We’re taking a short break
Crikey will be back rested and ready on January 6. Enjoy your holidays!
Gina Rinehart, Crikey’s Arsehat of the Year, wishes us a Merry Christmas
This year’s award is long overdue.
Gina Rinehart’s spokesperson responds to her Arsehat of the Year accolade
After Crikey readers awarded Gina Rinehart the coveted Arsehat of the Year award, a spokesperson quickly got in touch…
Crikey’s Person of the Year brought the allegations against Alan Jones to light
In a year where many of our institutions failed us, it’s unsurprising a fearless piece of journalism, by Kate McClymont, was so important to Crikey’s readers.
Mapping dystopias from the airship of urban nightmares: 2024, via 1968
At the end of our peculiar reversioning of 1968, does a key text of that year have anything to offer when navigating our current dystopia?
Rex Patrick, Rick Morton, Jacqui Lambie: Who were readers’ picks for shitstirrer of the year?
Some fan favourites did not make our esteemed list of shitstirrers this year. There will be no recount!
Crikey’s editor says farewell, shares some gossip, and argues why independent media has never been more important
On her last day at the publication, Crikey’s editor Gina Rushton reflects on her years working at Australia’s most surprising, informative, challenging, gossipy and ridiculous outlet.
Opponents loathe him, some allies can’t stand him… announcing Crikey’s Shitstirrer of the Year
Crikey’s Shitstirrer of the Year gets under everyone’s skin — and skilfully uses that ability to drive attention towards their political cause.
Fighting Woodside on a boat with Tim Winton and John Butler
A dozen marine scientists, filmmakers and conservationists — including an author and musician — head to Scott Reef to document the threats it faces.
Yes, Australia should extend the length of our parliamentary terms — we never really break out of election mode
Moving to four-year terms would at least put to bed the endless talk of whether we should move to four-year terms.
No, Australia shouldn’t extend parliamentary terms — the major parties need to do some soul searching first
‘Leaders of the major political parties need to look at their own internal processes before attempting to persuade voters to support four-year terms.’
A hung parliament is all but certain. After months of interviewing the crossbench, here’s what I’ve learnt
‘While the political class might not be ready to accept that hung parliaments are here to stay, voters seem to be, with the major party vote continuing its long downward trajectory.’
What are Australia’s journalists reading, listening to and subscribing to?
We asked Australia’s leading industry figures what’s become essential parts of their media diets.
Are you HARD ENOUGH for Mike Pezzullo’s comeback?
Discredited former Home Affairs head Mike Pezzullo has called for national service and ‘hard patriotism’ to fight China.
Marles promised he’d improve Defence performance. The results are in: he failed
Marles has spectacularly failed by his own standards. The only change at Defence has been it is even more determined to hide its embarrassing performance.
Deficits are all about power
Australia has a big gap between tax and spending. And the people whingeing about it are part of the problem, not the solution.
What were this year’s most sublime, utterly cracked tips and murmurs?
From an inexplicable design choice by Gina Rinehart’s Driza-Bone company to Bob Katter living only in the present, it’s been another absurd year.
‘One crew shortage, one breakdown, one delay, one bad weather event, and the whole system starts to fall apart,’ a pilot said.
Once again, Australian media policy seems to have conformed to the golden rule: ‘what News Corp wants, News Corp gets’.
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.
Can Albo game out Lachlan’s News Corp onslaught?
Australia is heading into its first election with Lachlan Murdoch at the head of News Corp. And that could make things tough(er) for the incumbent Labor government.
More disasters at Tourism Australia, where even the probity lacks probity
The discredited Tourism Australia ran procurements worth hundreds of millions of dollars without competition or probity, a new report finds.
‘That is the “freedom” they stand for’: Crikey readers on Kevin Andrews’ legacy and Dutton’s nuclear plans
‘Thank you for reminding us of the actions of this man.’
‘I think women are better at it’: Sarah Hanson-Young on negotiating in a divided Parliament
The Greens senator reckons Tanya Plibersek and Katy Gallagher are able to leave their egos at the door. So why can’t the blokes?
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’.
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.
Moira Deeming’s defamation win shows nobody can play fast and loose with language — not even politicians
It is incumbent on all speakers in the public sphere to be very clear in their language. If not, the law will provide a remedy.
Dutton’s nuclear plan: An energy grid powered by endless spin
The commercial media have dutifully queued up to accept Peter Dutton’s carefully planned ‘taking out the rubbish’ announcement on nuclear power.
Here are the stories Australia’s top journalists say they’re missing
From Peter Lalor to Louise Milligan and Ben Schneiders, we asked 200 of the nation’s most influential media figures which areas are undercovered. Plus who is excelling at their beats?
What’s your favourite journalist’s favourite piece of journalism?
From Paul Barry to Alan Kohler to Sally Neighbour, we asked 200 of the nation’s most influential media figures about the best pieces of journalism they’ve read lately.
Kimberly Guilfoyle’s character gets written out of the Trump sitcom
As Donald Trump makes international appointments based on his eldest son’s dating life, his nominees edge closer to confirmation.
‘They’ll be more upset’: Albo flagged shift in Australia’s Israel-Palestine position at private Labor event
Exclusive: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has flagged changes to Australia’s position on Palestine later this week, addressing a room of Labor insiders.
Reserve Bank declares war on facts, along with the economy
The RBA governor continues to shoehorn basic economic facts into her narrow neoliberal worldview — at our expense.
Labor has been vindicated on its spending. Will the Reserve Bank finally do its job and cut rates?
Labor’s spending has generated plenty of criticism — but it’s now the only thing standing between us and a recession engineered by the RBA.
Long COVID is becoming a serious social and economic issue for Australia
Addressing this health challenge is vital to getting many people back participating fully in their lives.
The teen social media ban is incredibly popular. Here are some of the reasons why
No matter how you slice it, the majority of Australians say they want kids off social media. And their reasons are more nuanced than you might expect
‘No basis whatsoever’: Is News Corp’s sponsored pro-gas coverage full of hot air?
The News Corp tabloids ran pro-gas front pages all around the country — but you had to turn the page to find the disclosure that the coverage was paid for by the gas industry.
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.
Dutton’s nuclear promises billions for fossil fuels and a smaller economy for the rest of us
Bernard Keane
141
Are you HARD ENOUGH for Mike Pezzullo’s comeback?
Bernard Keane
117
And Crikey’s politician of the year for 2024 is…
Bernard Keane
108