News update for Thur 30 Jan 2025

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

Jan 30, 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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Scroll down for today’s news and views…

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

BREAKING NEWS: Investigation into Dural caravan with explosives ‘compromised’ by media leak, NSW police say - The Guardian

Australian democracy is not dead, but needs help to ensure its survival - The Conversation

Democracies worldwide are suffering from legitimacy problems. This is reflected in low levels of public trust in key political institutions, the polarisation of politics, and the erosion of public confidence in the capacity of governments to address societal concerns.

Citizens almost everywhere view their elected officials and public institutions with suspicion. They believe decisions are made to serve special interests rather than the common good. This culture of discontentment is leading to reduced civic engagement, increased polarisation, the rise of identity politics, and a general sense of disillusionment with the political process. It has also sparked an upsurge in speculation as to whether democracy is dying, in recession or crisis.

So how does Australia compare with this global pattern?

Serco’s ugly legacy in Australia’s immigration detention system - 7am Podcast

The company that’s run Australia’s immigration detention network for over a decade, British conglomerate Serco, has lost its contract, but not before helping build what’s been called one of the world’s ‘most extreme and secretive’ detention regimes. Across the life of the contract, there have been scandals, incidents of self-harm and allegations of mistreatment and disproportionate use of force. The federal government’s decision to dump Serco has been welcomed by advocates and former detainees, but with a new private prison operator taking over, there’s little optimism that conditions will improve. Today, journalist and contributor to The Saturday Paper Denham Sadler on Serco’s ugly legacy and the future of immigration detention in Australia

Listen to the 7am Podcast

Renewables break record for share of Australia’s main energy supply in December quarter, data reveals - The Guardian

Renewable power reached a record share of Australia’s main electricity supply in the December 2024 quarter, with the contribution of coal-fired generation dipping below 50% for the first time, the Australian Energy Market Operator said.

Renewable energy sources accounted for 46% of the overall supply mix in the national energy market (NEM), driving quarterly total emissions and emissions intensity to record low levels.

Wealth inequality. Housing cost is hollowing out middle Australia - Michael West Media

Australians are among the wealthiest people on the planet yet life has never felt harder for many. How can this be?

A new research paper has highlighted the plight of middle Australia, which has, over the past two decades, experienced a fall in economic circumstances relative to both low and high-wealth households.

This squeezing of middle Australia coincides with and exacerbates, the cost-of-living crisis of the past few years, mostly borne with outward stoicism and an irreverent sense of humour.

The demonisation of the Palestine movement fuels anti-Muslim racism - Overland

The spate of anti-Muslim racist attacks around the country are being fuelled by the anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian policies of mainstream politicians. Political attempts to undermine the Palestine movement and bipartisan support for Israel’s genocide are causing this.

Mariam Tohamy, a member of Teachers and School Staff for Palestine NSW, was the victim of a vicious, racist attack in Kmart Bankstown recently. Community leader Sheikh Wesam Charkawi was almost killed by a car driven by the same perpetrator. These attacks are propelled from the top of society and require a political response.

An open letter to Israelis: Where to from here?

Return to the hell of conflict or forward to peace and security?

Just when the world was hopeful that the war of genocide was coming to an end, the Israeli government launched a new round of violence, destruction and bloodshed against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Israelis often talk about their quest for security and peace with the Arabs while, at the same time, they colonise Palestine, oppress its people, ethnically cleanse them, confiscate their properties, treat them as second-class citizens, wage a war of genocide, and prevent those they ethnically cleansed from their right of return to their homeland. Are they really serious, and who are they kidding? Do they think the world is blind? Have 77 years of conflict with the Palestinian people and the events of 7 October taught them nothing?

How to win a cost-of-living election - The Full Story Podcast

Around the world, soaring inflation has pushed voters to turn on incumbent governments. But one country bucked the trend – Mexico, where the leftwing Morena party recorded a landslide victory. The key to its success? A policy platform built on minimum salary rises, labour reforms and price controls on staples. So are there lessons to be learnt from the country’s success for Anthony Albanese’s Labor party? Senior business reporter Jonathan Barrett tells Nour Haydar why so many governments didn’t survive high inflation, and what Labor could learn from the country that bucked the trend

Listen to The Full Story Podcast

Now 75 reasons why Dutton is unfit to be PM - Independent Australia

We firmly believe no self-respecting democracy deserves Peter Dutton as prime minister. And so, as he appears to model his political career on Donald Trump (who was inexplicably re-elected) and given the Coalition's recent success in the polls, we felt it was time to update the many reasons why Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is unfit to be Australia's next PM.

The list is a collection of dodgy deals, rorts, lies and a plethora of racism, sprinkled with a dose of good old bigotry and misogyny, here and there.

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Elusive Dutton pulls another disappearing act on anti-waste waste - Crikey

It’s always noteworthy when a major party politician decides not to send out a media transcript. Sometimes it’s for technical or resourcing reasons — especially for oppositions, where staff resources are much scarcer. But usually, it’s because the event covered wasn’t the politician’s finest moment.

Peter Dutton — like the prime minister, besotted with all things Western Australia — started the week over in the west. On Tuesday, he held a press conference in Kalamunda, on the eastern fringe of Perth. The media covered the opposition leader, with Guardian Australia even live-blogging the presser, so there was no problem with other people hearing what Dutton said.

Trump's Mafia World Order - The Rest Is Politics Podcast

How many ‘early warning signs of fascism’ are we seeing in the US? Has Trump delivered a fatal blow to America’s soft power around the world? Why does Alastair admire Prince Harry and his battle with the tabloids? Join Rory and Alastair as they answer all these questions and more.

Listen to The Rest is Politics Podcast

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