News update for Wed 14 Aug 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 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
Young men vote for the left... in Britain, and lots of English-speaking countries - John Quiggin
One of the striking features of the racist riots in Britain has been the wide spread of ages among those (nearly all men) convicted so far[1]. This is unusual, since criminal violence of all kinds is most commonly associated with young men. And it’s a counter-example to what has become a standard talking point.
The belief that young men have shifted strongly to the right and far-right has become a background assumption for lots of political journalism. But there’s plenty of evidence that, in Britain and other English-speaking countries[2], both young men and young women are more likely to support left and centre-left parties. The recent UK election gives a striking example.
Marina Hyde: So Donald chatted with Elon, and here’s the future as they see it – losers win, incompetence rules - The Guardian
Would you like to travel in the advance party to Mars, aboard the space rocket of a man who can’t sort a livestream? Ideally you would have to get in line for this species-level honour behind thousands of Earth’s leading shitposters, who not only trust implicitly in X owner Elon Musk, but truly believe that if they grind away for hours a day telling him that on his platform, one day he will see one of those posts. I hope he does, guys!
In the meantime, my favourite recent headline on this interplanetary settlement programme ran “Elon Musk denies his sperm will seed Mars colony”. Sure. It’s just a hunch, but I feel like they’re going to have way more sperm than they need up there. It’s the other bit necessary for human life that you sense will be in shorter supply.
Read more from Marina Hyde for The Guardian
Also >
UAW files charge against Donald Trump and Elon Musk over strike threat - The Guardian
Why have Musk and Trump become best friends? - The News Agents Podcast
‘The dumbest climate conversation of all time’: experts on the Musk-Trump interview - The Guardian
Why is a Senator suing Brittany Higgins? - The Daily Aus Podcast
WA Senator Linda Reynolds is suing former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins for defamation. It’s the latest in a long string of lawsuits that have been unfolding since Higgins first came out publicly with allegations against her former colleague Bruce Lehrmann. In today’s deep dive, we explain why a Senator is suing her former staffer, what the case has heard so far and what could happen next.
Listen to The Daily Aus Podcast
Also read >
Scott Morrison testifies in Linda Reynolds’ defamation trial against Brittany Higgins - Women’s Agenda
Dear Scott Morrison, you are NOT the victim in the ordeal of Brittany Higgins - Bernard Keane for Crikey (paywall)
Less about climate change, more on reducing migration: here’s what matters most to Australian voters - The Conversation
Just prior to the last federal election in 2022, we surveyed Australians for their views on the important issues facing Australia using the Melbourne Institute-Roy Morgan Taking the Pulse of the Nation Survey, a nationally representative survey of Australian adults.
Top on the list were health care, open and honest government, economic stability, and housing affordability. The 2022 federal election then saw a change in government.
The survey asked Australians the same question in May 2024. While Australians still consider health services, economic stability, housing affordability, and open and honest government as the top four issues facing Australia, the magnitude of concern and the ranking of these issues have changed. Other issues have emerged as needing more attention.
Here’s what Australians told us about their priorities and what that says about how the country is changing.
Michael Pascoe: The Reserve Bank fibs and has no idea about wages causing inflation - Michael West Media
Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock last week set out to kill expectations of an interest rate cut. She succeeded, but that doesn’t mean a cut isn’t coming.
Here’s the thing about Reserve Bank interest rate guidance: the RBA will downplay the chance of an interest rate cut right up to the minute it cuts them – and even then, it will warn it might put them up again.
RBA Governor Michele Bullock last week achieved her goal of scaring the horses about a possible interest rate rise. The commentariat (almost) universally swallowed it, and according to the Westpac/Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment survey, the public did, too.
Read more from Michael Pascoe for Michael West Media
Nicki Hutley: The RBA poured cold water on an interest rate cut before Christmas – but its hawkish stance may make inflation even worse - The Guardian
For several months now, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has been communicating that, when it comes to interest rate policy, it would rule nothing in or out. The message was that inflation was slowly heading back to target and the RBA was prepared to be patient. It did not want to speed up the return to lower inflation at the cost of pushing Australia into recession. Both upside and downside risks meant a higher than usual level of uncertainty, but these were roughly balanced.
Read more from Nicki Hutley for The Guardian
Also read > Maybe only a recession will fix macroeconomic management - Pearls and Irritations
NAPLAN results again show 1 in 3 students don’t meet minimum standards. These kids need more support - The Conversation
The latest national NAPLAN results are out and the results are very similar to last year.
In both 2023 and 2024 we have seen about one in three school students fall short of minimum numeracy and literacy expectations and about one in ten needing additional support.
What does this mean?
Also read >
‘Disappointing’ numeracy and students ‘falling through cracks’: latest Naplan results in six graphs - The Guardian
Are the latest NAPLAN results really an ‘epic fail’? - The Conversation
Today’s cartoon by Cathy Wilcox for The SMH/Age
TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS: See all the breaking news of the day through The Guardian here - and through 6 News here
Ross Gittens: The Alan Joyce effect: Why business bosses get to run amok - The SMH
There’s a vital lesson to be learnt from the latest episode in the saga of former chief executive Alan Joyce’s ignominious departure from Qantas last year: these days, no one’s in control of the capitalist ship.
It seems clear that, in his last years in the job, Joyce decided to give the size of his final payout priority over the maintenance of good relationships with the company’s staff and customers. He left Qantas suddenly in September last year with what was to have been a package of $23 million, including his final-year salary and bonuses.
