Coalition Spin Kings: real reform in aged care trumped by re-announcements and a deluge of cash
The federal Health Department has learnt a thing or two from Scotty from Marketing. It has just announced version seven of the aged care pandemic plan. Never mind that the previous six versions never existed. Trying to get any sort of accountability from the Coalition government is just tilting at windmills, writes Dr Sarah Russell.
Sovereignty eroded: Wiki cables show both Labor and Coalition culpable in Assange persecution
The Australian government’s treatment of Julian Assange has revealed more than a library of leaked documents ever could about who wields power in the relationship with the United States, writes Andrew Fowler.
Inside Rupert’s Big Aussie Sale: Murdoch smuggles Foxtel – and its government grants – out of the country
Rupert Murdoch has funnelled Foxtel out of News Corp Australia to a mysterious entity in the secrecy jurisdiction of Delaware. Michael West reports on the secret transactions which appear designed to sell News Corp’s Australian media business.
“Mind-boggling” waste revealed in the record rise in weapons spending
Australian governments and their defence leaders, with help from lobbyists, choose immensely complex, overpriced and overmanned weaponry. Wasteful spending has to end, writes Brian Toohey.
Money-laundering bill finally back in Parliament despite fight by Law Council, property lobby
As Australia is a global pariah on climate change, it is a pariah for not cracking down on money laundering and financial crime that facilitates child exploitation and terrorism. But with the Greens’ amendment to the anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing bill to be debated this week, Labor, the Coalition and the cross-bench senators will have to decide
Reputation Laundering: weapons companies infiltrating schools to promote education
A Lockheed missile blows up a bus full of Yemeni children; in Australia Lockheed Martin gains kudos by sponsoring the National Youth Science Forum. BAE Systems sponsors underprivileged kids in Australia while being complicit in the killing of thousands of needy children in Yemen. All you see in industry marketing pitches is euphemism, with nary a mention of the word “weapons”. Michelle Fahy reports.
Asleep at the Wheel: why Australia’s emissions policy debacle puts hundreds of communities at risk
Hundreds of communities across Australia are hurtling towards the coal and gas cliff as politicians obsess over Cartier watches and pandemic politics. Michael West reports on the spectre of plunging demand for fossil fuels and the savage effects it will reap on regional communities.
Zombie Cash-Splash: Treasurer ramps up orgy of corporate hand-outs
“Australians know there is no money tree,” said Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at the apogee of the coronavirus in May. But there is. The Reserve Bank is creating money out of thin air. It’s called QE. Michael West reports on the latest fruits to fall from Josh’s fertile money tree, particularly free cash from a hitherto hidden measure in the Budget.
Mathias Cormann leaves a legacy of losses as Finance Minister
On nearly every economic indicator of wellbeing, Australians have gone backwards in the past six years of the Coalition government. Yet it, and particularly the Finance Minister, is lauded at every turn. Alan Austin takes a closer look at the figures.
Coalition Spin Kings: real reform in aged care trumped by re-announcements and a deluge of cash
The federal Health Department has learnt a thing or two from Scotty from Marketing. It has just announced version seven of the aged care pandemic plan. Never mind that the previous six versions never existed. Trying to get any sort of accountability from the Coalition government is just tilting at windmills, writes Dr Sarah Russell.
Featured Stories
Sovereignty eroded: Wiki cables show both Labor and Coalition culpable in Assange persecution
The Australian government’s treatment of Julian Assange has revealed more than a library of leaked documents ever could about who wields power in the relationship with the United States, writes Andrew Fowler.
Inside Rupert’s Big Aussie Sale: Murdoch smuggles Foxtel – and its government grants – out of the country
Rupert Murdoch has funnelled Foxtel out of News Corp Australia to a mysterious entity in the secrecy jurisdiction of Delaware. Michael West reports on the secret transactions which appear designed to sell News Corp’s Australian media business.
“Mind-boggling” waste revealed in the record rise in weapons spending
Australian governments and their defence leaders, with help from lobbyists, choose immensely complex, overpriced and overmanned weaponry. Wasteful spending has to end, writes Brian Toohey.
