As most of us are probably aware, there are several elections occurring over the next month, so here’s a new thread since the previous one is getting a bit dated.
The most obvious are the US elections that will take place on 5 November (6 November Australian time, where the count will start around Midday AEDST time). The polls have it as a complete tossup pretty much.
Internationally, there is also a significant election to be held in Japan on 27 October, although the polls there seem to imply that it’ll be a business as usual result.
Locally, we have the ACT election tomorrow on Saturday 19 October, as well as NSW by-elections in Pittwater, Hornsby and Epping.
Then the week after that we have the Queensland state election on Saturday 26 October.
THE PUB 
From the public gallery, having been banned from the Senate for the rest of this session (year)
Still making herself the issue. Silly girl
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/nov/28/australia-politics-live-climate-super-social-media-ban-senate-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-question-time#top-of-blog
“And we will change the definition of victim when we have to.”
re
Redefining could be a full time occupation for him……………
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/26/david-crisafulli-lnp-queensland-liberal-premier-analysis
Maybe, just maybe, Albo has been playing you …
This is quite astonishing
Why ? Because this was kicking off in the construction industry (in WA) back when I was in it in the very early 90s as the CFMEU moved in. It was no secret back then as to what was going on. .So why tf was nothing been done about it during the best part of 40 #$%#@! years that it has been going on ?
Was letting sleeping dogs lie was too ‘profitable’ for the major parties ? For Labor you had a well paid unionised workforce with large numbers and a river of gold coming in from them. Especially after the mining boom got rolling. For the Libs there were big donors in the industry who were very happy with the cozy agreements they entered into with the dodgy unions. Look after the union reps/leaders and gosh didn’t the amount of industrial action go down on your site . It was an open secret back then about the mutual back scratching deals made between unions and building companies. I’m sure political parties were very happy with the flow of donations from both sides.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
The Senate is a circus, and Lidia Thorpe is its clowning glory, declares David Crowe.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-senate-is-a-circus-and-this-senator-is-its-clowning-glory-20241128-p5kuaw.html
Given the confirmation this week by Treasurer Jim Chalmers of a bigger budget deficit this financial year, it would make sense to call a federal election for April 12, writes Phil Coorey who reckons that like Morrison, Albanese’s hoping for a summer of love.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/like-morrison-albanese-s-hoping-for-a-summer-of-love-20241127-p5ku2j
Retiring opposition Senate leader Simon Birmingham has urged the Coalition to avoid divisive culture wars in an impassioned defence of small-l Liberal values. Paul Sakkal and James Massola say that in a surprise move that leaves Opposition Leader Peter Dutton without a foreign affairs spokesman months out from an election, Birmingham called a meeting of his party colleagues mid-afternoon to reveal his plans to retire by the end of the year after 17 years in parliament.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/simon-birmingham-to-quit-20241128-p5kud5.html
In reacting to Joe Biden’s strident criticism of the ICC’s warrant for Netanyahu, Waleed Aly writes, “Law does not exist to provide rankings of moral badness. It exists to establish a common standard to which all are held accountable. It has never been a defence to argue that someone else is worse.”
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/the-icc-s-warrant-for-netanyahu-is-about-one-thing-only-20241127-p5ku3w.html
Labor is claiming victory in a fight to deliver help to households before the federal election after winning Senate votes on housing, food prices and social media policies, while also securing a last-minute deal to toughen migration laws. But, write David Crowe and Paul Sakkal, the government jettisoned key parts of its agenda after being attacked by the Coalition and the Greens on some of its plans, forcing it to shelve its changes to political donations and its election pledge to set up an environment protection agency to regulate new projects.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-38-bills-labor-wants-answers-on-in-just-one-day-20241128-p5ku7p.html
Labor has passed its proposed social media ban for under-16s. Josh Butler explains what we know – and what we don’t.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/21/labor-social-media-ban-under-16s-details-what-is-covered-which-platform
Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock says Australia could be a beneficiary of Donald Trump’s tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, if affected firms divert their products to Australia and cause prices to fall, writes Michael Read.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/trump-s-tariffs-could-cause-deflation-bullock-20241128-p5ku5n
They may not be breaking the law, but the taxes multinationals pay are not proportional to the profits they are raking in. That’s something laws passed earlier this week seek to change, explains Millie Muroi. She outlines the splendid work done by Andrew Leigh who says he is not finished yet.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-global-giants-costing-australia-billions-of-dollars-a-year-20241128-p5kufa.html
Anthony Albanese is scrambling to calm Labor MPs dismayed by his decision to override Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and cancel her deal with the Greens to establish a national environment watchdog. Mike Foley and James Massola tell us that Albanese called a number of MPs yesterday morning to reassure them Labor’s commitment to creating an environment protection agency was not dead after he had personally intervened on Tuesday night to cancel an imminent deal to legislate the agency in the Senate.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/done-over-labor-dismay-over-pm-s-call-to-ditch-environment-watchdog-20241128-p5ku9z.html
Emissions fell last year at 20 per cent the rate needed to achieve Australia’s 2030 reduction targets, prompting the Climate Change Authority to warn more needed to be done to accelerate the establishment of renewable energy generation projects. But, writes Ronald Mizen, Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen insisted Australia would hit its target. He said government modelling showed policies that Labor had enacted, such as new vehicle efficiency standards and the Capacity Investment Scheme, will contribute to emissions falling 42.6 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/emissions-fell-at-one-fifth-rate-needed-to-achieve-2030-target-cca-20241128-p5kuaz
The SMH editorial is concerned that the deferment of the Albanese government’s attempt to clean up political donations until parliament resumes has potential to cause the reform’s complete collapse, should the parliament not return next year to make way for a federal election.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-risks-kicking-political-donation-reform-bill-to-an-uncertain-future-20241128-p5ku88.html
The RBA board will be split into separate committees for interest rate setting and governance after Labor struck a deal with the Greens and the Senate crossbench, explains Michael Read.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/rba-to-undergo-the-biggest-overhaul-in-decades-after-labor-greens-deal-20241128-p5ku6w
The Victorian Labor Party has ruled out running a byelection candidate in Prahran, where it has regularly attracted between 25 per cent and 30 per cent of the vote, writes Annika Smethurst, describing the move as “an astonishing act of political cowardice”.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/labor-has-given-up-on-prahran-it-s-an-astonishing-act-of-political-cowardice-20241127-p5ku3x.html
A surge in young people taking up private health insurance drove membership to a record high in the September quarter, despite a cost-of-living crisis and rising out-of-pocket costs that have been pushing patients into the public sector, reports Michael Smith. Official data released yesterday showed more than 15 million Australians now have private health cover. This followed a 5 per cent jump in Australians aged in their 20s taking out hospital cover in the quarter, which analysts partly attributed to more people using it for mental health treatment.
https://www.afr.com/companies/healthcare-and-fitness/young-people-pile-into-private-health-insurance-20241128-p5kubf
In NSW an Australian-first IVF rebate designed to boost falling fertility rates will be significantly scaled back, allowing only the lowest-paid workers in NSW to access the $2000 payment. Alexandra Smith reports that the change will mean couples earning a household income of more than $116,000 will be ineligible for the state-funded rebate from February, prompting concerns that fewer people will be able to access costly IVF procedures.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/cut-to-ivf-rebate-a-significant-step-backwards-for-reproductive-health-20241128-p5ku9q.html
Kim Williams, after saying, “I think that people like Mr(Joe) Rogan prey on people’s vulnerabilities. They prey on fear. They prey on anxiety. They prey on all of the elements that contribute to uncertainty in society, and they entrepreneur fantasy outcomes and conspiracy outcomes as being a normal part of social narrative”, has found himself in the most unlikely trans-Pacific media spat. Onya Kim!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/joe-rogan-v-abc-boss-the-unlikeliest-of-media-spats-20241128-p5ku66.html
Prosecutors have argued a jail sentence was “realistically inevitable” for the police officer found guilty of manslaughter after Tasering 95-year-old Clare Nowland, while the judge said the case was unlike anything he had dealt with in 18 years. Sarah McPhee writes that Justice Ian Harrison will decide today whether Senior Constable Kristian James Samuel White will be taken into custody ahead of sentencing. The 34-year-old was found guilty by a NSW Supreme Court jury on Wednesday and prosecutors applied for him to be detained.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/police-officer-no-longer-being-paid-after-guilty-verdict-for-taser-manslaughter-20241127-p5ku4i.html
Wayne Swan has apologised ‘unreservedly’ for the excessive delay in paying millions of dollars to grieving families in an extraordinary address to the super giant’s annual meeting, reports James Kirby.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business%2Ffinancial-services%2Fwayne-swan-apologises-for-payout-delay-scandal-at-cbus-agm%2Fnews-story%2Fbc5a5a2e15e32333ca0025b971b70109?amp
The Mayor of Ryde, Trenton Brown, writes, “I am acutely aware of the housing crisis that is engulfing this city and broadly supportive of the Minns’ government’s ambitious plans for dramatic housing uplift across the greater metropolitan area.” He then unloads on aspects of Minns’ plan, questioning some of its assumptions.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/i-m-a-proud-yimby-mayor-but-i-can-t-say-yes-to-this-shocking-plan-20241127-p5ktwq.html
Star Entertainment chief executive Steve McCann has told investors that daily average gambling revenue plunged 15.5 per cent in the first four weeks after cash gambling was restricted at its Sydney casino in August, adding to the group’s struggles to stay solvent, reports Colin Kruger. Stiff cheddar!
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/new-gambling-rules-burning-a-big-hole-in-star-casino-s-books-20241127-p5ktuc.html
Michelle Pini sums up top examples of Macquarie Dictionary’s defining new Word of the Year 2024: enshittification.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/5-top-enshittification-picks-for-2024,19213
British MPs are to debate a bill which would legalise assisted dying for some terminally ill adults. A decade after a similar bill was overwhelmingly rejected, the result appears to be on a knife’s edge, writes Rob Harris.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/britain-is-wrestling-with-euthanasia-and-the-right-to-die-the-outcome-remains-uncertain-20241119-p5kro7.html
MPs are bitterly divided over assisted dying, with Keir Starmer appalled by ministers’ comments, writes Jessica Elgot telling us how unlikely alliances and concerns over vulnerable people’s rights have led to fierce debate and ethical uncertainty.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/nov/28/im-emotionally-ruined-mps-left-bitterly-divided-over-assisted-dying-bill
“Pay your way out of the Trump tariffs: The rules for how to succeed in American business are about to change – and not in a good way”, writes Paul Krugman who warns that crony capitalism is coming to America. There have been many analyses of the probable macroeconomic impact of Trump’s tariffs, which will, if they are anywhere near as big as he has suggested, be seriously inflationary. Arguably, however, their corrupting influence will, in the long run, be an even bigger story, he writes.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/watch-out-crony-capitalism-is-coming-to-america-20241127-p5ktul.html
Donald Trump wants a massive boost in US oil production to lower US petrol prices. The oil bosses, however, are more interested in boosting shareholder returns, opines Stephen Bartholomeusz, saying, “Forget drill baby, drill. The oil giants won’t go for it”.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/forget-trump-s-drill-baby-drill-mantra-the-oil-giants-won-t-go-for-it-20241128-p5ku65.html
“The message to Democrats is clear: you must dump neoliberal economics”, declares Joseph Stiglitz. It’s a big ask!