Read more from Ross Gittens for The SMH/Age
Nancy Pelosi: ‘Pot calling the kettle black’ - Pearls and Irritations
Nancy Pelosi said of my recent 7.30 interview ‘it is not in the security interest of the Asia-Pacific region for people to talk that way’ – that is, of my remarks in respect of Taiwan.
This is from the former leader of the US House of Representatives who, in a recklessly indulgent visit to Taiwan in 2022, very nearly brought the United States and China to a military confrontation – for the first time since the Second World War.
In fact, Pelosi had to be warned by her president, Joe Biden, and with him, the Pentagon, of the military risks of her visit. President Biden, in strong and public language directed to Pelosi said, ‘the military thinks it’s not a good idea right now’.
But this is the same Nancy Pelosi who thinks my remarks about ‘One China’ – a policy which the whole world recognises as one country, China and Taiwan – are in some way out of line.
Read more from Paul Keating for Pearls and Irritations
Also >
America is the most violent, aggressive country in the world - John Menadue for Pearls and Irritations
The rich are getting richer: Australia’s wealth divide continues to widen - The Guardian
The wealth of the richest 200 people in Australia is equivalent to nearly a quarter of national GDP, with researchers warning that if this trend continues, wealth disparity will soon destroy any remaining semblance of equality in Australian society.
The wealth of the very rich has more than tripled in the past two decades, from 8.4% of Australia’s GDP in 2004 to 23.7% of GDP in 2024, with the top fifth of households holding wealth 146 times greater than the bottom fifth, according to research released on Tuesday by the Australia Institute.
The gambling industry is pulling out all the stops to prevent an ad ban, but the evidence is against it - The Conversation
With parliament sitting this week, the federal government is trying to finalise its proposed laws to limit gambling advertising.
The current proposal is a partial ban, with limits to ads during general TV programming. Previously, a parliamentary committee, chaired by late Labor MP Peta Murphy, unanimously recommended banning gambling ads entirely.
The betting industry, unsurprisingly, doesn’t want a full ban. Speaking on ABC Radio, the chief executive of Responsible Wagering Australia (the peak body for the industry), Kai Cantwell, argued bans push gamblers to illegal offshore services. He said this has already happened in parts of Europe. He also rejected suggestions advertising was normalising gambling to children.
But is that true? What does the evidence say about ad bans like this?
Also read >
Does free-to-air TV really need gambling ads to survive? - The Conversation
Anthony Albanese is trying to have a bet each way on gambling ads. Chances are he’s about to lose - Malcolm Farr for The Guardian
Will banning gambling advertisements improve women’s safety? - Women’s Agenda
‘I was never taken seriously’: Managing pain in prison - The Justice Map
There is a renewed push for painkillers such as panadol to be more freely available in Australian prisons and for the pain of people in prison to be taken more seriously.
In early 2022, a simple experiment was conducted at the Townsville Correctional Complex.
Across the year, painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen were made available through the prisoner buy-up, rather than only through a prescription as they were previously limited, and continue to be in most prisons in the country.
The trial expanded to the whole prison and ran for the whole year, with more than 9000 painkiller packets bought through the scheme, which allowed individuals to buy up to 10 paracetamol and 12 ibuprofen per buy-up, and to hold twice that much in their cell in total.
Read more from Denham Sadler for The Justice Map
Matt Kean’s cosy new job and Labor’s tattered climate credentials - Crikey
When did the Albanese government know this appointment was on the cards? Why isn’t it concerned?
Just over a month after Matt Kean was appointed chair of the Climate Change Authority (CCA), he has taken up a role that raises serious perceived conflict of interest concerns. The former NSW Liberal treasurer and energy minister is now also the director of strategic partnerships and regulatory affairs at Wollemi Capital, a private climate and environmental investment fund.
In other words, Kean will advise the government on climate policy while also representing a company whose profits rely on these policy settings.
So, when did the Albanese government know this appointment was on the cards? And why isn’t it concerned?
Read more from Nick Feik for Crikey (paywall)
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A Punter's Guide to Spotting Reliable Information Online - Feat. Chas from Planet America - Punters Politics Podcast
Tough year’: Seven’s profits plunge 69% amid allegations of toxic work culture - The Guardian
Beijing-based 'Green Cicada' AI network uncovered on social media, fears of US election disruption - The ABC
Why are child carers still paid less than retail workers? And how can we help fix it? - The Conversation
Parallel lives: Indigenous women united by murder, driven by desperation for change - The Guardian
The forces threatening Labor’s re-election agenda - The Guardian’s Full Story Podcast
What is Zionism? Who is responsible for Israel’s crimes, Jews or Zionists? - Pearls and Irritations
The government is developing a new digital ID system. It must first gain the public’s trust - The Conversation
Labor urges court to bin obligations so it can keep documents secret in event of ministry changes - The Guardian
Amber Harrison turns to Nine and News Corp after Four Corners snub - Mumbrella
Fossil fuels kill more people than smoking: report - The ABC
Victoria’s about-face on raising the age is its surrender to a fear campaign - The Guardian
TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS: See all the breaking news of the day through The Guardian here - and through 6 News here
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You’re up to date for Wednesday the 14th of August. See you tomorrow!
TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS: See all the breaking news of the day through The Guardian here - and through 6 News here