crikey--2020-11-20--Super strain? Super feign. No evidence to support SA’s  claims of a more dangerous coronavirus

Adelaide 's health authorities are pushing stories of a 'particularly sneaky ' strain of COVID-19 .
The only problem : @ @ @ @ @ South Australian premier Steven Marshall said yesterday the strain of COVID-19 in Adelaide was “ @ @ @ @ @ [ It ’ s a ] highly contagious strain … and if we don ’ @ @ @ @ @ that very , very quickly it will get away from us and that will be @ @ @ @ @ .
Earlier this week , SA chief public health officer Nicola Spurrier said the virus @ @ @ @ @ very short incubation period '' , infecting people in 24 hours or less .

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crikey--2020-11-20--ScoMo loses the next election but decides to do a Trump. What happens next?

Australian democracy has enough structural weaknesses that it 's not hard to imagine what 's happening in the US happening here too .
Among Donald Trump ’ s many achievements is the re-normalisation of actual Nazis as legitimised participants in the civic debate .
There they are , marching , flag-waving , race-baiting and punching on .
The irony -- that a thing called Antifa even needs to exist today -- was lost long ago .
Hitler , it is often noted , rose to power and completed all of his work without ever breaking a law .
The Nazi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was invited to become chancellor by president Hindenburg , the Reichstag passed an emergency decree and every Fuhrer Directive he made after that was , in strict legal terms , valid .
His crimes against humanity weren ’ t even recognised by international law as such until after he ’ d lost the war .
Trump also acquired power democratically .
He has no intention of surrendering it , and I ’ ve already explained one possible means by which he might lawfully keep it .
The US constitution ’ s fatal flaw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accordance with Lincoln ’ s command : America ’ s government is not , under the law , made by the people .

Among Donald Trump’s many achievements is the re-normalisation of actual Nazis as legitimised participants in the civic debate. There they are, marching, flag-waving, race-baiting and punching on. The irony — that a thing called Antifa even needs to exist today — was lost long ago.
Hitler, it is often noted, rose to power and completed all of his work without ever breaking a law. The Nazi Party participated in democratic elections, he was invited to become chancellor by president Hindenburg, the Reichstag passed an emergency decree and every Fuhrer Directive he made after that was, in strict legal terms, valid. His crimes against humanity weren’t even recognised by international law as such until after he’d lost the war.
Trump also acquired power democratically. He has no intention of surrendering it, and I’ve already explained one possible means by which he might lawfully keep it. The US constitution’s fatal flaw is its failure to deliver power in accordance with Lincoln’s command: America’s government is not, under the law, made by the people.


crikey--2020-11-20--Trumps for the meme-ories: the most bizarre moments of Donald Trump’s presidency

It was the presidency that launched a thousand memes .
Crikey remembers the strangest moments of the most bizarre presidency in history .
There is a sense , as Donald Trump ’ s various attempts to overturn the US election continue to fail and fail , that if the president doesn ’ t cease being significant enough for jokes it ’ ll be because he ’ s leading one side of a civil war .
As such , the jokes about him will swiftly become less funny .
So it ’ s worth collecting the memes and moments of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidency in US history .
A Twitter feed dedicated to gifs of Trump writing something , before lifting the piece to reveal it ’ s a childlike drawing and solemnly showing it around while people behind him clap .
The account kept up the gag , with mixed results , for the whole of Trump ’ s presidency .
Which Jonathan Swan are you today ?
This was the product of an August interview where senior Axios reporter Jonathan Swan ’ s response to the president ’ s coronavirus spin and general incoherence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience of 2020 .
Trump attempting to converse with a young boy who had volunteered to mow the White House lawn became perfect caption fodder for depicting Trump asking about policy concerns , or wondering which of his children he is .
Thanks for the mimes People have sustained entire careers simply on miming along with Trump ’ s odd speech style — all stilted , rambling and grandiose .
Hell , comedian Sarah Cooper has a TV show now because of it .
Our favourite is Kylie Scott , whose rendition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to sound smart — does actually capture something about him .
The New York Times took a lot of heat for platforming various extreme elements of Trump ’ s support , but surely their greatest contribution to the story of the Trump years was this photo shoot of a pensive , melancholy Trump Jnr for a March 2017 profile .
Historians will spend a lot of time debating whether the Trump administration was a serial grifter ’ s final , unaccountably successful con , or some kind of Brechtian performance piece .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his time as president — so surreal , so striking — that no comedian need ( nor could ) improve on it .
Yes , I ’ m thinking about the time he looked directly into an eclipse .
If you think a simple Google image search can ’ t be a work of art , I present the following : Or that time the Easter bunny simply loomed over his shoulder as he gave a speech : And now , as he refuses to leave , US network Comedy Central took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conclusion , depicting Trump as a toddler who just won ’ t get off his space hopper and go home :

There is a sense, as Donald Trump’s various attempts to overturn the US election continue to fail and fail, that if the president doesn’t cease being significant enough for jokes it’ll be because he’s leading one side of a civil war. As such, the jokes about him will swiftly become less funny.
So it’s worth collecting the memes and moments of what has been objectively the weirdest and funniest presidency in US history.
Trump draws
A Twitter feed dedicated to gifs of Trump writing something, before lifting the piece to reveal it’s a childlike drawing and solemnly showing it around while people behind him clap.


crikey--2020-11-20--Lamenting ‘toxic culture’ doesn’t change the fact that the SAS got away with murder

A toxic culture is an easy target , but culture does not exist as something separate ; culture is what @ @ @ @ @ the special forces did every day .
You ’ ve watched the films , read @ @ @ @ @ an SAS poster on your wall .
You finish school and join the army , @ @ @ @ @ the best of the best .
After years of exemplary service in the regular army @ @ @ @ @ extra training , you attempt to join the SAS .
The 21-day selection course is @ @ @ @ @ possibly imagine -- physically , emotionally and mentally shattering .
Perhaps 20 % get through @ @ @ @ @ the lucky ones .
You spend another 18 months training and then you get the @ @ @ @ @ .
Finally , you can prove yourself .

You’ve watched the films, read the books, and have an SAS poster on your wall. You finish school and join the army, desperate to become one of the best of the best. After years of exemplary service in the regular army, with hours spent doing extra training, you attempt to join the SAS.
The 21-day selection course is as demanding as you can possibly imagine — physically, emotionally and mentally shattering. Perhaps 20% get through. You’re one of the lucky ones.
You spend another 18 months training and then you get the call — deployment to Afghanistan. Finally, you can prove yourself.


crikey--2020-11-19--Trumpism will live on. Here are 5 things Biden needs to do to weaken its grip

Trump may be on his way out , but his influence will linger .
Here 's what his successor needs @ @ @ @ @ tide .
The weight of Donald Trump ’ s now sizeable electoral defeat and its @ @ @ @ @ Party has gone beyond political dissonance and into the realms of the purest cynicism .
@ @ @ @ @ in Trump ’ s image after just four short years of histrionics and authoritarian appointments @ @ @ @ @ another vision .
The GOP has been warped by the chief vulgarian of American life @ @ @ @ @ utterly craven and venal .
Despite Trump ’ s defeat , Trumpism -- a poisonous @ @ @ @ @ resentments and convulsions , and autocratism -- is going to remain a dangerous political current @ @ @ @ @ shocking the American body politic , unless Biden and the Democrats deliver a knockout blow @ @ @

The weight of Donald Trump’s now sizeable electoral defeat and its inverse presentation by the Republican Party has gone beyond political dissonance and into the realms of the purest cynicism.
The Republican Party, remade in Trump’s image after just four short years of histrionics and authoritarian appointments, seems incapable of articulating another vision. The GOP has been warped by the chief vulgarian of American life. Leading Republicans have become utterly craven and venal.
Despite Trump’s defeat, Trumpism — a poisonous admixture of racism, violent resentments and convulsions, and autocratism — is going to remain a dangerous political current inside the Republican Party, shocking the American body politic, unless Biden and the Democrats deliver a knockout blow in 2024.


crikey--2020-11-19--The uniquely Australian violence of the Brereton war crimes report