Money-laundering bill finally back in Parliament despite fight by Law Council, property lobby
As Australia is a global pariah on climate change, it is a pariah for not cracking down on money laundering and financial crime that facilitates child exploitation and terrorism. But with the Greens’ amendment to the anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing bill to be debated this week, Labor, the Coalition and the cross-bench senators will have to decide
Reputation Laundering: weapons companies infiltrating schools to promote education
A Lockheed missile blows up a bus full of Yemeni children; in Australia Lockheed Martin gains kudos by sponsoring the National Youth Science Forum. BAE Systems sponsors underprivileged kids in Australia while being complicit in the killing of thousands of needy children in Yemen. All you see in industry marketing pitches is euphemism, with nary a mention of the word “weapons”. Michelle Fahy reports.
Chinese Citizens Told They Must Condemn Australia’s Human Rights Record, Or Risk Imprisonment
A directive from the Chinese Communist Party has obligated all citizens of the mighty and glorious nation of China to publicly criticise Australia’s record of human rights abuses, or risk life-long incarceration in a secret prison camp. A Communist Party spokesperson...
Morrison Appoints Scott Cam To Rebuild Relationship With China
Saying it was time to get serious about foreign policy, Scott Morrison has brought in Australia’s favourite tradie to mend the nation’s broken relationship with China. The PM said the host of The Block was just the person to totally overhaul the complex diplomatic...
Morrison To Rebuild China Relationship With $100 Bunnings Voucher
As tensions between Australia and China continue to escalate, Scott Morrison says he will mend the broken relationship with a bit of old fashioned DIY and the help of his favourite focus-group tested hardware store. Mr Morrison said regular Aussies loved Bunnings and...
Stuff made up by The Shovel
Tax Haven Weather
Pearls & Irritations
Not only governments exert foreign influence. What about Rupert Murdoch?
A Royal Commission under the best leadership could shine an enormously powerful spotlight on the fact that NewsCorp grossly breaches our foreign interference laws on a daily basis. According to...
Can macroeconomic policy ensure the inflation target?
If Australian wages do not increase sufficiently in line with economic capacity, it risks a shortfall in aggregate demand that will make the achievement of an inflation target very difficult, or...
Reflections on the economic record of the Trump Administration
It no doubt came as a shock to many (non-American) observers of the recent US election that almost 74 million Americans (more than 47% of those who voted) would have preferred Donald Trump to remain...
Why the Biden victory is not the answer to our prayers
Much of America is breathing a sigh of relief that, gracefully or otherwise, Trump will soon vacate the White House. Allies of the United States – not just governments but much of the commentariat –...
How can we best ensure that retirement incomes are adequate?
The present superannuation contribution (SG) rate of 9.5 percent can finance an adequate retirement income for most middle-income people, provided they fully draw down their savings. Logically,...
Courtesy of John Menadue.
Tax Haven Weather
A Barilaro Affair: how the Barilaros ended up with the Clubhouse when the Club went under
Without the knowledge of its members, Queanbeyan’s Marco Polo Social Club was sold to a company controlled by NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s father Domenico. Domenico was president of the Social Club, an institution of the Italian community. The new owners introduced tough financial conditions and eventually the members had to give up their rights, and the property was later sold to an associate of the Barilaros in 2004. Callum Foote reports.
Trail of destruction: professor runs rampant in unsuspecting corporate world
While then professor Justin O’Brien was hammering home the need for corporations to build trust and be accountable, behind the scenes he was wreaking havoc, writes Luke Stacey.
Centre of Non-Excellence: how to win grants and influence people … in Australia’s universities
He partied hard, raised millions in ARC grants and corporate donations, moved from Monash Uni to the Middle East, UNSW to Sydney University. Luke Stacey investigates why nobody checked the man on a “probity” mission.
Responsible Lending? Coalition’s left hand not sure what its right hand is doing
The government is pushing hard to get rid of responsible lending obligations, but it doesn’t seem to realise that removing these obligations will pull the rug out from one of its signature pieces of legislation that Scott Morrison championed when he was treasurer – mandatory comprehensive credit reporting. Elizabeth Minter reports.
