I won’t continue with the calumny that Mr Shakespeare then hurled at Richard III (yes, I am a HUGE fan of Josephine Tey’s analysis of the blackening of poor Richard’s name in her wonderful book The Daughter of Time), but it is truly apposite given the way that the msm has turned turtle and everything bad is new again – especially when it comes to pouring ever more shit onto Labor.
Like most (if not all) Pubsters, I am both shocked by the election result, and truly horrified by the media’s response to it.
Never mind, my friends, while The Pub and each Pubster and Lurker lives, we are all tiny candles burning in the wind, keeping the flame of hope alive.
Meanwhile, shall nick out and give Madame La Guillotine another grease, oil change, and honing.
THE PUB 
A big thing that makes me feel particularly bitter about the state of the world is just how bleak everything feels for social democracy worldwide.
This year, it seems our only victories have been in minor countries, like Spain and Denmark, even then with dubious consequences thanks to the need for coalitions.
Everything else looks like it’ll be a disaster with right wing populists coming out on top. Other than the disaster in Australia which I think we’ll all be suffering from very soon, there’s the likely outcome of Boris Johnson bringing Trumpism to the UK; in the US, Trump is going to just be Trump and likely cause a geopolitical disaster with his incompetence; Canada seems to be set to throw out Trudeau and go back to the Conservatives in October (in part because of Trudeau’s cowardice in electoral reform and bring on his own defeat because he didn’t change the First Past the Post voting system and now the left vote is hopelessly split between the Liberals, New Democrats and Greens).
And the state of the US presidential race for next year doesn’t give me much hope. Yes, Biden is the frontrunner but frankly I think he’s the equivalent of Mitt Romney 2012 or Walter Mondale 1984 where he’ll win the nomination but just can’t run the course to beating Trump and his cultists.
And what do we have to look up to on our side? All I can think of is New Zealand and not much else.
Kirsdarke,
I seriously empathise with your current mood. Yes, it does look like doom and gloom for social democracy/sensible politics/the good gals and guys, but I won’t despair yet – because doing so is playing into the hands of the nasties.
Somehow – SOMEHOW – we will prevail. Because if we don’t, to be honest, that tiny flickering light of democracy will be stifled. And that is something we can’t allow to happen.
If you haven’t already read them, revisit Rosemary Suttcliffe’s books of the Roman and post-Roman years in Britain. Civilization lingered, at a cost. But it lingered, and to some extent revived.
To be honest, I prefer to be on the side of civilisation – lingering if need be – but still keeping that flame alive.
You will be surprised at how strong you really are when push come to shove.
One day you will be telling lazy yooths about the battles you fought for social justice in the early 21st century.
Australia is not the only country finding that political polls are not what they used to be.
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NEW ZEALAND
Heather du Plessis-Allan: Both polls were wrong – the system is worthless
If there is anything you can take away from political polls, it’s that you can’t trust the polls anymore.
How on earth could you have two polls released on the same night that claim completely different things?
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12239197
Responders lie. Simple.
Goof morning Dawn Patrollers.
Adele Ferguson unloads on the confronting week for whistleblowers, journalists and democracy.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/this-country-s-treatment-of-whistleblowers-has-strong-echoes-of-orwell-20190610-p51w9f.html
Richard Denniss explains why swingeing tax cuts are a bad bet on a wobbly future.
https://www.outline.com/wjDCWT
Greg Jericho declares that we have reached the bottom of the housing market but any rebound will be slow to come.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2019/jun/11/we-have-reached-the-bottom-of-the-housing-market-but-any-rebound-will-be-slow-to-come
According to Alexandra Smith the NSW is applying a substantial first home owners assistance package.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/berejiklian-government-gives-up-850m-in-revenue-for-first-home-owners-20190610-p51w7y.html
Sam Maiden writes that fresh evidence of “double standards” has emerged amid claims Defence is picking and choosing which leaks it asks the police to investigate following AFP raids at the home of a journalist and the ABC.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2019/06/10/afp-raid-whistleblower-adf/
Eryk Bagshaw tells us that key Senate crossbenchers will demand the government come up with a plan to stop “abhorrent” energy price rises before supporting the Coalition’s signature $158 billion income tax cuts.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/centre-alliance-seeks-energy-plan-in-exchange-for-tax-cut-support-20190610-p51w7m.html
The Morrison Government clearly has no plans to deal with the chaos in our visa system, writes former Immigration Department deputy secretary Abul Rizvi and Kristina Keneally has signalled Labor’s intention to hold the Government to account for the chaos in it.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/keneally-exposes-visa-system-chaos-under-dutton,12789
The Liberal Party’s least-successful division, Victoria, will this weekend choose between a 62-year-old member of the political establishment and a 40-year-old challenger for the party presidency.
https://www.outline.com/npNHRS
Daniel Wild, director of research at the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), says the Abbott government’s 2014 decision to end plans for a price on carbon was one of the think tank’s greatest achievements in shaping Australian public policy. The New Daily has a close look at that shady organisation.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/06/10/institute-of-public-affairs/
Efforts to relocate public servants from Canberra are “absurd” and should target Australia’s largest capital cities instead, former leading bureaucrat Dennis Richardson says.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6209186/former-aps-chief-on-attack-over-absurd-plan-to-relocate-jobs-from-canberra/?cs=14225
The AFR says that the Morrison government is examining which public infrastructure projects can be rolled out faster than scheduled to support the economy through a soft patch.
https://www.outline.com/tq5VHc
Shane Wright is not at all impressed with the government’s eschewing of support for R and D.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/not-so-clever-country-more-for-massage-tables-less-for-bright-ideas-20190610-p51w3k.html
More than 80 per cent of saving accounts are paying less than the inflation rate, or a negative real interest rate. Surely this needs to be factored into aged pension rate calculations.
https://www.outline.com/dnS7fV
Endometriosis sufferer Rose Dooley uses her experience to shine a light on the cost of specialist medical treatment.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/when-i-said-i-didn-t-have-insurance-the-receptionist-s-face-went-blank-20190610-p51w4z.html
Telecommunications expert Paul Budde explores the viability of 5G deployment.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/what-reaching-peak-telecom-means-for-5g,12793
The AFR looks at the issues facing the government when it comes to the gig economy.
