crikey--2020-09-01--They know how to prevent megafires. Why won’t anybody listen?

This is a story about frustration , about watching California burn when you fully understand why it ’ s burning — and understand why it did not need to be this bad .
What a week .
Rough for all Californians .
Exhausting for the firefighters on the front lines .
Heart-shattering for those who lost homes and loved ones .
But a special Truman Show kind of hell for the cadre of men and women who ’ ve not just watched California burn , fire axe in hand , for the past two or three or five decades , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fire policy that created the landscape that is now up in flames .
“ What ’ s it like ?
” Tim Ingalsbee repeated back to me , wearily , when I asked him what it was like to watch California this past week .
In 1980 , Ingalsbee started working as a wildland firefighter .
In 1995 , he earned a doctorate in environmental sociology .
And in 2005 , frustrated by the huge gap between what he was learning about fire management and seeing on the fire line , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Ecology .
Since then FUSEE has been lobbying Congress , and trying to educate anybody who will listen , about the misguided fire policy that is leading to the megafires we are seeing today .
So what ’ s it like ?
“ It ’ s just… well… it ’ s horrible .
Horrible to see this happening when the science is so clear and has been clear for years .
I suffer from Cassandra syndrome , ” Ingalsbee said .
“ Every year I warn people : disaster ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And no one listens .
And then it happens.
” The pattern is a form of insanity : we keep doing overzealous fire suppression across California landscapes where the fire poses little risk to people and structures .
As a result , wildland fuels keep building up .
At the same time , the climate grows hotter and drier .
Then , boom : the inevitable .
The wind blows down a power line , or lightning strikes dry grass , and an inferno ensues .
This past week we ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California history .
“ The fire community , the progressives , are almost in a state of panic , ” Ingalsbee said .
There ’ s only one solution , the one we know yet still avoid .
“ We need to get good fire on the ground and whittle down some of that fuel load.
” Yes , there ’ s been talk across the US Forest Service and California state agencies about doing more prescribed burns and managed burns .
The point of that “ good fire ” would be to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The black burned parcels would then provide a series of dampers and dead ends to keep the fire intensity lower when flames spark in hot , dry conditions , as they did this past week .
But we ’ ve had far too little “ good fire , ” as the Cassandras call it .
Too little purposeful , healthy fire .
Too few acres intentionally burned or corralled by certified “ burn bosses ” ( yes , that ’ s the official term in the California Resources Code ) to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Academics believe that between 4.4 million and 11.8 million acres burned each year in prehistoric California .
Between 1982 and 1998 , California ’ s agency land managers burned , on average , about 30,000 acres a year .
Between 1999 and 2017 , that number dropped to an annual 13,000 acres .
The state passed a few new laws in 2018 designed to facilitate more intentional burning .
But few are optimistic this , alone , will lead to significant change .
We live with a deathly backlog .
In February 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : California would need to burn 20 million acres — an area about the size of Maine — to restabilise in terms of fire .
Mike Beasley , deputy fire chief of Yosemite National Park from 2001 to 2009 and retired interagency fire chief for the Inyo National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management ’ s Bishop Field Office , was in a better mood than Ingalsbee when I reached him , but only because as a part-time Arkansan , part-time Californian and Oregonian , Beasley seems to find life more absurd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
He let out a throaty laugh .
“ It looks complicated , ” he said .
“ And I think you know what I mean by that.
” Beasley earned what he called his “ red card ” , or wildland firefighter qualification , in 1984 .
To him , California , today , resembles a rookie pyro Armageddon , its scorched battlefields studded with soldiers wielding fancy tools , executing foolhardy strategy .
“ Put the wet stuff on the red stuff , ” Beasley summed up his assessment of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s behemoth “ emergency response and resource protection ” agency .
Instead , Beasley believes , fire professionals should be considering ecology and picking their fights : letting fires that pose little risk burn through the stockpiles of fuels .
Yet that ’ s not the mission .
“ They put fires out , full stop , end of story , ” Beasley said of Cal Fire .
“ They like to keep it clean that way.
” So it ’ s been a week .
Carl Skinner , another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County in 1968 and who retired in 2014 after 42 years managing and researching fire for the US Forest Service , sounded profoundly , existentially tired .
“ We ’ ve been talking about how this is where we were headed for decades.
” “ It ’ s painful , ” said Craig Thomas , director of the Fire Restoration Group .
He , too , has been having the fire Cassandra conversation for 30 years .
He ’ s not that hopeful , unless there ’ s a power change .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say how the buttons get pushed , it ’ s going to stay that way.
” A six-word California fire ecology primer : the state is in the hole .
A 70-word primer : we dug ourselves into a deep , dangerous fuel imbalance due to one simple fact .
We live in a Mediterranean climate that ’ s designed to burn , and we ’ ve prevented it from burning anywhere close to enough for well over 100 years .
Now climate change has made it hotter and drier than ever before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been forestalling is going to happen , fast , whether we plan for it or not .
Megafires , like the ones that have ripped this week through 1 million acres ( so far ) , will continue to erupt until we ’ ve flared off our stockpiled fuels .
No way around that .
When I reached Malcolm North , a research ecologist with the US Forest Service who is based in Mammoth , California , and asked if there was any meaningful scientific dissent to the idea that we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ none that I know of ” .
How did we get here ?
Culture , greed , liability laws and good intentions gone awry .
There are just so many reasons not to pick up the drip torch and start a prescribed burn even though it ’ s the safe , smart thing to do .
The overarching reason is culture .
In 1905 , the US Forest Service was created with a military mindset .
Not long after , renowned American philosopher William James wrote in his essay “ The Moral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redirect their combative impulses away from their fellow humans and onto “ nature ” .
The war-on-fire mentality found especially fertile ground in California , a state that had emerged from the genocide and cultural destruction of tribes who understood fire and relied on its benefits to tend their land .
That state then repopulated itself in the Gold Rush with extraction enthusiasts , and a little more than half a century later , it suffered a truly devastating fire .
Three-thousand people died , and hundreds of thousands were left homeless , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendant fires .
The overwhelming majority of the destruction came from the flames , not the quake .
Small wonder California ’ s fire ethos has much more in common with a field surgeon wielding a bone saw than a preventive medicine specialist with a tray full of vaccines .
More quantitatively — and related — fire suppression in California is big business , with impressive year-over-year growth .
Before 1999 , Cal Fire never spent more than $ 100 million a year .
In 2007-08 , it spent $ 524 million .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Could this be Cal Fire ’ s first $ 1 billion season ?
Too early to tell , but don ’ t count it out .
On top of all the state money , federal disaster funds flow down from “ the big bank in the sky ” , said Ingalsbee .
Studies have shown that over a quarter of US Forest Service fire suppression spending goes to aviation — planes and helicopters used to put out fire .
A lot of the “ air show ” , as he calls it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning , when retardant drops from planes are most effective , but on large fires in the afternoon .
But nevermind .
You can now call in a 747 to drop 19,200 gallons of retardant .
Or a purpose-designed Lockheed Martin FireHerc , a cousin of the C-130 .
How cool is that ?
Still only 30 % of retardant is dropped within 2000 yards of a neighborhood , meaning that it stands little chance of saving a life or home .
Instead the airdrop serves , at great expense , to save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not suppression , might well do more good .
This whole system is exacerbated by the fact that it ’ s not just contracts for privately owned aircraft .
Much of the fire-suppression apparatus — the crews themselves , the infrastructure that supports them — is contracted out to private firms .
“ The Halliburton model from the Middle East is kind of in effect for all the infrastructure that comes into fire camps , ” Beasley said , referencing the Iraq War .
“ The catering , the trucks that you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cal Fire pays firefighters well , very well .
( And perversely well compared with the thousands of California Department of Corrections inmates who serve on fire crews , which is very much a different story . )
As the California Policy Center reported in 2017 , “ The median compensation package — including base pay , special pay , overtime and benefits — for full-time Cal Fire firefighters of all categories is more than $ 148,000 a year.
” The paydays can turn incentives upside down .
“ Every five , 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see an event where a firefighter who wants [ to earn ] overtime starts a fire , ” said Crystal Kolden , a self-described “ pyrogeographer ” and assistant professor of fire science in the Management of Complex Systems Department at the University of California , Merced .
( She first picked up a drip torch in 1999 when working for the U.S. Forest Service and got hooked . )
“ And it sort of gets painted as , ‘ Well , this person is just completely nuts.
’ And , you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial incentives are real .
“ It ’ s very lucrative for a certain population of contractors.
” By comparison , planning a prescribed burn is cumbersome .
A wildfire is categorised as an emergency , meaning firefighters pull down hazard pay and can drive a bulldozer into a protected wilderness area where regulations typically prohibit mountain bikes .
Planned burns are human-made events and as such need to follow all environmental compliance rules .
That includes the Clean Air Act , which limits the emission of PM 2.5 , or fine particulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , those rules are enforced by CARB , the state ’ s mighty air resources board , and its local affiliates .
“ I ’ ve talked to many prescribed fire managers , particularly in the Sierra Nevada over the years , who ’ ve told me , ‘ Yeah , we ’ ve spent thousands and thousands of dollars to get all geared up to do a prescribed burn , ’ and then they get shut down.
” Maybe there ’ s too much smog that day from agricultural emissions in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many locals complain that they don ’ t like smoke .
Reforms after the epic 2017 and 2018 fire seasons led to some loosening of the CARB/prescribed fire rules , but we still have a long way to go .
“ One thing to keep in mind is that air-quality impacts from prescribed burning are minuscule compared to what you ’ re experiencing right now , ” said Matthew Hurteau , associate professor of biology at University of New Mexico and director of the Earth Systems Ecology Lab , which looks at how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With prescribed burns , people can plan ahead : get out of town , install a HEPA filter in their house , make a rational plan to live with smoke .
Historical accounts of California summers describe months of smoky skies , but as a feature of the landscape , not a bug .
Beasley and others argue we need to rethink our ideas of what a healthy California looks like .
“ We ’ re used to seeing a thick wall of even-aged trees , ” he told me , “ and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relic of fire exclusion as our clear skies.
” In the Southeast which burns more than twice as many acres as California each year — fire is defined as a public good .
Burn bosses in California can more easily be held liable than their peers in some other states if the wind comes up and their burn goes awry .
At the same time , California burn bosses typically suffer no consequences for deciding not to light .
No promotion will be missed , no red flags rise .
“ There ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire going bad , ” Beasley said .
“ So whenever anything comes up , people say , OK , that ’ s it .
We ’ re gon na put all the fires out.
” For over a month this spring , the US Forest Service cancelled all prescribed burns in California , and training for burn bosses , because of COVID-19 .
I asked Beasley why he ignited his burns anyway when he was Yosemite fire chief .
“ I ’ m single !
I ’ m not married !
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ captain is the best person for the job.
” Then he stopped joking .
“ I was a risk taker to some degree .
But I also was a believer in science.
” On August 12 , 2020 , California Governor Gavin Newsom , the US Forest Service chief and others signed a memorandum of understanding , or MOU , that the state needs to burn more .
“ The health and wellbeing of California communities and ecosystems depend on urgent and effective forest and rangeland stewardship to restore resilient and diverse ecosystems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document includes a mea culpa : “ California ’ s forests naturally adapted to low-intensity fire , nature ’ s preferred management tool , but Gold Rush-era clearcutting followed by a wholesale policy of fire suppression resulted in the overly dense , ailing forests that dominate the landscape today.
” Ingalsbee looks at the MOU and thinks , that ’ s not worth the paper it ’ s printed on .
Likewise Nick Goulette , executive director of the Watershed Research and Training Center , has seen too little movement for too long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get us back on track .
In 2014 , Goulette participated in a planning exercise known as the Quadrennial Fire Review , or QFR , that asked the grim question : what is the disaster scenario that finally causes us to alter in a meaningful way our relationship and response to fire ?
The answer : something along the lines of a megafire taking out San Diego .
In the wake of it , Goulette and others imagined one scenario in which the US Forest Service morphed into an even more militaristic firefighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and is “ extremely risk averse ” .
But they also envisioned a scenario that spawned a new kind of fire force , one focused on “ monitoring firesheds ” and dedicated to changing the dominant philosophy away “ from the war on fire to living with fire ” .
This exercise took place three years before the devastating 2017 Napa and Sonoma fires , and four years before the Camp Fire destroyed Paradise in 2018 .
Goulette thought those events would have prompted more change .
The tragedies did lead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations with Cal Fire .
But there ’ s just so much ground we need to make up .
When asked how we were doing on closing the gap between what we need to burn in California and what we actually light , Goulette fell into the familiar fire Cassandra stutter .
“ Oh gosh… I don ’ t know… ” The QFR acknowledged there was no way prescribed burns and other kinds of forest thinning could make a dent in the risk imposed by the backlog of fuels in the next 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re at 20,000 acres a year .
We need to get to a million .
What ’ s the reasonable path toward a million acres ?
” Maybe we could get to 40,000 acres , in five years .
But that number made Goulette stop speaking again .
“ Forty thousand acres ?
Is that meaningful ?
” That answer , obviously , is no .
The only real path toward meaningful change looks politically impossible .
Goulette said we need to scrap the system and rethink what we could do with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is this really the best thing we could do with several billion dollars to be more resistant to wildfire ?
Goulette knows this suggestion is so laughably distasteful and naive to those in power that uttering it as the director of a nonprofit like the Watershed Research and Training Center gets you kicked out of the room .
Some fire Cassandras are more optimistic than others .
Lenya Quinn-Davidson , area fire adviser for the University of California Cooperative Extension and director of the Northern California Prescribed Fire Council , remains hopeful .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the new MOU is non-binding .
Still she ’ s working on forming burn cooperatives and designing burner certificate programs to bring healthy fire practices back into communities .
She ’ d like to get Californians back closer to the fire culture in the Southeast where , she said , “ Your average person goes out back with Grandpa , and they burn 10 acres on the back 40 you know , on a Sunday ” .
Fire is not just for professionals , not just for government employees and their contractors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , is “ a tool and anyone who ’ s managing land is going to have prescribed fire in their toolbox ” .
That is not the world we ’ ve been inhabiting in the West .
“ That ’ s been the hard part in California , ” Quinn-Davidson said .
“ In trying to increase the pace and scale of prescribed fire , we ’ re actually fighting some really , some really deep cultural attitudes around who gets to use it and where it belongs in society.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.5 million Bay Area home from a vendor , and sold it right back a month later , records show .
Later , the utility accused the vendor of bribery for unspecified actions .
All Cassandras believe California ’ s wildfires will get worse , much worse , before they get better .
Right now , said Crystal Kolden , the state ’ s fuel management plan , such as it is , is for Cal Fire to try to do prescribed burns in shoulder season .
But given that the fires are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later ( we are not even this year ’ s traditional fire season yet ) , the shoulder doesn ’ t really exist .
“ So where is the end ?
” she asks .
“ It ’ s not in sight , and we don ’ t know when it will be.
” The week before this past round of fires saw the hottest temperatures ever recorded in California , the hottest temperature ever reliably recorded on earth : 130 degrees , more than half the boiling point of water , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be the absolute upper limit of what the human body can endure for 10 minutes in humidity .
“ Meanwhile , our firefighters are completely at the breaking point , ” said Kolden , and there ’ s little they can do to stop a megafire once one starts .
“ And after a while you start to see breakdowns and interruptions in other critical pieces , like our food systems , our transportation systems.
” It doesn ’ t need to be this way .
We didn ’ t need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a lack of knowledge .
“ We can produce all the science in the world , and we largely understand why fires are the way they are , ” said Eric Knapp , a US Forest Service research ecologist based in Redding , California .
“ It ’ s just that other social political realities get in the way of doing a lot of what we need to do.
” The fire and climate science before us is not comforting .
It would be great to call in a 747 , dump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the terrifying facts fade away .
But ignoring the tinderbox that is our state and our planet invites more madness , not just for the Cassandras but for us all .
As Ingalsbee said , “ You won ’ t find any climate deniers on the fire line.
” This story was originally published on ProPublica .

