Yes hello long time blogger, first time in almost two years post. In late 2020 my life (and writing) became consumed by completing a doctorate, which was eventually conferred in September 2021. I even popped on a floppy hat in December last year. On the same day as the graduation ceremony, Liberal Party leader and … Continue reading Citizen Morrison and his Media Mates
On Saturday 4 January 2020, after returning from his overseas holiday during the worst bushfires this continent has ever experienced, prime minister Scott Morrison called a joint press conference with former Army Reserves Brigadier, Liberal Party staffer and current defence minister Linda Reynolds, and current Defence Force chief General Angus Campbell. It was a rare … Continue reading If there is a Morrison doctrine, it is mission creep
A: No. Why ask such a ridiculous question? When it eventually dawned on the Australian government that a global pandemic requires governments to spend money, the prime minister was devastated. As treasurer, Morrison handed down the 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 federal budgets. All were in deficit. Morrison and the Canberra press gallery called these deficits … Continue reading Should Scott Morrison abolish all unemployment payments?
It has been another one of those weeks. A week where the Australian government surpasses itself in its three top capacities: deceit, cruelty and incompetence. I intended to document the depths of deceit, cruelty and incompetence of each minister in the Abbott Cabinet today, as per my post last week. The bit about how every … Continue reading The Dangerous Despotism of Scott Morrison MP
You may find this hard to believe, but the 2016 federal election campaign was a full fortnight longer than this one. I remember journalists from the campaign bus complaining afterwards that Malcolm Turnbull was moribund and lazy, booking a single daily event. No wonder the Liberal Party lost 16 seats. The press gallery falsely convinced … Continue reading vote
This post is written on unceded lands of the sovereign Darug people. I offer my respects to their elders and express my profound gratitude that our family may live safely here. It has come to my attention that there are some gaps in Australian public knowledge of how Australian federalism works. While underemployed at home, … Continue reading Federalism 101
The second most powerful man in Australia is hospitalised with Covid-19. In a crowded field, few men have done more to tear at the fabric of the Australian polity than Peter Dutton. In June 2018, Dutton claimed the cruel and compassion-free asylum seeker policy of his government – designed by Scott Morrison and Jim ‘butcher … Continue reading I will not be lectured on the Dutton diagnosis by this press gallery
As one of the longest and hottest days of the year dawned, Australians woke up to the news that two volunteer fire fighters, Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, are dead. The photos, published by the NSW Rural Fire Service, of each man smiling proudly and holding his baby for the camera are gut wrenching. They … Continue reading Heroes of Green Wattle Creek (and the leaders who abandoned them)
According to the ABC election calculator, there was a 0.8 percent swing against the Liberal Party and a 1.0 percent swing against the Labor Party. The Liberal party leader is the prime minister and the Labor Party leader is headed for the back bench. Where did the votes go? There was a 3.4% ‘swing’ to … Continue reading No Glory to this Story
There are two main layers to the misinformation that dominates coverage of the economy during this election campaign. The first is the Coalition relying on major media to report its economic narrative for the entire ‘policy’ component of its re-election strategy. Everything else is meat pies and footy, horserace ephemera, church on Sunday, pub on … Continue reading Lies, damn lies and the flatlining economy
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