Category: Uncategorized

Josh’s Shark Pool: meet the Treasurer’s tax advisors – Michael West

Look who’s advising Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on tax. The Australian Government’s “High Level Advisory Panel” is stacked with five tax types from EY, three from Deloitte, five from KPMG and seven from PwC. Michael West reports.

For the uninitiated, the reason this High Level Advisory Panel is funny is because a key activity of the Big Four accounting firms is advising their multinational clients on how to skive out of paying tax in Australia, a task which they undertake with flair, and by the billions.

via Josh’s Shark Pool: meet the Treasurer’s tax advisors – Michael West

Thousands of public servants want to quit Peter Dutton’s home affairs department | Australia news | The Guardian

Peter Dutton

Thousands of public servants want to quit Peter Dutton’s home affairs department, with a new report finding staff are suffering low morale, poor engagement and high levels of bullying and harassment.

via Thousands of public servants want to quit Peter Dutton’s home affairs department | Australia news | The Guardian

Old Dog Thoughts- LNP- Is the WW2 Italian Tank 1 gear Foward 5 Backward

Fighting Fake News with REAL, 30/8/19; Scumbag College truth in Humour; LNP spinning like Trump a fake reality; Dutton says China is Harsh and inhumane, LNP is like and Italian Tank 1 gear forward 5 gears backward;

How Swedes and Norwegians Broke the Power of the ‘1 Percent’ | Common Dreams Views

Sweden and Norway, for example, both experienced a major power shift in the 1930s after prolonged nonviolent struggle. They “fired” the top 1 percent of people who set the direction for society and created the basis for something different.

via How Swedes and Norwegians Broke the Power of the ‘1 Percent’ | Common Dreams Views

New push to ‘restore democracy’: US launches Venezuela affairs unit … in Colombia — RT World News

New push to ‘restore democracy’: US launches Venezuela affairs unit … in Colombia

US Footprint on Venezuala financing and strategising the opposition, Who thinks they aren’t doing the same in Hong Kong (ODT)

via New push to ‘restore democracy’: US launches Venezuela affairs unit … in Colombia — RT World News

‘Take the land’: Trump wants a black border wall, with spikes, by election day

President Donald Trump visited a new section of the border wall in Calexico earlier this year.

Order from the DON (ODT)

When aides have suggested that some orders are illegal or unworkable, Trump has suggested he would pardon the officials if they would just go ahead, aides said. He has waved off worries about contracting procedures and the use of eminent domain, saying “take the land,” according to officials who attended the meetings.
Related Article
White House officials were now expecting a long, drawn-out battle with Chinese leaders.
Trump’s White House
Trump increasingly relies on himself, not his aides, in trade war with China
“Don’t worry, I’ll pardon you,” he has told officials in meetings about the wall.

‘Take the land’: Trump wants a black border wall, with spikes, by election day

Ilhan Omar Accusations Are News, Not GOP Smears of Islam

https://theintercept.imgix.net/wp-uploads/sites/1/2019/08/GettyImages-1163752227-1567001818.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&q=90&w=1024&h=683

via Ilhan Omar Accusations Are News, Not GOP Smears of Islam

A Father and Daughter Tell Their Story of the Terrifying Immigration Raid in Mississippi – Mother Jones

via A Father and Daughter Tell Their Story of the Terrifying Immigration Raid in Mississippi – Mother Jones

Brexit: Boris Johnson’s plot is bold, barely legal and politically high risk

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has shocked British MPs with his latest move.

MUKGA isn’t considerationhere at all win at all costs no matter is (ODT)

Brexit: Boris Johnson’s plot is bold, barely legal and politically high risk

Why Chinese and Hong Kong students clash in Australia – Analysis & Opinion – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Hundreds of pro-Hong Kong protesters sit in Martin Place.

This study leaves me with questions about it’s accuracy.

We are told by the government that  the population of Chinese students here in Australia is 400,000 plus this study quotes half that number yet makes no mention of why the huge difference?

No mention that this generation of mainland Chinese has never experienced anything other than an economic boom of no less than 6% growth, a shrinking in poverty and the once opportunity gap between rural and urban China. There has been a massive increase in freedoms never experienced previously before. So a strong sympathy shouldn’t be unexpected for it’s government. Nor should the anger felt when western media portrays them in ways they don’t experience as students or tourists let loose on the world. Meanwhile Australia is currently experiencing the reverse.

