Want lasting love? Learn to embrace the re-runs
...
read now
Category: Independent Commentary
Recent Independent Commentary
The climate crisis can’t wait: 2050 is too late
ClimateSam WainwrightIssue 1255Australianet zero emissionsFebruary 27, 2020Imagine we are all passengers on a bus careering down a hill towards a cliff. The bus is getting faster and, despite our desperate pleas to the driver to change course, it continues to head towards the precipice. Finally, the driver assures us they will jam
read now
Why the Kiwis aren’t coming over anymore
The comparative unemployment rates between Australia and New Zealand have been affecting migration. read now…
read now
Good morning. There is no news
ClimatemediaCassidy ChapmanIssue 1255AustraliaMurdoch’s News Corpclimate emergencyExtinction RebellionBrisbaneFebruary 27, 2020If you walked past a Brisbane newsstand on the morning of February 27, you may have noticed it was a little bare. That’s because three activists were elbow-deep in cement-filled barrels the night before, blockading the exit of News Corp’s Murarrie printing press.
read now
‘New Malaysia’ govt collapses from factionalism and crony politics
Malaysian politicsPeter BoyleIssue 1255MalaysiaPakatan HarapanSocialist Party of Malaysia (PSM)February 27, 2020When the Alliance of Hope (Pakatan Harapan) won the 2018 Malaysian general election — on the back of a sustained mass movement for democracy — it ended more than 60 years of continuous government by a coalition of parties put into power by
read now 
More Independent Commentary
Julian Assange, Political Offences and Legal Restraints: Day Three of Extradition Hearings
Wednesday, February 26, Woolwich Crown Court. Today, the focus shifted to the protagonist himself and the nature of the US-UK Extradition Treaty of 2003, a contentious document that shines all too favourably for US citizens.Julian Assange, whose deteriorating condition has been noted for months by psychologists, doctors and UN Special
read now
Blacktown Council declares climate emergency
Susan PriceIssue 1255AustraliaFebruary 27, 2020After a community campaign, Blacktown City Council in western Sydney has become the latest local council to declare a climate emergency. Activists from Cool Down Western Sydney organised petitions and collected nearly 1000 signatures from local residents supporting the declaration. Pictured are activists from Cool Down Western
read now 
Turkey: Tens of thousands attend HDP congress
Turkish politicsAlex BainbridgeIssue 1255TurkeyPeoples’ Democratic Party (HDP)AnkaraFebruary 27, 2020More than 20,000 people attended the fourth congress of the left-wing People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey on February 23. Participants included more than 1000 delegates and at least 100 international guests from more than 25 countries. Opposition to fascism and authoritarianism and
read now
Assange stands up to the courts — but what of the press?
The Julian Assange case is a wake-up call for the global criminalisation of journalism — and the press is ignoring it. The post Assange stands up to the courts —
read now
Virus watch: COVID-19 by the numbers
As the world edges towards a pandemic declaration, and Donald Trump appoints a “coronavirus czar”, Crikey breaks down the latest numbers on COVID-19. The post Virus watch: COVID-19 by the
read now
The Greens are eager to introduce press freedom laws and reforms
The rejection of the ABC’s appeal into the legalities of the AFP raids has the Greens pushing for greater press freedoms and protections for whistleblowers. read now…
read now
The cost of climate change on women and girls internationally is dire
Two years in the making, a new report highlights some of the devastating impacts climate change and environmental degradation is having on girls and women across different parts of the world. Sadly, it details how the struggle for control of and access to natural resources may be further exacerbating violence
read now
Memo for Nina and Bettina: it’s time to start fighting the real enemy
A legal spat between journalist Nina Funnell and shock commentator Bettina Arndt continues while the real enemy escapes. The post Memo for Nina and Bettina: it’s time to start fighting
read now
Doctor, Doctor give me the news — I’ve got a bad case of ratings blues
MAFS and Doctor Doctor meant Nine once again beat the lagging commercials. The post Doctor, Doctor give me the news — I’ve got a bad case of ratings blues appeared
read now
Elected Leaders Of 750,000 University Students Demand Bettina Arndt Be Stripped Of Australia Day Honours
DON’T MISS ANYTHING! ONE CLICK TO GET NEW MATILDA DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX, FREE! Student presidents representing at least three quarters of a million students enrolled at 18 different universities across Australia have joined together to sign an open letter demanding Bettina Arndt AM be stripped of her Australia
read now 
Avoid the mistake of not planning the transition from coal
Climate changefossil fuel industrySteve O’BrienIssue 1255Australiajust transitionsNewcastleFebruary 27, 2020The following is based on a speech by former steel worker Steve O’Brien to the Newcastle Climate Justice rally on February 22. * * * I want to speak about my experience of working in an industry with no future — my 11
read now
It’s official: hurts feelings are worth about $6500. But should our courts care?