Australia represents itself as the innocent abroad .
But is that just to shield us from the fact that we may be worse than most , as our overseas wars tend to be a projection of unfinished violence at home ?
Like all such documents , the Brereton report on alleged war crimes by SAS forces in Afghanistan changes nothing and changes everything .
We have known ever more of these events year on year for some time now .
The events themselves are not surprising to anyone with a clear-eyed view of the military , any military .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having it spelt out in an official document with the force of the state , or part of the state , behind it .
The document , with its stories of execution of Afghan civilians — the sadistic torture , the killing of teenage boys , the slitting of throats , the walking of young men to their deaths — is hideous , sickening , shaming to be Australian .
Shaming , not because one expects Australians to be “ better ” or even simply good — shaming to be associated with it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with it coming into the world .
For the state to be speaking of these acts as accusation and confession all at once .
What the Brereton report has identified as the proximate context of the systematic terrorism , of 39 killings ( at least ) , was a culture of performative death , of cabal and myth , right-wing memes and heavy metal imagery , all in the wider context of the Afghan war ’ s pointlessness — the strike against a Taliban regime sheltering Al-Qaeda , turned into a two-decades fiasco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ostensibly , to shore up the corrupt , clannish Kharzai government .
And then… ?
Then simply to project power within Western politics — for the right to assert an idea of the West , for Labor and others not to be outflanked on national security .
A war without purpose , except to be a war , absent from TV screens or any awareness of it over here , where it is a cipher .
A war whose fronts , battles , movements we know nothing of because there appear to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupation , which turns every civilian into an enemy and anyone trying to stay neutral into a collaborator .
The death cult the report alludes to was essentially fantasies of violence , projected onto real violence to give it meaning , a sure sign that there was no meaning at all .
One saw this in some of the earlier reports on the ABC a decade or so ago , when Australian soldiers were still being referred to as “ our diggers ” in stories that were little more than recruiting posters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the wraparound shades , the thick music blasting from the APCs , a war being stylised by its own participants , in its endless , historyless unspooling .
That could be said to be a universal feature of modern colonial wars , and the lack of inquiries by other nations into their own conduct may simply be because they are not interested in exposing it .
But it ’ s also worth asking whether there ’ s something uniquely Australian in all of this .
We ’ re so accustomed to representing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseas forces as the armed wing of Contiki , to shield us from the fact that we may be worse than many , or most , because our overseas wars tend to be a projection of unfinished colonial violence at home .
Our “ larrikin ” image , acquired during World War I , may have less to do with a democratic spirit than that our troops in the Middle East were far more willing to terrorise and kill Arab and Turkish civilians than were the British or others — because such treatment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wars at home .
If our propensity to terrorise black and brown people in a dusty outback has reappeared in Afghanistan now it ’ s because it simply reproduces the increasingly bitter stand-offs between certain sections of the white population and a colonised people .
This sadistic abuse of a native people may be far more “ natural ” to our troops than to others — simply what you do .
If this is the case , then the cultural and social factors which the Brereton report has identified as motivating factors are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the lethal acting out of an unresolved violence at home .
That may not have occurred to , or be recognised by , our own leaders .
You can be sure that in some form or another , that is how it will be recognised in Asia .
We have to hold off lecturing the continent about human rights , just for a while .
But that ’ s not the most important matter in all this .
What matters is our complicity in these killings — not the suddenness of battlefield @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heat-of-the-moment stuff , but the terror of death and the pain of torture meted out to teenagers , slow and grinding , under cover of a pointless war the Coalition had no moral concern over ( by the Coalition ’ s very nature ) but that Labor could have got us out of at any point between 2007 and 2013 .
Now rendered as accusation , as confession , for us to consider at our leisure , or bury beneath a half-billion-dollar war memorial , and the shouting and the trumpets of our @ @ @ @ @ @

Like all such documents, the Brereton report on alleged war crimes by SAS forces in Afghanistan changes nothing and changes everything.
We have known ever more of these events year on year for some time now. The events themselves are not surprising to anyone with a clear-eyed view of the military, any military. But none of that is the same as having it spelt out in an official document with the force of the state, or part of the state, behind it.
The document, with its stories of execution of Afghan civilians — the sadistic torture, the killing of teenage boys, the slitting of throats, the walking of young men to their deaths — is hideous, sickening, shaming to be Australian.


crikey--2020-11-19--Now more than ever our soldiers deserve compassion

We must hold those accused of committing war crimes to account .
But we also need to examine how we @ @ @ @ @ women , many of whom suffer from PTSD .
Every journalist encounters stories that break @ @ @ @ @ , it comes from interviewing soldiers .
Big strapping men and clever , clever women @ @ @ @ @ to making the lives of others better .
Men and women who have farewelled their @ @ @ @ @ board planes to Afghanistan and East Timor and Iraq .
Men and women who have @ @ @ @ @ , and the funeral of their parents , because of their commitment to duty , @ @ @ @ @ .
A few years ago I wrote a report on how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder @ @ @ @ @ our service men and women , and how we didn ’ t want to know @ @ @

Every journalist encounters stories that break their heart. For me, it comes from interviewing soldiers. Big strapping men and clever, clever women who have devoted their lives to making the lives of others better.
Men and women who have farewelled their own partners and children to board planes to Afghanistan and East Timor and Iraq. Men and women who have missed Christmas with their children, and the funeral of their parents, because of their commitment to duty, and to keeping Australia safe.
A few years ago I wrote a report on how Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was killing our service men and women, and how we didn’t want to know about it.


crikey--2020-11-19--Officers escape legal responsibility, but what about their moral accountability?

Officers in command of special forces in Afghanistan either turned a blind eye to bad behaviour or genuinely did n't @ @ @ @ @ way , it 's unacceptable .
“ I know nothing ” was the famous catchphrase @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Heroes , used to cover up what he knew , or certainly should @ @ @ @ @ release of the Brereton report , you ’ d be forgiven for thinking it 's @ @ @ @ @ officers in command of the special forces in Afghanistan .
It 's unfathomable that the @ @ @ @ @ knowledge of any wrongdoing -- and if they really did n't , that 's just @ @ @ @ @ a clear pattern of problematic behaviour that should have raised red flags and needed to @ @ @

“I know nothing” was the famous catchphrase of Sergeant Schultz in Hogan’s Heroes, used to cover up what he knew, or certainly should have known.
After the release of the Brereton report, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s the favourite phrase of the officers in command of the special forces in Afghanistan.
It’s unfathomable that the officers in charge had no knowledge of any wrongdoing — and if they really didn’t, that’s just as bad. There was a clear pattern of problematic behaviour that should have raised red flags and needed to be investigated.


crikey--2020-11-23--Wheelchair ramp planned and cash refunded after Inq investigation

After reading Inq 's story about Jay White , a provider has offered to build a safe ramp for his @ @ @ @ @ After having thousands of dollars in his National Disability Insurance Scheme ( NDIS ) funding @ @ @ @ @ modifications , Jay White will soon have a wheelchair ramp to more easily access his @ @ @ @ @ provider Engage Abilities has offered to build a ramp at White ’ s property in @ @ @ @ @ cost to him after reading Inq ’ s investigation on Thursday .
In the investigation @ @ @ @ @ providers have drained the accounts of people with disabilities and featured White ’ s story @

After having thousands of dollars in his National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding skimmed while waiting for property modifications, Jay White will soon have a wheelchair ramp to more easily access his own home.
Disability service provider Engage Abilities has offered to build a ramp at White’s property in Bargo, NSW at no cost to him after reading Inq’s investigation on Thursday.
In the investigation, Inq examined how some providers have drained the accounts of people with disabilities and featured White’s story.


crikey--2020-11-23--Super war has nothing to do with policy, and everything to do with power

The debate about retirement incomes and super has once again revealed the Liberals ' deep , ideological hatred of superannuation .
Don ’ t be fooled for a minute into thinking what is building into the biggest attack on superannuation for decades by the government has anything to do with policy .
If it did , Josh Frydenberg wouldn ’ t have leaked parts of the retirement incomes review , by a panel led by former senior Liberal staffer and Treasury official Mike Callaghan , to friendly journalists at the Financial Review and The Australian ahead of its release last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss it 40 minutes before the release of the actual report on Friday .
Few people on any side come to the debate about superannuation with genuine disinterestedness .
Some independent , highly regarded economists — Brendan Coates at the Grattan Institute , and now Saul Eslake — argue against further rises on the basis that they are unnecessary and will detract from wages growth .
Everyone else , pretty much , has a vested interest .
And the interest doesn ’ t come bigger and uglier than that of the Liberal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long time , the Liberals spent years trying to tilt the super system against industry super funds and in favour of retail funds that used to be owned by the big banks .
That was driven by the huge donations they received from the banks , and by a hatred of industry super funds .
But as their attempts to help retail super funds blew up in their faces , the Liberals ’ hatred of industry super hardened into something even more toxic : a growing resentment of the entire superannuation system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from them and into the hands of large super funds — industry , retail , corporate and public sector .
The Liberals are terrified of the growing power of super funds and the way funds of all stripes have used it to pursue policies like net-zero emissions targets — contrary to its own business model of taking donations from large corporations in exchange for influencing policy .
The Liberal policy on retirement incomes is therefore pretty simple : kill super .
It ’ s only a slightly more sophisticated version of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system because banks are refusing to lend to their coal industry donor mates .
Not all super would be targeted , of course : every Liberal MP attacking super has a 15.4 % super contribution rate .
Don ’ t expect them to cut their super contributions back to 9.5 % any time soon .
The Liberal plan to kill super has two parts : first , stop increases in compulsory super payments , possibly including the increase to 10 % scheduled for just seven months ’ time .
Then , “ open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draw down on their balances — which has proven highly successful in the context of the pandemic .
Both will be sold as being all about the interests of members .
The removal of further increases in compulsory super will be all about wages growth and the good of the economy post-COVID .
Opening up super will be sold as giving Australians greater freedom and allowing young Australians to get into the housing market .
In both cases , the arguments presented are missing key pieces of information .
The wage stagnation that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing to do with super rises , but much to do with government policies .
It is this government that has demonised unions , refused to support minimum pay rises , supported penalty rate cuts , turned a blind eye to the epidemic of wage theft for years , and slashed its one direct , powerful tool for increasing wages — public service pay rises .
The wage price index for the year to September was just 1.4 % , a new record low .
The Reserve Bank doesn ’ t expect wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least 2023 .
Halting further compulsory super rises won ’ t do a thing to restore even the tepid wages growth of recent years .
Instead , it will effectively transfer income from workers ’ retirement accounts to businesses , because there ’ ll be no magical compensating wage rise if super is kept at 9.5 % .
If the government really cared about wages growth , it would dump its new ( and mostly ignored by the media ) linking of public sector wages to private sector growth , which guarantees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in coming years ( the average difference between private and public wages growth since 2016 has been 0.3 points a year ) .
And it would support minimum wage rises .
And helping Australians raid their super will just pump more money into the housing market , driving up prices accordingly — and leaving young people with no retirement incomes to show for it .
But that would be good for News Corp , which owns 61 % of realestate.com.au , and Nine Entertainment , which owns 58 % of Domain .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it could axe negative gearing .
But that assumes the Liberals are interested in policy outcomes .
The only outcome the Liberals want is to destroy super .
The review also laments the cost of super tax concessions , which are “ projected to grow as a proportion of GDP and exceed that of age pension expenditure by around 2050 .
This is due to earnings tax concessions .
The increase in the SG rate to 12 % will increase the fiscal cost of the system over the long term ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment was by Peter Costello in 2007 , when he removed tax on super earnings for people over 60 and the superannuation surcharge .
Mike Callaghan was Costello ’ s chief of staff when those changes commenced in 2007 .
Too bad Mike didn ’ t say something then .
What do you think of the government ’ s policy on retirement incomes ?
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 @ @

