News update for Wed 19 March 2025
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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TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS UPDATES: See all the breaking news of the day through The Guardian here - and through 6 News here
How our global friends can help us: Don’t come here - Robert Reich
I’m addressing this letter especially to those of you who live in other lands.
As you probably know, we here in the United States are facing the biggest emergency in the history of our democracy, and we need your help.
Trump and other members of his regime (Elon Musk, JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi) are actively undermining our system of government — usurping Congress’s power to fund the government, saying they “don’t care” what judges say, arresting peaceful protesters, investigating Trump’s “enemies,” siding with Putin against Ukraine, encouraging bigotry, and sowing widespread fear.
How can you help us?
Also read >
Trump’s further descent into dictatorship - Robert Reich
The next round in the US trade war has the potential to be more damaging for Australia - The Conversation
It’s not just a plummeting Tesla — investors are fleeing the US altogether - Crikey (paywall)
Josh Butler: Anatomy of a ‘thought bubble’: is the Coalition serious about a referendum on deporting criminals? - The Guardian
Will Peter Dutton take his plan to the election? Comments in public and behind the scenes on Tuesday suggested mixed feelings among the Coalition.
At 7am on Tuesday, Peter Dutton was publicly discussing reports of his suggestion for a referendum on stripping citizenship from dual nationals convicted of serious crimes.
But by mid-morning, the opposition leader’s shadow attorney general, Michaelia Cash, was telling media: “We have no plans to hold a referendum at this stage.”
Also >
Talking tough or scapegoating - Democracy Sausage Podcast with Mark Kenny
Wait, Dutton likes ‘divisive’, ‘dangerous’ referendums now? - Crikey (paywall)
Peter Dutton wants to deport criminal dual citizens. We already have laws for that - The Conversation
Coalition MPs told to hose down prospect of referendum on criminal dual nationals - The ABC
‘Frankly terrifying’: Albanese‘s secret climate report - 7am Podcast
In December last year, a group of crossbenchers dialled into a secret call with the Albanese government. It was to get a briefing on a government-commissioned report on the national security risks posed by climate change – a report the government has been sitting on since early 2023. Described by one senator as “frankly terrifying”, the Climate Risk Assessment report has not been shared with the Greens, the Coalition, or even the relevant parliamentary committee on intelligence. Now, as the federal election looms, crossbenchers warn it’s “recklessly negligent” to keep the report’s findings hidden from Australians. Today, chief political correspondent for The Saturday Paper, Karen Barlow, on why the government is keeping national security threats a secret.
Also read >
Dutton vows fast-track approval for Woodside's North West Shelf gas behemoth - ABC News
Dutton’s pledge to fast-track approval of Woodside gas expansion opens door to lawsuits, Plibersek says - The Guardian
Dollars over democracy. Is the Election Reform Bill fit for purpose? - Michael West Media
The recent Electoral Reform Bill does not remove big money from politics, as Labor decreed, but shifts it towards the major parties, masking fundamental issues with the law. Professor of Law Richard Cullen explains.
Recently enacted federal legislation applying limits on individual electioneering funding and expenditure has proved to be controversial. Meanwhile, another bout of (judicial) law-making over 30 years ago related to elections has long menaced the operation of Australian democracy at each passing election.
Late last year, the Albanese government and the federal opposition agreed to enact new election-related, political donation and spending caps to come into effect after the approaching 2025 federal election.
Read more in Michael West Media
We lose more on gambling than Australia spends on aged care: A look at gambling harm and what we can do about it - Women’s Agenda
The gambling industry, collectively, is extremely wealthy and protects its revenue stream ruthlessly.
They have had decades of relatively little pushback, and have skillfully played on “Aussie values” to claim that gambling is normal, simply entertainment, and not harmful. There’s been a revolving door of former MPs who move into positions with gambling companies or their lobby firms. There’s a very strong link between clubs and some MPs who are reluctant to criticise the business model of their local clubs. MPs remember the coordinated attacks on Julia Gillard when she agreed to look at regulation of poker machines in return for Andrew Wilkie’s support, and that lead directly to her dumping her promises to him.
An incomplete patchwork with no funding: Australia still in breach of OPCAT obligations - The Justice Map
No jurisdiction is fully compliant with their OPCAT obligations, despite Australia ratifying the anti-torture agreement more than seven years ago.
In February 2024, attorneys-general from each state and territory met in Melbourne.
The communique stated that they agreed that each jurisdiction would “continue to cooperatively and progressively work towards compliance with OPCAT”.
At the time, Australia had already been in breach of its obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OCPAT) for several years, with a funding impasse between the Commonwealth and state governments hampering any real progress.
Read more from Denham Sadler for The Justice Map
Also read > We rally against gendered violence. Why are we silent about prisons? - Women’s Agenda
Today’s cartoon by Cathy Wilcox
TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS: See all the breaking news of the day through The Guardian here - and through 6 News here
Join the new Boiling Point community - where we’re growing a group of politically informed Australians in the lead up to the 2025 federal election. See details and sign up here.
