crikey--2020-06-19--Politics by degree: just how educated are our political leaders?

With the government planning to jack up the cost of a humanities degree , Crikey thought it was worth looking at exactly which politicians benefited from the kind of education that now seems increasingly out of reach for young Australians .
With the government planning to jack up the cost of a humanities degree , Crikey thought it was worth looking at exactly which politicians benefited from the kind of education that now seems increasingly out of reach for young Australians .
Of the 23 Coalition ministers , nine completed a Bachelor of Arts — compared to 14 Labor shadow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ popular with the Coalition either .
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is the only person in the ministry with a Bachelor of Science degree , while two others have a Bachelor of Engineering .
Just one Labor minister ventured down the STEM route .
Coalition ministers were more likely to have an academic background in business , economics and commerce , while Labor ministers were more likely to have studied law .
Labor shadows have 41 degrees among them — one more than the Coalition .
Every Labor frontbencher holds at least a bachelor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coalition ministers — Michael McCormack , David Littleproud and Darren Chester — who have no tertiary education .

With the government planning to jack up the cost of a humanities degree, Crikey thought it was worth looking at exactly which politicians benefited from the kind of education that now seems increasingly out of reach for young Australians.
Of the 23 Coalition ministers, nine completed a Bachelor of Arts — compared to 14 Labor shadow ministers.
Science wasn’t too popular with the Coalition either. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is the only person in the ministry with a Bachelor of Science degree, while two others have a Bachelor of Engineering. Just one Labor minister ventured down the STEM route.


crikey--2020-06-19--Disorder of Australia: how our national awards are coloured by partisan politics

Analysis by Inq has revealed that the Council of the Order of Australia has become stacked with Liberal Party veterans , insiders and sympathisers .
Have the awards themselves become partisan ?
Take your pick as to the most outrageous Order of Australia award over the last two or so years .
Was it to Bronwyn Bishop ( AO ) , the former speaker of the House of Representatives whose extreme partisan behaviour besmirched the independence of the role , and who resigned from the position after misusing taxpayer funds ?
Was it Nick Minchin ( AO ) , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bearer for the party ’ s climate change denialists who also used his parliamentary role to question the proof on whether cigarettes were addictive and harmed others ?
Was it Brian Loughnane ( AO ) , federal director of the Liberal Party for 13 years and husband of Tony Abbott ’ s chief of staff Peta Credlin .
Or is those backroom political operators , including former Liberal Party director Tony Nutt , and former National Party federal director Paul Davey , who have been “ recognised ” with awards by the taxpayer-supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
An Inq investigation reveals these cases are just part of a partisan culture which now infects the Order of Australia awards .
Our analysis of Australia Day and Queen ’ s Honours awards given to ( mainly former ) politicians over 2019 and 2020 shows a startling political disparity .
A total of 62 honours were awarded : 42 to Liberals or Nationals and 20 to ALP members or independents .
This means 67 % of all political gongs went to conservative parliamentarians .
The gap is even wider when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Companion of the Order of Australia ( AC ) and Officer of the Order of Australia ( AO ) — where Liberals/Nationals received 14 of 18 awards , or 77 % .
Most honoured former state premiers and federal members .
Labor recipients included former senator Graham Richardson — a Sky News commentator , Murdoch columnist and — distantly — a “ whatever it takes ” NSW Labor Right heavy .
Our investigation reveals that the stacking of the awards has come at the same time as more politically partisan appointments are made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representatives ” — the seven individuals who consider nominations and advise the governor-general .
Key changes to the council began in the first year of the Abbott government .
In 2014 , then-prime minister Tony Abbott appointed former Liberal NT chief minister Shane Stone — a former national president of the Liberal Party — to be a community member of the council .
It was the first time since the awards began in 1975 that a former state or territory leader had been appointed to the role .
In the 40 years before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the council were largely politically unaligned .
They included sporting figures such as Olympic athlete Betty Cuthbert and cricketer Allan Border ; television personalities George Negus , Anne Fulwood , Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Mary Kostakidis .
The exceptions were trade union figures , such as Cliff Dolan and Jennie George , and a former Liberal senator Tony Messner .
In appointing Stone , Abbott had found a man close to his own heart : Stone , it has emerged , is a genuine honours enthusiast .
As the Northern Territory ’ s attorney-general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unusual step of awarding himself the legal honorific of Queen ’ s Counsel after a relatively brief stint as a barrister .
Legal magazine Justinian reported NT barrister and then-president of the Criminal Lawyers ’ Association Jon Tippett , QC likening Stone ’ s action to “ awarding yourself the Distinguished Flying Cross without ever having been up in an aircraft ” .
But the move was controversial for another reason : as a legal practitioner , Stone had been found guilty of “ unprofessional conduct ” by the NT Law Society and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ misused his professional position .
Further honours followed .
In 1998 Stone was made a Commander of the Order of Kinabalu by the Malaysian state of Sabah .
In 2006 he was elevated to the highest rank of Australian honours — Companion of the Order of Australia — under the Howard government .
Stone has also been made a member of the little-known Order of Malta .
Its website notes “ the main qualifications sought in those invited to join are to be a Catholic in good standing — to be verified by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to meet the spiritual and other duties of membership ” .
The Order certainly comes with an attractive medal , as worn here by Stone , alongside former prime minister John Howard .
Stone has also — before and since — collected a maze of company directorships , including of Australian Pacific Coal and Energex , a power company owned by the government of Queensland .
Stone was appointed to Energex in 2012 by the Newman government and resigned when the Palaszczuk government was elected , declaring bluntly , “ I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At the beginning of 2018 , after four years as a community member , Stone was elevated to the additional role of chair of the Council of the Order of Australia .
This too was a key break with a convention of independence .
Previous chairmen of the council ( all men , incidentally ) had been High Court judges , senior academics or retired armed services chiefs .
Retired air chief marshal Sir Angus Houston , who preceded Stone , had been appointed by a Labor government in 2012 .
While chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been paid more than half a million dollars per annum — $ 434,690 salary with a $ 100,000 loading , just over $ 10,000 a week — to act as the CEO of the federal government ’ s North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency ( NQLIRA ) .
Other community members of the council appointed during Stone ’ s time , and on the recommendation of the prime minister , have party political ties of varying strengths .
Tracey Hayes , whose appointment expired at the beginning of this year , was CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and also joined Stone on the advisory board of NQLIRA .
Hayes is now running as a Country Liberal Party candidate in the Northern Territory elections — a role she reportedly nominated for while still a member of the Council of the Order of Australia .
Hayes was succeeded earlier this year by Cheryl Edwardes , a prominent Western Australian Liberal who was attorney-general in the Court government in the ’ 90s , when Stone was the Northern Territory ’ s AG .
Edwardes worked for a time as director of “ external @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at mining billionaire Gina Rinehart ’ s Hancock Prospecting .
Edwardes has also had roles with Pilbara iron ore mining company Atlas Iron and Flinders Mines .
She picked up her Order of Australia gong in 2016 .
( Her husband Colin Edwardes had worked on the staff of WA Liberal ministers . )
Rupert Myer , scion of the Melbourne establishment Myer family , holds several company directorships as well as board positions in the arts .
He has a close association with one-time Liberal Party vice-president Tom Harley who was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Menzies Research Centre , with the two being co-directors of a not-for-profit grants organisation , the Aranday Foundation .
Electoral records show that Myer donated $ 3000 to the Liberal Party of South Australia in 2002 and $ 2500 in 2001 .
Myer told Inq via email that he supports candidates from different sides of politics , particularly if he thinks they make an important contribution to the public debate .
He added that he had been “ appointed to and reappointed ” to governance roles of Victorian and Commonwealth government statutory bodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hodge is CEO of Australian Property Institute ( API ) , a professional industry body .
Former Abbott government minister Bruce Billson joined the API board last year .
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet told Inq that donating to a political party was not a bar to being appointed as a community member .
And despite appearances , the Council for the Order of Australia rejected “ the assumption ” that any appointment reflected a politicisation of the awards .
“ For an appointment to be made , a nomination must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and researched using the same process and the Council considers each nomination on its merits , ” a council spokesperson told Inq .
“ While members of the council are recommended by governments , no member of the council represents a government .
They serve as individuals , bring their own perspectives and experiences to the table and operate with complete independence .
“ This independence is one of the fundamental pillars of the council and something that each member is proud of.
” They added that any change to the make-up of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government of the day ” .
Next : Two years of political patronage — so who got the gongs ?

