Despite the rhetorical battle from both sides, there’s a question that needs to be asked — is it better to ensure people whose asylum applications have been rejected are sent home, instead of languishing in indefinite detention?
Chris Bowen
Follow Crikey’s latest coverage of Chris Bowen. Crikey’s Chris Bowen coverage includes independent news, blogs and commentary.
A win for asylum seekers: but how big?
Crikey Media Wrap: The High Court ruled yesterday that two Sri Lankan asylum seekers were denied “procedural fairness” by the Migration Act, as they were processed offshore. Will it end offshore processing or instead lengthen the time it takes to process claims?
Locals’ response to new detention centres — not in my backyard
The decision to hold 1900 people in Inverbrackie and Northam appears to have provoked only one response — not in my backyard.
Queue jumping in East Timor
While there’s been increased support in the top East Timor government ranks for a refugee processing centre to be built in the country, most of the population is against the plan. Shona Hawkes in Dili explains the complex problems.
The Media Monitors' Top 20: Chris Bowen; not quite as popular as Mary MacKillop
The biggest mover of all was Chris Bowen, with the announcement on moving some families in detention into the community while they are being processed
Keane: the good and very bad of the Gillard line-up
There are some worthy promotees in the first proper Gillard Ministry, but the plotters have been rewarded.
Liberal use of pollie speak labours too many points
Alas, in this campaign we’re seeing plenty of repetition, as well as many other insidious aspects of pollie speak. Andrew Dodd examines the rhetoric.
Keane: Twitter and the prosaic reality of Digital Democracy
We expect too much of politicians on social media - particularly in Australia, where its benefits are less obvious compared to those of the mass media.
Henry Review: how did the government respond? It didn’t.
How did the government respond to the Henry Review? It didn’t. That’s not to say its reforms aren’t worthwhile.
Will Bowen’s reforms end Australians’ deep disengagement with their super?
Somewhat unexpectedly, Chris Bowen has produced a comprehensive and innovative series of reforms for the financial services industry. But there’ll be no legislation before next year and possibly not until July 1, 2011.
Exec pay: government gets tough with ‘claw-back’ rule
The long-awaited response to the Productivity Commission’s report on executive pay has been released. It includes a “bonus claw-back” rule, which would allow for the recovery of bonuses paid to executives who provided misleading financial information.
“$1b gouge” tag unfair on tax-and-spend Abbott
Labor’s claims that Tony Abbott “gouged $1b out of health” are rubbish. But Abbott’s response shows why his instincts are at odds with his party’s. It’s the nearest thing to kabuki in Parliament.
Mayne: Bowen is right on Sons of Gwalia
Despite all the bleating by class-action lawyers and the Australian Shareholders’ Association, the government’s decision to overturn the Sons of Gwalia High Court decision is no great disaster.
Executive pay: gravy train still stopping all stations
Until company directors start to realise that money doesn’t necessarily buy quality executives, don’t expect the gravy train to dry up any time soon.
Labor’s super reforms have only just begun
Chris Bowen has made it clear he regards superannuation as one of the great Labor reforms, and one that can be wielded effectively against the Coalition.
Dealing with Centrelink is a full-time job for some pensioners
Aged pensioners who supplement their pensions with paid employment, even occasionally, must now report their circumstances to Centrelink every fortnight, writes Ava Hubble.
Inside the inner Rudd sanctum
The design of the parliamentary office of PM Kevin Rudd’s inner circle says much about the power factions of the Rudd government. Mark Davis examines who sits where.
Chris Bowen is very, very wrong on executive pay
Part of the reason that executives are paid so much is because of their ability to make their jobs sound far more complicated and difficult than they actually are.
ASIC steps up to the plate on market regulation
All market trading will now be monitored by ASIC while ASX will continue its prime role of supervising all listed companies.
Employee share scheme backdown a farce
Despite the outrage, there are actually many more winners from the Rudd government’s proposed changes to the way employee share schemes are taxed than losers.
AFR offers faux-support for cartel busting
Never popular with infrastructure owners (who’d have thought?), the very principles of the competiton policy have come under sustained attack in recent years, writes Bernard Keane.
Tax Office fat cats paid big bonuses but failed to deliver
A Crikey investigation has revealed that Tax Chief Michael D’Ascenzo personally approved big performance bonuses to his most senior executives even though they failed Australian taxpayers by only delivering on 18 of their 22 service standards in 2006, writes Chris Seage.
Business regulation: what a difference being in government makes
When are political parties anti-business? When are they the batters’ friend? It appears that being in government may make a crucial difference, writes Christian Kerr.
Labor to review Operation Wickenby if elected
In a move that will please long-suffering Australian taxpayers, the Labor Party have announced they will put the Government’s much vaunted multi-agency tax evasion investigation Operation Wickenby under the microscope if they win the election.