Trump’s America: poor targeted, red carpet for wealthiest tax avoiders
While Trump’s tax affairs have been widely reported, statistics show that US authorities are going after the poorest families. Just seven of the 23,400 households earning on average $30 million were audited (0.03%). Yet more than a third of households earning an average $12,600 were audited – nine times the rate for the richest. David Cay Johnston reports.
Zombie Cash-Splash: Treasurer ramps up orgy of corporate hand-outs
“Australians know there is no money tree,” said Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at the apogee of the coronavirus in May. But there is. The Reserve Bank is creating money out of thin air. It’s called QE. Michael West reports on the latest fruits to fall from Josh’s fertile money tree, particularly free cash from a hitherto hidden measure in the Budget.
Sovereignty eroded: Wiki cables show both Labor and Coalition culpable in Assange persecution
The Australian government’s treatment of Julian Assange has revealed more than a library of leaked documents ever could about who wields power in the relationship with the United States, writes Andrew Fowler.
“Mind-boggling” waste revealed in the record rise in weapons spending
Australian governments and their defence leaders, with help from lobbyists, choose immensely complex, overpriced and overmanned weaponry. Wasteful spending has to end, writes Brian Toohey.
Money-laundering bill finally back in Parliament despite fight by Law Council, property lobby
As Australia is a global pariah on climate change, it is a pariah for not cracking down on money laundering and financial crime that facilitates child exploitation and terrorism. But with the Greens’ amendment to the anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing bill to be debated this week, Labor, the Coalition and the cross-bench senators will have to decide
Woodside leaves oil rig for taxpayers to clean up; is Exxon next in the Bass Strait?
Thanks Woodside. Taxpayers are on the hook for the $200 million-plus clean-up of an ageing oil production platform moored in the Timor Sea. Is Exxon next to shirk its oil rig clean up in the Bass Strait? Callum Foote reports.
Asleep at the Wheel: why Australia’s emissions policy debacle puts hundreds of communities at risk
Hundreds of communities across Australia are hurtling towards the coal and gas cliff as politicians obsess over Cartier watches and pandemic politics. Michael West reports on the spectre of plunging demand for fossil fuels and the savage effects it will reap on regional communities.
Another Australian miner sues another poor country, this time Barrick’s Porgera in PNG
Investor State Dispute Settlement processes in trade agreements hit the headlines when US multinational Philip Morris tried to sue Australia over its tobacco plain packaging laws. Australian mining companies are increasingly using ISDS processes and are being awarded billions based on dubious calculations of potential lost profits by unaccountable international tribunals. Patricia Ranald reports.
Westpac and its super arm BT gouge $8 billion from unsuspecting public
The super funds run by banks and financial institutions – many of them major Coalition donors – have been fleecing the public’s super on an industrial scale for at least a decade. This is the story Westpac and News Corp Australia didn’t want you to see in mid-2018 – even in the middle of a royal commission into banking illegality. Investigative reporter Anthony Klan reports.
Doing a Bondy: Qld privatised Dalrymple Coal, now buys back when it’s too late
“You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I’ve had mine,” Kerry Packer once famously proclaimed, after selling his Nine Network to Bondy for $1 billion and buying it back three years later for $250 million. Now Brookfield has found their Bondy, the Government of Queensland
Disarmament treaty drops bomb on super funds investing in nuclear weapons
Many superannuation funds exclude investment in “controversial weapons” but astoundingly this definition does not include nuclear weapons. However, this will change once the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty becomes international law, writes Dr Margaret Beavis. With two of the largest pension funds in the world already having divested, Australian funds are on notice.
A Barilaro Affair: how the Barilaros ended up with the Clubhouse when the Club went under
Without the knowledge of its members, Queanbeyan’s Marco Polo Social Club was sold to a company controlled by NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s father Domenico. Domenico was president of the Social Club, an institution of the Italian community. The new owners introduced tough financial conditions and eventually the members had to give up their rights, and the property was later sold to an associate of the Barilaros in 2004. Callum Foote reports.
Trail of destruction: professor runs rampant in unsuspecting corporate world
While then professor Justin O’Brien was hammering home the need for corporations to build trust and be accountable, behind the scenes he was wreaking havoc, writes Luke Stacey.