Take your pick as to the most outrageous Order of Australia award over the last two or so years.
Was it to Bronwyn Bishop (AO), the former speaker of the House of Representatives whose extreme partisan behaviour besmirched the independence of the role, and who resigned from the position after misusing taxpayer funds?
Was it Nick Minchin (AO), the Liberal Party staffer, senator and standard bearer for the party’s climate change denialists who also used his parliamentary role to question the proof on whether cigarettes were addictive and harmed others?


crikey--2020-06-19--Sticking it up the humanities: the one ideological attack the Libs simply couldn’t resist

In a major attack on universities , the government wants to dramatically lift fees for humanities , law and commerce degrees in an effort to force students to move into preferred vocational subjects .
For weeks , the government has been urged by business and media cheerleaders not to waste the crisis engendered by the pandemic , and implement a hardline neoliberal agenda .
While so far it has resisted the impulse in industrial relations and tax out of concern about the political reaction , the government today will announce it will crack down on humanities education , dramatically increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to force students into more vocational subjects such as STEM , agriculture and nursing .
The “ reallocation ” of funding comes on top of the government ’ s refusal to assist the university sector cope with the loss of billions in revenue from foreign students due to the government ’ s border closure and urging foreign students in the country to return home .
The government previously attempted to significantly increase fees for all university courses via a deregulation agenda pushed by then-education minister Christopher Pyne in 2014 , which was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That would have led to fees of over $ 100,000 for some courses .
Under the reforms flagged by Education Minister Dan Tehan , four-year courses in areas such as law and commerce will cost over $ 50,000 .
Under a standard neoliberal economic model , education is to enable an individual to maximise their economic value as a worker , entrepreneuer or consumer , and it should be funded by a user-pays mechanism of some kind , given individuals are the primary beneficiaries of their education .
Education should also , where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ providers , who can do so more efficiently than public sector providers .
The Australian version of this — under both sides of politics — has centred around requiring students to take out loans to fund their tuition , encouraging universities to compete for students , lift their international rankings through emphasising research over teaching , and starve institutions of funding to encourage them to rely on foreign students to subsidise domestic ones and generate economic growth and exports .
Under such a model , the generalist critical thinking and analytical skills acquired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count for little beyond their value in enhancing a worker ’ s skills set for employment , with more nebulous benefits around civil society , democracy and public discourse having no economic value .
Indeed , public funding of courses that encourage individuals to question systems of distribution or neoliberal policy settings are not merely wasteful but actively damaging to the market economy .
For the Coalition , the tertiary sector is particularly problematic because education , along with the public service and health , remains the most heavily unionised sector of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employees a union member .
The tertiary sector union , the NTEU , has grown substantially over the last two decades and has been adding new members at a rapid rate in recent weeks .
Universities are also centres for climate science , to which large sections of the Coalition are hostile , and most major universities are engaged in fully or partly divesting from fossil fuel investments , to the fury of Coalition MPs .
In 2014 , the entire government , from Tony Abbott down , cheered on by neoliberal newsletter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with ANU over its divestment from Santos ( criticism petered out after Santos ’ share price fell over 70 % , rendering Abbott ’ s description of ANU ’ s divestment decision as “ stupid ” rather embarrassing ) .
As Crikey noted earlier this week , universities pay virtually no donations to political parties , meaning the tens of billions in export dollars , and quarter million jobs the sector has , are moot when it comes to policymaking — no matter which side is in power .
The dramatic increases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law or commerce degree represent still another front in the ongoing war on Australia ’ s young people , who already face systematic bias on multiple policy fronts across housing , health funding and climate action .
However , hardest hit will be students from low-income backgrounds , and especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds , for whom the dream of a university education will be pushed further out of reach unless they ’ re prepared to sign up to tens of thousands of dollars in debt even before they attempt to find housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have any interest in doing it , but because the government of the day has decided it should be a priority .
But they will merely be collateral damage in a war on universities undertaken by a government determined to not miss a chance to go after its enemies .
How will the government ’ s decision impact the future of universities — and is this a death knell for humanities in Australia ?
Let us know your thoughts by writing to [ email protected ] .
Please include your full name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Your Say section .

For weeks, the government has been urged by business and media cheerleaders not to waste the crisis engendered by the pandemic, and implement a hardline neoliberal agenda.
While so far it has resisted the impulse in industrial relations and tax out of concern about the political reaction, the government today will announce it will crack down on humanities education, dramatically increasing the cost of humanities degrees in an effort to force students into more vocational subjects such as STEM, agriculture and nursing.
The “reallocation” of funding comes on top of the government’s refusal to assist the university sector cope with the loss of billions in revenue from foreign students due to the government’s border closure and urging foreign students in the country to return home.


crikey--2020-06-19--Why, in God’s name, is the Catholic Church getting JobKeeper?

The Catholic Church has an asset base estimated to be worth more than $ 30 billion in Australia alone .
Even if it 's legal for them to access JobKeeper , how is it ethical ?
I do occasionally wonder what God thinks of the Roman Catholic Church .
The focused sophistication of its manipulations would put Machiavelli to shame .
Maybe he just admires its survival instinct , because that is a marvel to behold .
The Australian arm of the church , it turns out , has been collecting JobKeeper .
Not only that , but the church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who , in their capacity as its “ employees ” have been receiving the federal money , asking them to pay between $ 500-700 a fortnight of it back .
To the church .
Which intends to keep it .
Okay , let ’ s just pause for breath there , because that ’ s a lot to unpack .
First : why is the Catholic Church getting JobKeeper , exactly ?
Is it not one of the wealthiest institutions on earth ?
Is it not a not-for-profit charitable institution , dedicated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving ?
Does it not have an asset base estimated to be worth more than $ 30 billion , in Australia alone ?
Yep , but it ’ s still getting , and banking , the money .
But the second thing : JobKeeper is designed as a wage subsidy , to help employers cover their payrolls while they suffer through the COVID-caused downturn .
The money , by law , must go to the employees .
It is illegal for the employer to keep any of it .
It is in fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeps insisting .
The ABC uncovered that the Diocese of Parramatta in Sydney has 41 priests on JobKeeper , and that it has tried various approaches towards keeping up to half of the money for itself .
Initially this was framed as skimming off the top , but that ’ s flat-out illegal .
Then the Diocese changed tack , asking the priests instead to “ voluntarily donate ” the cash back to the church .
Not illegal , unless it ’ s coercion , but the church doesn ’ t do coercion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely kosher then .
Third thing — and hold me back here — excuse me , the priests are employees ?
This is the same Catholic Church which constructed the infamous Ellis Defence under the clever eye of Cardinal Pell , the purpose of which was to successfully enable it to avoid legal and financial liability for the acts of child sexual abuse perpetrated by its clergy members over decades and decades .
That goes back to John Ellis , who was serially sexually abused as an altar boy in the 1970s by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years later , he tried to sue the church , the NSW Court of Appeal ruled that he couldn ’ t .
The church , it found , did not exist as a legal entity and therefore didn ’ t employ anyone , and its assets were held in a trust that could not be got at by the victims of its priests .
The only person Ellis could sue was Duggan , who was dead .
The Ellis Defence was maintained by Pell and the church until the child abuse royal commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground .
Among its effects was legislation that now effectively overrides the defence and makes the church ’ s assets vulnerable to victims who choose to sue .
All well and good , but the whole underlying justification of the church ’ s machinations was that the priests , brothers , monsignors , bishops and whatevers who wear its glittering robes and swing its incense-filled baubles are not its employees .
Full .
Stop .
So , why are they getting JobKeeper ?
Well , enter the generous benefactors that we call the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artifice in having no employees among its clergy placed it outside JobKeeper ’ s rules , and it did not qualify on their behalf .
However , that was only a temporary problem , because — as the Archbishop of Sydney , Anthony Fisher , happily explained to the flock in Catholic Weekly — “ the federal government was persuaded to extend the JobKeeper allowance to clergy and employees in parishes and the archdiocese ” .
Remember Scott Morrison announcing that rule change in one of his many media conferences ?
No ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for reasons that we will never be told but let ’ s not be surprised if the word “ Hillsong ” has something to do with it , JobKeeper was stretched to accommodate the churches with precisely the same flexibility that has proved impossible for the government to extend to the now moribund arts , tourism and entertainment sectors .
Again , no law broken , all above board .
We can argue over the fiscal merit of giving taxpayer cash , under a program supposed to exist solely to keep the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wildly rich religious institutions that clearly don ’ t need it and already benefit from extremely generous treatment at our cost .
What is not up for debate is the deep , rich , shameless hypocrisy of the Catholic Church .
Been raped by a priest ?
Sorry , the church has no responsibility for that .
But when there are billions of dollars being shovelled in our names to any organisation that needs a hand getting the people for whom it is legally responsible through the COVID crisis ?
Oh yes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ka-ching .
I ’ m sorry .
This is too much .
Should the Catholic Church stop getting JobKeeper ?
Let us know your thoughts by writing to [ email protected ] .
Please include your full name to be considered for publication in Crikey ’ s Your Say section .

I do occasionally wonder what God thinks of the Roman Catholic Church. The focused sophistication of its manipulations would put Machiavelli to shame. Maybe he just admires its survival instinct, because that is a marvel to behold.
The Australian arm of the church, it turns out, has been collecting JobKeeper. Not only that, but the church bureaucracy has been writing to its priests who, in their capacity as its “employees” have been receiving the federal money, asking them to pay between $500-700 a fortnight of it back. To the church. Which intends to keep it.
Okay, let’s just pause for breath there, because that’s a lot to unpack. First: why is the Catholic Church getting JobKeeper, exactly? Is it not one of the wealthiest institutions on earth? Is it not a not-for-profit charitable institution, dedicated to Christ’s message of poverty and giving? Does it not have an asset base estimated to be worth more than $30 billion, in Australia alone?


