Tax tiffs roll on, journos become spinners, and Trump on trial.
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Saturday Feb 10
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This week we queried Peter Dutton's promises to put the kibosh on the public service, reminded you of all the journalists who've become political spinners, and agreed with Nationals leader David Littleproud on something. (Yes you read that right.)

Meanwhile, the Australian Parliament welcomed a special visitor, Donald Trump's legal woes continued, and the debates about changes to stage three tax cuts rolled on.

Plus a report that proves price-gouging is driving inflation.

We hope you're having a wonderful weekend and thank you for supporting independent media.
Gina Rushton Gina Rushton,
Editor
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The market and the moat: selling certainty for private and political gain
BERNARD KEANE

After the privatisation of certainty, citizens are at the mercy of politicians and institutions peddling poor substitutes for what we once took for granted.

(Image: Private Media/Gorkie)
 
Chinese Australians are happy ScoMo’s leaving politics. Is this an opportunity for the Liberals?
WANNING SUN

This level of dislike for Morrison among Chinese Australians should come as no surprise, given that the roughest patch in Australia-China relations happened during his reign. But now he's gone, can Peter Dutton begin to mend fences?

(Image: Private Media/Gorkie)
 
I’m the parasite in the brains of editors publishing pieces by the prime minster’s dog
PARASITE

Ru-roh! Me brain is rinrested! Looks like I need lo-dog-omy!

Toto the dog, and a brain worm (Image: Private Media/Zennie)
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Littleproud is right to suggest regional communities are wary of renewables rollout
ANTON NILSSON

The Nationals leader may be wrong to suggest solar panels alone will be enough, but there's no disputing rural Australia feels left out of the discussion about the renewables transition.

Nationals Leader David Littleproud (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
Trump’s tariffs killed jobs but gained voters, data shows. Does competence matter anymore?
BERNARD KEANE

When voters reward leaders who deliberately pursue bad policy and lie about it when it fails, the sky's the limit.

Former president Donald Trump (Image: AAP/John Locher)
 
Why Dutton will slash Defence and Home Affairs to fund his tax cuts for the wealthy
BERNARD KEANE

Peter Dutton says he'll cut the public service to fund tax cuts for high-income earners. Which means two departments are in the firing line — the ones he ran.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
The office commute: The journalists that went to the dark side
DAANYAL SAEED

Katharine Murphy's departure from Guardian Australia ruffled feathers, but she's not alone in crossing over to politics from the media.

(Image: Gorkie/Private Media)
 
All the stuff the ABC’s Nemesis episode on Turnbull didn’t cover
CHARLIE LEWIS and MOEMINA SHUKUR

The 2017-18 period was extremely chaotic, and the ABC's recent Nemesis episode on the Turnbull government couldn't help but omit a lot of dysfunction.

Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison in 2018 (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
Local news websites accused of using AI to rip off other outlets’ articles
CAM WILSON

Articles from Queensland local news sites are strikingly similar to content from the ABC, the government and even from a US-based newspaper for a city that shares a name with an Australian town.

A list of local news websites started by Worthview Group which have been accused of including "AI"-rewritten content (Image: Worthview Group)
 
Clearview AI is still collecting photos of Australians for its facial recognition database
CAM WILSON

Clearview AI said it can't stop using Australians' data for its facial recognition software because it can't tell who's Australian.

(Image: Adobe)
 
Profiteering is driving inflation, says former ACCC head. And here’s the hard evidence
BERNARD KEANE

Want evidence that inflation is caused by price-gouging corporations? Allan Fels has it in spades.

Professor Allan Fels in 2012 (Image: AAP/Alan Porritt)
 
‘An important recognition’: PNG leader’s speech sheds light on Albo’s Pacific strategy
ANTON NILSSON

Marape has become one of the few world leaders who have addressed the Australian Parliament, and the speech is a sign of deepening relations with Papua New Guinea.

Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
 
How the press corps got caught in the tax cuts wedge
CHRISTOPHER WARREN

Turns out voters like a government that adapts and adjusts. Someone needs to tell the press gallery.

Anthony Albanese speaks to media (Image: AAP/Bianca De Marchi)
 
Australia’s outcry at China’s death sentence for Yang Hengjun is vital — and hypocritical
MICHAEL SAINSBURY

Throwing a stone at China's horrific treatment of Yang Hengjun, the Australian government forgets the glass house it has built around itself.

Yang Hengjun and his wife, Yuan Xiaoliang (Image: AAP/Chongyi Feng)