What do a right-wing conspiracy theorist and an Australian government minister have to talk about? Quite a lot, it would seem. This week Cam Wilson broke the story of outgoing MP George Christensen’s appearance on Alex Jones’ talk show, where he spread mistruths about COVID-19, the vaccine and Australia’s response to the pandemic. Is this the blueprint for conservative politicians who will follow in the member for Dawson’s wake?

Also in Crikey this week Tito Ambyo wrote about Peta Credlin’s apology to the South Sudanese community… and wonders whether she would have done the same for Muslims. Bernard Keane looked at the states, digging into Dan Andrews’ border bureaucracy nightmare as well as Dominic Perrottet’s push to make the PM irrelevant. Amber Schultz examined the data on the COVID-19 vaccine’s effectiveness against Omicron. And Kishor Napier-Raman took on the consulting firm favoured by dictators, drug companies and… the federal government.

Find those stories, and plenty more from the Crikey team, below.

IAN MACPHEE 4 minute read

Ian Macphee was the Liberal member for Goldstein for 16 years. But next year he'll be casting his ballot for an independent who he says 'will do all that she can to return our federal Parliament to a democratic institution'.

AMBER SCHULTZ 3 minute read

'Respect' is a word the PM used about the former NSW premier, but he shows little of that for her and for other women in his ambit.

TITO AMBYO 3 minute read

Sky News is not alone in digging a deep well of fear of Muslims in Australia, but its high-profile host is certainly down and dirty in it.

CAM WILSON 4 minute read

I saw green, I saw red — and I saw dollar signs. Unfortunately my windfall is not mine for the taking. Welcome to the first instalment of CryptoCam.

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

The PM isn't merely pushing Gladys Berejiklian towards a Warringah run, he's waging war on institutions that might hold him accountable.

KEVIN RUDD 4 minute read

The campaign tackling Rupert Murdoch's abuses of media power is brave and necessary — and it has only just begun.

MICHAEL BRADLEY 3 minute read

We all agree that violence is generally bad and only rarely justified, right? Sometimes, though, a good hip-and-shoulder really speaks truth to power.

AMBER SCHULTZ 3 minute read

The good news is booster shots could enhance protection. The not-so-good news is fewer Australians are willing to have them.

LESLIE CANNOLD 3 minute read

The consequences of abortion are confined to the woman involved and perhaps her partner. The consequences of being unvaccinated affects all those around you.

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 4 minute read

What was once core government work is now the domain of the private consultants known as 'The Firm'.

GUY RUNDLE 5 minute read

If you think Labor has a chance in 2022, cast a glance over marginal seats around the country, which hint at a different outcome.

AMBER SCHULTZ 3 minute read

Far from being put off by shameful workplace practices in Parliament, women are instead inspired to enter politics to change from the inside.

DAVID HARDAKER 4 minute read

Was doing the right thing worth it for the ACCC's Takata airbag scandal whistleblower?

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

The true 'working-class man' has at last cut through: 'I may not always be the smoothest talker, but I'll always tell it straight.'

CHARLIE LEWIS 3 minute read

It's been another exhausting news week. How closely have you been paying attention?