crikey--2020-06-19--How to promote an anti-racist workplace

How to promote an anti-racist workplace

What can you do to promote an anti-racist workplace ?
Here are seven steps to get you started .
What can you do to promote an anti-racist workplace ?
You might think you ’ re the most woke person in your workplace .
Workplaces , remember those ?
Neither do I.
Let ’ s rephrase that because we ’ re now living in an era of working from home .
You might think you ’ re the most woke colleague on your team .
You ’ re not a racist — well done you .
But it ’ s time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Instagram and declaring your ability to not be racist online .
It ’ s time to make a concerted effort to promote anti-racism at work too .
It ’ s time to channel your motivation from the current Black Lives Movement to all aspects of your life , and the “ workplace ” is no different .
According to an SBS and Western Sydney University survey , 32 % of Australians have experienced racism within their workplace , and racial attacks have increased in Australia since the coronavirus pandemic started .
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workplace : • Take a look at your team • Don ’ t be afraid to talk about racism • Ask your higher-ups about what they ’ re doing to promote equality • Learn how to pronounce your colleague ’ s names • Consider whether you are “ micro-aggressive ” • Ask your colleagues about their experiences • Hold yourself accountable to continue to promote an anti-racist workplace Take a look at your team Take a look at your team .
What do you see ?
If there are few or no people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the board of your company , you need to start asking yourself why — and then ask management why too .
Don ’ t be afraid to talk about racism It might feel uncomfortable to talk about racism , but do you know what ’ s more uncomfortable ?
Avoiding the elephant in the room .
Speak up , ask your colleagues how they are feeling about the current movement , and how are they feeling in general .
Is there anything you can do to support them during this time ?
Put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it must feel like to read , watch and listen to the news right now .
Ask your higher-ups about what they ’ re doing to promote equality If your boss thinks less of you for asking the important questions , you probably need a new boss .
Ask your higher-ups what they ’ re doing to promote equality and inclusivity across the team .
Ask them about pay , ask them about diversity workshops , ask them if the company cares .
The more people who put pressure on now , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you are supporting white supremacy .
Learn how to pronounce your colleague ’ s names Learning how to pronounce your colleague ’ s names is so simple yet so powerful .
It ’ s also so annoying for anyone , no matter where they ’ re from , to hear their name being mispronounced day in , day out .
If you don ’ t know how to say it , just ask , and remember it .
Practice if you need to , but don ’ t avoid using their name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s too hard to pronounce so you won ’ t bother .
That ’ s a micro-aggression .
On the topic of micro-aggressions … Consider whether you are “ micro-aggressive ” A micro-aggression is a statement , action , or incident that is in fact an indirect , subtle , or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalised group , such as a racial or ethnic minority .
Examples of a micro-aggression include commenting that your co-worker has really good English , or is ‘ soooo articulate ’ .
A micro-aggression is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can touch her hair , it ’ s clutching your belongings when you see a person of colour ; it ’ s looking past a minority when they ’ re speaking to you ; it ’ s expecting the big boss to be white .
Don ’ t comment , don ’ t touch and adjust your expectations , now .
Ask your colleagues about their experiences If you have a relationship with a colleague in which it feels appropriate to ask them about their experiences at work , ask them .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ minority is less likely to speak up about racial incidents at work for fear of being let go .
Ask colleagues about their experiences at work and outside of work .
Not only will it help you to realise that racism is a very real issue , it will also give you the opportunity to be an ally and speak up for that colleague if they have been having a negative experience .
Hold yourself accountable to continue to promote an anti-racist workplace It ’ s time to audit our outlook .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the white mental schema , whether you think it or not .
Take a look at your own conscious or unconscious biases .
Think about times when you could have done better .
Keep track of what ’ s happening around you and commit to holding yourself accountable for creating a better anti-racist workplace .
Read : Racism in Australia| Where does Australia rank in the world for racism ?

What can you do to promote an anti-racist workplace?
You might think you’re the most woke person in your workplace. Workplaces, remember those? Neither do I. Let’s rephrase that because we’re now living in an era of working from home.
You might think you’re the most woke colleague on your team. You’re not a racist — well done you. But it’s time to go further than posting black squares on Instagram and declaring your ability to not be racist online. It’s time to make a concerted effort to promote anti-racism at work too.


crikey--2020-06-19--Racism in Australia: Where does Australia rank in the world for racism?

Where does Australia rank in the world for racism ?
Here are the findings from the most recent studies and surveys .
Racism in Australia may not always make the news headlines , but that doesn ’ t mean it doesn ’ t exist .
It ’ s difficult for research bodies to co-ordinate and rank which country exhibits the most racism in the world , due to the fact that racism isn ’ t an easy concept to quantify , and because the obvious signs and symptoms of racism are a subjective experience for many .
There are two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to decipher tolerance levels on a global scale .
A 2013 study by Swedish economists Niclas Berggen and Therese Nilsson compared the Fraser Institute ’ s Economic Freedom Index scores of 65 countries .
The Fraser Institute ’ s Economic Freedom Index examines government size , security and legal structures .
It also looks at financial stability , international trade , credit regulation , labour and business .
Berggen and Nilsson ’ s mission was to see if there was a correlation between economic freedom and levels of tolerance towards people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economists cross-examined economic freedom scores with data from the World Values Survey , which asked people from more than 80 countries to identify the kinds of people they did not want as neighbours .
One of the answers on the multiple-choice list was “ people of a different race ” .
The economists reasoned that those who said they did not want to live beside people of a different race were likely to be less tolerant and more racist .
The countries marked in red were more likely to showcase racism than those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post Less obvious were the results that showed there is a relatively high correlation between economic freedom and tolerance towards the LGBTQ+ community , but there is less tolerance towards people of colour .
“ We do not consider it strange that tolerance towards LGBTQ+ persons is most strongly related to economic freedom , due to the different character of being a LGBTQ+ person and a person of a different race .
For example , LGBTQ+ persons are to a large extent present in families and in the workplace .
This may very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are well integrated and not a threat under a liberalized economic regime .
People of another race , on the other hand , may to a larger degree be perceived as being different , less integrated and possibly a social and economic burden to society , with less tolerance emerging as a result.
” In the map shown above , Australia is marked as a tolerant country .
However , there are drawbacks to the study — namely , it can be argued that some respondents are unlikely to be honest in their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the World Values Survey data has been collected over years , as opposed to one isolated study .
So , unless every respondent ’ s mental schemas towards people of colour have remained static , this is not a fully accurate portrait of global racism .
Nonetheless , Australia ranks low in this study for racism , although there are clear signs to show that racism in Australia is a problem .
A 2015 study published by Insider Monkey also sought to rank countries from most to least racist and produced a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the world .
The researchers of this study took findings from the economists ’ 2013 study and asked another question in addition to , “ Would you like having people from another race as neighbours ?
” The second question by these researchers was more direct : “ How frequently does racist behaviour occur in your neighbourhood ?
” The findings cover responses from more than 85,000 people in 61 countries .
According to this study , the 25 most racist countries include : And before you ask , I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t on the list too .
Lastly , a 2018 survey commissioned by SBS in conjunction with Western Sydney University asked 6,000 respondents about racism in Australia .
• Approximately 31 % of respondents claimed to have ‘ negative ’ feelings towards Muslim Australians • More than 22 % claimed to have ‘ negative ’ feelings towards Middle-‐Eastern Australians • Almost a tenth of respondents ( 9 % ) had negative feelings towards Aboriginal Australians • More than 36 % believe the number of immigrants accepted into Australia is too high or much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Australia is weakened by people of different ethnicities sticking to their old ways • Some 20 % believe African refugees increase crime in Australia .
Men and older participants were more likely to believe African refugees increase crime • Almost a third ( 32 % ) of respondents reported having experienced racism within their workplace • Almost a third ( 32 % ) of respondents reported having experienced racism within an educational facility • Those who belong to a Language Other Than English ( LOTE ) background reported the highest rates of workplace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism within various educational institutions ( 55.8 % ) • The experience of racism on public transport or in the street was the highest at 34.1 % , followed by at a shop or shopping centre at 32.2 % .
Online experiences of racism were also quite high at 28.2 % • Close to half of respondents ( 48.6 % ) believe people from racial , ethnic , cultural and religious minorities should behave more like mainstream Australians • Over half of respondents ( 54.4 % ) agreed Australia should help refugees fleeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % said they believe all boats carrying asylum seekers should be turned back .
Racism in Australia — does it exist ?
Based on the most recent studies , it depends on who you ’ re asking , and evidently , what questions they ’ re answering .
Read : The moral clarity of journalism is lost if the news really is from nowhere

Racism in Australia may not always make the news headlines, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It’s difficult for research bodies to co-ordinate and rank which country exhibits the most racism in the world, due to the fact that racism isn’t an easy concept to quantify, and because the obvious signs and symptoms of racism are a subjective experience for many.
There are two studies that took a global perspective in trying to decipher tolerance levels on a global scale.
Racism in Australia | 2013 Study
A 2013 study by Swedish economists Niclas Berggen and Therese Nilsson compared the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom Index scores of 65 countries. The Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom Index examines government size, security and legal structures. It also looks at financial stability, international trade, credit regulation, labour and business.


crikey--2020-06-22--Will Bettina Arndt join the Order of Australia’s shame file?