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/28/the-message-to-democrats-is-clear-you-must-dump-neoliberal-economics
Elon Musk has said he wants to “delete” the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal watchdog that helps protect consumers from predatory financial practices. Here we go!
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/28/elon-musk-cfpb-trump
Cartoon Corner
Alan Moir
David Pope
Matt Golding
Glen Le Lievre
Matt Davidson
Mark Knight
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/2b704690dd8954a19475918e5c77515d?width=1024#image.jpg
Spooner – as reliable as Old Faithful!
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/0a4412e8dee621dbd0a615a4b7e1dce2?width=1024#image.jpg
From the US
I like the past participle: “Australian politics has been enshittified.”
There are many things in the universe that you cannot rely on, that his cartoons are totally lacking wit , humour or clever observations is not one of them.. Come to think of it , being able to so consistently churn out cartoons so devoid of merit takes real talent. Even an idiot would fluke landing some humour or witty observation every now and again.
The distinction between “Semitic” and “Israeli” seems to have eluded “a few” people. Ignorant or deliberate – your choice.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/nov/29/australia-politics-live-social-media-ban-senate-bills-passed#top-of-blog
It would benefit some to type in Jews Semites in a search engine.
Damned near impossible I’d say.* That message has been blasting out loud and clear for decades and still they cling doggedly to it. The same goes for the ALP.
*Sadly SOP for such major changes in direction involves a bigly disaster/crisis in order to initiate changes 😦 .
And you expected … ?
Always in fashion in S.E. Quinceland,
It was a very busy final sitting week for the year and we achieved a lot.
Here’s the 5&5.
BEST
WORST
1. On Tuesday Clare O’Neil shared with the House during Question Time that our Help to Buy legislation had just passed the Senate. We’re now able to help 40,000 low and middle-income Australians get into home ownership. This is good Labor policy, and we’re glad the Greens finally broke away from their Liberal love affair to vote in support of it. However, as Clare put it, “the people who have really tapped out of this debate—the people who have gone completely missing—are those opposite.” Clare went on to talk about the number of attempts made to brief the Shadow Housing Minister and how those attempts were left unanswered. Chris Bowen jumped in with a hilarious interjection, “he’s busy, those branches won’t stack themselves!”
2. Our early educators are some of the most underpaid workers in this country. They don’t just change nappies; they change lives. This week, we locked in a 15 per cent pay rise that will help to change their lives. And it’s not just just early education and care workers, this week we passed historic aged care reforms that will not only see carers receive a much deserved pay rise, but put the care back into aged care. Anika Wells told the House about Joan and Michelle, who exemplify exactly what these reforms are about. “Michelle is a personal care worker on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. She is one of the 250,000 aged-care workers who received a pay rise and a tax cut from the Albanese Labor government. Through our fee-free TAFE, Michelle is now doing a diploma of nursing to further her career and become an enrolled nurse. Michelle supports Joan, a 96-year-old pensioner and home-care recipient. Joan and her husband John lived and worked in Avondale, raising their family of 10. After her kids left the nest to have families of their own and her husband, John, passed away, Joan moved to a retirement village in Nambour. Like a growing number of Australians, Joan wants to live in her own home for the rest of our life. Under Support at Home, that will now be possible.”
3. Not only is the Albanese Labor Government wiping $3 billion of student debt for millions of Australians, we’ve also made sure our fee-free TAFE program is here to stay. As Jason Clare told the House, we’re investing in a fairer education system that leaves no one behind. “The change that we made last night will wipe about $1,200 off the average HECS debt, and, if we win the next election, we’ll wipe a further $5,500 off the average HECS debt. That’ll make a world of difference for a lot of young people just out of uni or just out of TAFE, just out of home and just getting started. This is what only Labor governments do: cut your debt; lift your wages; fund our schools properly; open the door of opportunity; help more young Australians to finish school and then go to TAFE or university; and build a better and fairer education system where no-one is held back and no-one is left behind.”
4. As well as passing our Cyber Security Bill to crack down on scammers and keep everyone safe online, we also went further – with landmark legislation to protect our kids. Michelle Rowland says Australia has become the first country in the world to put an age limit on social media. “The Albanese Government takes seriously its commitment to keeping all Australians safe online. We know that parents are concerned about the harms to children, and we have taken a decision to support them. This house has passed our world-leading legislation for an age limit for access to social media.”
5. Josh Burns got into the festive spirit early, with his witty reworking of the Twelve Days of Christmas, summing up the year in politics. It’s well worth a listen. I’ll add the full poem at the end of the email. I did suggest that we then conduct question time in rhyming couplets, but no one else was willing.
1. After releasing an unfunded nuclear plan, with an unjustified timeframe and not explaining how much electricity would be added to the system, Peter Dutton asked why this government isn’t signing up for nuclear? Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles made sure the Chamber knew exactly why, “We don’t have a civil nuclear energy establishment in this country and nor do we seek to establish one. The reason we don’t seek to establish one is because to do so, would be to pursue the single most expensive form of electricity in the world today. That would be an additional $1200 on the energy bill of every household in this country.”
2. According to Angus Taylor – you know the guy who the Opposition wants in charge of the economy – households have been in the longest recession on record. Only, they haven’t. It’s not true and Andrew Charlton prepared a little compare and contrast story to explain to Angus just how a recession works. It’s absolutely worth the watch.
3. During Question Time on Tuesday, Sussan Ley asked the PM a question about a trend from last month. Sussan got her facts wrong, but the PM didn’t miss the chance to highlight the Opposition’s trend from the last month. “What did those opposite do? They support privatising the NBN and won’t support it staying in public hands; they want to increase migration and won’t support the sensible measures put forward; they want to stop free TAFE; they want to protect dodgy private education providers, when they’re not going to fundraisers for them; and they want to prevent Australians buying homes.”
4. One of the great privileges/risks/near death experiences is when you’re asked a question by Bob Katter. On Wednesday the challenge was set for Jim Chalmers. Have a listen.
5. On Monday, Paul Fletcher thought it would be a good idea to ask Chris Bowen, “how does the Prime Minister expect Australians to take this government seriously on climate action?” I mean seriously? This Government. The Government that actually believes climate change is real? Chris Bowen did not miss a beat, “we on this side of the House welcome that question. You know, ‘chutzpah’ is a wonderful word, and we’ve seen a wonderful example of it from the opposition today, a party and a coalition which presided over 10 years of denial and delay, which had 23 energy policies and couldn’t land one, which can’t tell the Australian people what its 2030 target is let alone its 2035 target and which argues that renewable energy should be paused and that we should rely more on coal and gas while we wait decades for nuclear to come forward.”
We heard some incredible valedictory speeches last week, and this week was no different. Labor Member for Lyons, Brian Mitchell is unfortunately leaving the House. After thanking his family Brian ended with this, “I will miss this job and I will miss you all, but my time here is done. In the immortal worlds of Gotye, now I’m just ‘somebody that you used to know’.”
Well, I’m sad to say, that’s it for the year. While there are no more sitting weeks, the work doesn’t stop. We’ll keep working hard to deliver real change for Australians and continue to remind them of the risk that faces them under Peter Dutton and his dodgy mates.
In my part of Sydney, people are always generous in sharing whatever celebration is personally important to them with the whole community. In that same spirit, I’m wishing you all the peace and joy of Christmas and a safe and restful holiday.
Parliament returns on Tuesday, February 4th, 2025.
PS. This week our Parliament band ‘Left Right Out’ had the chance to perform with iconic Australian band Ganggajang at the Labor Caucus Christmas party. In honour of them, the song of the week is the classic Sounds Of Then (This Is Australia) by Ganggajang.
PPS. Here’s Josh Burns’ reworking of the Twelve Days of Christmas: “This is ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ 2024 edition: On the first day of Christmas, parliament had scenes; we witnessed a new romance between the Liberals and the Greens. On the second day of Christmas, young people will be set; if we are re-elected, we’ll keep wiping student debt. On the third day of Christmas, we want women to achieve; it’s why we’re paying super on paid parental leave. On the fourth day of Christmas, tax returns went hum; we delivered tax cuts for all, not just for some. On the fifth day of Christmas, Peter tried to go retail, announcing nuclear energy but forgetting any detail. On the sixth day of Christmas, still Liberals want us to rescind, but we are pushing on with record solar and wind. On the seventh day of Christmas, to the Liberals’ surprise, Labor helped workers actually get a much-needed pay rise. On the eighth day of Christmas, the Greens lost the plot, saying to the Liberals, ‘We’ll vote with you guys on the lot.’ On the ninth day of Christmas, the Liberals went into hibernation because the New South Wales division forgot to submit their nomination. On the 10th day of Christmas, digging their heels in deeper, the Liberals voted against our plan to make medicines cheaper. On the 11th day of Christmas, your future is safe with more highly skilled training and jobs thanks to fee-free TAFE. On the 12th day of Christmas, the others make us queasy. In 2025, let’s stick with Albanese.”
5&5 lost in the ether, please locate and promote. 👿
DuckDuckGo
DuckDuckGoGood, ta muchly 😀
How Albanese threw Plibersek – and all of us – under the bus
Oh we;l at least he made some people happy………………..
Miners rejoice as Albanese shelves environment watchdog
Friendlyjordies’ latest, discussing the situation with Colesworths.
This stream from Vaush from yesterday has been weighing heavily on my mind since I watched it.
Particularly the section from 44:00 to 2:27:00, hearing directly from the ghoul millionaire consultants working for billionaires that effectively destroyed Kamala Harris’s campaign. Effectively saying “We did nothing wrong, it’s the voters’ fault.”
It fills me with dread that people like this are running Australian Labor’s electoral campaign as well.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2024/nov/29/heres-an-actual-good-news-story-unless-you-are-a-rodent
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Dutton’s suddenly electable, but Peter Hartcher tells us why he’ll struggle to become PM. It’s a long and quite readable contribution.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-s-suddenly-electable-but-here-s-why-he-ll-struggle-to-become-pm-20241129-p5kupt.html
Shane Wright tells us that, ready for an election, Albanese has unveiled his new catchphrase, “We have your back”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ready-for-an-election-albanese-unveils-his-new-catchphrase-20241129-p5kuiw.html
The Albanese government may tout its solid economic achievements, but it must remember what decided the election in the United States: the disconnect between the data and the lived experience of most Americans, writes John Hewson. He says the Coalition persists in defending the myth, as did the Republicans in the US, that it is the better economic manager, even when the evidence is overwhelmingly to the contrary. Hewson is concerned that “It is worrying that Australia seems to be drifting into an increasing Americanisation of our political campaigns. The lies, the misinformation, the lack of focus on deliverable policies – little more than a grab for power, but to what end?”
