes off , playing to the Valley , Labor chastises him , playing to the big city 'burbs , and on it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and might even be a better way of dealing with Labor 's geographical divide than its pre-2019 idea of having Bill Shorten say one thing on coal in Townsville and another in Northcote , as if the telegraph had not yet been developed .

It’s essential that every government initiative, if it is to succeed, has clear targets. The Morrison government’s Hunter Valley gas plan has a clear target: Joel Fitzgibbon, the embattled member for Hunter, whose once safe seat is now marginal after a 21% vote for One Nation last year.
Fitzgibbon is fighting for his life — and his honour. Hunter is a Labor legacy, held uninterrupted since 1910 by Doc Evatt and two Labor father-son teams: the Jameses and the Fitzgibbons. To avoid being the bloke who lost this dusty jewel in the crown, Fitzgibbon has become a de facto independent within the Labor fold, running a relentless war against Labor policy on coal, renewables etc.
Labor could expel or deselect him, but it won’t of course. It’s the usual one-two. Fitzgibbon goes off, playing to the Valley, Labor chastises him, playing to the big city ‘burbs, and on it goes. Eventually this becomes normalised, and might even be a better way of dealing with Labor’s geographical divide than its pre-2019 idea of having Bill Shorten say one thing on coal in Townsville and another in Northcote, as if the telegraph had not yet been developed.


crikey--2020-09-16--Meet Jeff McCloy, the ICAC’d former mayor behind the koala war

McCloy is just a footnote to the great Koala war , but he is a fascinating character in his own @ @ @ @ @ pushing NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro to try and blow up the government over koala @ @ @ @ @ , it wasn ’ t concerned citizens or rogue farmers pushing the Nats to defend @ @ @ @ @ .
Instead , as The Sydney Morning Herald revealed today , the only stakeholder to @ @ @ @ @ koala protections was property developer Jeff McCloy .
Of course McCloy is just a footnote @ @ @ @ @ , but he is a fascinating character in his own right .
Before being elected @ @ @ @ @ in 2012 , Jeff McCloy built a name for himself around the Hunter as a @ @ @ @ @ fingers in many pies -- a kind of Novocastrian Buddy Garrity , the fictional pushy @ @ @ @ @ series Friday Night Lights .

Who exactly was pushing NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro to try and blow up the government over koala protection policy? Turns out, it wasn’t concerned citizens or rogue farmers pushing the Nats to defend their right to kill koalas.
Instead, as The Sydney Morning Herald revealed today, the only stakeholder to raise an objection to the koala protections was property developer Jeff McCloy. Of course McCloy is just a footnote to the great koala war, but he is a fascinating character in his own right.
The real McCloy
Before being elected Newcastle’s lord mayor in 2012, Jeff McCloy built a name for himself around the Hunter as a blustering property developer with many fingers in many pies — a kind of Novocastrian Buddy Garrity, the fictional pushy fundraiser in the American football series Friday Night Lights.


crikey--2020-09-16--The party of the free market is killing investment

Morrison 's climate-change-denying government has proved embarrassingly bad at managing the economy .
The prime minister proposes to structure energy @ @ @ @ @ the interests of the government 's big fossil fuel donors -- Santos , Origin , @ @ @ @ @ that emissions-intensive gas is a `` transition fuel '' to an energy mix dominated by @ @ @ @ @ so on the urgings of a `` recovery commission '' led by gas industry executives @ @ @ @ @ , a board member of world ’ s biggest greenhouse-gas emitter , Saudi Aramco , @ @ @ @ @ .
Central to the policy , as spelt out by climate denialist Energy Minister Angus @ @ @ @ @ 's commitment that it will use its own energy infrastructure company , Snowy Hydro , @ @ @ @ @ plant to cover an alleged shortfall in energy capacity after the ancient , creaking Liddell @ @ @ @ @ Wales closes .