https://www.outline.com/B9m4pt
Environmentalist Jeff Angel says that the government should ditch the jobs v environment slogan and get on with doing both.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/ditch-the-jobs-v-environment-slogan-and-get-on-with-doing-both-20190610-p51w8n.html
David Crowe reports that Morrison will commit $2.8 million to expand mental health services to school students amid calls for stronger action by all governments to fix a “mess” in the health system.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pm-promises-2-8m-to-expand-mental-health-services-to-schools-20190610-p51w9s.html
Ed Husic has called on both major parties to reach a fake news “armistice” before the next election, arguing that political scare campaigns are in neither’s best interests.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/let-s-disarm-the-trolls-husic-calls-for-fake-news-armistice-20190610-p51w97.html
The Age examines the huge cost of Melbourne’s massive transport construction program.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/big-projects-bigger-bills-massive-construction-boom-comes-at-a-cost-20190610-p51w5d.html
Sarah Danckert explains how ASIC has been dealt a significant legal defeat after the Federal Court threw out market manipulation allegations it had made against a trader working for National Australia Bank over a multibillion-dollar spike in trading on the ASX 200.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/asic-loses-manipulation-case-against-nab-contractor-over-10-billion-bump-20190610-p51w6p.html
Peter Hartcher believes Hong Kong’s last fight is lost.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/hong-kong-s-last-fight-is-lost-20190610-p51w5e.html
Involuntary celibates are wrong and delusional, but we should still be paying attention to what this level of desperation tells us about young males, says The Washington Post.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/incels-are-the-bleeding-edge-of-a-generation-of-struggling-men-20190610-p51w7n.html
There’s quite a smell emanating from this story about Jared Kushner.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/10/jared-kushner-real-estate-cadre-goldman-sachs
Another dummy spit from Trump as he unloads upon the “destructive” Federal Reserve.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/very-destructive-trump-growing-frustrated-with-us-fed-20190611-p51wcq.html
Cartoon Corner
Alan Moir gets right to the point on intimidation of the press.
David Rowe unpicks the new Coalition economic policy development framework.
Cathy Wilcox has another crack at Morrison and Dutton.
From Matt Golding.
Two crackers from Mark David.
John Shakespeare bestows an apt award to Ash Barty.
Where’s Zanetti coming from here?
Jon Kudelka with Hanson at the negotiation table.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/49c92a80ef83de7464aa515d74802d5c?width=1024
From the US
TLBD
Yes , the ‘Shy Tory” effect looks to be on steroids these days.
Pezzullo is a public servant, he has no right to be telling elected representatives of the people what he thinks they should do and he certainly has no right to be bullying them.
If we had a Labor government the media would be screaming for Pezzullo’s resignation, but as he is a lackey of their preferred government they are keeping quiet.
Meoldema is still stable, ate some breakfast, sleeping. We spoke on the phone. i can’t get to am airport till at least Thursday. Remote coastal WA.
Tired.
Leading voting-machine vendor vows to ditch paperless voting.
Election Systems & Software, which describes itself as the nation’s leading elections-equipment provider, has vowed to stop selling paperless electronic voting systems—at least as the “primary voting device in a jurisdiction.” And the company is calling on Congress to pass legislation mandating paper ballots and raising security standards for voting machines.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/06/nations-leading-voting-machine-vendor-vows-to-ditch-paperless-voting/?comments=1
Although I’m trying to keep away from media and news,i heard Morrison’s voice today for the first time since the election,nothing has changed.He was barking labor and union bosses.
Former neo-Nazi and counter-violent extremism experts issue warning to Australia
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-11/australia-counter-violent-extremism-could-learn-international/11106360
It’s easy to work out why the government isn’t interested – they foster and promote these groups because neo-Nazis vote conservative. (If they vote at all.)
In related news – among all the worthy recipients of Queen’s Birthday honours was this disgrace.
Fraser Anning candidate who is robot sex expert given Queen’s birthday honour
Professor Adrian Cheok, who ran in Boothby for the far-right party, awarded for ‘significant service to international education’
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/11/fraser-anning-candidate-given-queens-birthday-honour
It’s about time we discarded these often unworthy Q’s Birthday Honours.
Another award for “services rendered” to the government.
They really devalued the QB Honours, giving awards to scum like that, and didn’t Molan get one?
I usually look up the state ones to read about the lower orders awards given to people who have volunteered.
I think BK should get one for his community work. It would be a better idea than the sycophants they do give some of these awards to, on the QB.
I am not reading any Honours Lists given by the Coalition government. They can shove them.
I’ve listened in on something of a watershed moment in today’s politics that seems to have infested our part of the world here with this conversation between James O’Brien and a caller. It’s in this video at 12:25.
The fact of the matter is that those on the other side of the left politically frankly don’t care about any damage being done to them, they all see it as something of a game, and as long as their leaders are hurting those they see as the enemy, they simply don’t care. They love it, they want it, they’ll vote for it.
And that seems to be how the world is lately. The right thrives from our misery. If we who care about social democracy are upset, they cheer and want to hurt us more. That’s simply how it is now. And it’s the Murdochracy that promotes this.
It’s not just the Murdochracy who promote this stupid “sides” thing in Australia. It’s the entire Australian media. They all promote politics as blood sport, they treat elections like gladiatorial combat. They choose a side and they promote that side (always the conservatives, Hanson and, at the election, Palmer) and promote them relentlessly while constantly finding fault with Labor.
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Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Stephen Bartholomeusz explains the effects that the US Fed and the value of the Aussie dollar are having on the RBA’s deliberations.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/the-fed-and-the-australian-dollar-are-forcing-the-rba-s-hand-20190611-p51wh7.html
The SMH editorial says that the new trend for patients to go online to meet medical bills raises some damning questions about how Australia funds its health system. It also says specialists must also think of patients’ financial health.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/specialists-must-also-think-of-patients-financial-health-20190611-p51wia.html
Eryk Bagshaw analyses what is quite a confronting report on tariffs and subsidies from the Productivity Commission.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/global-trade-is-under-greatest-threat-since-wwii-productivity-commission-says-20190611-p51wi9.html
David Crowe reports that In private briefings, Philip Lowe has told Senate crossbenchers that the RBA would have little room to move if Parliament failed to pass its tax cuts in July.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/they-re-a-little-bit-concerned-rba-governor-urges-senate-crossbench-to-pass-tax-cuts-20190611-p51wio.html
Savers have battled deposit rates fractionally above inflation since 2016, and the RBA cut means depositors are now going backwards in real terms. But the RBA says their pain is for the greater good, writes Jonathan Shapiro.
https://www.outline.com/TGdnPr
Dutton has attacked the integrity of a key crossbench Senator over comments he made about press freedom in the wake of two Australian Federal Police raids on journalists. It’s about what one would expect from this bloke!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-savages-key-senate-crossbencher-in-brawl-over-press-freedom-remarks-20190611-p51wjs.html
And David Crowe tells us about Barnaby Joyce’s helpful contribution to the issue of the AFP raids.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-load-of-rubbish-joyce-backs-police-against-media-in-crackdown-on-leaks-20190611-p51wll.html
According to Paul Karp Dutton has said it was “inappropriate” for his departmental secretary to contact a senator who was critical of the government’s handling of press freedom. The remarks come shortly after prime minister Scott Morrison weighed in on the matter, calling it “concerning” Mike Pezzullo allegedly attempted to silence Centre Alliance senator Rex Patrick.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/11/senator-accuses-home-affairs-boss-mike-pezzullo-of-intimidation-after-afp-media-raids
Michelle Grattan reflects on the matter.