What a week. Rough for all Californians. Exhausting for the firefighters on the front lines. Heart-shattering for those who lost homes and loved ones. But a special Truman Show kind of hell for the cadre of men and women who’ve not just watched California burn, fire axe in hand, for the past two or three or five decades, but who’ve also fully understood the fire policy that created the landscape that is now up in flames.
“What’s it like?” Tim Ingalsbee repeated back to me, wearily, when I asked him what it was like to watch California this past week. In 1980, Ingalsbee started working as a wildland firefighter. In 1995, he earned a doctorate in environmental sociology. And in 2005, frustrated by the huge gap between what he was learning about fire management and seeing on the fire line, he started Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, and Ecology.
Since then FUSEE has been lobbying Congress, and trying to educate anybody who will listen, about the misguided fire policy that is leading to the megafires we are seeing today.


crikey--2020-09-01--When it comes to picking stocks, one Liberal MP always has his finger on the pulse

Dave Sharma continues to back some of the biggest winners of the Australian tech market .
Much has been made @ @ @ @ @ ’ s next-level investment portfolio , and his talent for picking stocks has clearly not @ @ @ @ @ .
Sharma , a big believer in the tech sector , has managed to back @ @ @ @ @ of the Australian tech market , many of which are thriving during the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ more shares in buy-now pay-later juggernaut Afterpay , which is booming thanks to the downturn @ @ @ @ @ credit for purchases .
He previously held shares in Afterpay 's rival , Zip Co @

Much has been made of Liberal MP Dave Sharma’s next-level investment portfolio, and his talent for picking stocks has clearly not faded during the economic crisis.
Sharma, a big believer in the tech sector, has managed to back some of the biggest winners of the Australian tech market, many of which are thriving during the pandemic.
Last week he picked up more shares in buy-now pay-later juggernaut Afterpay, which is booming thanks to the downturn as consumers turn to online credit for purchases. He previously held shares in Afterpay’s rival, Zip Co.


crikey--2020-09-01--‘One of Australia’s first climate casualties died 11km from federal parliament’