Over its 45-year history , the Council of the Order of Australia has stripped awards from 46 people .
Is Bettina Arndt next ?
Amid the growing politicisation of the Order of Australia awards , as revealed by Inq last week , Governor-General David Hurley has now made a rare public statement indicating he was open to seeing the awards system “ evolve ” to remain relevant to modern Australia .
“ I am determined , across my term in office , to ensure that the Order of Australia is — and is perceived to be by the Australian public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the efforts and achievements of Australians , ” Hurley told The Australian today .
The governor-general ’ s comments come in the wake of Inq ‘ s coverage , which revealed a pattern of partisan political appointments over the last two years .
His critical comments put him at odds with his own awards advisory body , the Council of the Order of Australia , which has continued to reject any criticism of the awards .
But an honour given to men ’ s rights commentator and culture war figure Bettina Arndt has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s judgment , further threatening the credibility of the awards .
A spokesman for the Council of the Order of Australia has confirmed to Inq that the council is still “ considering correspondence ” in relation to Arndt ’ s appointment , five months on from this year ’ s Australia Day awards .
Arndt ’ s award “ for significant service to the community as a social commentator , and to gender equity through advocacy for men ” referred to a body of work stretching back 50 years , but it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the so-called “ fake rape ” university campus tour that provoked outrage — in particular , her claims of a “ manufactured rape crisis ” on campuses .
Soon after , Arndt offered public support for Queensland Police comments that a man who killed his partner and their children might have been “ driven too far ” .
In the wake of that , all sides of politics bar One Nation called for Arndt to be stripped of her award .
But to cancel Arndt ’ s award — or not — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over its 45-year history , the council has stripped awards from 46 people .
In most cases it has been because of a criminal conviction or because a person lied about their achievements .
No one has lost an award for expressing views which have caused public outrage or which run counter to accepted knowledge .
It would create another first : the council would have to concede its judgment is flawed because Arndt ’ s views are nothing new .
Here is a selection of names from the Order of Australia shame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go-to criminologist , former Bond University academic Paul Wilson was convicted of child sex offences and sentenced to 18 months prison .
Watkins , the former chief executive of NSW ’ s Land and Property Management Authority , received a 12-month good behaviour bond for attempting to mislead the Independent Commission Against Corruption ( ICAC ) .
The case stemmed from an ICAC investigation into the purchase of property at Currawong , Pittwater .
A prominent child protection campaigner , McMenamin pleaded guilty to charges of careless driving , driving under the influence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an accident after a car accident which led to the death of an elderly man .
She was placed on an 18-month community correction order and banned from driving for six years .
Jarvis served six weeks in jail in early 2014 for indecently assaulting a schoolgirl in Tasmania in January 2013 .
Jarvis ’ honour related to “ service to the community of Westbury through church , sporting and community groups ” .
One of Australia ’ s leading Lions Club members , Long was convicted of indecently assaulting two funeral home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Herald Sun reported that 72-year-old Long received a 10-month suspended jail sentence after being found guilty on four counts of indecent assault and one count of an indecent act .
Entertainer and one-time icon Rolf Harris had a stunning fall from grace after being convicted in the UK of the sexual assault of four underage girls .
Former NSW Labor identity Eddie Obeid — whose political career was fostered by the newly honoured Graham Richardson AO — lost his award after he was found to have given misleading evidence to a NSW @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing .
Obeid got his award in 1984 for “ services to ethnic welfare ” during the Hawke government years .
Former NSW mining union boss , John Maitland became a member of the order in 2010 during the Gillard-Rudd years for service to industrial relations in the mining sector .
He too was later found to have given misleading evidence to the NSW ICAC .
Clonda was awarded honours for services to squash but lost it all when a court found she had acted with “ guile and deception ” in business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a former Australian Wheat Board chairman , pleaded guilty to gaining financial advantage by deception and providing false or misleading information to auditors .
He received a suspended prison sentence and was fined $ 12,000 .
A former race caller who was awarded honours for services to racing , Papps was given a suspended jail sentence for an incident assault in which he pushed a pillow over his wife ’ s face .
He pleaded guilty to endangering life after a charge of attempted murder was dropped .
Former NSW Supreme Court judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a lousy $ 75 speeding ticket .
He was sentenced to two years prison .
He had received the award for service to international affairs and the promotion of human rights .
He was president of the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission for four years .
Vizard had been the hottest thing on television but in 2005 he was fined $ 390,000 and banned from managing any corporation for 10 years after abusing his position as a Telstra director .
He handed back his Order of Australia award , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honours system .
In the early 1990s , Brian Quinn was arguably the most powerful executive in Australian retailing as chairman , chief executive and chief operating officer of the Coles Myer group .
He was later found guilty of using company invoices to fund $ 4.5 million in renovations at his Templestowe home .
Australia ’ s biggest business fraudster , Bond was sentenced to seven years in prison for siphoning off more than a billion dollars from a company .
Bond had been awarded his honour under the Hawke government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Burke was sentenced in 1997 to three years in prison for stealing $ 122,585 in campaign donations .
The convictions were quashed on appeal but he was stripped of his honour in 1995 .

This story is part three in a series. Go here for part one and here for part two.
Amid the growing politicisation of the Order of Australia awards, as revealed by Inq last week, Governor-General David Hurley has now made a rare public statement indicating he was open to seeing the awards system “evolve” to remain relevant to modern Australia.
“I am determined, across my term in office, to ensure that the Order of Australia is — and is perceived to be by the Australian public — the highest form of recognition of the efforts and achievements of Australians,” Hurley told The Australian today.


crikey--2020-06-21--Forced testing and underwear removal in WA schools? Here are the facts

Despite a popular post on social media stating otherwise , there is no legislation known as the COVID-19 emergency powers act in WA .
A post shared widely on social media claims that Western Australia has passed a “ COVID-19 Emergency Powers Act ” that authorises officers to forcibly test and vaccinate children at school .
The claim was made on Twitter on May 17 , 2020 by user @ talialikeitis , a promoter of alternative health views .
It states : “ Western Australia — They just passed a Covid 19 Emergency Powers Act That will authorize officers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this includes removing their underwear.
” The tweet includes a screenshot of Western Australia ’ s declaration of a public health state of emergency and two screenshots that are untitled but mirror the wording of the WA Public Health Act .
There is also a link to the Public Health Act under the original tweet .
The tweet was then shared in the Facebook group 99 % unite Main Group “ it ’ s us or them ” which is popular with anti-vaccination supporters and had more than 60,000 members at the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 emergency powers act exist in Western Australia and does it authorise the forcible testing and vaccination of children , including removing their underwear ?
This claim is not the full story .
There is no legislation known as the COVID-19 emergency powers act in WA .
The Public Health Act 2016 , however , does set out powers that allow an authorised emergency officer to direct a person , including a child , to be tested and vaccinated under a public health state of emergency .
The act also gives emergency officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure that the direction is complied with ” including the removal of underwear if necessary .
In WA , a public health state of emergency was declared in March in response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
While the legislation gives emergency officers considerable powers , it also provides safeguards , including that the powers can only be used on the authorisation of the chief health officer .
The legislation states that the removal of clothing must be done “ with decency and sensitivity ” .
Furthermore , the removal of any child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presence of a parent or guardian who can represent and support their interests .
WA ’ s Chief Health Officer , Andrew Robertson , said that the powers invoked by the declaration of a public health state of emergency had been used to require COVID-19 testing , but no force had been used to ensure compliance .
David Cox , the chairman of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia , said that the Public Health Act 2016 is “ unquestionably a very powerful act , but it is designed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
He said the claim failed to mention safeguards and therefore provided a misleading picture .
The WA list of 2020 legislation identifies COVID-19 specific acts , but there is no “ COVID-19 Emergency Powers Act ” as mentioned in the tweet .
However , the emergency powers mentioned in the tweet are contained in sections 184 and 185 of the Public Health Act 2016 .
The current version of the act commenced on July 22 , 2019 , so it has not been amended during the COVID-19 crisis .
These powers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state of emergency , as was declared in Western Australia on March 23 2020 , in response to the COVID-19 pandemic .
Under the current Public Health State of Emergency Declaration , all of the emergency powers under the Public Health Act 2016 are available to emergency officers , including powers under sections 184 and 185 .
The state of emergency was in force on the day the tweet was posted on Twitter .
Michael Eburn from ANU College of Law said , “ in practical terms , only an employee of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or engaged in a health service provider can be classified as an emergency officer for the purposes of sections 184 and 185 ” .
He said police officers could assist an emergency officer in the execution of their duties .
Can a person be directed to be tested and vaccinated ?
Section 184 , which refers to quarantine and medical procedures , states that an emergency officer may direct a person “ to undergo medical observation , medical examination or medical treatment or to be vaccinated ” .
WA ’ s Chief Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ These powers may be used to compel a person to undergo a medical examination , including a test for COVID-19 , or to be vaccinated if there was a vaccine available.
” He said that directions under section 184 had been issued to require people to undergo testing for COVID-19 .
Laura Tomlinson , a spokeswoman for the Western Australia Department of Health said : “ There is no vaccine or immunisation programme for COVID available in WA schools or anywhere else.
” Eburn said during a public health emergency the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer to direct any person , including anti-vaxxers , to be vaccinated .
Can a person have their clothing forcibly removed ?
The claim included a screenshot of legislation that said officers may use reasonable force to remove a person ’ s clothing if it is necessary for them to be medically examined , treated or vaccinated .
Section 185 provides the power for an emergency officer or police officer to use “ reasonable force ” to ensure a direction under section 184 is complied with .
This includes removing a person ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enable the medical examination , treatment or vaccination to be carried out .
Robertson , however , pointed out : “ As COVID-19 testing involves the use of nasal/throat swabs , only clothing covering the nose or mouth would prevent testing being carried out.
” He said that section 185 had not been used .
The Law Reform Commission ’ s Dr Cox said children could be forcibly tested and vaccinated at school , but it was unlikely .
“ Theoretically they could , but it ’ s not going to happen , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasonableness that underpins the act would make medical testing impractical in a school , he said , adding that , in Western Australia , COVID-19 testing is conducted at hospitals and health clinics .
Are there safeguards in the legislation ?
Cox said : “ While the act grants wide-ranging powers , those powers would need to be exercised reasonably and only to the extent necessary.
” “ The claim is misleading , in the sense that it fails to address the safeguards that would always be applicable in any event .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be necessary to remove the underwear of a person but that said , the act is drafted broadly and perhaps such a circumstance exists where it would be necessary for that to be done , ” he said .
Marco Rizzi , senior lecturer at the UWA Law School said , reasonableness underpins section 185 to make sure the powers can not be exercised arbitrarily .
“ While it ’ s possible for an emergency officer to require the removal of clothing , there are guarantees built into section 185 to ensure it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Removal of any clothing must be done “ with regard to the gender of the relevant person , minimising intrusiveness and , where the relevant person is a child , in the presence of a responsible person who can provide the child with support and represent their interests ” , he said .
Do these powers conflict with any existing laws ?
Under a state of emergency , the government is able to respond rapidly to a public emergency .
In order to resolve the crisis , the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can only be used in exceptional circumstances .
Under the public health state of emergency that has been in place since March , emergency powers are limited to the sections listed in this document that refer to the Public Health Act 2016 .
Eburn said there are a number of laws that are in conflict with these emergency powers .
One of them is the law that medical treatment requires the patient ’ s consent .
“ Clearly the emergency powers under the Public Health Act override all those conflicting laws , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers under Public Health State of Emergency

