State of Surveillance: if Pegasus can hack Jeff Bezos’ phone, is there anywhere to hide?
Israeli firm NSO Group has created spyware which can hack a smartphone, beat encryption and access every bit of our data, live-time, just like reading over somebody’s shoulder. Human rights activist and cyber-security expert Manal al Sharif examines the implications. This is the first in Manal al Sharif’s Tech4Evil series which exposes the threat of Big Tech on our minds, our humanity and democracy itself. Exclusive.
Gas Myths: Australians pay 7th highest prices in world despite being biggest gas exporter
Australia is the biggest exporter of gas, bar none, in the world, yet we are paying the seventh-highest prices for gas in the world. Callum Foote reports on the gas cartel and the myth there is a gas “market”.
Where there’s a bill there’s a way: Rex Patrick’s dogged fight against Coalition to repeal billionaires’ loophole
It’s been quite the innings for some of Australia’s wealthiest billionaires. Certain large proprietary companies owned by the establishment – Secret Rich-Listers as we call them – have been cloaked in darkness by government legislation for more than a quarter of a century. Luke Stacey reports how South Australian Senator Rex Patrick is fighting to buck the trend and demolish Australia’s Secret Rich List once and for all.
Have the Barilaros avoided GST on their luxury estate? What’s the scam?
Census 2021 is almost upon us: What’s the Scam?
John Barilaro’s daughter breaches lockdown twice: What’s the scam?
La Fiesta Barilaro: What’s the Scam?
NSW got four times Victoria’s lockdown subsidies: What’s the Scam?
Uber: What’s the Scam?
CitiPower, Powercor: What’s the Scam?
Federal bushfire recovery funds. What’s the scam?
NSW pokies: What’s the Scam?
Medibank Life Insurance: What’s the Scam?
Trivago, Wotif, Expedia, Hotels.com: What’s the Scam?
“Unspecified” political donations: What’s the Scam?
Privatising the ABC: What’s the Scam?
VicForests: What’s the Scam?
PEP11: What’s the scam?
Booking.com: What’s the Scam?
Australia/UK Free Trade Agreement: What’s the Scam?
Paddy Power: What’s the Scam?
Facebook: What’s the Scam?
Angus Taylor’s oil hand-outs: What’s the Scam?
Lendlease: What’s the Scam?
Chevron: What’s the Scam?
Shell: What’s the Scam?
EnergyAustralia: What’s the Scam?
Netflix: What’s the Scam?
Google: What’s the Scam?
Fencegate: All the Council President’s men … lose their ludicrous lawsuit
His crime was apparently harassing the staff at the local council over a fence, and the obnoxious neighbour on the other side of said fence. Bolton, a Sydney lawyer, was threatened with defamation by Inner West Council chief executive, Michael Deegan, whose lawyers demanded money, then ended up in court facing harassment charges.
Toxic Waste Rebranded: Australia bans Third World dumping, leaves giant toxic loophole
“It’s our waste, it’s our problem”, said Scott Morrison as he announced the nation’s waste export ban culminating in 2024. Not really. It’s a good thing Australia has banned solid waste dumping to the Third World but we have left a gaping, toxic loophole; burning plastics for energy. Luke Stacey investigates.
War Powers: four perspectives from politicians who have served
Parliament does not need to be consulted before Australian troops are sent to war. What do the politicians who have donned the uniform have to say? Tasha May asks Rex Patrick, Andrew Wilkie, Jim Molan and Bob Katter.
Power to go to war rests with one man – Scott Morrison – is Parliament okay with that?
Australia is a democracy, yet when it comes to the most critical national decision of sending Australian troops into armed conflict overseas, the power rests with one man, the Prime Minister. This is the curtain-raiser for our #warpowers series as reporter Tasha May calls around Australia’s parliamentarians and its people.
“Scientifically Indefensible”: how a $13 billion political fix is killing the Murray Darling Basin
The federal government continues to squander $13 billion of taxpayers’ money in an unlawful mess that was supposed to fix this country’s greatest environmental catastrophe – the destruction of the Murray Darling Basin. It is a tale of political interference, scientific censorship and deception, pressure from lobbyists and bureaucratic cowardice. Richard Beasley SC reports.