The 2003 Canberra fires resulted in the loss of 470 homes and four lives .
In this extract from his new book , Paddy Manning tells the story of one of the victims .
In his new book , Paddy Manning charts the human cost of climate change over the past decade .
Body Count is a journey into loss , sacrifice and heroism .
In this extract , he tells the story of David Tener , whose wife Alison died in the 2003 Canberra fires .
David Tener lost his wife Alison in the Canberra bushfires of 2003 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Duffy , a dormitory suburb in the city ’ s south-west .
He worked in maintenance for the Air Force , and she had been a stay-at-home mum to their three boys until she started a new job at Air Services .
They ’ d met when they were young , on a Contiki tour of America in the mid- ’ 80s .
Both were travelling with mates , and he ’ d gone up to her — a total stranger — and sat in her lap when they were on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bit forward , but they hit it off and got married in 1987 .
When he proposed , David told her in all seriousness : “ You ’ ve got to understand , I married the Air Force first ” .
Both knew there would be sacrifices .
They moved around the country as he was rotated through bases at Fairbairn , Williamstown and then Richmond , north-west of Sydney .
By late 2002 David was facing a possible deployment to Iraq , returning to the base after Christmas , and he suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she would like a couple of weeks to herself , offering to take the boys to stay with her parents in Coffs Harbour .
Alison agreed , having never had a break as a full-time mum .
So she was home alone on Saturday , January 18 as an unprecedented firestorm threatened Canberra .
The Teners ’ home in Duffy was a two-storey weatherboard on Burrendong Street , just one block back from enormous , thick pine plantations at the south-western edge of the ACT .
David distinctly remembers being in the upstairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ She was looking out the window at all the birds singing and the trees and whatever , and she said , ‘ Oh , it ’ s just so beautiful here , I love it .
It ’ s so wonderful ’ .
You know , I still remember saying to her , ‘ Yeah ’ , I said , ‘ but if a fire ever gets into that forest they ’ ll never stop it , it ’ ll be like a nuke going off ’ .
” The 2003 bushfires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dry lightning strikes set off more than 100 wildfires in the Australian Alps that would take out almost 2 million hectares of high country across the ACT , NSW and Victoria .
“ What stood out about 2003 is that it was all lightning , ” says Phil Zylstra , a researcher with the Bushfires and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre at the University of Wollongong , “ and there ’ s no indication that that has happened since colonisation of Australia .
They were an order of magnitude larger than the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ century before then.
” Four large fires threatened Canberra : one at McIntyres Hut in the Brindabella National Park in NSW , and three in the ACT ’ s Namadgi National Park — at Mount Gingera , Bendora and Stockyard Spur .
Firefighters initially believed all four could be brought under control , but the predicted fire weather was worse than Ash Wednesday and the Territory was tinder-dry as the Millennium Drought set in : river flows had dropped , grass cured , fuel loads were heavy , and all dead-and-down timber was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and after a feared north-westerly wind shift on the Saturday morning a “ fire tornado ” whipped up between the Bendora and McIntyres Hut fires — the first time such a phenomenon had been observed anywhere in the world .
Firefighters were stunned : the fire front moved at 20km an hour , later described as the fastest documented rate of spread of a forest fire anywhere .
It had become unstoppable , and the ACT ’ s fire chiefs knew that day the firestorm would burn through the pine plantations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communicated to Canberra residents , who from 2pm were growing increasingly alarmed at the approaching thick , black smoke and falling ash and embers .
At last a state of emergency was declared at around 2.45 pm , which was broadcast to the public by ABC Radio via an official warning some minutes later .
Even then , the broadcast suggested there were no fires in the suburbs and no evacuations , and Chief Minister Jon Stanhope , who came on air directly afterwards , said the declaration was administrative and people should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the warning , when it finally came , was that residents should return to their homes and prepare to defend them from embers by clearing gutters , connecting hoses and wetting down the exterior , removing flammable items near the house , and so on .
Residents were also told to fill their bathtubs and buckets and dampen towels — although , as the coroner later noted , the somewhat cryptic message did not explain why .
Alison admitted to a neighbour she was frightened , yet she kept calm .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unsure whether to stay or go .
She was seen closing the curtains , and had packed photos and a few other precious things into the car , which was in the carport ready and waiting .
Her neighbours did leave , but at some point Alison must have gone back into the house — possibly , David thinks , to get their cat — and found herself trapped inside by a firestorm that approached like a freight train .
She climbed into the bathtub , apparently misunderstanding the point of the emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water to put out any spot fires inside the home .
Alison died in the bathtub of smoke inhalation .
The car in the carport survived .
Up in Richmond , David had no idea that bushfires were threatening Canberra ’ s suburbs .
He was rostered off and relaxing at a mate ’ s house-warming when he got a phone call from a friend in Canberra offering to put Alison up if she needed accommodation .
David turned on the television , saw that the firestorm had swept through Duffy and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking at it and going , ‘ Oh crap , oh crap , oh crap , that looks like my house ’ , ” David recalls .
He hadn ’ t spoken to Alison since the day before , so he called her but could not get through on her mobile or the landline .
Panicky , David jumped in the car and sped down the Hume .
When he got there that night , the police had his entire suburb cordoned off .
He said seeing his suburb levelled was surreal .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was as if a nuclear weapon had been detonated , and yet it picked and chose which houses to destroy , and which not to .
Basically you had , for example , the house beside us on the left , totally intact , untouched .
Our house , vaporised to the ground level .
And the next house gone , and then a house standing , and then another house gone , and then two houses standing , and then , like , four houses gone .
It was utterly random.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths that occurred that day , coroner Maria Doogan could not be certain whether Alison had heard the confusing radio warning , but singled out her case as a tragic example of the incompetence of ACT authorities and their failure to alert the public .
“ I don ’ t even want to think about what was going on in her head at that moment , ” says David now .
“ Had she not gone to the house itself , she would have lived , ” says David , ruing that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her out .
“ Not being there for her will forever haunt me .
The guilt is unbearable.
” Of the 470 homes lost that day , 219 were in Duffy , with fires spreading house to house .
“ In hindsight , ” says David , “ when you consider that about 500 homes were destroyed , and when you consider how ferocious and strong and powerful the fire storm was … and when you consider that the warnings were to stay in place , or to return to your home , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unbelievable.
” David was now put in a terrible situation .
“ I don ’ t know what was worse , ” he recalls .
“ Realising that my wife had died , or having to get on the phone and tell the kids before they saw it on the TV .
To this day , the most chilling thing in my heart that I can ever remember is hearing them screaming over the phone : ‘ Mummy , Mummy , Mummy , no , no , no ’ .
” Even after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s only in the last few years he ’ s been able to talk about Alison ’ s death .
He commenced a class action against the ACT government for failing to manage the fires and failing to warn the public .
The case ran for some years until he reached an out-of-court settlement .
“ They reported it as if we backed out , but we didn ’ t , ” David says .
“ I can ’ t disclose an amount or anything like that but I will say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you knew what we received , you ’ d be quite shocked , people have been compensated more for slipping over in the supermarket.
” One positive for David is that in the 2019-20 fire season , the ACT Emergency Services hierarchy displayed a far more professional approach , with thorough and timely public warnings .
“ To this end hopefully Alison and three others did not die in vain , ” he says .
David describes himself as “ strictly a layman ” when it comes to climate science .
He has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes it ’ s at least partly to do with natural cycles .
“ So basically I believe the planet is headed for one of its hot spells , and man is speeding it up .
Like I said , I believe it ’ s naturally occurring , but we are — ironically , if you want to use a saying — throwing fuel on the fire.
” David has no doubt that dry lightning is igniting more fires , and that it ’ s directly related to drought and climate change .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ moisture in the soil , you ’ re having more loose soil getting into the air , you ’ re getting these dust storms … and they are going to create static and they do have to discharge somewhere , hence the dry lightning.
” Asked directly if he counts himself and Alison as victims of climate change , David pauses to reflect .
“ That ’ s a hard one to answer , to be quite honest with you … Australia has always had bushfires , and we always will .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new age of bushfires , where the manner in which they are being started is new and different .
And yes , that could well be put down to climate change.
” Later in our conversation , David circles back to answer the question again later : “ If it can be shown , categorically , that the Canberra fires were started by dry lightning , then yes , I guess we could say we were a victim.
” Alison Tener was perhaps one of the first climate casualties in Australia .
Postscript @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bushfires Royal Commission , the Bureau of Meteorology ’ s Dr Karl Braganza said the first two decades of the century stood out as warmer than any previous period , increasing the odds of extreme weather , including more severe bushfires .
“ Really since the Canberra 2003 fires every jurisdiction in Australia has seen this , ” he said .
“ [ We ] have seen some really significant fire events that have challenged what we do to respond to them , and have really challenged what we thought fire weather looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extract from Body Count by Paddy Manning , published by Simon & Schuster Australia .

In his new book, Paddy Manning charts the human cost of climate change over the past decade. Body Count is a journey into loss, sacrifice and heroism. In this extract, he tells the story of David Tener, whose wife Alison died in the 2003 Canberra fires.
David Tener lost his wife Alison in the Canberra bushfires of 2003. The couple were renting a Defence home in Duffy, a dormitory suburb in the city’s south-west. He worked in maintenance for the Air Force, and she had been a stay-at-home mum to their three boys until she started a new job at Air Services.
They’d met when they were young, on a Contiki tour of America in the mid-’80s. Both were travelling with mates, and he’d gone up to her — a total stranger — and sat in her lap when they were on the bus. Alison thought David was a bit forward, but they hit it off and got married in 1987. When he proposed, David told her in all seriousness: “You’ve got to understand, I married the Air Force first”. Both knew there would be sacrifices.


crikey--2020-09-01--Cheng Lei’s detention is collateral damage. The question is, what next?

Australians like broadcaster Cheng Lei will continue to suffer as collateral damage in the tit-for-tat war between Australia and China @ @ @ @ @ Lei , a Beijing-based , Chinese-born Australian news anchor who has been working for state-run @ @ @ @ @ , disappeared .
Shortly afterwards it emerged that her home had been raided and her @ @ @ @ @ , her friends and family are trying to ascertain where she has been detained since @ @ @ @ @ footprint has since been all but scrubbed .
August 31 , their worst fears were @ @ @ @ @ of Foreign Affairs and Trade revealed Cheng had been detained by Chinese authorities .
The @ @ @ @ @ August 14 .

About August 12 Cheng Lei, a Beijing-based, Chinese-born Australian news anchor who has been working for state-run broadcaster CGTN for some years, disappeared.
Shortly
afterwards it emerged that her home had been raided and her computers removed
at the time, her friends and family are trying to ascertain where she has been
detained since then. Her social media footprint has since been all but
scrubbed.
August 31, their worst fears were realised when Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade revealed Cheng had been detained by Chinese authorities. The Australian embassy was alerted on August 14.


crikey--2020-09-03--Detained in plain sight: an incomplete list of Australia’s political prisoners

Crikey takes a look at some of the Australian political prisoners currently in jail overseas .
The Australian government often @ @ @ @ @ best tactic to get detained citizens out of international prisons -- but in many cases @ @ @ @ @ worked .
Crikey takes a look at Australia 's political prisoners locked up abroad .

The Australian government often stresses quiet diplomacy is the best tactic to get detained citizens out of international prisons — but in many cases, it simply has not worked.
Crikey takes a look at Australia’s political prisoners locked up abroad.
Chau Van Kham
Detained: Vietnam.
Charge: Terrorism.


crikey--2020-09-03--We know what not to do about the recession, but it seems we’re gonna do it anyway

Tax cuts and industrial relations reform wo n't deliver a recovery from a recession that could yet turn out to @ @ @ @ @ 40 years .
There are worrying signs that an ideologically blinkered government is n't going @ @ @ @ @ demand-focused policies that are needed to get Australia out of what could be an extended @ @ @ @ @ 7 % contraction for the June quarter was a little worse than forecasters expected , @ @ @ @ @ psychological impact negative quarters usually have .
We 're all painfully aware of what 's @ @ @ @ @ , and we also know the Morrison government has worked hard , and successfully , @ @ @ @ @ of lockdown .
But a negative September quarter , signalling the longest recession since the @ @ @ @ @ of 1982-83 , would be something else .

