Federal and state funds for bushfire recovery have been heavily skewed in favour of Coalition seats with NSW State Labor picking up just 1% of $177 million handed out. Elizabeth Minter investigates
Latest Government Stories
Hospital Pass: how Scott Morrison foisted quarantine responsibility on the states
Like aged care, quarantine is the responsibility of the federal government. Yet the Morrison government forced that role onto the states and territories, and deployed a submissive media to snipe from the sidelines.
One Good Thing: Trump first president since Carter not to drag America into foreign wars
The good thing to come out of Donald Trump’s four years in power is that he has not sent America into war, joining the Democrats’ Jimmy Carter as the only other president since 1950 to show such restraint. Brian Toohey reports.
Yes, Minister: aged care, it’s not my fault
Ministerial responsibility is dead. With the refusal of Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck to accept responsibility for the deaths of 683 residents in aged care homes who died from Covid-19, so too dies accountable government in Australia. Dr Sarah Russell reports.
Murder, corruption, bombings – the company at centre of Australia’s submarine deal
The arms company at the centre of a deadly criminal saga and numerous global corruption scandals, Naval Group, was selected by the Australian government to build our new fleet of submarines – a deal heralded as ‘one of the world’s most lucrative defence contracts’. How did this happen? In this special investigation Michelle Fahy discovers significant gaps in anti-bribery and corruption measures
Government wants military response to climate change breakdown
A bill being rushed through federal parliament is raising concerns that the Government is preparing for a militarised response to climate breakdown. Lawyer and human rights advocate Kellie Tranter reports.
Memory Loss Masterclass: how Gladys Berejiklian’s astute performance at ICAC may save her
From a legal perspective, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian delivered a gala performance at ICAC. Citing a loss of memory more than 150 times to questions put by counsel allowed the Premier to distance herself from implications that she may have had knowledge of Daryl Maguire’s corruption. Daniel Anstey reports.
In for a penny, in for a pound: $90 billion for an obsolete submarine fleet
So much for sovereignty. Australia is locked out of repairing key US components of our submarines’ computer systems, and the government has committed our fleet to the extraordinarily dangerous role of helping the US conduct surveillance in the South China Sea. Brian Toohey reports.
Megaphone Madness: how reckless media impeded Victoria’s Covid-19 recovery
The media we consume influences our compliance with Covid-19 recommendations. The unbalanced media coverage in Victoria is impeding the state’s recovery, writes Michael Tanner.
A Pushy Number: Libs’ pollster Crosby Textor granted access to 27 million unlisted mobiles
When the Coalition communications minister very quietly changed the regulations to enable access to millions of unlisted mobiles for ‘political research, the Liberal Party’s pollster Crosby Textor was quick out of the blocks with an application to access the database, writes Jommy Tee.
Privatised VET, Coalition’s wage schemes no fix for Australia’s skills chasm
The privatisation of Vocational Education and Training has created a disastrous shortage of workers with intermediate skills, which the jobs of the future require. Employer subsidies will do nothing to tackle this, writes Bruce Mackenzie.
‘Culture of Cosiness’: colossal conflicts of interest in Defence spending blitz
Michelle Fahy investigates the corporate influence on government policy and how weapons makers cultivate relationships with politicians and top officials in the public service.
US prison labour, foreign weapons-makers finance Australian government think tank ASPI
The Australian Strategic Policy Institute is not only funded by the Defence Department but also receives sponsorship money from foreign governments, weapons manufacturers, and US corporations that have used or are using prison workers paid as little as 23 cents an hour. Marcus Reubenstein reports.
‘To those who have, more will be given’: Largesse to private schools continues
As families at public schools scrimp and save to provide the bare necessities, the federal government funnels ever more money into private schools without taking into account parents’ true capacity to pay. Trevor Cobbold reports.
Budget blues: ‘derisory’ support for women but welfare for business
While the government’s pragmatism and its willingness to abandon its past ideological railing against debt and deficits is welcome, Scott Morrison appears to be returning to his core beliefs in lower taxes and smaller government, plus favouring welfare for business. Michael Keating reports on Budget 2020.
Tax break for weapons exports to Mid-East countries accused of war crimes
Australian weapons manufacturer Electro Optic Systems, with financial support from the federal and ACT governments, is capitalising on the ‘growth market’ of the Middle East, one of the world’s most volatile regions. Michelle Fahy reports.
Aged care facilities are homes, not prisons
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. John W. Wallace reports.
Guess who’s coming to dinner? Glencore, Peabody and BHP
The move by Josh Frydenberg to exclude Greenpeace, the Australia Institute and the Australian Conservation Foundation from next week’s Budget lock-up continues his long history of favouring business groups over green groups dating back to when he was Environment Minister. Jommy Tee reports stunning new evidence of fossil fuel influence.
Cuts to JobSeeker, Jobkeeper: out of the frying pan and into the fire
Hefty cuts to JobSeeker and JobKeeper mean that Australia now faces a potentially more deadly epidemic than Covid-19. But it is largely avoidable, writes Michael Tanner.
King of Lemons: Australia swindled by Lockheed Martin and its Joint Strike Fighter
The Joint Strike Fighter has been plagued by problems since it was just a sketch on paper, when in 2002 John Howard jumped the gun and committed to buying them. But the F-35 still has its champions in Australia with some wanting to buy 200 to get ready for a war with China.
Holding comedians to account: Nine and News miss John Barilaro, hit Friendlyjordies instead
Once venerable, the Nine Entertainment-owned Fairfax press has sunk to holding comedians to account and protecting corrupt government. Michael Tanner on the rise of vloggers and the stoush between Youtuber Friendlyjordies and the mainstream media.
Australian War Memorial: from keeper of the flame to hider of shame?
Bankrolled by arms manufacturers, the Australian War Memorial has morphed from being a reflective space where we could remember and honour fallen Australians into a war advertisement, writes William De Maria.
Guilty Your Honour – of fighting for democracy and transparency
Under the foreign interference legislation, Ian Cunliffe, a lawyer with 50 years’ experience, faces many decades in jail for daring to influence public policy with his campaigning. His fate now rests in the hands of Attorney General Christian Porter.
Polarisation in Covid-19 lockdown debate a dangerous prospect
Michael Tanner weighs the evidence as Victorian Premier Dan Andrews charts a way out of the state’s lockdown.
UK extradition hearing: final act in campaign to bury Julian Assange
Freedom of the press now rests with the dissidents on the internet who belong to no club but, like Julian Assange, produce fine, disobedient, moral journalism, writes John Pilger.
Outsourcing Government itself: the hidden privatisation of the public service
The privatisation of the Australian Public Service is proceeding at a staggering pace. Documents accessed under FoI laws reveal that even senior roles, including assistant directors, executive officers and ministerial advisers, are outsourced. It is hidden, unaccountable and rips off taxpayers. Geordie Wilson reports.
Get Our Weekly Newsletter
Unsubscribe anytime.
Thank you! We'll also confirm via email.
Privacy Policy