Birmingham was a failed moderate who leaves a legacy of rolling over and letting the right win
Liberal Senator Simon Birmingham was a leading moderate, or so we were repeatedly told. But what does he have to show for it?
Yes, we should abolish the NACC — it doesn’t even know what corruption is
The commissioner of the anti-corruption commission does not seem to know — or wilfully attempts to redefine — what corruption actually is.
No, we shouldn’t abolish the NACC — the problem is with its leader, not the institution itself
The National Anti-Corruption Commission isn’t perfect, but under better management it could be a real threat to the corrupt.
It’s true, the kids are not alright. But they never have been
Was there ever a collection of young people who weren’t described as depressed and doomed?
Australia has passed the teen social media ban. Now, the hard part — making sure it helps, not hurts
The Albanese government’s success in passing the teen social media ban is the start, not the end, of a process that will include a lot of difficult decisions.
Why is no one talking about the politicisation of public sector plants!?
After Gina Rinehart made the cogent suggestion that the public sector sell all its pot plants, please enjoy this… sigh… potted history of plant-based controversies.
Qantas and Virgin pilots only want one thing this Christmas
Who’s playing naughty, and who’s playing nice?
Raygun, Brat, and The Bear: Canberra’s Press Gallery turns to memes amid election season
As the Senate dealt with ‘real’ politics, the water cooler politics of the parliamentary press gallery was also heating up. Crikey was in the hallways for the gossip.
Pro-Palestine activist alleges The Australian defamed them
The Australian appears set to fight a defamation proceeding brought by a pro-Palestine activist this week.
Labor’s term began with promise on the environment. It ends with things worse than ever
The harsh lesson of this term of Parliament is that no major-party government can be trusted to take real climate action.
Labor voted against the Libs’ immigration detention phone ban twice. Now it’s pitching a very similar proposal
‘It’s still, in substance, very much the Coalition’s bill from 2017 and 2020,’ the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre’s Jana Favero told Crikey.
Another outlet slashes jobs in a bleak year for Australian media
Crikey updates its job cuts tracker.
Marles the mediocre floats free of media scrutiny
Between the investigations into Thales and the legal action of his chief of staff, it’s getting harder for the media to ignore the flaws of Richard Marles.
Australia’s teen social media ban loophole means kids can still use TikTok and YouTube Shorts
The federal government says it wants to stop kids from using apps like TikTok. But its legislation won’t protect children from the algorithm driving these platforms.
Greens declare victory on housing and go home, mission accomplished
The Greens have done what they needed to do to prevent Labor from claiming success on housing. But will this redound to Peter Dutton’s benefit?
The donations ‘reforms’ are a hoax and the major parties are in bed together
‘How much longer do we have to listen to sanctimonious lies from poker-faced politicians about getting big money out of politics?’
Election denial rife in Democrats, the most WA of scandals, and when is statue theft not news?
Plus Crikey gets to the bottom of those damn ‘happy junior friYAYYY!’ emails.
The more we can make Musk seem like a loser, the less chance his austerity package has of decimating what’s left of the American welfare state.
Labor’s electoral reforms are framed around diluting the influence of Simon Holmes à Court. But the Climate 200 founder says this will only cut the legs out from under independent challengers.
Can you put a number on how badly Trump will screw the climate? Yes, many.
As the United Nations warns of a ‘brutal price’ to be paid for inaction, Crikey breaks down the key numbers at play.
The case for keeping kids out of Elon Musk’s ‘town square’
‘Self-awareness is an essential part of the human condition, but you don’t want it turning up too early or it risks becoming self-consciousness.’
This is how Joe Rogan helped propel Trump to the White House
In his bid to court the ‘bro vote’, Trump engaged dozens of podcasters and streamers on the political fringe who share a common audience of young, politically disengaged men.
Reader reply: I have a 10-year-old daughter — here’s my submission to the teen social media ban inquiry
Crikey reader Peter Murphy shares his motivation for making a submission to the government’s snap inquiry.
Tammy Tyrrell isn’t just Lambie Lite, and now she’s going after Labor’s social media ban
Former Jacqui Lambie staffer Tammy Tyrrell is very different to her former boss. But is that what the people of Tasmania voted for?
‘I think the major parties need a kick in the nuts’: How ‘Punter’s Politics’ stormed Parliament House
Punter Konrad has built up a large social following by questioning politicians on behalf of ‘the punters’.
‘Paying it forward’: The rise and rise of Australia’s independents
Independents are increasingly working together. But does that undermine the very point of them?
A $532m security contract and the NACC’s corrosive secrecy
The only thing the NACC’s report into Paladin has revealed is how damaging the commission’s lack of transparency is both for the public and potentially the people investigated.
The rise of Paladin, KPMG’s cameo, and what the NACC isn’t telling us
Just a week after being sent the tender for the Manus contract, Paladin submitted its bid. Its initial quote to provide the services was $152m. After negotiations, Paladin was awarded a revised contract… of $229.5m.
Paladin remains cloaked in secrecy: NACC needs to deliver or risk destroying its reputation
The unresolved questions at the centre of Paladin’s Manus Island contract aren’t theoretical or abstract concerns. They go to the heart of governance and political responsibility in Australia.
Teen social media ban inquiry didn’t even respond to man with disability’s accessibility request
‘Kids with disabilities are going to be affected by the proposed ban. We should be ensuring the government gets to hear from us.’
Renewables are exceeding expectations — but so are emissions. Why?
Why do we keep believing the promise of carbon capture when it keeps failing to materialise?
Who is Linton Besser, the new Media Watch host?
Four-time Walkley winner Linton Besser will replace Paul Barry as Media Watch host in a fortnight. Crikey sat down with Besser to find out where the program is headed.
As ABC staff reel over radio shakedown, Kim Williams lectures on ethical leadership
ABC chair Kim Williams got to avoid curly questions on a day when Aunty was rocked by major departures.
Can Australia rely on its diplomats to be diplomatic?
Kevin Rudd’s less-than-diplomatic comments about Donald Trump raise questions about how we appoint our diplomats.
Da pacem, Domine: Why Trump is what democracy needs
Alexander the Great is back, only this time he’s wearing a suit and tie.
Stop interfering with independent institutions, treasurer
The Labor government has already tried to nobble the Productivity Commission. Now it’s attempting to interfere with the Future Fund.
There’s strong evidence for the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates — and right now
Why is the Reserve Bank refusing to cut interest rates when the US Federal Reserve is in the middle of an extended series of rate cuts?
Unjustified, racist and harmful: An expert review damns Dictator Dan’s lockdowns
An independent expert report into government response to COVID-19 has forensically compiled evidence that the Andrews government’s lockdowns were unjustified.
Inquiry warns distrustful public wouldn’t accept COVID measures in future pandemic
The inquiry highlighted the ‘tail’ the pandemic has left, especially its effect on children, who suffered school closures.
Authoritarian fossil fuel states keep hosting climate conferences. Why?
Understanding of how authoritarian states respond to climate change matters, for Australia and the rest of the world.
A Donald Trump presidency is bad for climate action, but Australia should get on with the job
Trump has committed to removing all manner of environmental regulations in his first days in office. What should we do in response?
Greens declare victory on housing and go home, mission accomplished
Bernard Keane
295
Voters know the benefits of migration and want cuts anyway. And they’ll get what they want
Bernard Keane
154
Labor’s term began with promise on the environment. It ends with things worse than ever
Bernard Keane
79