Don’t be fooled for a minute into thinking what is building into the biggest attack on superannuation for decades by the government has anything to do with policy.
If it did, Josh Frydenberg wouldn’t have leaked parts of the retirement incomes review, by a panel led by former senior Liberal staffer and Treasury official Mike Callaghan, to friendly journalists at the Financial Review and The Australian ahead of its release last week, or held a media event to discuss it 40 minutes before the release of the actual report on Friday.
Few people on any side come to the debate about superannuation with genuine disinterestedness. Some independent, highly regarded economists — Brendan Coates at the Grattan Institute, and now Saul Eslake — argue against further rises on the basis that they are unnecessary and will detract from wages growth.


crikey--2020-11-23--Fossil fuel influence targeted in fight to control climate agenda in next parliament

All across the country , Australians who have never been part of a political party are turning up and finding their voice .
A climate-focussed political action group which backed winning candidates in the last federal election is planning to expand its operations .
If Climate 200 can repeat its 2019 success it could influence the outcome of the next election .
The non-partisan group , which supports candidates who want action on climate change and political integrity , was set up by environmental campaigner and adviser Simon Holmes à Court and tech billionaire Michael Cannon-Brookes just before the May @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to counter the influence of the fossil fuel lobby , which donated $ 1.9m to the Liberal , National and Labor parties in 2018/19 , according to climate group Market Forces .
In just a few weeks , Climate 200 raised almost $ 500,000 which was then used to back 12 candidates .
Three of them ( Helen Haines , Rebekha Sharkie and Adam Bandt ) won their seats .
These three , along with independents Zali Steggall and Andrew Wilkie , have put forward legislation to create a national integrity commission to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
With 77 seats , Scott Morrison ’ s government only has a two-seat majority in the 151-seat House of Representatives .
If the efforts of Climate 200 and other similar groups bear fruit , the next election could result in a hung parliament , giving much more power to the crossbench .
Holmes à Court told Crikey that after the last election he was contacted by several philanthropists offering money for the next election .
The next war chest will be much larger , he said .
While Climate 200 did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her own campaign by raising $ 1.1 million — her success and the success of Indi ’ s Cathy McGowan and Haines has now inspired several more independent candidates to run in vulnerable seats .
Groups in Hughes ( incumbent Craig Kelly ) , Wentworth ( Dave Sharma ) , Mackellar ( Jason Falinski ) and Boothby ( Nicolle Flint ) are now lobbying for action on climate change and political integrity .
These community groups have been formed by dissatisfaction with the LNP , but there ’ s no guarantee that frustration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar action .
Steggall , who ran a masterful campaign to unseat former PM Tony Abbott in Warringah , said that the independents ’ movement is growing .
People feel “ disenfranchised ” by the party system , where MPs represent the views of the party above the views of the electorate , she said .
Her campaign team has had groups contacting them for advice from all around Victoria and regional NSW .
“ We run the campaign we want to run , people are tired of negative politics .
Ours is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties get caught up in game-playing and nastiness and the public has had enough of that.
” Another group contacted by Holmes à Court is political training organisation Women for Election Australia .
CEO Licia Heath ran as an independent in the 2018 Wentworth byelection because she thought there would just be the same big-party candidates talking about “ jobs and growth ” .
The former banker ran on a platform of more resources for public education , refugee rights and media and donations reform .
In an election which saw a 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 6 % swing away from Labor , Heath ran a very professional campaign , winning 2.26 % of the vote .
Although fellow independent Kerryn Phelps won the seat , she ended up losing it to Liberal candidate Dave Sharma at the 2019 general election .
Heath said that Women for Election Australia is a nonpartisan organisation which creates programmes to empower women and to help them consider a career in politics .
Their current aim is to have 2000 women running for office by 2022 — in all three tiers of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ independents showed that a large portion of the population doesn ’ t want to vote for one of the major parties , Heath said .
“ Scores of women came up to me and said , ‘ keep going , I ’ m watching and you seem just like me .
I ’ m considering doing something similar ’ .
” Down in Sydney ’ s Sutherland Shire , We Are Hughes was created only a few weeks ago , but already convenor Linda Seymour has been inundated with offers of support .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Craig Kelly and people from around the country have contacted the group offering to help out .
Even people overseas , who saw Kelly being savaged on British television by journalist Piers Morgan , have made contact .
The most prominent target of the independents , however , is Wentworth — former PM Malcolm Turnbull ’ s old seat .
It ’ s the third most marginal seat in the country .
Having already lost once to an independent , Sharma is clearly feeling the heat .
On Saturday , he tweeted out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these so-called independents only target Coalition seats .
Is it because they are really ‘ Voices of Labor ' ” ?
The tweet backfired badly for Sharma .
More than 400 people told him exactly what was wrong with LNP policies and reminded him that Wilkie had actually taken a Labor seat .
Voices of Wentworth committee member Delia Burrage noticed an almost immediate upturn in traffic to the group ’ s website , with many more people registering their details .
“ People are seeing that there ’ s a fundamental disconnect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their representative is doing in parliament , ” she said .
“ It ’ s not enough to look at what they do in the electorate — Tony Abbott was a volunteer at the local surf club .
We think that it ’ s the MP ’ s voting record that they need to be judged on.
” And how will these electorates fare at the next federal election ?
As retired independent politician Tony Windsor is fond of saying , “ the world is run by the people who turn up ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have never been part of a political party are turning up , and finding their voice .
Would you vote for an independent over one of the major parties ?
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 column .

A climate-focussed political action group which backed winning candidates in the last federal election is planning to expand its operations. If Climate 200 can repeat its 2019 success it could influence the outcome of the next election.
The non-partisan group, which supports candidates who want action on climate change and political integrity, was set up by environmental campaigner and adviser Simon Holmes à Court and in part funded by tech billionaire Michael Cannon-Brookes just before the May 2019 election.


crikey--2020-11-23--Why it pays to donate. Liberals come to the aid of   troubled local shipbuilder

A new report illustrates the risks to Tasmanian taxpayers after Scott Morrison intervened in a key state decision — with a major Liberal-aligned company set to be the winner .
The Liberal Party-linked Perth shipbuilder Austal is in trouble .
The company , chaired by long-time Liberal Party donor and supporter John Rothwell , built eight Cape Class patrol boats for what is now the Australian Border Force so badly that the Department of Home Affairs resisted making a final payment for them , prompting a savage 2018 national audit office review of the half-billion-dollar contract .
That report was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Commonwealth integrity body , the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity ( ACLEI ) , to stir into action and launch a high-powered investigation into the relationship between Home Affairs officials and Austal , which desperately needed payments from the government .
Austal is also under investigation by both the Australian Securities and Investments Commission ( ASIC ) and US authorities : in Australia over market disclosures in 2015 and 2016 , and in the US over `` a number of areas of the group ’ s US operations '' relating to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation led to its Mobile , Alabama facility being raided by federal agents last year .

The Liberal Party-linked Perth shipbuilder Austal is in trouble. The company, chaired by long-time Liberal Party donor and supporter John Rothwell, built eight Cape Class patrol boats for what is now the Australian Border Force so badly that the Department of Home Affairs resisted making a final payment for them, prompting a savage 2018 national audit office review of the half-billion-dollar contract.
That report was so serious it prompted what passes for the Commonwealth integrity body, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI), to stir into action and launch a high-powered investigation into the relationship between Home Affairs officials and Austal, which desperately needed payments from the government.
Austal is also under investigation by both the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and US authorities: in Australia over market disclosures in 2015 and 2016, and in the US over “a number of areas of the group’s US operations” relating to its US naval contract. The SEC investigation led to its Mobile, Alabama facility being raided by federal agents last year.


crikey--2020-11-23--Why Australia’s high commissioner sat down with India’s far right

In recent decades , Hindu nationalist group RSS has become a dominant force in Indian politics .
Which might explain @ @ @ @ @ singing its praises .
Barry O ’ Farrell , the former NSW premier who resigned @ @ @ @ @ , is enjoying that most plum of post-political postings as high commissioner to India .
@ @ @ @ @ chumming it up with one of the country ’ s most notorious far-right Hindu nationalist @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Farrell met with Mohan Bhagwat , chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ( @ @ @ @ @ far-right Hindu nationalist volunteer paramilitary organisation with a membership in the millions .
And he @ @ @ @ @ the RSS ’ s community relief measures during the COVID-19 pandemic .
What is the @ @ @ @ @ , the RSS has gone from occupying the loony fringe to becoming a dominant force @ @ @ @ @ It pitches itself as a seemingly innocent social group where members go to pray , @ @ @ @ @ absurd khaki shorts .