Australians  are grinners when winners and readily proud. Are the Chinese not meant to feel the same? To suggest the Chinese are mentally bound simply by a moral and restrictive mindset foisted on them seems to reflect more on the narrowness of the researchers to want to establish some significant correlation between Chinese Civics, History taught in schools which makes the ultimate difference between HK students and Chinese mainland students.

The riots in HK began over an extradition law which was revoked. The current and continued riots have however have been transformed into something much different with foriegn influence involved.  It’s not difficult to guess whose footprint is the biggest and who wants to make China look bad in the eyes of the western press and the world.

I doubt if and when peer- reviewed this study’s methodology and it’s narrow context will recieve anything but criticism of it’s bias to prove what’s a univeral norm and generational bias “sympathy for one’s country’s culture whether HK,China,Aus, USA and particularly in times of an economic boom. (ODT)

 

The protests in Hong Kong have led to some open clashes here in Australia between students from mainland China and others from Hong Kong.

There were angry scenes between pro-China and pro-Hong Kong groups in Sydney and Melbourne, as well as at universities in Brisbane and Adelaide.

These clashes are troubling for the Australian university sector, which enrols 182,555 mainland Chinese and 11,822 Hongkongers as international students at various educational institutions.

Our research suggests differences in the curriculum studied by mainland Chinese and Hong Kong students may help to explain the beliefs underpinning the protest movements.

Why Chinese and Hong Kong students clash in Australia – Analysis & Opinion – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Is a different type of economics the answer?

The rest of the media is catching on to the fact that there is a paradigm shift underway in economics.

This won’t be a surprise to you if you are a regular reader of Independent Australia. I’ve written about two dozen articles on the main challenger to the old paradigm, which is modern monetary theory (MMT). Others have also written on this topic for IA. If you’ve been relying for news and current affairs on the usual suspects, however, the current controversy might have crept up on you.

For the most part, the rest of the media has been asleep on this one, even if they are latterly waking up.

Is a different type of economics the answer?

Horrific Amazon Wildfires: How do they Threaten Us, and how can we stop them?

https://www.juancole.com/images/2019/08/horrific-amazon-wildfires-how-do.jpg

Reducing wildfires requires going beyond addressing the ignition sources and fighting the flames themselves, and also encouraging actions that limit forest flammability. Tackling deforestation remains key as it exposes forest edges to the hotter and drier microclimate of agricultural land, and contributes to regional reductions in rainfall.

Selective logging also plays a key role in making tropical forests more flammable. Walking in a selectively logged forest in the dry season, you feel the sun’s heat directly on your face and the leaf litter crackles and crunches underfoot. In contrast, unlogged primary forests are a shadier world where the leaf litter remains moist. Fire prevention needs to be a key condition of long-term forest stewardship. This will only work if widespread illegal logging is effectively controlled, as cheaper timber undermines the viability of best-practice forest management.

Finally, climate change itself is making dry seasons longer and forests more flammable. Increased temperatures are also resulting in more frequent tropical forest fires in non-drought years. And climate change may also be driving the increasing frequency and intensity of climate anomalies, such as El Niño events that affect fire season intensity across Amazonia.

Addressing these challenges requires integrated national and global actions, collaboration between scientists and policy makers, and long-term funding – approaches that the current Brazilian administration seems intent on destroying.The Conversation

via Horrific Amazon Wildfires: How do they Threaten Us, and how can we stop them?

Blackstone CEO Is Driving Force Behind Amazon Deforestation

Trucks drive alongside scorched fields on the BR 163 highway in the Nova Santa Helena municipality, in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. Under increasing international pressure to contain fires sweeping parts of the Amazon, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday authorized use of the military to battle the massive blazes. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

via Blackstone CEO Is Driving Force Behind Amazon Deforestation

Bolsonaro’s Horrific Plans for the Amazon Revealed in Leaked Presentation | The Smirking Chimp

via Bolsonaro’s Horrific Plans for the Amazon Revealed in Leaked Presentation | The Smirking Chimp

Why is Jakarta, Indonesia’s soon to be former capital city, sinking?

A neighborhood below sea level in 2017 in Jakarta.