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-a-soft-reprimand-from-one-hard-man-to-another-118619
Our Prime Minister assures us that the AFP raids of last week had absolutely nothing to do with him. Well, of course not — he and his Government are never responsible for anything, writes Mung MacCallum.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/mungo-maccallum-afp-raids-are-the-road-to-totalitarianism,12795
Carmel Tebbutt, who is now the chief executive officer at NSW Mental Health Co-ordinating Council, tells us that NSW is pumping money into a system we know is at breaking point – hospital emergency departments’ handling of mental health presentations.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-keep-pumping-money-into-a-system-we-know-is-at-breaking-point-20190610-p51w8b.html
Former 4 Corners journalist Andrew Fowler writes that the ABC raids represent a wake-up call to journalists who left Assange swinging.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/abc-raids-a-wake-up-call-to-journalists-who-left-assange-swinging-20190610-p51wbw.html
Ben Schneiders declares that the labour movement has been complicit by its silence about a man who has announced he will plead guilty to harassing a woman.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-s-taken-far-too-long-to-take-action-on-setka-20190611-p51wlb.html
Phil Coorey says that in one move on Tuesday, Anthony Albanese asserted his authority over the Labor Party and signalled a different culture to that under Bill Shorten.
https://www.outline.com/yKJWXv
But The Age reports that Setka won’t back down. This could get a bit ugly.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/andrews-cuts-setka-loose-says-comments-about-batty-are-disgraceful-20190611-p51wj7.html
Lawyers and litigation funders are helping workers bypass unions and mount class actions to settle wage underpayment disputes with their employers, writes Anna Patty.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/they-sold-me-out-lawyers-compete-with-unions-for-business-to-settle-wage-disputes-20190528-p51rx7.html
Did Labor not learn ANYTHING from the Dastyari experience?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-06-12/alp-invoice-reveals-expenses-payment-to-chris-minns/11191042
In The Conversation two academics explain five ways the government can clean up the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.
https://theconversation.com/5-ways-the-government-can-clean-up-the-murray-darling-basin-plan-116265
Meanwhile Michael West bestows the “Australia’s Most Hopeless Regulator” award to the MDBA.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/unveiled-australias-most-hopeless-regulator/
Richard Denniss writes that it’s cheap to tackle climate change – but that isn’t the reason to do it.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/11/its-cheap-to-tackle-climate-change-but-that-isnt-the-reason-to-do-it
Are right wing think tanks feeling the pinch?
https://www.outline.com/rj8by7
The Age reports that the former head of Infrastructure Australia says he regrets not standing up to state governments that pressured his agency to keep the business cases of multibillion-dollar transport projects secret.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mega-project-secrecy-slammed-by-former-infrastructure-boss-20190611-p51wjm.html
Andy Marks looks at the perilous financial position of some universities.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/precarious-position-nsw-universities-reliant-on-risky-income-stream-20190611-p51whd.html
Australia could cut greenhouse gas emissions halfway to its Paris agreement target, and save $7.7bn a year in bills, by adopting existing global standards on energy efficiency.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/12/australia-could-cut-emissions-halfway-to-paris-target-under-global-energy-standards
The number of mature age Australians carrying mortgage debt into retirement is soaring and the implications are huge.
https://theconversation.com/more-people-are-retiring-with-high-mortgage-debts-the-implications-are-huge-115134
Nick Miller writes Boris Johnson is the current favourite to become the new UK Prime Minister. He tellingly says that in a few weeks’ time a majority of 100,000 overwhelmingly old, white, affluent English southerners will pick the winner.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/boris-the-favourite-as-pistol-fires-on-ten-way-tory-leadership-race-20190611-p51wdm.html
John McDuling examines the somewhat chequered path of AfterPay.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/buy-now-short-later-decision-for-afterpay-investors-20190611-p51wiy.html
The families of 69 victims and 177 survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster have launched legal action in the US against the manufacturers of the cladding and insulation used in the building’s refurbishment, which lawyers said could result in a payout worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jun/11/grenfell-families-file-us-lawsuit-over-cladding-and-insulation
These family members clearly qualify for today’s nomination for “Arseholes of the Week”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/woman-accused-of-incest-in-fear-of-being-bashed-in-jail-20190611-p51wi0.html
Cartoon Corner
Cathy Wilcox takes aim at Setka and Latham,
Mark David with Dutton’s new strategy on whistleblowers.
Fiona Katauskas with a good one.
From Matt Golding.
A delightful triptych from Glen Le Lievre.
John Shakespeare in defence of Charlie Teo.
Sean Leahy trots out Can-Do Newman to help with the Queensland budget delivery.
More from Leahy.
Really classy stuff here from Zanetti I must say!
Jon Kudelka and the Setka problem.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/b8b6bbcfb7aad4e32c989642a6366252?width=1024
From the US
“‘Did Labor not learn ANYTHING from the Dastyari experience?”
Well, yes.
The Minns/Bowen donation happened in 2013, six years ago. The usual suspects have spent the time since the NSW election trawling through ancient rubbish looking for some dirt on Minns and, I’m sure, also on Jodie McKay, the other NSW leadership contender. The one sad invoice they found also implicated Chris Bowen. What a shame Bowen is no longer deputy Labor leader, they have been deprived of a wonderful opportunity for mud-slinging.
You’d think the ladies and gentlemen of the ABC would have better things to do, but no, they are too busy with old paperwork to bother about holding the current government to even the tiniest bit of scrutiny, and lord knows, there is plenty to scrutinise. I suppose becoming a branch of the Liberal Party Dirt Unit is now a requirement if the ABC wishes to hang on to what remains of its funding.
The only incriminating evidence they have been able to find is an ancient document from 2013.
