The veteran Liberal senator has been accused of subjecting three Senate inquiry witnesses to ‘race-baiting McCarthyism’
Eric Abetz refuses to apologise for demanding Chinese-Australians denounce Communist party | Australia news | The Guardian
Category: LNP Government
I have sometimes wondered how people felt when they were dragged in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities with Congressmen demanding that they prove their loyalty. Never did I imagine I would be placed in a similar situation. I have followed the debate about our relationship with China, but I did not fully appreciate how toxic it had become until I appeared before the Senate inquiry into issues facing diaspora communities on Wednesday. Osmond Chiu is a research fellow at Per Capita, a progressive think tank. Osmond Chiu is a research fellow at Per Capita, a progressive think tank. I spoke to the committee about the underrepresentation of multicultural communities in Australian politics. Australia’s Parliament is significantly less representative of cultural diversity than Canada, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. Instead of being asked about complex issues facing multicultural communities or how Australia could benefit from a more diverse Parliament, I was asked by Senator Eric Abetz to “unequivocally condemn” the Chinese Communist Party. Presumably, the association trying to be made was that, by virtue of my ethnicity, there was some likelihood of divided allegiances. Advertisement
I was born in Australia. Why do I need to renounce the Chinese Communist Party?
Frydenberg will be remembered as the inventor of the two-class tax cut.
Budget 2020: Josh Frydenberg’s two-class tax cut is like no other we’ve seen
The ideology was present by absence – no extension of jobseeker payments, nor any mention of climate change other than in a footnote
The federal budget reveals an ideology that is set to kill any recovery just as it is getting started | Greg Jericho | Business | The Guardian
The philosophy of the cashless welfare card is the perfect marriage of neoliberal ideology and evangelical Christianity, both of which pathologise, criminalise and individualise poverty as a lifestyle choice.
Religious profit: Expanding the cashless welfare card ties in with Morrison’s beliefs – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Instead of providing sorely needed stimulus, the 2020 budget from Australia’s Coalition government transfers wealth toward millionaires and big business and away from the poor, the unemployed, women, and the government’s ideological enemies.
Josh Frydenberg’s Budget Takes From the Poor to Give to the Rich
The Morrison government has slashed the maximum humanitarian intake by thousands on the basis it is too difficult to bring refugees into Australia in the same numbers as before the coronavirus pandemic. The humanitarian intake was reduced from 18,750 places to 13,750 over the next four years in Tuesday’s budget.
Budget 2020: Morrison government cuts thousands of refugee places
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has responded to claims that women were the losers in Tuesday night’s budget, saying it is an unfortunate reality that not all special interest groups can be catered for.
Morrison Defends Lack Of Money In Budget For Women: “It Simply Isn’t Possible To Cater For Every Single Minority Group” | The Shovel
LNP Freedom is Australia’s Shame (ODT)
Australians who fall in love with non-English speaking foreigners will be barred from bringing their partners into the country to be married if they do not speak English.
Australia to block visa for partners if they don’t speak English
By locking down residents, it seems aged care providers are worried about claims for negligence. They should be more worried about being sued for illegal detention. Senior lawyer John W. Wallace reports.
Aged care facilities are homes, not prisons – Michael West
They try to blame Dan Andrews (ODT)
The Federal Government isn’t doing enough to adequately look after our elderly and reform in aged care is urgently needed, writes Lyn Bender.
Reform in uncaring aged care is needed
The biggest cause of environmental destruction in our country is the Right-wing ideology shared by conservative politicians and media groups, writes Sue Arnold.
Environment is the enemy of Right-wing governments
The question taxing many is why are our security services and not the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) running our relationship with China? The answer is complex and begins with the onset of the Howard era in 1996 and continues to this day.
Security agencies assume greater role in Australian policymaking
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt’s plan to let private patients access hospital treatments at home under their health insurance has opened up a fierce debate over how much control funds should have over care, as private hospital operators warn against a shift towards an American-style “managed care” model.
Greg Hunt’s care-in-the-home plan sparks warning of US-style health model
Hefty cuts to income support mean that Australia now faces a potentially more deadly epidemic than Covid-19. But it is largely avoidable, writes Michael Tanner.
Cuts to JobSeeker, Jobkeeper: out of the frying pan and into the fire – Michael West
According to an ABC report, government funds were fast-tracked to Foxtel during the coronavirus pandemic. This news will raise eyebrows, as the media — like so many industries — tries to survive the pain and disruption brought by COVID-19. Why are some outlets missing out when others have their requests prioritised?