Submitting to, or trying to placate, bullies never works - Pearls and Irritations
Europeans are doing it, the great bruiser Doug Ford is doing it, Mark Carney is gearing up to do it – even Keir Starmer is doing it. But it’s a dance our very own prime minister isn’t doing.
Whatever reputation as a factional bruiser Albo might once have had, it has been diminished along with his prime ministerial performance.
The latest problem is a cringemaking offer to let Trump access our critical minerals. Now Australia has a long history of letting foreigners take over our minerals and resources, profit massively from them and then avoid paying tax. Back in the day, we also let English companies take over vast tracts of agricultural land and reap massive profits from them.
Now Albanese is offering deals on critical metals to Trump in return for some unspecified favours – presumably tariff relief.
Read more in Pearls and Irritations
The Truth About 'Teals': Punters' Audit Vs Simon Holmes à Court - Punters Politics Podcast
Simon Holmes à Court, the son of Australia's first billionaire and founder of Climate 200, explains how he's helping everyday Aussies challenge the two-party system by supporting community independents who put their local area ahead of party politics.
Listen to Konrad for The Punters Politics Podcast
Also > Why climate matters this election - and how to make sure you vote like it, with Climate Council CEO Amada McKenzie - Better Than Yesterday Podcast with Osher Günsberg
Bulk billing and Medicare will come up constantly in the election campaign. What are the facts? - The Guardian
Doctors and health policy experts say the changes are a much-needed boost to funding, and will improve healthcare access in rural and regional areas, but they think more changes are needed.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has advocated increasing the rebate for longer consultations to prioritise the care of people with chronic health conditions.
The health policy experts Peter Breadon and Elizabeth Baldwin from the Grattan Institute argue that broader changes are needed to the funding model for primary care and suggest funding should be more flexible to provide better support for people with chronic conditions.
The Israel-Hamas ceasefire didn’t resolve any deep-seated issues. Now, it’s shattered
When a ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel finally came into effect on January 19, the world breathed a collective sigh of relief.
However, that ceasefire agreement, and its associated negotiations, have now been cast aside by new Israeli attacks on Gaza.
A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the strikes came after Hamas’ “repeated refusals” to “release our hostages”, and the group’s rejection of all proposals presented by US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
Also read > ‘A nightmare come true’: Palestinians flee again after Israel’s attacks on Gaza - The Guardian
The mask is off: Dutton’s Liberals are no party of liberalism - Crikey
In a decade, the Liberals have gone from supporting the rights of bigots to wanting to deport them. What happened? It’s not just Dutton.
This year will go down as the juncture at which the last remaining liberalism left the Liberals, driven out by right-wingers more in the MAGA Republican mould than either the historical Liberal Party or even the outfit headed by John Howard.
The signs have been accumulating for a while under Peter Dutton. The antipathy to big business (other than fossil fuels) and the embrace of divestment powers. The colossal big-government plan to spend hundreds of billions on government-owned nuclear power plants (compare the Howard government, which commissioned Ziggy Switkowski to conclude that nuclear reactors might be a good idea but only with a carbon price, and left it at that).
Read more from Bernard Keane for Crikey (paywall)
Roll up! Roll up! This show is a gas! - The Politics
Like ghosts of winters past, the hot air about supply shortages is about to set your teeth chattering. Relax. Take a chill pill.
On Thursday, the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) releases its annual gas statement of opportunities, GSOO as it’s affectionately known. Cue scary headlines and claims of a looming “gas shortage” and a “catastrophic supply shortfall” unless we let the gas cartel unleash more fracking and mining of the fossil fuel.
For media companies, GSOO is manna from heaven — almost guaranteed to deliver a “warning” that, framed a certain way, can scare the bejesus out of people and pull in a big audience. For the gas industry, it’s an opportunity to demand more and more gas expansion and to castigate any government concerned about climate change and the environment.
Nothing short of bull
Read more from Stephen Long for The Politics
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Join the new Boiling Point community - where we’re growing a group of politically informed Australians in the lead up to the 2025 federal election. See details and sign up here.
Quick Links…
‘Staggeringly high’: Australian renters need $130k income to afford average property, report shows - The Guardian
The right knows that facts can’t compete with compelling stories, and it’s working - Crikey (paywall)
Lehrmann inquiry head Walter Sofronoff engaged in ‘serious corrupt conduct’, review finds - The Guardian
A letter to us all: What kind of democracy do we want? - Pearls and Irritations
Streets of Fear - Truth, Lies and Media Podcast
Laws governing space are 50 years old. New ones are needed to prevent it becoming a ‘wild west’ - The Conversation
Is Dutton a 'strong' leader? Is Albanese a 'weak' leader? - Pearls and Irritations
The danger of Australia’s obsession with big cars - Full Story Podcast
To recover Australia’s sovereignty, vote strategically - Pearls and Irritations
‘My eyes were truly opened’: Inside Pete Evans and RFK Jr’s global, anti-vaccine bond - Crikey (paywall)
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 19th of March. See you tomorrow!
TODAY’S BREAKING NEWS: See all the breaking news of the day through The Guardian here - and through 6 News here
Join the new Boiling Point community - where we’re growing a group of politically informed Australians in the lead up to the 2025 federal election. See details and sign up here.
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