Eliminating people smugglers doesn’t eliminate the people who need smugglingKevin Rudd has turned into Mad magazine’s Alfred E. Neuman, both in looks and policy recycling, writes Leslie Canold. It’s time for Rudd to write a new chapter in Australia’s asylum seeker history.
October, 2009
Coorey: The Rudd government’s quiet achiever
Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is one of the success stories of the Rudd government, first carefully manoeuvring China and Australia tensions and now balancing the asylum seeker issue, writes Phillip Coorey.
Asylum policies hang in the balance
The “tough and humane” mantra of the Federal Government on asylum seekers could end up tipping very heavily towards just one of those words, says Andrew Bartlett — the question is: which one?
Inside Indonesia’s brutal prisons
The Oz looks at the brutal conditions inside the Indonesian detention centres where the Sri Lankan asylum-seekers rejected by the Australian government are headed, which makes the Christmas Island facility look like a holiday resort.
The story the Daily Tele didn’t want you to read
Two years ago, The Daily Telegraph published four stories about former Liberal candidate for the seat of Cook, Michael Towke, which he says defamed him and destroyed his political career. The Tele tried to buy his silence. They failed.
Rundle: Why Clive H might be just the ticket in Higgins
Higgins is the one of the foremost ‘social liberal’ (or doctors’ wives) seat in the country. Clive Hamilton’s success as the Greens’ candidate in the seat will be a litmus test of test of exactly how seriously they take climate change, says Guy Rundle.
Italian know-how, Queensland shame
To be able to fully appreciate what corruption is, it’s helpful to reflect on how corruption is measured and quantified in other jurisdictions, writes former Queensland ALP staffer Scott Patterson.
The 2010 Federal Election Pendulum
With the new NSW electoral boundaries finalised, ABC poll master Antony Green has the new pendulum, predicting five Liberal seats will fall to the ALP.
Poll Bludger: NSW redraw redrawn
William Bowe looks at the redistribution of New South Wales’ federal election boundaries.
Breakfast Media Wrap: Australia to be a polluter’s paradise
The pick of Sunday morning’s media
What about some “border protection” for our personal information?
The Rudd government may be tightening up border control on refugees, but when it comes to our private information, they’re about to open the floodgates, allowing personal data about Australians to be exported to anyone, anywhere in the world.
How pee, poo and weed may help drive your car
LPG and electricity aren’t the only ways to green power your car, with a list of six alternative methods and how they stack up. What about urine, manure or hemp? Well, it is a Rolling Stone article…
VIDEO: Remote control warfare: the destructive double-life of drone pilots
By day, these US Airforce pilots fly combat planes over Iraq and Afghanistan; at night, they return home to their kids in Las Vegas. They’re the remote control navigators of unmanned “drone” planes whose lives are in America while their heads are in a warzone.
graph pr0n Possum: Swings and misses in the new pendulum
Possum Comitatus looks at the new federal election pendulum. While the electoral system still slightly favours the Coalition, even after the redistributions, it would need a swing of 2.3% to win government.
Breakfast Media Wrap: Some right wing views on television – the BBC and Fox News versions
The pick of the morning’s media
A slice of genius: the multi-purpose pizza box
Check out the GreenBox, an environmentally friendly pizza box made from 100% recycled materials that transforms into plates and a storage container for leftovers.
Russia’s latest rigged election takes an unexpected turn
Russians expected the country’s latest local elections to be “engineered” by the Kremlin as usual — and of course they were — but no-one expected a mass walkout by federal politicians in protest. Are Russians finally tiring of the country’s democratic farce?
Breaking a piece off the Cadbury block
Cadbury shareholders are preparing for a sweet deal, with a possible merger with Kraft, American chocolate company Hersheys or even Swiss company Nestlé, and share prices significantly higher than previously thought.
America’s belief in global warming plummets
The number of Americans who believe in global warming has dropped from 77% to only 57% in just two years, with the decline sharpest amongst independent voters and Republicans, according to a new Pew study.
Why policies are more important than rhetoric
There isn’t as much obnoxious rhetoric by foreign governments on asylum seekers as you might assume, writes Andrew Bartlett. And the rhetoric isn’t as horrific as sending people back home to imprisonment, torture or death.
Over-crowded and under-planned: Australian cities in crisis
Don’t believe state governments’ glossy planning documents promising of “strong communities” and “smart growth”, says Peter Spearritt: Australia’s cities are a mess of urban sprawl, inadequate transport, congested roads, dwindling water supplies and energy-guzzling buildings.
PHOTO GALLERY: The disturbing consequences of pollution in China
Contaminated rivers, open sewerage pipes in the sea and unexplained cancers: an award winning collection of photos by photographer Lu Guang on effects of pollution in China.
The best viral ad videos of 2009
Business Pundit wraps up the ads that took the internet by storm in 2009, including LED sheep, Bruce Lee playing table tennis, Vanilla Ice says sorry. Ah, so many memories, so many wasted working hours…
Was the BBC right to have Nick Griffin on Question Time?
Was extreme right-wing BNP leader Nick Griffin’s appearance on the BBC’s Question Time a win for free speech or a loss for quality television? Guardian commentators and British MPs weigh in.