The prime minister proposes to structure energy industry and infrastructure policy around the interests of the government’s big fossil fuel donors — Santos, Origin, Woodside — under the fiction that emissions-intensive gas is a “transition fuel” to an energy mix dominated by renewables.
He’s doing so on the urgings of a “recovery commission” led by gas industry executives and advised by Andrew Liveris, a board member of world’s biggest greenhouse-gas emitter, Saudi Aramco, and a former Trump adviser.


crikey--2020-09-16--When extremists are de-platformed, where do they go? To another platform

New research shows that when far-right figures are booted off Facebook and Twitter , they quickly find a new home — and potentially , a more susceptible audience .
Ever wonder where far-right identities such as Katie Hopkins , Milo Yiannopoulos and Blair Cottrell wind up when Facebook and Twitter ban them ?
What will happen to those QAnon believers who have been forced to “ decamp ” from Facebook ?
While people might celebrate the bans or “ de-platforming ” of various commentators as a way of preventing the spread of extreme views on either the left , right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the reality is that there are digital sites that will allow extreme voices to publish their views with minimal or no forum moderation .
The sites include Gab , an equivalent for those who have been punted from Twitter or Facebook , and Parler , which is an alternative to Twitter .
Then there ’ s Telegram , the messaging service that has seen use by far-right extremists rocket over 12 months during which bans were imposed on far right accounts .
Researchers Aleksandra Urman from the University of Bern and Stefan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sciences looked closely at the way in which far-right extremists have drifted to Telegram and re-established their networks in a recent study published in the academic journal Information , Communication & Society .
They found that far-right extremists tend to organise themselves and connect with each other in a similar way irrespective of what platform they find their ideological bedfellow on .
They also found that large numbers of far-right channels joined the Telegram messaging service in April 2019 after bans were imposed on right-wing extremist accounts by Facebook .
“ Importantly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the analysed network did not gradually evolve but remained similar since April 2019 , ” the researchers said .
“ Besides , far-right actors became dominant in the observed network almost immediately as they joined the platform.
” A further point made was that while bans from the mainstream social media networks might reduce the size of the audience to which the views of extreme far-right groups were exposed , the smaller audience on these more niche platforms might wind up being more susceptible to radicalisation .
US President Donald Trump does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump-related forums or channels play a significant role in influencing the various far-right groupings present on Telegram .
“ Though we do not know whether any of them are officially associated with Trump or the White House , their prominence in the network , along with the absence of any far-right political parties , lends additional evidence to the argument that Trump and his presidency have aided normalising the far-right rhetoric , ” the researchers observed .
They suggest further work must be done to determine whether banning users from the mainstream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way to minimise the influence of extreme-right commentators and to prevent the radicalisation of their followers .

Ever wonder where far-right identities such as Katie Hopkins, Milo Yiannopoulos and Blair Cottrell wind up when Facebook and Twitter ban them? What will happen to those QAnon believers who have been forced to “decamp” from Facebook?
While people might celebrate the bans or “de-platforming” of various commentators as a way of preventing the spread of extreme views on either the left, right or just plain loopy sides of politics, the reality is that there are digital sites that will allow extreme voices to publish their views with minimal or no forum moderation.
The sites include Gab, an equivalent for those who have been punted from Twitter or Facebook, and Parler, which is an alternative to Twitter.


crikey--2020-09-18--A foreign-owned university gets government cash. Why not our public ones?

The National Tertiary Education Union says the Morrison government is deliberately decimating higher education .
Staff at New York University @ @ @ @ @ campus have been paid JobKeeper as local universities missed out , leading to thousands of @ @ @ @ @ estimates universities will lose between $ 3.1 billion and $ 4.8 billion this year alone @ @ @ @ @ at risk .
The National Tertiary Education Union ( NTEU ) has said more than @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , independent higher education providers have been granted the big bucks to keep @ @ @ @ @

Staff at New York University’s (NYU) Sydney campus have been paid JobKeeper as local universities missed out, leading to thousands of job cuts.
University Australia estimates universities will lose between $3.1 billion and $4.8 billion this year alone and 21,000 university jobs are at risk. The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has said more than 11,000 jobs have been lost.
Meanwhile, independent higher education providers have been granted the big bucks to keep 5038 staff on site.


crikey--2020-09-18--Audit office pings Electoral Commission for being too soft on parties

The AEC says it can only regulate political parties as far as politicians empower it — and fund it — @ @ @ @ @ now that 's not very far ... An Australian National Audit Office review of the @ @ @ @ @ process has revealed the contempt with which political parties and many donors hold our most @ @ @ @ @ prompted a brawl between the auditors and the agency charged with overseeing Australia 's political @ @ @ @ @ that , over a four-year period , more than a fifth of annual donation returns @ @ @ @ @ 17 % of post-election returns were also lodged by political parties , associated entities and @ @ @ @ @ legislation , in a number of cases around four months late .
However , the @ @ @ @ @ the ANAO 's recommendation that the Commission make stronger use of its enforcement powers via @ @ @ @ @ auditors concluded that the AEC was too light-touch in its response to repeated breaches of @ @ @ @ @ with Labor state and territory branches appearing to be a particular problem .

