Despite Morrison’s efforts to shut down the ABC critical media pressure, push, shove and “facts” do work. It’s why the ABC was established and why Morrison wants it gone. However on March 16th TND reported Morrison’s conspicuous oversight in not sanctioning the two Russians who had a 20% interest in an aluminum mfg plant conjointly owned with friends Rio Tinto. Today that’s been rapidly reversed after that fact was announced. Was ScoMo his usual slow self or caught out?

Two Russian oligarchs with ties to Australian aluminium manufacturing have been sanctioned by the federal government. Oleg Deripaska and Viktor Vekselberg are named in a new sanctions instrument alongside nine Russian banks and a sovereign wealth fund and the entire Russian finance ministry. The Putin allies have significant stakes in Rusal International, which owns 20 per cent of the Queensland Alumina Limited refinery near Gladstone in a joint deal with Rio Tinto. The plant is one of the world’s largest, and hugely profitable amid a global shortage of aluminium and near-record prices. Until Friday, Australia had been conspicuous in not sanctioning either man, despite other Western nations imposing restrictions on them, and Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledging to stay in “lockstep” with allies.

Source: Australia sanctions two Russian oligarchs

Liberal MP Catherine Cusack has announced she intends to resign from the New South Wales parliament over the selective distribution of disaster funding in flood-affected northern NSW.The ABC has reported that Cusack is “outraged” by how funds have been allocated to flood victims in the Northern Rivers, specifically that areas in the Nationals-held seat of Page were given more assistance than areas in the Labor-held seat of Richmond.It means Ballina, Bryon and Tweed shires – in the Labor-held Richmond seat – have missed out on the federal government’s additional disaster relief payments.

Source: Liberal MP Catherine Cusack to resign over her outrage at ‘selective’ flood relief payments in Northern Rivers

“It’s in our power alone to stop this madness,” the demonstrator, Channel One editor Marina Ovsyannikova, says in a pre-recorded video. “Go protest. Don’t be afraid of anything. They can’t put us all in prison.”

Source: “They’re Lying to You”: Anti-War Protester Interrupts Russian State TV Broadcast

The big political news story over the weekend was the Prime Minister’s faux-announcement through the newspapers that he is considering curing the fuel excise to alleviate the stress of rapidly rising petrol prices.

However, as is often the case with the federal policy cycle the idea was first brought to parliament by South Australian independent senator Rex Patrick. In an interview with MWM, Patrick raised his policy idea of relieving Australians of $6 billion a year in fuel excise costs.

Patrick has been bringing the policy of a 50% reduction in fuel excise costs to parliament since February, when fuel prices began to rise.

Murdoch 14/3/22

Morrison’s big Steal off Senator Rex Patrick Independant for the Rex Patrick Team SA