Future Rorts: Why buy one election when you can buy three?
The Government has teed up a “community chest” of future rorts to target marginal seats in two more elections. The blatant manipulation of voters does not end with #sportsrorts and other assorted grants rorts. Jommy Tee has uncovered a cunning plan which could see Community Development Grants pork-barrel another two election campaigns.
State of Surveillance: if Pegasus can hack Jeff Bezos’ phone, is there anywhere to hide?
Israeli firm NSO Group has created spyware which can hack a smartphone, beat encryption and access every bit of our data, live-time, just like reading over somebody’s shoulder. Human rights activist and cyber-security expert Manal al Sharif examines the implications. This is the first in Manal al Sharif’s Tech4Evil series which exposes the threat of Big Tech on our minds, our humanity and democracy itself. Exclusive.
Have the Barilaros avoided GST on their luxury estate? What’s the scam?
Census 2021 is almost upon us: What’s the Scam?
John Barilaro’s daughter breaches lockdown twice: What’s the scam?
La Fiesta Barilaro: What’s the Scam?
NSW got four times Victoria’s lockdown subsidies: What’s the Scam?
Uber: What’s the Scam?
CitiPower, Powercor: What’s the Scam?
Federal bushfire recovery funds. What’s the scam?
NSW pokies: What’s the Scam?
Medibank Life Insurance: What’s the Scam?
Trivago, Wotif, Expedia, Hotels.com: What’s the Scam?
“Unspecified” political donations: What’s the Scam?
Privatising the ABC: What’s the Scam?
VicForests: What’s the Scam?
PEP11: What’s the scam?
Booking.com: What’s the Scam?
Australia/UK Free Trade Agreement: What’s the Scam?
Paddy Power: What’s the Scam?
Facebook: What’s the Scam?
Angus Taylor’s oil hand-outs: What’s the Scam?
Lendlease: What’s the Scam?
Chevron: What’s the Scam?
Shell: What’s the Scam?
EnergyAustralia: What’s the Scam?
Netflix: What’s the Scam?
Google: What’s the Scam?
Featured Stories
Gas Myths: Australians pay 7th highest prices in world despite being biggest gas exporter
Australia is the biggest exporter of gas, bar none, in the world, yet we are paying the seventh-highest prices for gas in the world. Callum Foote reports on the gas cartel and the myth there is a gas “market”.
Where there’s a bill there’s a way: Rex Patrick’s dogged fight against Coalition to repeal billionaires’ loophole
It’s been quite the innings for some of Australia’s wealthiest billionaires. Certain large proprietary companies owned by the establishment – Secret Rich-Listers as we call them – have been cloaked in darkness by government legislation for more than a quarter of a century. Luke Stacey reports how South Australian Senator Rex Patrick is fighting to buck the trend and demolish Australia’s Secret Rich List once and for all.
Fencegate: All the Council President’s men … lose their ludicrous lawsuit
His crime was apparently harassing the staff at the local council over a fence, and the obnoxious neighbour on the other side of said fence. Bolton, a Sydney lawyer, was threatened with defamation by Inner West Council chief executive, Michael Deegan, whose lawyers demanded money, then ended up in court facing harassment charges.
Toxic Waste Rebranded: Australia bans Third World dumping, leaves giant toxic loophole
“It’s our waste, it’s our problem”, said Scott Morrison as he announced the nation’s waste export ban culminating in 2024. Not really. It’s a good thing Australia has banned solid waste dumping to the Third World but we have left a gaping, toxic loophole; burning plastics for energy. Luke Stacey investigates.
War Powers: four perspectives from politicians who have served
Parliament does not need to be consulted before Australian troops are sent to war. What do the politicians who have donned the uniform have to say? Tasha May asks Rex Patrick, Andrew Wilkie, Jim Molan and Bob Katter.
Ben Roberts-Smith Suddenly Remembers He Initiated This Fucking Trial
<!– by The Shovel –> After another harrowing day in court that revealed yet more horrific detail about his time in the Middle East, former Aussie soldier and all-round family man Ben Roberts-Smith remembered that he was actually the fucking idiot who...