Federal Government fast-tracks grants to Foxtel
He switched to an announcement-based approach to leadership, and it made complete sense. In the current environment, there are no disincentives for doing so. Press conferences are held at short notice with details postponed until later, and inconvenient questions are easily batted away, well after headlines have established an underlying narrative. Outlets rush to break the news first, follow-ups are negligible, corrections are buried, and the media as a whole paints the picture you would expect from an ecosystem increasingly dominated by supporters of Morrison and his government (most notably in the News Corp stable). It’s all working for the prime minister – he’s a self-styled practical dad, an optimist taking care of business. If there are objections or uncomfortable revelations, he doesn’t accept the premise of your question. Next, please. And tomorrow he’ll have another announcement.
The announcement artist | The Monthly
The Coalition will continue to devote taxpayer dollars to deny the science until they are voted out, or until climate change finally wins.
Angus Taylor’s coal and gas roadmap to nowhere
Scott Morrison has perfected the art of media manipulation by briefing a select club of Canberra correspondents at once, rather than leaking to individual media outlets. Callum Foote and Michael West report on the marketing genius of the Prime Minister and the increasingly meek mainstream media.
Feeding the Chooks: Scott Morrison’s marketing triumph over mainstream media – Michael West
“This has meant Australian taxpayers have paid more for a network that does less, and more money is now required to play catch up,” she said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “What on earth was the point of spending $51bn of taxpayers’ dollars on the Liberals’ second-rate copper network to begin with?” In 2018, the outgoing chief executive of NBN Co, Bill Morrow, admitted that the reliance on copper had led to a higher fault rate and slower internet speeds but helped deliver the network faster and more cheaply.
Coalition to announce $3.5bn NBN upgrade to roll out fibre ‘deeper and closer to homes’ | Technology | The Guardian
In any other universe, recovering from one public health crisis by worsening another would spark immediate backlash. An “asbestos led recovery” would be career-ending; as would a “tobacco led recovery” or a “AK-47 led recovery”. But fossil fuels have locked their harm so deeply into our lives that we have become desensitised to this incredible, radical significance of proposing to hurt humans as a pathway to helping them. What is happening here is simultaneously deadly and ludicrous. (Ketan Joshi Renew Economy).
Stop the lies, Morrison. Your gas-led recovery is a toxic sham. – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Australia could potentially waste another industrial boom
Australia’s renewable energy endowment means that there is likely to be a boom similar to that of the mining industry in the early 2000s, writes Tim Cornwall. THE MINING BOOM of the early 2000s was horribly wasted by the Howard Government. Over the next few decades, to the chagrin of the current Australian Government, the economics of renewable energy will render the fossil fuel industry obsolete. As detailed by Ross Garnaut among many others, Australia stands to gain the most from this transition and stands to lose the most from delaying it. As the transition inevitably occurs, however quickly or slowly, we should learn the lessons from our last industry boom. Will we allow the profits to be siphoned to tax havens or take advantage to build a better Australia?
Australia could potentially waste another industrial boom
Or maybe it’s because Scott Morrison’s $70 million Covid tracing app… hasn’t worked? 
More here
Despite the slagging off at Labor by the Coalition, simply because of debts accrued to maintain the economy through an unexpected crisis – namely the GFC – the Coalition now finds itself in the same situation through COVID-19, and has to go down a similar path. Have they done as well as Labor did? NO! Why not?
We need truth and facts – not lies and spin – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Typical Morrison look over there don’t examine us too closely politics. Short term pain for long term gain isn’t in Morrison’s song book. NZ isn’t the resource rich country Australia is so the comparison is hardly justified let alone anything to do with Morrison’s actions. “History will ultimately judge who chose the best path and it’s probably still too early to say.”
Morrison however does mimic Trump doesn’t he? He & Frydenberg will be boasting the biggest boom in Australia’s history rather than the inevitable bungy rebound he has had no control over. He certainly hasn’t factored in the shitstorm he’s created with China. (ODT)
The point of raising New Zealand’s record-breaking downturn, of course, was to demonstrate the relative success of Australia’s crisis management.
To talk up Australia’s coronavirus economic recovery, Scott Morrison found the perfect weapon – ABC News
Is Barilaro, Berejiklian or Morrison to blame for the annihilation of Australia’s favourite furry marsupial, the cuddly koala? And why is there such a kerfuffle over recent legislation changes affecting koalas?
The Coalition’s ability to retain power while also switching from leader to leader to leader is, in strictly political terms, a major achievement. But what are its policy achievements?
What has this Coalition government actually achieved in seven years?
