As well as important information, this is a reminder that Australia is fortunate to have a service such as The Therapeutic Goods Administration.
We can have confidence in the health products and medicines available in Australia.
The TGA is just one part of a system constructed to make Australia a modern, first world country.
We do not have to endure prescription medicines being advertised directly to consumers, unlike in the USA. Direct advertising to consumers is banned. I am sure that is frustrating for some drug companies.
In the USA, advertisements along the lines of, ′Do you have a headache, and a itchy toe? See your doctor and check out XYZ disease. XXXXX drug treats XYZ with good results.′
You can imagine the resulting scenario in the doctor′s office, as fearful patients demand XYZ medicine and doctors fearing malpractice suits deal with the demands. We don’t have to put up with this pressure.
Australia has many progressive policies, systems and entities to give the 25 million of us the best chance of a decent life. However, Coalition attacks on these things has seen much suffering, misery, financial ruin and deaths. ROBODEBT is a case in point. The Coalition of the Liberal and National parties committed the worst act of bastardry in 100 years against thousands of vulnerable powerless citizens from the poorest class: social security recipients.
So we must protect the progressive, fair, humane, and compassionate of our society and its systems, and strive to strengthen these attributes.
Note: This recall information came from a Disabilty Care agency.
See below from TGA:
Following a safety investigation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), 55 products containing pholcodine are being cancelled from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and those currently on pharmacy shelves are being recalled from pharmacies.
The cancellation and recall actions are being taken because of a link between pholcodine-containing medicines and an increased risk of anaphylactic reactions (a sudden, severe, and life-threatening allergic reaction) to certain medicines used as muscle relaxants during general anaesthesia (called neuromuscular blocking agents).
Pholcodine has been used in a wide range of over-the-counter pharmacy medicines to treat non-productive (dry) cough, particularly in syrups and lozenges. It is also used in combination with other medicines in products that treat the symptoms of cold and flu.
…
Now let’s ponder on how fortunate we in Australia are in a chaotic and unfair world, and remember that the biggest threat we have is corruption, and a right-wing government!
THE PUB 
FMD, the la la land of the Dismal Science pissants
Hurrah, ‘turbo charge’ our immigration and pink unicorns will fart new housing across the land, 100s of thousands of homes will magically appear and so solve the shit situation re affordable housing.
A sample of the headlines in recent months.
So what does Labor do in light f this housing shortage ? Well yes, of course, announce they are going to ‘turbocharge’ immigration.
As someone commented in one article……
We should not be surprised though given how many hundreds of ‘investment properties’ our pollies have. Even Houso Albo collects a nice $115,000 in rent on his $5 million property ‘portfolio’.
Now will Labor differentiate themselves from the governments of the last 25-30 years. During this time ‘increasing productivity’ has been code for reducing worker’s pay and conditions. A bullshit situation as ‘productivity’ is very much the responsibility of the ‘business class’ .
Put simply we have been increasing the ‘productivity’ of ‘Fred the Ditch Digger’ by reducing his real pay and work conditions. Where in fact the big productivity increases are the responsibility of ‘ management’ . Buy ‘Fred the Ditch Digger’ a mechanical digger and see what happens to his productivity. Simplistic but you get the drift.
One of the problems of cutting Labour’s share of the economic pie is that it makes for lazy management. It makes ‘workers’ too cheap and being relatively cheap a lazy option for management.
Randy Rainbow –
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Chris Hayes –
Lawrence O’Donnell –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Michael West –
Straya, thy name is incompetence.
And yet we read………. of Twiggy’ Forrest’s LNG gas import terminal . and of Australia’s southern states could experience gas shortages during upcoming peak winter periods and ongoing shortfalls
Mainly a legacy of The #%##%#%#!!!! Rodent but all parties need a slap. Except for State Lib/Lab in Da Cave as, ,praise be to old Charlie Court, there be gas reservation policy for local use. Equivalent to 15% of the gas produced.
Covid cases on the rise in NSW with a ‘patchwork quilt’ of variants
Experts say data points to early signs of a new wave but, given level of immunity, is not expected to be as severe as in the past
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/16/covid-cases-on-the-rise-in-nsw-with-a-patchwork-quilt-of-variants
Don’t you just love the optimism in this article.
We don’t need to worry because of increased immunity. Bollocks!
Anyone who catches Covid will take ages to “recover” but there are many, many articles giving gloomy predictions of the true damage The Plague causes, Long Covid is not the worst that can happen. Despite cheery stories like this Covid is not over and sadly it is still killing.
Politicians from the PM down should be ashamed of their fervent desire to have everyone “live with Covid’.
This week, the government committed up to $368 billion over the next 30 years to acquire nuclear submarines — the single biggest defence spend in Australian history. But big questions remain about whether these subs will ever be delivered at all. Today, Hugh White on what could still go wrong — and why these submarines might never actually be delivered
Why the AUKUS submarines will never arrive
https://7ampodcast.com.au/?cid=ef89aa6b60f3349de69a277fc170afe7
Any predictions from the NSW pubsters as to whether the Blue Squad or the Red Squad of the Rum Corp will win ?
I sincerely hope it is the Red Squad. After watching the Honest Government advert about the pork-barrelling of the Bushfire Recovery fund, where John Barilaro is alleged to have raised the minimum budget of qualifying projects to $1million, thereby cutting out all projects in Labor electorates, that Blue Squad lot of merde need tossing out asap. Labor electorates got zero funding, although having multiple shovel-ready projects, despite the fact these electorates including the Blue Mountains and Central Coast (?), have some of the most devastating fire damage of all.
Qld used to be seen, under Mr Pumpkin Scones, as the most corrupt state in Australia. NSW is the top candidate for the Corruption Crown of the nation.
Labor must win NSW, then strengthen and fully fund the NSW ICAC.
Puffy.