A defamation case that resulted in a measly $6500 payout proves yet again that the law is in serious need of reform. The post It’s official: hurts feelings are worth
read now
A peek into the corrupt world of grants exposes unregulated role of staffers
Political staffers now have huge power over the spending of millions of taxpayer dollars, but face no accountability. It’s time they were either treated like politicians or treated like public
read now
‘Tennis showed me what I was made of’: Maria Sharapova announces retirement
Maria Sharapova’s professional tennis career has come to end, with the five-time grand slam winner announcing her retirement on Wednesday in an exclusive essay for Vanity Fair. Sharapova exploded onto the world stage in 2004, when at just 17, she won Wimbledon, beating Serena Williams in the final. From there,
read now
‘Reputation is driven by culture, not just by marketing’: Meet AHRI’s new CEO Sarah McCann-Bartlett
How do you lead a profession that’s at the core of how we work, into a new decade? Sarah McCann-Bartlett has some ideas as the new CEO of the Australian Human Resources Institute. She sits down to talk the future with Women’s Agenda. In the last few decades, Sarah McCann Bartlett has
read now
The Greens mad monkey business
We believe it’s important SpecOz readers are across events and fully informed. Most of you would have heard how a male baboon — and its two significant others — escaped from Sydney’s Prince Alfred Hospital ahead of a scheduled vasectomy on Tuesday. The follow-up, however, hasn’t had the attention it
read now
Public servants overseeing Queensland’s largest infrastructure project dismissed
The Queensland government has sacked the board overseeing its largest infrastructure project and has appointed a compliance unit in an attempt to avoid following in the footsteps of Victoria’s West Gate Tunnel debacle. Cross River Rail is expected to cost $5.4 billion, with a completion date of 2024. The underground
read now 
Dawkins delusion: the legacy of New Atheism
Donate Eureka Street is completely free of charge – however it costs a significant amount of money to provide our unique content. Eureka Street relies almost entirely on dontions from our readers and organisations that support our endeavours. The balance of our revenue is from advertisers. If you are
read now
Crikey’s biggest scoops: boning Eddie McGuire
Revisiting one of Crikey’s biggest scoops: the affidavit that claimed Eddie McGuire talked about whether Nine should “bone” Jessica Rowe. The post Crikey’s biggest scoops: boning Eddie McGuire appeared first
read now
To stop wage theft, the government needs to put its money where its mouth is
The federal government needs to enable not just the Fair Work Ombudsman but other groups, too, to contribute to ensuring employer compliance. The post To stop wage theft, the government
read now
Wicked problems may need broad solutions: how to ‘fix’ domestic violence
The legal system as a whole needs to get better at recognising the kinds of harms that characterise domestic violence. The post Wicked problems may need broad solutions: how to
read now 
Scotty from Marketing talks about domestic violence
The PM spoke this week about the system failing Hannah Clarke and her children, and he promised to act. read now…
read now
I ain’t the sharpest tool in the shed
Good morning, early birds. In more rorts news, $10 million was granted to the construction of an already-built building in Scott Morrison’s electorate, and Michael McCormack’s post-Natspill plea resulted in
read now A year from the Christchurch terror attacks, NZ intelligence records a surge in reports
The Christchurch mosque attacks on March 15 last year have prompted a significant rise in tip-offs about people expressing extremist views, according to a report by New Zealand’s Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS). During the three months following the terrorist attacks, NZSIS received 455 pieces of lead information about people who
read now
Is cruising still safe? Will I be insured? What you need to know about travelling during the coronavirus crisis
DANIEL DAL ZENNARO/EPAThe coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) has now reached more than 80,000 recorded cases, largely concentrated in China, with a death toll over 2,700 and rising. There are few signs the epidemic is abating. In fact, new cases have emerged in a host of European countries in
read now Stocking up to prepare for a crisis isn’t ‘panic buying’. It’s actually a pretty rational choice
Recent days have brought reports of shoppers clearing out supermarket shelves from Wuhan and Hong Kong to Singapore and Milan in response to the spread of coronavirus. This behaviour is often described as “panic buying”. However, the research shows that what’s going on here is nothing to do with panic.
read now
Albanese says we can’t replace steelmaking coal. But we already have green alternatives
ShutterstockDespite a wealth of evidence to the contrary, some still propagate the myth that the world will need Australian coal for decades to come. Last weekend Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese joined in, saying thermal and metallurgical coal mining and exports would continue after 2050, even with a net
read now
We groom dogs in our own image: the cuter they are, the harder we fall
Hannah Lim/UnsplashAustralians are slightly obsessed with our dogs. But are we obsessed enough to watch a reality doggy makeover show? The reality makeover concept has a long history, from Top Model to the Biggest Loser to Backyard Blitz. Now on Pooch Perfect, hosted by Rebel Wilson, groomers will
read now
MICHAEL KEATING. How good is the labour market?
The Australian economy has been stagnating for the last five years, with annual GDP growth averaging only 2½ per cent, and only 1¾ per cent for the last four quarters ending last September. This compares poorly with trend GDP growth in the past at an annual rate of 3½ per
read now
Thousands of city trees have been lost to development, when we need them more than ever
Climate change is on everyone’s lips this summer. We’ve had bushfires, smoke haze, heatwaves, flooding, mass protests and a National Climate Emergency Summit, all within a few months. The search is on for solutions. Trees often feature prominently when talking about solutions, but our research shows trees are being lost
read now ABUL RIZVI. Why the Kiwis are not coming to OZ any more
For much of the last 30 years, New Zealand has been one of Australia’s top source countries for migrants. But since 2013-14 Australia seems to have lost its attraction to Kiwis. This is largely explained by the relative strength of the two countries’ labour market. At the 2016 Census,
read now TESS HOGUE. Living in Hong Kong through SARS and Covid 19.
I have a rotten cold. My eyes are watering, my head is pounding and I can’t stop sneezing. Normally I would get plenty of rest and fluids and just wait it out. This time it’s different. This is Hong Kong in the middle of the Covid 19 threat. The first
read now