Sukkar punch

SUCCOR FOR SUKKAR?

According to an investigation in the Nine papers, Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar was well aware of the use of taxpayer money to pay his “best friend, younger brother and factional supporters … for political work that boosted” his faction’s power. The revelations add to a previous investigation conducted by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and 60 Minutes last year. At the time, Sukkar claimed to know nothing of the scheme, blaming a relatively junior staffer.

But the documents uncovered appear to undermine that denial — particularly damning is an email apparently sent to Sukkar describing a taxpayer-funded electorate office engaging in “databasing of new members, supporting [redacted: factional operative], facilitating factional operations… she will take lead role in turning out numbers [faction members] and facilitating proxies for state council”.

Nine are being sued for defamation by former vice-president of the Victorian division of the Liberal Party, Marcus Bastiaan, and many of the new revelations feature in their “truth” defence court documents.

Following the initial allegations, the Finance Department conducted an investigation into Sukkar and, having found insufficient evidence against him, fought to keep their report confidential for a year, partly on account of “strong representations” against release from Sukkar and veteran MP Kevin Andrews.

The story calls yet more attention to the lack of a federal integrity body. Indeed, one thing holding Labor back from making too much hay from these new revelations is the fact that the Victorian state party is once again facing the spotlight. Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission is today resuming public hearings looking into “allegations of corrupt conduct involving Victorian public officers, including members of Parliament”. This is a continuation of Operation Watts, which has already revealed shocking misuse of public funds, particularly via the evidence of federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne.

[free_worm]

BY OUR POWERS COMBINED…

“Taking action on climate change is an economic and environmental imperative, and this is about ensuring states and territories are working together to address it,” said NSW treasurer and energy minister Matt Kean. “Greenhouse gas emissions do not recognise borders, and to tackle climate change we need a globally collaborative approach and that is what this forum is about.”

The plan is that ultimately other “sub-national” level governments around the world will join the forum. As ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Climate Action Andrew Barr puts it, “Sub-national governments have a vital role to play in getting to net zero emissions because we have some of the most important levers such as transport, buildings and energy”.

Meanwhile, the research and development sector, noting how much of the existing federal plan relies on technology that’s yet to be developed, is pushing for $2.4 billion in funding ahead of the next election. Australia invests around 1.8% of its economic output in research and development, while the average across the OECD is 2.5%.

NORTHERN EXPOSURE

Police in the Northern Territory have charged nine people following a protest against the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in Darwin over the weekend. NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker called the behaviour at the rally, where police and protesters clashed, “pretty disgraceful”.

“To every single person at that rally … you made yet again a very selfish decision,” he said. “There was a lockout in place, a lawful direction and you blatantly chose to ignore it.”

Greater Darwin is currently under lockout restrictions, now extended to midnight on Monday. On Saturday around 500 protesters forced their way through a police checkpoint set up to monitor compliance.

Meanwhile, the source of the initial cluster that triggered a lockdown in the town of Katherine has been identified. A 21-year-old woman will face a $5024 infringement notice after lying on her border entry form. 

SAY WHAT?

On October 28, 2021, Facebook decided to commit trademark infringement and call themselves ‘Meta’. They couldn’t buy us, so they tried to bury us by force of media.

Nate Skulic

So after all the hoopla about Facebook rebranding as Meta, it turns out apparently there was already a company called that, who were not delighted to find Zuck and co barrelling on and claiming the name regardless.

CRIKEY RECAP

Men sue, women soldier on: why are powerful blokes so thin-skinned?

Amber Schultz

Nov 05, 2021

40

“Take a look at this list of men who have sued in recent history: there’s Peter Costello who sued over a speech implying he was like the emperor with no clothes; South Australian Labor politician Ralph Clarke who sued over allegations of domestic violence; Malcolm Turnbull who sued after being called ‘part polymath, part sociopath’; Bob Hawke who sued most news outlets over the years for millions.

“Even when faced with bullying, former MP Julia Banks, former senator Lucy Gichuhi and former cabinet member Julie Bishop did not launch defamation proceedings. Neither did former prime minister Julia Gillard who was called a ‘witch’, had her body mocked at a Liberal dinner, and experienced near-daily threats of violent abuse and rape.”