A small correction Kaffee. Labor Premier Alan Carpenter introduced our local gas reservation policy. At the time the Libs predicted the end of the world as a consequence.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Shane Wright reports that the Albanese government has vowed to safeguard the retirement savings of all Australians, as key crossbench MPs said it was time for a royal commission into the federal and state programs put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/chalmers-vows-to-safeguard-super-as-calls-grow-for-covid-inquiry-20230316-p5cspq.html
Dipping into superannuation while COVID raged must remain a one-time fix, urges the editorial in the SMH.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/australians-siphoned-38-billion-of-their-super-in-the-pandemic-20230316-p5csmt.html
While the Coalition justified its pandemic super access scheme by citing the financial strain caused by COVID-19, a new study has shown the withdrawals were also more broadly spent on short-term ends such as gambling rather than rent or groceries.
https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/coalition-s-early-super-access-scheme-largely-used-to-get-cold-hard-cash-20230316-p5cspg
The US Fed broke something, so the rate hikes are finished, thinks Alan Kohler.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/03/16/rate-hikes-households-banks-kohler/
Four national law enforcement agencies will make up a new joint task force to crack down on wide-scale money laundering across Australia’s financial and property markets. Police believe billions of dollars are laundered in Australia every year – used to bankroll lavish lifestyles and fund further criminal activity. The Australian Federal Police, Border Force, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission will target perpetrators both in Australia and overseas, reports Duncan Murray.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/03/17/money-laundering-rife-australia/?breaking_live_scroll=1
Only a few years ago, Buy Now Pay Later was hailed as the ultimate in consumer credit innovation. The current reality is massive losses for the providers while cost-of-living pressures escalate and the most vulnerable consumers suffer most. Welfare groups are demanding regulation, David Gilchrist reports.
https://michaelwest.com.au/government-dragging-its-feet-regulating-buy-now-pay-later-sector-causing-more-grief-for-the-vulnerable/
A brawl has erupted within Labor over the deal to acquire eight nuclear-powered submarines from the United States and United Kingdom, as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and senior cabinet ministers pushed back on Paul Keating’s strident criticisms of the AUKUS pact.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-wong-return-fire-at-keating-but-garrett-unions-back-him-up-20230316-p5csq2.html
Ideology is back, and it’s critical for understanding AUKUS v China, argues the Lowy Institute’s Lydia Khalil.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ideology-is-back-and-it-s-critical-for-understanding-aukus-v-china-20230315-p5csbz.html
There are few who think as clearly, who are as articulate, and who are prepared to speak out in the face of incredible stupidity in Australian politics as Paul Keating. And, as he made clear in his address to the press club this week, AUKUS is nothing if not an exercise in security policy stupidity, writes Allan Patience.
https://johnmenadue.com/paul-keating-reveals-aukus-as-exercise-in-security-policy-stupidity/
David Crowe reckons that the sad, isolated bile from Paul Keating will divide his party.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sad-isolated-paul-keating-s-bile-will-divide-his-party-20230315-p5cseh.html
The former prime minister has done more than abuse a few journalists, he’s stirred up the Labor Left, says Phil Coorey.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/keating-may-be-isolated-on-china-but-he-s-kicked-a-hornets-nest-20230315-p5cs86
The AFR says that Ken Henry’s blunt message to the Tax Institute yesterday was that a piecemeal, tinkering approach – as replicated in last month’s paring back of super tax breaks – is simply not up to the task of turning around the decline in Australia’s productivity performance needed to support growth in living standards.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/henry-blows-whistle-on-australia-s-tax-reform-slumber-20230315-p5csgf
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has hit back at his Victorian and WA counterparts’ call for his state to host the nuclear waste from the future fleet of AUKUS submarines Mr Malinauskas did not rule out SA hosting it. But as he visited Britain to size up the job of building a nuclear submarine shipyard from scratch in his state, he said the waste should go “where it is in the nation’s interest to put it”.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/sa-premier-wades-into-states-feud-over-aukus-nuclear-waste-dump-20230317-p5cswa
The government should not weaken the voice drafting to appease exaggerated concerns. The Attorney-General’s suggested change would short-change Indigenous people and invite future bad faith efforts to undermine the voice, writes law scholar Shireen Morris for The Australian.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/watering-down-draft-demeans-spirit-of-the-voice/news-story/79cd28fef0f05a3d259a0a890510fd73?amp
The practice of “income averaging” to calculate debts in the robodebt scheme was completely flawed. This is what Professor Peter Whiteford confirmed in his new report conducted for the robodebt royal commission published last Friday, the final day of the commission’s public hearings. He says it simply lacked basic common sense.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8123965/why-robodebts-use-of-income-averaging-lacked-basic-common-sense/?cs=14329
Robodebt not only broke the laws of the land – it also broke laws of mathematics, writes Professor of statistics, Noel Cressie.
https://theconversation.com/robodebt-not-only-broke-the-laws-of-the-land-it-also-broke-laws-of-mathematics-201299
Dominic Perrottet went big and bold, while Chris Minns has kept it safe and small. Only one will be rewarded, writes Alexandra Smith.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/in-a-ho-hum-election-spotlighting-pokies-both-leaders-have-gambled-20230314-p5cs31.html
Perrottet and Minns are same, same – it’s their policies and vision that are different, posits Lucy Cormack.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/perrottet-and-minns-are-same-same-it-s-their-policies-and-vision-that-are-different-20230315-p5cs85.html
Some may be fooled into thinking New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet is progressive, but the proof is in the unpalatable paleo-conservative pudding, opines Michelle Pini.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-new-south-wales-paleo-progressive-premier-perrottet,17331
Ahead of the upcoming NSW Election, voters would do well to remember past Liberal manoeuvrings, like the lockdown fee scam subjected to those under COVID-19 quarantine, writes Dr Evan Jones.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/liberal-partys-shady-operating-dogs-nsw-election,17328
According to Josh Butler, Liberal MP Karen Andrews has blasted Scott Morrison for appointing former minister Ben Morton to administer the home affairs department in 2021, saying there was “no reason to keep it hidden” and claiming she was not told about it as the minister in that portfolio.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/16/liberal-mp-blasts-scott-morrison-over-unknown-appointment-as-second-post-revealed
This week, the House Select Committee on Workforce Australia Employment Services held one of its public hearings. During the opening remarks, the Committee chair, Julian Hill remarked that he had asked the Department of Employment what a good service model looks like, and they couldn’t answer. He said they looked like a bunch of “well-paid, gaping fish”. Harsh, says David O’Halloran.
