Plus: the Republican congressman with Australia in his sights.
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Saturday Aug 19
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Australia's housing crisis was front and centre of the political debate this week as national cabinet set a target for new home construction. Bernard Keane argued Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had offered states a lucrative incentive to ignore NIMBYs and accelerate property development. But housing doesn’t work like that.

Elsewhere this week, Anton Nilsson and Cam Wilson revealed The Daily Telegraph’s story about an IPA report on “woke” censorship in universities was filled with easily debunked claims — and contradicted News Corp’s own internal policies.

Meanwhile Maeve McGregor wrote on the No campaign’s conspiracies, and John Buckley went deep on the record-breaking TV audiences for the Matildas.

Plus why was Pauline Hanson singing Ave Maria”?

We hope you’re having a great weekend.
Gina Rushton Gina Rushton,
Editor
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Albanese offers $3.5bn to beat NIMBYs — but developers will be the real winners
BERNARD KEANE

The prime minister has offered states a lucrative incentive to ignore NIMBYs and accelerate property development. But housing doesn't work like that.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Image: AAP/Darren England)
 
‘Selectively misquoted’: IPA and Daily Tele distort ‘woke’ university policies
ANTON NILSSON and CAM WILSON

A Daily Telegraph article highlighting an IPA report on censorship in universities is filled with easily debunked claims — and contradicts News Corp's own internal policies.

(Image: Private Media)
 
‘A travesty’: Labor debate over AUKUS hangs in the balance
MAEVE MCGREGOR

ALP leadership is poised to defy rank-and-file discontent over the most contentious policy shift in Australian history.

(Image: Zennie/Private Media)
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Please stop taking the social media engagement bait
CAM WILSON

X users want to make you mad. They're making money off it. Don't let them.

Elon Musk (Image: Reuters/Gonzalo Fuentes)
 
Price misleads in claim government ‘fumbled’ No camp’s charitable status
CAM WILSON

The opposition’s Indigenous Australians spokeswoman has blamed the government for delays to the No side's deductible gift recipient status, yet this omits key information.

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
The right’s No campaign harbours a dangerous, hidden agenda 
MAEVE MCGREGOR

The rise of conspiracies without theories isn’t just civic vandalism — it’s a threat to our democracy and the future of the country.

(Images: AAP /Zennie/Private Media)
 
What does well-being actually look like in multicultural Australia?
WANNING SUN

Treasurer Jim Chalmers' 'Measuring What Matters' report broke new ground in approaches to Australians' happiness. But it must go further.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
 
‘Freedom has never been cheap’: the Washington neocon driving Australia’s defence moves
DAVID HARDAKER

US Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher is a man on a mission, and he has Australia directly in his sights.

US Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher (Image: Sipa USA/Graeme Sloan)
 
‘So happy’: Pauline Hanson sings ‘Ave Maria’ to celebrate court win
ANTON NILSSON

The One Nation leader has had a big week, winning a court case that will cost an ex-colleague nearly seven figures, and dividing and conquering the party's NSW branch.

One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
Australia sold the Matildas short — for the last time
JASON MURPHY

The government, business and much of the public vastly underestimated the Matildas and the popularity of women's soccer.

Mary Fowler, Sam Kerr and other Matildas members (Image: AAP/Darren England)
 
Australia’s self-centred media misses the real politics of the climate crisis
CHRISTOPHER WARREN

The traditional media is acting as a cheerleader for the fossil fuel industry while painting climate protesters as extremists. Has it misread the room?

Anti-Woodside protesters gather outside Woodside's Perth headquarters (Image: AAP/Aaron Bunch)
 
Matildas World Cup semi-final breaks free-to-air ratings record
JOHN BUCKLEY

In this week's Media Briefs, Matildas fever overcomes us all.

Sam Kerr during the World Cup semi-final against England (Image: AAP/Patrick Hoelscher/News Images)
 
Qantas’ support is the last thing the Yes campaign needs
BERNARD KEANE

The national airline's support for the Yes campaign will delight those in the No campaign. And its support for a 'fair go' is risible.

An aircraft appearance crew member cleans a Qantas plane (Image: AAP/Reuters/Loren Elliott)
 
Murdochs delay disclosing their bloated pay packets, after reaping more than $1bn
STEPHEN MAYNE

More companies are releasing annual reports and executive salary data on the same day, yet one media monolith has been conspicuously absent.

Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan (Image: AAP/EPA/Andrew Gombert/Private Media)