There are worrying signs that an ideologically blinkered government isn’t going to pursue the kind of demand-focused policies that are needed to get Australia out of what could be an extended recession.
While yesterday’s 7% contraction for the June quarter was a little worse than forecasters expected, it lacked the kind of psychological impact negative quarters usually have. We’re all painfully aware of what’s been going on since March, and we also know the Morrison government has worked hard, and successfully, to offset the worst impacts of lockdown.
But a negative September quarter, signalling the longest recession since the Fraser-Howard double dip/four quarter epic of 1982-83, would be something else.


crikey--2020-09-01--Nasty and nastier: Liberal support for legal action reveals a nation divided

Nothing like the feds backing anti-lockdown lawsuits to say 'you 're on your own , Victoria ' .
So much for being in this together ...
If you wanted further evidence of the political fracturing replacing COVID-19 consensus , look no further than the “ we ’ re all in it together ” lawsuits against the Victorian government .
You ’ d think after the Morrison government ’ s aborted attempt to support Clive Palmer ’ s challenge to Western Australia ’ s popular border closure the feds might be a bit more circumspect in rushing to support politically motivated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think it is vulnerable itself , particularly over closing our international borders .
This week a potentially multibillion-dollar class action suit was lodged for small business against the Victorian government at the same time as Jim Penman prepared his multimillion-dollar compensation claim against the stage four lockdown .
While he ’ s potentially claiming a mere $ 7 million , of more concern was that it was being encouraged by the federal Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson .
Last week she publicly urged people to use state law to demand financial compensation if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imposed by the state government .
“ This provides , potentially , thousands of Victorians with the right to seek compensation , ” she crowed .
“ Victorians have a voice .
Restrictions should only be imposed insofar as they are absolutely necessary.
” The fact that most Victorians support the lockdown according to polls — and that even Scott “ We ’ re all Melburnians now ” Morrison initially voiced support — did not prevent her incendiary call .
The first to heed it was Penman , who threatened to keep working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ fines .
This week he confirmed he was getting “ top legal advice ” to use the very law Henderson so helpfully publicised last week .
In fact so pleased with her role was she that she put up an AFR story on her website about a class action launched against the Andrews government this week over its quarantine failure .
She even highlighted a paragraph which noted that Penman was waging a one-man war against Andrews ’ arbitrary restrictions “ and been backed by Vic Lib Senator Sarah Henderson to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The fact that her Victorian colleague , federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg , has been railing against the evils of class action suits and has clamped down on litigation funders who sue big corporations was obviously not an issue .
Frydenberg ’ s decision to join in the Andrews pile-on this week probably overrides the issue of politicians encouraging lawsuits against each other in a national health crisis .
They will obviously be fine with Labor encouraging the expected lawsuits against the NSW government over the Ruby Princess debacle after the recent inquiry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly apologised for the “ horrible mistakes ” .
And presumably no one would see anything amiss with ALP senators urging a raft of lawsuits over the federal government ’ s handling of nursing homes .
But they might not be so comfortable with some overseas legal experts who see a huge opportunity to use the controversial investor state dispute settlement ( ISDS ) clause in numerous trade deals to sue countries whose policies have harmed foreign corporations .
Given the number of free trade deals Australian governments have inked — which include @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American lawyers could make of the Morrison government ’ s international border shutdown and ensuing damage to foreign firms .
Well , the sharks are already circling .
According to the online journal Corporate Europe Observatory , “ the legal industry is preparing the ground for costly ISDS suits against government actions that address the health and economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic ” .
In an article last May quoting numerous global law firms , it noted that “ as ISDS disputes ‘ often follow economic , financial , or other crisis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substantial ‘ wave of disputes that will arise in response to the COVID-19 pandemic ’ .
With legal costs for ISDS disputes averaging around US $ 5 million per party while having exceeded US $ 30 million in some cases , a boom in claims would mean big business for the law firms .
”

If you wanted further evidence of the political fracturing replacing COVID-19 consensus, look no further than the “we’re all in it together” lawsuits against the Victorian government.
You’d think after the Morrison government’s aborted attempt to support Clive Palmer’s challenge to Western Australia’s popular border closure the feds might be a bit more circumspect in rushing to support politically motivated lawsuits.
Especially when some legal experts think it is vulnerable itself, particularly over closing our international borders.


crikey--2020-09-03--Woodside pockets millions from government to clean up its own mess

Woodside Energy being paid to take care of its own mess is certainly eyebrow raising , but it 's simply @ @ @ @ @ long and questionable relationship between the company and the Australian government .
Why would the @ @ @ @ @ to clean up its own mess ?
That ’ s the question raised by a @ @ @ @ @ federal government has handed to Woodside Energy on a limited-tender basis to advise it on @ @ @ @ @ abandoned oil production vessels .
In an announcement last month , Minister for Resources Keith @ @ @ @ @ company -- which sold the vessel in 2016 to a shelf company that has since @ @ @ @ @ advice on what would be needed to decommission the facility , which is now threatening @ @ @ @ @ ocean north of Darwin .

Why would the government pay an oil company to clean up its own mess?
That’s the question raised by a $8.8 million contract the federal government has handed to Woodside Energy on a limited-tender basis to advise it on decommissioning one of its own abandoned oil production vessels.
In an announcement last month, Minister for Resources Keith Pitt said that the oil company — which sold the vessel in 2016 to a shelf company that has since collapsed — would be providing advice on what would be needed to decommission the facility, which is now threatening to spew oil into the ocean north of Darwin.


crikey--2020-09-03--Tone Alone: who does the former PM represent? Us, the Poms or whoever will pay?

For a former captain of Team Australia , Tony Abbott certainly seems to have divided loyalties these days .
Well it didn ’ t take long for Anthony St John Aloysius Crouchback Savonarola Prebendary Abbott to started playing to the gallery in the UK .
Speaking to the Policy Exchange about the “ dictatorship ” of Dan Andrews , loyally backing up Boris ’ plan to get everyone back to school and the office , and — in the weeks before taking his new role as a UK trade adviser — trashing Australia ’ s relations with China .
Thanks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is waiting with glee to see the UK public slowly understand the strange , strange man who is Tone , the serious question has to be : who does Tony Abbott now represent , and where do his loyalties lie ?
This is a former prime minister of Australia who is now advising a foreign power on a matter with which Australia and that foreign power would be in competition .
How can that be an act of loyalty to the country which once elected him ?
The silence over this is very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had had a Chinese-Australian prime minister , who after a disastrous term in government that ended with them being booted out by their own party , went to Beijing to advise on trade .
The outlets that are now praising this new move for “ our Tone ” would be screaming bloody murder .
They ’ d point out that whatever sort of good relations we want with other countries , interests are interests .
They ’ d point out that anyone who ’ s been prime minister has been privy to intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including — as the ASD director has recently reaffirmed — Australian citizens .
We know from the K-Collaery case that such state powers are used to gain commercial advantage .
They ’ d ask how someone can do their new job competently without drawing that information in .
The reason this has not been asked is firstly of course because it ’ s Tony Abbott , who is cossetted and protected by News Corp , and will get little scrutiny from a defanged Age/SMH now run by Liberal consigliere James Chessell and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a multinational company with loyalty only to itself ; it is not going to squawk about the appointment to a plum adviser position of a prime minister who it helped to elect with the most brazenly partisan media campaign in modern Australian history .
Futhermore , Abbott ’ s fan base is going to use as cover the idea that Tone will be in there for us , arguing our case in… ?
?
?
This presumes that Abbott sees himself as Australian before he sees himself as anything .
But Abbott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees himself as more loyal to that deeper , older cultural heritage , and its English subsidiary , than he does to Australia .
He killed him prime ministership over three words : Sir Prince Phillip .
People hated it because they picked up that he regarded Australia as a subsidiary in the relationship .
Furthermore , the job Abbott is being bumped towards puts anyone , anglophile or otherwise , in a directly antagonist relationship with Australia .
Not much in goods , but business and financial services are a growing Australian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With entities like Atlassian , Afterpay and Canva making it possible for global market entities to be run from Australia , we are starting to create a genuine sector , in competition with London-based outfits .
Whose corner is Abbott going to be in , if such matters arise ?
Secondly , there ’ s trading partners and trade deals .
With a no-deal Brexit looming , UK PM Boris Johnson is desperate to get any free trade deals he can up and running as fast as possible .
The Tories are tanking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe UK-wide until 2024 .
But there are Scottish parliament elections in 2021 , and if the SNP gains a majority , there may not be a UK by 2025 .
As the UK crashes out of the EU , Boris needs to persuade the strongly-Remain voters of Scotland that they ’ re not going to take a hit .
A UK-Australia free trade deal , ready to go quick smart would help immensely .
But would it greatly help Australia ?
Only if we start to lose other markets , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that ’ s already happening .
Our trade relations in non-mining matters are deteriorating daily , with products such as wine and barley being tarriffed out of Chinese markets .
It ’ s in this context that Abbott did a U-turn on China-Australia relations in early August , giving the absurd and spurious notion that China was somehow acceptable in 2014 when he signed a free trade deal with it , and had now become a dictatorship again .
Absurd .
What could possibly have changed his mind ?
The UK doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China .
But it does need to get a post-Brexit trade deal with the EU going .
Who else is trying for an EU-free trade deal ?
Why , Australia !
So we are in direct competition for that with a country being advised by an ex-PM of ours who would have been privy to strategising around the preparations for such .
Fantastic .
Who does all this serve ?
The tight cabal of rightwingers across the UK and Australia linked by News Corp , the Tory and Liberal parties and minor players @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research Centre and , God help us , the Revolutionary Communist Party .
Whoever ’ s interests Tony Abbott is serving , it ’ s no longer ours .
If it ever was .
Who do you think Abbott is representing ?
Let us know your thoughts by writing to [ email protected ] .
Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey ’ s Your Say section

Well it didn’t take long for Anthony St John Aloysius Crouchback Savonarola Prebendary Abbott to start playing to the gallery in the UK. Speaking to the Policy Exchange about the “dictatorship” of Dan Andrews, loyally backing up Boris’ plan to get everyone back to school and the office, and — in the weeks before taking his new role as a UK trade adviser — trashing Australia’s relations with China. Thanks, Tone!
While everyone in Australia is waiting with glee to see the UK public slowly understand the strange, strange man who is Tone, the serious question has to be: who does Tony Abbott now represent, and where do his loyalties lie?
This is a former prime minister of Australia who is now advising a foreign power on a matter with which Australia and that foreign power would be in competition. How can that be an act of loyalty to the country which once elected him?


crikey--2020-09-04--Attack on superannuation driven by deep fear of emerging power

The Liberal Party fears the growing power of industry super funds on issues like climate action .
So they 're @ @ @ @ @ sector if they can .
It 's been clear for some time that sections of @ @ @ @ @ members of the Liberal Party , have decided it 's better to attack the entire @ @ @ @ @ the industry super sector to continue to grow .
That sentiment has now crystalised in @ @ @ @ @ the minister responsible for superannuation , Jane Hume , and championed by backbench MPs like @ @ @ @ @ , to cancel the forthcoming increase in the superannuation guarantee level .
Bragg wants to @ @ @ @ @ entire system of compulsory super -- although it 's not so long since Bragg was @ @ @ @ @ super who wanted the rate lifted to 15 % -- just below the super level @ @ @ @ @ an MP , along with his colleagues .