So why is this piece titled Frydenberg’s folly?. Because in one fell swoop he has morphed his image as a credible commentator on the nation’s accounts into just another partisan attack dog. He has replaced his reputation in the area of finance with what we have come to despise so profoundly. That is his folly!
Frydenberg’s Folly – » The Australian Independent Media Network
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has refused to say when he will release the Productivity Commission’s report on mental health, despite growing calls to make it public before the October 6 federal budget.
Productivity Commission report on mental health languishes for 10 weeks
Productivity Commission report on mental health languishes for 10 weeks
What’s left of “team Australia” in China is now, potentially, team hostage for a regime seemingly determined to punish Australia.
We seem to have soured our relationship with China since 2016. It’s not hard to understand why. Murdoch Media was quick to change it’s praise of China to editorials that resembled Fox Corp and the LNP was quick to jump on board. The country that bugged Timor Leste started openly China accusing having agents wherever there was a Chinese face.. Australian Chinese like Australian Muslims started to feel the impact of the LNP and their media backed 1950’s and 60s attitudes to a country they celebrated when CHAFTA was signed. Yes there has been a lot of kowtowing but not to Chinese attempt at friendship.
Australian firms and their staff face increasing risks in China
AUSTRALIA IS entering treacherous waters. After more than a quarter-century of economic growth, the country has now gone into recession. And not just any recession — the deepest downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The recession brings many self-evident problems, from high rates of unemployment to widespread business failures. But there is a less obvious danger that we overlook at our peril — the role of vested interests in the economic recovery.
Recession: With recovery comes hidden risk
Coalition’s push for secret trials: behaviour of a tin-pot dictatorship – Michael West
Claims that the release of information poses a risk to national security can be used to avoid legitimate scrutiny of conduct. If ever there were reasons to suspect a cover-up by this government, the Bernard Collaery and Witness K court cases are prime examples, writes Ian Cunliffe.
Coalition’s push for secret trials: behaviour of a tin-pot dictatorship – Michael West
The future energy market can serve consumers well without big government subsidies despite the unprecedented disruption in the shift to renewables, said Energy Security Board (ESB) chair Dr Kerry Schott. The ESB is proposing a range of market reforms in a new study released for consultation on Monday.
Coal’s rapid decline won’t cripple future energy grid: COAG study
THE MOST PROFOUND challenge arising from Australia becoming the worst developed country for government debt is not the economic hardship this will impose on those having to pay the interest and repay the principal. A more serious issue is that most citizens haven’t a clue what is actually happening.
Coalition adds more debt in nine months than Labor did in under six years
Morrison’s efforts to impress Trump is causing our chaos and his confusion and a lack of direction. He’s always tended to be a follower rather than a decisive leader a boat without a rudder and he seems to believe Trump is the answer. Canberra is now increasingly revealing itself to be what it has always been a Government in opposition. Working for themselves and not Australia. Frydenberg’s already “blaming” his economic failures on Victoria. The deaths encountered however have and will continue to be from the Commonwealth’s aged-care sector (ODT)
Ever got into a car and found a little way into the journey that the driver isn’t sure of the destination? Scott Morrison predictably won plaudits for his latest assault on China via new legislation that will empower him to cancel or veto agreements between state entities and foreign government organisations. China might be our biggest trading partner, but it is thoroughly on the nose in much of Canberra.
Morrison’s China decree reeks of rash decision-making
Australia is a nation of double standards. It should come as no surprise to see our politicians and our media brazenly wearing them like badges of honour. As a country, we criticise China at every available opportunity for any whiff of foreign interference, though we turn a blind eye to blatant interference coming from Israel. As many on the right say: “China has a woeful record on human rights”, as if Palestine didn’t exist. The media talked up “historic” peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. People hear the words “Middle East peace deal” and think of Israel and Palestine, yet the media have neglected to sufficiently inform the public that this dud deal that is already in jeopardy. It has not brought about peace, in fact, Gaza has seen Israel bomb their men, women and children every night for two weeks.
Branch stacking scandals highlight the media’s double standards
Explainer: can the federal government control the ability of states to sign deals with foreign governments?
In my life time only the LNP has been anti- Indonesia, anti-Vietnam, anti-China. Has seen and endorsed the deaths of 1 mill Indonesians, 1mill plus Vietnamese and is now prodding China. What’s with this insane government trying desperately to change the course of history of the Pacific region and ignore the social investment in our own country. So much for their talk of a ‘Free Market”. (ODT)
Explainer: can the federal government control the ability of states to sign deals with foreign governments? August 27, 2020 2.05pm AEST Author Luke Beck Associate Professor of Constitutional Law, Monash University Disclosure statement Luke Beck is rank and file member of the Australian Labor Party. Partners Monash University Monash University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU. View current jobs from Monash University View all partners CC BY ND We believe in the free flow of information Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under Creative Commons licence. Email Twitter1 Facebook4 LinkedIn Print Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced plans to introduce legislation that would allow the foreign minister to cancel agreements with foreign governments entered into by states, territories, local councils and universities if the agreement is contrary to Australia’s national interests.