Fragments Of Integrity Found In Canberra Wastewater
<!– by The Shovel –> Canberra residents are on high alert this evening after authorities detected what appeared to be traces of honesty and decency in wastewater samples. Experts quickly dismissed the news, saying the sample – which would be the...
Labor Narrowly Avoids Developing Policy
<!– by The Shovel –> The Opposition has come within a whisker of developing a plan for the future, it has been revealed. Sources say the party room was shaken by the close call. “There was a discussion which was heading very quickly towards an...
Stuff made up by The Shovel
Tax Haven Weather
Pearls & Irritations
Dutton’s and Pezzullo’s citizenship hypocrisy
The in-coming minister’s briefing prepared by long-standing Departmental Secretary Mike Pezzullo was inevitably going to be more significant for what it didn’t highlight than what it did. Now that...
Possibilities for the next federal election
Now that the redistributions in Victoria and WA are completed we can begin to assess the possibilities for the next federal election. Imperfect as it is polling offers some interesting insights. We...
Public service or politics?
Senior public servants are only as good as the leadership provided by politicians working in the national interest. With appropriate checks, balances and protections in place, senior public servants...
Ready or not: a carbon price on exports is coming to Australia
Those of us who have at least an elementary grasp of economics would have been astonished at the reasoning of Trade Minister Dan Tehan during his ABC interview last week on The EU’s proposed carbon...
Gareth Evans versus the Surveillance State: application of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme
See below a letter exchange between Assistant Secretary, Integrity and Security Division Attorney-General’s Department and ANU Professor Gareth Evans and former Foreign Minister regarding the...
Courtesy of John Menadue.
Tax Haven Weather
Bungled Roll-out: Greg Hunt dissembles, confusion reigns over Pfizer vaccine deal
The vaccine rollout remains mired in confusion. Health Minister Greg Hunt is making contradictory claims about how many doses of the Pfizer vaccine the government could have bought in the middle last year. Callum Foote reports.
Flight Risk: pressure to bring back travel agent trust accounts, save travellers from insolvency
In 2014 intensive lobbying by travel agents got rid of protections for the travelling public when companies went bust. When Covid hit, many thousands of people lost huge amounts of money. Pressure is now growing for travel agents to set up mandatory trust accounts. Tasha May reports.
TV networks join Netflix crusade against Australian arts and screen content
The TV networks have joined Netflix to oppose local TV content quotas. It’s too expensive, they say. Yet the local arts and screen sector says the industry which employs 200,000 Australians would be devastated. Elizabeth Minter reports on a crucial decision for Communications Minister Paul Fletcher.
Teachers and nurses fund Aware Super now exposed to Lendlease retirement village rorts as Tax Office dawdles
Lendlease’s tax scam rivals the biggest heists of the century – alongside Rupert Murdoch, Chevron and Macquarie Bank. Yet its effects are spreading from a mere rip on the ATO to the nurses and teachers fund Aware Super which just acquired a chunk of retirement village assets. If Lendlease can ‘double dip’ on tax deductions, then anybody can. It opens up the Tax Office to millions of amended assessments. Michael West reports.
Revealed: Australia’s Top 40 Tax Dodgers for 2021
Drumroll … trumpets, red carpet: we are rolling out Australia’s Top 40 Tax Dodgers for 2021. Michael West unveils the villains and the heroes of the tax scene, including new gongs this year for Lifetime Achievement Award and UnAustralian of the Year.
The Usual Suspects: oil and gas majors star in Australian tax heist
Angus Taylor’s rescue package for the oil industry is a testament to governments getting gamed by large corporations. The latest Tax Office transparency data shows oil and gas juggernauts are Australia’s biggest tax cheats, again, yet now they are crying for public subsidies – and getting them – to prop up their oil refineries. Michael West reports on the good and the bad in multinational tax dodging land.
Where there’s a bill there’s a way: Rex Patrick’s dogged fight against Coalition to repeal billionaires’ loophole
It’s been quite the innings for some of Australia’s wealthiest billionaires. Certain large proprietary companies owned by the establishment – Secret Rich-Listers as we call them – have been cloaked in darkness by government legislation for more than a quarter of a century. Luke Stacey reports how South Australian Senator Rex Patrick is fighting to buck the trend and demolish Australia’s Secret Rich List once and for all.
