Off stage, another culture war emerges

OCTOBER 30, 2021

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The antics of our leaders hold special interest to Crikey — and this week the antic-level has been hitting a solid nine-plus on most days. Below are a few of our choice cuts covering the Nationals, the no-policy climate plan and, of course, the NSW ICAC inquiry into Gladys Berejiklian.

But along with the centre-stage antics there are some smaller issues emerging, such as the federal government’s new-found interest in voter ID laws. Both Kishor Napier-Raman and Guy Rundle have taken a squiz at this wannabe culture war over recent days. Outside of federal politics, Crikey has been writing about the so-called Delta-plus COVID variant, the search for Cleo Smith, and the fallout at Crown.

More antics next week no doubt, so stay tuned

Have a great weekend,

Peter Fray
Editor-in-chief

Carded at the ballot box

Voter ID laws come from nowhere, for no reason but to fuel the Coalition’s fightback

GUY RUNDLE 3 minute read

There's been zero fuss about voter fraud in Australia — so why is the Morrison government trying to bring in voter ID?

Why is the Morrison government suddenly worried about voter fraud?

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 3 minute read

The Australian Electoral Commission says multiple voting is 'vanishingly small' so introducing voter ID laws is more culture war than good policy.

How to get James Packer out of Crown

STEPHEN MAYNE 4 minute read

After 28 years, Melbourne's Crown Casino may finally lose the influence of the Packers. But how will it be done?

Everything we know about the new COVID-19 variant ‘Delta-Plus’

AMBER SCHULTZ 3 minute read

Preliminary evidence shows the new subvariant could be 15% more contagious. What makes it more transmissible, and is it behind the high case numbers in the UK?

Road, rail and dams: Barnaby may make us cringe but he emerges a winner this week

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 3 minute read

The deputy PM has boasted and gloated about just how clever he's been playing havoc with Australia's already useless net zero emissions plan.

The Berejiklian fallout

Daryl Maguire ‘had the ear of the premier’, ICAC told

MARGOT SAVILLE 2 minute read

A senior NSW bureaucrat has described the surprise he felt upon learning the apparent influence Daryl Maguire had with Gladys Berejiklian, as ICAC hearings continue.

Maguire tells ICAC hearing he loved Gladys and they had talked about having a child

MARGOT SAVILLE 3 minute read

The disgraced former MP also told the corruption inquiry the couple had holidayed together and he had had a key to her house.

Berejiklian promised Maguire she’d ‘throw money at Wagga’ once he left

MARGOT SAVILLE 4 minute read

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said she would 'overrule' bureaucrats standing in the way of the government 'throwing money' at Daryl Maguire's electorate.

Gladys the fixer looks fixed up

MARGOT SAVILLE 3 minute read

A defiant and slightly testy former premier slumps in her seat at the NSW ICAC inquiry as phone taps reveal how she 'fixed it' for Daryl Maguire.

‘They could be tapping my phone’: ICAC hears Maguire’s demands, suspicions in Berejiklian calls

MARGOT SAVILLE 3 minute read

NSW ICAC hearings continue to air revealing conversations between between Gladys Berejiklian and Daryl Maguire.

A child is missing. Can we do more to find Cleo?

MADONNA KING 3 minute read

Someone surely heard, saw or knows something about the disappearance of four-year-old Cleo Smith. We must use our many resources to find her.

Nine lives? Crown thrown another lifeline despite scathing royal commission report

GEORGIA WILKINS 3 minute read

The casino giant has managed to keep its licence but will have a 'special manager' to keep an eye on things. Will that be enough?

Net omissions: Morrison delivers a climate plan looking for a policy

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 3 minute read

Scott Morrison's plan for net zero emissions by 2050 is heavy on spin and light on detail, and leaves us none the wiser about the billion-dollar deals struck with the Nationals.

The Narrabri gas project was inevitable — and finally released emails prove it

GEORGIA WILKINS 2 minute read

FOI has given Australians just one more example of the Morrison government's lack of transparency and respect for due process.

Question Time: Climate inaction, back room deals and human whoopee cushions

CHARLIE LEWIS 1 minute read

Did you keep up with another exhausting news week? Prove it! Take the Question Time news quiz now.

What’s in a capital? A load of Cash when it comes to specialist women’s legal centres

AMBER SCHULTZ 3 minute read

Experts say funding does not provide the specialised approach needed by women who have experienced trauma.