Australian Politics

Key Points

• The three countries party to the AUKUS deal signed a new agreement in Washington last week.
• Documents tabled in parliament on Monday revealed several key elements of the revamped agreement.
• Australia will indemnify the US and UK from any 'liability' arising from nuclear risks related to the program.

Linked is the USyd magazine article published by their Student’s Representative Council.

The article says 'over 500 students', although other sources such as Green Left estimate over 700, with even News Corp publications (The Australian, Sky News, etc.) claiming almost 800 students.

One part which isn't mentioned in those articles: Witnesses at the meeting told me there was some attempt to finish up the meeting before the second motion could be declared, which was counted with a chorus of "Let us stay!". Apparently the meeting was only scheduled for an hour and delayed by a filibuster from a S4P speaker.

Anthony ‘Each Way’ Albanese has angrily responded to claims he has been captured by the gambling industry, pointing out that the likelihood of his watered-down gambling reforms working is still paying $4, or an enticing $12 when placed in a multi with Labor winning the next election.

But while the Albanese government soaked up the plaudits for engineering Assange’s long overdue return, several of the signs on display that evening hinted that not everything was well on the home front. “Assange, McBride, Boyle”, offered one. Another particularly well-worn sign had the demand: “Fix the PID Act”. The WikiLeaks publisher may be free, but the Public Interest Disclosure Act – the whistleblower protection law for federal public servants in Australia – remains broken, as recent high-profile cases demonstrate all too well.

'The health of our planet hangs in the balance while those entrusted with legislative power prioritise short-term political gain over the well-being of future generations.'

[...] Disruption is a tool.

But now, disruption is a crime. We’re not climate activists; we’re criminals.

(Article is soft-paywalled, archived link if you need it)

In short:

• Barnaby Joyce told protesters at a wind farm protest rally to use their ballot paper as bullets to "say goodbye" to the prime minister.

• He apologised and conceded the metaphor wasn't appropriate when presented with footage of the rally on Monday morning.

What's next?

• The prime minister has challenged Peter Dutton to sack Mr Joyce from the shadow cabinet.

In short:

• Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has failed to overturn the finding that she engaged in serious corrupt conduct.

• Last year, the Independent Commission Against Corruption found Ms Berejiklian breached public trust, while serving as state premier, during her secret relationship with former NSW MP Daryl Maguire.

• Ms Berejiklian has long insisted she always acted in the public interest, beginning legal action shortly after the corruption watchdog released its report.

Senior government ministers Linda Burney [Minister for Indigenous Australians] and Brendan O'Connor [Minister for Skills and Training] will retire from federal politics at the next election and immediately vacate their cabinet positions, prompting a reshuffle.

Linda Burney, the Minister for Indigenous Australians and first Aboriginal woman in the lower house, will retire from politics at the next election.

Skills and Training Minister Brendan O'Connor, who also sits in cabinet, will join Ms Burney to retire at the end of this term of government.

The pair will step down from their positions as ministers immediately, prompting a ministry refresh.

Announcing their retirements, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was proud to call Ms Burney and Mr O'Connor his friends.

"I am proud to have witnessed first-hand their passion for this nation, their determination to leave this country better," he said.

Labor will call for nominations to its frontbench, and Mr Albanese expects to announce his new ministry on Sunday, when they will be sworn in.

Ms Burney has represented the Sydney seat of Barton since 2016, when she became the first Indigenous woman elected to the House of Representatives, and later the first Indigenous woman to serve as Indigenous Australians minister.

Just in case anyone here still thinks nuclear is viable.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong was forced to concede that Australia was exporting parts into the F-35 global supply chain but then doubled down. She told ABC Insiders on 16 June: “We have F-35s… we are part of 18 nations who are part of that consortia. We are involved in non-lethal parts…”

The UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) makes no mention of the lethality of the individual parts or components that comprise the weapons (“conventional arms”) it covers.

The Arms Trade Treaty and the Geneva Conventions are clear on human rights responsibilities. Article 6.3 states that a nation-state should not authorise any transfer of conventional arms if it knows at the time that the items would be used in the commission of genocide, crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, or other war crimes.

Much more in the article

It's not $238, it's $238 OVER the level of rort that would simply get him a slap on the fingers.

What sort of "crime and punishment" message is sent if this doesn't get him booted?

Full transcription:

Israel kills Palestinian men, women, and children, and then they look around the world and they don't receive a single sanction, a single sanction to stop. They are emboldened and they keep acting. I mean, this motion is a joke. It is a joke "as part of a peace process". What peace process? Israel is carrying out a genocide. Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza. It's not a peace process. Why is it that 146 countries could find it within their hearts to recognise Palestine right now. Why is it that the Australian Government refuses?

How is it that when a Labor Senator, Senator Payman, who had the principles and the courage to cross the floor to vote with the Greens to immediately recognise Palestine, why is it that Senator Payman face [sic] more sanctions than Labor has dished out against Israel?

What do you all do? What does this Labor Government do? They can recognise Israel but they can't immediately recognise Palestine. You can't end two-way arms trade. You can't cancel the Elbit Systems contract. You can't sanction Israel. And you should all be deeply, deeply ashamed.

— Max Chandler-Mather MP, Member for Griffith

“We are a party that is built on tolerance, acceptance and a diversity of opinion” one talking point read, accompanied by a note in the margin which declared “SAY THIS PHRASE IN YOUR MEDIA INTERVIEWS TODAY OR PENNY AND I WILL NEVER TALK TO YOU AGAIN!”

I am torn, deeply torn. On one hand, I have the immense support of the rank-and-file members, unionists, the lifelong the party volunteers, who are calling on me to hang in there and to make change happen internally.

On the other hand, I am pressured to conform to Caucus solidarity and toe the party line.

I see no middle ground and my conscience leaves me no choice.

This is fucked reporting right? The quote they use as evidence is her saying something is "in God's hands". Elsewhere articles are run using quotes of her praying to god.

This is like, extremely normal lexicon for even casually religious people right? I'm an atheist with a pretty negative view of religion and to me this looks like pearl clutching.

Lots of extremely normal people say "I am praying for guidance" when they're reflecting on something. That in isolation doesn't mean they expect a hedge to catch fire and tell them what to do...

If our standard is pollies never mention religion then we might want to do some stuff about the Lord's prayer, the oaths, and the magical mace of the Royal cult.

Anthony Albanese said Fatima Payman disrupted the government's messages around cost of living relief by conducting an interview to declare she would cross the floor again to vote in support of Palestinian statehood.

Related coverage:

• ABC: 'Teal-style' Muslim political group to target Labor seats, open to working with Fatima Payman
• The Conversation: Fatima Payman breached ‘caucus solidarity’. What does this mean and why is it so significant?

Distinguished journalist and publisher Julian Assange is free and finally home, but he spent 13 years in detention, of which over 5 years in a high security prison before being sentenced to time served. The empire's clutches reach far and wide. Australia and the United Kingdom accept the US' jurisdictional overreach. The precedent set by his decade and a half of persecution and torture will have lasting consequences for our right to speak and hear of US government crimes. Julian was coerced to plead guilty to the crime of journalism as criminalised by the Espionage Act (1917) even as he believes it is in contradiction with the First Amendment of the US constitution. Today we celebrate Julian's return home to us. Tomorrow we declare our independence.

Key Points

• Senator Fatima Payman has been indefinitely suspended after declaring her intention to cross floor again.
• She said she believes she upheld the party's views with a conscience vote on the issue of Palestinian statehood.
• It is unclear if Payman will remain at the ALP.