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topic/2024/11/29/the-economy-personal
After a blur of bills, Albanese and Dutton must sharpen their focus for the fight ahead, writes David Crowe. He says the Labor strategy is all about the “forward offer” to Australians about what they should expect over the next three years, rather than counting on their gratitude for the laws just passed. And Albanese emerges from this week with a greater confidence that he can get his way by holding the line. He secured the passage of cost-of-living measures despite Coalition objections, while gaining the sweet victory of staring down the Greens on housing.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/after-a-blur-of-bills-albanese-and-dutton-must-sharpen-their-focus-for-the-fight-ahead-20241129-p5kujl.html
Labor plans to kick with the wind for a second time, writes Phil Cooey who says the dynamic could not be more different to this time last year when parliament wound up with the government blowing smoke and the prime minister resembling a shot duck.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/labor-plans-to-kick-with-the-wind-for-a-second-time-20241128-p5kug2
Like all policy instruments, the Future Fund was created to manage the challenges the country was facing at the time. The government has every right and reason to adjust and adapt the mandate to manage very different political and economic challenges today, argues Xu Yi-chong.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-future-fund-must-be-a-fund-for-the-future/
The disruption of the incoming Trump administration in the United States is a real factor in assessing when to go to the polls. Sources in Canberra say Albanese was looking for a big bang start to 2025, similar to his stage three tax cuts announcement this year. The idea was to provide a springboard into an early poll, but Trump’s economic policies are an added motivation, writes Paul Bongiorno.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topic/2024/11/30/the-canberra-dogs-keep-barking-parliament-rises
Federal elections are usually remembered as contests between prime ministers and opposition leaders, but in 2025, Greens leader Adam Bandt has as much to lose as anyone, writes Tom McIlroy. He says that with the election looming, the Greens take what they can get.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/election-looming-greens-take-what-they-can-get-20241129-p5kumq
The prime minister bowed to mining interests and poor polling in Western Australia with a last-minute decision to upend a deal with the Greens on the Nature Positive laws, writes Mike Seccombe.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2024/11/30/why-anthony-albanese-killed-the-nature-positive-deal-with-the-greens
The politics of the RBA’s independence means a struggle over Australia’s economic outlook is being fought in the shadows, writes Laura Tingle in a wrap up of the parliamentary year.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-30/politics-reserve-bank-independence-government-fought-shadows/104665766
Economists including former Reserve Bank governor Bernie Fraser are increasingly convinced there are more effective tools than interest rates to fight inflation – but what are they? Stephen Long writes that a new wave of thinkers is arguing we need better ways to fight inflation, other than hiking up rates. Price controls and policies to stop companies exploiting supply shocks to boost their profits are in the mix. In Australia, a conservative economic orthodoxy is resisting this thinking.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/economy/2024/11/30/how-not-battle-inflation
” Getting things done” is a fitting mantra for the tidal wave of laws the government pushed through in one week, says Karen Middleton. Frustrated that his agenda was stuck in the Senate, the prime minister decided it was time for recalcitrants to be forced to the table – and it worked, she writes.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/30/getting-things-done-a-fitting-mantra-for-the-tidal-wave-of-laws-the-government-pushed-through-in-one-week
James Massola argues that it’s time to have a serious conversation about Lidia Thorpe.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/appetite-for-disruption-we-ve-got-to-talk-about-lidia-thorpe-20241129-p5kui9.html
Interest rates would be half a percentage point lower and Australian households up to $5000 better off as part of a decade-long overhaul of the banking sector and economy-wide reforms ranging from mechanics to medicines agreed to by the nation’s treasurers. Shane Wright gives us the details.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/lower-interest-rates-richer-households-just-add-a-dash-of-competition-20241129-p5kukt.html
Karen Barlow tells us about the government’s pledge to restore confidence in the bureaucracy being under attack as the Coalition embraces Gina Reinhart’s Trumpian vision for deep cuts. Who’s not getting sick and tired of certain billionaire’s around the world?
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2024/11/30/labor-confronts-rinehart-led-push-cut-public-service
Australia, often hailed for its high living standards, still grapples with a range of pressing social issues. At the core of these problems are systemic inequalities, deeply rooted in decades of neoliberal policies that prioritise corporate profits over the well-being of its citizens. In this guide, Denis Hay explores the top 10 social issues Australia, why they matter, and offer potential solutions that foster equity and inclusivity. It’s a disturbing essay.
https://theaimn.com/top-10-social-issues-australia-a-comprehensive-guide/
The decision not to implement a ban on gambling advertising comes after intense lobbying and draws on a close relationship between the PM and Peter V’landys, writes Jason Koutsoukis about the man he says is calling the shots on gambling reform.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2024/11/30/dont-do-it-the-man-calling-the-shots-gambling-reform
The strange events at Parliament House in Canberra this week point to a larger problem, says the SMH editorial.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-strange-events-at-parliament-house-in-canberra-this-week-point-to-a-larger-problem-20241129-p5kunf.html
An error in the interpretation of welfare legislation has led to the unlawful cancellation of payments, as the department fails to manage its own compliance system, reveals Rick Morton.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-crime/2024/11/30/exclusive-welfare-payments-cancelled-unlawfully
Jenna Price writes about how Albanese threw Plibersek – and the rest of us – under the bus.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-albanese-threw-plibersek-and-the-rest-of-us-under-the-bus-20241128-p5kugn.html
The federal government has every right to push back against event organisers who bring people with objectionable views to this country, argues Middle East and security expert, Rodger Shanahan.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/israel-and-palestine-lobby-groups-help-no-one-by-inviting-divisive-speakers-to-australia-20241129-p5kulz.html
The ex-soldier suspected of committing one of the most notorious alleged war crimes involving Australian special forces in Afghanistan will never face justice after an elite investigative agency concluded its case was too weak to put before a jury, writes Nick McKenzie. McKenzie says, “It is a decision that has shattered the Australian army medic who exposed the alleged crime and agreed to testify against the accused man. It also highlights the failure of the OSI to achieve results almost four years after it was created by the Morrison government to investigate the Brereton inquiry’s findings that at least 39 Afghans may have been executed by about two dozen special forces soldiers.”
https://www.smh.com.au/national/absolutely-gutted-cases-dropped-against-soldiers-over-notorious-war-crimes-allegations-20241129-p5kuio.html
The current Electoral Reform Bill may regulate financial donations better but it strengthens the unrepresentative party nature of the House of Representatives even more, writes Klaas Woldring.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/why-are-the-greens-not-initiating-the-strong-case-for-proportional-representation,19216
A wealthy farmer who once headed up GrainCorp has been fined more than $1 million in the state’s largest-ever fine for an individual convicted of land clearing, and his company has been fined another $1.1 million. Gaitlin Fitzsimmons reports that Ronald Lewis Greentree and Auen Grain, a company owned and controlled by Greentree, were found guilty of illegally bulldozing, burning and ploughing vegetation including native woodland on his property north-west of Narrabri in NSW.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/record-fine-for-farmer-who-illegally-bulldozed-woodland-20240815-p5k2ns.html
Australia banned children from social media and the world was watching – very closely, writes Rob Harris from London.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/australia-banned-children-from-social-media-and-the-world-jumped-20241129-p5kuib.html
The government’s plan to prevent under 16s using social media will not protect them – instead it will cut off many vulnerable and isolated children from vital online support communities, argues Maggie Perry.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/health/2024/11/30/how-the-social-media-ban-harms-children
Kim Williams did not expect to be hurled into a global stoush with the US podcaster Joe Rogan when he took the stage at the National Press Club to make the case for more funding for the public broadcaster, says Amanda Meade in her weekly media round-up.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/commentisfree/2024/nov/29/joe-rogan-abc-kim-williams-comments-fan-abuse-emails-ntwnfb
The NSW Net Zero Commission has warned the state is not on track to meet legislated emission reduction targets and that any expansion of coal mining will force other industries to make deeper cuts.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/expansion-of-coal-will-come-at-a-cost-a-new-report-says-it-won-t-be-mining-that-pays-20241129-p5kumu.html
A prominent energy economics research body says the world’s largest carbon capture and storage project is capturing less than half of the emissions it claimed. Chevron’s much-heralded and world’s largest Gorgon Carbon Capture & Storage project is storing less than half of the carbon it did four years ago, slipping far under rising targets, according to new data. It currently captures about 30% of the C02 it removed from its reservoir, new research from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis shows. The Western Australian project was approved on the condition of capturing an average of 80 per cent per year of the C02 over five years.
https://michaelwest.com.au/carbon-capture-ccs-chevron-santos-fail/
Anglican priests need not be “chaste” under a change of policy in the progressive Diocese of Perth that has angered traditionalists and stoked tension over moral standards in the nation’s second-largest church. Instead of “maintaining chastity in singleness and faithfulness in marriage”, priests and staff would value God’s “gift” of sexuality by “taking responsibility for their sexual conduct” in the amended code of conduct in which the Faithfulness in Service provisions sit. Does anybody give a toss?
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation%2Fchastity-changes-for-anglican-priests-chafe-with-church-conservatives%2Fnews-story%2F34c7bf11c5a909c43d9ee793fb58f657?amp
The New York Times describes a Chinese strategy which marks a calculated shift to counter Trump’s expected policies when he takes office. The fallout could significantly disrupt operations for American companies. This is a real shot across Trump’s ample bow!
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/china-s-new-playbook-to-fight-back-against-trump-20241128-p5ku4x.html
Google is facing multiple proposed Australian class action lawsuits, with two law firms investigating claims the tech giant engaged in anticompetitive conduct in the multi-billion dollar digital advertising market. David Swan reports that law firms Phi Finney McDonald and Maurice Blackburn have this week separately announced proposed class actions against Google, alleging the company has a dominant position at all points of the digital advertising supply chain, taking billions of dollars in revenue away from publishers and advertisers as a result.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/egregious-google-facing-two-australian-class-actions-20241129-p5kuj3.html
Lisa Visentin reports that Penny Wong, in her first public comments on the issue made through a spokesperson, has urged the four Australian judges on Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal to consider the government’s concerns about a crackdown on political dissent by Hong Kong authorities when deciding whether to remain on the court.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/why-four-australian-judges-have-become-a-hot-topic-spoken-about-in-hushed-tones-in-hong-kong-20241126-p5ktoe.html
Despite it being illegal to recruit soldiers for foreign armies, IDF commissioned recruiters are hard at work enticing young Australians to join the Israel army, reveals Yaakov Aharon.
https://michaelwest.com.au/lone-soldiers-new-australian-idf-recruits-due-to-arrive-in-israel-in-january/
Terminally ill patients in England and Wales will be allowed to end their own lives under strict conditions after British MPs voted to allow assisted dying laws, in one of the biggest landmark social changes in the country in decades. Rob Harris says that after an emotionally charged five-hour debate, members of the House of Commons voted by 330 to 275 to support a plan that would allow doctors to help patients with less than six months to live to end their lives.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/assisted-dying-to-be-legalised-in-england-and-wales-after-historic-vote-20241130-p5kur0.html
Brexit makes no sense in a world dominated by Trump. Britain’s place is back in the EU, posits Jonathan Freedland saying that from defence to trade, the incoming US president is upending the old order – and standing apart from The UK’s neighbours leaves it dangerously exposed.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/29/brexit-donald-trump-britain-eu-us
As Elon Musk has embraced Donald Trump and various far-right conspiracy theories, he has left behind an aghast cohort of Tesla owners who suddenly feel embarrassed by their own cars. Many of them are now publicly displaying their dismay at Musk on their vehicles.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/29/tesla-owners-elon-musk
Donald Trump is a longstanding fan of World Wrestling Entertainment, whose larger-than-life characters and drama have shaped his political persona, writes Joseph Earp.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2024/11/30/trumps-wrestlemania-politics
Ashley Griffith committed ‘depraved’ abuse at childcare centres for nearly 20 years. “Were warning signs ignored”, asks Ben Smee in this article about today’s nominee for “Arsehole of the Week”.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/30/ashley-paul-griffith-queensland-paedophile-victims-family-response-ntwnfb
Geoff Clark also gets a nomination.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/nov/29/geoff-clark-former-atsic-chair-jailed-stealing-indigenous-organisations-ntwnfb
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
Mark David
Jon Kudelka
Geoff Pryor
Glen Le Lievre
From the US
The chap may bit too far out of touch with the media world of today. To take a swipe at one of the “800lb Gorillas” in the global social media zoo and not expect a reaction ? LOL .