https://johnmenadue.com/what-does-a-good-employment-service-look-like/
Broede Carmody reports that the opposition and Greens are laying the groundwork for a parliamentary inquiry into claims Labor MPs directed independent auditors to “dig up dirt” on Victoria’s integrity watchdog.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/labor-could-face-public-probe-into-ibac-dirt-allegations-20230316-p5csst.html
ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott has said this week’s bank-driven tremors on global markets have sparked questions about whether bigger problems are looming in the financial sector.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/any-smell-of-risk-is-quite-dangerous-anz-boss-20230316-p5csr0.html
The panic that suddenly engulfed Credit Suisse says something very disconcerting about how fragile the global banking system is, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/credit-suisse-in-the-crosshairs-as-fear-takes-over-20230316-p5csjm.html
Bruce Lehrmann texted his then-girlfriend on the day Network Ten and News Corp aired rape allegations made by his former colleague Brittany Higgins and told her he had legal advice that a criminal trial was “off the cards”, the Federal Court has heard. Michaela Whitbourn reports her on a revealing day at the trial.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/bruce-lehrmann-s-text-messages-to-girlfriend-revealed-at-defamation-hearing-20230316-p5csk6.html
Conservatives hate wokeness. Don’t trigger them by asking what it means, advises Arwa Mahdawi.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/16/woke-definition-conservatives-us
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
Andrew Dyson
Mark David
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
Glen Le Lievre
Spooner is possibly worse than Leak!
From the US
I agree with every word. Unfortunately Labor, if it wins, will be not much better.
1maduncleat 11:34 PM Edit
Carpenter locked it in. THANK GOODNESS ! But old Charlie Court deserves some credit for kicking it off. But bigly TY to Carpenter for formalising it.
Luckily The Cave has been able to see over East what happens without a Reservation Policy so politically it is a ‘third rail’ . I saw this headline from the AFR and thought ‘How unAFR !!’ of them.
Then a LOL when I saw who wrote the article. A certain Mr Colin Barnett.
https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/gas-reservation-is-not-a-bogyman-20200520-p54un3
It would be funnier if it were not so true.
The poor widdle precious presstitutes wailed over that meanie Keating and now the same turds are bleating about Media Watch. Seems they………………
A bit precious, even for Bevan, don’t you think?
I still remember all the Rudd and Gillard wars carried out by the SMH, the Age and its allies the Murdoch rags. No one demanded an apology then, although Labor had every reason to do so. The venom sprayed by the right-wing MSM cost Labor government and set us up for almost 10 years of dithering, lies and corruption by the Liberals and the Nationals, ending with the worst PM Australia has ever suffered and a government full of incompetent dolts.
Also being far too precious – Albo and his whining over Paul Keating.
Albo says Keating has “diminished himself” with his comments yesterday, especially his attack on Albo, Marles and Penny Wong.
All Albo needed to say was “Paul is entitled to his opinions, although I disagree with most of them” but he took it much further. He carried on like a toddler throwing a tantrum because he was told he could not have more ice cream.
Not a good look at all. Maybe two doses of Covid has affected his brain.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8123919/albanese-says-keating-diminished-himself-over-aukus/
The SMAge is falling in a heap 😀
https://www.theguardian.com/media/commentisfree/2023/mar/17/we-shall-fight-them-on-our-pages-nine-newspapers-invoke-churchill-to-defend-its-red-alert-series
Her name is a dead giveaway…………
In a world depressingly full of politicians living down to their profession’s reputation a bit of ‘Awww cute”. Meet Happy the calf from Ripplebrook Vic.
Calf named Happy spreading joy with smiley face in fur
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/cutestuff/300832476/calf-named-happy-born-in-australia-with-smiley-face-in-his-fur
Friendlyjordies –
Speaking of leather seats –
Albo admits he got talked into buying extras package on new subs
https://www.theshovel.com.au/2023/03/16/albo-extras-package-submarines/
Seth Meyers –
Chris Hayes –
Lawrence O’Donnell –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
I received my NSW ballot papers in the mail today.
OMG!! The nutters standing for election in the Upper House! How am I supposed to choose between so many loons and cookers? I thought I might number all the boxes for the sheer pleasure of putting Mark Latham last, but that will take hours – days even. What do I do?
Re nuclear waste from our undersea white elephants, the NIMBY battle has begun.
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/send-it-to-woomera-mcgowan-cold-on-nuclear-waste-being-stored-in-wa-20230316-p5csps.html
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/17/guardian-readers-share-their-ideas-and-hints-for-saving-money-in-these-difficult-times
John Crace
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/16/time-and-again-the-tories-ship-of-fools-takes-us-for-fools
Marles has also been smoking something illicit –
WTF?
How did ‘souvenirs’ of Aboriginal Land end up in the Academy Awards’ official gift bag?
https://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/how-did-souvenirs-of-aboriginal-land-end-up-in-the-academy-awards-official-gift-bag/3e6i1ekj0
Each one of the recipients will bring it back personally to where it was stolen.
I wish!