Barry O’Farrell, the former NSW premier who resigned over a bottle of Grange, is enjoying that most plum of post-political postings as high commissioner to India. He’s also been chumming it up with one of the country’s most notorious far-right Hindu nationalist organisations.
This week, O’Farrell met with Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a sprawling far-right Hindu nationalist volunteer paramilitary organisation with a membership in the millions. And he was full of praise for the RSS’s community relief measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is the RSS?
In recent decades, the RSS has gone from occupying the loony fringe to becoming a dominant force in contemporary Indian politics. It pitches itself as a seemingly innocent social group where members go to pray, do exercise and dress in absurd khaki shorts.


crikey--2020-11-22--Politicians sniff the COVID winds and pick their targets carefully

SA opposition leader Peter Malinauskas has definitely been reading the opinion polls .
South Australia 's brief COVID-19 scare brought @ @ @ @ @ spirit -- the same feeling that briefly prevailed when the crisis first burst upon the @ @ @ @ @ .
After Premier Steven Marshall 's announcement of a six-day lockdown on Wednesday , state @ @ @ @ @ to social media .
He announced that the opposition was `` here to support the @ @ @ @ @ South Australians to `` fight for each other , not against each other '' .
@ @ @ @ @ that the lockdown had been prompted by one person 's false account of how he @ @ @ @ @ the virus , The Australian decreed that Marshall had been `` forced into a humiliating @ @ @ @ @ found it worth his while to boast that he had not once attacked the premier @

South Australia’s brief COVID-19 scare brought a return of the bipartisan spirit — the same feeling that briefly prevailed when the crisis first burst upon the nation earlier in the year.
After Premier Steven Marshall’s announcement of a six-day lockdown on Wednesday, state Labor leader Peter Malinauskas took to social media. He announced that the opposition was “here to support the government” and called on South Australians to “fight for each other, not against each other”.


crikey--2020-11-22--No more sugar hits: the case for putting meat on the withered bones of Victoria

Daniel Andrews has a mandate to spend big in tomorrow 's state budget .
But he must allocate some of @ @ @ @ @ underfunded public service .
Tomorrow , the Victorian government will deliver its most important budget @ @ @ @ @ of the toughest years in the state ’ s history , with support for Labor @ @ @ @ @ limitations on running up deficits , Premier Daniel Andrews and Treasurer Tim Pallas have an @ @ @ @ @ .
The question is ... on what ?
A few teasers have been drip-fed to @ @ @ @ @ funding for social housing , clean energy and more .
But these worthy investments , @ @ @ @ @ approach , leave one gaping hole .

Tomorrow, the Victorian government will deliver its most important budget since WWII. After one of the toughest years in the state’s history, with support for Labor remaining strong and with fewer limitations on running up deficits, Premier Daniel Andrews and Treasurer Tim Pallas have an unprecedented mandate to spend big.
The question is… on what?
A few teasers have been drip-fed to the media, including much-needed funding for social housing, clean energy and more. But these worthy investments, much like Andrews’ broader approach, leave one gaping hole.


crikey--2020-11-22--Great PR, but is Twiggy barking up the wrong tree in war-torn, resource-rich Afghanistan?

Andrew Forrest may have good intentions in Afghanistan , but recent history requires us to be far more sceptical about @ @ @ @ @ .
Australia ’ s second-richest person Andrew `` Twiggy '' Forrest was in Afghanistan in @ @ @ @ @ of resource projects in the war-torn country .
According to The Australian Financial Review , @ @ @ @ @ to some of the world 's most dangerous nations in search of new resource projects @ @ @ @ @ .
Forrest ’ s company , Fortescue Metals Group , issued a press release around @ @ @ @ @ stressed the development of hydropower and geothermal projects for green industries as well as campaigns @ @ @ @ @ and support of local employment .
On the face of it , this news could @ @ @ @ @ Afghans and foreigners as the noble efforts of an Australian billionaire and philanthropist to help @ @ @ @ @ on the planet .
Australian media coverage , which barely mentioned the Forrest trip , @ @ @ @ @ little more than public relations dressed up as news stories .

Australia’s second-richest person Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest was in Afghanistan in September to investigate the viability of resource projects in the war-torn country. According to The Australian Financial Review, “Forrest has been travelling to some of the world’s most dangerous nations in search of new resource projects and pursuing philanthropic interests”.
Forrest’s company, Fortescue Metals Group, issued a press release around the visit to Kabul that stressed the development of hydropower and geothermal projects for green industries as well as campaigns on the eradication of slavery and support of local employment.
On the face of it, this
news could be greeted with support by Afghans and foreigners as the noble
efforts of an Australian billionaire and philanthropist to help one of the
poorest nations on the planet. Australian media coverage, which barely
mentioned the Forrest trip, was wholly positive and offered little more than public
relations dressed up as news
stories.


crikey--2020-11-24--In a more hostile landscape, Morrison rediscovers multilateralism and reverts to Howard-speak on Chi

In a more hostile landscape, Morrison rediscovers multilateralism and reverts to Howard-speak on China

Last year Scott Morrison was a Trump-style opponent of international bureaucracy .
Now he values international institutions .
What 's changed ?
Fresh from an unexpected election win , having just visited his friend Donald Trump in the White House and seemingly with the world at his feet , last year Scott Morrison ventured a bold and positively Trumpian foreign policy perspective .
In an address to the Lowy Institute , Morrison attacked multilateralism and international institutions , which he characterised as “ unaccountable internationalist bureaucracy ” and “ international institutions [ that ] demand conformity rather than independent cooperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should avoid any reflex towards a negative globalism that coercively seeks to impose a mandate from an often ill-defined borderless global community , ” Morrison claimed .
But about a month later , his treasurer contradicted him .
Frydenberg , in a speech to the ANU , warned “ there is no alternative to multilateralism ” and urged the world to “ recapture the co-operative spirit of Bretton Woods ” which had led to “ institutions that remain important to this day ” such as the International Monetary Fund , the World Trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was speaking from an economic perspective , in which Australia is a relatively small country that needs a functional international order and set of rules in areas like trade in order to prosper .
Otherwise , we end up… well , we end up right where we are now , with China using trade to try to subject Australia to exemplary punishment for criticising and questioning the tyrants of Beijing .
In a foreign policy speech yesterday , delivered to a British thinktank , did Morrison continue the Trump act and attack multilateral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ?
Unsurprisingly , no .
Indeed , Morrison has changed his tune quite dramatically .
He wanted to explain to the Brits “ why groupings and institutions like the G7 , the WTO and the OECD matter in a turbulent world and indeed the G20 ” .
The OECD matters , of course , because he couldn ’ t say otherwise while his government is backing , complete with a taxpayer-funded jet , Mathias Cormann ’ s bid to lead it .
While insisting “ international institutions are most effective when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , accountable to , the society of sovereign states that forms them ” , Morrison now sees “ international institutions ” as providing the gateway to a world in which “ there is no need to build global spheres of influence in order to secure economic opportunity or exert influence ” .
They would act as “ circuit-breakers ” for international tensions .
From railing at “ unaccountable internationalist bureaucracies ” , Morrison has now moved to repeating , over and over , the importance of “ rules-based solutions ” , “ rules-based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ norms ” .
With China having to decided to ignore “ a mandate from an often ill-defined borderless global community ” and target Australian exports , Morrison ’ s conversion to supporter of rules-based order is unsurprising .
But there was some continuity with that speech last year .
Back then , Morrison insisted “ even during an era of great power competition , Australia does not have to choose between the United States and China ” .
Australia would , he said , reject “ the binary narrative of their strategic competition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our preference in Australia is not to be forced into any binary choices ” .
That of course echoes the line John Howard long used about China , that Australia doesn ’ t need to choose .
Increasingly though , the line rings hollow .
Australia under Morrison has chosen .
Not chosen the US , although its choice places it firmly in the US camp , but chosen to , in Morrison ’ s words , “ be true to our values and the protection of our own sovereignty ” .
Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Xi Jinping dictatorship reflects an adherence to values and sovereignty .
It has targeted China ’ s suppression of democracy in Hong Kong ; its refusal to provide transparency about the origins of the pandemic that has inflicted such colossal damage on the world ; its interference in Australian politics and attempts to intimidate Chinese-Australians and Australian institutions ; its refusal to heed international law in the South China Sea .
Australia ’ s values are inconsistent , messily applied , hypocritical and occasionally incoherent .
But unusually , the Morrison government has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our economy , much to the fury of appeasers and Beijing supporters in business and the commentariat .
And it has been the right call to make .
As it turned out , our values and our economic interests are , at least for the time being , a binary choice , and we ’ ve made it in favour of values .
Morrison optimistically hopes that all will be well .
“ Greater latitude will be required from the world ’ s largest powers to accommodate the individual interests of their partners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We all need a bit more room to move.
” A United States under Joe Biden may be more ready to do that than Trump .
But China is unlikely to accommodate anyone .

Fresh from an unexpected election win, having just visited his friend Donald Trump in the White House and seemingly with the world at his feet, last year Scott Morrison ventured a bold and positively Trumpian foreign policy perspective.
In an address to the Lowy Institute, Morrison attacked multilateralism and international institutions, which he characterised as “unaccountable internationalist bureaucracy” and “international institutions [that] demand conformity rather than independent cooperation on global issues”.
“We should avoid any reflex towards a negative globalism that coercively seeks to impose a mandate from an often ill-defined borderless global community,” Morrison claimed.


crikey--2020-11-23--Where the elite meet the elite: who’s behind the special fund for special forces?

Kerry Stokes has vowed to fund the legal fight of SAS soldiers accused of committing war crimes in Afghanistan .
@ @ @ @ @ n't be backrolling their defence on his own .
As Australia ’ s political and @ @ @ @ @ and disgust at alleged war crimes committed by Special Air Service ( SAS ) soldiers @ @ @ @ @ has vowed to fund the legal fight of those accused .
But it appears he @ @ @ @ @ their defence on his own .
A little-known charity originally set up to help the @ @ @ @ @ veterans is behind his efforts .
And the organisation tells its own story about the @ @ @ @ @ the elite Australian soldiers , many of whom are now accused of war crimes .