Friendlyjordies’ podcast this week. A pretty good one.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/29/irish-voters-face-long-wait-after-casting-ballots-in-general-election
Nice free documentary on Youtube that’s pretty high quality, going over the trains of the Trans-Australian Railway.
It’s really great how content like this is available these days.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
A senior Coalition MP has attacked the teal independents as a “giant green con job” who managed to dupe traditional Liberal voters as Anthony Albanese signalled next year’s poll would be later rather than sooner. Shane Wright tells us that opposition communications spokesman Paul Fletcher, who suffered a major scare at the last election from an independent, will use a speech today to argue it was a “deliberate plan” by the teals to put up the daughter and niece of long-term Liberal MPs as part of their effort to win.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/coalition-frontbencher-says-voters-conned-into-backing-independents-20241201-p5kuw4.html
Demonising Dutton will backfire for Labor, just as it did for Harris with Trump, declares George Brandis.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/demonising-dutton-will-backfire-for-labor-just-as-it-did-for-harris-with-trump-20241201-p5kuuo.html
Mark Kenny says that in 2025, Labor remains the narrow favourite. But its hardheads recognise that no opposition leader is unelectable, no historical precedent immutable, and no seat lead impregnable.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8834199/mark-kenny-labors-uncertain-path-to-2025-election-triumph/?cs=14258
Nick Toscano explains how Victoria and NSW risk sporadic gas shortages as soon as 2026 unless they turn to imports.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/victoria-nsw-risk-gas-shortages-unless-they-turn-to-imports-20241129-p5kumk.html
Amgela Macdonald-Smith reports that the South Australian government is urgently seeking to have two mothballed diesel-powered electricity plants restarted amid escalating concerns that a new heavy-duty power cable will be finished even later than NSW’s Transgrid has admitted.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/south-australia-wants-to-restart-diesel-plants-as-cable-dream-frays-20241129-p5kun1
More than two years have passed since the NSW Crime Commission found that criminals are funnelling billions of dollars of “dirty” cash through poker machines every year in NSW and said mandatory cashless gaming cards would be the most effective way to fix the problem. The editorial is very annoyed that the report has not been released, let alone actioned. It says Chris Minns has shown admirable leadership of late on a range of issues. He could do the same on this one by releasing the report today.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/a-critical-nsw-government-report-is-being-kept-from-you-why-20241201-p5kuwo.html
The federal government will boot predatory rent-to-buy operators off its Centrepay debit system as part of sweeping reforms designed to stop the financial abuse of vulnerable Australians. The reforms, set to be announced today, follow a Guardian Australian investigation that revealed shocking failures in the Centrepay system and helped trigger an urgent government review.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/01/rent-to-buy-operators-barred-from-centrepay-debt-system-in-sweeping-reforms-from-albanese-government-ntwnfb
While lifting the rate of productivity growth is the obvious solution to the cost of living crisis, judging by the experience of most developed economies, it is not obvious how to restore productivity growth, writes Michael Keating.
https://johnmenadue.com/are-you-better-off-if-not-why-not/
Thousands of Australian students have been told their qualifications will be cancelled in an unprecedented government crackdown following the closure of three colleges accused of issuing fake diplomas, reports Daniella White. Experts say legitimate students in areas such as childcare and disability services have been caught up in the saga and are probably unaware their qualifications have been cancelled. Yet another example of spivs moving in where federal money is available.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/colleges-shut-thousands-of-students-lose-qualifications-in-fake-diploma-crackdown-20241127-p5ktx4.html
Meanwhile, dodgy NDIS providers and charlatans have been put on notice as the government pushes through $110 million in fraud detection enhancements. The Crack Down on Fraud program will receive a $110.4 million funding boost and follows an initial $83.9 million investment made earlier this year to help officials better detect and prevent the exploitation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8834191/ndis-fraud-crackdown-gets-110m-boost/?cs=27845
After 15 years of policies encouraging people to go to university, Australia’s skills tsar says it is now time for a reset if we are to address chronic skill shortages, writes Julie Hare.
https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/why-we-got-it-wrong-on-education-and-skill-shortages-20241128-p5kudr
The head of Australia’s financial crime watchdog says key overseas allies are welcoming moves to close gaps in anti-money laundering and terror financing rules, conceding criminals have been able to exploit ineffective laws for too long. Tom McIlroy tells us that just days after parliament passed new laws to add real estate agents, lawyers and accountants to the dirty money protection regime, AUSTRAC chief executive Brendan Thomas said he was determined to crack down on more than $60 billion in harm caused by drug trafficking, scams, child exploitation and human trafficking.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/tough-new-dirty-money-rules-to-disrupt-60b-in-criminal-activity-20241201-p5kuv2
With ex-partners suing them, the parliament grilling them, the government firing them, AFP investigating them, and media lambasting them, the scandal-ridden PwC has their lawyers pick on an academic, writes Marcus Reubenstein.
https://michaelwest.com.au/resting-bulldog-face-pwc-boss-has-feelings-hurt-in-the-midst-of-lawyer-fest/
Calling the most popular podcast host in the world repulsive and predatory isn’t just lazy. It shows how deep the ABC’s reluctance to evolve really is, writes David Swan who says that what Joe Rogan has achieved with his podcast is precisely what the ABC has largely failed at for years – to meaningfully engage with young audiences.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/by-dismissing-joe-rogan-kim-williams-has-missed-a-golden-opportunity-20241129-p5kuj2.html
Tech giants including OpenAI, Meta and Google are being urged to tackle AI’s dirty secret – its massive power problem. David Swan explains how generative AI already uses as much energy as a small country and is predicted to rival that of Japan within a year. Such searches use 10 times the energy of a normal web search, and the technology has tripled the energy requirements of the entire tech sector in just two years.
https://www.theage.com.au/technology/every-time-you-use-chatgpt-half-a-cup-of-water-goes-to-waste-20241128-p5kubq.html
Fears of a global trade war have risen after Donald Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on countries in the BRICS group if they create a new currency to rival the US dollar. Writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday, Trump declared that he would also act if they supported another currency to replace the dollar.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/01/trump-threat-100-per-cent-tariffs-brics-nations-dollar
Donald Trump’s plan to nominate as FBI director the “deep state” conspiracy theorist Kash Patel, a virulent critic of the bureau who has threatened to fire its top echelons and shut down the agency’s headquarters, is facing blowback in Congress as US senators begin to flex their muscles ahead of a contentious confirmation process. What could possibly go wrong?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/01/kash-patel-trump-fbi-pick
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
https://static.ffx.io/images/w_960/327285b09674b732fef8627dd84144332f4e381e#image.jpg
Matt Golding
Glen Le Lievre
Peter Broelman
Badiucao
Geoff Pryor.
Leak
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/d7b54e718cfe88f0275df1caea04ef91?width=1024#image.jpg
From the US
Could the inability to lift productivity be the side effect of the rise and rise of “The Bullshit Economy” and more jobs being as Maynard Keynes bluntly put “bullshit jobs” ? Part and parcel of the ‘service industry jobs’ that replaced manufacturing etc ?
Remember when there was the fear that automation was going to take all our jobs or that we had a future where we worked 15 hour weeks ? Perhaps such things were going to happen but instead of going down that path we have basically arranged to make the “15 hours” needed fill the last 38 ? Et voila , no worries for pollies about mass unemployment etc As was pointed out in this 2018 New Yorker article
https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/the-bullshit-job-boom
Ah the bullshit. Hurrah ,look at the “news”, the “economy” is lookin’ gooood ………….
For some reason whenever we are told such heartwarming tales about how good we’ve got it they never factor in population growth and what that does to the rosy numbers.
The ABS put population growth up to Nov. 2024 at 615,000 or 2.3% for the previous 12 months , of which 83% was from nett migration. Take account of that extra 2.3% population and it means per capita* we went backwards. Hurrah indeed. But then the retailers don’t give a shit about we peasants getting poorer their interest lies in the total swag they manage to persuade the peasantry to part with.
*Our pollies pat themselves on the back about their heroic deeds causing the up and up and up of GDP growth but this “growth” has for some time been based on large scale importation of people. GPD per person is going down ,we plebs’ share of the “economic pie” is shrinking. Greg Jericho wrote about it a year ago and the trend has continued. Unfortunately the major parties are on a unity ticket when it comes to the economic thinking behind it all 😦
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2023/dec/06/australia-gdp-september-quarter-falling-per-capita
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/dec/02/australia-news-politics-live-apple-google-app-stores-payment-labor-manufacturing-defence-cyber-monday-sydney-storm-weather#top-of-blog
Who the hell would know what that means?!
Try, “the same as a small elephant.”
Perhaps their target audience is the “tradies” demographic. That lot would know exactly how bigly a Raptor is and have a better idea than most of what that equals in cocaine.
Satire ? Taking the piss ? April Fools Day ? LOLs a plenty over at the McKinnon Foundation
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/dec/02/australia-news-politics-live-apple-google-app-stores-payment-labor-manufacturing-defence-cyber-monday-sydney-storm-weather#top-of-blog
Julia will have to hold her nose.
Just wait till the reign of Pope Donald!