It’s been clear for some time that sections of the business community, and members of the Liberal Party, have decided it’s better to attack the entire superannuation sector than to allow the industry super sector to continue to grow.
That sentiment has now crystalised in the campaign, led by the minister responsible for superannuation, Jane Hume, and championed by backbench MPs like Andrew Bragg and Tim Wilson, to cancel the forthcoming increase in the superannuation guarantee level.
Bragg wants to go further and destroy the entire system of compulsory super — although it’s not so long since Bragg was an ardent supporter of compulsory super who wanted the rate lifted to 15% — just below the super level that he now enjoys as an MP, along with his colleagues.


crikey--2020-09-04--For the Brits, here’s the world according to Tony Abbott

Brits can look forward to the wit and wisdom of Tony Abbott , a man who has never been short of an opinion , however out of date it might be .
Australians have enjoyed the political gift that keeps on giving that is Tony Abbott for decades .
Now , generously , we ’ re sharing him with the country of his birth .
For British readers unaware of the man who holds the dual titles of Australia ’ s greatest opposition leader and worst prime minister , Crikey is happy to present a short summary of Abbott ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adopted country .
“ The argument is absolute crap.
” December 2009 ( one of many , many positions Abbott has taken on climate science , but the one that seems to accord most strongly with his actual beliefs ) .
“ It seems that , notwithstanding the dramatic increases in manmade CO2 emissions over the last decade , the world ’ s warming has stopped.
” December 2009 “ At least so far , it ’ s climate change policy that ’ s doing harm .
Climate change itself is probably doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good than harm.
” October 2017 “ There does need to be give and take on both sides , and this idea that sex is kind of a woman ’ s right to absolutely withhold , just as the idea that sex is a man ’ s right to demand I think they are both they both need to be moderated , so to speak.
” March 2009 An objectively grave matter has been reduced to a question of the mother ’ s convenience … Why isn ’ t the fact that 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a national tragedy ?
” March 2004 “ There is no doubt that it challenges , if you like , orthodox notions of the right order of things.
” March 2010 “ I probably feel a bit threatened , as so many people do.
” March 2010 “ I won ’ t be rushing out to get my daughters vaccinated , maybe that ’ s because I ’ m a cruel , callow , callous , heartless bastard but , look , I won ’ t be.
” November 2006 “ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes , abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons.
” 1970s “ If we ’ re honest , most of us would accept that a bad boss is a little bit like a bad father or a bad husband .
Not withstanding all his or her faults , you find that he tends to do more good than harm.
” July 2002 “ While I think men and women are equal , they are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inevitable and I don ’ t think it ’ s a bad thing at all that we always have , say , more women doing things like physiotherapy and an enormous number of women simply doing housework.
” August 2010 “ Our country owes its existence to a form of foreign investment by the British government in the then unsettled or , um , scarcely settled , Great South Land.
” July 2014 “ I ’ ve often heard Western leaders describe Islam as a ‘ religion of peace ’ .
I wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often , and mean it.
” February 2015 “ Although most Muslims utterly reject terrorism , some are all too ready to justify ‘ death to the infidel ’ .
” December 2015 “ Sometimes it ’ s better to ask forgiveness than permission.
” March 2010

Australians have enjoyed the political gift that keeps on giving that is Tony Abbott for decades. Now, generously, we’re sharing him with the country of his birth.
For British readers unaware of the man who holds the dual titles of Australia’s greatest opposition leader and worst prime minister, Crikey is happy to present a short summary of Abbott’s contributions to public debate in his adopted country.
Climate change
“The argument is absolute crap.” December 2009 (one of many, many positions Abbott has taken on climate science, but the one that seems to accord most strongly with his actual beliefs).


crikey--2020-09-04--Why are we so scared of COVID when we have more chance of drowning?

If you 're an Australian under 70 with no pre-existing conditions , your chances of dying from COVID-19 are less than one in a million .
It has always seemed inexplicable to me that the Axis nations in World War II duped their populations in to turning a blind eye — or worse — to genocide and expansionist wars .
But the people of Germany , Italy and other nations didn ’ t have data to work with .
Facts were scarce , media censorship high , and propaganda a high art .
But what of now ?
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the data .
We know that , putting aside people with comorbidities , you basically won ’ t die from COVID-19 if you ’ re under 70 .
( That ’ s not to wish the elderly any ill will — or wish for anyone to die from this terrible virus . )
And yet about half of us seem to be convinced we are in the gun .
An April survey by the Department of Neuroscience at Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University in Turkey found that 44 % of respondents were scared for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scared that someone they knew would contract the virus .
A sentiment tracker from Travel Daily released on Monday found that 44 % of people are scared to travel domestically , while health economist Stephen Druckett claimed in The Age over the weekend that without lockdowns “ at least 40 % of the population — those vulnerable Victorians identified by the government as being at higher risk from coronavirus — [ would face ] restricted movement and limited participation in community life.
” It seems around half of us are very scared of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let ’ s take the high watermark of COVID-19 , the United States .
The US is heading towards 200,000 deaths from COVID-19 .
But even with New York ’ s aged care fiasco and the unwillingness of red states to lock down , well under 0.1 % of the population will likely die from COVID-19 this year .
Sweden had an almost identical death rate .
Looking at the other extreme , in Singapore , the death rate is approximately one in 250,000 people .
In Australia , the death rate is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every 50,000 people .
So half the population are worried about something that kills one in 50,000 .
But averages cloud the real picture .
COVID-19 is a very discriminatory killer .
Almost 75 % of deaths from COVID-19 are from those aged over 65 .
Moreover , around 84 % of people who die with COVID-19 have a comorbidity .
In Australia , 40 people under 70 have died — virtually all of whom had pre-existing conditions .
If you ’ re under 70 and don ’ t have specific pre-existing conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your chance of dying from COVID-19 is less than one in a million .
The chance of dying from a specific cause is measured in micromorts , which is equal to one in a million .
Developed by Stanford professor Ronald Howard , it ’ s a useful measure for unusual causes of death .
If you match the conditions above — under 70 , no pre-existing conditions — your chance of dying from COVID-19 is about 1 micromort .
Now let ’ s compare that to your chances of dying each year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re more likely to die by sitting on a chair ( 1.3 micromorts ) ; • you ’ re around 12 times more likely to die by drowning ; • you ’ re around 30 times more likely to die while driving a car ; • you ’ re 170 times more likely to die during a Caesarean .
Cities around the world have cancelled marathons due to fear of COVID-19 , even though the very fit participants of a marathon are far more likely to die from the race ( seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for different activities are cumulative , so for most of us we ’ re racking up many micromorts of risk every day just by doing regular stuff like getting out of bed or going for a walk or drinking a glass of wine .
That ’ s not to suggest COVID-19 is some sort of hoax .
It ’ s real , novel and highly contagious , and certain cohorts — like those aged 80 with diabetes — have a relatively high risk of death if they contract the virus .
But for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , doing almost any kind of activity presents a far higher chance of death than COVID-19 does .
This is why a blunt instrument like lockdown , which impacts the entire population , is so foolhardy .
Forcing kids out of school ( statistically zero chance of dying ) and 25-year-olds out of work ( also virtually zero chance of death ) to protect those who are genuinely at risk ( aged above 75 or with multiple pre-conditions ) is utterly nonsensical .
Lockdowns do save some lives , but there are other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Singapore and Taiwan have demonstrated ) that don ’ t involve such broad , untargeted measures .
If we ’ d rapid tested everybody walking into a nursing home instead of locking down , a lot less people would have died .
Leaders like Dan Andrews would by now be well aware of this , but politically they ’ ve staked their reputations on lockdowns being effective .
Changing tact now would be an admission they unnecessarily destroyed economies and ruined lives .
It ’ s much easier to continue with the lie @

It has always seemed inexplicable to me that the Axis nations in World War II duped their populations in to turning a blind eye — or worse — to genocide and expansionist wars. But the people of Germany, Italy and other nations didn’t have data to work with. Facts were scarce, media censorship high, and propaganda a high art.
But what of now? We’re being duped and we DO have the data. We know that, putting aside people with comorbidities, you basically won’t die from COVID-19 if you’re under 70. (That’s not to wish the elderly any ill will — or wish for anyone to die from this terrible virus.)
And yet about half of us seem to be convinced we are in the gun.


crikey--2020-09-04--QAnon is here to stay. Is it the future of our politics?