Meanwhile the corrupt to the core Stuart Robert is enjoying the fruits of his promotion to cabinet and seems to be still in possession of the infamous two Rolex watches gifted to him and his wife by a certain well–known Chinese businessman.
Funny thing how those two watches were also worth $100,000.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/stuart-robert-and-a-tale-of-two-watches,12247
A check of Robert’s most recent register of pecuniary interests does not mention any disposal of those watches.
https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Members/Register#or
Has anyone in the media bothered to ask Robert if he really does still have those watches? Of course not. The government and its members must be protected, no matter how corrupt they are.
I suppose, Minns is out. There must be something corrupt about Jodie, given she was there during the Obeid episode.
Labor MPs have to be angels. But even angels can get tarnished.
This could be an interesting project, although I really believe this government long ago passed all those tests.
In some ways no surprise, the “information poor’ and gullible always been with us, only the tech for using them has changed. Unfortunately the tech is more efficient at exploiting them 😦
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Truth decay: why personal values are poisoning Australians’ news consumption
According to work from the University of Canberra in cooperation with the Reuters Institute and the University of Oxford,
…………………..another cheerful piece of news. Digital natives, the younger generations of Australians, are more likely to try and verify online news than older people,
The people least likely to fact check least are news consumers who don’t know their political orientation – so, in other words, very likely, the undecided voters who determine the outcomes of federal elections.
Importantly, in an online political environment tainted by fake news and partisan misinformation, this group also fact checks and verifies stories the least.
“According to this data they are possibly making voting decisions based on the fewest number of sources and are less likely to check them. This reflects a significant population of disengaged news consumers.”
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/jun/12/truth-decay-why-personal-values-are-poisoning-australians-news-consumption
It’s that time of year again folks, yes, it’s hug a climate scientist day yay, yay, yeahhhhhhhhhhhhh!-
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/12/how-do-you-hug-a-climate-scientist-follow-these-simple-rules-and-dont-make-it-weird
Puffy I have only just caught up with what’s going on. You and your mum are in my thoughts
Thank you Billie,
Meoldema is getting a bit better every day.
That’s good news, Puffy. Keep us posted.
BTW, Billie et moi enjoyed a great ballet together this arvo – “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”.
The first episode of Julia Gillard’s “A Podacst of One’s Own” has arrived.
Julia interviews Sandi Toksvig.
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/giwl/podcast
The Times’ (of London) cartoonist not being kind to Boris as the PM wannabes fight it out. Not that it makes any difference who gets the gig. Their job will remain giving free money to the wealthy and beating the poor.
I could have sworn Scrott and co. spoke ceaselessly of the “strong economy” they had overseen. I guess we now must wait until the media shills report as fact the Coalition blathering that “It is all Labor’s fault” .
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‘GFC-level terrible’: Australian retail drops into recession
The Australian economy has been dealt another blow with a leading business survey declaring the retail sector is “clearly in recession”.
The data from major bank NAB comes a week after the Reserve Bank was forced to cut interest rates to its lowest level in history and Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed the economy had slowed to its weakest level since the global financial crisis in 2009.
In figures released today, the NAB index of business conditions dropped two points in May, leaving it well below the long-run average.
Speaking on the NAB Economics podcast, NAB group chief economist Alan Oster agreed with the proposition that the Australian retail sector was now “GFC-level terrible”.
“Retail is really, really doing it tough, and it’s getting worse,” he said.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12239621
The penalty rate cut due on 1 July should do wonders for retailers . Just ask them!
Why do some men (I use that term very loosely) feel the need to do this? And even worse, why do it to children?
The shock of being abused by a stranger on the street
https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/harassment-the-shock-of-being-abused-by-a-stranger-on-the-street/
A lot of things changed the moment Abbott came into power, and it’s getting worse.
Good!
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Jess Irvine is sick and tires of the on again off again faddish government initiatives.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/our-yo-yo-diet-nation-needs-a-new-self-help-regime-20190612-p51x1e.html
More from Jess as she writes about how the government’s chief productivity adviser has outlined a “fresh agenda” for national economic reform in an extensive interview.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/top-government-adviser-lists-reforms-needed-to-kickstart-economy-20190612-p51wz7.html
Greg Jericho explains why the latest job figures don’t bode well for employment or wage growth.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2019/jun/13/the-latest-job-figures-dont-bode-well-for-employment-or-wage-growth
In this enlightening op-ed Kevin Rudd warns that China has drawn its red lines in its spat with Trump.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/fasten-your-seatbelts-china-has-drawn-its-red-lines-against-trump-20190612-p51wy4.html
Meanwhile US defence chiefs have enlisted Australian help to secure the supply of critical minerals for batteries and weapons systems, to reduce China’s dominance of the sector.
https://www.outline.com/53mmxr
Oh dear! According to Matt O’Sullivan confidential have documents revealed Transport for NSW has prepared a “reform program” that includes selling property, raising fares and overhauling road levies.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/billions-in-savings-proposed-for-state-s-transport-as-costs-soar-20190528-p51rv1.html
Australia’s steady pace towards becoming a police state isn’t being hindered by the Labor Opposition, writes Dr Jennifer Wilson.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/when-an-opposition-votes-for-bad-laws-democracy-is-broken,12798
Wayne Swan explains why we must continue to oppose the trickle-down economics that is causing so much havoc around the world.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/12/inequality-is-growing-in-australia-labors-mission-is-to-create-a-fairer-society
The SMH editorial is concerned that tougher NSW bail laws appear to have raised the risk that more innocent people are kept locked up for long periods awaiting trial.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/wesfarmers-looks-beyond-bricks-mortar-and-bunnings-in-digital-push-20190612-p51x01.html
The Labor Party and union movement face a damaging deadlock as CFMMEU’s Victorian secretary John Setka defies the party’s leadership and refuses to resign from his position with the controversial building union. As I said yesterday, this is going to end badly.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/labor-setka-in-deadlock-as-cfmmeu-boss-digs-in-20190612-p51x2p.html
Michelle Grattan tells us how Sally McManus to confront the CFMMEU’s John Setka today.
https://theconversation.com/actus-sally-mcmanus-to-confront-cfmmeus-john-setka-118699
Angus Taylor’s first speech since being re-appointed as federal energy minister has gone down like a lead balloon with energy chiefs reports the AFR.
