News update for Thur 12 June 2025

Your trusted guide to the top independent news and views of the day...

Jun 12, 2025

Welcome to your TrueNorth news update where every weekday afternoon we share curated articles from Australia’s independent news media sector.

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TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: See all the breaking news of the day through The Guardian here - and through 6 News here

Goodbye to all that? Rethinking Australia’s alliance with Trump’s America - The Conversation

Even the most ardent supporters of the alliance with the United States – the notional foundation of Australian security for more than 70 years – must be having some misgivings about the second coming of Donald Trump.

If they’re not, they ought to read the two essays under review here. They offer a host of compelling reasons why a reassessment of the costs, benefits and possible future trajectory of the alliance is long overdue.

If there’s one thing both authors agree on it’s that the AUKUS nuclear submarine project, the notional centrepiece of Australia’s future security is vastly overrated. It’s either a “disaster” (Shortis) or “insignificant” (White).

Likewise, they agree the US is only going to help Australia if it’s judged to be in America’s interest to do so. Recognising quite what an ill-conceived, ludicrously expensive, uncertain project AUKUS is, and just how unreliable a partner the US has become under Trump, might be a useful step on the path to national strategic self-awareness.

Now is the time for brave reform - Follow The Money Podcast

A housing crisis, accelerating climate change and widening inequality all confront the re-elected Albanese Government, but the solutions exist (and often aren’t that complicated). The government is confronting major challenges in its second term. But despite what we’re often told, there is no shortage of solutions – governments just need the courage to implement them. On this episode of Follow the Money, we hear from four leading policy thinkers – Richard Denniss, Maiy Azize, Polly Hemming and Thomas Mayo – about making big, bold ideas a reality.

Listen to the Follow the Money Podcast

Also > As Australia campaigns for Cop31 hosting rights, it’s time to stop talking and start doing - The Guardian

Flying shoes, a viral BLM speech and that leather jacket: Q+A’s most memorable moments - The Guardian

The ABC’s storied panel show is ending after 18 years – but its polarising topics and infamous arguments will live on in Australia’s collective memory.

After 18 years, one of the national broadcaster’s flagship programs, Q+A, is dead.

ABC confirmed the axing on Wednesday, a day after staff were warned of cuts.

The ABC’s news director, Justin Stevens, said it was time for the broadcaster to “rethink how audiences want to interact and to evolve how we can engage with the public to include as many Australians as possible in national conversations”.

Michael Pascoe: Bugger all in it. The truth of the super scare campaign - Michael West Media

As Labor is negotiating the final details of the new “super tax” with the Greens to ensure it passes the Senate, the shrill calls about the unfairness of it continue. Michael Pascoe sets the record straight.

Funny how a committed values-free media campaign can warp perspective. For example, there are simple souls, or useful idiots, who’ve been led to believe the Federal Government wants to double the tax on superannuation earnings for 80,000 Australians, thereby ending capitalism as we know it and enslaving our grandchildren.

Never let facts get in the way of a good beat up.

Also read >

Wealthy Australians are worried we might realise how rigged the system is in their favour - Greg Jericho for The Guardian
White phosphorus, blood-red money. Australian Super profiting from genocide - Michael West Media

Hearing voices: why the Nats should be watching their backs - The Australia Institute

The community independent movement did not begin in Sydney or Melbourne, but in the bush.

It was in the rural Victorian seat of Indi, encompassing Wodonga and Wangaratta, that independent Cathy McGowan was drafted by community group Voices of Indi.

In 2013, McGowan delivered the Liberal Party its only loss when she won the formerly safe seat from Sophie Mirabella.

The subsequent success of inner city “teals” – community independents like Zali Steggall, Monique Ryan and Kate Chaney – is evidence that Liberal neglect of classical-liberal and metropolitan voters has come back to haunt them.

But soul searching is due in the bush as well, particularly among Nationals.

Jewish Council condemns Nike for dropping Grace Tame - DeepCut

Nike’s decision to end its deal with Grace Tame is “incredibly bad for democracy”, says Jewish Council of Australia.

Nike ended its partnership with Grace Tame, the 2021 Australian of the Year and prominent advocate for survivors of sexual assault, last Friday. The decision followed reports in the rightwing outlet The Australian, which criticised Tame's social media posts supporting Palestinian human rights.

On May 30, The Australian took aim at two posts Tame shared to her Instagram Story.

The Australian described the posts as "attacks on Jews" and in a follow-up article on June 2, claimed Tame was amplifying "anti-Semitic claptrap".

Nike responded in the June 2 report, telling The Australian they were reviewing their partnership with Tame, adding that "Nike does not stand for any form of discrimination, including antisemitism". Four days later, Nike terminated the partnership valued at $100,000 and originally due to expire in December this year.

The shocking death toll from inaction in prisons - Full Story Podcast

A Guardian Australia investigation reveals the government inertia behind the suicide crisis in Australian jails. Dozens of inmates have killed themselves in the past two decades using ligature points that authorities knew about, but failed to remove. Reporters Ariel Bogle and Christopher Knaus speak to Reged Ahmad about why the warnings are still being ignored and what it will take to stop these preventable deaths

Listen to the Full Story Podcast

Also >

Ministerial responsibility and cabinet solidarity: Are they misaligned? - Pearls and Irritations

When Tony Abbott brought Malcolm Turnbull back into his shadow cabinet as communications spokesman in 2010, the then Opposition leader mocked Turnbull by calling him the inventor of the internet.

Abbott didn’t need to persuade the voter that he was unable to get his head around the idea of the internet or its connection to the National Broadband Network. But even the half-attentive voter knew Abbott had got his head around one simple misanthropic notion: Never give your political opponent credit for success.

The Woodside extension is arguably also a betrayal of Australian voters.

Could this be the death of Australia’s nightmarish welfare system? - Crikey

Mutual obligation is one of the last great shibboleths of Australian politics. Now the entire system is under scrutiny with potentially big implications for our welfare system.

The Commonwealth ombudsman, Iain Anderson, released a short statement last week.

“I commenced an investigation on 4 February 2025 into the Targeted Compliance Framework (TCF) to examine if income support payment cancellation decisions were being made and implemented in a manner that is lawful, fair and reasonable. Following my office’s review of information from relevant agencies, I have decided to expand the scope of the investigation.”

Tasmania likely heading for another minority government after next month’s snap election - The Conversation

Tasmania’s election on July 19 will be a welcome circuit breaker following the recent mayhem and dysfunction which has addled state politics.

Governor Barbara Baker has finally granted Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s wish for an election to end the impasse after he lost a no-confidence vote earlier this month.

Voters will be heading back to the polls just 16 months after the last state election. There was no other option, given Labor leader Dean Winter had ruled out forming a government that needed Greens support.