The claim
A post shared widely on social media claims that Western Australia has passed a “COVID-19 Emergency Powers Act” that authorises officers to forcibly test and vaccinate children at school.
The claim was made on Twitter on May 17, 2020 by user @talialikeitis, a promoter of alternative health views.
It states: “Western Australia — They just passed a Covid 19 Emergency Powers Act That will authorize officers to test & vaccinate children at school — this includes removing their underwear.”


crikey--2020-06-21--Employers have a duty to keep staff safe, no matter where they work

A landmark ruling has brought into sharp relief the potential responsibilities of Australian employers to workers experiencing violence .
As the line between work and home continues to blur during the coronavirus pandemic , a landmark ruling has brought into sharp relief the potential responsibilities of Australian employers to thousands of workers who are experiencing violence .
The NSW Court of Appeal upheld a Workers Compensation Commission decision late last month , stating that the two children of Michel Carroll , who was murdered in 2010 , will receive $ 450,000 in death benefits .
Carroll lived with her de @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also her colleague at a family financial advisory firm .
Hill experienced paranoid delusions that Carroll was conspiring to steal his clients .
He was charged with her murder but found not guilty on the grounds of mental illness .
The NSW Court of Appeal heard there was a direct connection between Hill ’ s delusions , Caroll ’ s employment and her death .
Chris Murphy , special counsel in insurance and workers compensation , described the case as a “ very poignant example ” of how workers compensation in Australia has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with more than “ uncontroversial claims ” of workplace injury .
“ [ With the pandemic ] , employers are now exposed to scenarios that they have far less control over than they have had in the traditional workplace , ” Murphy said .
“ In this case this woman was tragically murdered while she was in her pyjamas .
One of the facts that was important to the arbitrator was that there were [ work ] files in her bedroom , so the lines [ between home and work ] are clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chief executive officer Hayley Foster said this blurring has “ significantly ” impacted women in violent situations , especially during the pandemic .
“ Women have reported to us being monitored around the clock at home and being subjected to horrendous acts of violence and intimidation , all while trying to maintain their employment working from home , ” she said .
“ We ’ ve had women subjected to serious physical and sexual assaults or threats on their children ’ s lives , and having to get on and try to finish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same day.
” Foster said some women had been using “ extensive amounts of make-up to cover the welts on their face and neck ” before online meetings .
“ And then we have emotional and psychological abuse , ” she said .
“ Partners make them clean , look after children and service their sexual needs during the day , leaving only the hours in the night when he is asleep to try to “ catch up ” on work , only to wake up sleep deprived and traumatised for another day.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former intimate partner since age 15 .
The “ vast majority ” of women experiencing violence are in the workforce and for many of them the workplace is “ an escape from being terrorised at home ” , Foster said .
Some Australian employers have picked up the mantle through paid domestic violence leave , which Australian Services Union NSW branch secretary Natalie Lang said was available to around one in three workers across the country .
She said the leave is often used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attend appointments and make safety plans to leave their abuser while under the guise of going to work .
But while many employers , including the NSW public service , have paid domestic violence leave , a woman ’ s right to safety shouldn ’ t depend on who her employer is , Lang said .
“ A woman shouldn ’ t be in a situation where she has to either be in the same environment as her abuser or risk losing her job , ” Lang said .
For help or information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call them on 1800 737 732 .
The Men ’ s Referral Service is aimed at men who need help to stop violent or controlling behaviour , but it also supports victims and families .
You can call on 1300 766 491 .

As the line between work and home continues to blur during the coronavirus pandemic, a landmark ruling has brought into sharp relief the potential responsibilities of Australian employers to thousands of workers who are experiencing violence.
The NSW Court of Appeal upheld a Workers Compensation Commission decision late last month, stating that the two children of Michel Carroll, who was murdered in 2010, will receive $450,000 in death benefits.
Carroll lived with her de facto partner Steven Hill, who was also her colleague at a family financial advisory firm. Hill experienced paranoid delusions that Carroll was conspiring to steal his clients. He was charged with her murder but found not guilty on the grounds of mental illness.


crikey--2020-06-22--Social distancing in Victoria

Social distancing in Victoria

Here is the latest on coronavirus social distancing rules in Victoria .
This article will be updated on a regular basis to keep you informed .
Victoria was supposed to be further reducing coronavirus restrictions today , June 22 .
Following the latest outbreak throughout Victoria , the roll-out of fewer social distancing restrictions is being quickly rolled back in .
Here is the latest update on : • What are the fines if you don ’ t follow the rules ?
The state of emergency in Victoria is being extended until July 19 , which means that the Victorian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and isolation requirements , as well as other directions from the Chief Health Officer .
This means that residents of Victoria may only have 5 visitors over to their house at one time and may only meet in groups of 10 outside of the home .
Restaurants and bars will be allowed to serve 20 patrons at one time , adhering to social distancing rules .
In May , Victorian government said Victorians may leave the home for five reasons : • To shop for food and other necessary goods and services • @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – for example , this includes shared parenting obligations or providing care and support to an unwell , disabled , elderly or pregnant friend or relative • To attend work or education where you can ’ t do those things from home • To exercise and participate in some recreational activities adhering to the rules • To visit friends , family and loved ones while adhering to the rules Given the extended state of emergency , the above largely still applies .
In a June 21 release , the Victorian government says : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe .
If you do need to see people keep your distance .
No handshakes and no hugs .
Maintain good hygiene .
Don ’ t share food or drinks .
Avoid crowds .
And if you ’ re unwell – stay home.
” Schools in Victoria started reopening on May 26 , with most schools offering face to face learning by June 9 .
There will be no clear indication of when workplaces will reopen .
In the latest announcement , Andrews says that people who can work remotely should continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation will be re-evaluated at the end of July .
It is likely that there will be more answers on when Victorians can return to work by stage two of Morrison ’ s three-stage plan .
As it stands , non-essential businesses are closed , as are offices in which the work can be performed remotely .
If you are a business owner and unsure about where you stand , you can call the Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15 .
The Business Victoria team will be able to provide you with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses can remain open and how to keep these workplaces safe .
There are no limits on how far you can travel within Victoria .
If you are using private modes of transport , social distancing rules apply and you should only travel with members of your household .
Public transport is still active , however , passengers are asked to avoid travelling during peak hours if they need to get to school or work .
While on public transport , passengers are asked to maintain social distancing and wash their hands thoroughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are no restrictions on crossing Victoria ’ s border , however , the border rules of other states will apply to you if you cross them and you need to have a reasonable reason to travel .
• Cafes and restaurants with contact tracing in place • Universities and TAFEs , although many have resorted to online lectures A number of national and state parks are also in the process of re-opening .
What are the fines if you don ’ t follow the rules ?
Victoria Police has been given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of up to $ 1,652 for individuals and up to $ 9,913 for businesses who refuse or fail to comply with the Chief Health Officer ’ s and Deputy Chief Health Officer ’ s emergency directions or public health risk directions .
On the spot fines are at the discretion of police officers .
Read : What is the unemployment rate in Australia ?