https://www.outline.com/CUuqSy
Sarah Danckert tells us that the High Court has, in a 4-3 decision, thrown out ASIC’s case against a store owner in a remote community who provided lines of credit to Indigenous people who could not count.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/high-court-finds-indigenous-book-up-scheme-legal-20190612-p51wz9.html
Andrew Leigh argues that the increasing conservatism of the modern Liberal Party gives Labor an opportunity to target “traditional” small-l liberal supporters of the Coalition drawn to open markets and civil liberties.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-should-target-unlikely-voters-argues-frontbencher-20190612-p51wuj.html
Intimidating parliament – the Michael Pezzullo formula.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/intimidating-parliament-the-michael-pezzullo-formula,12799
According to the Canberra Times a parliamentary inquiry into press freedom appears inevitable in response to federal police raids on a newspaper journalist and the ABC’s Sydney headquarters.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6214595/freedom-of-press-inquiry-now-appears-inevitable/?cs=14350
Coles and Woolworths are at it again gouging suppliers.
https://www.outline.com/TPdMZH
Australian retailers have cranked up discount offers into “overdrive” ahead of the end of financial year sales as falling consumer confidence continues to dog the sector.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jun/12/sales-frenzy-australian-retailers-crank-up-discounts-as-consumer-confidence-falls
The federal government will have to reassess water infrastructure for Adani’s Carmichael coalmine after conceding in a legal challenge that was lodged with the federal court.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/12/adani-coalmine-federal-government-loses-legal-challenge-on-water-assessment
Leanne Wells writes that Australia’s health system needs to catch up with the forces that are transforming health care – the growth in chronic diseases and, in contrast, the exponential advance and variety of expensive treatments. She makes some valid points.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/in-memory-of-bob-hawke-it-s-time-for-medicare-ii-20190612-p51wuz.html
Paul Fletcher has dismissed concerns the exclusion of Huawei from Australia’s rollout of next generation 5G networks will leave the country with more expensive and lower quality technology.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/new-communications-minister-denies-huawei-ban-will-hurt-australia-s-5g-rollout-20190612-p51wup.html
More from Michael West’s website on #watergate.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/watergate-the-billionaire-the-minister-and-the-accidental-diplomats/
Dana McCauley reports that the government has seized upon widespread calls for CFMMEU Victorian leader John Setka to step down to renew its commitment to passing legislation that would enable it to deregister law-breaking unions and ban officials for misconduct.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-government-renews-push-for-union-busting-bill-to-fight-cfmmeu-20190612-p51wzh.html
Mike Bruce reports that the big four banks have responded to the Reserve Bank’s June 4 interest rate cut by slashing term deposit rates well above the RBA’s 0.25 per cent cut.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/your-budget/2019/06/12/interest-rate/
Social housing landlords are evicting low-income domestic violence survivors because the abuse they suffer can be considered a “nuisance” breach under existing tenancy laws, a new study has found. Charming!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/13/social-housing-landlords-use-domestic-violence-as-reason-to-evict-victims-study
Law professor Isabella Alexander explains our copyright laws and the Australian Aboriginal flag.
https://theconversation.com/explainer-our-copyright-laws-and-the-australian-aboriginal-flag-118687
Angus Taylor has not ruled out the Morrison government reversing the nuclear energy ban, if a “clear business case” showed the economics were sound as he dodged questions about how Australia would meet its Paris agreement targets.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/12/angus-taylor-wont-rule-out-reversing-nuclear-energy-ban-if-business-case-stacks-up
Elizabeth Knight wonders what Westfarmers is up to with its purchase of digital retailer Catch Group
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/wesfarmers-looks-beyond-bricks-mortar-and-bunnings-in-digital-push-20190612-p51x01.html
Boris Johnson: a charlatan with bravado. Barely a word he spoke was trustworthy, writes The Guardian’s Polly Toynbee.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/12/boris-johnson-speech-charlatan-bravado-untrustworthy
Yesterday Trump lashed out at new polling results showing the president in deep trouble as he mounts his 2020 re-election bid.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/12/trump-2020-presidential-election-polling-results
Queensland gives us today’s nomination for “Arsehole of the Week”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/committed-paedophile-brisbane-photographer-abused-15-children-20190612-p51x0d.html
Cartoon Corner
Cathy Wilcox on what’s going on in Hong Kong.
From Matt Golding.
A change of style from John Shakespeare.
Andrew Dyson with Setka not going anywhere.
Matt Davidson and the latest advice from the Productivity Commission.
Zanetti on Albo dealing with Setka.
Peter Nicholson returns with Setka’s presser.
More on Setka from Jon Kudelka.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/8d170c93ea0465ba040a546acbac0e02?width=1024
From the US
What the frack!
The level of data literacy required of Centrelink clients is unbelievable to those of us who don’t deal with Centrelink
Adani should learn today whether its mine will go ahead
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/adani-should-learn-today-whether-its-mine-will-go-ahead
No word yet on how this is going
Damn you, Anastacia.
Adani clears last major hurdle for controversial mine
https://www.theage.com.au/national/queensland/adani-clears-last-major-hurdle-for-controversial-mine-20190613-p51x8n.html
Yeee haw, let ‘er rip. Qld. Enjoy the fruits of your labour.
McManus has asked Setka to resign for the good of the Union Movement and the ALP. Setka has refused.
Setka has lost me (for thel ittle that it is worth in the larger scheme of things,)
I don’t think Setka is a very nice man. But to resign, I’m not sure. Those on the other side have done worse and NEVER resign. It’s always Labor MPs and Senators who have to go.
Setka is not someone I support, but I can’t help thinking he is being set up by the government and its media allies to bring on the government’s aim of deregistering any unions they don’t like, which is all of them.
FauxMo will be rushing his legislation into parliament as soon as it sits – whenever that may be.
Morrison government renews push for union-busting bill to fight CFMMEU
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-government-renews-push-for-union-busting-bill-to-fight-cfmmeu-20190612-p51wzh.html
It’s all so convenient, too convenient.
Think of the words “union thug” and you’d be thinking of someone who looks and acts a lot like Setka.
How very convenient that someone leaked Setka’s alleged comments about Rosie Batty to the media. How very convenient that we have a re-elected government eager to ram union deregistration legislation through parliament. How extremely convenient it is that this stuff about Setka should surface right now.
I also think Albo has acted too soon. He jumped in with the “expel him from the Labor Party” thing immediately. Maybe he should have waited, or should have said something about it being a matter for the union to sort out. Maybe he should not have tried to act tough, because by doing that he has fallen into a trap. He now has a major stoush between the union and Labor, exactly what the government wanted.
The government is demanding Albo cooperate with them in deregistering stroppy unions. It’s a bad look for a party founded by unionists.
Shorten might have reacted differently.