Explainer: can the federal government control the ability of states to sign deals with foreign governments?
The LNP since the 50’s have assisted in the deaths of 1 million Indonesians morally supporting the downfall of the Soekarno Government. Followed the US blindly into Vietnam to kill and to lose and stop nothing. Now they are sabre rattling again. Can they only rule by fear paranoia division and social control? Morrison on about National Security ” Cant’ talk about that” secrecy and Australia First.
They know how to bully and fight but not how to govern. They’ll readily share their fuck ups like aged care and the take the generosity. But deny that their Branch Stacking was the same .
Social investment and progress have largely been seen only at the hands of the ALP. Health, Education and Social Welfare would have remained a backwater if left to god bothering Christians like Kevin Andrews and Tony Abbott now it’s in the hands of an evangelical like Morrison. Does Australia really need another war for the sake of their political must win at all cost game. We pay them for service not to service us. (ODT)Liberal Party elder and former defence minister Kevin Andrews has launched a savage attack on the Chinese government in a private party forum, saying President Xi Jinping was running “the most complete totalitarian regime that we’ve seen probably on the face of this earth”.
Senior Liberal MP denounces ‘totalitarian’ Chinese rule on secret tape
Instead of crafting policies to tackle causes rather than symptoms, Australian leaders have used terror laws to turn social and national problems into security issues that demand a military response. Allan Behm investigates.
‘The only thing to fear is fear itself’ – the overreach of Australian anti-terror laws
When Politics is reduced to a game it can’t and wont ever happen. (ODT)
Roosevelt took advantage of a crisis to make a better USA. You would hope Morrison and those that support him can live with the realisation that they could have made a better Australia for the next 50 to 70 years — and blew it. What do you think?
Morrison is not a Leader – » The Australian Independent Media Network
The charity sector is struggling in the face of unprecedented demand from those the Coalition refuses to help. There are now fears that many charities won’t survive. But if they go down, a big chunk of Australia’s social safety net will go with them, as will large numbers of jobs. Julie Macken reports.
Australian charities are struggling with demand: the Coalition will rue turning its back on them – Michael West
Since taking the top legal job in Australia in 2017, Christian Porter has been in breach of Commonwealth safeguard legislation by neglecting to table crucial reports documenting his use of secretive national security (NSI) orders. Keiran Adair reports.
Attorney General Christian Porter breaches law over three years, claims it was a mistake – Michael West
The Attorney General is waging war against lawyer Bernard Collaery and his client in pushing the line that the sky will fall in if the Commonwealth has to admit in open court that ASIS bugged Timor-Leste. Yet the allegation has been widely noted in hundreds of reports over many years, including by the International Court of Justice, and nobody seems in any doubt it is true. Lawyer Ian Cunliffe reports on the latest judgment in the saga that has cost taxpayers nearly $2.5 million before the trial has even started.
East Timor bugging scandal: Attorney General’s push for secret trial diminishes us as a nation – Michael West
Same water, same valuer, $80m and nought. The same type of water licences for irrigation properties near those for which the Coalition government paid $80 million in 2017 were valued at zero between 2008 and 2010, writes investigative reporter Kerry Brewster in this exclusive report.
Barnaby Joyce signed off $80m for Angus Taylor’s old company after zero was paid for same sort of water nearby – Michael West
Scott Morrison has no power to extend cabinet confidentiality to his national cabinet meetings with state premiers, Senator Rex Patrick has charged in a first-of-its-kind challenge of the intergovernmental body.
National cabinet secrecy under fire in first-of-its-kind challenge to new arrangement | Australia news | The Guardian
When a Minister gets that flustered you know a nerve has been hit. (ODT)
The RMIT ABC Fact Check unit, funded jointly between the RMIT University and the ABC, describes itself as an “agenda-free zone” that does not allow staff of the unit to be members of political parties or activist groups.
via ‘Riddled with errors’: Paul Fletcher slams ABC fact check
This truly isn’t even a debate to allw it to become one is to blow smoke into the eyes of the Australian public. Tony Abbott lied in 2013 and the LNP has been doing it ever since with the aid of News Corp and now Ch9 suggesting there’s even a question! (ODT)
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