Victoria was supposed to be further reducing coronavirus restrictions today, June 22.
Following the latest outbreak throughout Victoria, the roll-out of fewer social distancing restrictions is being quickly rolled back in.
Here is the latest update on:


crikey--2020-06-22--Politicians shouldn’t get awards for just doing their jobs

By definition , politicians are supposed to serve their communities .
So why do they keep getting gongs ?
In October 2014 , I was surprised to receive a letter from Canberra in an envelope bearing an embossed crest .
It was from the governor-general ’ s secretary , advising me that I was being considered for investiture with the Medal of the Order of Australia , and asking if I would be willing to accept such an honour .
The truth is , I had always regarded such formal honours as the preserve of the rich , the powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was somewhat cynical as to my eligibility .
But I resolved to consider the offer carefully , particularly in the knowledge that the Australian honours system had been created in 1975 by then prime minister Gough Whitlam “ for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or meritorious service ” — which sounded quite noble .
It was also , of course , designed to replace the pre-existing British awards which tended ( one way or another ) merely to reinforce the class system .
So I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard in his time to achieve a more egalitarian society .
Indeed , many of my heroes and social champions have been awarded Australian honours over the years .
So ( on deep reflection ) I felt that I was in honourable company , and that this was an honour in which I could participate .
Nevertheless , it was a hard decision .
Many people whose services to the Australian community have been dubious to say the least have been awarded the Order of Australia — the names of Rolf Harris , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mind ( though all three have since been stripped of their honours ) .
There have also been many whose only contribution has been to belong to the “ right ” political party , or to know the “ right ” people .
But there are always bad apples .
The reality is that honours should be awarded regardless of political allegiances or the degree to which those allegiances polarise society — and that requires a degree of objectivity that is often hard to achieve .
The Council of the Order of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not impossible , job in balancing rectitude and impropriety with respect to controversial politicians .
It is so much simpler to consider the political task of “ policy formulation ” as being beyond the bounds of “ ethics ” , and those who create policy as being innately honourable .
To do otherwise would , it seems , bring an improper political perspective to the role .
But politicians fall into a class of people whose specific function is the furtherance of the interests of the communities they ( ostensibly ) serve .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be regarded as “ their job ” , and their remuneration by way of salary and perks and pensions should ( it could be argued ) be more than sufficient reward .
What would otherwise be considered to be “ extra-curricular ” work , such as membership of local clubs or voluntary associations , should be seen as an extension of their political jobs for which their salaries and perks reward them , and from which they benefit when the next election roles around .
The “ bad works ” that politicians do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — in the ballot box or by legal sanctions ( such as would be recommended by a federal ICAC , if we had one ) .
For these reasons — if for no other — there is a compelling argument that all politicians should be exempt from Australian honours while they hold office , and for a period of several years after leaving politics .
That would insulate the honours system from the common criticism that it is merely “ mates looking after mates ” .

In October 2014, I was surprised to receive a letter from Canberra in an envelope bearing an embossed crest. It was from the governor-general’s secretary, advising me that I was being considered for investiture with the Medal of the Order of Australia, and asking if I would be willing to accept such an honour.
The truth is, I had always regarded such formal honours as the preserve of the rich, the powerful, or the conformistas. So I was somewhat cynical as to my eligibility.
But I resolved to consider the offer carefully, particularly in the knowledge that the Australian honours system had been created in 1975 by then prime minister Gough Whitlam “for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or meritorious service” — which sounded quite noble.


crikey--2020-06-22--Time for the government — and media — to tell the truth about cyber hysteria

The government has no right to lecture anyone about cybersecurity while it is party to making the world 's IT networks less secure — all in the name of spying for western corporations .
If the government were serious about protecting Australia ’ s businesses and governing institutions from “ sophisticated state-based cyber actors ” , there ’ s a pretty simple thing it could do : instead of using security flaws in widely used software for commercial espionage , it could alert software manufacturers to them .
But it won ’ t do that , because nonsense like Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which a prime minister and his defence minister breathlessly announced the nation was under attack — are about theatre and distraction .
The follow-up to Scott Morrison ’ s histrionics was today ’ s warning that businesses would — in news that must have gladdened the hearts of every CIO in the country — be forced to invest in greater cybersecurity .
Except , the government ’ s latest cybersecurity strategy , being assembled by the Keystone Cops of the Home Affairs Department , is already months late .
In fact , Home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it comes to meeting the basics of the government ’ s own internal cybersecurity requirements — having been repeatedly chipped by the Australian National Audit Office and the Joint Committee for Public Accounts and Audit about its poor cybersecurity performance .
That ’ s how seriously the government takes cybersecurity .
To be fair , Home Affairs is merely composed of bumbling , under-resourced , badly led bureaucrats .
Other sections of government are a direct threat to the cybersecurity of Australian business , institutions and individuals : the Australian Signals Directorate ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security agencies engaged in signals intelligence .
As part of the Five Eyes and its intelligence-gathering infrastructure , Australian agencies like ASD routinely exploit security weaknesses in widely-available software used by business , governments and other institutions — exactly like China , Russia , every other intelligence service and criminal groups worldwide .
Together , they power a multi-billion dollar global industry based on rapidly identifying security weaknesses in software products from Microsoft , Apple and all other major IT providers , and then exploiting them before the manufacturers realise they are there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NSA official told Crikey a couple of years ago that the NSA fails to tell manufacturers about around 10 % of security flaws in widely used software , so that it can exploit them — and share them with allied agencies like ASD to be exploited .
That means that the Australian government is lecturing us all about making sure our IT systems are fully patched — but actually is party to withholding information from software manufacturers that would better enable them to quickly patch flaws .
Think that ’ s just conspiracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criticised the NSA for doing exactly that , after a worldwide ransomware attack exploiting a Microsoft XP flaw .
To make matters worse , the NSA had had its trove of exploits — the software tools that exploit the security flaws — stolen , and one of them was the basis for the software behind the ransomware attack .
The CIA later suffered a similar fate .
A recently released report revealed that the CIA ’ s security around its software tools was “ woefully lax ” and that it was more focused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Given this , any Five Eyes government has no right to be lecturing companies about keeping their systems updated and patched .
They ’ re as big a part of the problem as the Chinese/Russians/criminals/insert bogeyman of the month here .
All this might be justified if outfits like ASD were pursuing terrorists , child abusers or organised crime .
In fact , their priority is commercial espionage , like the Chinese .
Just ask ASD : they ’ re the ones who spied on Indonesian trade negotiators while they were talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trade dispute with the US .
The “ highly useful ” information was used to benefit US corporations .
That ’ s just one of a long list of examples of Five Eyes agencies engaging in commercial espionage revealed by Edward Snowden .
How do we know commercial espionage is a priority over fighting terrorism et al for western intelligence agencies ?
Remember that when Alexander Downer and John Howard ordered the Australian Secret Intelligence Service ( ASIS ) to illegally bug the Timor-Leste cabinet in 2004 , it was to advantage Woodside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In doing so , they took precious resources away from counter-terrorism operations in Indonesia at a time when Islamist terrorism against Australia was surging .
Had ASIS been doing its counter-terrorism task rather than , at the direction of Howard and Downer , bugging the cabinet office of a micro-state , it ’ s possible that eight people may not have perished in the September 9 , 2004 car bombing targeting the Australian embassy in Jakarta .
We can never know for sure .
But the Australian government had indicated its priorities : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stopping terrorism .
What a shame neither the government nor the media , given to breathlessly reporting Australia ’ s alleged victimisation by Chinese hackers , ever bothers to provide the full story .

If the government were serious about protecting Australia’s businesses and governing institutions from “sophisticated state-based cyber actors”, there’s a pretty simple thing it could do: instead of using security flaws in widely used software for commercial espionage, it could alert software manufacturers to them.
But it won’t do that, because nonsense like Friday’s cybersecurity media conference — in which a prime minister and his defence minister breathlessly announced the nation was under attack — are about theatre and distraction.
The follow-up to Scott Morrison’s histrionics was today’s warning that businesses would — in news that must have gladdened the hearts of every CIO in the country — be forced to invest in greater cybersecurity. Except, the government’s latest cybersecurity strategy, being assembled by the Keystone Cops of the Home Affairs Department, is already months late.


crikey--2020-06-21--When will cinemas open in Australia?

When will cinemas open in Australia?

When will cinemas open again ?
Here ’ s the latest on when you will likely be able to go to the movies , as well as what a night at the cinema will now look like .
When will cinemas open in Australia ?
Cinemas will be allowed to re-open across Australia during stage two of the three-stage coronavirus roadmap to recovery , as laid out by Prime Minister Scott Morrison .
During stage two , cinemas will be allowed to open their doors to 20 patrons , as long as they follow social distancing rules ( i.e .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1.5 metres from one another ) .
The exact date for cinemas opening across Australia will depend on when each state and territory enters stage two of the coronavirus recovery plan .
Here ’ s what we know .
Cinemas in New South Wales are expected to reopen on July 1 .
Cinemas are expected to open on June 22 .
Despite the re-tightening of restrictions in Victoria over the weekend , some cinemas will still be opening to 20 patrons at a time , others will be waiting until July 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Victoria becomes clearer .
Cinemas in Queensland were allowed to reopen on June 12 , when the state entered stage two of the recovery plan .
During this stage , groups of 20 people will be allowed to meet each other in public .
It is also expected that gyms , swimming pools , museums , libraries and camping areas will re-open during this stage .
Cinemas in Western Australia were allowed to reopen on June 6 , during stage three of the recovery roadmap .
This date has not yet been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take place four weeks from the commencement date of stage three , according to the Western Australian government .
During stage three , public playgrounds , outdoor gym equipment , skate parks , zoos , galleries , museums and concert venues are permitted to open , with gathering limits .
Cinemas in Tasmania were allowed to reopen on June 15 , during stage two of the Tasmanian roadmap to recovery .
This date is subject to public health advice .
If stage two goes ahead as planned , 20 patrons at a time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tasmania , as well as restaurants andcafes , museums , galleries , theatres , performance venues , historic sites , religious gatherings and weddings .
Cinemas in South Australia were allowed to reopen on June 8 , during stage two of the South Australian roadmap to recovery .
If stage two goes ahead as planned , 20 patrons at a time will also be allowed to visit restaurants , cafes , and beauty , nail , massage and tattoo parlours , following the one-person-per-four-square-metre rule .
Cinemas in Northern Territory were allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three of the region ’ s recovery roadmap .
During stage three , an unspecified number of patrons will be allowed to attend theatres , concert halls , music halls , dance halls , nightclubs or any other similar entertainment venue in approved configuration , according to the Northern Territory government .
There is no specified date for when cinemas in the Australian Capital Territory will re-open , but it is expected that cinemas will not reopen in ACT until July .
In an ACT government statement , Chief Health Officer , Dr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have eased , our responsibilities have not .
Be mindful when you leave the house and continue to maintain physical distance and good hand hygiene .
We need to behave as though we have COVID-19 and everyone around us has COVID-19.
” This article will be regularly updated to keep you updated about when cinemas are open in your area .
Read : When will gyms open in Australia ?