Attacking the unions (and GetUp) was a given. Using Setka’s alleged comments as cover is a massive overreach – Morrison’s WorkChoices moment, perhaps.
Any “sound person” legislation aimed at attacking the unions should be amended to also apply to businesses – it should sink without a trace at that point.
Test, cooooooeeeeeeeeee
And, in football news, the Matilda beat Brazil 3-2. Excellent!
FauxMo came to Canberra last night to watch the Cronulla Sharks. Raider 22 Sharks 20. Excellent!
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Ben Schneiders examines Sally McManus’s carefully worded statement on the future of John Setka.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/this-was-a-statement-of-moral-clarity-by-sally-mcmanus-john-setka-must-go-20190613-p51xh3.html
And Albo is big and ugly enough to know that down the track, should his leadership be in the gutter, not having friends in certain places may be his downfall. He’s prepared to take those risks because he owes the CFMMEU nothing, writes Philip Coorey.
https://www.outline.com/E7q3ek
Michelle Grattan writes about the battle to stare down the defiant John Setka.
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-the-battle-to-stare-down-the-defiant-john-setka-118803
The United States has unequivocally blamed Iran for an “unprovoked” strike on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday night that left one of the vessels ablaze.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2019/06/13/us-iran-oil-tanker-attack/
David Crowe opines that now the election is behind him Morrison is obliged to get things done. He says the PM has no excuses.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/election-won-morrison-now-has-no-excuses-not-to-get-things-done-20190613-p51xh1.html
Michael Pascoe reckons it’s beginning to look like the Reserve Bank has declared war on the federal government. He says it has blown Josh Frydenberg’s budget out of the water.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2019/06/13/rba-josh-frydenbergs-budget-loggerheads/
ADF chief Angus Campbell has said that western democracies such as Australia are “exposed” to so-called political warfare tactics – such as cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns – at which authoritarian countries excel.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/grey-zone-tactics-australia-vulnerable-to-political-warfare-defence-chief-warns-20190613-p51xj6.html
Simon Holmes a Court really gets stuck into Angus Taylor here with a well-deserved barrage.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/13/as-angus-taylor-ducks-weaves-and-dithers-china-zooms-past
Jenna Price has some good advice for mortgage holders here.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-saved-my-friend-1-500-on-home-loan-repayments-with-just-one-tweet-20190612-p51x4v.html
Stephen Bartholomeusz uses Kmart and Target to illustrate the retail malaise that is sweeping the country.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/recession-like-conditions-kmart-and-target-are-being-infected-by-australia-s-retail-malaise-20190613-p51xav.html
And Coles is cutting 450 jobs from its Melbourne head office in a major management shake-up, less than a week before Coles updates investors on the retailer’s new strategy.
https://www.outline.com/U9dqCr
Shane Wright says that if the Reserve Bank of Australia was hoping the latest jobs report would give it a reprieve from making a tough decision about interest rates at its next meeting, it has been disappointed. He describes our labour market as “slack”.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/jobs-data-moves-rba-closer-to-another-rate-cut-20190613-p51xda.html
It’s not global headwinds causing Australia’s economy to tank. As Alan Austin argues, we should be catching the global tailwinds — if the captain of the ship only had a proper map, the first mate could work the compass and the petty officers didn’t get tangled up in the rigging.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/what-global-economic-headwinds-mathias/
Workplace lawyer Anthony Fry outlines what the recent Uber case on what constitutes being an employee will mean.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/employee-or-not-what-the-uber-decision-means-20190612-p51x32.html
Sally Whyte explains how the audit office has again criticised Defence over the transparency of the department’s mega budget, warning there’s a high risk the department could misreport its financial position.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6216808/defence-struggles-to-follow-money-audit-report/?cs=14231
international human rights lawyer Simon Henderson looks at the situation in Hong Kong and what it could mean to travelling Australians.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-s-voice-should-be-heard-loud-and-clear-in-hong-kong-20190613-p51xao.html
Are dominant leaders the heroes they’re portrayed to be? Or are they instead toxic villains causing harm to their organisation?
https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/dominant-leaders-good-or-bad-20190613-p51x89.html
Levels of sexual harassment have reached crisis point in Australian workplaces, with our youngest employees at the highest risk. Sonia Hickey asks if we can eradicate sexual harassment once and for all.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/combating-sexual-harassment-in-the-work-place—leading-the-way-to-change,12797
The SMH editorial says that now the Queensland government has now approved the controversial Adani coal mine but this must not stop the crucial debate on how Australia can transition to a low-carbon economy.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/adani-decision-must-not-be-last-word-in-climate-fight-20190613-p51xes.html
The AFR reports that APRA is preparing to crack down on AMP Super and force its board to clean up its act because it is concerned the fund’s trustees have breached superannuation laws.
https://www.outline.com/E5TDph
Emma Koehn reports on how the ATO will be acting to crack down on the black economy via government procurement processes.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/we-expect-more-businesses-to-face-tax-office-health-checks-20190613-p51x92.html
There is no doubt the AFP raids are an affront to our democracy. One in which the hand of a secretive and ruthless Government can be felt, if not seen or heard says The Independent Australia.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/afp-raids-journalists-we-need-to-talk-about-our-government,12803
NSW’s infrastructure spending will grow to a record $93 billion but Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has left the door open for more privatisations to fund major projects in the future.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/infrastructure-spend-grows-to-93b-but-privatisation-not-ruled-out-20190613-p51xfs.html
Six actions Australia’s government can take right now to target online racism.
https://theconversation.com/6-actions-australias-government-can-take-right-now-to-target-online-racism-118401
Smaller banks have increased their loan books by $22.4 billion since the banking royal commission.
https://www.domain.com.au/money-markets/smaller-banks-increase-loan-books-by-22-4-billion-since-royal-commission-847787/?utm_campaign=strap-masthead&utm_source=smh&utm_medium=link&utm_content=pos5&ref=pos1
Nick Miller reckons Boris Johnson’s got it in the bag after the first ballot.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/boris-johnson-appears-unstoppable-as-colleagues-vote-for-next-uk-pm-20190614-p51xlq.html
Trump flog Kellyanne Conway could get the sack for being a bit naughty.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/unprecedented-white-house-counsellor-kellyanne-conway-should-be-fired-watchdog-20190614-p51xm7.html
And the lovely Sarah Huckaby-Sanders will be leaving her job soon.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/white-house-spokeswoman-sarah-sanders-leaving-job-at-end-of-month-20190614-p51xmj.html
This animal gets today’s nomination for “Arsehole of the Week”.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/13/man-pleads-guilty-to-raping-girl-seven-in-sydney-dance-studio
Cartoon Corner
Strong stuff from David Pope.