As Australia’s political and military leaders express their horror and disgust at alleged war crimes committed by Special Air Service (SAS) soldiers in Afghanistan, Kerry Stokes has vowed to fund the legal fight of those accused.
But it appears he won’t be bankrolling their defence on his own.
A little-known charity originally set up to help the widows and children of SAS veterans is behind his efforts. And the organisation tells its own story about the powerful and well-connected backers of the elite Australian soldiers, many of whom are now accused of war crimes.


crikey--2020-11-23--Want to pay for an extra 54,000 nurses? Then stop corporate tax abuse

The costs of the pandemic are being borne by the poorest and most vulnerable .
The economic burden of rescue @ @ @ @ @ them as well .
Former federal treasurer Wayne Swan on why we need to overhaul @ @ @ @ @ year , the world is losing over US $ 427 billion in fiscal resources to @ @ @ @ @ On average countries are losing the equivalent of 9.2 % of their health budgets to @ @ @ @ @ In Australia 's case , the figure is the equivalent of 4.87 % of what @ @ @ @ @ , an amount that is the equivalent of the salaries for almost 54,000 nurses .
@ @ @ @ @ , multinational corporations are to blame for nearly $ 245 billion , thanks to the @ @ @ @ @ of “ profit-shifting ” , according to a new report by the Tax Justice Network @ @ @ @ @ the Global Alliance for Tax Justice .

Every year, the world is losing over US$427 billion in fiscal resources to international corporate tax abuse. On average countries are losing the equivalent of 9.2% of their health budgets to tax havens every year.
In Australia’s case, the figure is the equivalent of 4.87% of what the country spends on health, an amount that is the equivalent of the salaries for almost 54,000 nurses.
Of the $427 billion, multinational corporations are to blame for nearly $245 billion, thanks to the practice — mostly legal — of “profit-shifting”, according to a new report by the Tax Justice Network, Public Services International and the Global Alliance for Tax Justice.


crikey--2020-11-23--Liberal attempt to co-opt the military caught up in Afghanistan war crimes

Kerry Stokes is placing the Australian War Memorial right in the middle of the SAS war crimes scandal .
For @ @ @ @ @ War Memorial ( AMW ) has been a key component in the Coalition 's attempt @ @ @ @ @ history and traditions .
The AWM is chaired by Liberal supporter Kerry Stokes ; Tony @ @ @ @ @ member , along with Josephine Stone , wife of former Country Liberal leader Shane Stone @ @ @ @ @ former SAS commander James McMahon , is an executive for Stokes .
As close AWM @ @ @ @ @ the government has stacked the board with military and ex-military figures .
That period has @ @ @ @ @ becoming something more akin to a giant military theme park than a solemn place of @ @ @ @ @ and surveillance companies queueing up to be `` corporate partners '' .
That has culminated @ @ @ @ @ dollar `` philistine vandalism '' of the memorial -- to use the words of another @ @ @ @ @ former Liberal leader Brendan Nelson when AWM director .

For years now, the Australian War Memorial (AWM) has been a key component in the Coalition’s attempt to own Australia’s military history and traditions. The AWM is chaired by Liberal supporter Kerry Stokes; Tony Abbott is also a board member, along with Josephine Stone, wife of former Country Liberal leader Shane Stone. Another board member, former SAS commander James McMahon, is an executive for Stokes.
As close AWM watchers also point out, the government has stacked the board with military and ex-military figures.
That period has coincided with the war memorial becoming something more akin to a giant military theme park than a solemn place of commemoration, with major defence and surveillance companies queueing up to be “corporate partners”. That has culminated in the absurdly over-the-top half-billion dollar “philistine vandalism” of the memorial — to use the words of another former director — initiated by former Liberal leader Brendan Nelson when AWM director.


crikey--2020-11-23--What the military could learn from the effort to clean out crooked cops

The Brereton war crimes report identified a number of problems that sound awfully familiar to anyone with even a passing @ @ @ @ @ So much has been said about the Brereton report in recent days , but how @ @ @ @ @ episodes we keep reading about have come this far without being stopped ?
Anyone who @ @ @ @ @ interesting in the cleaning up of the Australian police forces over the past three decades @ @ @ @ @ at the heart of the disgraceful cruelty revealed by Justice Paul Brereton .
And principally @ @ @ @ @ are dealt with : once a reason to persecute the complainants , now a means @ @ @ @ @ over the line .

So much has been said about the Brereton report in recent days, but how could the shameful and criminal episodes we keep reading about have come this far without being stopped?
Anyone who has taken even a passing interesting in the cleaning up of the Australian police forces over the past three decades will find eerily familiar lessons at the heart of the disgraceful cruelty revealed by Justice Paul Brereton.
And principally it lies with how complaints are dealt with: once a reason to persecute the complainants, now a means to prosecute those who step over the line.


crikey--2020-11-26--Free but then what? Kylie Moore-Gilbert’s long way back to a new normal

Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert has been released from prison in Iran .
But it 's not the end of her @ @ @ @ @ Moore-Gilbert has at long last been freed from an Iranian jail in a prisoner swap @ @ @ @ @ detention .
She was arrested in September 2018 in Tehran , where she was attending @ @ @ @ @ of espionage .
But Moore-Gilbert 's release does not mark the end of her ordeal @ @ @ @ @ to return home to Melbourne soon , where she will face a deluge of media @ @ @ @ @ to recovery .

Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert has at long last been freed from an Iranian jail in a prisoner swap, after 804 days of detention.
She was arrested in September 2018 in Tehran, where she was attending a conference, on suspicion of espionage.
But Moore-Gilbert’s release does not mark the end of her ordeal. She’s expected to return home to Melbourne soon, where she will face a deluge of media attention and a long journey to recovery.


crikey--2020-11-26--MP calls for Porter explanation on the persecution of K and Collaery

A Labor MP with close links to Timor-Leste has called on Christian Porter to explain himself over the prosecution of @ @ @ @ @ and suggests 'reputational protection ' is behind the secrecy of the trial .
Labor MP @ @ @ @ @ Attorney-General Christian Porter to explain why his prosecution of Witness K and Bernard Collaery is @ @ @ @ @ and says the government has missed an opportunity to put its poor treatment of Timor-Leste @ @ @ @ @ Northern Territory MP has extensive links with the country after serving there while in the @ @ @ @ @ there running an NGO .
Earlier in the year , Gosling criticised Porter 's attempt @ @ @ @ @ in a secret trial , but now says Porter must make up for his failure @ @ @ @ @ pursuing the two men .

Labor MP Luke Gosling has called on Attorney-General Christian Porter to explain why his prosecution of Witness K and Bernard Collaery is in the public interest, and says the government has missed an opportunity to put its poor treatment of Timor-Leste in the past.
The Northern Territory MP has extensive links with the country after serving there while in the ADF and spending several years there running an NGO.
Earlier in the year, Gosling criticised Porter’s attempt to prosecute K and Collaery in a secret trial, but now says Porter must make up for his failure to explain why he is pursuing the two men.


crikey--2020-11-26--Mates looking after mates. Coalition has an impressive array of programs to fund News Corp

The Morrison government has big plans to channel huge amounts of money to News Corp .
The monumental theft being planned by the Australian government against Google and Facebook , and cheered on by Australian media companies , will take another step soon with the introduction of legislation for a “ News Media and Digital Platforms Bargaining Code ” into parliament as the last sitting fortnight of the year begins next week .
The code is a mechanism to steal what News Corp and the Nine Network hope will be at least hundreds of millions of dollars from the tech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money from news content .
But as American internet pioneer Vint Cerf , who now works with Google , points out , Google and Facebook have little to do with the ongoing death of the media industry in Australia compared to the impact of realestate.com.au , Domain and other internet versions of what used to be classified advertising — most of which are owned by the same media companies demanding the government steal from the tech giants .
The code was effectively dictated to the government by News Corp , which had peddled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast sums off the “ theft ” of news content — a claim forensically exposed as false by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission .
News Corp also demanded that the ABC be prevented from benefiting in any way from the revenue — despite the ABC , by the logic offered by News Corp , being in exactly the same position as other media organisations .
Realising such a blatant attack on the ABC might cruel the chances of securing passage of the legislation , the government has now signalled the ABC and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — to the fury of Liberal MPs .
But the ABC haters don ’ t need to be too worried — the government can always cut ABC funding by whatever amount it makes from Google and Facebook .
The Google and Facebook heist is just one of several initiatives the Coalition is pursuing currently to fund News Corp. Foxtel was handed another $ 10 million recently from Communications Minister Paul Fletcher without having to even bother explaining what it would be spent on .
That follows , of course , a $ 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has changed his tune somewhat about News Corp in the time since he was forced out of the prime ministership .
Foxtel is a black hole for News — subscriber numbers are only being held up by the volatile seasonality of sport for its Kayo streaming service .
The Foxtel Now services are losing subscribers and while streaming service Binge has been something of a success , it lags badly behind Netflix and Stan .
News Corp had to lend US $ 900 million to Foxtel in 2019 to keep it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
News Corp also lost out overnight when Bertelsmann of Germany ( which owns Penguin and Random House ) won the auction of US book publisher Simon & Schuster , owned by ViacomCBS , for US $ 2.2 billion .
News tried a cheap offer but lost early and CEO Robert Thomson now claims there was “ no logic ” to the deal and that the new company would be “ a book behemoth .
Distributors , retailers , authors and readers would be paying for this proposed deal for a very long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rich coming from News Corp — even just in publishing , News already controls Harper Collins , Harlequin and others companies .
Simon & Schuster would have given it a huge share of global markets .
But the hundreds of millions News Corp hopes to get from big tech could be accompanied by another windfall , not unrelated to the issue of what ’ s causing the death of the media industry .
As part of the Liberal plan to destroy the super system , Liberal MPs like Tim Wilson are pushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home buyers — an effective means of encouraging people to drain their super accounts , undermining the power of super funds so despised by the Liberals .
That won ’ t help a single homebuyer — it will simply pump more money into the housing market , pushing house prices up further as super-wielding buyers vie to outbid each other for property .
But it will help existing homeowners , who will get an extra boost from the higher prices created by the addition of super to the pool of demand for housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agents and the two biggest real estate sites — realestate.com.au and Domain .
The former , of course , majority owned by News Corp and the dominant property site .
The latter , majority owned by Nine , is a key source of revenue for that beleaguered media company .
No wonder , as The Australian ’ s bloviator-at-large Paul Kelly admitted this week , that the paper isn ’ t merely conservative or even right-wing , but actively provides partisan support for the Coalition .
The company stands to do very well @ @ @ @ @

The monumental theft being planned by the Australian government against Google and Facebook, and cheered on by Australian media companies, will take another step soon with the introduction of legislation for a “News Media and Digital Platforms Bargaining Code” into parliament as the last sitting fortnight of the year begins next week.
The code is a mechanism to steal what News Corp and the Nine Network hope will be at least hundreds of millions of dollars from the tech giants on the pretext that they make money from news content.
But as American internet pioneer Vint Cerf, who now works with Google, points out, Google and Facebook have little to do with the ongoing death of the media industry in Australia compared to the impact of realestate.com.au, Domain and other internet versions of what used to be classified advertising — most of which are owned by the same media companies demanding the government steal from the tech giants.


crikey--2020-11-25--Do ANY rules apply to an increasingly arrogant Gladys Berejiklian?