When will cinemas open in Australia? Cinemas will be allowed to re-open across Australia during stage two of the three-stage coronavirus roadmap to recovery, as laid out by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
During stage two, cinemas will be allowed to open their doors to 20 patrons, as long as they follow social distancing rules (i.e. cinema-goers will need to maintain a distance of 1.5 metres from one another). The exact date for cinemas opening across Australia will depend on when each state and territory enters stage two of the coronavirus recovery plan.
Here’s what we know.


crikey--2020-06-23--The government won’t go green after COVID-19 — and the public won’t care

History tells us that the searing urgency for climate action after the summer 's bushfires will cool unless principled people keep up the good fight .
Sorry .
If you believe COVID-19 will change everything , that Australia will “ bounce forward ” and begin a new era of sustainability , you ’ re indulging in magical thinking .
The momentum for climate action after the Black Summer bushfires has been trampled by coronavirus , and the economic downturn will ensure it doesn ’ t get back up .
How do I know this ?
Because we ’ ve been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a concerted public push for climate action in Australia was 2006 .
The millennium drought produced the driest year on record for many parts of the country .
Then 82 % of Australians were concerned about global warming ; 67 % thought that if we didn ’ t act immediately it would be too late .
Only 13 % thought climate fears were overstated .
But then the drought broke , we had the global financial crisis and were subjected to a $ 22 million campaign by the Minerals Council of Australia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some media — to stop the mining super tax .
That campaign perpetuated the big zombie lies that can ’ t be killed : only mining can sustain the Australian way of life and create jobs .
It cost then-prime minister Kevin Rudd his place in The Lodge and ensured no politicians would seriously challenge mining profits again .
By 2013 only 40 % of Australians thought we had to act immediately and a whopping 33 % thought climate risks were exaggerated .
Now look at today .
Under the cover of COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve seen coal and gas run rings around checks and balances .
This includes a coal mine under Sydney ’ s drinking water , a multimillion-dollar relief package for miners , more than 7000 square kilometres being opened to gas exploration in Queensland , and the moratorium on onshore gas exploration in Victoria being lifted .
Exemptions were given to mines to keep operating while most businesses were forced to close , despite concerns about fly-in-fly-out workers spreading coronavirus to remote communities .
The federal National COVID-19 Co-ordination Commission is stacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gas baron is leading the Northern Territory ’ s Economic Reconstruction Commission .
And the public campaigns to protect fossil-fuel interests are going gangbusters .
Companies have used the pandemic as an opportunity to boost their credentials as good corporate citizens and humanise their trade , even as their activities damage our climate and the right to a safe future .
The Adani group has a social media campaign # PortsOfProsperity , which talks about how it has kept working so # GoodnessNeverStops .
BHP and Rio Tinto have promoted their donations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ InThisTogether .
Head of the Queensland Resources Council Ian Macfarlane had a joint press conference with Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in which he was lavishly praised for his organisation donating laptops to secondary schools .
Running concurrently is the campaign for tax breaks , a reduction in environmental rules , taxpayer-funded “ incentives ” for exploration and “ flexible ” workplaces .
No , state and federal governments will not learn the lesson of the Black Summer bushfires , which , including deaths caused by bushfire smoke , killed 484 people — more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in combat during the Vietnam War .
The biggest predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour .
The public will refocus on immediate back pocket concerns , the fossil-fuel lobby will prevail in public policy , and the greenhouse gases will keep heating our atmosphere .
It ’ s up to ethical individuals and organisations to redouble their efforts to try to stop history repeating itself .
Belinda Noble is the founder of BeNoble Communications and the co-founder of Communicators Declare

Sorry. If you believe COVID-19 will change everything, that Australia will “bounce forward” and begin a new era of sustainability, you’re indulging in magical thinking.
The momentum for climate action after the Black Summer bushfires has been trampled by coronavirus, and the economic downturn will ensure it doesn’t get back up.
How do I know this? Because we’ve been here before.


crikey--2020-06-23--Inside the battle for control of RSL Victoria

As the fight for control of RSL Victoria heats up , the old guard are doing all they can to block anti-pokies reformers .
Will the conflict escalate to the Supreme Court ?
Crikey readers were first introduced to the governance issues at RSL Victoria in last July when we summed up the controversial 2019 AGM .
There was a further update a month ago , after it became apparent the league was intending to sell off its Vasey RSL Care aged care division , a sale which would help it meet a $ 68 million pokies licence obligation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been bleeding cash during the COVID-19 shutdown , particularly due to the forced closure of its 52 pokies venue which normally extract more than $ 200 million a year from gamblers .
It ’ s the state ’ s third biggest pokies operator after Woolworths and Crown Melbourne .
Over the past 18 months , a group of younger veterans led by Hawthorn RSL president Lucas Moon , alongside Dan Cairnes and Dave Petersen , have been spearheading a campaign for RSL Victoria to reduce its reliance on gambling and instead focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Vasey RSL Care division which houses more than 500 elderly and vulnerable veterans .
The reform leaders were profiled in The Age in April last year .
Their campaign has now reached its final stage , with all three former soldiers having nominated to join the RSL Victoria board .
However , as you can see from these ballot papers snail-mailed to the 200-plus Victorian sub-branches last week , neither Moon or Petersen have been accepted as candidates .
The old guard in charge of RSL Victoria , led by a group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reform from the outset .
This has even included rejecting Moon ’ s nomination for treasurer , even though he was the only candidate .
Moon is a CPA and has held a range of senior roles in the construction industry .
He is a veteran of Australian peace-keeping in East Timor and is also an impressive governance advocate .
Seeing that there were no other nominees for treasurer , the position will be vacant .
The obvious solution would be for the board to appoint Moon through a casual vacancy process after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old guard are resisting change and renewal , instead preferring a fight .
RSL Victoria is one of Australia ’ s 20 largest not-for-profit charitable institutions with assets of around $ 1.5 billion and annual revenues exceeding $ 300 million .
Yet it is running its own election , with the board ’ s hand-picked CEO Jamie Twidale being the returning officer for the board contest .
He decides whether candidates can stand or not .
So how did Twidale treat the reform leaders when they nominated for the board ?
Moon was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t done the requisite two years of service on a committee .
Moon rejects this , as he has been on the committee of Hawthorn RSL since late 2018 , and president for over a year .
He also served as acting treasurer of the Boronia RSL for eight months almost 20 years ago .
Twidale also rejected Petersen ’ s board nomination , despite his two years of service , including a stint as president of the Camberwell RSL , being even clearer than Moon ’ s .
Both of those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Victorian Supreme Court over the coming weeks , although everyone is waiting for the date of the AGM to actually be set .
It ’ s a strange organisation that sends out ballot papers for an AGM which is yet to be called .
As for Cairnes , his three years of service as vice president of the Combined Tramways/East Melbourne sub-branch in Fitzroy was irrefutable , so his nomination was accepted — but then he was the only candidate whose colour photo was not included in ballot papers .
The incumbent board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tramways sub-branch building in Fitzroy .
This was the original pokies-free sub-branch where the younger veterans gathered .
Cairnes , Moon and their colleagues then lost control to the old guard after a contentious EGM last year at the Fitzroy Town Hall , sparking a mass exodus of members to Hawthorn RSL .
The old guard played a hard game as they took control of the Tramways sub-branch , changing the locks , padlocking the front door and now deciding to sell the building , which is not suitable for poker machines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ RSL Victoria board positions are up for grabs over the coming weeks , including the presidency which has three candidates running .
The only female director Michelle Campbell has had enough and won ’ t be recontesting so it will be an all-male board going forward .
The youngest incumbent director on the board , Glen Ferrarotto , has been nominated for the presidency by Hawthorn RSL on a partially-censored platform of bringing the warring parties together .
Ferrarotto quit as a main board director earlier this month as he didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the contentious decisions being made .
He also encountered some interesting editing of his election materials , including removal of a reference to the fact he is currently doing an Australian Institute of Company Directors course on governance .
If there are any lessons from this saga , one of them is that major institutions should hire independent third parties to run their contested board elections .
If it is good enough for unions , it should be good enough for the likes of RSL Victoria .
Crikey contacted multiple representatives of RSL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond before deadline .

