Something Wonky

OMG DID YOU HEAR Jeremy + Police say charges likely if Nimmie Caira squatters don’t move on Dave + Petition ∑ Fairfax: Save our local stories. Donít cut rural journalists. ∑ Change.org THE FOCUS GROUP Hard To Believe, But True Prime Minister Tony Abbott eats an onion, skin and all, while touring an onion farm in Tasmania A great day for the Irish, and the English: PM | Irish Echo Jewish Labor MP Michael Danby walks out of Question Time after Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s Goebbels comments Coalition to wind back tax disclosure laws over ‘kidnap’ fears Margie: “collected her for their second date in a beaten-up Ford with a coathanger antenna bent into the shape of mainland Australia” and “If it all ended tomorrow, that would be fine with me” Cats are natural libertarians: nothing less than equality is acceptable to them | David Leyonhjelm Meta Data I was never worried about metadata protections when I was a journalist, says Tony Abbott Journalists’ metadata: barristers to argue public interest case when agencies seek access ALP leader Bill Shorten faces big test on civil liberties | The Saturday Paper Labor could amend metadata laws to protect journalists Anthony points out that Village Roadshow gave $200k each to ALP and Libs last election Bad Legislation Defeated Abbott government’s university fee deregulation bill voted down in the Senate Fixer - Surprise Another bad week for Team Joe Joe Hockey outclassed on Q&A, by an economist Hockey demands maximum payout bc otherwise “They will say “Hockey wins defamation case; reputation worthless”“ Q and A PUPlosion Glenn Lazarus quits Palmer United party Fakeed on Twitter: “This is like when the BOM had to invent a new colour because it got too hot http://t.co/PWg6LMPZ5p” Prime Minister Tony Abbott canvasses prospect of double dissolution election Dodgy state govts NSW election 2015: Premier Mike Baird’s office sought to influence report critical of electricity privatisation NSW: Abortion to remain illegal in NSW despite lobbying, campaigners fear NSW: Thousands Of Injured Workers ‘Thrown On Scrap Heap’ By Changes To Compensation Laws Vic: It should not cost $1.2 billion to clean this mess up Vic: East West Link consortium drafted deal to guarantee compensation for dumped road Vic: Vic Labor’s big mistake on school funding WA: Colin Barnett Is Trying To Criminalise A ‘Thing’. Literally. Qld: Sore LNP loser leaves parting gift for Labor Pulling A Fast One Pull the other one: The govt and the Oz try to claim the ALP/Lambie legislation might lead to defence personnel getting less AUSTRALIA VS HUMANITY Tony Abbott refuses to apologise for ‘lifestyle choices’ comments Cyclone Olwyn: Aboriginal people denied access to cyclone shelter - ABC North West WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation ‘Refugee Camp’ For Aboriginal People Moved Off Remote Communities Ordered To Close Three Refugees Hospitalised After More Self-Harm And Violence On Nauru Turning back the boats is a moral and legal failure, say academics Save The Children Staff Ordered Off Nauru Prepare Legal Fight Fresh Revelations Weaken Scott Morrison’s Claims About Self Harm Coaching By Staff On Nauru Tanya Plibersek castigated by Coalition over boat turnback comments Asylum bill faces defeat as crossbenchers express qualms Australia urged to allow refugees to appeal ASIO ruling Peter Dutton’s Reign Of Terror: When Too Much Inhumane Degrading Treatment Is Never Enough Inside The Department: The Explosive Leaked Transcripts From The Moss Review Domestic Violence Victims In NT Could Face Court Alone After Abbott Funding Cuts, Says Legal Group Tony Abbott defends $11 billion cut to foreign aid program as ‘modest’ STOP THE PRESS Oh Sharri: “How Gillard and Rudd made the same Irish drinking remarks as Abbott - but there was no SMH outrage then” T

This week on Something Wonky, Lifestyles of the forgotten and marginalised, Joe Hockey auditions for the role of Superman, there’s a sausage sizzle coming up in NSW,and we search for good government. Also, Australia squeals about the UN, The Australian stops squealing about data retention, and Andrew Bolt gives us a lesson in logic. Dave recommends: Left in harm’s way - Background Briefing The Focus Group Lifestyle Choices Tony Abbott a ‘disgrace’, says Federal Opposition after comments that living in remote Indigenous communities was a ‘lifestyle choice’ Rolf de Heer slams Tony Abbott over ‘lifestyle choice’ comments on remote Aboriginal communities There once was a girl named CJAY….. : My country… Of three remote communities here, why are only the two Aboriginal ones under threat? Abbott criticised for ‘urban Aboriginal’ comment 30 years working for dole a reality - “Under the tightened welfare rules, which come into effect on July 