An Australian National Audit Office review of the Electoral Commission’s political donation process has revealed the contempt with which political parties and many donors hold our most important transparency requirement, and prompted a brawl between the auditors and the agency charged with overseeing Australia’s political process.
The audit shows that, over a four-year period, more than a fifth of annual donation returns were late, and around 17% of post-election returns were also lodged by political parties, associated entities and donors later than required under legislation, in a number of cases around four months late.
However, the Electoral Commission has point-blank rejected the ANAO’s recommendation that the Commission make stronger use of its enforcement powers via a graduated approach. The auditors concluded that the AEC was too light-touch in its response to repeated breaches of legislation by political parties, with Labor state and territory branches appearing to be a particular problem.


crikey--2020-09-18--Gig economy saves the jobs market — a sign of things to come?

Do n't be surprised if employers use the recession to employ more casuals and outsource more work .
There were @ @ @ @ @ jobs data for August that emerged yesterday from the Australian Bureau of Statistics .
The @ @ @ @ @ than any economist , or even the Reserve Bank or Treasury , had predicted .
@ @ @ @ @ the claims from the media and the Morrison government that the Andrews government 's lockdown @ @ @ @ @ economic vandalism , Victoria ’ s jobless rate only moved up to 7.1 % from @ @ @ @ @ jobs lost in that state last month .
Hours fell by 4.8 % in Victoria @ @ @ @ @ % rise across the rest of Australia .
Now there may well be another big @ @ @ @ @ September data as the numbers catch up .
There will be a clue in the @ @ @ @ @ jobs and wages data next week .

There were three messages in the confusing jobs data for August that emerged yesterday from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The headline number was dramatically better than any economist, or even the Reserve Bank or Treasury, had predicted.
The first is, despite the claims from the media and the Morrison government that the Andrews government’s lockdown was some profound act of economic vandalism, Victoria’s jobless rate only moved up to 7.1% from 6.8%, with 42,000 jobs lost in that state last month. Hours fell by 4.8% in Victoria, compared with a 1.8% rise across the rest of Australia.
Now there may well be another big fall in Victoria in the September data as the numbers catch up. There will be a clue in the ABS’s next payroll jobs and wages data next week.


crikey--2020-09-18--Scott Morrison and the case of the reappearing funding announcement (and other news you may have mis

Scott Morrison and the case of the reappearing funding announcement (and other news you may have missed)

We swear we 've heard this funding announcement before .
Plus it 's one step forward and two steps back for the mental health crisis .
There ’ s one thing which the rolling lockdowns have taught every innter-city resident -- from the smuggest Perthite gleefully flipping Clive Palmer off across the border , to the most stoic Melburnian only now starting to emerge blinking into the unfamiliar sunlight .
And that thing is that during a pandemic in which everyone ’ s confined to their homes , living and working in an apartment absolutely suuuuuucks .
Lockdown has forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truths : like that their kitchen is largely ornamental , that there ’ s nowhere to store 18-months-worth of toilet paper , and that it ’ s a bad look to have one ’ s housemate playing Call Of Duty in the background of your Zoom call with the sales team .
Property analysis firm Finder told The New Daily that almost a third of all renters they surveyed have expressed a desire to move somewhere with more space , especially now that commuting to the CBD isn ’ t a given .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dog in that fight , but what ’ s not in doubt is that the market has responded by ensuring that the affordable outer suburbs are now… well , less affordable .

Gimme shelter
There’s one thing which the rolling lockdowns have taught every innter-city resident — from the smuggest Perthite gleefully flipping Clive Palmer off across the border, to the most stoic Melburnian only now starting to emerge blinking into the unfamiliar sunlight. And that thing is that during a pandemic in which everyone’s confined to their homes, living and working in an apartment absolutely suuuuuucks.
Lockdown has forced many inner-city dwellers to face some hard truths: like that their kitchen is largely ornamental, that there’s nowhere to store 18-months-worth of toilet paper, and that it’s a bad look to have one’s housemate playing Call Of Duty in the background of your Zoom call with the sales team.
Property analysis firm Finder told The New Daily that almost a third of all renters they surveyed have expressed a desire to move somewhere with more space, especially now that commuting to the CBD isn’t a given. And sure, they might have a dog in that fight, but what’s not in doubt is that the market has responded by ensuring that the affordable outer suburbs are now… well, less affordable.