Crikey readers were first introduced to the governance issues at RSL Victoria in last July when we summed up the controversial 2019 AGM.
There was a further update a month ago, after it became apparent the league was intending to sell off its Vasey RSL Care aged care division, a sale which would help it meet a $68 million pokies licence obligation to the Victorian government.
RSL Victoria has been bleeding cash during the COVID-19 shutdown, particularly due to the forced closure of its 52 pokies venue which normally extract more than $200 million a year from gamblers. It’s the state’s third biggest pokies operator after Woolworths and Crown Melbourne.


crikey--2020-06-23--The honours system may evolve, but don’t expect openness any time soon

Even the monarchists think the Australian honours system needs to be overhauled .
But what are the chances politicians make the process more transparent and accountable to the public ?
This story is part four in a series .
Find part one here , part two here and part three here .
You know the honours system has lost the plot when even the monarchists are calling for them to be more egalitarian .
Today , Philip Benwell , national chair of the Australian Monarchist League , joining the push for a review into who receives an award .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s too much emphasis on “ service to politics or business ” ) adds to the pressure for change which has built since Inq last week revealed the extent of the politicisation of the awards .
Our analysis revealed that over 75 % of the Order of Australia ’ s most prestigious political awards in 2019 and 2020 went to Liberal and National party figures , including backroom operators pushing a partisan political cause .
It ’ s another sign of serious trouble when the governor-general , David Hurley , concedes that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to change , lest they lose relevance to the community .
But what would change look like ?
At the heart of the awards process is an opaque system of decision-making with plenty of scope for political influence to be brought to bear .
For a start it is the prime minister who appoints the “ community ” members of the Council of the Order of Australia — a group of seven citizens who might , theoretically , provide a “ real world ” reality check to appointments .
Yet current community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your average Joe .
Most are highly networked , wealthy individuals holding multiple company directorships , and who are very at home in the corporate world .
Some , as Inq has documented , have direct Liberal party links .
The prime minister , too , appoints the chair of the 19 member council .
( The current chair , senior and highly connected Liberal figure Shane Stone , was appointed by Malcolm Turnbull in a break from a long-standing tradition of appointing non-politicians to the role . )
Then there is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ award .
In theory this all happens somehow out of the blue with citizens quietly nominating a person they think is worthy and gathering their supporting evidence and documents and sending it to the awards secretariat , without letting on any of this to the person in question .
It ’ s all meant to be a kind of This Is Your Life surprise when you get the official letter from the G-G ’ s office .
In practice though , the system is manipulated by corporates keen to add lustre to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politicians rewarding mates in the political club .
The awards , it emerges , are their own industry .
A decade ago a Brisbane nurse called Karen Kline attempted to get to the truth of how an award is made but ultimately ran up against a wall of secrecy .
Kline had nominated a man called Laurence Laikind for his record of work fighting disability discrimination .
Laikind , who is blind , had just the sort of qualifications and achievements you might want in awards for an everyday hero .
Yet he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not known .
Kline asked the Council of the Order of Australia ’ s secretariat for documents , processes and guidelines that informed their decision , but they refused to give any .
Her freedom of information request was refused .
She then took the case to the Federal Court and ultimately , in 2013 , to the High Court where she was represented pro-bono by Ron Merkel QC .
The High Court made the ruling that documents relating to the governor-general ’ s “ substantive powers and functions ” were excluded from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 ) of the FOI Act .
Freedom of information did not apply .
Speaking to Inq seven years later , Kline still grasps for reasons as to why her nomination of Laikind wasn ’ t accepted , including that papers from the council might have gone astray in the post .
Unable to get answers or any documentation her verdict is that the awards process is overly secretive — “ a secret society ” , she calls it .
At the same time there is no shortage of awards within the governor-general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the start of the awards in 1975 every former “ official secretary ” to the governor-general bar one has been recognised by the honours system .
It started with Sir David Smith who was given an AO , the second highest honour .
Then came Douglas Sturkey ( AM ) , Martin Bonsey ( AO ) , Malcolm Hazell ( AM ) , Mark Fraser ( OAM ) .
The Order of Australia may well need to “ evolve ” to give greater recognition to every day heroes , as the G-G @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chances of politicians making the process transparent and , through that , accountable to the public ?

This story is part four in a series. Find part one here, part two here and part three here.
You know the honours system has lost the plot when even the monarchists are calling for them to be more egalitarian.
Today, Philip Benwell, national chair of the Australian Monarchist League, joined the push for a review into who receives an award. His comments (he told The Australian there’s too much emphasis on “service to politics or business”) add to the pressure for change which has built since Inq last week revealed the extent of the politicisation of the awards.


crikey--2020-06-23--A decade on, there are valuable lessons from the Gillard years

Ten years on , the Gillard government is associated with scandal and soap opera .
But its economic successes hold lessons for Australia in 2020 .
Ten years ago , the government of Kevin Rudd imploded and Julia Gillard secured the numbers to replace him as Labor leader .
The following day , she became prime minister when Rudd declined to contest the leadership .
Instead , Rudd went to the backbench and began plotting to destabilise Gillard , and came within an ace of wrecking Labor ’ s 2010 election campaign until he forced Gillard to agree to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of course , Rudd ’ s wrecking was only just beginning .
The Gillard minority government became a byword for indiscipline , dysfunction and infighting , with moments of outright sleaze , courtesy of disgraced Labor MP Craig Thomson , and speaker Peter Slipper — elevated to that position to secure a precious extra number in the House of Reps and welsh on a deal for gambling reform with independent Andrew Wilkie .
The Gillard government , and the incessant sniping by Rudd and his cronies , transformed Parliament House into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasional touches of Benny Hill when Tony Abbott fled the chamber to avoid voting on the same side as Thomson .
Even after Rudd engineered his return to the prime ministership in 2013 , voters were simply waiting to turn to Tony Abbott with relief that something approaching normality might be returned .
Little did they know .
But despite the chaos , Gillard presided over an extraordinary period in the Australia economy .
In the aftermath of the financial crisis , US and UK unemployment was above 8 % , and often @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2010-13 ; Euro area unemployment was above 10 % .
In Australia it averaged 5.2 % through Gillard ’ s prime ministership .
Wages growth averaged 3.6 % annually .
Private sector labour productivity averaged 0.6 % growth a quarter — three times the rate of the last five years .
GDP growth averaged 0.73 % per quarter , including a negative quarter due to Cyclone Yasi in 2011 .
The biggest challenge facing Gillard and her treasurer Wayne Swan was the impact of the mining investment boom , which had already doubled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financial crisis to 4 % , but then doubled again to nearly 8 % of GDP between 2011 and 2013 .
This drove the Australian dollar over parity with the US dollar in November 2010 , and it spent most of 2011 at or above parity , peaking at US $ 1.09 .
It went back above parity in 2012 and remained above it until May 2013 .
Every complaint about an overpriced currency since then — including now , with people whingeing about US $ 0.68 — looks trivial .
The high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agriculture , with manufacturing shrinking to its lowest ever level of employment , just above 900,000 .
The mining sector had the opposite problem — mining and resources companies tripped over themselves to lure workers with giant pay packets .
Every single mining boom in Australian history before this one had ended with an explosion of inflation .
Gillard and Swan achieved the unprecedented feat — helped by the surging dollar — of reducing inflation during a boom , principally through the flexibility of the Fair Work Act and a strict fiscal policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deficit as a proportion of GDP in 2012 .
As weak investment in the non-mining economy undermined growth , however , and articles about Australia ’ s “ two-speed economy ” proliferated , Gillard and Swan were forced to take their foot off the fiscal brake and — to their humiliation — abandon the return to surplus in order to avoid growth stalling .
As it turned out , the same fate would befall Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey — they , too , abandoned the surplus and ramped up deficit spending ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lowest-taxing prime minister since Fraser , based on tax : GDP ) .
Growth still fell and unemployment rose above 6 % in 2014 — but it would have been much worse if the much-maligned 2014 budget had actually been the horror show of austerity everyone , including the Liberals themselves , painted it as .
The Gillard-Swan era of low unemployment , high wages growth , strong investment and GDP growth and high productivity , achieved in spite of a punitively high Australian dollar , stands in stark contrast to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , marked by stagnation , productivity declines , falling growth and low investment .
And , despite the vilification of the Gillard government ( much of it deserved for its appalling antics ) , there are key lessons for the COVID recovery .
First , fiscal policy is needed if private investment isn ’ t there and households aren ’ t spending — a fact that simply can ’ t be avoided , no matter how often you ’ ve committed to a budget surplus .
Gillard and Swan had promised a return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come hell or high water ” .
Second , strong wages growth is crucial to Australia ’ s economic growth .
The Gillard government was the last time Australian workers saw decent wages growth .
It ’ s no coincidence that ’ s also the last time they saw regular trend economic growth .
Third , you don ’ t achieve labour productivity gains by deregulating industrial relations laws and demonising unions .
The contrasting experience of productivity under WorkChoices and the Fair Work Act demonstrates how a more cooperative industrial relations approach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And fourth , the headlines and news bulletins rarely give you the proper picture of whether a government is delivering .
Only time provides that .
News coverage of the Gillard years was characterised by scandal , misogyny , stunts , hyper-partisanship and relentless media campaigns personally attacking Gillard ( News Corp ’ s smear campaign over her pre-political legal career remains a low point even for Murdoch and co ) .
But in the real world , the economic picture was very different — and one that none of her successors @ @ @ @ @ @

Ten years ago, the government of Kevin Rudd imploded and Julia Gillard secured the numbers to replace him as Labor leader. The following day, she became prime minister when Rudd declined to contest the leadership. Instead, Rudd went to the backbench and began plotting to destabilise Gillard, and came within an ace of wrecking Labor’s 2010 election campaign until he forced Gillard to agree to return him to cabinet.
As history shows, of course, Rudd’s wrecking was only just beginning. The Gillard minority government became a byword for indiscipline, dysfunction and infighting, with moments of outright sleaze, courtesy of disgraced Labor MP Craig Thomson, and speaker Peter Slipper — elevated to that position to secure a precious extra number in the House of Reps and welsh on a deal for gambling reform with independent Andrew Wilkie.
The Gillard government, and the incessant sniping by Rudd and his cronies, transformed Parliament House into the setting of a soap opera, with occasional touches of Benny Hill when Tony Abbott fled the chamber to avoid voting on the same side as Thomson.