Some of the anti-lockdown mob wo n't even know what QAnon is , but will still recite its talking points .
A global cabal .
Fear of satanic elites .
The world on the brink of a 'great awakening ' .
On Saturday the crazies may well be out in force .
A loose coalition of lockdown opponents and COVID-19 truthers are set to rally around the country to mark `` freedom day , '' despite a police crackdown and a number of pre-emptive arrests .
Some will claim COVID-19 is a hoax , no worse than the flu .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There 'll be plenty of garden-variety anti-vaxxers and crunchy Byron Bay New Age types .
And some will believe that US President Donald Trump is a messiah fighting to liberate the world from a Satanic cabal of paedophiles and child sex traffickers .
What began with an anonymous internet poster claiming to have top level US government `` Q Clearance '' dropping cryptic breadcrumbs on 4Chan has mushroomed into a sprawling conspiracy theory and millenarian doomsday cult .
It 's been classified as a potential domestic terror threat by the FBI .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @

On Saturday the crazies may well be out in force. A loose coalition of lockdown opponents and COVID-19 truthers are set to rally around the country to mark “freedom day,” despite a police crackdown and a number of pre-emptive arrests.
Some will claim COVID-19 is a hoax, no worse than the flu. Others will be worried about 5G towers. There’ll be plenty of garden-variety anti-vaxxers and crunchy Byron Bay New Age types. And some will believe that US President Donald Trump is a messiah fighting to liberate the world from a Satanic cabal of paedophiles and child sex traffickers.
What began with an anonymous internet poster claiming to have top level US government “Q Clearance” dropping cryptic breadcrumbs on 4Chan has mushroomed into a sprawling conspiracy theory and millenarian doomsday cult. It’s been classified as a potential domestic terror threat by the FBI. Its followers have committed murder.


crikey--2020-09-04--Want to avoid ‘Dictator Dan’ jibes? Don’t arrest people for Facebook posts

When police arrest a pregnant woman in her own home for a Facebook post suggesting a protest , we should @ @ @ @ @ erosion of our rights .
Except , we 're not .
For months now , @ @ @ @ @ ' government over the Victorian outbreak and subsequent lockdown has been portrayed by progressive and @ @ @ @ @ of right-wing plot aimed at undermining a popular premier and restarting the economy at any @ @ @ @ @ Dictator Dan '' and `` Chairman Dan '' from Victorian Liberals -- who claimed Andrews @ @ @ @ @ outbreak , then attacked him as too soft after it , before reverting back to @ @ @ @ @ case now -- have certainly reinforced that view .
But the # IstandwithDan crowd on @ @ @ @ @ silent over the absurd , and scary , arrest of Ballarat mother Zoe Buhler over @ @ @ @ @ proposing a protest against Victoria 's lockdown .

For months now, any criticism of Daniel Andrews’ government over the Victorian outbreak and subsequent lockdown has been portrayed by progressive and Labor partisans as a kind of right-wing plot aimed at undermining a popular premier and restarting the economy at any cost.
Jibes about “Dictator Dan” and “Chairman Dan” from Victorian Liberals — who claimed Andrews was too tough before the outbreak, then attacked him as too soft after it, before reverting back to the “too tough” case now — have certainly reinforced that view.
But the #IstandwithDan crowd on social media has been strangely silent over the absurd, and scary, arrest of Ballarat mother Zoe Buhler over a Facebook post she made proposing a protest against Victoria’s lockdown.


crikey--2020-09-04--Pandemic proves perfect cover for building a new New Britannia in Australia

The right have no loyalty to Australia as an independent country .
The Morrison government 's political war on all @ @ @ @ @ and nothing it did led to any conclusion other than that everything can be trashed @ @ @ @ @ .
This is a new style of right politics , something rather more than we @ @ @ @ @ 's worth trying to get one 's head around it , because their political ambition @ @ @ @ @ .
The main game is to turn the averted crisis of COVID-19 into an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ capitalism .
The Morrison government knew that it would n't be able to avoid what @ @ @ @ @ recession '' , so it 's going to try and get the usual right-wing advantage @ @ @ @ @ labour , launching further attacks on its institutional power .

The Morrison government’s political war on all fronts continued this week, and nothing it did led to any conclusion other than that everything can be trashed to get a political edge.
This is a new style of right politics, something rather more than we’ve seen before. It’s worth trying to get one’s head around it, because their political ambition is now vaulting and global.
The main game is to turn the averted crisis of COVID-19 into an opportunity for a bit of disaster capitalism. The Morrison government knew that it wouldn’t be able to avoid what we’re calling “a recession”, so it’s going to try and get the usual right-wing advantage out of it — disciplining labour, launching further attacks on its institutional power.


crikey--2020-09-04--Inside story: how The Age dragged a traumatised reporter through the courts

The Age has been quick to target an 'unethical ' workers comp scheme — forgetting , maybe , how hard it fought to deny a former journalist compensation for years of psychological trauma .
When I saw The Age recently go hard on the “ immoral and unethical ” workers ’ compensation system in Victoria , I thought of “ journalist YZ “ , who developed PTSD covering crime and courts for the newspaper for ten years .
YZ , given the acronym so she could remain anonymous , reached a private settlement with The Age over her own workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Age fought her for six years .
Its workers ’ comp insurer EML had the former journalist examined by five psychiatrists .
YZ took a redundancy from The Age in late 2013 when nightmares , panic attacks and other symptoms of PTSD made it difficult to function .
In addition to covering more than 30 homicides — including Melbourne ’ s “ gangland war ” and the murder of four-year-old Darcey Freeman , thrown by her father from the West Gate Bridge in 2009 — YZ reported on other fatalities , funerals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with “ death and destruction ” in 2010 , YZ was transferred to the sports desk .
But before long and against her wishes a senior editor told her that she was being reassigned to the Supreme Court round .
This meant covering dozens of horrific court cases , including the trial of Freeman ’ s father and the murders of several other children .
The Age contested whether YZ was suffering from post-traumatic stress and denied knowing there was a foreseeable risk of psychological injury to its journalists during a three-week hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late 2018 .
It simultaneously argued that YZ knew “ by reason of her work she was at high risk of foreseeable injury ” .
Counsel for The Age cross-examined YZ for five straight days , while YZ ’ s newborn baby was looked after in a court side room .
“ It was the longest , most brutal cross-examination I ’ ve ever seen , ” said YZ ’ s lawyer Bree Knoester , a high-profile expert in media trauma .
“ Ninety percent of my clients would not have held up.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s favour in February 2019 , the first time any news organisation in the world had been found negligent for failing to protect a journalist from psychological injury .
“ In the modern workplace , there is a positive duty upon the employer to take active steps to prevent the risk of foreseeable injury , ” Judge Chris O ’ Neil said .
He awarded YZ $ 180,000 in damages for psychological suffering .
She did not seek economic losses .
The Age , part of the Nine multi-media network , appealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upheld part of the lower court decision — that The Age was negligent and in breach of its duty of care to YZ from 2010-13 , when she ’ d been given little choice to cover the Supreme Court .
In other words The Age was , during that period , on notice about YZ ’ s mental health .
The Court of Appeal did not uphold the judge ’ s verdict relating to the 2003-10 time period .
“ At the heart of the Court of Appeal decision was a finding of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during a specific time , ” said Knoester .
“ We always believed that YZ had not been adequately protected by her employer and the finding that she was not still remains , despite the appeal .
This remains a win for YZ .
It ’ s never been about damages.
” The appeal court ordered The Age and YZ to go back before the County Court to determine if the damages would be altered .
The two sides then reached a private settlement .
“ It nearly broke me , ” YZ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court trial , I was forced to relive a lot of the trauma I ’ d been exposed to .
Many family and friends had to give evidence , and The Age ’ s lawyers even went as far as subpoenaing my [ employee assistance program ] counselling records , which Age management had constantly assured staff were completely confidential sessions .
That ’ s how desperate they were.
” YZ said she wanted to prove that The Age breached its duty of care towards her .
She wanted to change the way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ journalists repeatedly exposed to trauma so other reporters didn ’ t have to suffer like she had .
I asked YZ if The Age had ever apologised to her .
She laughed and said : “ No , but plenty of colleagues I worked with got in touch after reading the County Court decision to express their disgust at the way I ’ d been treated.
” Despite everything , YZ said she was pleased that The Age had been reporting some of the flaws in the Victorian workers ’ compensation scheme .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead to much-needed changes so people injured at work can receive the treatment they need and the compensation they are entitled to so they can get better , get back to work and get on with the rest of their lives as soon as possible , ” she said .
“ No one should have to go through years of hell to get justice.
” A spokesperson for The Age told Crikey : “ The Age , and parent company Nine , takes the mental welfare of its employees seriously and has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place to ensure the wellbeing of our people .
Nine ’ s wellbeing strategy forms a core part of Nine ’ s workplace health and safety strategy demonstrating a significant investment by Nine to enhance the approach we take to safeguarding our people.
” Those measures include training with the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma , vicarious trauma sessions hosted by Nine ’ s EAP provider Converge , and mental health first aid training , the spokesperson said .
Dean Yates was a journalist at Reuters for 23 years until he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was head of mental health and wellbeing strategy at Reuters for nearly three years until January 2020 .

When I saw The Age recently go hard on the “immoral and unethical” workers’ compensation system in Victoria, I thought of “journalist YZ“, who developed PTSD covering crime and courts for the newspaper for ten years.
YZ, given the acronym so she could remain anonymous, reached a private settlement with The Age over her own workers’ compensation claim in March. The Age fought her for six years. Its workers’ comp insurer EML had the former journalist examined by five psychiatrists.
YZ took a redundancy from The Age in late 2013 when nightmares, panic attacks and other symptoms of PTSD made it difficult to function.


crikey--2020-09-07--Victoria’s medicine: is Daniel Andrews asking the state to swallow too big a pill?