Centre of Non-Excellence: how to win grants and influence people … in Australia’s universities
He partied hard, raised millions in ARC grants and corporate donations, moved from Monash Uni to the Middle East, UNSW to Sydney University. Luke Stacey investigates why nobody checked the man on a “probity” mission.
Responsible Lending? Coalition’s left hand not sure what its right hand is doing
The government is pushing hard to get rid of responsible lending obligations, but it doesn’t seem to realise that removing these obligations will pull the rug out from one of its signature pieces of legislation that Scott Morrison championed when he was treasurer – mandatory comprehensive credit reporting. Elizabeth Minter reports.
Trump’s America: poor targeted, red carpet for wealthiest tax avoiders
While Trump’s tax affairs have been widely reported, statistics show that US authorities are going after the poorest families. Just seven of the 23,400 households earning on average $30 million were audited (0.03%). Yet more than a third of households earning an average $12,600 were audited – nine times the rate for the richest. David Cay Johnston reports.
Zombie Cash-Splash: Treasurer ramps up orgy of corporate hand-outs
“Australians know there is no money tree,” said Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at the apogee of the coronavirus in May. But there is. The Reserve Bank is creating money out of thin air. It’s called QE. Michael West reports on the latest fruits to fall from Josh’s fertile money tree, particularly free cash from a hitherto hidden measure in the Budget.
Sovereignty eroded: Wiki cables show both Labor and Coalition culpable in Assange persecution
The Australian government’s treatment of Julian Assange has revealed more than a library of leaked documents ever could about who wields power in the relationship with the United States, writes Andrew Fowler.
“Mind-boggling” waste revealed in the record rise in weapons spending
Australian governments and their defence leaders, with help from lobbyists, choose immensely complex, overpriced and overmanned weaponry. Wasteful spending has to end, writes Brian Toohey.
Money-laundering bill finally back in Parliament despite fight by Law Council, property lobby
As Australia is a global pariah on climate change, it is a pariah for not cracking down on money laundering and financial crime that facilitates child exploitation and terrorism. But with the Greens’ amendment to the anti-money laundering/counter-terrorism financing bill to be debated this week, Labor, the Coalition and the cross-bench senators will have to decide
Woodside leaves oil rig for taxpayers to clean up; is Exxon next in the Bass Strait?
Thanks Woodside. Taxpayers are on the hook for the $200 million-plus clean-up of an ageing oil production platform moored in the Timor Sea. Is Exxon next to shirk its oil rig clean up in the Bass Strait? Callum Foote reports.
Asleep at the Wheel: why Australia’s emissions policy debacle puts hundreds of communities at risk
Hundreds of communities across Australia are hurtling towards the coal and gas cliff as politicians obsess over Cartier watches and pandemic politics. Michael West reports on the spectre of plunging demand for fossil fuels and the savage effects it will reap on regional communities.
Another Australian miner sues another poor country, this time Barrick’s Porgera in PNG
Investor State Dispute Settlement processes in trade agreements hit the headlines when US multinational Philip Morris tried to sue Australia over its tobacco plain packaging laws. Australian mining companies are increasingly using ISDS processes and are being awarded billions based on dubious calculations of potential lost profits by unaccountable international tribunals. Patricia Ranald reports.
Westpac and its super arm BT gouge $8 billion from unsuspecting public
The super funds run by banks and financial institutions – many of them major Coalition donors – have been fleecing the public’s super on an industrial scale for at least a decade. This is the story Westpac and News Corp Australia didn’t want you to see in mid-2018 – even in the middle of a royal commission into banking illegality. Investigative reporter Anthony Klan reports.
Doing a Bondy: Qld privatised Dalrymple Coal, now buys back when it’s too late
“You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime, and I’ve had mine,” Kerry Packer once famously proclaimed, after selling his Nine Network to Bondy for $1 billion and buying it back three years later for $250 million. Now Brookfield has found their Bondy, the Government of Queensland
Disarmament treaty drops bomb on super funds investing in nuclear weapons
Many superannuation funds exclude investment in “controversial weapons” but astoundingly this definition does not include nuclear weapons. However, this will change once the Nuclear Disarmament Treaty becomes international law, writes Dr Margaret Beavis. With two of the largest pension funds in the world already having divested, Australian funds are on notice.
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