‘Social cohesion’ defence collapses in NSW court, exposing QLD speech laws A sharp appellate ruling has struck down NSW’s ‘social cohesion’ protest laws as unconstitutional, placing Queensland’s speech crackdown and looming federal legislation squarely in the legal.....

NSW’s protest laws have been deemed unconstitutional, placing Queensland’s speech crackdown and looming federal legislation squarely in the legal firing line.

‘Social cohesion’ defence collapses in NSW court, exposing QLD speech laws
~ M Dalton

independentaustralia.net/politics/pol...

NSW’s protest laws have been deemed unconstitutional, placing Queensland’s speech crackdown and looming federal legislation squarely in the legal firing line.

‘Social cohesion’ defence collapses in NSW court, exposing QLD speech laws
~ M Dalton

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Oil, war and ecocide: The destruction of the Middle East The ecological destruction and the poisoning of the population continue with the attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, as well as with Iranian attacks on the Gulf states.

The ecological destruction and the poisoning of the population continue with the attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran, as well as with Iranian attacks on the Gulf states.

Oil, war and ecocide: The destruction of the Middle East
~ Dr Klaus Moegling

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A tumultuous month ahead for the economy and policy makers In the next few weeks, there will be a raft of economic policy decisions taken that will be life-changing for many Australians.

In the next few weeks, there will be a raft of economic policy decisions taken that will be life-changing for many Australians.

A tumultuous month ahead for the economy and policy makers
~ Stephen Koukoulas

Drone wars: How Ukraine rewrote the future of combat There is a quiet revolution unfolding over the battlefields of Ukraine — and it doesn’t roar like artillery or thunder like tanks.

There is a quiet revolution unfolding over the battlefields of Ukraine — and it doesn’t roar like artillery or thunder like tanks.

Drone wars: How Ukraine rewrote the future of combat
~ John Todd

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Angus Taylor pushes English requirement for permanent visa holders Angus Taylor’s proposal to mandate English for permanent visa holders raises serious questions about fairness, practicality and its underlying political intent.

Angus Taylor’s proposal to mandate English for permanent visa holders raises serious questions about fairness, practicality and its underlying political intent.

Angus Taylor pushes English requirement for permanent visa holders
~ Dr Abul Rizvi

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One Nation emergence a further move away from the two-party system A protest vote wrapped in fear and frustration is pushing Australia beyond its two-party comfort zone.

A protest vote wrapped in fear and frustration is pushing Australia beyond its two-party comfort zone.

One Nation emergence a further move away from the two-party system
~ Dr Klaas Woldring

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ABC News leads the media shonks in fomenting fear of recession The national broadcaster is failing the nation badly by misreporting Australia’s economy.

The national broadcaster is failing the nation badly by misreporting Australia’s economy .

ABC News leads the media shonks in fomenting fear of recession
~ Alan Austin

Winter is on its way, but autumn isn't 'leaving' just yet Dropping temperatures tell of winter on its way, but autumn is still having its say.

Looking at Australia through the lens of award-winning photojournalist Bill McAuley.
Winter is on its way, but autumn isn't 'leaving' just yet
~ Bill McAuley

Australian Values compliance for One Nation voters? Well done Angus! Angus Taylor's social media vetting of Australian values for visa holders will be costly, labour-intensive and ultimately untenable.

'There would inevitably be a significant increase in processing times and backlogs, which are already blowing out enormously.'

Australian Values compliance for One Nation voters? Well done Angus! ~ Abul Rizvi

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Beneath the anti-Zionist Big Banana Our political leaders keep making tone-deaf, overbearing laws, then watch them get almost immediately wrecked by the courts.

'There’s a Grand Canyon-sized gap between the general public’s dim view of Israel’s genocide and the slavish support for it exhibited by our political and media class.'

Beneath the anti-Zionist Big Banana ~ Tom Tanuki

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Open Letter to A-G Michelle Rowland: Mercy for David McBride An open letter asking for mercy for David McBride from Attorney General Michelle Rowland

'The mechanisms available to you – clemency, pardon, or remission of sentence – exist for precisely this kind of case'

Open Letter to A-G Michelle Rowland: Mercy for David McBride ~ Nigel Carney

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CARTOONS: Trump's latest weapons of mass 'distraction' Read: Epstein files and 'friendly' fire.

Read: Epstein files and 'friendly' fire...
CARTOONS: Trump's latest weapons of mass 'distraction'
~ Mark David Cartoons

City of Gold Coast hides new Beach Bar proposals from residents Council officers have been working secretly on new Beach Bar proposals for Gold Coast beaches.

'The Beach Bars, now known as “Dining Precincts”, have been secretly planned for areas on the sand in Surfers Paradise & Broadbeach'

City of Gold Coast hides new Beach Bar proposals from residents ~ David Donovan

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The danger of war grows as U.S. power wanes Independence and sovereignty must be struggled for if we are to live in peace and security.

'The factory worker in Tehran, the shopkeeper in Beirut, the taxi driver in Tel Aviv all share one desire. They all want a chance to live in peace and yet all are denied that simple wish.'

The danger of war grows as U.S. power wanes ~ Dr William Briggs
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Ben Roberts-Smith v David McBride: Compare the pair Managing editor Michelle Pini discusses the absurdity of David McBride's continued imprisonment, even though documents he leaked triggered Ben Roberts-Smith's arrest for alleged war crimes. ...