Experts are divided on whether Victoria 's 'aggressive suppression ' strategy is the best way forward .
Something close to normal life won ’ t return in Victoria until at least October 26 , with curfews lifted , home visitors allowed , and restaurants and cafes open — though this is contingent on case numbers dropping to less than five a day on average .
New infections continue to fall : this morning , Victoria recorded a 10-week low of 41 new cases .
But experts are divided over whether such harsh restrictions are the right way forward , whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the way to do it .
Victoria is calling its strategy “ aggressive suppression ” .
But under Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews ’ plan , Victorians won ’ t get to enjoy “ COVID-normal ” until there are no new cases for 28 days straight .
That looks a hell of a lot like an elimination , rather than suppression , Australian National University professor and infectious diseases physician Peter Collignon told Crikey .
“ The final stage is basically no community transmission for 28 days , ” Collignon said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to achieve , and I don ’ t think that ’ s sustainable.
” Deakin University epidemiology chair Catherine Bennett said the goal of complete elimination was farcical — especially with daily flights arriving into Australia .
“ We won ’ t pick up every COVID-19 case , ” she said .
“ There ’ s always the risk you have asymptomatic cases , and cases arriving from abroad.
” Waste water testing , for instance , has found COVID-19 in Victoria ’ s Apollo Bay , where there have been no recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down local transmission … especially if we sort out aged care and health care transmission , ” Bennett said .
World Health Organization expert Dr Maria Van Kerkhove has said blanket lockdowns are no longer the preferred response to COVID-19 outbreaks — calling them a “ blunt , sheer force instrument ” .
Instead , she said , countries needed to adopt a “ tailored , specific , localised ” approach .
In the same vein , Bennett said Victoria ’ s broad rules ignored epidemiological data .
“ I ’ m surprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blanket approach to lockdown .
The approach could be more specific , ” she said .
“ We have rich data we could base restrictions off on where transmission happens most.
” Outbreaks have most commonly be reported in residential aged care settings , workplaces , educational facilities and healthcare facilities .
Victoria uses the number of new daily COVID-19 cases , averaged across 14 days , as the key to lifting restrictions .
This approach has also been used in Denmark .
Other Australian states did not make their lifting of restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zealand used the likelihood of community transmission to determine restrictions .
Bennett stressed that flexibility was key to enforcing Andrews ’ plan .
“ According to the road map , if regional Victoria still has four cases on average , metropolitan Melbourne has no room to move … We need a nuanced approach to enforcing the steps .
There ’ s still a bit of work to do.
” But University of South Australia biostatistics chair Adrian Esterman told Crikey that Victoria ’ s data painted another picture .
“ If anything , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hindsight , they should have gone into stage four lockdown when they went into stage three , ” he said .
“ Lockdowns have worked , and we ’ ve seen it work … I think Victoria is doing the right thing .
Cases have dropped substantially.
” In contrast , Grattan Institute ’ s health policy expert Stephen Duckett said restrictions should be less specific — not more .
“ The good news is the road map aims for zero , ” he said , though added it was more complex than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics over science .
Curfews , for example , have a weak evidence base .
“ Simpler is better for criteria , ” he said .
“ In the meantime , we need to ramp up testing.
” But Victoria ’ s success also relies on good , quick contact tracing .
That ’ s an area where Collignon says Victoria ’ s record has been “ really poor from the start ” compared to the rest of the country , the result of a highly-centralised and under-funded public health structure .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago without a known source of transmission .
Still , Victoria ’ s plan seems more draconian than any other state in the country .
Under the plan , NSW , which has so far managed a low but steady number of new infections , would still be locked down .
“ NSW is in a different situation , they don ’ t have the levels of community transmission that Victoria ’ s got , they haven ’ t have the kind of numbers we ’ ve had to move through , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ABC News Breakfast this morning .
“ Wherever there are grumbling cases that just continue along , there ’ s always a risk of it taking off again , is it did in South Korea , in Singapore.
” But Collignon said the NSW approach , to accept and manage low-level community transmission until an effective vaccine is widely available , was more sensible and realistic .
“ I reckon a good strategy is to have suppression down to really low levels , ” Collignon said .
“ And by doing that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas.
” New Zealand appeared to lead the way in COVID-19 elimination — for more than 100 blissful days , the country recorded no locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 .
That all changed on August 11 , when a new case emerged in Auckland and quickly spread to a cluster , forcing the city back into lockdown .
Taiwan and Fiji both successfully pursued an elimination strategy , though have had limited numbers of imported cases .
Collignon said the outbreaks in New Zealand and Victoria — jurisdictions which both favoured an elimination approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body of international evidence that managed suppression was a more sustainable approach than hard lockdowns .
“ Hard lockdowns haven ’ t correlated with medium- to long-term success , ” he said .
“ Look at Japan , look at Korea .
Meanwhile , New Zealand and Victoria had the hardest lockdowns and not necessarily the greatest success.
” South Korea , cited by Andrews and Sutton as a cautionary tale about opening up too early , did not go into lockdown when cases started rising again in late August .
Instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bars were closed .
Since August 27 , daily case numbers have continued to fall .

Something close to normal life won’t return in Victoria until at least October 26, with curfews lifted, home visitors allowed, and restaurants and cafes open — though this is contingent on case numbers dropping to less than five a day on average.
New infections continue to fall: this morning, Victoria recorded a 10-week low of 41 new cases.
But experts are divided over whether such harsh restrictions are the right way forward, whether elimination is feasible, and if lockdowns are the way to do it.


crikey--2020-09-07--Why Boris loves Tony. The inside story of Abbott’s trade job with the Poms

Inq looks at the connections between Abbott , Johnson and a number of prominent conservative figures and think tanks .
@ @ @ @ @ has taken a great deal of flak for appointing Tony Abbott as an adviser to @ @ @ @ @ -- an appointment confirmed over the weekend .
So why is Johnson prepared to lose @ @ @ @ @ of giving an ( unpaid ) role to Abbott ?
Brexit is at the heart @ @ @ @ @ a host of libertarian and unaccountable think tanks .
The path from Johnson to Abbott @ @ @ @ @ Tory operator , Daniel Hannan , who is an ex-Conservative Member of the European Parliament @ @ @ @ @ .

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has taken a great deal of flak for appointing Tony Abbott as an adviser to the UK Board of Trade — an appointment confirmed over the weekend.
So why is Johnson prepared to lose political capital for the sake of giving an (unpaid) role to Abbott? Brexit is at the heart of it — along with a host of libertarian and unaccountable think tanks.
The path from Johnson to Abbott goes primarily via an influential Tory operator, Daniel Hannan, who is an ex-Conservative Member of the European Parliament and a leading Eurosceptic figure.


crikey--2020-09-07--‘The international student market has collapsed’. What’s next for unis?

The time seems fast approaching for the government to reconsider its approach .
Australia ’ s troubled international student market @ @ @ @ @ for 2021 and , whichever way you look at it , it 's disastrous .
@ @ @ @ @ , this sector was worth a bulked up $ 35 billion -- about two-thirds of @ @ @ @ @ , industry insiders say that globally the market is down by 75 % .
Given @ @ @ @ @ , this could get worse at any time .
Education agents working in Asia told @ @ @ @ @ China , the entire international student market has collapsed ” .
This includes the most @ @ @ @ @ America where COVID has been particularly bad .

Australia’s troubled international student market is beginning to take shape for 2021 and, whichever way you look at it, it’s disastrous.
Just six short months ago, this sector was worth a bulked up $35 billion — about two-thirds of which is tuition. Now, industry insiders say that globally the market is down by 75%. Given the vicissitudes of the pandemic, this could get worse at any time.
Education agents working in Asia told Crikey, “apart from China, the entire international student market has collapsed”. This includes the most recently promising markets in Latin America where COVID has been particularly bad.


crikey--2020-09-07--Bullshit jobs: COVID is our chance to cut the crap from our working lives

Vale David Graeber , a man who helped us see through the bullshit .
On Wednesday , renowned public intellectual @ @ @ @ @ .
Obituaries flowed and thousands mourned the loss of a leading voice against global economic @ @ @ @ @ leader in the Occupy Wall Street movement and wrote incisively on debt , bureaucracy and @ @ @ @ @ .
But the topic that earned him the most public attention , including here in @ @ @ @ @ of `` bullshit jobs '' .
In a viral essay and subsequent book , Graeber @ @ @ @ @ ' prophecy , that technological development would allow citizens of developed nations to have 15-hour @ @ @ @ @ never came true .

On Wednesday, renowned public intellectual David Graeber died aged 59. Obituaries flowed and thousands mourned the loss of a leading voice against global economic inequality.
Graeber was a leader in the Occupy Wall Street movement and wrote incisively on debt, bureaucracy and capitalism from an anarchist perspective. But the topic that earned him the most public attention, including here in Crikey, was his theory of “bullshit jobs”.
In a viral essay and subsequent book, Graeber asked why John Maynard Keynes’ prophecy, that technological development would allow citizens of developed nations to have 15-hour working weeks by 2000, never came true.


crikey--2020-09-07--Do we need lockdowns? The data indicates they don’t really work

It 's been taken as lore that lockdowns stop the spread of COVID-19 .
But now that core pillar of @ @ @ @ @ is being called into question .
It has been taken as lore that lockdowns -- @ @ @ @ @ dramatically stop the spread of COVID-19 , such that the cost of those lockdowns pale @ @ @ @ @ being saved by the communal sacrifice .
But as Daniel Andrews announced yesterday that Melbourne @ @ @ @ @ to continue , in one form or another , for several months , there is @ @ @ @ @ who have taken the time to look at data from lockdowns have discovered that they @ @ @ @ @ stop the spread of COVID-19 .
In fact , when experts compared the data , @ @ @ @ @ no difference at all .

It has been taken as lore that lockdowns — for all their faults — dramatically stop the spread of COVID-19, such that the cost of those lockdowns pale in comparison to the lives being saved by the communal sacrifice. But as Daniel Andrews announced yesterday that Melbourne’s lockdown is likely to continue, in one form or another, for several months, there is one big problem.
Lockdowns don’t seem to work.
Experts who have taken the time to look at data from lockdowns have discovered that they don’t appear to stop the spread of COVID-19. In fact, when experts compared the data, it appears that lockdowns made no difference at all.


crikey--2020-09-06--Women facing violence need protection — and their visa status shouldn’t matter