1, jobseekers in remote areas aged 18-49 will be obliged to undertake work-for-the-dole activ≠ities for 25 hours a week, five days a week, for most of the year.” Super Stupidity Joe Hockey Blows Thought Bubbles On Housing Bubbles Joe Hockey’s super idea not so super, say Paul Keating and industry chiefs First home buyers want access to their superannuation now Dipping into superannuation for house ‘could cost $140,000’ in retirement Fairfax Media dismisses Joe Hockey claims as ‘conspiracy theory’ Good Government Coalition’s big news day on automotive industry ends in a car crash Malcolm Turnbull says budget sales job was ‘biggest misstep’ Vice-chancellors blast ‘dumb’ decision to axe research funding if uni fee laws don’t pass Intergenerational report: assumptions about government spending are a confusion of idiocy This Is What The Prime Minister For Women Did On International Women’s Day CSIRO head decries Coalition’s ‘brutal’ ruling out of Labor-appointed directors Malcolm Turnbull says ‘refreshing’ government boards PM’s ‘preference’ Tony Abbott marks term’s first half on YouTube Abbott ministers want to negotiate watered-down pension changes Abbott claims Victoria’s East West Link reversal will hurt Australia’s reputation as a safe place to invest The secrecy surrounding the Trans-Pacific Partnership has community groups and businesses concerned Great Barrier Reef lobbying: Australian government offers junkets to journalists New South Wales NSW government suggests entire village be relocated for Rio Tinto coalmine NSW needs 385 new classrooms every year for a decade Schools Plus makes tax deductible donations available to public schools High-risk inmates at NSW super-max jail banned from speaking Arabic Australia versus Humanity Bill Shorten faces damaging ALP split over asylum processing Goodwill letters to asylum seekers on Nauru returned unopened Sanitary Pads ‘A Fire Hazard’: The Realities Of Life For Mothers And Children On Nauru UN accuses Australia of systematically violating torture convention Asylum seeker torture report: United Nations special rapporteur Juan Mendez responds to Tony Abbott criticism UN is trusting ‘absolutely bizarre’ claims of asylum seeker activists, Abbott says Australia again justifies torture as a means to an end, this time by attacking the UN | Ben Pynt View from the Street: So, your PM, Tony Abbott, reckons you’re cool with torture The Oz: “Julian Burnside: Refugee boats activists quiet under ALP” Indonesia ‘could release human tsunami of 10,000 asylum seekers on Australia’ Forced asylum seeker transfer stopped amid airport protest Vietnamese boats ‘unseaworthy’, government sources say Asylum Seeker Self Harm Coaching Claims Weakened By Greens Leak Of Secret Report Stop The Pr

This week on Something Wonky, censure. Intergenerational reporting. Being bad at Prime Ministering. Being bad at holding events for International Womens’ Day. Being bad at modern communications, while trying to tell everyone else how to do it. Being bad to vulnerable people. And a look behind the scenes of everyone’s favourite media diarist. Dave’s Favourite things: Ricky Muir’s first speech You’re Not the Boss of Me! Why Libertarianism Is a Childish Sham | Alternet 5at5 by Stilgherrian Jeremy’s Favourite Thing: LNP hosts International Women’s Day lunch at men-only club The Focus Group International Women’s Day Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten: new champions of gender equality Not Very Good at Primeministering Exit Abbott, pursued by a bear Surge in poles: Tony Abbott’s flag count hits a new high It pains me to say it, but Abbott has learned nothing about Iraq. He’s taken the Islamic State’s bait | Tom Switzer Tony Abbott’s ‘captain’s call’ over Tasmanian forest humiliated Australia, say Greens After all the pain, Abbott plans co-payment amputation Not Much Good at Anything Else Housing policy sells out the fair go Gender Pay Gap Hits A Two Decade High, While Abetz Waters Down Reporting Community Groups Caught Off Guard By Release Of McClure Report Australia threatens to pull Square Kilometre Array funding Coalition proposal to make under-30s wait six months for dole ‘remains on the table’ Australia lobbying to stop Great Barrier Reef making ‘in danger’ list American Weapons Maker Used Australian War Memorial As Corporate Function Room Cliev ‘Commit suicide, Tony Abbott’ Oh Joe. Intergenerational report to call for budget repair, but fixing trust comes first Intergenerational report: climate change silence in 2015 a stark contrast to 2010 The worst wages growth in 20 years is Joe Hockey’s ‘good news’ Take it from me: We can’t afford to crush young people’s employment hopes Trans Pacific Partnership Trans Pacific Partnership will push medicine prices up, review finds Trans-Pacific Partnership could