DECEMBER 15, 2018

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Welcome to the best of Crikey for the week,

How about [REDACTED]?

As ever, we’re keen to hear what you think. Write to us at boss@crikey.com.au.

Have a great weekend,

Bhakthi Puvanenthiran
Managing Editor

Suppression orders and lawyers’ arrogance undermine democracy

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

The resort to suppression orders by our courts undermines faith in the legal system and is used by the legal industry to avoid scrutiny.

Vote now in the 2018 Crikey Awards!

CHARLIE LEWIS 4 minute read

As always, Crikey's prestigious end-of-year awards nominees are a mixed field of arsehats and heroes.

Australia faces class actions for ‘crimes against humanity’ on Manus and Nauru

CHRIS WOODS 4 minute read

One day after the government filibustered proposed changes to medical transfers from Nauru, human rights lawyers have filed two class action suits alleging "torture", "persecution" and "other inhumane acts".

How Scott Morrison made at least seven blunders in one sentence

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When Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for “more learning in schools and less activism in schools,”, you probably heard the wowser. His comments were widely reported, broadly decried and tailor-made for memes. Since he addressed a question last month about school children who planned to strike for climate action, another question arises: what the funnel was he thinking? — Helen Razer

It’s been two weeks since Scott Morrison told off the school kids of Australia, but its effects will be felt for a long time yet.

The disturbing new national security law that no one is talking about

MICHAEL BRADLEY 3 minute read

The encryption fiasco isn't the only capitulation recently made in the name of Australia's national security.

Seven moves to terminate employee agreement amid cost cuts, falling share price

EMILY WATKINS and CHARLIE LEWIS 4 minute read

Yet another company is using "extraordinary" hard ball negotiation tactics with their staff, this time in the media.

Sorry to Bother You lacks subtlety, but that’s not a bad thing

HELEN RAZER 3 minute read

This is not an ambiguous comedy about pain and alienation; it’s an unambiguous comedy about pain and alienation.

How will Dan Andrews deal with this farrago of a crossbench?

GUY RUNDLE 4 minute read

If anyone is going to try and direct the reactionary/single-issue parties as a unit — and one wonders who that would be — they’re going to have to keep them all together, all the time.

Greens toppled by preference whispering

WILLIAM BOWE 3 minute read

The Greens have been almost completely removed from Victoria's upper house. But it's good news for Labor.

Crisis watch: the various hot messes threatening Labor and Shorten

CHARLIE LEWIS 3 minute read

From technology to welfare to refugees, Bill Shorten has plenty to deal with in the lead-up to the national conference.

Religious freedom report is a culture war disaster

GUY RUNDLE 4 minute read

The report, which was delayed for six months, has now had exactly the opposite effect of that intended.

Is Inland Rail corrupt? A federal ICAC could investigate.

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

Why are the Nationals so afraid of a federal ICAC? Is it because of their long history of maladministration and rorting grants?

The Coalition has an interesting definition of merit

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The argument around merit — usually mounted in response to criticism about a lack of women and attendant talk of quotas — is one that has haunted the Liberal Party for years. In the wake of claims of bullying and intimidation from several women in the party, the Liberals have been wrestling with how to boost their female membership. Despite this, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has steadfastly refused to entertain the idea of quotas. “I’m a merit person,” he said, Morrison-ly. — Charlie Lewis

All this talk of merit and women’s quotas has made us wonder: is everyone in the Liberal Party really there on skill, achievement and political nous alone?

Politicians and police are killing young Australians

BERNARD KEANE 2 minute read

Young people continue to die at music festivals despite a well-established means of reducing the risk. Why are we so contemptuous of the lives of our youth?

The Guardian’s WikiLeaks ‘expose’ only revealed its own incompetence

GUY RUNDLE 4 minute read

The Guardian has disgraced itself utterly, and trashed its "facts are sacred" mantra in this, its latest obsessive pursuit of WikiLeaks.

Prime shaping up as a potential buyer of former Fairfax regional papers

GLENN DYER and EMILY WATKINS 3 minute read

Who will buy the former Fairfax regional papers, including The Canberra Times, and how much will they sell for?