Women affected by domestic violence should have access to all the social support they require .
Visa status should n't get in the way of that .
The following story contains descriptions of domestic violence .
Anjali* had to make a terrifyingly quick decision in 2016 when her husband held a broken glass and threatened to kill her .
She knew inviting law enforcement into their Sydney home might threaten his visa status — which her own visa was tied to — and in turn the stability of her two daughters ’ lives .
But after almost two decades of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her children .
“ Within two minutes [ the police ] came and they witnessed everything and they protected me and they arrested him , ” she said .
“ I am sure he would not spare me next time and if I were to see him now I would collapse from terror.
” Anjali did not know which visa she was on as her husband had controlled the paperwork , nor that it was about to expire .
So she unknowingly entered a period of unlawfulness without a valid visa .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no worker ’ s rights and her rent is only just covered by the money her teenage daughters earn at a fast-food restaurant after school .
“ My poor girls are really supporting me , ” she said .
If not for an additional payment from the Jesuit Refugee Service ( JRS ) they would face homelessness because temporary visa holders without worker ’ s rights have no access to housing , Medicare or Centrelink , including JobKeeper or JobSeeker .
In May international student Kamaljeet Sidhu , 27 , was allegedly murdered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against whom she had taken out an apprehended violence order ( AVO ) four weeks earlier .
The night before she was stabbed to death , dozens of front-line domestic violence workers from across New South Wales took part in a webinar addressing the challenges faced by women on temporary visas who were trying to escape violence during the pandemic .
Services want the federal government to allow these women to access social support no matter their visa status .
Last month the Women ’ s Safety Council , a forum for state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to reduce violence against women and their children during the pandemic .
In the list of outcomes it acknowledged the pandemic had “ coincided with the onset or escalation of violence and abuse for women ” and that women on temporary visas experiencing violence was a “ priority ” .
But the only measure it mentioned to address that was a network of “ community liaison officers ” who spread information about options to access support services for visa holders .
But it didn ’ t acknowledge how slim those options are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they plan to address the problem , ” said Isobel McGarity , a lawyer with the Refugee Advice and Casework Service ( RACS ) in Sydney .
RACS and JRS made a joint submission to the government ’ s inquiry into family , domestic and sexual violence , calling on the government to allow women experiencing violence to access support regardless of visa status .
Although people on temporary protection visas no longer have to produce police reports to access hospital treatment ( at least in NSW ) , McGarity says many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those without work rights , can ’ t access Medicare .
“ Often a GP is the first place where a woman will disclose violence , ” she said .
Scenarios like Anjali ’ s are common : “ Women will come to our service and have no idea what their visa status is and what has been submitted on their behalf.
” Australia does have the Status Resolution Support Services ( SRSS ) payment for people waiting to hear about their immigration status , but the eligibility has tightened .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the SRSS payment , ” JRS director Carolina Gottardo said .
“ The policy of this government is to support people to return overseas but when they can ’ t return overseas you leave them with nothing and people end up in total destitution and then the NGOs have to come in.
” One woman seeking asylum was recently ruled ineligible for the payment , which is about 89 % of the JobSeeker payment , as her circumstances were evaluated based on those of her violent ex-husband who was the primary visa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leave .
She turned up at JRS with her suitcases and kids in the car but the service was unable to find her last minute emergency assistance .
She chose returning to her abuser over homelessness .
It was a missed opportunity , Gottardo says , as most women are too scared to disclose the violence to anyone .
“ When there ’ s a claim for asylum this woman ’ s visa depends on her husband ’ s and that is a big reason why they are very reluctant to report violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” she said .
“ One woman told us that with the uncertainty of her visa status and the possibility of losing her children her husband ’ s violence was the least of her problems and so she didn ’ t report it.
” Gottardo says her service helped Anjali before the coronavirus hit but she had to return for more help after she lost her cash-in-hand job in the pandemic .
“ We have referred her for legal advice , counselling , accommodation assistance and DV assistance , but she is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost impossible to get now , ” Gottardo said .
A survey of more than 5000 temporary visa holders found 65 % had lost their jobs and 39 % struggled to cover living expenses .
Calls to JRS for every kind of support have increased by 224 % since March , Gottardo says .
Despite the AVO Anjali still doesn ’ t feel safe .
Her family in India encouraged her to stay with her husband .
“ I used to make recordings of him silently so I could send them to my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you make me marry him ?
’ But she doesn ’ t care … She once called me back and said , ‘ Don ’ t spoil your father ’ s name or your brother ’ s name .
Just try to settle [ your husband ] down.
’ ” Anjali has been seeing a counsellor courtesy of JRS and says it has enabled her to talk about how much trauma she carries .
She felt like she couldn ’ t breathe when she was living under her husband ’ s tyranny , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are living hand to mouth at the moment but I can never lose hope and we will keep our karma clean as God is always there , ” she said .
“ I have been protected by angels so far.
” If you or someone you know is affected by family or domestic violence , call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au .
Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue is 1300 22 4636 .
In an emergency , call 000 .

The following story contains descriptions of domestic violence.
Anjali* had to make a terrifyingly quick decision in 2016 when her husband held a broken glass and threatened to kill her. She knew inviting law enforcement into their Sydney home might threaten his visa status — which her own visa was tied to — and in turn the stability of her two daughters’ lives. But after almost two decades of violence she wanted safety for her and her children.
“Within two minutes [the police] came and they witnessed everything and they protected me and they arrested him,” she said. “I am sure he would not spare me next time and if I were to see him now I would collapse from terror.”


crikey--2020-09-06--Remember when Australia loved foreigners — and they loved us? Vale Sydney 2000

A lot can change in 20 years .
But really , the world changed just one year after the great @ @ @ @ @ to believe it was 20 years ago next week that Sydney opened its arms to @ @ @ @ @ Sydney Olympics .
Today there 's no embracing .
No crowds .
No foreigners even @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t entirely be blamed on the pandemic ; the global love-fest ended long @ @ @ @ @ , it ended within one year of the great party .
The Sydney 2000 party @ @ @ @ @ at the beginning of the new millennium , as the city got ready for the @ @ @ @ @ up , highways were laid down and the newly refurbished Woolloomooloo wharf restaurant precinct was @ @ @ @ @ for a prolonged tourism bonanza , despite the fact that the unpopular GST had just @ @ @ @ @

It’s hard to believe it was 20 years ago next week that Sydney opened its arms to embrace the world at the Sydney Olympics. Today there’s no embracing. No crowds. No foreigners even allowed in.
This contrast can’t entirely be blamed on the pandemic; the global love-fest ended long before this. In fact, it ended within one year of the great party.
The Sydney 2000 party had kicked off months earlier at the beginning of the new millennium, as the city got ready for the spotlight. Sports stadiums went up, highways were laid down and the newly refurbished Woolloomooloo wharf restaurant precinct was jumping. Business geared up for a prolonged tourism bonanza, despite the fact that the unpopular GST had just been implemented in June.


crikey--2020-09-06--Sure, love thy lockdown, but there’s no evidence to say it’s best done with force

There are better ways to enforce Victoria 's lockdown than heavy policing , Stephen Bartos writes .
Victoria ’ s @ @ @ @ @ extended for a further two weeks , after which the state moves to a slightly @ @ @ @ @ business has complained , it may well prove as popular with the electorate as the @ @ @ @ @ .
The immediate reason why the lockdown is popular is obvious -- it helps suppress @ @ @ @ @ eliminate the virus .

Victoria’s stage four lockdown has been extended for a further two weeks, after which the state moves to a slightly easier stage three.
Although business has complained, it may well prove as popular with the electorate as the second wave measures previously announced.
The immediate reason why the lockdown is popular is obvious — it helps suppress and (people hope) eliminate the virus.


crikey--2020-09-08--Dan Andrews wants Victorians to trust the modelling. Should they?

Victoria has University of Melbourne modelling to thank for its slow road out of lockdown — but it should n't @ @ @ @ @ focus , say experts .
Dan Andrews ' announcement of a slow , cautious return @ @ @ @ @ frustrated .
But the premier says he has no choice -- modelling done for the @ @ @ @ @ of Melbourne showed that if the state eased restrictions too soon , Victoria would have @ @ @ @ @ being locked down again by Christmas .
`` You ca n't argue with this sort @ @ @ @ @ n't argue with science , you ca n't do anything but follow the best health @ @ @ @ @ will just be beginning to lose control again of this virus , '' Andrews said @ @ @ @ @ Andrews ' claims that the numbers do n't lie , there 's been plenty of @ @ @ @ @ , and the lack of transparency around it .

Dan Andrews’ announcement of a slow, cautious return to normal left many Victorians frustrated. But the premier says he has no choice — modelling done for the health department by the University of Melbourne showed that if the state eased restrictions too soon, Victoria would have a 64% chance of being locked down again by Christmas.
“You can’t argue with this sort of data, you can’t argue with science, you can’t do anything but follow the best health advice, otherwise … we will just be beginning to lose control again of this virus,” Andrews said on Sunday.
But despite Andrews’ claims that the numbers don’t lie, there’s been plenty of criticism of both the modelling, and the lack of transparency around it.


crikey--2020-09-08--Disability advocates’ anger over NDIS’ traumatising, ‘cost-cutting’ reforms

Already beleaguered NDIS recipients will now be assessed by government contractors rather than their regular healthcare specialists .
Australians participating @ @ @ @ @ Scheme ( NDIS ) will soon have their levels of function evaluated by government contractors @ @ @ @ @ be used to determine funding levels for the scheme .
Independent assessors , rather than @ @ @ @ @ , will spend an average of three-and-a-half hours with an applicant , asking intimate questions @ @ @ @ @ them completing day-to-day tasks .
The National Disability Insurance Agency ( NDIA ) says the @ @ @ @ @ process , ensure people with similar disabilities receive similar funding and remove financial barriers for @ @ @ @ @

Australians participating in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will soon have their levels of function evaluated by government contractors, whose reports will also be used to determine funding levels for the scheme.
Independent assessors, rather than specialists or regular healthcare professionals, will spend an average of three-and-a-half hours with an applicant, asking intimate questions about their life and observing them completing day-to-day tasks.
The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) says the reforms will streamline the assessment process, ensure people with similar disabilities receive similar funding and remove financial barriers for people entering the system.


crikey--2020-09-09--Would you drive a Chinese car? Thousands of Aussies say yes

Chinese car brands are starting to make up a large chunk of Australian traffic .
Will the market survive the @ @ @ @ @ ?
Australia is in a tense stand-off with China .
But nobody told Australia 's @ @ @ @ @ up Chinese imports at a rate never before seen .
The phenomenon shows just how @ @ @ @ @ with Australia has become , and how hard it will be for either side to @ @ @ @ @ as political relations become dangerously .
China has rapidly developed it automotive sector , following @ @ @ @ @ east Asian neighbours Japan and Korea .
The country is home to dozens of marques @ @ @ @ @ proving very successful in the Australian market .

Australia is in a tense stand-off with China. But nobody told Australia’s car buyers who are gobbling up Chinese imports at a rate never before seen.
The phenomenon shows just how broad the Chinese economic relationship with Australia has become, and how hard it will be for either side to fully untangle itself, even as political relations become dangerously rocky.
China has rapidly developed it automotive sector, following in the footsteps of its east Asian neighbours Japan and Korea. The country is home to dozens of marques, several of which are proving very successful in Australia.