Jakarta ia Colonial remanant left by the Dutch(ODT)

Having successfully tamed low-lying Holland, the Dutch believed they could also tame tropical Jakarta.

Why is Jakarta, Indonesia’s soon to be former capital city, sinking?

Federal Government launches investigation into foreign interference at Australian universities – Politics – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

a colourful wall with pro-hong kong and pro-beijing signage

In Australia our Universities are as Multicultural as as Australia is so what is “foreign interfernce” on campus? Conservatives like Andrew Bolt claims Universities as structurless free for all places of opinion any thing goes and he could be appointed a Professor. That would be “foreign interferance” (ODT)

via Federal Government launches investigation into foreign interference at Australian universities – Politics – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Old Dog Thoughts- Why are media clowns allowed to wear suits and ties and disguise themselves?

Image result for Media clowns

Fighting Fake News with REAL, 28/8/19; Our new Police State and Media point the bone at China; Bolt’s New Racism; Bolt flipping and accusing Miley Cyrus of what he does;

David Koch Gave Us Donald Trump

Other advocacy efforts worked to grow the dark underbelly of American paranoia. American Future Fund was one of several groups that received over $10 million in 2010 from a Koch-financed nonprofit to run attack ads, including spots that spread the bigoted lie that a victory mosque was planned near the former World Trade Center.

via David Koch Gave Us Donald Trump

Trump defends bid to host G7 at his Miami resort: ‘I don’t care about money’ | US news | The Guardian

The front entrance to the Trump National Doral.

The Chosen One is just joking again(ODT)

Defending himself against accusations of seeking to profit off the presidency by planning to host a G7 summit next year at one of his resorts, Donald Trump on Monday estimated that being president had cost him $3bn to $5bn and said: “I don’t want to make money. I don’t care about making money.”

via Trump defends bid to host G7 at his Miami resort: ‘I don’t care about money’ | US news | The Guardian

Trump Tilts At Windmills At G7 While Ducking Climate Change Question | Crooks and Liars

via Trump Tilts At Windmills At G7 While Ducking Climate Change Question | Crooks and Liars

France Upstages Trump at G7 by Inviting Iran to Salvage Nuclear Deal

https://www.juancole.com/images/2019/08/france-upstages-trump-at-g7-by-i-750x422.jpg

via France Upstages Trump at G7 by Inviting Iran to Salvage Nuclear Deal

Trump keeps amplifying far-right racist Katie Hopkins, who called for a “final solution” for Muslims | Media Matters for America

Hopkins

via Trump keeps amplifying far-right racist Katie Hopkins, who called for a “final solution” for Muslims | Media Matters for America

The privatisation of the NBN

The privatisation of the NBN

Old Dog Thoughts- Racism, Our Media, Role models and enablers, Child Suicide, Medevac. We boldly stand and accuse China of Human Rights Crimes

Fighting Fake News with REAL;27/8/19; Racism, and it’s amplification by our public Broadcasters; Failure of our application of the RDA; Morrison government’s blind eye to child suicide; Dutton’s lies on Medevac;

Fox News is a dangerous state propaganda outlet. Sarah Sanders’ job confirms that | Nathan Robinson | Opinion | The Guardian

‘Fox has realized that Trump is lucrative, and Trump has realized that Fox will say anything he wants them to say.’

via Fox News is a dangerous state propaganda outlet. Sarah Sanders’ job confirms that | Nathan Robinson | Opinion | The Guardian

China: How the Republican Imperial Presidency Led to Trump’s Trade Socialism

https://www.juancole.com/images/2019/08/china-how-the-republican-imperia-750x422.jpg

Trump has put US companies on alert that he might force them to withdraw from China, where they have $256 billion invested. He says he is given this power by the 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA.

The Republican Party has spent over a century warning against government involvement in the private sector, but now their leader is doing it big time. Trump ordering companies around about where they can invest is a form of fascism or rightwing national socialism. Left socialism is about public sector economic activity for the good of people. National socialism is the state usurping economic resources on behalf of a small corporate and high-official elite.

The US Congress has given up many of its constitutional prerogatives over the years to the imperial presidency, something connived at by major party leaders such as Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld. Trump should not have the ability to set tariffs on foreign countries by tweet. The regulation of interstate commerce is a congressional prerogative.

via China: How the Republican Imperial Presidency Led to Trump’s Trade Socialism

China’s influence on Australia requires honesty

Vice-chancellor Michael Spence at the University of Sydney.

