By this author
YOU DECIDE
politicoz
Alastair Furnival, the chief of staff of Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash, intervened to shut down a website late last week. The website contained detailed information on Australia's new labelling policy for food and beverages, which is to …
TOUGH LUCK
politicoz
The federal government was unaware that Toyota was about to announce the end of car making in Australia. Toyota will cease manufacturing in 2017, heralding the end of the line too for the web of component manufacturers that currently employ up to 40,000 …
STILL CLOSING THE GAP
politicoz
This morning Tony Abbott delivered this year's Closing the Gap report on indigenous disadvantage to a joint sitting of parliament. The report, intended to track progress on indigenous welfare, life expectancy, child mortality, employment and …
ENGINEERING A ROYAL COMMISSION
politicoz
Cabinet is expected to sign off today on a new Royal Commission into union corruption. Following revelations by Fairfax and the ABC about malfeasance in the building and construction industry, the federal government believes the time is right for …
BLACK-OUT
politicoz
Fairfax has published an extensive investigative report on the recent allegations that Navy personnel deliberately burned the hands of asylum seekers during a towback operation. Michael Bachelard's account, based on a detailed interview with …
ALL ABOUT PAUL HOWES
politicoz
Paul Howes laid out his vision for Australian industrial relations at the National Press Club yesterday. The Australian Workers’ Union national secretary said unions must root out any corruption, because it undermined the interests of the "2 …
THE NEW IR WAR
politicoz
You know something's really gone wrong for the Coalition when even Dennis Shanahan labels it a political failure. The SPC Ardmona issue yesterday went from bad to worse for the government. Following Liberal member Sharman Stone's accusation of …
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
politicoz
The fight to frame the debate around SPC Ardmona continues apace, and it's central to a broader ideological battle. Joe Hockey and Tony Abbott have been building the case that they are ushering in a new era of economic responsibility, that companies …
ASSISTANCE FOR RURAL AUSTRALIA
politicoz
Fearful of a regional backlash against the Coalition over its failure to support SPC Ardmona, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce (Nationals) has promised to fight in cabinet for a $7 billion bailout of distressed farm loans. Joyce told farmers in Queensland …
Jay Weatherill threatens to resign as premier if Don Farrell is preselected for state seat of Napier
politicoz
"Premier Jay Weatherill has threatened to resign before the election if Labor "faceless man" Senator Don Farrell is parachuted into State Parliament. Labor sources say the showdown between the two threatens to turn into "World War …
A year of elections - and mixed signals
politicoz
"This is not a federal election year, yet it is a year of elections just the same. In February, there will be by-elections in Queensland at both the federal and state level; then in March, state elections in Tasmania and South Australia. There could …
Somali asylum seeker claims he was sprayed in eyes by Australian Navy
politicoz
"New details have emerged about a boat interception operation earlier this month, with one asylum seeker saying Navy personnel sprayed him in the eyes. A Somali asylum seeker has told the ABC that there were angry protests when people found out the …
CANNED
politicoz
Asked to contribute $25m towards a $161m plant upgrade, the federal government rejected SPC Ardmona on the basis that its profitable parent company Coca-Cola Amatil should foot the whole bill, and that its operations in Shepparton, Victoria, were …
