By this author
THE GOOD GUYS HAVE LOST
politicoz
Bernie Fraser has decided to speak out. The organisation he heads, the Climate Change Authority, is set to be abolished when the new Senate sits. It was set up to provide independent expert advice to the government on climate change mitigation initiatives, …
FREE BIG MEDIA
politicoz
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has indicated the Coalition is looking to ease media ownership restrictions. Turnbull is "sympathetic" to calls for less regulation and believes many of the rules are outdated in the internet age. The …
UNACCOUNTABLE GOVERNMENT
politicoz
After the Manus Island riots, Scott Morrison announced an independent review. He used this, at the time, as a justification for not providing any detailed information to the public about the riots. We would need to wait until the review was completed …
QANTAS AND THE DREADED CARBON TAX
politicoz
The Qantas debate is set to go nowhere for several weeks yet, as the Qantas Sale Act legislation languishes in the Senate. It has instead become a vehicle for broader political arguments. The federal government is again intent on pinning a portion …
APPLE: MORAL HAZARD
politicoz
Every so often, an individual piece of journalism provides a perspective, hitherto unseen or unacknowledged, that makes a mockery of whole swathes of public debate. Just such a piece appeared in today's Australian Financial Review. Neil …
FREE THE FORESTS
politicoz
Tony Abbott has re-affirmed his commitment to delisting 74,000 hectares of World Heritage forest in Tasmania, explaining his position in these terms: "We have quite enough national parks. We have quite enough locked up forests already. In fact, in …
IT’S A DUEL
politicoz
"I reject this idea that Qantas is Australian and Virgin isn't," said Tony Abbott, "because let's face it, Virgin is employing Australians and it's serving Australians." It's hard to imagine that Australians will be …
SYNTHESIS: EVERYONE KNOWS
politicoz
Fairfax this morning carried an alarming report about the death of Reza Barati on Manus Island. "Everyone knows who attacked him and is surprised no one has been taken into custody," said the unnamed detention centre staffer. The …
THE ABBOTT WEDGE
politicoz
Tony Abbott seemed to back away from providing immediate assistance to Qantas. Treasurer Joe Hockey had earlier intimated that the government was being dragged, "kicking and screaming", to a debt guarantee, but Abbott in parliament yesterday …
QANTAS ENTITLEMENT
politicoz
Qantas this morning reported a $252 million half-year loss and announced it would cut 5000 jobs as part of an overall plan to reduce costs by $2 billion over 3 years. The results come as the government weighs up assistance measures for the struggling …
AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE
politicoz
The prime minister this morning announced a $320 million drought assistance package. It consists of $280 million to fund low-interest loans for farmers who've been without rain for more than a year, as well as support for targeted health initiatives, …
OLD WOUNDS
politicoz
The Coalition's pursuit of Labor was entirely understandable and justifiable when it was in Opposition. Using the power and privileges of government to continue to flog old wounds risks looking not only petty but vindictive. The Coalition …
NO WIMPS
politicoz
"You don't want a wimp running border protection," said Tony Abbott yesterday, attempting to defend Immigration Minister Scott Morrison. It was an extraordinary response, given the issue revolves around one man being beaten to death and …