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Malcolm Knox reckons ex-PMs’ perks should come with a compulsory vow of silence.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ex-pms-perks-should-come-with-a-compulsory-vow-of-silence-20230316-p5cslv.html
Keating could be right about AUKUS, but gratuitous insults are an ugly look, says Michelle Grattan.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/keating-could-be-right-about-aukus-but-gratuitous-insults-are-an-ugly-look-20230315-p5csfu.html
And Peter Hartcher says that Keating didn’t reveal that the government gave him a private, early briefing on the AUKUS deal, and Albanese returned every call he made to him.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-s-what-keating-didn-t-say-at-the-press-club-that-was-most-disloyal-20230316-p5csm1.html
Michael Pascoe reckons the MSM journos were too busy sooking to grasp Keating’s point.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2023/03/18/michael-pascoe-submarines-smh-paul-keating/
Australians back the idea of using nuclear-powered submarines and want billions of dollars invested in national security, with 70 per cent of voters saying spending on defence should be 2 per cent or more of the economy. David Crowe writes that the federal government’s pledge to develop a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines is actively supported by 25 per cent of voters and acceptable to another 39 per cent, while another 17 per cent oppose the idea.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/voters-accept-case-for-nuclear-submarines-but-yet-to-be-convinced-of-368b-plan-20230317-p5csz9.html
In an instructive contribution, Professor Clinton Fernandes points out that Australia has placed a very big bet on two unknowns: that the US’s internal political stability and the US-led global order will endure into the 2070s.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/aukus-subs-deal-binds-us-to-a-country-that-can-change-its-mind-on-whim-20230316-p5cskq.html
The Albanese government now seeks to stabilise bilateral relations with China while embarking on a partnership with the US and regional nations in a strategy to deterrence against China – a challenging brief, declares Paul Kelly.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/can-australia-live-up-to-aukus-partners-trust/news-story/0f03fa7c1a9dace84da97cc50defd241?amp
Multiple points of failure are built into this program, coupled with the deep flaws in its strategic logic. AUKUS will become an embarrassing memory, if it is remembered at all, predicts Hugh White.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/world/2023/03/15/the-aukus-submarines-will-never-happen
Make no mistake: Anthony Albanese, in the bright Californian sun this week, was doing more than putting the nation on an economic and strategic war footing; he was rendering his political opponents back home defenceless, opines Paul Bongiorno.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2023/03/18/albanese-and-the-aukus-booby-trap
Paul Keating can be his own worst enemy, but his AUKUS spray raises big questions about China, defence, that have slipped us by, writes Laura Tingle.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-18/paul-keating-savage-mouth-aukus-questions-china-defence-slipping/102113150
“How many ex-PMs does it take to sink Australia’s nuclear submarine deal?”, wonders Paul Karp.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/18/how-many-ex-pms-does-it-take-to-sink-australias-nuclear-submarine-deal
Australia’s AUKUS nuclear-powered submarine deal, conceived by Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton, brought to extraordinary fruition by Anthony Albanese and Richard Marles, in partnership with Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak, will transform our nation forever, strategically, militarily, politically and perhaps economically. Its effects will be irreversible if it succeeds, and even more irreversible if it fails, writes Greg Sheridan who says the nuclear subs venture will transform Australia, for better or worse.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/aukus-nuclear-subs-venture-will-transform-australia-for-better-or-worse/news-story/76481f083859040b6b39a0f3ac652eb0?amp
What’s the scam with Nine’s “Panel of Experts”? Red alert, it’s ASPI, writes Kim Wingerei.
https://michaelwest.com.au/whats-the-scam-with-nines-panel-of-experts-red-alert-its-aspi/
Who will control the Tomahawk Missiles? News that Australia will purchase up to 220 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles might seem like just another Defence purchase, but there’s a hidden sovereignty issue that needs to be examined. Rex Patrick says his bit.
https://michaelwest.com.au/uncle-sam-can-you-target-my-tomahawk-please/
The Australian Army has launched an urgent investigation after discovering serving soldiers have links to neo-Nazi groups. Nick McKenzie writes that the inquiry was triggered by an investigation by the SMAge into white supremacist groups which features leaked recordings and conversations from encrypted forums that reveal an emerging cohort of Australian extremist leaders seeking to access firearms and ridiculing law enforcement.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/soldiers-of-hate-army-investigates-neo-nazis-in-its-ranks-20230314-p5crvv.html
Australia should radically expand Labor’s planned heavy industrial, resources and manufacturing emissions reduction policy by including electricity and transport, and slashing the threshold for big polluters from 100,000 tonnes to 25,000 tonnes, more than doubling the number of companies captured, reports Jacob Greber about the new Productivity Commission five-yearly report.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/supercharge-safeguard-mechanism-by-making-it-economy-wide-says-pc-20230317-p5ct31
The pandemic superannuation drawdown intervention was a mistake we should never forget, urges the editorial in The Age.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/pandemic-super-drawdown-a-mistake-we-should-never-forget-20230317-p5ct3n.html
It’s dawning on people that when the competition between businesses isn’t strong, firms can raise their prices by more than the increase in their costs, and so fatten their profit margins. What’s yet to dawn is that weak competition also allows businesses to pay their workers less than they should, writes Ross Gittins.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/ever-wondered-why-your-wages-aren-t-rising-20230316-p5csmf.html
“I helped write the Productivity Commission’s 5-year productivity review: here’s what I think Australia should do”, explains Professor Stephen King.
https://theconversation.com/i-helped-write-the-productivity-commissions-5-year-productivity-review-heres-what-i-think-australia-should-do-201378
The senate review of our corporate watchdog’s handling of white-collar crime is yet to hit its straps, but already the incompetence and lack of professionalism of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission is being laid bare, writes John Hewson in strident fashion.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2023/03/18/the-job-that-asic-should-be-doing
Martin McKenzie-Murray tells us how a cache of leaked financial documents alleges staggering misconduct and outrageous spending at the Australian megachurch, Hillsong. He writes that Brian Houston believes in many things: in the literal truth of the Bible; in entertaining the flock; in money, influence and fame. He believes that God chooses some men to be saved and some to be damned, and believes that he, Brian Houston, is one of the former.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-crime/2023/03/18/fraud-money-laundering-inside-the-hillsong-papers
Rachel Lane writes that as part of the Aged Care Royal Commission reforms, the government introduced quarterly financial reporting into the sector, with the first report covering July to September 2022, published in late February. And while the report covers the whole sector – with data collected across for-profit, not-for-profit and government providers – it reads like a tale of two industries, with home care delivering low levels of care with high profits and residential aged care delivering substantially more care and making substantial losses.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/low-profits-high-debt-aged-care-report-paints-grim-picture-20230317-p5ct02.html
Anthony Albanese says a “dysfunctional” Perrottet government has reached the end of its life and kept Peter Dutton away from the campaign trail.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/where-s-dutton-pm-says-nsw-campaign-a-no-go-zone-for-opposition-leader-20230317-p5ct22.html
Mike Seccombe points out that, by sheer number of resignations, the NSW Coalition government goes to next weekend’s election as one of the most scandal prone in history.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2023/03/18/brief-history-liberal-party-scandals