Uhlmann’s arguments hardly do justice to the Age as it’s senior political editor reminding me of the 60’s cry of ” All the Way with LBJ”.

Yes, we might have politically different systems the CPA of China recognises that. However, it has nevertheless raised the tide in China for everyone so much, so poverty and starvation for 1.3 billion people is something relegated to the past. Kids from rural China can be educated and are today’s Teachers Doctors and Lawyers in Shanghai, sending money home. These kids have never seen anything less than a 6% GDP in their life, so why shouldn’t they love and be proud of their country. Nationalist demand we all be here. The tiny population of Hong Kong and Uyghurs are they worse off than Indigenous Australians or people in detention on Manus and Nauru? We stole children and never sent them back to their families. China isn’t doing that. Does Uhlmann a political editor really believe that in the current world atmosphere nobody hasn’t an interest to keep the HK demonstrations ongoing? They started over a single law about extradition, which was stopped. Who has the most to gain by making China look bad?

Uhlmann’s talks of China’s aggression it has one military post outside the country we have more than they do and our closest ally the US has 8oo in some 160 countries. Australia and China really have a defence system. America has a business a military-industrial complex which is central to its economy. If that business of war grinds to a halt, so does America. So to talk of China’s aggressive interests seems stupid and hardly thought out to me. Is Uhlmann a paid propagandist for Murdoch and Trump?

As for 400,000 Chinese students and the mass of Chinese tourists flooding the world today does that really look like the moves of an increasingly totalitarian government or a decreasing one. It seems to me Peter Dutton is fast removing freedoms of Australians and becoming more paranoid than China. The CPA knows what it has done that freedom is dangerous and they know they are an anachronism, but they are still providing their people increasing freedom and allowing their citizens to do business across the world without an army to back them as the Americans do. Meanwhile, poverty is growing here as is debt and savings are falling we, in fact, seem to be heading in the opposite direction handing the country to the control of our corporate mandarins.

Universities had the funding cut and were told shape up or ship out to raise their own funds and maintain affordable education for Australians. They didn’t volunteer to do it so yes the Chinese are revenue forced on them by largely the Howard government. How mismanaged is our tertiary education system? It’s as mismanaged as the Australian governments have forced them to be? Are these Foreign students expected to stay on as graduates Uhlmann seems to think so? No, they are meant to go home yet he expects their standard of English is meant to be as good as his. When Australian University staff can’t be guaranteed tenure, how can the teaching at any level be regarded as first class?

What we hear today is the drum that was beaten back in the 50’s ban the Communist Party, the dominoes are falling, They are stealing our ideas is the anything new Uhlmann, and Ch9 it seems is taking us backwards (ODT)

“Australia is at an inflection point. For the first time our major trading partner is not a liberal democracy and it is a strategic rival of our key ally. We need to have a serious debate and have a right to expect more of those who lead our academic institutions.”

China’s influence on Australia requires honesty

The ‘joke’ and ‘utter lightweight’ is not Jacinda Ardern

via The ‘joke’ and ‘utter lightweight’ is not Jacinda Ardern

Old Dog Thoughts- Fraudsters selling a New Racism; Will Alan Jones move to News Corp?

Ali G

Fighting Fake News with Real; The New Racism and the real fraudster, Andrew Bolt’s woried about Alan Jones; Ch9 is beating News Corp;

Americans are the happiest people in the world – Opinion

Antidepressants make Americans happiest people in the world. 63786.jpeg

While making decisions about migration people should not just follow the superficial perceptive reality. They should try to understand higher and deeper levels of reality. The intellectuals have a moral duty in helping the people to understand the deeper and the higher reality of capitalism.

via Americans are the happiest people in the world – Opinion

Let Us Follow The Chosen One And Protect That Fossil Fuel! – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Let Us Follow The Chosen One And Protect That Fossil Fuel! – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Plan B? US to open consulate in Greenland after Denmark rejects Trump’s offer to buy territory — RT USA News

Plan B? US to open consulate in Greenland after Denmark rejects Trump’s offer to buy territory

A for runner to a military base and invasion it would seem. Doesn’t the US need to be invited first rather than stating what it is they intend doing? Hardly Diplomatic it seems (ODT)

The US must be proactive in order to enhance “political, economic, and commercial relationships across the Arctic region,” the letter read.