Gladys Berejiklian appears to think the rules do n't apply to her .
What if NSW voters took the same @ @ @ @ @ Berejiklian has exhibited an emerging pattern of behaviour based on an apparent assumption that she @ @ @ @ @ everyone else has to comply with .
She refused to declare the interests of disgraced @ @ @ @ @ despite her `` close personal relationship '' with him , hoping to marry him and @ @ @ @ @ a key to her house .
She certainly declined to act on his constant stream @ @ @ @ @ them centring on his peddling of influence and even using her name .
She broke @ @ @ @ @ Stronger Communities Fund , which she had no authority to allocate , but did so @ @ @ @ @ .
Her office refused to comply with rules around preserving documents that would shed light @ @ @ @ @ albeit unsuccessfully , as it turns out .

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has exhibited an emerging pattern of behaviour based on an apparent assumption that she’s above the rules that everyone else has to comply with.
She refused to declare the interests of disgraced political grifter Daryl Maguire, despite her “close personal relationship” with him, hoping to marry him and him, allegedly, having a key to her house. She certainly declined to act on his constant stream of half-assed moneymaking schemes despite them centring on his peddling of influence and even using her name.
She broke the rules around the quarter-billion-dollar Stronger Communities Fund, which she had no authority to allocate, but did so anyway to pork-barrel Coalition electorates. Her office refused to comply with rules around preserving documents that would shed light on that grubby exercise — albeit unsuccessfully, as it turns out.


crikey--2020-11-25--No vaccine is 100% safe, so shouldn’t Australia have a compensation scheme?

Unlike Australia , 25 countries offer their citizens no-fault compensation payments for vaccine injuries , with no need to go @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is finally in sight and governments are working out the logistics of vaccinating entire @ @ @ @ @ is 100 % safe .
Concerns have been raised around how fast the vaccines -- @ @ @ @ @ distributed worldwide -- have been developed .
Other countries have compensation schemes to pay out @ @ @ @ @ -- from minor side effects to serious risks -- but what happens in Australia if @ @ @ @ @ vaccinated ?

A COVID-19 vaccine is finally in sight and governments are working out the logistics of vaccinating entire populations.
But no vaccine is 100% safe. Concerns have been raised around how fast the vaccines — which are soon to be distributed worldwide — have been developed.
Other countries have compensation schemes to pay out people injured by a vaccine — from minor side effects to serious risks –but what happens in Australia if someone gets sick after being vaccinated?


crikey--2020-11-25--Court of Appeal throws wrench in insurers’ get-out-of-paying pandemic scheme

When it comes to pandemic coverage always read the fine print — particularly if you 're the one who wrote @ @ @ @ @ one insurance company has found out .
File this under “ you had one job @ @ @ @ @ ’ s biggest insurance companies , whose principal occupation is doing everything they can to @ @ @ @ @ out on a policy , have had their pants pulled down by the NSW Court @ @ @ @ @ consequences .
The issue before the court , in a test case brought on by @ @ @ @ @ Insurance Council of Australia , was whether insurance policies that cover business interruption will respond @ @ @ @ @ pandemic such as COVID-19 .

File this under “you had one job”.
Many of Australia’s biggest insurance companies, whose principal occupation is doing everything they can to ensure that they never pay out on a policy, have had their pants pulled down by the NSW Court of Appeal with very expensive consequences.
The issue before the court, in a test case brought on by the peak industry body the Insurance Council of Australia, was whether insurance policies that cover business interruption will respond in the circumstances of a pandemic such as COVID-19.


crikey--2020-11-25--Even the dumbest social media critics of journalism might have a point

Australian journalists — sick of being criticised by social media users — have to think hard about how to cover @ @ @ @ @ including Scott Morrison .
In recent years a new genre of commentary has emerged which @ @ @ @ @ better title , might be called `` someone was horrible to a journalist '' .
@ @ @ @ @ or about mainstream media figures who are subjected to abuse on social media .
Sometimes @ @ @ @ @ rational criticism that thin-skinned journalists ca n't take .
But often it is enraged and @ @ @ @ @ , it is frequently misogynist and even threatening , filled with rape and death threats @ @ @ @ @ abuse and see it as evidence of the generally bad , divisive , fictitious and @ @ @ @ @ .
The genre also involves counter-pieces from not-so-mainstream figures critiquing those pieces from journalists , @ @ @ @ @ engagement and suggesting the employees of an industry in its death throes might be a @ @ @ @ @ suggestions .

In recent years a new genre of commentary has emerged which, for want of a better title, might be called “someone was horrible to a journalist”. It consists of pieces by or about mainstream media figures who are subjected to abuse on social media.
Sometimes the “abuse” is rational criticism that thin-skinned journalists can’t take. But often it is enraged and disgusting; for female journalists, it is frequently misogynist and even threatening, filled with rape and death threats. The pieces lament the abuse and see it as evidence of the generally bad, divisive, fictitious and hyperpartisan nature of social media.
The genre also involves counter-pieces from not-so-mainstream figures critiquing those pieces from journalists, making reasonable points about consumer engagement and suggesting the employees of an industry in its death throes might be a little more receptive to audience suggestions.


crikey--2020-11-25--Global tariffs the only way to end Australia’s climate criminality

With a corrupted political process and a media industry pushing climate denialism , the chances of Australia embracing effective climate action appear slim .
The rest of the world is therefore justified in punishing a country that is becoming a climate criminal .
What will it take to force Australia to pursue genuine climate action ?
Its Paris Agreement targets are woefully inadequate to the task of preventing a significant and highly damaging rise in global temperatures , and fail to address Australia ’ s historical responsibility as a developed country for global temperature rise .
It abolished an effective @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and didn ’ t replace it with anything .
It refuses to endorse a net zero carbon emissions target despite its four biggest trading partners all establishing one , or announcing their intention to .
Not even the catastrophe of last summer shifted the dial .
Despite the conflagration that destroyed vast swathes of the east coast , burned billions of animals , killed 34 people directly and several hundred indirectly through smoke inhalation , Australia has actually retreated further from climate action since then , with the government embracing an absurd “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding being directed to more fossil fuel power infrastructure and discredited carbon capture and storage technology designed to enable the continuation of coal-fired power .
With more than half of Australian voters believing Australia does not do enough on climate , and more than 70 % supporting a net-zero emissions target , the failure of the government to take meaningful climate action , while senior members continue to support climate denialism , appears intractable .
That reflects that the core political business model of the Coalition under Scott Morrison is to take donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even the right to dictate , policy .
The “ gas-led recovery ” policy was literally dictated by current or former gas company executives representing major Coalition donors .
Labor under Anthony Albanese has a similar problem : key donors the Australian Workers Union and the mining division of the CFMEU oppose effective climate action , as do a rump of denialists and destabilisers within the party ’ s parliamentary ranks .
Labor is unlikely to demonstrate the policy bravery of Bill Shorten , who went to the 2016 election with a commitment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2019 election with Malcolm Turnbull ’ s national energy guarantee coupled to a higher emissions reduction target .
A significant part of the problem , as Turnbull has repeatedly pointed out , is that the foreign political party masquerading as media outlet News Corp is a vehicle for denialism that will attack anyone who deviates from a fossil-fuels-first party line .
In the absence of the removal of these structural impediments — a biased , oligopolistic media market , flawed political donations laws — it seems unlikely that Australia will end its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obsessed with serving the needs of a diminishing group of increasingly unviable fossil fuel companies and a foreign billionaire who floods the country with denialist propaganda .
What can force policy change ?
It seems only some form of international sanctions will compel Australia ’ s governing class to accept climate reality and the need for meaningful action .
Greens leader Adam Bandt recently urged South Korea to impose carbon tariffs on Australia to make up for the absence of a carbon price or any other form of effective climate action .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael McCormack to accuse Bandt of treachery .
In fact , the case for carbon tariffs applied to Australian exports is a strong one economically and morally .
Australia is a free rider on international climate efforts .
While other developed countries are taking much stronger action and embracing net zero targets , Australia refuses to act , giving its exporters an unfair advantage against competitors who are taking meaningful emissions abatement action .
The International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) , not normally to be found advocating either tariffs or extreme green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consideration by the European Union .
“ A top priority should be an agreement on a carbon pricing floor among major emitting countries [ which ] would be a powerful means of reducing global emissions , ” IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva said in September .
Australia , with its “ gas-led recovery ” , corrupted political process and continuing reliance on fossil fuels for exports and energy , is moving from climate laggard to climate criminal as we head for another record warm year — possibly the warmest ever .
Global sanctions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australian export — not just the limited range of energy-intensive products identified by the EU — to make up for our lack of action is economically justified and morally compelling .
Should Australia face sanctions to force action on climate change ?
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 column .