Former judge Stephen Charles, who advised then-premier Ted Baillieu on how to set up Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog, has criticised the current premier’s record on integrity.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/things-are-going-wrong-and-they-know-it-one-of-ibac-s-founders-speaks-out-on-government-integrity-20230317-p5csyp.html
Thousands of Australians with type 1 diabetes will receive six more months of subsidised access to a popular medication they say allows them to live a normal life, before it is withdrawn from the pharmaceutical benefits scheme and the price soars from $30 to $230 a month. Natassia Chrysanthos tells us that the federal government has made a legal supply order that means drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk’s fast-acting insulin product Fiasp – which is used by about 14,000 people – will remain on PBS until October.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/six-month-reprieve-from-price-hike-on-popular-diabetes-drug-20230317-p5ct0f.html
Michaela Whitbourn fills us in with the strange evidence coming out in yesterday’s hearing for the Bruce Lehrmann Federal Court defamation case.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/you-got-any-gear-lehrmann-s-text-after-higgins-rape-allegation-made-public-20230317-p5ct5r.html
More from Christopher Knaus on the Lehrmann case revelations.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/17/bruce-lehrmann-asked-friends-got-any-gear-on-day-allegations-reported-messages-tendered-in-court-reveal
Whistleblowers are vital actors in our democracy, upholding our right to know. Without them – and the public interest journalism they make possible – corruption and human rights abuses go unaddressed. Kieran Pender reports that in recent weeks, Senator David Pocock and members of parliament Zoe Daniel and Andrew Wilkie have all given voice to whistleblowers.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2023/03/18/whistleblowers-need-protection
According to the London Telegraph’s Julian Jessop, the fuse has been lit for the next financial crisis.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-fuse-has-been-lit-for-the-next-financial-crisis-20230317-p5csxj.html
Chris Richardson argues that Australian banks aren’t likely to fall over because they’ve been given the quiet nod from Canberra that lets them earn a fortune without the tiresome need to compete for that money.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/even-strangers-are-suddenly-asking-me-if-they-should-stuff-their-money-under-the-mattress-20230316-p5csuz.html
Joe Biden has urged Congress to approve measures enacting tougher punishments on banking executives if mismanagement contributed to their institutions failing, following the recent collapse of three regional banks.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/biden-seeks-tougher-penalties-on-executives-of-failed-banks-20230318-p5ct75
Bob Brown writes about how Tanya Plibersek could become a great environment minister.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2023/03/18/how-tanya-plibersek-can-become-great-environment-minister
In November 2021, Scott’s Refrigerated Logistics made a fatal mistake. It implemented a major transport management IT system upgrade as the company got ready for its busiest period of the year, Christmas. Within weeks, thousands of pallets had backed up and were pushed into the aisles of cold warehouse storage facilities, where forklifts could barely move. This is a failure of management IMHO.
https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/out-in-the-cold-how-scott-s-came-undone-20230314-p5cs1x
Industry and worker groups say Australia is experiencing an unprecedented problem with the abuse of retail workers. Unions say they have never seen widespread aggression by customers toward staff like that occurring now. The spike in aggressive behaviour toward staff, first noted during the early days of the pandemic, isn’t dying down even though lockdowns and restrictions are in the past.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/03/17/retail-staff-abuse-government/?breaking_live_scroll=1
FWIW, the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for war crimes, alleging his involvement in abductions of children from Ukraine.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/arrest-warrant-for-putin-issued-by-icc-over-alleged-war-crimes-20230318-p5ct73.html
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to visit Moscow next week, offering a major diplomatic boost to Vladimir Putin.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-s-xi-jinping-to-visit-moscow-in-show-of-support-for-putin-20230317-p5ct65.html
In what could be a tipping point, Poland will deliver an initial batch of four Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine, Polish President Andrzej Duda said on Thursday, ramping up pressure on other NATO allies to make similar commitments.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/psychological-tipping-point-polish-fighter-jets-on-the-way-to-kyiv-20230317-p5ct2u.html
The thuggish Netanyahu’s hard-right government’s drive to limit Supreme Court powers while increasing its own power in selecting judges has caused alarm at home and abroad about the country’s democratic checks and balances. Anti-reform protests have swelled for weeks.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/red-line-leads-to-israel-supreme-court-after-netanyahu-spurns-compromise-20230317-p5ct0q.html
The Donald Trump election campaign’s efforts to show that thousands of ballots were cast in the name of dead people in the pivotal state of Georgia during the 2020 election resulted in a research report that in fact contradicted Trump’s claims that widespread election fraud cost him the presidency, according to a report revealed yesterday.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/17/trump-research-voter-fraud-claims-debunked
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Alan Moir
Andrew Dyson
Matt Golding
Jon Kudelka
John Shakespeare
Joe Benke
Richard Giliberto
Michael Leunig
Dionne Gain
Mark Knight
Champion Luddite Spooner
From the US
“Michael Pascoe reckons the MSM journos were too busy sooking to grasp Keating’s point.”
Fantastic article. Boy did those journalists sook!
This article tells it like it is, too many sooks sulking about being chastised by Keating, not nearly enough notice taken of what he actually said.
How dare these sooks allege Keating is senile! They need to take a good look at their own behaviour. Verbally attacking a 79 year old on the basis he struggled to find the exact words he needed is the act of ageist cowards, and not very bright cowards at that. How many of them could face Laura Tingle, one on one, with only a written few pages to refer to and still ask pertinent questions which went over the heads of the so-called “journalists” present?
It seems these journalists, especially those working for Nine, have all been instructed to lay into Keating as part of their usual anti-Labor spiel.
Interesting to see Abbott fanboi and BFF Sheridan taking such a tone. When it comes to All The Way With The USA he is normally one of the lead cheer leaders. Too much ‘American weaponry’ and ‘boys toys’ is never enough for Greg but that tone does not sound at all confident. Makes me wonder just how bad the submarine deal really is if even boosters like him aren’t ‘cheering madly’ .
Re the abuse of retail workers. I wonder if there is a hint as to part of the problem’s roots in this Mike Tyson caption ? After the lock downs etc and the bigly increase in online use that saw people have taken their behaviour into the ‘real world’ . The shit fuckery of online behaviour became normalised for some.
😆 Comment re Garrett’s criticism of submarine deal ……………………
LOL but sadly too close to reality . The journos are still sooking over it .
Bill Maher – (new rules 45:05)
Chris Hayes –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
David Crowe thinks Australians back nuclear subs. Does he have reliable figures to back that claim or is he just quoting the latest Resolve poll?
Resolve is commissioned by Nine to do polling for them. In my view those who commission polls get the results they ask for.
To get around the Nine paywall you need nimble fingers – just hit the refresh button while the page is still loading.
If you’re using firefox just install Bypass Paywalls Clean. No need for nimble fingers.
I think it’s available for chrome as well.
Isn’t it interesting how so many of those tough nazis hide their identity with a mask. I bet most of them are right wing cookers who also object to mask wearing that prevents spreading of the COVID-19 virus.
There’s something not quite right about those ‘nazis’ . The ‘uniform’ for a start . I don’t think they were students but they looked to me like uni students pulling a stunt rather a bunch of ‘nazis on the march’.
