Crikey Insider

For the past few days, David Hardaker has been reporting on the treatment of 60 Minutes camera operator Ben Williamson. First, how Williamson was tortured on assignment in Beirut five years ago, and then how Channel Nine’s insurer has been fighting his compensation case.

Today, we can report a win: Nine has backed off and will instruct its insurers to “expedite” his case. You can catch up with all of Hardaker’s coverage here, including the stories of other Australian journalists who have suffered PTSD.

In today’s bumper edition of Crikey, Amber Schultz reports the back story of the March4Justice, Cam Wilson unearths an unlikely pin-up boy for the anti-vaccination movement, Kishor Napier-Raman investigates the government’s war on charities and Bernard Keane considers yet more National Party pork-barrelling.

We’ve also got Guy Rundle on the ALP’s latest factional brawl, Stephen Mayne on the antics at the Rio Tinto AGM, Leslie Cannold on whether American democracy is back on track, and Keane and Glenn Dyer on what the Reserve Bank has to say about house prices. All that plus Imogen Champagne with some musical relief.

Yesterday Crikey published part one of David Hardaker’s report on the trauma suffered by camera operator Ben Williamson during 60 Minutes’ 2016 Beirut fiasco. Today Hardaker looks at the fallout from the botched assignment, both for Williamson and his family, and for Channel Nine.

On the political front, Bernard Keane reports on the audit office’s review of the Great Barrier Reef Foundation and looks at democracy as it’s practised by the NSW upper house. Meanwhile Stephen Bartos and Kishor Napier-Raman both weigh in on next Tuesday’s federal budget.

We’ve also got Amber Schultz on the latest moves to waive patents on COVID-19 vaccines, Christopher Warren on the challenges facing News Corp, and Cam Wilson on the post-parliamentary career of George Christensen. One thing’s for certain: George is never dull.

All that plus Margot Saville with Tips and Murmurs, Jason Murphy with a Choice Chart on housing investment, and Glenn Dyer with last night’s TV ratings.

Today’s Crikey looks at post-traumatic stress disorder through the eyes of Ben Williamson, the cameraman on 60 Minutes‘ botched attempt to return two children living in Beirut to their Australian mother. Five years have passed since that inglorious incident, but Williamson lives with it every day. David Hardaker has Williamson’s untold story, as well as Nine’s response.

With the federal budget closing in, Bernard Keane looks at housing affordability, while he and Glenn Dyer also examine the outlook for jobs and wages. Elsewhere, Guy Rundle can hear the drums of war, and Kishor Napier-Raman recounts the controversial Darwin port deal — which may end up being one of the first casualties.

Also today, Cam Wilson lists the many ways the government is trying to change the way citizens use technology, Napier-Raman reports on growing opposition to the India travel ban, and Amber Schultz sifts through the parliamentary appearance of NDIA boss Martin Hoffman and his new minister Linda Reynolds.

All that plus Tips and Murmurs, last night’s TV ratings, and a review of a groundbreaking documentary series on domestic violence.

We recently mentioned Scott Morrison had, as a university student, done his honours thesis on the Christian Brethren religion. Today, after much fossicking, David Hardaker reports in detail what exactly the future PM wrote.

Also today, Bernard Keane critiques Morrison over the India ban, Adam Schwab confronts far broader questions about border closures in general, and Chris Woods and Georgia Wilkins farewell the National COVID Commission. Plus Crikey readers make it crystal clear they want the best vaccine available.

Elsewhere, Madonna King looks at the Queensland Senate ticket, Stephen Mayne asks what is motivating the federal treasurer to attack proxy advisers, and Tom Ravlic examines how governments are seeking to tackle the spread of extremism online.

Rounding things out, Margot Saville brings a literary bent to Tips and Murmurs, Jason Murphy reports on the global shortage of microchips, and Glenn Dyer has last night’s TV ratings.

What to make of the government’s ban on Australians returning home from India? Seems, well, unAustralian. The government hasn’t taken similar action against Australians trapped in any other country, so what’s different now? Bernard Keane, Michael Bradley and Kishor Napier-Raman explore the issues and arguments swirling around the ban.

Also today, Keane analyses the government’s childcare plan, Amber Schultz spells out what women want in next week’s federal budget, Georgia Wilkins looks at moves in the Senate to question consultants, and Tony Jaques hits out at the travel industry’s COVID spin. Plus Christopher Warren considers regulations and big tech, and our friends at Foreign Policy delve into moves by Saudi Arabia to get friendlier with Iran.

We’ve also got your letters on everything from Olympic boycotts to Scott Morrison’s religion, Napier-Raman with Tips and Murmurs, and Glenn Dyer with the weekend’s TV ratings.

Odd days these, aren’t they? We have a free-market government indicating it will fund a new fossil-fuelled power plant on virtually the same day as we witness another section of that government — albeit at a state level — paying a coal miner to go away. Bernard Keane and Guy Rundle have more.