Peter Nicholson on infrastructure announcements.
From Matt Golding.
A new Aussie flag from Jim Pavlidis.
Andrew Dyson and post-election Morrison.
Cathy Wilcox enters Adani country.
A joyous contribution from Zanetti,
And he can’t resist a dig at the CFMMEU.
From Edmund Iffland.
Sean Leahy with the Brisbane Council budget and the Adani decision.
Another cracker from Jon Kudelka.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/d3b8aeaffe65751284efac6066413e7c?width=1024
From the US.
With UK politics being what it is this is the perfect portrait of the perfect candidate to become the next PM of the UK.
It looks like the US is intent on a war with Iran and will do anything to bring it on..
I prefer Al Jazeera’s reporting on the tanker issue.
US holds Iran ‘responsible’ for reported Gulf attacks on tankers
Mike Pompeo says incidents in Gulf of Oman are part of campaign of ‘escalating tension’ by Iran, but offers no evidence.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/06/holds-iran-responsible-reported-gulf-attacks-tankers-190613183053625.html
Pompous has no evidence.
Will we follow?
This f’wit was pushing to bomb Iran back in Dubya’s day and since getting the gig with Trump the “bomb bomb bomb Iran” drums have been working overtime. Last time an impending bombing campaign was halted when Russia decided to deliver long delayed advanced missile systems. This time ?
Perhaps they should remember the war gaming of a war with Iran the US did earlier in the century. The US lost.
https://theintercept.com/2018/03/23/heres-john-bolton-promising-regime-change-iran-end-2018/.
Bob Hawke’s Memorial Service is today I see. Vale FPM Bob Hawke. We will miss you, Bob.
It’s Friday and I think we can all do with a laugh or two.
Excellent.
I really, really needed a laugh.
If we can’t get Jacinda to immigrate and take over maybe we should approach Mutter Merkel
Well, here’s a real treat – strong contender for the most vomit-inducing duo ever.
My advice?
Not one but two to avoid. Crabb is everywhere and so full of herself with her silly demure looks.
And, to the delightful couple
Jonathan Pie calling the race to number 10 –
First Dog is not happy
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/14/adani-it-all-looks-dodgy-as-hell-and-none-of-it-has-been-explained-properly
I wonder if this guy was white whether we would have a media blitz about this ‘Aussie hero” ? . Rhetorical question.
.
.
“I’ve always been the kind of person to interfere if someone’s being hurt,” he said. “I’ve never been scared in my life.” Which is just as well. For the cheerful Lebanese with the Australian accent, his torso covered in bandages and far too many tattoos, had deliberately crashed his car into the motor-cycle-riding Isis killer who opened fire on crowds of civilians preparing for the Eid al-Fitr festival in the Northern Lebanese city of Tripoli.
The back of Mrad’s head is also swathed in gauze and bandages because – this being a truly bloody tale without many Hollywood happy endings – the Isis veteran from Syria shot him three times in the brain and once below the neck.
………………………………………………..We should end with the guy himself, who half sat up in his bed to say goodbye to me with the best Aussie accent I’ve heard in Lebanon. “Cheerio, mate!” he said.
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/lebanon-syria-isis-killing-lone-wolf-hariri-robert-fisk-tripoli-australia-a8956851.html
Bob Hawkes memorial service today but what the fek was that piece of slime Morrison doing there? Representing the people? The happy clapping god bothering prick doesn’t represent me. Having been lucky enough to meet Bob a couple of times he’d of been rolling in his grave at the appearance of the self righteous pile of excrement.
Bon appetit youse rusted on Nat voters.
.
.
New technology shows the current drought is worse than thought
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am/new-technology-shows-the-current-drought-is-worse-than-thought/11208654
Water storage levels in the northern Murray–Darling Basin are now lower than during the Millennium Drought.
The dry conditions have been exacerbated by high temperatures, including Australia’s hottest summer on record in 2018–19.
https://www.graincentral.com/weather/eastern-australia-drought-dries-up-murray-darling-water-reserves/
There is so much ‘wrong’ with this. Was it you Dawkins that set us off on this path ? 😦
https://www.smh.com.au/national/top-uni-wants-to-lower-entry-standards-to-counter-student-exodus-20190614-p51xri.html
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Ross Gittins schools us on the new principles of fiscal stimulus. He says the RBA gets it but he doubts whether this government will.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/it-s-the-budget-not-interest-rates-that-must-save-our-sagging-economy-20190613-p51xjr.html
And right on cue Frydenberg has ruled out delaying the budget surplus even if the economy continues to weaken.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/josh-frydenberg-says-surplus-more-important-than-stimulus-despite-weakening-economy-20190614-p51xw9.html
The AFR says that the Reserve Bank could slash its key cash rate to as low as half a percent by this time next year, signalling further pain for savers and depositors but more gains for the sharemarket.
https://www.outline.com/gWeL2X
And the ussie dollar has dropped sharply in the wake of expectations that the RBA is far from cutting interest rates.
https://www.outline.com/dSmqF7
The bell has tolled for the retail sector, with the bank declaring the industry is “clearly in recession”. It’s a headache for retail landlords, and tenants.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/levels-not-seen-since-the-gfc-nab-calls-the-retail-recession-20190613-p51xbr.html
The AFR’s Geoff Kitney writes that rarely has the period immediately after a federal election been as empty of clues about the way the newly elected government will govern. He says Morrison’s leadership test has only just begun.
https://www.outline.com/Xcq6Yd
Paul Bongiorno says that Scott Morrison is assiduously doing nothing much of consequence and the vacuum created by a reinstalled Coalition with practically no agenda, certainly not one that captures the imagination of the nation, has been filled by the spectre of an incipient police state.
https://www.outline.com/hFAP5T
David Wroe reveals that a greater domestic role for the Australian Signals Directorate remains a live consideration for the Morrison government despite the political firestorm that has erupted since police raided a journalist’s home to investigate a top-secret leak of the ASD proposals. I suspect that if it wasn’t for the odious reputation of Dutton this might be seen to have merit.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/intelligence-agency-could-be-used-for-offensive-cyber-operations-in-australia-20190614-p51xst.html
Lisa Visentin outlines the magnificent send off for Bob Hawke. In my opinion the most outstanding speech came from Bill Kelty.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/farewell-befitting-a-brilliant-larrikin-leader-20190614-p51xog.html
In a beautifully written piece Tony Wright says Hawkie would have just loved it!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-gathering-of-tribes-how-bob-hawke-would-have-loved-it-20190614-p51xqa.html
Also from David Marr.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jun/14/bob-hawkes-tribe-gathered-for-his-memorial-and-showed-a-better-australia-is-waiting
Paul Kelly also writes well about it – although he has a swipe at Labor at the end of the article, (Google).