crikey--2020-09-22--Australian universities tread softly, softly to catch and keep Chinese students

There are real and well-documented concerns about self-censorship in unis at a whole range of levels .
The news last @ @ @ @ @ Sydney ( UTS ) had been given advice by an internal committee to avoid politically @ @ @ @ @ courses has raised the troubling issues of self-censorship in Australia ’ s tertiary sector .
@ @ @ @ @ “ considered telling staff to censor teaching material ” .
In reality , the university @ @ @ @ @ recommendations on China content and platform access , receiving but rejecting the advice to adjust @ @ @ @ @ , however , offer general advice on digital platforms that could be accessed in the @ @ @ @ @ teaching , amid concerns that Beijing could `` turn off '' physical access to UTS @ @ @

The news last week that University of Technology Sydney (UTS) had been given advice by an internal committee to avoid politically sensitive topics for its China courses has raised the troubling issues of self-censorship in Australia’s tertiary sector.
The ABC reported that UTS “considered telling staff to censor teaching material”. In reality, the university asked an internal panel for recommendations on China content and platform access, receiving but rejecting the advice to adjust teaching content.
UTS did, however, offer general advice on digital platforms that could be accessed in the People’s Republic for teaching, amid concerns that Beijing could “turn off” physical access to UTS course materials.


crikey--2020-09-21--The Mable model brings free market thinking to aged care — just in time for COVID

This controversial app risks putting the vulnerable in charge of the vulnerable .
So why is n't News Corp writing @ @ @ @ @ the second instalment of a series on aged care app Mable .
Read part one @ @ @ @ @ Mable has benefitted from the advertising and marketing support of Murdoch-owned media outlets in what @ @ @ @ @ of editorial lines .
As we 've reported , Mable failed to supply emergency staffing @ @ @ @ @ care facility just days after receiving a multimillion-dollar contract from the federal government to do @ @ @ @ @ also been criticised by experts for its platform , which provides a kind of carers @ @ @ @ @ 's a hands-off model that risks putting the vulnerable in charge of the vulnerable .

This is the second instalment of a series on aged care app Mable. Read part one here.
Online carer platform Mable has benefitted from the advertising and marketing support of Murdoch-owned media outlets in what amounts to a remarkable blurring of editorial lines.
As we’ve reported, Mable failed to supply emergency staffing for the COVID-affected Newmarch aged care facility just days after receiving a multimillion-dollar contract from the federal government to do just that. It has also been criticised by experts for its platform, which provides a kind of carers’ matchmaking service. It’s a hands-off model that risks putting the vulnerable in charge of the vulnerable.


crikey--2020-09-21--No name, voice or family. Who is this woman? Why was she abandoned?

Two weeks ago this elderly woman was left at Nambour Hospital .
Today , police still have no answers .
@ @ @ @ @ month , an elderly woman was left outside Nambour Hospital on Queensland ’ s Sunshine @ @ @ @ @ name and , it appears , no family or friends .
This woman stood out @ @ @ @ @ agitated , and abandoned by a man who disappeared down Hospital Road .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ ’ s been moved to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and it appears we don @ @ @ @ @ .
It seems like the man was doing his civic duty by dropping this woman @ @ @ @ @ .
It is believed they are not related .

One Sunday afternoon earlier this month, an elderly woman was left outside Nambour Hospital on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. She has no name and, it appears, no family or friends.
This woman stood out. She was distressed, agitated, and abandoned by a man who disappeared down Hospital Road.
Now, 16 days later, she’s been moved to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and it appears we don’t know much more. It seems like the man was doing his civic duty by dropping this woman off at the hospital door. It is believed they are not related.


crikey--2020-09-21--The closed-door contracts flourishing in these COVID times

Increasingly , government contracts appear to be flying out the door with limited checks and balances .
Secrecy has been @ @ @ @ @ government -- whether it 's sending in police to raid the homes of journalists or @ @ @ @ @ of Witness K and his lawyer .
This is no less true in the murky @ @ @ @ @ government contracts appear to be flying out the door with limited checks and balances .
@ @ @ @ @ a competitive process was awarded to aged care `` disruptor '' Mable , a company @ @ @ @ @ links to the Liberal party .