A good read. A very good read
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/nov/29/vote-on-assisted-dying-summons-ultra-rare-commons-sight-intelligent-debate
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Paul Karp examines the latest Essential poll which doesn’t have any good signs for the Labor government.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/03/guardian-essential-poll-election-warning-signs-for-labor-as-voters-flunk-government-on-housing-costs-and-wages
According to Shane Wright, the Reserve Bank is being accused by some of the nation’s top economists of putting the employment of hundreds of thousands of Australians at risk by keeping interest rates too high in order to reduce inflation. Amid suggestions the bank runs the risk of repeating a mistake it made in 2018 and 2019 that forced it to dramatically reverse monetary policy settings, a growing number of analysts believe the RBA has misjudged the impact of the jobs market on the inflation rate.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/reserve-bank-accused-of-getting-it-wrong-on-rates-again-20241129-p5kuok.html
Australia will help stitch together coalitions of countries, including working with China, to help keep free trade alive amid fears Donald Trump’s threats of hefty tariffs will tip the world into protectionism, writes Andrew Tillett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/how-australia-plans-to-work-around-donald-trump-s-trade-wars-20241202-p5kv0p
Woolworths is caught in the ultimate pincer movement. Pitchfork-wielding politicians are blaming it and its competitor Coles for fuelling inflation, suppliers and customers are fed up with prices, and the competition watchdog is accusing them of gilding the lily on discounts. Unfortunately for Woolworths, workers at its distribution centres have joined the conga line of malcontents, says Elizabeth Knight.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/angry-workers-empty-shelves-put-woolworths-in-a-bind-20241202-p5kv44.html
Hannah Hammoud explains what’s behind the empty shelves at Woolworths.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/what-s-behind-the-empty-shelves-at-woolworths-20241202-p5kv3d.html
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek will try to salvage a deal to set up a peak federal agency to protect the environment despite a new demand from the Greens for major changes to the law, amid talk of a feud within the ministry over a decision to shelve the reform last week. Plibersek is promising to negotiate “in good faith” in parliament to try to rescue the Nature Positive Bill in the expectation that parliament resumes in February, setting up a test for the Greens on whether they will vote to set up Environment Protection Australia.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pm-absolutely-denies-feud-as-plibersek-tries-to-save-her-bill-20241202-p5kv8i.html
Crispin Hull writes that this century the nature of the sides themselves has changed. No longer do we have left versus right, labour versus capitalists, communist versus the West, and the US versus China. The early 21st century’s alignment of sides is perhaps more fundamental and existential. It is autocracy v liberal democracy. It’s a good read.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8835089/crispin-hull-democracy-versus-autocracy-21st-century-challenge/?cs=14264
Climate 200 has reported a surge in first-time donors in November off the back of a donation-matching campaign comparing the Coalition and opposition leader Peter Dutton to the politics of Donald Trump. The funding aggregator claims to have raised $377,000 from 3,900 donations including 1,373 people who donated to it for the first time, the biggest wave of first-time supporters since it was launched in 2021.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/03/ad-campaign-comparing-peter-dutton-to-donald-trump-sees-climate-200s-donations-surge-by-380k-ntwnfb
So concerned is the Victorian Liberal Party about neo-Nazis gatecrashing its events that it has sought advice from an expert security firm. State MPs attended a seminar late last week at which previous targeting of Liberal MPs was discussed as well as protection strategies.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/liberal-mps-get-advice-to-deal-with-gatecrashing-neo-nazis-20241202-p5kv67.html
Medical misogyny condemns half the population to poor treatment, declares the SMH editorial which says the masthead will be setting out to help change that with a new series by reporters Aisha Dow, Wendy Tuohy, Emily Kaine and Kate Aubusson that explores a phenomenon rooted in a long history of failures to study and understand female bodies. We have been inundated with hundreds of harrowing stories from readers who have experienced such bias during treatment.
https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/medical-misogyny-condemns-half-the-population-to-poor-treatment-20241202-p5kv53.html
A project under development by Australia’s fire chiefs and scientists from universities across the country aims to make that decision easier by putting the information relied on by emergency services into the hands of the public. Bianca Hall reports that interactive, dynamic maps predicting bushfires’ spread and trajectory could be on mobile phones within years.
https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/the-maps-that-could-predict-your-bushfire-risk-20241127-p5ku1h.html
South Australia has been named the best state to do business for the second consecutive year in an influential report by the industry group representing the nation’s biggest employers. The top ranking in the Business Council of Australia report was spurred by SA’s lower payroll taxes and property charges, along with less licensing red tape for firms. Tasmania, the ACT, Northern Territory, NSW, Queensland and WA followed SA, with Victoria ranked last.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news%2Fsouth-australia%2Fbusiness-council-of-australia-report-crowns-sa-as-best-place-to-do-business%2Fnews-story%2Fdfb3d8196bbac13b2485b2c0d2de93a8?amp
House prices around the country are on track to fall next month for the first time in two years as high borrowing costs crimp demand for real estate – a downturn that is most acute in wealthier suburbs, writes Nila Sweeny who wonders if an inflection point in the housing market might have been reached.
https://www.afr.com/property/residential/have-we-hit-an-inflection-point-in-the-housing-market-20241202-p5kv12
Sex offenders will be kicked out of the Australian Defence Force and potential leaders tested for emotional intelligence under a sweeping overhaul to combat the crisis of military personnel taking their own lives at alarming rates. Yesterday the federal government released its response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, announcing it had accepted 104 of the 122 recommendations, with a further 17 recommendations under review. Matthew Knott and Alyssa Talakovski tell us that a statutory agency will be established to drive reforms to decrease suicide rates in the military, and a wellbeing agency focused on the transition from military to civilian life will be created within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and a formal inquiry will also be set up into sexual violence in the ADF. The terms of reference and timing are still to be determined.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sex-offenders-to-be-booted-from-defence-force-in-sweeping-overhaul-20241202-p5kv20.html
The government’s response to the royal commission into veteran suicide gets a lot right – but makes a couple of missteps, says Carolyn Heward.
https://theconversation.com/the-governments-response-to-the-royal-commission-into-veteran-suicide-gets-a-lot-right-but-makes-a-couple-of-missteps-245026
The passage of controversial migration legislation has again brought into focus the future of the asylum seeker system in Australia, writes Abul Rizvi at a time Donald Trump is preparing to trash the rights of asylum seekers in the USA, if not completely withdraw from the 1951 Refugee Convention.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-future-of-australias-asylum-seeker-system,19223
The Albanese government has rejected a proposal by banks to pause regional branch closures instead of a mooted $350 million levy, as a rift deepens between Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief executive Matt Comyn and other bankers over the plan. John Kehoe reports that banks rushed to submit alternative options to Treasury last week to retain branch and cash services in the bush, according to banking sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/banking-rift-exposed-in-fight-against-levy-for-rural-services-20241202-p5kv0e
By arbitrarily and wrongly defining full employment, the RBA will cause misery for vulnerable working Australians and small business owners that is entirely avoidable, posits Craig Emerson who accuses the Reserve Bank of needlessly smashing jobs.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/reserve-bank-is-needlessly-smashing-jobs-20241201-p5kuy6
It’s dumb, but gas-rich Australia has little option but to import gas, explains Mike Foley.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-s-dumb-but-gas-rich-australia-has-little-option-but-to-import-gas-20241001-p5kf1o.html
Clothing group Mosaic Brands went into administration in late October with debts of at least $249 million, writes Anne Hyland who discloses that the owner lefts the company’s directors without directors’ and officers’ insurance.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/katies-and-noni-b-owner-allegedly-left-directors-uninsured-20241202-p5kv3i.html
Social media giant Meta has promised to introduce tighter rules on advertisers to tackle scam ads targeting Australians on Facebook and Instagram. Aisha Dow reports that the company has faced mounting pressure to improve its advertiser verification after an investigation by this masthead revealed the tech titan was accepting money to push ads promoting notorious scams to tens of thousands of Australians.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/meta-bows-to-pressure-to-crack-down-on-blatant-scam-ads-20241202-p5kv9v.html
Telcos will be required to block scam texts or warn recipients they come from unregistered senders, under new rules to be introduced by the Albanese government. The communications minister, Michelle Rowland, has revealed she will create a mandatory SMS sender ID register and direct the Australian Communications and Media Authority to either block or include a warning if a sender is unregistered. Paul Karp says that under the changes, the ACMA will develop an enforceable industry standard, requiring telecommunications providers to check whether messages being sent under a brand name correspond with the legitimate registered sender.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/03/albanese-government-scam-text-message-warnings-telcos-law-change
We credit the Albanese government for continuing to seek to make big tech play by the same rules as other companies. However, the devil is always in the detail, says the editorial in the AFR.
https://www.afr.com/technology/upholding-sovereignty-against-big-tech-is-not-so-easy-20241201-p5kuy5
Disputes about the private health sector have reached unusual heights this year as the NSW government and private hospital groups, including one owned by a foreign private equity firm, have tried to raid health funds to fix their own budget problems. The most astonishing thing about these unprecedented cash grabs, writes Rachel David, has been the deliberate lack of acknowledgment that health funds manage consumers’ money for their healthcare. When you take money from a health fund, you take money from their members who then have to pay more for their insurance.
https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/treating-health-funds-like-cash-cows-will-be-a-disaster-for-our-health-system-20241202-p5kv23
“How can News Corp call its gas splash an ‘exclusive’ and a ‘special report’ when it’s paid for by industry?”, rhetorically asks Adam Morton who says readers are led to believe a short-on-facts advertorial exhorting government to let companies extract more gas is straight news coverage.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/02/how-can-news-corp-call-its-gas-splash-exclusive-and-special-report-when-its-paid-for-by-industry
ABC News misleads on the economy and risks pushing more Australians into poverty, argues Alan Austin.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/abc-news-misleads-on-the-economy-and-risks-pushing-more-australians-into-poverty,19221
Police suspect Kazem Hamad is directing the Melbourne tobacco war fire-bombings, shootings and drug trafficking from Iraq. Chris Vedelago and Marta Pascual Juanola reveal why they can’t bring him back to face justice.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/he-s-one-of-australia-s-most-wanted-criminals-this-is-why-he-s-untouchable-20240915-p5kaps.html
Melissa Lawford explains how Putin’s long war is destroying the fabric of Russian society. She describes a number of disturbing trends being seen there.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/how-putins-long-war-is-destroying-the-fabric-of-russian-society-20241202-p5kuzi.html
Liz Truss is apparently too mad even for a right wing US audience, writes Jon Crace in a typically sarcastic contribution. Crace does have a good turn of phrase.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/dec/02/liz-truss-is-apparently-too-mad-even-for-a-rightwing-us-audience
The Syrian civil war that the world had tried to hope away and forget has again erupted into international headlines. And the West will, again, seek to find one side to praise and support, writes David Livingstone who says, “For now, observers may think they can view the conflict in Syria through a telescope – safely at a distance, with the subject capable of detailed observation enabling confident prediction. However, it is more likely that the instrument is not a telescope but a kaleidoscope. Rotate the tube and a new image comes into view, placing prediction on par with alchemy.”
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/i-was-detained-in-syria-assad-reminds-me-of-a-song-by-the-clash-20241202-p5kv3w.html
France’s centre-right prime minister, Michel Barnier, is on the verge of being toppled from office, with populists from the left and right preparing to launch a no-confidence vote against him in parliament. Hans van Leeuwin writes thar the potential ousting of President Emmanuel Macron’s man in the National Assembly, just three months into his job, could trigger debilitating political gridlock: no party has a majority, and parliamentary elections cannot be called until July next year. Looks like a bit of a mess!
https://www.afr.com/world/europe/france-lurches-towards-political-economic-crisis-20241203-p5kvb5
Trump is America’s Caligula. His mission is to destroy what made America great, writes Nick Bryant in quite an excoriation.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-is-america-s-caligula-his-mission-is-to-destroy-what-made-america-great-20241202-p5kv0h.html
The self-proclaimed “Tariff Man” has struck again, this time threatening the BRICS countries with 100 per cent tariffs if they try to undermine the dominance of the US dollar, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/go-find-another-sucker-trump-threatens-xi-putin-and-co-20241202-p5kv1m.html
US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump now agree on one thing: the Biden Justice Department has been politicised, says The New York Times’ Peter Baker.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/in-pardoning-his-son-biden-sounds-a-lot-like-trump-20241202-p5kv7s.html
Joe Biden can be pardoned as a parent, but not as a politician, writes Bruce Wolpe. He says, “Trump is expected, as soon as he takes office on January 20, to pardon dozens, if not hundreds, of people convicted for participation in the insurrection of January 6, 2021. Trump will be bitterly criticised by many for playing politics to free those who were found guilty of their attack on the Capitol. But Trump will not even be singed.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/joe-biden-can-be-pardoned-as-a-parent-but-not-as-a-politician-20241202-p5kv7h.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Mark David
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
Geoff Pryor
Dionne Gain
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/8188697e44f03c8a34e486d507f8b7b1?width=1024#image.jpg
Spooner
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/4084d5320db4c14bab35f7864e2e2220?width=1024#image.jpg
From the US
Not sure it is an award you’d like to win. It usually given to the place giving the ‘ business community’ the freest reign. Freedom from paying their fair share of taxes , freedom from ‘red tape’ that might slow down exploitation of workers and or the environment.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
According to James Massola, Anthony Albanese has asked Labor’s campaign chief to intervene in a factional fight for the prize NSW Labor seat of Barton, vacated by former Indigenous Minister Linda Burney. The vacancy has triggered a battle to replace Burney, and NSW’s dominant Right faction is furious the prime minister is trying to force another candidate from the Left into the prime position.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-infuriates-labor-members-with-election-meddling-20241203-p5kvgr.html
Michelle Grattan reckons Paul Fletcher’s rant against the teals risks insulting voters the Liberals need to win.
