Penny Wong: Minister for Foreign Affairs. Leader of the Government in the Senate. ALP.
PENNY WONG – 2
BARNABY JOYCE
Barnaby Joyce: Former Leader of the National Party and former Deputy Prime Minister.
Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs. Liberal-Nationals Coalition.
PETA CREDLIN
Peta Credlin: Former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Tony Abbott (2013 to 2015). Sky News Australia political commentator.
RUPERT MURDOCH
Rupert Murdoch: Global media mogul, born in Australia, now an American citizen. Head of News Corp, often rebuked for its manipulative media monopoly in Australia.
GINA RINEHART
Gina Rinehart (nee Hancock): Australian billionaire mining magnate and cattle producer. Australia’s richest citizen.
Murdoch’s media mafia monopoly miasma
Rupert Murdoch’s toxic Murdochracy – a worldwide scourge on democracy
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Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens Spokesperson for Media and Communications, has welcomed the appointment of Malcolm Turnbull and Sharan Burrow as co-chairs of Australians for a Murdoch Royal Commission.
So begins The Greens media release from 21 March 2023, headed:
MURDOCH ROYAL COMMISSION NEEDS SUPPORT FROM ALL SIDES OF POLITICS
Read the full release
Julia Gillard – trial by gender. Verdict – exile!
FLASHBACK
THIS CARTOON, DRAWN AT THE END OF JULIA GILLARD’S TENURE AS PRIME MINISTER, WAS ON DISPLAY IN THE MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRACY AT THE OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE IN CANBERRA.
THE EXHIBITION, KNOWN AS ‘WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT’, COMMENCED IN LATE AUGUST 2018 AND RAN FOR 12 MONTHS.
It is as if the metaphorical media lens is a microscope, 1,000 times more scrutinising of women — indeed, less critical of men. If Julia Gillard had bat ears, it is unlikely she would have made it to the prime ministership in the first place.
A word of caution: If you happen to be a highly intelligent woman with deep philosophical convictions and passion for the future of Australia, and have aspirations to become prime minister, go for it. But only if you do not have any physical imperfections that make you lesser in appearance to Elle McPherson. But then again, if you are blond, the media will destroy you anyway.
Football, meat pies, kangaroos and ……………?
Original version December 2013 – Updated March 2023
This essay discusses the
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY
and concludes it has gone astray
“We love football, meat pies, kangaroos and Holden cars”. (YouTube) So went the famous 1970’s Holden advertising jingle. A patronisingly corny attempt to beholden Australians to their remarkably unsophisticated sense of national identity. Holden was after all ‘Australia’s own car’.
Sadly, for thinking Australians, it was an extraordinarily successful campaign, which served to demonstrate our collective gullibility for national identity gibberish. The advertising ‘geniuses’ behind this campaign clearly recognised that Australia’s sense of itself was so shallow that it could be capitalised on. And that, they did with zeal.
The first car to be wholly manufactured in Australia was the Holden, launched in 1948. The design was based on a post-war Chevrolet proposal previously rejected by General Motors. Faint praise indeed. ‘Australia’s own car’ was an American reject and as disingenuous as a shrimp on Paul Hogan’s barbie. ‘Australia’s own car’ was a myth.
DANIEL ANDREWS
MARISE PAYNE
There is hope for the end of Australia’s apathy
As published in Independent Australia
Contemptible political and corporate forces impact heavily on our lives, but most Australians don’t care. It’s crazy but true.
Sure, the broader society views the establishment with disgust and disdain. And yes, trust is at an all time low. And lack of confidence in the system is understandable.
But these cannot be excuses for not caring – quite the opposite.
Collective disengagement – apathy on a grand scale – has become a national cancer, and the prognosis is not good. Continued inaction will invite the Grim Reaper to remove the Australian soul.
It’s time for Scott Morrison to play God
As published in Independent Australia
What is one human life worth? What is more important, human life or economics? Scott Morrison and world leaders face these and more dilemmas. They are required to ‘play God’ in matters of life or death.
Morrison has declared Australia has flattened the curve of coronavirus infections, and the time is right to flatten the curve of unemployment.
This is a misguided analogy. “Back to work” is his new mantra, and with that comes the start of reopening society.
This is good news for millions of Australians, but it begs the question: At what cost of life?