They can’t wear nazi symbols so they wear all black. Still easy to spot when they all wear the same thing.
Some fun………….. A dead horse ?
/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/nzme/T3T2RR7Q6VEBBDRAGV3LBXVFDM.JPG#image.jpg)
Nope, this is how he sleeps. Which is a problem for the owner as …….
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/will-the-horse-slim-shady-please-stand-up-napping-stallion-has-locals-thinking-hes-dead/X6OG5SYCVNGSRI6G5LXOPFLJUI/
She, and Priti, really is a piece of work
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/18/braverman-criticised-for-shutting-out-guardian-and-bbc-from-rwanda-trip
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Mark Kenny writes that, given the full-court-press of press indignation last week, it almost escaped notice that some well credentialed strategic policy minds agreed with Paul Keating’s core concerns over AUKUS.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8126022/aukus-angst-runs-silent-but-deep/?cs=14258
Defence Minister Richard Marles says Australia’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines will help deter a foreign adversary from launching a shipping blockade which could cut off the country’s trading routes from the rest of the world. With 99 per cent of Australia’s trade coming from ships, Marles says the nation is very reliant on trade by sea and that needed to be protected.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/new-submarines-will-deter-blockades-that-cut-us-off-from-the-world-marles-20230316-p5css4.html
Scott Morrison said the women who marched on Parliament House were lucky not to be shot. The opposition leader needs to take a markedly different approach, writes Jacqui Maley who wonders if he can win over the “prosecco mums” of Australia
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/can-peter-dutton-win-over-the-prosecco-mums-of-australia-20230316-p5cssj.html
Concern about attracting unwanted attention from hostile foreign forces is already whipping through Port Kembla.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-ll-fight-it-tooth-and-nail-nsw-steel-town-weighs-a-future-as-a-nuclear-sub-base-20230316-p5csnd.html
Australia’s existing coal mines will be enough to supply electricity to the nation until 2040, with the Greens pushing for a ban on new coal projects in return for backing Labor’s signature climate policy. Anthony Galloway tells us that Labor and the Greens are still some way from reaching an agreement on the climate bill and Energy Minister Chris Bowen has declared that the Greens’ demand to ban new coal and gas projects would be “irresponsible”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/irresponsible-labor-won-t-buckle-on-greens-demand-to-ban-new-coal-and-gas-projects-20230316-p5css9.html
Jon Faine lays out some hard truths about how the ABC, most trusted voice in the Australian media and an organisation with a unique role in our culture, might address some problems. He says managers must never try to appease the government of the day. The role of the public broadcaster is to hold power to account, which means inevitably upsetting people in power. It is an essential ingredient in any democracy.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-abc-board-s-rubber-band-approach-to-solving-problems-is-not-working-20230317-p5ct2c.html
On Sydney’s northern beaches, relations between the campaigns of the teal candidate for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby, and Liberal Rory Amon have become frosty as the Scruby camp filed a formal complaint about Liberal-branded signs discouraging voters from preferencing on their ballots.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/early-voting-opens-as-parties-take-campaigns-to-western-sydney-20230318-p5ct8p.html
An incoming NSW government will need to make housing affordability and rental reform an urgent priority in its early days, says the SMH editorial which is concerned that the housing crisis threatens to impose a lifetime of renting.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/housing-crisis-threatens-to-impose-a-lifetime-of-renting-20230317-p5ct03.html
Deteriorating economic conditions have cast a shadow over the March 25 state election – and whoever wins will confront a raft of financial challenges, writes Matt Wade.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/tougher-economic-times-ahead-no-matter-who-wins-the-nsw-election-20230307-p5cq74.html
A slow rollout of fast charging stations could hold Victorians back from shifting to electric vehicles, with some early adopters finding infrastructure has not kept pace.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/slow-action-on-fast-chargers-could-drain-enthusiasm-for-electric-vehicle-uptake-20230317-p5ct43.html
Melissa Cunningham tells us how challenging a naturopath prompted a million-dollar lawsuit. This is enough to make one’s blood boil!
https://www.theage.com.au/national/potato-to-treat-cancer-how-challenging-a-naturopath-prompted-a-million-dollar-lawsuit-20230315-p5csds.html
“Trees are good for the climate and human health. Plastics are bad for the environment and bird health. Where are the good governments when you need them?”, asks Peter Sainsbury.
https://johnmenadue.com/environment-trees-good-plastics-bad-why-dont-governments-turn-it-around/
More than 3.6 million Australians have failed to return their bowel cancer early detection test kits, as experts warn the nation has reported the most severe drop in a decade of people using the preventative screening tool. Why are so many people so dumb?
https://www.theage.com.au/national/millions-avoid-bowel-cancer-home-kits-as-fears-rise-disease-is-going-undiagnosed-20230316-p5csnm.html
Now, as China is confronting an economy lacking the dynamism of the past and teetering from a real estate sector in crisis and local governments overrun with debt, Xi is again wielding his hammer. One economic expert has said “Whenever he’s confronted with a problem, the solution is greater centralisation to the party.”
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/xi-gets-out-the-hammer-to-take-charge-of-china-s-economy-20230315-p5cs5s.html
Australia’s departing ambassador has rejected the notion that Joe Biden is too old to run for another term as president, praising the Democrat as an astute politician who is on top of his brief and constantly underestimated.In an exclusive exit interview with Farrah Tomazin, Arthur Sinodinos also pushed back against fears that a future US administration could tear up the AUKUS agreement; urged his successor Kevin Rudd to be ambitious for the Australia-US alliance; and named former UK prime minister Boris Johnson as his “most amusing but hardest-to-handle” dinner guest. This is a worthwhile read.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/biden-boris-and-barry-gibb-sinodinos-s-candid-thoughts-as-he-exits-the-us-20230318-p5ct7b.html
Donald Trump expects to be arrested on Tuesday in relation to hush money paid to women who alleged sexual encounters with the former president. Off course, he has kicked off on social media and called for protests, etc.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-says-he-expects-to-be-arrested-on-tuesday-20230318-p5ctak.html
With $1.6bn at stake, Fox News is suddenly interested in freedom of the press, writes Margaret Sullivan who says Fox News doesn’t deserve the second word in its name.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/18/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-rupert-murdoch-freedom-of-the-press
Cartoon Corner
Matt Golding
Matt Davidson
Reg Lynch
Dionne Gain
Peyer Broelman
From the US
Sir Charles Marles , what a bullshit artiste. Look at where our trade route choke points are and you can see that conventional ships can do the job. In fact they would do a far better job than ‘nucular’ ones in the region above Australia. The only places the ‘nucular’ subs may help will be in protecting routes close to……………………………China. Jeebus that comedy skit was soooooo on the money.