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-paul-fletchers-rant-against-the-teals-risks-insulting-voters-the-liberals-need-to-win-245160
First home buyers are the victims of an Albanese government culture war against property owners, the Coalition will claim as it ramps up its attack on the cost of housing amid Labor accusations that a Liberal plan to ease lending standards would lift interest rates for millions of existing borrowers. Shane Wright looks at the pros and cons of the Coalition’s proposal.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-newest-culture-war-battleground-australian-house-prices-20241203-p5kvbg.html
NSW Labor promised a cashless gaming trial, but it was always doomed to fail. Now it has an even bigger problem, writes Alexandra Smith who says Labor is back where it started. Its indecision on how to tackle the scourge of money-laundering and problem gambling in pubs and clubs has left it with even more problems than it began with.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/after-a-trial-that-pleased-no-one-nsw-s-biggest-gambling-loser-is-clear-20241203-p5kvj0.html
Gambling is a problem because of advertising. To say otherwise is an insult, declares sports columnist Greg Baum who has a dig at the AFL’s stance.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/gambling-is-a-problem-because-of-advertising-to-say-otherwise-is-an-insult-20241129-p5kumo.html
As Donald Trump raids the Fox News desk to staff his Addams Family of a second administration, we await with bated breath for how the latest season of his schlock horror show will impact local transmission, writes Peter Lewis who explains how looming battles in the US will set the tone for Australia’s election.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2024/dec/03/australia-relationship-us-trump-2025-election
Tariffs imposed by the Trump administration will change economic conditions in Australia and around the world, writes Stephen Koukoulas.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/trumps-tariff-wrecking-ball-about-to-hit-the-global-economy,19224
Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones has told the Commonwealth Bank to rethink a move that means a group of customers will face a $3 fee for withdrawing cash from branches, slamming it as a “terrible decision” from the country’s biggest bank. From January, Commonwealth Bank will close a type of account and move customers in the product to its main transaction account called ‘Smart Access’, which charges people a $3 fee for an “assisted withdrawal,” such as those occurring through a branch or via telephone banking. Yeah, the CBA is on the bones of its arse!
https://www.theage.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/kick-in-the-guts-minister-urges-cba-to-rethink-3-fee-for-branch-withdrawals-20241203-p5kvlg.html
Leading Sydney restaurateurs say Australians don’t want to work hospitality jobs, voicing concern the federal government and opposition’s vocal efforts to slash migration and curb foreign students are stifling their industry. Danielle White refers to a report released by Business NSW yesterday that found eight in 10 businesses have had to boost pay or offer better conditions over the past year to stay competitive in the battle for skilled workers.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/australians-don-t-want-to-do-the-work-top-restaurants-slam-migration-crackdown-20241202-p5kv9g.html
Rapidly rising government spending was the single biggest driver of economic growth in the September quarter, as public servant pay rises and household energy bill subsidies pushed state and federal expenditure to a record share of gross domestic product, explains Michael Red.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/record-government-spending-drives-gdp-growth-20241203-p5kvjd
Bosses want to kill off working from home, but there’s just one problem with that, writes Matt Wade who says hybrid work will deliver economic benefits Australia can’t afford to squander.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/bosses-want-to-kill-off-working-from-home-there-s-just-one-problem-with-that-20241203-p5kvbl.html
Private hospitals say they should be allowed to charge patients up to $200 extra for every visit, warning there is little other choice unless Labor agrees to $1.3 billion in emergency funding for the next two years, reports Michael Smith. This is not heading in a good direction.
https://www.afr.com/companies/healthcare-and-fitness/private-hospitals-want-200-per-visit-fee-to-head-off-funding-crisis-20241125-p5ktf6
The reality is private hospitals need fairer agreements with health funds. Providers, insurers, and government need to start a conversation, argues Calvary’s Martin Bowles.
https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/independent-hospital-pricing-an-opportunity-for-genuine-health-reform-20241203-p5kvcv
The majority of older Australians are keen to avoid residential aged care, with seven in 10 against moving in to an aged care home. More than half of those surveyed indicated they would prefer to receive aged care at home if it was necessary. However, the costs associated with either option remain a significant source of anxiety, writes Rachel Lane saying that creating well-informed aged care decisions for millions of Australians requires us to redefine aged care and what it means for financial advisers to provide great advice on aged care.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/most-of-us-are-anxious-about-aged-care-here-s-how-to-change-that-20241203-p5kveu.html
A handful of major employment service providers have failed to adequately support Australians with disabilities in the job market as the federal government hands down its first public report card on the industry. Sarah Basford-Canales reports that of the 88 providers assessed on the disability employment services program in July, 92% were meeting quality expectations while 90% exceeded or met effectiveness expectations.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/04/some-of-australias-largest-disability-service-providers-failing-to-meet-quality-standards
Former broadcaster Alan Jones is alleged to have fondled penises, stroked thighs, squeezed bottoms and pulled one man’s scrotum, according to explosive court documents obtained by The Herald. The charge sheets reveal details of the 26 allegations against Jones relating to nine complainants, report Sarah McPhee and Kate McClymont. Jones is due to face Downing Centre Local Court on December 18.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/explosive-new-documents-reveal-details-of-charges-against-alan-jones-20241203-p5kvj5.html
Callum Jaspan reports that Nine Entertainment is facing two separate legal challenges from current and former employees as it continues to contend with the fallout of its highly publicised culture review.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/nine-star-and-news-boss-sue-company-in-wake-of-culture-review-20241202-p5kv8y.html
Commercial scale mRNA vaccines will be produced onshore for the first time in Australia with the opening of US pharma company Moderna’s Melbourne factory, as new analysis reveals six in ten of all parents are feeling distressed since the pandemic over vaccinating their children. Moderna’s chief legal counsel Shannon Klinger, who is American, said vaccine hesitancy was “not a new topic” and was widely recognised pre-pandemic as one of the most significant threats to public health but was exacerbated significantly by the pandemic.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/health%2Ftrue-state-of-vaccine-hesitancy-revealed-as-moderna-factory-opens%2Fnews-story%2Ff4b48cf8805ce1e5dd8e1192627d7926?amp
High-profile conservative Catholic lawyers have warned the Australian Catholic University it faces losing its religious designation if it fails to defend the faith as church leaders split with university bosses in the fallout from an anti-abortion speech on campus. Jordan Baker reports that the warning follows a furious, six-page letter to ACU from Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher, who raised concerns about the ambivalence of the university’s commitment to its Catholic identity.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-abortion-speech-the-student-walkout-and-the-catholic-civil-war-20241203-p5kvgq.html
The Albanese government hopes to end the year with a major foreign policy victory by signing a landmark pact with Nauru aimed at preventing China from gaining a security foothold in the Pacific. Matthew Knott tells us that the deal with Nauru, home to Australia’s offshore detention centre, comes after months of secretive talks with the tiny Pacific nation, which has been known to drive a hard bargain in negotiations with Australia.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-wants-to-china-proof-the-pacific-but-nauru-is-driving-a-hard-bargain-20241203-p5kvdj.html
The Albanese government is preparing to again anger Israel by changing Australia’s stance in a series of high-profile votes on the Middle East peace process. Stand by for the usual orchestrated pushback.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-to-switch-stance-on-un-votes-as-a-pathway-to-two-state-solution-20241203-p5kvjw.html
Things have become quite messy in South Korea after its President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday night in a move that stunned South Koreans and triggered a short-lived attempt by troops to enter parliament, as lawmakers and protesters quickly voiced opposition to the most serious challenge to the country’s democracy since the 1980s.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/south-korea-president-yoon-declares-martial-law-20241204-p5kvmw.html
Biden has dishonoured his office and himself with the pardoning of his son, declares the SMH editorial.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/biden-strains-thprese-quality-of-mercy-by-pardoning-his-son-hunter-20241203-p5kvf2.html
Even before Donald Trump has returned to the White House and the Republicans take control of Congress, the war on “woke capitalism” in the US is intensifying, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz. Late last week, Texas and 10 other Republican-led states sued BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard, claiming they had breached antitrust laws by conspiring to boost electricity prices by curtailing coal supplies. It’s going to be a wild ride!
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/the-republicans-declare-war-on-woke-wall-street-billionaires-20241203-p5kvcg.html
Sue Arnold is concerned that Trump is turning the American dream into a nightmare.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/trump-turns-the-american-dream-into-a-nightmare,19225
Dominating the minds of global investors, America is over-owned, overvalued and overhyped to a degree never seen before.
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/the-us-market-is-a-bubble-ready-to-pop-20241203-p5kvc2
Donald Trump has demanded the immediate release of the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office, there will be “HELL TO PAY”. Such nuance!
https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/trump-demands-release-of-oct-7-hostages-warning-of-hell-to-pay-20241203-p5kvbs.html
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
https://static.ffx.io/images/w_960/6ab881c025b8ce17faa272903aef02778c1091b9#image.jpg
Matt Golding
Simon Letch
Cathy Wilcox
The crusading Spooner
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/1a74bcdb16769d035b8a86caf958ade1?width=1024#image.jpg
From the US
And we did!
At last we get to the nitty gritty. That is THE biggie. The threat of the loss of the US of A’s $ as the world’s reserve currency is an existential threat for the Muricans. Lose that status and they lose their platinum plus with diamonds no limit credit card. Over the years the US has shown that threats to it are dealt with harshly. Democrat or Repug we would have seen efforts to protects the US$’s status and none of it would be ”nice’. This call from Trumpenstein just does it without bothering to apply lipstick to the pig.
The BRICS countries have been growing and at least on paper their set up does not privilege any one currency over another as the current system does. It has 45% of the world’s population and about 38 % of global GDP so it is enormous. Huge and of global importance and yet largely ignored by our media. ,For good or ill BRICs plays a role in our present and future so ignoring it is stoopid.
How bigly is it ? Member states and prospective member states…
Very university blues: dark (Oxford); light (Cambridge).
Back in 2023, the Argentinians voted for Javier Milei. They knew, and said, “we’re getting a shit deal but we are doing it.”
Think 2024 USA.
Re Australia actually voting for an end to the Israeli occupation. There must be some frightening numbers for Labor in their polling on this issue. The prospect of losing your comfy seat and/or government does wonders for stiffening the spine.