---

Leaks and troughs: other Morrison opponents who read their private information in the paper

Charlie Lewis

Nov 05, 2021

27

Unlocked

“We almost never got Morrison the MP, let alone Morrison the PM. Back in 2007, making his first tilt at federal politics, he came up against a local candidate called Michael Towke in the first round of preselection for Cook. He lost, badly (people forget just how badly: it was 82 votes to 8).

“But then Morrison made some comments about “issues” around Towke and a series of stories appeared in The Daily Telegraph. As Paul Sheehan detailed, the rookie Morrison had made some powerful friends …”

---

Australia’s most exploitative industry exposed and humiliated by Fair Work Commission

Bernard Keane

Nov 05, 2021

49

“For decades, one of Australia’s worst industries for exploitation, abuse and harassment of workers has avoided the public opprobrium it richly deserves, skating by on its rural setting, its targeting of migrants and visitors, the unthinking support of journalists and the unconditional support of the National Party. It was even able to get Labor to do its bidding.

“Now the horticulture industry has been belted by the Fair Work Commission (FWC), which has dissected its exploitation and its efforts to cover it up and sell a story of pastoral idylls and happy migrants in bucolic settings.”

READ ALL ABOUT IT

Cleo Smith case sparks calls to treat Indigenous missing children cases equally (ABC)

‘A wonderful man’: Search for Perth shark attack victim Paul Millachip called off (WAToday)

A tale of two shires and the vaccination divide near the Qld border (Brisbane Times)

Tim Smith: Drink-driving MP to quit politics at 2022 election (The Australian)

NT Police charge 9 people following protest against COVID vaccine mandate in Darwin (SBS)

‘There could have been somebody else’: New clues in mystery of missing campers (The Age)

Iraqi PM al-Kadhimi survives drone attack on his home (BBC)

After months of setbacks, Biden finally gets long-sought win on infrastructure (The Washington Post)

Engine room firing as business stays open (The Australian)

A divided reopening: Australia’s uneven COVID spread makes states wary of lifting lockdown (NBC)

Travis Scott fans recount chaos amid deadly Astroworld concert crush, 14-year-old among 8 dead, criminal probe launched (ABC)

THE COMMENTARIAT

Indigenous people feel the climate crisis. Our land is a part of us — Tishiko King (The Sydney Morning Herald): “… As the oceans are rising, so too are First Nations people. We are the first scientists, the first innovators, and we have cared for our lands and waters for thousands of generations. It was the words of India Logan-Riley, a young Māori activist, who said what many of us have been thinking: ‘In the face of mediocre leadership, Indigenous people shine through … This COP, learn our histories, listen to our stories, honour our knowledge and get in line, or get out of the way.’”

Surging economy to be the key election battleground — Josh Fryenberg (The Australian): “Since the Coalition came to government in 2013, the economy is larger, growth is faster and more than 1.4 million additional people are in work. The gender pay gap has narrowed and unemployment is at a 12-year low. Australia has maintained its AAA credit rating from the three leading agencies, one of only nine countries in the world to do so. This has all been achieved despite Australia facing its largest economic shock since the Great Depression and its first recession in nearly 30 years.”

Obama’s pivot to Asia reminded Australia where its loyalties lay — James Curran (The Australian Financial Review): “[Barack] Obama used a major speech to a joint sitting of parliament in Canberra to pointedly remind his hosts of where their loyalties lay. The US was the leading investor in Australia, he stressed, and ‘economic partnerships can’t just be about one nation extracting another’s resources’. And he had a reminder for China that ‘no long-term strategy for growth can be imposed from above’. Prosperity without democracy, he added, ‘equals poverty’.”

HOLD THE FRONT PAGE

WHAT’S ON TODAY

Canberra

• Senate inquiry hearing on the definition of meat and other animal products.

• Veterans’ group Forsaken Fighters, refugee groups, and the Law Council of Australia are scheduled to appear at a Senate committee hearing on Australia’s engagement in Afghanistan.

• Scott Morrison will join with Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders online for an annual summit hosted by New Zealand.

• The Disability Royal Commission is holding two days of virtual hearings on the human rights of people with disability in Australian law, practice, and policy.

Sydney

• Indigenous elders, consultants, the Blue Mountains mayor, and others will appear at a hearing into a proposal to raise the Warragamba Dam wall.

Melbourne

• IBAC will recommence public hearings into allegations of serious corrupt conduct involving Victorian public officers, including members of Parliament, as part of Operation Watts.