By this author
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
A FRESH ELECTION
politicoz
The High Court declared the WA Senate result void, so the entire state will go back to the polls, most likely in April or May, to elect six federal senators. The result will dictate how many cross-bench votes the Abbott government needs to pass legislation …
BAD MAPS
politicoz
It beggars belief that the vessel commanders conducting Operation Sovereign Borders wouldn't know the location of sovereign borders. The report issued into Australia's six "inadvertent" incursions into Indonesian waters only suggests …
CLEAR AS DAY
politicoz
The details of what happened on Manus Island are gradually emerging, regardless of the efforts of Scott Morrison. The situation was obviously out of control. But if anyone is relying on the minister responsible to take responsibility, or explain what …
HOWLS OF PROTEST
politicoz
In breaking news, one asylum seeker is dead and 77 have been treated for injuries following a rolling series of serious disturbances at the Manus Island detention centre. Unconfirmed reports suggest scenes of carnage involving ongoing rioting by …
TERRITORIAL TENSIONS
politicoz
The Indonesian government had only just finished protesting to Australian ambassador Greg Moriarty over the Abbott government's border protection policies when its foreign minister Marty Natalegawa was again fronting the media to object to Australian …
BUT WILL IT FLY?
politicoz
Unemployment has hit 6%, the highest rate in a decade. With the bad news coming just days after Toyota announced its exit from Australian manufacturing, there is renewed pressure on the government to outline its plan for jobs. Treasurer Joe Hockey has …
