News update for Fri 19 April 2024
Your trusted guide to the top independent news and views of the day...
Welcome to your TrueNorth news update where every weekday afternoon we share selected articles from Australia’s independent news media sector.
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Dutton squints at Labor’s industrial vision - The Saturday Paper
True to form, Dutton’s initial response to the Government's Future Made in Australia plan has been negative – to shout, without any evidence or detail, that Albanese is taking our country down a “dangerous path”. However, he won’t be able to get away with slogans and one-liners when it comes to the parliamentary debate on the prime minister’s promised legislation.
Read more from John Hewson for The Saturday Paper
The Great Housing Disaster: The minister for housing - 7am Podcast
At the end of the day, the people who decide what path Australia takes to solve the housing crisis are those in government. In this episode, we speak to the federal minister for housing, Julie Collins. Does the government think we’re in a crisis? How does she plan to ensure we all have a safe and affordable place to call home?
Newsroom edition: from Bruce Lehrmann to violence in Sydney – what happens when the media gets it wrong? – The Guardian Full Story podcast
This week the devastating killings at Bondi junction, the attack at Wakeley and the long-awaited judgement in the Bruce Lehrmann defamation trial dominated the headlines. Sensitive, traumatic and often violent images flooded people’s feeds.
Bridie Jabour speaks to editor-in-chief Lenore Taylor and head of newsroom Mike Ticher about getting breaking news right, and what happens when we get it wrong
Also read > Supporting independent public interest media - Pearls and Irritations
How Australia has created the perfect storm for a baby drought - Women’s Agenda
Population scientists, policymakers and politicians are worried about the new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing we are experiencing one of the lowest fertility rates in history. The predicted average rate is 1.6 babies for each woman, lower than the international average of 2.3.
Why are women having fewer babies in many countries around the world? How did we get to this point in Australia, and why does it matter?
UN watchdog warns Australia after failure to provide timely report on detention conditions - The Guardian
The United Nations’ anti-torture watchdog has issued a blunt warning to the Australian government for dragging its feet after a failure to update progress on improving the treatment of detainees across state prisons and immigration detention facilities.
Cartoon by David Rowe for The Australian Financial Review
TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS: See all the breaking news of the day through The Guardian here - and through 6 News here
Australia’s new defence strategy is big on ideas, but lacks one key ingredient: well-trained soldiers - The Conversation
There have been a lot of defence announcements recently about buying new equipment, building up Australia’s manufacturing capabilities, creating local jobs, new legislation to support AUKUS and even a new defence chief.In many respects, these simply reflect that the Department of Defence is busy, regularly spending a lot of money on a lot of things, and that ministers like announcing good news. However, the latest news related to Australia’s National Defence Strategy this week is of a different kind.
Dan Duggan’s extradition. Lost in a geopolitical quagmire of laws and treaties? - Michael West Media
Australian Dan Duggan has languished in jail for almost two years, awaiting extradition to the US. However, there are signs the Americans may not be able to get their hands on him, at least for a while.
Read more from Andrew Gardiner reports for Michael West Media
Also read > US assurance for Assange a fantasy - Pearls and Irritations
Secrets of the weapons trade - Pearls and Irritations
The Australian government is obscuring weapons exports to Israel despite International Court’s ruling to oppose ‘plausible genocide’.It is the standard government talking point: “Australia is not sending weapons to Israel and has not done so for the past five years.”However it’s a line that doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Read more in Pearls & Irritations
Once more unto the den: Lehrmann cops a mauling - The Shot
The cyclonic wind that whistled across the nation at 1:15pm last Monday was the exhalation of a thousand sighs of blessed relief as survivors, women and their allies digested Justice Lee’s stark finding:
“Mr Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins.”
The judgment confirmed Bruce Lehrmann as the latest member of the club of hubristic men who believe their reputations can be quarantined from their shameful acts and treat the courts as a convenient tool to spin their false narratives.
Read more from Jo Dyer for The Shot
Noely Neate and Cheryl Kernot joins SpinProof
After a large and unsettling week Denise reaches out to SpinProof regulars Noely Neate and Cheryl Kernot where they talk about the dreadful events of the week at Bondi Junction and at a Church in Sydney's south west. They speak about the underfunding of vital services such as mental health care - particularly when funding seems so available for defence. They also spend some time on the media's role in these events - and the focus social media has attracted. A wide ranging conversation which is worth listening to.
Listen to the replay of the SpinProof podcast
The threat within - The Politics
Clearly, elements of the media want to heighten tensions when it comes to the terrorist threat, stirring up perceived perils related to multiculturalism. But all it proves to do is distract from the much larger issue of men’s willingness to use violence as a form of expression.
The problem has been identified, and our leaders are talking about it, but one question remains to be answered: what’s next?
Read more from Daniel James for The Politics
Q. Where did Australia place in the world budget management rankings released by the International Monetary Fund in its half-yearly update this week? ?
1. 2nd
2. 10th
3. 7th
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Suicide of 10-year-old boy under WA government's care described as 'unimaginable' - ABC
Peter Dutton and high-profile Liberals staring down challenge from independents - The New Daily
Many suicides are related to gambling. How can we tackle this problem? - The Conversation
Biden, Netanyahu and the golden rule - Pearls and Irritations
Hundreds of farmers gather amid fears of worsening drought, condemn WA government response - ABC
TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS: See all the breaking news of the day through The Guardian here - and through 6 News here
Read more from Tim Dunlop > Some comments about the case involving Bruce Lehrmann and Channel 10
Share your views on Australia’s media landscape through TrueNorth’s short survey
You’re up to date for Friday the 19th of April. See you on Monday!
TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS: See all the breaking news of the day through The Guardian here - and through 6 News here