Chris Bowen has succeeded in his bid to change Labor’s national platform to allow for offshore processing of refugees after a rancour-filled debate, writes Andrew Crook.
December, 2011
ALP rules in favour of gay marriage conscience vote
The ALP’s 46th National Conference has decided to allow a conscience vote on gay marriage. However, the victory for the ALP left is strictly symbolic, writes Andrew Crook.
Durban: the Green Climate Fund race horse warms up
Clancy Moore writes: “A camel is a horse made by committee and the Green Climate Fund needs to come out of the blocks like a race horse and start helping poor people”. This was the comment from Singapore in the opening negotiation session on the Green Climate Fund late yesterday at the UN Climate Summit […]
Summer reading: So long, and thanks for all the sour cream
After living in Warsaw, Poland for three years, Jay Martin moves back home to Oz. She bids farewell to her adopted home and reviews how successful her expat life was.
ALP conference: construction industry proposal a hot topic
An urgent ALP conference amendment proposed by construction union chief Dave Noonan to amend Labor’s national platform to outlaw special inspectors has been withdrawn at the 11th hour.
News Limited papers ‘campaign’ against carbon tax
A new academic report found that coverage of the carbon price legislation in Australian newspapers was overwhelming negative, with News Limited rags leading the pack, writes Amber Jamieson.
Why the spin stops here in Australia
With the Australian summer of cricket now in full swing, and with New Zealand at battle with Australia — and India on their way — Cricinfo’s S. Rajesh crunches the numbers of recent spinners in Australia. They don’t paint a pretty picture.
ICAC inquiry: ‘drunk, sore and distressed’ minister caught napping
After six days of evidence about Ian Macdonald’s infamous night at room 1119 in the Four Seasons Hotel with Tiffanie, it was a huge relief to finally hear it from the horse’s mouth.
The great Gingrich comeback gathers pace
It looks as if Christmas has come early for Barack Obama this week.
Our big four banks still among the world’s most creditworthy
Australia’s AAA sovereign rating from all three ratings groups is another reason the impact on funding costs will be minimal.
Time-honoured rituals of regulation live on
Tony Abbott’s promise to slash red tape is a time-honoured Canberra ritual, but it’s a hollow promise. And he should shake up his front bench to inject more policy nous into the mix.
Bonhomie thick at ALP conference as the deal-making begins
Prime Minister Gillard kicked off ALP National conference proceedings at the Sydney Convention Centre this morning by adopting Obama’s/Optus’ “yes” refrain, presumably to distinguish Labor from Tony Abbott’s negativity.
Journalism, Fairfax’s ‘rivers of gold’ and an inconvenient truth
Journalism is at the heart of Fairfax Media’s plans for the future, CEO Greg Hywood proclaims, and he deserves credit for doing so.
The Power Index: Australia’s most powerful lobbyist is … Kos Sclavos
Kos Sclavos is the hot-headed pharmacist from Brisbane who leads the nation’s most feared and effective lobby group: the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. His supporters laud him as a “colossus”; his critics accuse him of stifling competition, depriving patients of discounted medicines and putting pharmacists’ profits ahead of the community’s health. Unlike Heather Ridout, Sclavos’ influence […]
Mind Games: what are the lessons from the mental health minefield?
What are the lessons learned on the hard road towards mental health reform? And amid all the debate, what does the future hold? The final chapter of Crikey’s four-part investigation into the vexed social and political issue.
The cunning of consultation: school attendance and welfare reform
Kids, even in remote indigenous Australia, do not live by school attendance alone, they also need food. And families with no income will inevitably become an economic burden for others in their community, writes Jon Altman.
The Spy Files, where power is visible (and that’s a good thing)
Newspapers and other mainstream media organisations are incapable of guaranteeing confidentiality, no matter what claims they make to their sources.
The whole world is watching: Labor confronts segregation
While Julia Gillard is toying with the notion of a conscience vote, in truth there is no such thing, writes former Democrats senator Brian Greig.
Cox: Stronger Futures demands are un-Australian
How un-Australian is it for the federal government to invite submissions and input from an affected population and then expect them to spend Christmas doing the submission?
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Stridency does not a majority make
Crikey readers have their say.
Morning Market Report: Markets up as US good news covers bad news from Europe
Better than expected US economic data offset continuing European issues.
Media briefs: Big Harto honour guard … Leveson latest … SMH defo case …
John Hartigan finishes up as News Limited CEO today, 41 years after he started at Rupert Murdoch’s Australian empire. Staff are preparing to stand to attention with a final salute …
Political snippets: Whispers of a Chinese slowdown
A serious slowdown in China really would bring Australia back into line with the struggles being experienced by most of the rest of the developed world.