Secrecy has been a cornerstone of the Morrison government — whether it’s sending in police to raid the homes of journalists or maintaining secrecy around the trial of Witness K and his lawyer.
This is no less true in the murky world of procurement, where government contracts appear to be flying out the door with limited checks and balances.
The latest contract to avoid a competitive process was awarded to aged care “disruptor” Mable, a company which Crikey reveals has deep links to the Liberal party.


crikey--2020-09-21--Collapse in home building reveals just how much Australia depends on migration

A new report about a collapse in the demand for new housing has driven home just how much the Australian @ @ @ @ @ Australia will not be building its way out of recession .
A new report released @ @ @ @ @ and Investment Corporation ( NHFIC ) today revealed that demand for housing could be cut @ @ @ @ @ over the next three years , a collapse triggered by a fall in migration and @ @ @ @ @ , high levels of migration was central to Australia 's strong economic performance .
Thanks @ @ @ @ @ closed borders and a stagnant global economy , Australia 's population growth is at its @ @ @ @ @ a century .
And it 's a dramatic change which will send shock waves across @ @ @ @ @ to come .
Over the last two decades , Australia 's population grew at 1.6 @ @ @ @ @ OECD average of 0.6 % .
About 60 % of that growth comes from migration @ @ @ @ @ Australia 's economic narrative might 've looked quite different .

Australia will not be building its way out of recession. A new report released by the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) today revealed that demand for housing could be cut by between 129,000 and 232,000 over the next three years, a collapse triggered by a fall in migration and population growth.
For decades, high levels of migration was central to Australia’s strong economic performance. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, closed borders and a stagnant global economy, Australia’s population growth is at its lowest level in more than a century. And it’s a dramatic change which will send shock waves across the Australian economy for years to come.
An economy of migrants
Over the last two decades, Australia’s population grew at 1.6%, compared to an OECD average of 0.6%. About 60% of that growth comes from migration. And without it, Australia’s economic narrative might’ve looked quite different.


crikey--2020-09-21--Why are we still locking returning travellers in hotels?

Sick with COVID ?
Stay at home .
Return to Australia and test negative ?
Go to a hotel .
@ @ @ @ @ sense .
The Victorian hotel quarantine debacle has glossed over a more important question : @ @ @ @ @ quarantine at all ?
Other than New Zealand , virtually no other country forcibly requires @ @ @ @ @ imprisoned in a hotel room for 14 days .
At the time the Morrison government @ @ @ @ @ March 29 , the main concern was people getting off infected cruise ships and planes @ @ @ @ @ home .
Back then the concern was justified -- especially since almost all the COVID @ @ @ @ @ had been returning travellers ( community transmission remained low during the first wave ) .

The Victorian hotel quarantine debacle has glossed over a more important question: why are we using hotel quarantine at all? Other than New Zealand, virtually no other country forcibly requires returning residents to be essentially imprisoned in a hotel room for 14 days.
At the time the Morrison government introduced the policy, on March 29, the main concern was people getting off infected cruise ships and planes and failing to quarantine at home.
Back then the concern was justified — especially since almost all the COVID cases earlier in the year had been returning travellers (community transmission remained low during the first wave).


crikey--2020-09-21--Revealed: the Liberal, Murdoch networks making millions delivering ‘Uber for aged care’

An organisation appointed to provide a surge workforce for aged care facilities is backed by a powerful business network with @ @ @ @ @ and News Corp. An Inq investigation has found that an organisation appointed by the federal @ @ @ @ @ workforce for aged care facilities is backed by a powerful business network which includes Liberal @ @ @ @ @ campaign helpers .
Online workforce platform Mable Technologies was awarded a $ 5.8 million contract @ @ @ @ @ to provide emergency staff for COVID-affected aged care homes .
Within four days of being @ @ @ @ @ company was unable to provide staff for Sydney 's Newmarch aged care facility , leaving @ @ @ @ @ 87 % of its staff -- to beg the federal health department to find `` @ @ @ @ @ suitable and skilled staff '' .

An Inq investigation has found that an organisation appointed by the federal government to provide a surge workforce for aged care facilities is backed by a powerful business network which includes Liberal Party donors, members and campaign helpers.
Online workforce platform Mable Technologies was awarded a $5.8 million contract without open tender in April to provide emergency staff for COVID-affected aged care homes.
Within four days of being appointed, however, the company was unable to provide staff for Sydney’s Newmarch aged care facility, leaving Newmarch — which had lost 87% of its staff — to beg the federal health department to find “other avenues … to source suitable and skilled staff”.