A reminder of how Lib/Lab are same same on reducing GHG emissions. The great big clever hard head plan of Labor to regain power was , in as many areas as possible, to remove all chances of being ‘wedged’. As far as I can see ‘wedged’ is a euphemism for actually standing for something . Anyway back to GHG.
Read this and weep. I’m glad I came across this. It cemented my decision re Labor and where they will be on my ballot paper come next election . Grrrrrrrrrrr.
https://www.themonthly.com.au/the-politics/rachel-withers/2023/02/27/emperor-s-new-carbon-credits
Even the AFR were on to it
Climate warrior Chris Bowen wants to subsidise coal mines
https://www.afr.com › Companies › Mining
13 Dec 2022
So Chris Bowen thinks banning more coal and projects is “irresponsible”.
I can tell you what is irresponsible, Bowen – it is allowing this planet to cook because you and Labor lack the balls to stand up to “Big Coal” and “Big Gas”.
The Labor Party lacks the intestinal fortitude to stand up to these vultures who are ripping us off by failing to pay taxes, by ruining farmland and aquifers and by thinking because they are wealthy and powerful they can take what they want.
I have said this before – I’ll keep voting independent until one of the major parties sees sense. I’ll be dead before that happens and the way Labor is going so will the planet.
By the way, I suggest Bypass Paywalls Clean ads an extension for Chrome if you want to read many often paywalled articles on the NYT and News Corp tabloids and The Oz.
https://www.bardeen.ai/posts/extensions-to-bypass-paywall
https://github.com/iamadamdev/bypass-paywalls-chrome
The sabotage of the release of hostages and delaying it until after the election was known years ago. Sadly the result of today’s ‘revelations’ will be the same as back then. SFA. All involved deserved to be hung drawn and quartered but nowt will ever happen.
Meanwhile in Siberia…..
If only someone as principled as Simon Crean was PM today, instead of a nong who just wants to play with the” popular” kids and who will do whatever it takes to do that.
I wonder how Julia would have fared.
I don’t think she would have fallen in quite so quickly: the lady has a brain.
Julia did agree to the stationing of US forces in the NT, done on the rubbish excuse of strengthening Anzus. Technically she started the whole thing going, Aukus might never have happened without her too-willing agreement.
Some ancient history –
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-16/gillard2c-obama-announce-darwin-troop-deployment/3675596
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Ross Gittins rips into the latest Productivity Commission report, saying, “Until the capitalist system goes back to keeping its promise that the workers will get their fair share of the benefits of capitalism – Australia’s households have no rational reason to give a stuff about what’s happening to productivity.” A very good read.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-productivity-commission-wants-wage-bargaining-shifted-further-in-favour-of-employers-20230319-p5ctcp.html
The illusions of neoliberal capitalism are dismantling, and the true perpetrators of poverty are being unmasked, writes John Falzon. He says trickle-down theory is no mystery. It is an excellent example of the so-called common sense that is designed to throw us off the scent of what is really happening, trying to convince us that the obscene proliferation of mega-profits should not only be allowed but encouraged because it is the only means of salvation for those who are living in poverty.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8122774/poverty-a-feature-of-profits-not-a-bug/?cs=14258
Sean Kelly’s piece today provides a good insight to the state of political debate and action in Australia now.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-end-of-albanese-s-other-honeymoon-20230319-p5ctbv.html
The energy market operator’s urgent warning of a gas shortage has heated up a political brawl between the Greens and the federal government as time runs down for Energy Minister Chris Bowen to reform the safeguard mechanism to deliver on Australia’s legally binding climate target, reports Mike Foley.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/gas-shortfall-warning-heats-safeguard-mechanism-debate-as-time-ticks-down-20230319-p5ctdz.html
The AFR says that the national economic policy think tank has come up with a policy that centre-right parties supposedly committed to free market principles should embrace.
https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/an-economically-rationalist-climate-transition-policy-20230316-p5csl9
If Minns seizes power, he will be a premier who lumbered over the line, rather than sprinted, says Alexandra Smith who points to the Coalition’s primary vote shooting up six percentage points to 38 per cent since the last Resolve survey in late February, Labor’s remaining exactly where it was – on 38 per cent. The Coalition is making gains; Labor is steady.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/if-minns-seizes-power-he-will-be-a-premier-who-lumbered-over-the-line-rather-than-sprinted-20230319-p5cteh.html
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/perrottet-narrowing-tight-contest-but-labor-tipped-to-sweep-to-power-20230319-p5ctf7.html
The whole commercial banking structure is built on the foundation of “sticky” deposits – but these are now fast-moving and volatile, writes Karen Maley.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/the-banking-model-is-wobbling-as-deposits-become-flighty-20230319-p5ctb9
Three times the number of high-income earners will be hit by the former Coalition government’s 2017 tax increase on superannuation, compared to Labor’s targeting of savers with retirement income balances above $3 million. John Kehoe reports that Jim Chalmers accused the Liberal Party of “hypocrisy” after releasing the new Treasury figures.