A consulate in Greenland would help “protect essential equities” in the sparsely-populated country, and would also help to cultivate “deeper relationships with Greenlandic officials and society.”

 

via Plan B? US to open consulate in Greenland after Denmark rejects Trump’s offer to buy territory — RT USA News

Best new bots: Exhibitors unveil next-gen robots that can swim, fly & perform brain surgery — RT World News

Best new bots: Exhibitors unveil next-gen robots that can swim, fly & perform brain surgery

Best new bots: Exhibitors unveil next-gen robots that can swim, fly & perform brain surgery — RT World News

The Notre Dame fire garnered wall-to-wall cable news coverage. The Amazon fires are barely breaking through. | Media Matters for America

Forest with smoke

via The Notre Dame fire garnered wall-to-wall cable news coverage. The Amazon fires are barely breaking through. | Media Matters for America

A Politics of Hope: How we Can go completely to Green Energy

A project on the scale of transforming the energy system will create jobs – many jobs – which is perhaps the economic measure of most importance to the citizenry.

Research from me and others shows that fully renewable electric grids are feasible with current technology at current prices; barriers to using renewable electricity are more political and cultural than technological or economic.

via A Politics of Hope: How we Can go completely to Green Energy

University of Newcastle vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky says unis relying on overseas students to ‘balance the books’ after funding cuts

Former Sydney University student Weihong Liang now attends a Chinese Communist Party training school in the Xinjiang region of China.

via University of Newcastle vice-chancellor Alex Zelinsky says unis relying on overseas students to ‘balance the books’ after funding cuts

ATO slugs Shell with $755m bill in fight against multinational tax avoidance | Australia news | The Guardian

A Royal Dutch Shell rig

via ATO slugs Shell with $755m bill in fight against multinational tax avoidance | Australia news | The Guardian

Old Dog Thoughts- Look around and you will see American fingerprints everywhere

Image result for American aggression Cartoons

Fighting Fake News with REAL, 25/8/19; World’s leader of State sponsored Terror and threat; Turning a blind eye to genocide; Australia’s Greatest Stuff Ups;

Trump’s Re-election Strategy: Pit Us Against Each Other | The Smirking Chimp

This ruse of pitting us against each other is one corporate fat cats and their political hacks go back to time and time again. Trump is counting on it, too — even if that means emboldening white nationalists.

If we let it happen again, we’ll get taken to the cleaners by abusive insurance companies, big pharma, and tax-dodging CEOs.

Instead of taking the bait, we should come toward each other.

If we unite to take on the real cause of economic decline — a corporate class intent on becoming ridiculously rich at the expense of the rest of us — we have the power to create the change we so desperately need.

Then we can begin to bring back good jobs, expand affordable and quality health care, protect our air and water, and so much more.

via Trump’s Re-election Strategy: Pit Us Against Each Other | The Smirking Chimp

Donald Trump orders US companies to ‘start looking for alternatives’ to China – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Trump meets Xi Jinping

” Me and my good friend XI” how often have we heard Trump say that? whose really got left BoJo and ScoMo and nevertheless Netanyahu. Russia loves him as a leader out of control and wants him to stay as do the Saudis Nth Korea will vote for him and chuckle. (ODT)

“This is a GREAT opportunity for the United States,” he wrote.”

via Donald Trump orders US companies to ‘start looking for alternatives’ to China – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

‘Game-Changer’: Sanders Unveils Green New Deal Plan Detailing 10-Year Mobilization to Avert Climate Catastrophe, Create 20 Million Jobs | Common Dreams News

via ‘Game-Changer’: Sanders Unveils Green New Deal Plan Detailing 10-Year Mobilization to Avert Climate Catastrophe, Create 20 Million Jobs | Common Dreams News

Julian Assange smears fade as Wikileaks witnesses concede he was not reckless, did protect informants – Michael West

Julian Assange smears fade as Wikileaks witnesses concede he was not reckless, did protect informants

 Julian Assange smears fade as Wikileaks witnesses concede he was not reckless, did protect informants – Michael West

and

Trumped Up: Wiki cables show Australia thinks Iran is not the aggressor

Faith and rational thought – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Believe in yourself all you need is the information and a method to process it. (ODT)

We are all capable of thinking for ourselves – even our children, who are fighting a battle to force our recalcitrant government to accept the reality of the Climate Emergency and take action before it is too late to prevent the worst outcomes – and which will cause more harm to our children with their whole lives ahead of them!