What will it take to force Australia to pursue genuine climate action? Its Paris Agreement targets are woefully inadequate to the task of preventing a significant and highly damaging rise in global temperatures, and fail to address Australia’s historical responsibility as a developed country for global temperature rise.
It abolished an effective and efficient carbon pricing scheme in 2014 and didn’t replace it with anything. It refuses to endorse a net zero carbon emissions target despite its four biggest trading partners all establishing one, or announcing their intention to.


crikey--2020-11-24--The truth about the CIA’s role in the Dismissal is out there — but good luck finding it

The 'proof ' of no US involvement in the Dismissal offered in a new Palace Letters book is a sham @ @ @ @ @ the dark .
Because there was an actual American coup taking place last week your @ @ @ @ @ pitch in on the little brouhaha over the American coup here in 1975 ( joking @ @ @ @ @ that Venezuela 's voting machine hack to steal the vote in Atlanta has been exposed @ @ @ @ @ turn the guns round .
Last week 's stoush on the 45th anniversary of the @ @ @ @ @ the Palace Letters between then governor-general Sir John Kerr and the Queen 's functionaries , @ @ @ @ @ Jenny Hocking ( The Palace Letters ) and Paul Kelly and Troy ( `` the @ @ @ @ @ The Truth of the Palace Letters .

Because there was an actual American coup taking place last week your correspondent had no chance to pitch in on the little brouhaha over the American coup here in 1975 (joking! Kinda).
Now that Venezuela’s voting machine hack to steal the vote in Atlanta has been exposed, it’s time to turn the guns round.
Last week’s stoush on the 45th anniversary of the Whitlam dismissal was all about the Palace Letters between then governor-general Sir John Kerr and the Queen’s functionaries, with duelling books by Professor Jenny Hocking (The Palace Letters) and Paul Kelly and Troy (“the Boy”) Bramston’s The Truth of the Palace Letters.


crikey--2020-11-27--Historic Noongar ‘treaty’  sparks call for reform of cultural heritage legislation

Experts are calling it Australia ’ s first treaty with Indigenous people .
A group of six claimant groups across @ @ @ @ @ have been granted a historic land rights settlement .
Experts say it 's Australia ’ @ @ @ @ @ people .
The settlement covers 200,000 square kilometres and formalises six land-use agreements which recognise @ @ @ @ @ of the land .
It ’ s worth an estimated $ 1.3 billion and covers @ @ @ @ @ University of NSW constitutional lawyer and native title expert George Williams told Crikey the settlement @ @ @

A group of six claimant groups across Perth and south-west Western Australia have been granted a historic land rights settlement. Experts say it’s Australia’s first treaty with Indigenous people.
The settlement covers 200,000 square kilometres and formalises six land-use agreements which recognise Noongar people as traditional owners of the land. It’s worth an estimated $1.3 billion and covers nearly 30,000 Noongar people.
University of NSW constitutional lawyer and native title expert George Williams told Crikey the settlement was historic.


crikey--2020-11-27--Homer heartland: why 73 million voters stuck with Trump

For the past four years we have been led to believe that everyone who votes Trump has fully embraced the @ @ @ @ @ suggests otherwise .
In the wake of this year ’ s presidential election , amid @ @ @ @ @ those who backed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , there is much handwringing that more @ @ @ @ @ for Donald Trump .
“ How could they do this ?
” “ Who are @ @ @ @ @ four years of non-stop lies , insults , attacks , nepotism , self-dealing , corruption @ @ @ @ @ , how could anyone — let alone so many — vote for him ?
The @ @ @ @ @ , taxes and the economy .
Law and order , freedom , and religious liberty @ @ @ @ @ ’ t bow to political correctness .
He tells it like it is .
Faced @ @ @ @ @ experts resort to both-sidesism and declare that America is a hopelessly divided nation , beset @ @ @

In the wake of this year’s presidential election, amid the celebration and relief from those who backed Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, there is much handwringing that more than 73 million people voted for Donald Trump.
“How could they do this?” “Who are these people?” After four years of non-stop lies, insults, attacks, nepotism, self-dealing, corruption, incompetence, and negligence, how could anyone — let alone so many — vote for him?
The knee-jerk explanation has included judges, taxes and the economy. Law and order, freedom, and religious liberty. Socialism. He doesn’t bow to political correctness. He tells it like it is. Faced with this narrative, the experts resort to both-sidesism and declare that America is a hopelessly divided nation, beset by partisanship.


crikey--2020-11-27--Both Sides Now: Trump destroyed American democracy and Australia is next. Or is it?

In this new column , educator , ethicist and philosopher Dr Leslie Cannold presents both sides of an argument .
This time , it 's all about Trump .
In this new column , educator , ethicist and philosopher Dr Leslie Cannold presents both sides of an argument .
We invite you to pick which side Cannold actually believes , and share your own view as well .
Send your thoughts to [ email protected ] with Both Sides Now in the subject line American democracy is teetering on the brink .
While Biden ’ s election may delay the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t prevent it .
Why ?
Because Trump was a symptom , not the cause , of America ’ s slide towards kleptocracy .
This means that while the 45th president ’ s departure from the White House might slow the collapse of the world ’ s oldest republic , it won ’ t reverse the trend .
Why is America ’ s democracy so brittle ?
The reason was articulated most recently in a report by the Center for American Progress , which argues that demographic changes across the country — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — spell the eventual end of the Republican party ’ s capacity to prevail in free and fair elections .
Women , people of colour and other marginalised groups disproportionately favour Democrats , and soon the vast majority of the electorate will be comprised of these groups who — if they get out and vote — will carry the day every time .
No wonder the Republicans are running scared , though Democrats should be , too .
If one party has the numbers to ensure they always win , the other side @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their will some other way .
Say , by cheating or blind support for “ their ” leader whatever he says or does .
Even violence and civil war are possible if the disenfranchised truly feel there is no other way to make their voices heard .
Or the Republican party could change .
There is nothing inevitable about women or people of colour turning their backs on conservative and populist parties .
But inclusion won ’ t be easy .
The terrible truth is that the exclusion and scapegoating of marginalised groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the infamous Trump base — feel they belong .
Could it happen in Australia ?
Some say no , but I disagree .
Australia is different to America in a number of ways , but the similarities are striking .
They include the visible absence of gender and other forms of diversity in the Liberal/National Parties , and the embrace of bigoted tropes , candidates and policies since the John Howard era to neutralise the electoral threat posed by Pauline Hanson and other racist parties .
Like the US , Australia is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our population born overseas .
Our electorate is also polarised in a way that media academic Denis Muller attributes to the influence of News Corp in both countries .
Then there ’ s the growing income and wealth inequality in Australia that , while less stark than in the US , still sees the top 1 % of Australians live in households with an average weekly income 26 times that of the bottom 5 % .
Hold on Tiger !
Trump destroyed American democracy ?
The US has just had one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its history , with turnout that — in a country where voting isn ’ t mandatory — topped the charts .
In fact , Trump got more votes than any US President before him .
Only problem for him is Biden got even more .
According to the international observers invited by the US State Department to monitor the 2020 vote , it all went down with barely a hitch .
Given free and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy , claims that US democracy is hurting , or that Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are fanciful .
Australia ’ s democracy is in good shape too .
The success of the national cabinet process — which saw cooperation between the conservative federal and mostly Labor state governments — in orchestrating Australia ’ s effective response to COVID-19 is only the latest example of how effectively our system works .
And while contempt for political leaders among Australians is high , so is our appreciation of the freedoms our democracy delivers .
According to the 2019 Freedom in the World report , Australia ranks sixth of 86 independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberal democracy .
Does all this mean that advanced democracies like Australia ’ s can ’ t do better ?
Not at all .
As the authors of the Democracy 2025 report argue , the “ legitimacy gap ” that has opened up between the ideals of democracy and what Australians feel their democracy delivers provides an “ urgent wake-up call ” to Australia ’ s political and civic leaders .
Democracies are always declared to be in crisis , according to a parliamentary paper on the subject .
And as our political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the fourth century BC , the cost of freedom is eternal vigilance .
Which side do you believe ?
Send your thoughts to [ email protected ] with Both Sides Now in the subject line .

In favour
American democracy is teetering on the brink. While Biden’s election may delay the ultimate fall of Rome, it won’t prevent it. Why? Because Trump was a symptom, not the cause, of America’s slide towards kleptocracy. This means that while the 45th president’s departure from the White House might slow the collapse of the world’s oldest republic, it won’t reverse the trend.
Why is America’s democracy so brittle? The reason was articulated most recently in a report by the Center for American Progress, which argues that demographic changes across the country — making it more educated and less white — spell the eventual end of the Republican party’s capacity to prevail in free and fair elections.
Women, people of colour and other marginalised groups disproportionately favour Democrats, and soon the vast majority of the electorate will be comprised of these groups who — if they get out and vote — will carry the day every time.


crikey--2020-11-27--The other war: how the government and military keep Australians in the dark

Andrew Hastie has a big task ahead of him if he really wants more accountability and openness .
In a @ @ @ @ @ federal MP and former Special Air Service ( SAS ) officer Andrew Hastie has this @ @ @ @ @ advocate for transparency .
Reflecting on what went wrong in Afghanistan , where SAS soldiers @ @ @ @ @ the dozen , Hastie concluded that sanitised media reporting , guided by `` legions of @ @ @ @ @ were a big part of the problem .
But will Hastie 's road to Damascus @ @ @ @ @

In a government addicted to secrecy, federal MP and former Special Air Service (SAS) officer Andrew Hastie has this week emerged as an unlikely advocate for transparency.
Reflecting on what went wrong in Afghanistan, where SAS soldiers allegedly murdered innocent civilians by the dozen, Hastie concluded that sanitised media reporting, guided by “legions of public affairs officers”, were a big part of the problem.
But will Hastie’s road to Damascus conversion cut any ice?


crikey--2020-11-27--Clown of the Week: Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi

Yesterday the Uber CEO revealed the company was considering letting drivers bid for rides — a transparent move that will @ @ @ @ @ less protected .
Yesterday Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi -- Crikey 's standout Clown of the @ @ @ @ @ Financial Review that the company is considering a trial process in Australia whereby drivers bid @ @ @ @ @ own prices .
It 's an obvious attempt to clear up all those pesky questions @ @ @ @ @ towards the workforce it relies on , cementing their status as independent contractors rather than @ @ @ @ @ Khosrowshahi inevitably tells us , it 's `` designed to empower drivers '' .
Consider @ @ @ @ @ lead to this announcement .
In the last three months , five people have died @ @ @ @ @ food delivery services .

