TRADE DEAL ALMOST A GO
Trade Minister Simon Birmingham is expected to sign a landmark free trade deal with Indonesia this morning.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Birmingham has spruiked Australian farmers as immediate beneficiaries of the deal’s increased live cattle and agricultural quotas, as well as easier access for universities and healthcare providers in Indonesia. However, The Australian ($) reports that the ACTU and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union have slammed the deal for hurting local workers and exploiting foreign labour, while political opponents in Indonesia worry Australian companies could drive out local businesses.
LABOR V CRONIES
Labor has reportedly drawn up a “hit list” of six former Liberal MPs serving as ambassadors or consuls-general, as Foreign Minister Marise Payne draws fire for appointing her friend and former NSW Liberal MP Patricia Forsythe as High Commissioner to New Zealand.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that, as speculation swirls around a resigning-Steve Ciobo’s decision to leave cabinet over the weekend, a Shorten government would review the postings of George Brandis, Joe Hockey, and David Bushby, who was appointed consul-general to Chicago within one hour of resigning from the Senate in January. The news follows Forsythe’s appointment on Saturday, as well as Hockey’s Helloworld controversy and Attorney-General Christian Porter’s dubious AAT appointments.
SOUTH EAST VIC ABLAZE
Two separate out-of-control bushfires continue to rage across Victoria’s south east after destroying several buildings over the weekend and cancelling attendance to 23 schools.
The ABC reports that more than 11,000 hectares have been destroyed after lightning sparked fires across the Bunyip State Park on Friday, while firefighters continue to battle a 1,500 hectare blaze at Yinnar South. As of 3am today, VicEmergency reports that neither fire is under control.
[free_worm]
THEY REALLY SAID THAT?
These aren’t Liberals, just left wing entryists who joined so they could ostentatiously resign. [The Manly Daily] was told this but still chose to peddle fake news.
Tony Abbott
The former prime minister addresses a report on Liberals defecting to Warringah opponent Zali Steggall. The Manly Daily, it must be said, sought his response multiple times ($),
CRIKEY QUICKIE: THE BEST OF YESTERDAY
It’s time for progressives to move on from Paul Keating
“As susceptible as I can be to Paul Keating’s rhetorical powers, I nevertheless get a queasy feeling when he pops up — again and again, driving Australian progressives and political junkies into a frenzy. Given Keating was such a pioneer and champion of neoliberalism in Australia — effectively stripping power and money away from workers and poor Australians — it’s staggering, and certainly embarrassing, to see how progressives can carry on about him.”
In search of sponsors, Melbourne Press Club turns to the banks
“In the wake of their excoriation by the royal commission, Australia’s banks have plenty of work to do in restoring their reputations. So it’s no real surprise that they might be interested in positive sponsorship opportunities. One such opportunity is the Quill journalism awards from the Melbourne Press Club; an organisation whose president, Adele Ferguson, produced reporting that was instrumental in pushing for the royal commission.”
Debate over taxpayer-funded political ads masks a bigger problem
“Despite Parliament currently being in recess, the government found time this week to quietly remove the long-standing ban on MPs and senators using their office budgets to pay for TV and radio airtime. The changes are effective immediately, just in time for politicians to splash even more public cash on their re-election campaigns.”
READ ALL ABOUT IT
New questions over Australian-funded security contracts in PNG
Treasurer’s super war on activists ($)
Scott Morrison plans Christmas Island trip
‘Should be made public’: ABC rebuked for secret Michelle Guthrie settlement
At-risk Liberals focus attack on three ALP marginals ($)
‘They can’t eat and they starve’: call for solutions into recycling crisis
More than a third of voters support meeting Australia’s Paris climate commitment ($)
Morrison government announces funding for community environment projects
Governments failed to act on warnings of combustible cladding dangers ($)
More help at hand for domestic violence victims under Labor pledge
THE COMMENTARIAT
Swings and roundabouts as not-so-secret men’s business raises more questions of leadership — Samantha Maiden (The New Daily): “It’s 10 years since readers opened the national broadsheet to the news that then deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop was being targeted by a group of senior male MPs. The men, said to include Mathias Cormann and Christopher Pyne, wanted Joe Hockey as shadow Treasurer and they got their wish, with Ms Bishop relinquishing her role to the man who went on to achieve infamy with his 2014 budget.”
Why this Indonesian trade deal should not be understated ($) — Simon Birmingham (The Australian Financial Review): “Most predictions have Indonesia on track to be the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2030. With a population of 270 million people – an expanding middle-class, the world’s third-largest democracy and most populous Muslim nation – our agreement with Indonesia helps build economic prosperity for both our nations and the region.”
Every day I operate on injuries that politicians could prevent — Valerie Malka (Sydney Morning Herald): “The National Road Safety Strategy Inquiry last September made 12 recommendations that could substantially reduce the road toll. At a federal level these recommendations include appointing a cabinet minister with specific responsibility for the hidden epidemic of road trauma but a clear cross-portfolio mandate to tackle the problem. At a state level in NSW, they include switching on the point-to-point camera system.”
HOLD THE FRONT PAGE
WHAT’S ON TODAY
Adelaide
-
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Mark Butler will deliver a keynote address at an ANU Climate Change Institute “Climate Update” forum.
-
First weekday of the 2019 Adelaide Writers’ Week, to run until Thursday March 7.
Brisbane
-
Adani will give evidence at a state government inquiry into a Greens bill banning coal mining in the Galilee Basin.
Sydney
-
Dr Kerryn Phelps and member of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal Lynn Ralph will discuss Labor’s franking policy and retirement savings at Woollahra Library.
-
Head of School of Politics at University College Dublin David Farrell and NSW Shadow Planning Minister Penny Sharpe will present an address on “Letting citizens speak: Ireland’s referendums and constitutional mini-publics” at the University of Sydney.
-
Former Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and former Australian diplomats Jocelyn Chey and Richard Broinowski will speak at the UTS Australia-China Relations Institute event “Human rights: How to manage an effective dialogue”.
Melbourne
-
Philosopher Justin Clemens, The Saturday Paper editor Maddison Connaughton and Behind the Wire co-founder André Dao will speak at Australian Centre for Contemporary Art event “On truth and trust”.
Launceston, Tasmania
-
Tasmania’s Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff will launch the International Farm Management Association World Congress, to run until Friday March 8.
Crikey is committed to hosting lively discussions. Help us keep the conversation useful, interesting and welcoming. We aim to publish comments quickly in the interest of promoting robust conversation, but we’re a small team and we deploy filters to protect against legal risk. Occasionally your comment may be held up while we review, but we’re working as fast as we can to keep the conversation rolling.
The Crikey comment section is members-only content. Please subscribe to leave a comment.
The Crikey comment section is members-only content. Please login to leave a comment.