Fencegate: All the Council President’s men … lose their ludicrous lawsuit
His crime was apparently harassing the staff at the local council over a fence, and the obnoxious neighbour on the other side of said fence. Bolton, a Sydney lawyer, was threatened with defamation by Inner West Council chief executive, Michael Deegan, whose lawyers demanded money, then ended up in court facing harassment charges.
War Powers: four perspectives from politicians who have served
Parliament does not need to be consulted before Australian troops are sent to war. What do the politicians who have donned the uniform have to say? Tasha May asks Rex Patrick, Andrew Wilkie, Jim Molan and Bob Katter.
Sitting Ducks: spread of Carbon Border Tax schemes leaves Australia defenceless on climate
The sudden, global move to tax carbon puts billions of Australian coal and gas exports at risk, indeed this country’s largest sources of income. Hard on the heels of the EU’s carbon border tax declaration, the US declared a carbon border scheme. Others are poised to follow. Callum Foote and Michael West report on the immense risk to Australia’s largest source of income.
Toxic Waste Rebranded: Australia bans Third World dumping, leaves giant toxic loophole
“It’s our waste, it’s our problem”, said Scott Morrison as he announced the nation’s waste export ban culminating in 2024. Not really. It’s a good thing Australia has banned solid waste dumping to the Third World but we have left a gaping, toxic loophole; burning plastics for energy. Luke Stacey investigates.
Ocean Waste: how plastic recyclers downplay their use of new plastics
Beware recycled plastics. They often contain virgin plastics, the very plastics the recyclers say they are fighting. Luke Stacey investigates green vanguard and their recycling claims and finds, while they do good work in raising public awareness, they could certainly be more transparent.
Vultures’ Reprise: MacBankers bob up in takeover battle for hapless Sydney Airport
Like the muddy hand from the grave, Macquarie is suddenly circling Sydney Airport again. Michael West reports on the ultimate circus of privatisation, where Macquarie pillaged the most prized asset in Australia, the unregulated monopoly which is this country’s gateway to the world, and is shaping up to do it again.
Hayne gets last laugh as “Your Future Your Super” laws deliver for small punters over big bank pals
The new “Your Future, Your Super” legislation avoided the most egregious of changes proposed by the LNP Government. YFYS will simplify and streamline the $3 trillion super system, fix “zombie accounts” and spark fund takeovers, writes Harry Chemay. The changes go some way to addressing a key question posed during the Hayne Royal Commission: “what do trustees do in the dark with our super?”
Coalition protects wealthy retirees’ investments under cover of Covid-19 pandemic
The Coalition moved to protect the superannuation of Australia’s wealthiest retirees at the same time it was encouraging the nation’s poorest to raid their retirement accounts. And they continue to protect the wealthiest even though the Australian share market is back at record highs. Elizabeth Minter reports.
Bungled Roll-out: Greg Hunt dissembles, confusion reigns over Pfizer vaccine deal
The vaccine rollout remains mired in confusion. Health Minister Greg Hunt is making contradictory claims about how many doses of the Pfizer vaccine the government could have bought in the middle last year. Callum Foote reports.
Flight Risk: pressure to bring back travel agent trust accounts, save travellers from insolvency
In 2014 intensive lobbying by travel agents got rid of protections for the travelling public when companies went bust. When Covid hit, many thousands of people lost huge amounts of money. Pressure is now growing for travel agents to set up mandatory trust accounts. Tasha May reports.
TV networks join Netflix crusade against Australian arts and screen content
The TV networks have joined Netflix to oppose local TV content quotas. It’s too expensive, they say. Yet the local arts and screen sector says the industry which employs 200,000 Australians would be devastated. Elizabeth Minter reports on a crucial decision for Communications Minister Paul Fletcher.
Teachers and nurses fund Aware Super now exposed to Lendlease retirement village rorts as Tax Office dawdles
Lendlease’s tax scam rivals the biggest heists of the century – alongside Rupert Murdoch, Chevron and Macquarie Bank. Yet its effects are spreading from a mere rip on the ATO to the nurses and teachers fund Aware Super which just acquired a chunk of retirement village assets. If Lendlease can ‘double dip’ on tax deductions, then anybody can. It opens up the Tax Office to millions of amended assessments. Michael West reports.