I’ll have to pop over and do some reading of the Rupertium’s rags. I reckon there’ll be plenty of Labor/Albo= Hitler level of frothing . Always good for a LOL when Rupert’s outrage machine winds up.
To all my dear Pubsters,
I left Twitter today.
I was fed up with all the fake accounts.
I’ve found it an entertaining site over the years, but all good things come to an end.
That’s a good move. I never really used Twitter that much myself, mainly just following accounts that keep me informed, but since the Muskrat took it over I have noticed it trying to nudge me toward nazis.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
If Albanese wins the next election he should celebrate, then step aside after a decent interval, writes Niki Savva. She does point out that Dutton easily swats away questions. His failure to produce a single fully costed economic policy to address the problems families face today has not hindered his rise in the polls. Savva has some advice for the RBA governor, too.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/if-albanese-wins-the-next-election-he-should-celebrate-then-step-aside-20241204-p5kvsd.html
The Reserve Bank is under pressure to bring forward an interest rate cut and Treasurer Jim Chalmers faces questions about his ability to manage the economy after new figures revealed the deepest hit to Australians’ living standards on record. Shane Wright and Millie Muroi report that figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics released yesterday showed if not for public spending and immigration the country would be in recession with the economy expanding by a less-than-expected 0.3 per cent in the September quarter.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/economy-stuck-in-first-gear-as-government-spending-prevents-downturn-20241204-p5kvo8.html
It was a terrible set of numbers for the treasurer and the RBA governor.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-terrible-set-of-numbers-for-a-treasurer-and-reserve-bank-governor-20241204-p5kvsy.html
The Albanese government is mulling a third successive round of power bill discounts to take to the next election, as Treasurer Jim Chalmers claims federal government spending is keeping the economy afloat but not putting upward pressure on inflation. Phil Coorey says the government is in the final phases of preparing the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook (MYEFO), to be released the week after next, and has been examining the power bill discounts as part of a broader cost of living package.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/more-power-bill-discounts-likely-in-new-cost-of-living-package-20241204-p5kvol
Australia is still far from catching up to the levels of migration expected before the pandemic, a new study from the Australian National University has shown. Before Covid, net migration was projected to hit about 300,000 by 2025. But the study, led by migration hub director Alan Gamlen, found that net overseas migration may still be 82,000 people short of that number.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/05/australia-expected-to-be-82000-people-below-forecast-migration-levels-next-year-study-finds
Peter Dutton is mimicking Donald Trump’s strategies — making Australian politics more cynical, more angrily partisan, more culturally charged, overly politicised, and Americanised veteran journalist, Dr Nick Bryant tells the National Press Club, writes Rosemary Sorensen.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/dutton-mimics-trumps-tricks,19226
“What do the latest GDP figures tell us? That the RBA is still getting it very wrong”, writes Greg Jericho who says it’s time the reserve started undoing the damage it’s done before even public spending can’t keep the economy growing.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2024/dec/05/australia-gdp-figures-economy-september-quarter-abs
For all the ribbon-cutting on train lines, Rosehill may never get its station – or its 25,000 new homes. And that’s a big hole in the premier’s plan to address the housing crisis, says Alexandra Smith.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/a-year-ago-it-was-minns-mini-city-but-was-he-backing-the-wrong-horse-20241204-p5kvpq.html
The rise of renewable energy – paired with smart technology – offers an extraordinary opportunity to empower communities, enhance sustainability and reduce costs, writes Paul Budde.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/smart-grids-a-path-to-neighbourhood-energy-independence,19222
Paul Karp tells us that Pauline Hanson has lost a bid to reduce the costs she is liable to pay Mehreen Faruqi over the Greens deputy leader’s successful racial discrimination case. Poor Porline!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/04/pauline-hanson-mehreen-faruqi-racial-discrimination-case-legal-costs-bid-ntwnfb
In this long report, Richard Baker tells us that the new leader of a secretive Australian church described Adolf Hitler as a “brilliant thinker” and expelled a long-term member weeks before his death from cancer. Brian Griggs became the head pastor of the Geelong Revival Centre and its network of churches across Australia in April, after the death of founder Noel Hollins. Like Hollins, Griggs preaches that the end of the world is fast approaching. In an audio recording obtained by this masthead, Griggs warned members to prepare for a war and praised Hitler. And we give these clowns tax breaks!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/hitler-s-brilliance-common-cruelty-and-children-on-board-the-hallelujah-train-20241203-p5kvhf.html
The planned redesign of two public housing towers in Melbourne’s inner north has been criticised by experts, including one who says they look just like the existing buildings, but with worse materials, writes Rachel Dexter.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/it-s-the-first-glimpse-of-melbourne-s-future-public-housing-tower-designs-here-s-what-architects-say-20241203-p5kvgo.html
The Age says that the Allan government has backtracked on its promise to implement all recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System on time.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victoria-fails-royal-commission-timeline-as-mental-health-reforms-delayed-20241203-p5kviy.html
Elizabeth Knight tells us why the CBA should be embarrassed for charging for cash withdrawals.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/why-cba-should-be-embarrassed-for-charging-for-cash-withdrawals-20241204-p5kvqp.html
At present, Labor’s sole economic credential is that it has produced the first back-to-back surpluses since Peter Costello was treasurer, writes Peta Credlin who says Labor has taken out the trash for an early election.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary%2Flabor-takes-out-the-trash-for-an-early-election%2Fnews-story%2Fb0f818122012d71c9f134bd5ad426926?amp
According to Callum Jaspan, the Greens will call News Corp Australia executives to appear before a Senate inquiry into greenwashing over a series of front pages promoting gas without clearly disclosing a commercial relationship with gas companies. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who is chairing the inquiry, told this masthead News Corp’s attempt to disguise paid “propaganda” as actual news risked bringing the profession of journalism into disrepute.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/greens-to-call-news-corp-execs-to-greenwashing-inquiry-over-gas-ads-20241204-p5kvrc.html
Matthew Knight writes that Labor’s relationship with Israel has sunk to new lows, with the nation’s peak Jewish group declaring Australia’s longstanding bipartisan support for Israel has essentially vanished after the Albanese government ditched a two-decades-old stance on the two-state solution.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/blood-libel-australian-ambassador-dressed-down-over-visa-denial-20241204-p5kvp2.html
Antisemitic or anti-Zionist? The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s (ECAJ) report claims a 316% rise in antisemitic incidents. Yaakov Aharon checks the facts.
https://michaelwest.com.au/report-conflates-australias-wave-of-antisemitism-with-israel-war-critics/
The president of Sydney Olympic Football Club and owner of a major crane company has been accused of being party to a decades-long scheme that defrauded the Tax Office of almost $100 million. David Marin-Guzman reports that insolvency Options liquidator Darren Vardy is suing Titan Cranes and its owner Damon Hanlin for $65 million for breaching director duties due to his alleged involvement in the tax scheme run by ex-insolvency adviser Sam Henderson. Mr Henderson was found dead in a North Sydney hotel room last year. Nice guy!
https://www.afr.com/wealth/tax/the-football-club-boss-alleged-drug-dealing-director-and-100m-scam-20241203-p5kvgb
Hans van Leeuwin reports that overnight French opposition lawmakers brought down the government, throwing the European Union’s second-biggest economic power deeper into a political crisis that threatens its capacity to legislate and rein in a massive budget deficit.
https://www.afr.com/world/europe/macron-poised-to-plunge-france-into-limbo-20241205-p5kvz1
It didn’t take China long to respond to the latest United States attempt to frustrate its ability to develop an advanced semiconductor industry. The nature of that response may be a taste of what lies ahead., Stephen Bartholomeusz writes that within 24 hours, China responded. Its commerce ministry said on Tuesday that it would prohibit exports to the US of dual-use items (those with both military and civilian applications), including exports of gallium, germanium, antimony and super-hard materials like tungsten. It would also impose stricter controls on graphite exports.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/china-is-on-a-collision-course-with-trump-it-just-fired-a-warning-shot-20241204-p5kvot.html
If Trump’s tariffs start a trade war, it would be an economic disaster, writes Mark Weisbrot who says the president-elect’s two main arguments for his tariff threat – to reduce migration and to combat drugs – are not credible.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/dec/04/trump-tariff-trade-war
Joe Biden can be blamed for many things, but pardoning his son is not one of them, writes Bill Wyman who says we shouldn’t forget that Trump pardoned 237 people, one of whom was serving a 800 years sentence.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/joe-biden-can-be-blamed-for-many-things-but-pardoning-his-son-is-not-one-of-them-20241204-p5kvp0.html
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
Matt Golding
Mark David
Cathy Wilcox
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/f664359118c87a7bab14f80f0ce2144f?width=1024#image.jpg
Leak
https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/5a76f4c46d34ab1e65f2a0a105a4fba4?width=1024#image.jpg
From the US
Rising fast on the Stupid Questions list:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/dec/05/australia-news-live-greens-national-drug-testing-labor-climate-impact-coal-mines
Yes, he was a Kiwi …
Laydeeez and Genulmun , put away your nomination forms for HYPERBOWL of the Day . We have a runaway winner who just lapped the field , come on down Obergruppenführer Kartoffelkopf.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics-latest-unions-issue-all-for-one-warning-amid-woolworths-strike/live-coverage/37c2283d7aec47a043224cbd451f0454
Which unfortunately means whoever is in gubbermint will cop it in the neck from the electorate. Pollies thought that outsourcing the job of setting interest rates would mean avoiding crap from the electorate for unpopular decisions. It turns out the ‘firewall’ is not nearly as strong as they hoped it would be. .
as is…………
Hi folks, sorry I haven’t been posting much, I’ve been in hospital since Sunday 6 am. Hopefully I’ll be back on board soon.
Not a good place: that’s where you catch stuff. Hope you escape well and sound.
Hope you are getting better, at least so that you can go home and get some rest.
Rest up and I hope the doctors give you an ‘eviction notice’ ‘toot sweet’ .
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Peter Dutton will claim the Coalition’s nuclear-backed grid will cost less to deliver than Labor’s renewables-led approach, escalating a war over the key cost-of-living issue ahead of next year’s federal election. The opposition leader will reveal his costings for seven government-backed nuclear plants as soon as next week. Paul Sakkal has confirmed the Coalition will claim its energy grid plan – including renewables, gas and nuclear – would cost less than Labor’s. Tritium Ted has run the numbers!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-to-claim-nuclear-rollout-will-end-up-cheaper-than-renewables-20241205-p5kw09.html
The Climate Council has laid out the seven ways the Federal Coalition could cook the books on nuclear costings.
https://theaimn.com/the-seven-ways-the-federal-coalition-could-cook-the-books-on-nuclear-costings/
Peter Dutton has upped the ante on energy ahead of the release of his nuclear power policy, vowing to scrap plans for a massive wind farm off the NSW central coast if elected. Phil Coorey says the opposition leader’s pledge to not proceed with a wind farm off the coast of the Hunter, north of Sydney, takes to three of the six wind farms proposed by the Albanese government the Coalition would abolish.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/dutton-axes-third-wind-farm-ahead-of-nuclear-pitch-20241205-p5kvzv
Government spending is keeping Australia out of recession, just, as this week’s feeble GDP numbers tallied 7 consecutive quarters of negative growth. Michael Pascoe writes about all the business lobby moaning where Chalmers get the blame this time for a lack of a recession.
https://michaelwest.com.au/damned-if-you-do-jim-chalmers-cops-the-blame-for-no-recession/
Increases in the GST, taxes on superannuation and the potential abolition of negative gearing should be “on the table” for a discussion on tax reform in the next federal parliament, according to the independent member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender. The Australian tells us that, speaking at a function in Sydney hosted by the Financial Services Council, Ms Spender, who represents the seat in Sydney’s eastern suburbs once held by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, said the tax system had not changed in any significant way since the introduction of the GST in 2000. She’s not wrong!