hawke-loved-australia-and-a-nation-reciprocated/news-story/aac2a2d233c9e188b64a7f5dc1d1905a
Adele Ferguson tells us about some Michel’s franchisees fighting back against RFG.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/i-m-a-caterpillar-rfg-is-a-dragon-i-can-take-them-down-ex-michel-s-owner-fights-back-20190614-p51xv1.html
Karen Middleton writes that the federal government is considering further measures to ease the financial burden on pensioners and new moves to force domestic gas prices down, in a deal to secure enough senate support to legislate its proposed tax cuts in their entirety. She explains how the two Centre Alliance senators will be key players in the outcome.
https://www.outline.com/sDPWWa
Crispin Hull explains why government tax package should be blocked by Labor and the Senate crossbench.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6215391/why-labor-and-the-senate-crossbench-should-block-coalitions-tax-package/?cs=14264
The PM’s determination to combat youth suicide is welcome, but it will require a focus on the high anxiety of the grown-ups who influence young people, writes teacher Polly Dunning.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/teachers-and-parents-are-chewed-up-and-stressed-out-so-pity-our-kids-20190614-p51xqq.html
Decorated journalist Tony Koch explains why the AFP media raids are even more sinister than many thought. He is very much to the point in this contribution.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-the-afp-media-raids-are-even-more-sinister-than-many-thought-20190614-p51xoo.html
Martin McKenzie tells us why he thinks our whistleblower protection legislation is a “dog”.
https://www.outline.com/sSY6Bp
The Saturday Paper’s Richard Cooke expands on free speech, censorship and media raids.
https://www.outline.com/RxYBqN
Jeff Sparrow writes that Australia has been seduced by creeping authoritarianism and its citizens need to wake up.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/14/australia-has-been-seduced-by-creeping-authoritarianism-and-its-citizens-need-to-wake-up
John Wren takes a look at the reasons behind the Morrison Government’s absence and more reasons why we love Jacinda.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/wrens-week-the-morrison-government-is-mia-and-nz-leads-the-way-once-again,12804
Tom Switzer opines that global order is crumbling but it’s not all Trump’s fault.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/global-order-is-crumbling-but-even-without-trump-it-was-doomed-20190613-p51x8r.html
The London Daily Telegraph describes Theresa May’s parting shot of zero emissions undertaking by 2050 as a gift to the world.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/bigger-than-brexit-theresa-may-s-parting-shot-is-a-gift-to-the-world-20190614-p51xnp.html
Nick O’Malley intimates that in light of this Australia should be ashamed of itself.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/a-disorienting-sight-to-an-australian-how-the-uk-got-on-with-the-climate-change-challenge-20190614-p51xqf.html
Even Pope Francis has spoken up for carbon pricing and called on deniers to accept the science of climate change.
https://www.outline.com/pw973f
Nicole Hasham reports that new Environment Minister Sussan Ley says farmers in the Murray Darling Basin should be allowed to “borrow” water reserved for maintaining the river’s health, and federal approval for major developments must be streamlined to “give proponents more assurances” and reduce delays. What could possibly go wrong?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/environment-minister-floats-lending-murray-darling-environmental-water-to-farmers-20190614-p51xsf.html
Mike Seccombe explains how while the Coalition stalls on emissions reduction, moneyed climate activists are turning to direct investment, led by tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes.
https://www.outline.com/SLS36e
Katharine Murphy looks at the Coalition’s new interest in nuclear power generation.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2019/jun/15/nothing-new-in-coalitions-nuclear-awakening-no-wait-perhaps-there-is
Richard Ackland writes that since retiring from the judiciary, former High Court justice Michael Kirby has been busier than ever – lending his lofty intellect to, among other things, campaigns for a bill of rights and an Indigenous voice to parliament.
https://www.outline.com/WnF2Rp
Homophobic and transphobic hate crimes, including stalking, harassment and violent assault, have more than doubled in England and Wales over five years, a Guardian analysis has shown.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/14/homophobic-and-transphobic-hate-crimes-surge-in-england-and-wales
Australian political outcomes have a history of being influenced by the USA and the Murdoch media, writes Davey Heller.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-2019-election-and-a-history-of-australian-coups,12806
Paula Matthewson says that Labor’s ‘train wreck’ over John Setka has provided the perfect cover for Scott Morrison to hide two huge porkies.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/06/14/paula-matthewson-morrison-labor/
Elizabeth Knight writes that Australia’s Future Fund might have made a big mistake with one particular investment decision.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/how-the-future-fund-got-lost-investing-in-big-data-20190613-p51xhn.html
Boris Johnson will be represented by an empty podium in a television debate on Sunday night as his five remaining rivals to be Britain’s next prime minister fight it out for a place alongside him in the ballot of Conservative members.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/14/boris-johnson-pledges-to-drop-backstop-in-orderly-brexit-plan
Independent public interest journalism continues to attract larger audiences. Growth in online readership at http://www.michaelwest.com.au jumped to 67 per cent in the last quarter. Kim Wingerei at theIndependents.org.au reports.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/independent-media-gathers-steam-while-mainstream-struggles-latest-numbers/
Trump’s fanned the flames in Iran, now the fire risks getting out of control, writes Peter Beaumont.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/14/trump-iran-oil-tanker-attacks
Going to war with Iran over Thursday’s oil tanker explosions in the Gulf of Oman would be “disastrous” for the US, says a prominent foreign policy expert.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2019/06/14/us-war-iran-tanker/
A 97 year old woman gets a posthumous nomination for “Arsehole of the Week”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/anne-hamilton-byrne-leader-of-notorious-cult-the-family-dies-at-97-20190614-p51xs7.html
Cartoon Corner
John Shakespeare transports Bob Hawke “upstairs”.
Alan Moir congratulates Morrison over Adani.
Great stuff from Jim Pavlidis.
Similarly from John Shakespeare!
Matt Golding on Labor’s positions on Adani.
Some local stuff from Queenslander Sean Leahy.
A magnificent final salute to Hawkie from Jon Kudelka.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/f2a15a41a7f8d0808e62a6424e03b810?width=1024
From the US
Don’t forget to read the news ticker.