Revealed: Australia’s Top 40 Tax Dodgers for 2021
Drumroll … trumpets, red carpet: we are rolling out Australia’s Top 40 Tax Dodgers for 2021. Michael West unveils the villains and the heroes of the tax scene, including new gongs this year for Lifetime Achievement Award and UnAustralian of the Year.
The Usual Suspects: oil and gas majors star in Australian tax heist
Angus Taylor’s rescue package for the oil industry is a testament to governments getting gamed by large corporations. The latest Tax Office transparency data shows oil and gas juggernauts are Australia’s biggest tax cheats, again, yet now they are crying for public subsidies – and getting them – to prop up their oil refineries. Michael West reports on the good and the bad in multinational tax dodging land.
Where there’s a bill there’s a way: Rex Patrick’s dogged fight against Coalition to repeal billionaires’ loophole
It’s been quite the innings for some of Australia’s wealthiest billionaires. Certain large proprietary companies owned by the establishment – Secret Rich-Listers as we call them – have been cloaked in darkness by government legislation for more than a quarter of a century. Luke Stacey reports how South Australian Senator Rex Patrick is fighting to buck the trend and demolish Australia’s Secret Rich List once and for all.
Fencegate: All the Council President’s men … lose their ludicrous lawsuit
His crime was apparently harassing the staff at the local council over a fence, and the obnoxious neighbour on the other side of said fence. Bolton, a Sydney lawyer, was threatened with defamation by Inner West Council chief executive, Michael Deegan, whose lawyers demanded money, then ended up in court facing harassment charges.
War Powers: four perspectives from politicians who have served
Parliament does not need to be consulted before Australian troops are sent to war. What do the politicians who have donned the uniform have to say? Tasha May asks Rex Patrick, Andrew Wilkie, Jim Molan and Bob Katter.
Sitting Ducks: spread of Carbon Border Tax schemes leaves Australia defenceless on climate
The sudden, global move to tax carbon puts billions of Australian coal and gas exports at risk, indeed this country’s largest sources of income. Hard on the heels of the EU’s carbon border tax declaration, the US declared a carbon border scheme. Others are poised to follow. Callum Foote and Michael West report on the immense risk to Australia’s largest source of income.
Toxic Waste Rebranded: Australia bans Third World dumping, leaves giant toxic loophole
“It’s our waste, it’s our problem”, said Scott Morrison as he announced the nation’s waste export ban culminating in 2024. Not really. It’s a good thing Australia has banned solid waste dumping to the Third World but we have left a gaping, toxic loophole; burning plastics for energy. Luke Stacey investigates.
Ocean Waste: how plastic recyclers downplay their use of new plastics
Beware recycled plastics. They often contain virgin plastics, the very plastics the recyclers say they are fighting. Luke Stacey investigates green vanguard and their recycling claims and finds, while they do good work in raising public awareness, they could certainly be more transparent.
Vultures’ Reprise: MacBankers bob up in takeover battle for hapless Sydney Airport
Like the muddy hand from the grave, Macquarie is suddenly circling Sydney Airport again. Michael West reports on the ultimate circus of privatisation, where Macquarie pillaged the most prized asset in Australia, the unregulated monopoly which is this country’s gateway to the world, and is shaping up to do it again.
Hayne gets last laugh as “Your Future Your Super” laws deliver for small punters over big bank pals
The new “Your Future, Your Super” legislation avoided the most egregious of changes proposed by the LNP Government. YFYS will simplify and streamline the $3 trillion super system, fix “zombie accounts” and spark fund takeovers, writes Harry Chemay. The changes go some way to addressing a key question posed during the Hayne Royal Commission: “what do trustees do in the dark with our super?”
Coalition protects wealthy retirees’ investments under cover of Covid-19 pandemic
The Coalition moved to protect the superannuation of Australia’s wealthiest retirees at the same time it was encouraging the nation’s poorest to raid their retirement accounts. And they continue to protect the wealthiest even though the Australian share market is back at record highs. Elizabeth Minter reports.
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