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business%2Feconomics%2Fgst-tax-on-super-and-negative-gearing-should-debated-says-independent-mp%2Fnews-story%2F1a7374ed2900ec20ae16a2f8a56ee11f?amp
Phil Coorey reckons the Teals aren’t letting the Liberals whitewash them as Greens.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/teals-aren-t-letting-the-liberals-whitewash-them-as-greens-20241205-p5kvzx
Richard Marles has ordered a snap assessment of the agency charged with delivering the $368 billion nuclear submarine program, amid complaints of a “toxic” workforce culture and staff churn. One of Australia’s most experienced former mandarins, Dennis Richardson, will conduct a “stocktake” of the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA), including examining its internal structure and relationships with other bureaucracies and industry, senior government sources not authorised to speak publicly confirmed.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/marles-orders-probe-of-toxic-culture-in-368b-submarine-agency-20241205-p5kw66
The leaders of two of Australia’s biggest companies, BHP and Wesfarmers, say they want to heed the Treasurer’s call to kickstart a private sector-led economic recovery but are being held back by onerous IR laws and an uncompetitive tax system. The AFR tells us that after figures released on Wednesday showed annual gross domestic product growth unexpectedly slumped to 0.8 per cent in September, Treasurer Jim Chalmers admitted the private sector was the only sustainable source of medium-term economic growth.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/no-big-spending-budget-update-says-jim-chalmers-20241205-p5kw0k
The Five Eyes multinational intelligence sharing network has sounded an unprecedented alarm about the threat of young people being radicalised by extremist online content, as authorities warn Australian children as young as 12 are at risk of becoming terrorists. Matthew Knott tells us that in a first-of-its-kind intervention, security and law enforcement authorities from Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan and New Zealand said in a joint paper that they were battling to combat an alarming rise in young people who support extremist causes or plan terrorist attacks.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/five-eyes-nations-sound-unprecedented-alarm-on-shocking-teenage-terror-threat-20241205-p5kw5w.html
Michael McGowan and Angus Thomson write about the anger, frustration and revolt inside the final day of the NSW’s drug summit.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/anger-frustration-and-revolt-inside-the-final-day-of-nsw-s-drug-summit-20241205-p5kw1y.html
The SMH editorial opines that the NSW drug summit was hampered by the Minns government’s lack of enthusiasm.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-drug-summit-hampered-by-minns-government-s-lack-of-enthusiasm-20241205-p5kw3f.html
James Massola traces the Plibersek-Albanese rivalry, describing them as the “best of frenemies”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-frenemies-tracing-the-plibersek-albanese-rivalry-20241204-p5kvxk.html
A Victorian government plan to consolidate resources and services across hospitals is being slammed as creating mergers by stealth, write Henrietta Cook and Broede Carmody. They say Victorian hospitals would share staff, beds and radiology services under a proposed overhaul of the state’s health services being slammed as a backdoor form of hospital mergers.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/shared-beds-staff-and-radiology-the-government-s-plan-to-cut-costs-in-our-hospitals-20241204-p5kvue.html
In her final column as state political editor for The Age, Annika Smethurst has some advice for our leaders. She concludes by saying, “While prudent politicians aren’t always a bad thing, particularly when the alternative is populism, the current contempt for ideology and political courage from both major parties is only pushing voters further towards fringe movements and issues.”
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/in-my-final-column-as-state-political-editor-i-have-some-advice-for-our-leaders-20241205-p5kw6c.html
Deadbeat parents have racked up $1.7 billion in unpaid child support, prompting calls to enlist the Australian Tax Office to claw the money back. There was a severe lack of support in the system for short-changed parents, while weak enforcement meant the mostly male parents who owed money were not being held to account, a parliamentary committee’s report on financial abuse has found. The report’s key recommendation was for Services Australia to hand over its child support payment responsibilities to the Tax Office, which it said would be better equipped to force parents to pay what they owed.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-has-1-7b-in-unpaid-child-support-these-mps-have-a-plan-to-claw-it-back-20241205-p5kw6l.html
Financial abuse is a form of intimate-partner violence, but now perpetrators and their facilitators are on notice: with unanimous support from a parliamentary committee, reform is coming, writes Deborah O’Neill in an op-ed. To the perpetrators of financial abuse, she says: it’s over. The community will no longer turn away. It’s time to leave the scourge of financial abuse behind us.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-s-the-domestic-abuser-s-hidden-weapon-but-if-you-wield-it-your-time-s-up-20241205-p5kvzt.html
A gas-rich, wealthy country unable to supply gas to its major population centres is a massive policy failing. There is one “least-worst” solution, suggests Tony Wood in quite a detailed contribution.
https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/victoria-is-running-out-of-gas-and-there-is-no-easy-fix-20241204-p5kvop
The state’s anti-corruption watchdog has found a former Sydney council employee engaged in corrupt conduct when he accepted perks worth more than $200,000 in return for favouring his mate’s company for $4.5 million worth of contracts, reports Megan Gorrey. Canterbury-Bankstown Council’s former works and projects unit manager, Benjamin Webb, misused his public official functions when he accepted the money after hiring dozens of subcontractors through then-contractor Pietro Cossu’s company in a tangled scheme in 2021 and 2022, the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption reported yesterday. I think he might be in a bit of trouble here.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-corrupt-sydney-council-worker-his-mate-s-perks-and-the-4-5-million-scheme-20241204-p5kvtx.html
Andrew Hastie reckons there are five hard truths defence must face as Trump returns to power.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8828967/opinion-australias-defence-challenges-after-trumps-victory/?cs=27845
Search behemoth Google is under pressure in the US after three anti-trust trials concluded, with one of the remedies proposed being a call for it to be forced to sell off its web browser, Chrome, an app that dominates the browser space.
https://johnmenadue.com/google-faces-verdicts-from-anti-trust-trials-as-trump-term-approaches/
Scammers are finding loopholes in restrictions brought in by Google and Meta to combat fake celebrity scam ads and experts warn they will be hard to stop while Australia remains a lucrative target for cybercriminals. Josh Taylor reports that last Monday, Meta announced it would require businesses targeting financial advertising at Australians to verify themselves, including through the Australian Securities Investment Commission, to check they hold an Australian financial services licence.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/06/celebrity-scam-ads-still-targeting-australians-despite-tech-giants-crackdowns
Middle-aged Australians are being turned into “money mules” to convert cash raised by organised criminals into cryptocurrency so it can be moved out of the country via a record number of specialist ATMs springing up around the nation. Shane Wright says that as the Australian Tax Office warns of a scam being used by substantially sized small businesses to de-fraud the GST system of millions of dollars, the agency charged with overseeing the integrity of the financial system has created its own taskforce to target digital currency exchanges and their cryptocurrency ATMs. Whack-a-mole continues, by the look of it.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australians-turned-into-money-mules-chasing-crypto-cash-20241205-p5kw3c.html
Billionaire Adrian Portelli and his “membership rewards” business LMCT+ have been charged by a consumer watchdog with allegedly conducting a string of illegal lotteries. South Australia’s acting liquor and gambling commissioner laid the charges against the well-known Melbourne entrepreneur yesterday following a protracted investigation by the state’s consumer and business services department. Nice work from the commission!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/lambo-guy-adrian-portelli-charged-over-allegedly-unlawful-lottery-20241205-p5kw8c.html
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has taken a swipe at the Albanese government’s declining support for Israel and its promotion of Palestinian statehood at the UN, suggesting Australia has abandoned an ally and rewarded terrorism. In comments published by The Australian, a spokesperson for Netanyahu said Australia government’s controversial United Nations vote on Wednesday – applauded by Palestinian advocates – was a “disappointing” change which would undoubtedly “invite more terrorism” and “more anti-Semitic riots” in city centres. I make no comment.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/israel-condemns-australia-s-un-flip-flop-says-it-rewards-terrorism-20241206-p5kwa8.html
It is very unfortunate that the new Executive Council of Australian Jewry Report, Anti-Jewish Incidents in Australia 2024 is marred by fundamental flaws, accidental or otherwise. This problem is in line with other reports emerging from the pro-Israel lobby, reports that get considerable media coverage, argues Larry Stillman.
https://johnmenadue.com/misleading-reports-on-antisemitic-incidents-by-ecaj/
The government agencies in charge of the nation’s cyberdefences – the Australian Signals Directorate and the Australian Cyber Security Centre – have issued a joint warning alongside their counterparts in the US, Canada and New Zealand about “Salt Typhoon”, a Chinese hacking group. David Swan says the warning said state-sponsored hackers had “compromised networks of major global telecommunications providers to conduct a broad and significant cyber espionage campaign” and urged telecommunication providers to harden their infrastructure. It came after the US government announced that a large amount of Americans’ metadata had been stolen by Salt Typhoon, over a period of months and potentially years.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/the-chinese-hack-that-has-australia-on-high-alert-20241205-p5kw0l.html
The masked gunman who stalked and killed the leader of one of the largest US health insurance companies outside a Manhattan hotel used ammunition emblazoned with the words “deny,” “defend” and “depose,” law enforcement officials told multiple news outlets.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/bullets-used-in-us-healthcare-exec-s-killing-had-writing-on-them-20241206-p5kwa6.html
The “prerogative of mercy” was once a matter of life and death, as one of my ancestors discovered. In the time of Donald Trump, it is toxic and corrupted, says Tony Wright. “The prerogative of mercy? Trump couldn’t spell it”, says Wright.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/war-criminals-creepo-dad-the-trump-pardons-that-defy-belief-20241204-p5kvq6.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Matt Golding
David Pope
Cathy Wilcox
Simon Letch
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
Gosh, who could have seen that coming ? Beeskneez telling us that the ‘answer’ is for them to be able to screw over their workers more and pay even less of their fair share. The good old lazy sop for boosting their ‘bonuses’.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2024/dec/06/australia-news-live-immigration-humanitarian-visas-wa-critical-minerals-nuclear-power-inquiry-pfas-water-anzmin-meeting-woolworths-warehouses-housing-cost-of-living#top-of-blog
Give me a break!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/06/nsw-drugs-summit-decriminalisation-ruled-out-feature
.
As it is NSW I’m guessing a) and or b) .and a dash oc c)
a) The religious nuts have more power than we realise
b) Rum Corp inc. that is NSW has objected to the bigly big reduction in profits and sales that such a move is likely to cause.
c) Fear of the Rupertariat .switching on their outrage machine should such laws be introduced.
Hi all, been posting less as I’ve been busy with family stuff, then had a bought of covid. Will try and post a bit more over the weekend.
Had covid about a month or so ago. It’s the pits, hope you’re well into recovery.