Whistleblower David McBride's imprisonment continues, even though documents he leaked, verified by the Brereton Report, triggered Ben Roberts-Smith's arrest for alleged war crimes. @michellepini.bsky.social

'Gutter politics' and rape: The Black history of One Nation Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party has thrown a

'Pauline Hanson’s One Nation does not care about the thousands of Australian women who live in constant fear or worse.'

'Gutter politics' and rape: The Black history of One Nation ~ Ross Jones

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Who's making money? The arsenal trade after Ukraine and Iran Defence is no longer a defensive trade, and nowhere is the question of who's buying, who's building, and who is being left behind more apparent than in Australia.

'Canberra is, in effect, paying premium prices for late delivery, while Korean and Japanese yards offer shorter timelines at lower cost.'

Who's making money? The arsenal trade after Ukraine and Iran ~ Vince Hooper

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Albanese's gambling reform needs to address more than just advertising Anthony Albanese has quietly unveiled some of the biggest gambling reforms Australia has ever seen — but are they enough?

'For years, betting companies have evolved from peripheral advertisers into major commercial partners of sporting codes, broadcasters and clubs.'

Albanese's gambling reform needs to address more than just advertising ~ Emma Goldrick

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Artemis II: Back to the Moon while space governance falls behind The space around Earth has been transformed: Low Earth orbit transformed into a contested zone

'What was once the preserve of superpowers and defence contractors is now within reach of universities, start-ups, and non-traditional actors.'

Artemis II: Back to the Moon while space governance falls behind ~ Paul Budde

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Nationals' Leader Matt Canavan’s latest citizenship thought bubble New Nationals Leader Matt Canavan wants to make it harder for permanent residents to become Australian citizens.

'Contrary to Canavan’s claims, governments have sought to make access to citizenship harder for almost 20 years.'

Nationals' Leader Matt Canavan’s latest citizenship thought bubble ~ Abul Rizvi

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Hungary turned its back on the Hard Right — Israel can’t With the landslide defeat of the 16-year hardline rightwing Orbán Government, Hungary now has the chance to bounce back — but Israel won't have that chance, writes Michael Cohen.

'Hungary didn’t remain balanced — it lost balance and then recovered it. It moved in a hard direction and, crucially, retained the internal capacity to reverse course.'

Hungary turned its back on the Hard Right — Israel can’t ~ Michael Cohen

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Trump, One Nation and Reform voters are perpetrators not victims It's time we killed the toxic idea that people who voted for Trump, One Nation, or Reform are the victims of society.

'It is time we killed the toxic idea that people who voted for Trump, or in Australia, One Nation, or in the UK, vote for Reform, are the victims of society.'

Trump, One Nation and Reform voters are perpetrators not victims ~ @drvicfielding.bsky.social

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Australia’s 000 failures: Why your phone may fail to call Triple Zero The regulatory and industry failures behind Australia’s Triple Zero outages were not only foreseen, they are entirely rectifiable.

'To most people, the idea a device needs a software update to work for an emergency call is a completely foreign concept.'

Australia’s 000 failures: Why your phone may fail to call Triple Zero ~ James Parker

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AUSTRAC tranche 2: Australia's toughest regulator to become its most hated? A sweeping new compliance regime is about to land on tens of thousands of Australian small businesses; unlike the ATO or ASIC, AUSTRAC doesn't negotiate, says Dr Michael King, it detonates.

'But the way AUSTRAC enforces its mandate is a different story altogether, as tens of thousands of small firms are about to find out the hard way.'

AUSTRAC tranche 2: Australia's toughest regulator to become its most hated? ~ Michael King

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Boycott newsroom liars and restore Australia’s absent self-assurance Experiences abroad show how to heal Australia’s debilitating social malaise, writes Alan Austin.

'The insidious influence of the liars in Australia’s newsrooms is shown starkly in year-end reportage of the New Zealand and Australian economies.'

Boycott newsroom liars and restore Australia’s absent self-assurance ~ Alan Austin

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A phoenix from the ashes: Caveat crucifix denies bushfire The January 2026 bushfires gutted Our Lady of Seven Sorrows in Caveat, Victoria... almost.

Looking at Australia through the lens of award-winning photojournalist Bill McAuley.
A phoenix from the ashes: Caveat crucifix denies bushfire
~ Bill McAuley

Becoming the next Muhammad Ali or prime Mike Tyson ain’t hard Becoming a great boxer isn’t about copying flashy moves or chasing hype. Boxing greatness is built in training, diet, consistency and the absence of complacency. Aliyu Solomon considers what makes...

'People often talk about Muhammad Ali as if his greatness was magic. It wasn’t. It was discipline. Ali was obsessed with movement, timing and repetition.'

Becoming the next Muhammad Ali or prime Mike Tyson ain’t hard ~ Aliyu Solomon

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War on cash gets the nod after Cash-led Coalition backflip Cash mandate regulations, which will make it harder to use cash, look set to go ahead after a Michaelia Cash-led Coalition backflip in the Senate.

'When Senator Cash took up the debate a week later, she spoke as if she either didn’t understand the details of the issue or didn’t care.'

War on cash gets the nod after Cash-led Coalition backflip ~ Dale Webster

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'Neoliberalism is rarely named by conservative politicians, let alone something they bicker about in public.'

Hastie’s break with neoliberalism puts business on notice ~ Professor Carl Rhodes

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