Yesterday Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi — Crikey’s standout Clown of the Week — told The Australian Financial Review that the company is considering a trial process in Australia whereby drivers bid for rides and set their own prices.
It’s an obvious attempt to clear up all those pesky questions about the company’s responsibilities towards the workforce it relies on, cementing their status as independent contractors rather than employees. Or, as Khosrowshahi inevitably tells us, it’s “designed to empower drivers”.
Consider the string of events that lead to this announcement. In the last three months, five people have died while working for gig economy food delivery services.


crikey--2020-11-26--Watching the painful decline of a once-respected premier

Gladys Berejiklian 's open embrace of pork-barrelling completes the transformation of a once-respected leader into a premier who presides over a state of sleaze .
Now we know why Gladys Berejiklian turned a blind eye to Daryl Maguire ’ s sleaze and grifting at the expense of taxpayers .
It wasn ’ t because she was besotted with Maguire .
It was because , seemingly , she believes misusing taxpayer funds is entirely legitimate .
It wasn ’ t that she allowed her integrity to be besmirched by a romantic mistake — she had no integrity in the first place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defence of what she has now acknowledged was the pork-barrelling of the quarter-billion-dollar Stronger Communities Fund , with nearly all of the money going to Coalition voters only ?
“ It ’ s not an illegal practice , ” the premier insists .
“ Governments in all positions make commitments to the community in order to curry favour .
I think that ’ s part of the political process whether we like it or not.
” “ It ’ s not something that I know that the community is comfortable with and if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this occasion … well then I ’ m happy to accept that commentary.
” Strangely , Berejiklian ’ s sudden ‘ fessing up to rorting taxpayer funds for political purposes , to “ curry favour ” in her words , only happened after the attempt by her office to cover up the rorting by shredding documents detailing their role in the allocation of the funds — a role they had no legal authority to perform — came undone .
If Berejiklian was relaxed about using taxpayer funds for political purposes , why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also misusing taxpayer funds , his office and his connection with her ?
The premier plainly thinks she is untouchable ; that the absence of any widely-accepted successor and her popularity over the handling of the pandemic — Ruby Princess tragedy notwithstanding — means she can act with impunity , even if it means admitting to voters she uses their money to suit her own political agenda , not for the betterment of NSW .
But however secure Berejiklian thinks her reign is , she rules over a swamp of sleaze and filth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are back , after barely being gone for five minutes : MPs misusing the system for their own enrichment , governments blatantly rorting taxpayer funds for political purposes , cover-ups at the highest level , developers having walk-in access at the highest levels , a workers ’ compensation body neck-deep in scandal and a treasurer crippled by his association with it .
Meantime , ICAC begs for more funding to enable it to keep up with the tide of corruption — a request Berejiklian has rejected .
Just a few months ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competent , trustworthy leader .
Now look at her .
Rarely has a political transformation been so rapid — and so complete .

Now we know why Gladys Berejiklian turned a blind eye to Daryl Maguire’s sleaze and grifting at the expense of taxpayers. It wasn’t because she was besotted with Maguire. It was because, seemingly, she believes misusing taxpayer funds is entirely legitimate.
It wasn’t that she allowed her integrity to be besmirched by a romantic mistake — she had no integrity in the first place.
What else to conclude from her defence of what she has now acknowledged was the pork-barrelling of the quarter-billion-dollar Stronger Communities Fund, with nearly all of the money going to Coalition voters only?


crikey--2020-11-26--The unexpected health benefits of a pandemic

The perturbations of a global pandemic hint at how we might approach the future .
One of the most fascinating @ @ @ @ @ the unexpected side effects .
Not all of them are bad .
The perturbations let @ @ @ @ @ a new way of living and hint at how we might approach the future .
@ @ @ @ @ people 's lives is the potential to work from home .
But the example I @ @ @ @ @ to is the crushing victory we 've won over flu and pneumonia deaths in 2020 @ @ @ @ @ accepted hundreds of deaths each week in winter -- a burden far higher than the @ @ @ @ @ much effort to suppress .

One of the most fascinating aspects of the pandemic is the unexpected side effects. Not all of them are bad.
The perturbations let us glimpse the possibilities of a new way of living and hint at how we might approach the future. The pertinent example in many people’s lives is the potential to work from home.
But the example I’d like to draw attention to is the crushing victory we’ve won over flu and pneumonia deaths in 2020. For years we’ve accepted hundreds of deaths each week in winter — a burden far higher than the road toll we expend so much effort to suppress.


crikey--2020-11-30--Trade deal with China was always useless, despite what our leaders wish us to believe

Such bilateral trade agreements produce little economic benefit — and certainly nothing like the absurd claims made for them by @ @ @ @ @ agreement with China -- it 's not a free trade agreement ( FTA ) , @ @ @ @ @ contrary -- was borne of Tony Abbott 's desperation to appear to have an economic @ @ @ @ @ on the basis of all the things he 'd stop -- boats , climate action @ @ @ @ @ to `` free trade agreements '' with a number of regional countries as a facade @ @ @ @ @ .
Such bilateral trade agreements produce little economic benefit , as the Productivity Commission ( @ @ @ @ @ out -- and certainly nothing like the absurd claims made for them by politicians .

Australia’s trade agreement with China — it’s not a free trade agreement (FTA), despite Coalition claims to the contrary — was borne of Tony Abbott’s desperation to appear to have an economic policy.
Having been elected on the basis of all the things he’d stop — boats, climate action, deficits — he turned to “free trade agreements” with a number of regional countries as a facade of a positive economic policy.
Such bilateral trade agreements produce little economic benefit, as the Productivity Commission (PC) has long pointed out — and certainly nothing like the absurd claims made for them by politicians.


crikey--2020-11-30--For all the accolades, lest we forget the media’s role in a toxic military culture

The media 's reporting on the SAS war crimes scandal has been tremendous .
But coverage of the military has @ @ @ @ @ .
Australia ’ s media is -- rightly -- getting plenty of accolades over breaking @ @ @ @ @ crimes by elements in Australia ’ s special forces in Afghanistan .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ delivered on its promise : deep reporting that empowered courageous whistleblowers and gave voices to @ @ @ @ @ .
It refused to pull punches , sticking at it over years despite continued state @ @ @ @ @ have happened without an institution like the ABC , that trained and employed the journalists @ @ @ @ @ them the space , the resources and the time , and defended them and their @ @ @ @ @ official inquiry has rendered it safe for all media to follow up in depth and @ @ @ @ @ rare thing : a deeply Australian story that genuinely shocks the world .

Australia’s media is — rightly — getting plenty of accolades over breaking open the story about war crimes by elements in Australia’s special forces in Afghanistan. It’s an example of journalism that delivered on its promise: deep reporting that empowered courageous whistleblowers and gave voices to the victims in Afghan villages. It refused to pull punches, sticking at it over years despite continued state harassment.
It would not have happened without an institution like the ABC, that trained and employed the journalists behind the story, gave them the space, the resources and the time, and defended them and their work.
Now, the official inquiry has rendered it safe for all media to follow up in depth and the reporting has become that rare thing: a deeply Australian story that genuinely shocks the world.


crikey--2020-11-30--The big whine: Australia’s no victim when it comes to trade bullying

If you believe the media , China 's attacks on Australian exports are a major crisis wreaking havoc on companies @ @ @ @ @ truth is not so simple .
If you believe the media , China 's attacks @ @ @ @ @ major crisis threatening to wreak havoc on companies and jobs .
Outlets like the Financial @ @ @ @ @ urging Australia to cave in to China 's bullying in the name of restoring good @ @ @ @ @ great consternation when shares in Treasury Wine Estates fell 11.25 % on Friday before a @ @ @ @ @ to China 's punitive tariffs on Australian wines under the guise of anti-dumping .
But @ @ @ @ @ shares fell in late January , down from $ 17.30 on January 24 to $ @ @ @ @ @ This was not caused by Chinese tariffs , but by a profit warning because of @ @ @ @ @ ( the earlier than expected retirement of CEO Michael Clarke also added to the selling @ @ @

If you believe the media, China’s attacks on Australian exports are a major crisis threatening to wreak havoc on companies and jobs.
Outlets like the Financial Review are regularly running op-eds urging Australia to cave in to China’s bullying in the name of restoring good trade relations. There was great consternation when shares in Treasury Wine Estates fell 11.25% on Friday before a trading halt, in response to China’s punitive tariffs on Australian wines under the guise of anti-dumping.
But don’t forget: Treasury shares fell in late January, down from $17.30 on January 24 to $12.35 on January 29. This was not caused by Chinese tariffs, but by a profit warning because of weak sales in the US (the earlier than expected retirement of CEO Michael Clarke also added to the selling pressure).