Elsewhere, Keane looks at political backflips, Amber Schultz examines Scott Morrison’s use of identity politics, and Georgia Wilkins reports on the ongoing prosecution of ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle.

On the pandemic, Leslie Cannold asks whether Australians over 50 should get the AstraZeneca jab, Cam Wilson analyses media coverage of deaths linked (or not) to the vaccine, and Adam Schwab proffers another way of thinking about COVID fatalities.

Rounding out the edition, Charlie Lewis concludes his travels in Tasmania, Schultz channels the rage of Aboriginal lawyer Hannah McGlade, Keir Semmens considers Joe Biden’s first 100 days in office and Glenn Dyer chimes in with last night’s TV ratings.

After a few days in the heady world of the PM’s religion, today’s Crikey returns to the economy, with Bernard Keane and Glenn Dyer setting out the underpinnings of the coming budget, which will be aimed at victory at the ballot box rather than triumph over deficits.

Meantime, Guy Rundle takes on the talk of “war”, Kishor Napier-Raman explains why critical race theory is a hot button for conservatives, Michael Bradley looks at a recent, disturbing decision by the US Supreme Court, and Amber Schultz shoots a metaphorical arrow between the eyes of two “apologist” men.

On the COVID front, Keane looks at the slow vaccine rollout in aged care and Schultz asks why Australia would be opposed to a proposed patent waiver that could assist vaccine access in developing nations.

Rounding out today, Charlie Lewis reports from the Port Arthur memorial service, Stephen Mayne previews the AMP annual general meeting, Jason Murphy makes the economic case for getting hitched, and Glenn Dyer delivers last night’s TV ratings.

Today we continue our in-depth coverage of the prime minister’s talk to a Christian conference last week. Why? Because as Bernard Keane, David Hardaker and Guy Rundle explain in varying ways the speech gives the nation a rare insight into his politics and belief. (For good measure, we intend to run a copy of the speech in full on the Crikey website. Keep an eye out for it.)

We also return to the issue of climate change, in particular the federal government’s insistence that new technologies, such as hydrogen, are the answer. Keane and Georgia Wilkins explore the politics and the real-world opportunities of the matter. On-the-ground reporter Charlie Lewis delivers a Tips and Murmurs from a town hall in Hobart, Wilkins asks what has happened to a key player in the Australia Post saga, Cam Wilson looks at online conspiracies about the Port Arthur massacre, and Janine Perrett runs her sharp eyes over the politics of the COVID Olympics.

From our syndication partner Foreign Policy we take another look at India’s horrendous battle with the pandemic, and Glenn Dyer delivers TV ratings.

Scott Morrison believes in God. Good on him; that’s his choice. But to what extent do his personal religious beliefs impact on his policies and who he surrounds himself with? That’s a key focus of Crikey today, with stories from investigative reporter David Hardaker, political reporter Kishor Napier-Raman and our legal correspondent Michael Bradley.

Today’s edition also features two important articles on the issue of violence against women. Madonna King argues the nation needs to do much more to stop it, while Tory Shepherd fact-checks the men’s rights lobby.

Elsewhere, Bernard Keane reports on the move by defence-boss-in-waiting Mike Pezzullo to put the nation on a war footing, Michael Sainsbury looks at Australia’s diplomatic approach to South-East Asia, Cam Wilson buries Craig Kelly’s Facebook page, and Charlie Lewis continues his travels in Tasmania ahead of Saturday’s election.

All that plus Adam Schwab on the big problems with JobKeeper, and Glenn Dyer with last night’s TV ratings.

In today’s Crikey, we bring you the first instalment in a week-long political adventure for Tips and Murmurs columnist Charlie Lewis: he’s in Tasmania covering the lead-up to Saturday’s state election. Feel free to send in any Tassie-specific tips to [email protected].

Meanwhile, Bernard Keane examines the politics at play ahead of the May 11 federal budget, Christopher Warren records how the media ate up the idea of technology fixing climate change, and Michael Sainsbury reviews the levels of freedom (or lack thereof) enjoyed by our regional neighbours.

Now reporting from Canberra, Kishor Napier-Raman clocks Australia’s rhetoric ramping up on China and Taiwan, while Cam Wilson wonders why the West is different, and Jason Murphy tracks population shifts.

Today we also note two important events from our nation’s history: the landings in Gallipoli (thanks to a piece from our partners at Foreign Policy) and the first publication of The Sydney Morning Herald, with a reflection from John B Fairfax.

Rounding out the edition, Ben Clark makes the case for a new New Atheism and, showing he’s more machine than man, Lewis files a regular Tips and Murmurs column to accompany his Tasmanian dispatch. Plus Glenn Dyer delivers the weekend’s TV ratings.