BELIEVE THE SCIENTISTS, NOT THE RELIGIOUS NUTS!

via Faith and rational thought – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The Coalition’s cruelty on borders has been exposed – and Jacqui Lambie will decide if it returns | Katharine Murphy | Australia news | The Guardian

Jacqui Lambie

Also not mentioned: an unusual personal appeal from the president of the Australian Medical Association to Scott Morrison last September to remove families and children from Nauru, preferably to the Australian mainland, to safeguard their physical and mental health.

Guardian Australia revealed Tony Bartone wrote to Morrison because of “a recent groundswell of concern and agitation across the AMA membership and the medical profession about conditions on Nauru, and the escalation in reports of catastrophic mental and physical health conditions being experienced by the asylum seekers, especially children”. The AMA is standing behind the medevac regime, and urging the government to properly fund the work of the independent health advisory panel that provides the advice on medical transfers.
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The fate of the medevac regime rests with one parliamentarian, the Tasmanian independent Jacqui Lambie, who has told the government she wants the Senate inquiry to play out before she makes a decision. Nobody really knows which way Lambie will jump, but she’s the make-or-break player.

Hearings associated with the inquiry begin next week. The critical vote is expected in November.

via The Coalition’s cruelty on borders has been exposed – and Jacqui Lambie will decide if it returns | Katharine Murphy | Australia news | The Guardian

Tertiary student poverty ignored by policy makers

Passing the baton to the kids of the wealthy hasn’t changed (ODT)

Extreme student poverty is not new. Since 2006, around one in seven full time, domestic undergraduate students have regularly gone without food or other necessities because of a lack of finances, according to Universities Australia research.

These are not rich students who are temporarily short of cash, but students from poorer backgrounds who are struggling to survive at university. These students have problems with accommodation, transport, food, clothing and even medication. Not surprisingly, these students’ studies are also impacted.

via Tertiary student poverty ignored by policy makers

Old Dog Thoughts- Trump’s good folk the victims of Antifa

Fighting Fake News with REAL, 24/8/19; The Murdochracy and Trump portray right-wing groups as the victims of Antifa; Trump cons America again;

G7 countries ‘fuel global inequality’ more than they fight to reduce it – Oxfam to RT — RT World News

G7 countries ‘fuel global inequality’ more than they fight to reduce it – Oxfam to RT

via G7 countries ‘fuel global inequality’ more than they fight to reduce it – Oxfam to RT — RT World News

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Expect Three Authoritarian Regimes — Israel, Russia and Saudi Arabia — to Get Trump Reelected in 2020 | The Smirking Chimp

They can’t exist without each other it’s why China, the EU, and other Unions need to be broken up because then they aren’t needed at all.(ODT)

via Expect Three Authoritarian Regimes — Israel, Russia and Saudi Arabia — to Get Trump Reelected in 2020 | The Smirking Chimp

Who Guards the Guards? Big Four prepare for war as beach-side senator brings corporate inquiry – Michael West

Paradise Papers: media ignores the real tax culprits

Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email High in their opulent CBD eyries, the architects of global tax avoidance must be indulging in a quiet chuckle, a nervous chuckle perhaps, because the media has once again missed the forest for the trees. The Queen, Michael Hutchence, the Russians, Lewis Hamilton, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have had thousands … Continue reading

 

A former school teacher from Copacabana Beach has just locked horns with the four most powerful private institutions on the planet. And they don’t like it. The shoddy audit standards, massive government consulting business and global tax avoidance operations of the Big Four accounting firms, EY, KPMG, Deloitte and PwC, now finally face government scrutiny. Michael West reports.

A key factor in the outcome therefore will be media, which has yet almost entirely ignored these things. In its defence, the Big Four play a suave media game. Yet the spate of global document leaks such as Panama Papers, LuxLeaks and Paradise Papers, while focussing on celebrity tax avoiders, has ignored the Big Four perpetrators.

 Who Guards the Guards? Big Four prepare for war as beach-side senator brings corporate inquiry – Michael West