https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/labor-slams-hypocrisy-over-3m-super-cap-criticism-20230319-p5ctdf
Daniel Hurst looks at the modelling informing the above accusation.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/20/coalitions-super-changes-will-affect-three-times-as-many-people-as-labors-plan-modelling-shows
According to Simon Benson, Treasury is looking to dust off a mothballed proposal to claw back a rise in deductible work-related expenses which are forecast to cost the budget more than $10.4bn in forgone revenue annually by next year.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/treasury-is-looking-at-a-potential-clampdown-on-workathome-expenses-to-repair-budget/news-story/515cc86aace6152de13295c0cc3d4ad8?amp
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has gone against its own rules to green-light the billionaire Lowy family’s $550,000 in secretive “donations” to the Liberal Party via an obscure subsidiary, reveals Anthony Klan.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/lowy-family-use-loophole-to-donate-550000-to-liberal-party,17340
Victorian opposition leader John Pesutto will move to expel controversial Liberal MP Moira Deeming from the parliamentary party room after she attended a rally that has been associated with neo-Nazis. Sumeyya Ilanbey reports that Deeming attended the Let Women Speak rally organised by British anti-trans rights campaigner Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull at Parliament House on Saturday.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/liberals-move-to-expel-moira-deeming-over-neo-nazi-rally-links-20230319-p5ctgm.html
And Daniel Andrews has said the human rights of trans people are “not negotiable” and that “Nazis aren’t welcome” after a group performed the Nazi salute on the steps of the state’s parliament on Saturday.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/19/daniel-andrews-says-nazis-arent-welcome-as-victorian-government-considers-further-action-following-salutes
The cost of living crisis is driving rising levels of reported distress in NSW, as the nation’s peak suicide prevention group says an increase in deaths among middle-aged men should be a wake-up call for the next parliament. Mary Ward tells us that Suicide Prevention Australia is calling for NSW to follow South Australia’s lead and implement dedicated suicide prevention legislation, which would require lawmakers to consider the mental health impacts of housing and welfare policies.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/cost-of-living-crisis-drives-surge-in-middle-aged-male-suicides-20230316-p5csti.html
These educational academics tell us how school principals are reaching crisis point, pushed to the edge by mounting workloads, teacher shortages and abuse.
https://theconversation.com/school-principals-are-reaching-crisis-point-pushed-to-the-edge-by-mounting-workloads-teacher-shortages-and-abuse-201777
Alan Kohler writes that thanks to AUKUS, Australia’s manufacturing will be built on a foundation of defence, specifically buying and making nuclear submarines. But, he says, there is likely to be an opportunity cost in that. Given the amount of money involved there won’t be much, if any, left for anything else, such as the global energy transition, health care and agriculture.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/the-innovators/2023/03/20/alan-kohler-innovators-20-march/
The former head of the royal commission into the Lawyer X scandal has raised concerns with the government about its proposed informant laws ahead of the draft legislation being debated in parliament this week.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/lawyer-x-royal-commissioner-concerned-about-new-informant-bill-20230317-p5cszm.html
Binoy Kampmark examines Australia’s nuclear waste problem.
https://theaimn.com/spent-matters-the-aukus-nuclear-waste-problem/
Uber has launched a months-long advertising campaign over the Albanese government’s proposed gig economy reforms in a push to get a seat at the table over changes that will affect its 150,000 workers. The ride share and on-demand delivery giant will target politicians in Canberra and other capital cities from Monday and over the next few months with billboards, posters and digital and print ads in an effort to push the argument its riders and drivers want flexibility.
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/uber-launches-ad-blitz-over-labor-s-gig-economy-reforms-20230319-p5ctal
Fathers who share childcare face the same sexist assumptions about how good a worker you can be as women stared down for decades. For the health of men, women, kids and the economy, ideas of Australian workplace masculinity must at least try to keep up, writes Wendy Touhy.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/now-fathers-are-copping-the-motherhood-penalty-i-for-one-am-not-gloating-20230319-p5ctcg.html
Donna Mulhearn, who was a human shield during the Iraq war and later returned as an aid worker and researcher, argues why we need to change the practice where one person can decide if Australia goes to war..
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/one-person-can-decide-if-australia-goes-to-war-here-s-why-that-needs-to-change-20230315-p5csb6.html
Prime CBD office towers could potentially drop in value by between 10 per cent to 20 per cent as commercial property assets are eventually marked down to a market drastically reconfigured by higher interest rates, explains Nick Leneghan who says that thos could affect superannuation fund valuations and banking covenants.
https://www.afr.com/property/commercial/cbd-office-towers-face-price-falls-of-up-to-20pc-20230317-p5ct5t
The Consumer Action Law Centre has warned that Australia is a soft target for scammers who are now using artificial intelligence to impersonate the voices of family members.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/hey-mum-there-s-an-ai-scam-that-can-impersonate-my-voice-20230307-p5cq63.html
Reuters reports that if UBS acquires Credit Suisse 10,000 jobs may go and just as I type this I see a live press conference from the Swiss government announcing that the takeover will indeed happen.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/if-ubs-acquires-credit-suisse-10-000-jobs-may-go-20230319-p5ctco.html
It’s a three billion dollars deal.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/ubs-to-buy-credit-suisse-in-historic-3b-deal-to-end-crisis-20230320-p5ctgw.html
Rob Harris writes that Emmanuel Macron is so convinced that France cannot afford to continue losing its workforce to retirement at the age of 62 that he’s prepared to risk his authority to play a high-stakes game of political chicken. Since Macron’s government introduced plans to push the retirement age back from 62 to 64 – France has been convulsed by regular strikes and protests that have drawn millions into the streets, not only in the capital, but in towns and villages across the country.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/macron-plays-high-stakes-game-of-political-chicken-over-pension-20230319-p5ctbu.html
Geoffrey Robertson thinks that the arrest warrant may signal the beginning of the end for Putin. He says that although he will not stand in the dock at The Hague any time soon, he is now confirmed as an international pariah, with predecessors like Pinochet, Milosevic, Gaddafi and Al Bashir – all of whose indictments were a prelude to their fall from power.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/arrest-warrant-may-signal-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-putin-20230319-p5ctbw.html
While Narendra Modi polls extremely well, many worldly Indians are aghast that he has made India less secular and tolerant, creating a Hindu nationalism that marginalises religious minorities.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/narendra-modi-is-the-world-s-most-popular-leader-beware-20230319-p5ctgp.html
Donald Trump could be charged in New York as soon as this week for allegedly covering up hush money payments to a porn star during his 2016 presidential campaign, nearly seven years after the money changed hands. But any trial of the former US president would still be more than a year away, legal experts said, and could coincide with the final months of the 2024 presidential campaign as Trump seeks a return to the White House.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-could-be-charged-any-day-what-happens-next-20230319-p5ctgs.html
The Manhattan district attorney widely expected to bring an indictment against Donald Trump this week has vowed that his staff will not be intimidated after the former US president called for his supporters to protest any action against him.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/19/trump-calls-for-protest-manhattan-da-warns-of-intimidation
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Peter Broelman
Joe Benke
Megan Herbert
Mark David
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
Basically hello old Soviet joke, “They pretend to pay us, we pretend to work.”