prevent clearer food labelling – health advocates George Brandis stars in “You’ve Got Mail … And iMessages” Curious George Brandis Wants Your Metadata. Save Him The Hassle. CC Him Into Everything People Are Harassing Government MPs With Hilarious Apple iMessages Senior Government MPs Embarrassed By Simple iMessage Hoax George Brandis flooded with iMessages from Australians angry over metadata retention laws Metadata retention laws will pass as Labor folds Gillian Triggs George Brandis censured by Senate after criticism of Gillian Triggs; PM says he maintains ‘confidence’ in Attorney-General Unrepresentative Swill: George Brandis And The Sins Of Our Senators Triggs was attacked for defending the powerless – and one day another PM will apologise for it | Richard Flanagan The attack on Triggs is an Abbott stitch-up How Abbott mishandled the attack on Triggs Julie Bishop admits role with Triggs was discussed Coalition under pressure as cracks appear in accounts of Triggs ‘job offer’ Australia versus Humanity Teenage girl seeking asylum jumps off detention centre balcony after sexual assault claims Ben Pobjie’s Wonderful World Of Objects: It’s not a bug, it’s a feature Police investigate Save the Children whistleblowers over Nauru abuse report Legal challenge for offshore detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru Abbott government buys cheaper Vietnamese fishing boats to tow back asylum seekers Qantas Qantas passenger banned after asylum seeker walkout Qantas Bans Second Passenger Over Tarmac Tamil Protest Stop The Press Sharri The Weekly Beast: the Oz newsroom clears out, Hywood marriage slur, Lateline lives Diarist’s Diary » The Spectator Last Thing Oxfam Trailwalker Cutting Room Floor Nurofen: ACCC launches action over ‘misl

This week, we tempt the SomethingWonky Effect by recording on Wednesday, so we completely miss the shocking events on Thursday when Tony Abbott said or did something stupid nobody would have thought it possible for a sentient being to manage. Instead we talk about the depressing War On Gillian Triggs Anything But Than Reading The HRC Report; Tony “flags” Abbott “flags” some ways to revive the “flagging” confidence in him by being All Tough On Bad People; all the ways in which we were wrong to hope Tony made it through the spill; Who’s Attacking Tony Now, some Australia vs Humanity on our own continent for a change; and in Stop The Press The Australian publishes a story about the PM that hurts his feelings. THE FOCUS GROUP Our Picks How Has The Prime Minister Changed? I’ll Take That On Notice: Eric Abetz Being Um, Er, Eric Abetz Inside SA senator Cory Bernardi’s business web | The Saturday Paper HRC Report Reveals Harm Being Caused To LNP Govt’s Precious Feelings On asylum seekers, Malcolm Turnbull asks us to swallow the unswallowable | Richard Ackland George Brandis’ Plan To Force Gillian Triggs’ Resignation Just Blew Up In His Face Liberals with outdated talking points missed Gillian Triggs’s bombshell Labor asks AFP to investigate whether job offer to Triggs was ‘corrupt conduct’, Labor refers Brandis to police over offer to Human Rights Commission president Twitter rallies against Abbott with #IStandWithGillianTriggs Brandis or Triggs must go (and it shouldn’t be her) Tony Bravely Comes Out Against “Bad People” Sydney siege report: Tony Abbott says legal system let community down Oh You Thought Leaving Tony In Charge Was Harmless, SomethingWonky? #Coin for Abbott: Indonesians’ angry backlash at PM’s Bali nine diplomacy Aceh residents use #KoinUntukAustralia campaign to offer to repay Australian aid Fears Tony Abbott has damaged Bali nine diplomacy | theage.com.au Punishment dished out to unemployed is on par with our treatment of refugees | William Mitchell What Metadata Retention looks like: Prepare to be shocked â?? Blog â?? ABC Technology and Games Loopholes leave current metadata system open to abuse, police insider reveals New report calls for radical welfare overhaul Roe 8 funded without a completed business case | Scott Ludlam At least 500 jobs to come from submarine project but no guarantee of local construction | theage.com.au PM scuttled secret plan to kick millionaires off the aged pension Including Family Home In Pension Test Who’s Attacking Tony Now Tony Abbott brushes off leak attacking influence of Peta Credlin and Brian Loughnane Seven ministers put Tony Abbott on notice Is Peta Credlin In Control Labor is right, and we Liberals are wrong: our members must elect the leader | John Ruddick Senior ministers rally around Tony Abbott after more damaging leaks Julie Bishop to Start Fortnightly Blog on MamaMia Tory Self-Interest Assistant Treasurer Josh Frydenberg shifts his work super into union-backed industry fund Rinehart: business red tape needs to be reduced Gina Rinehart s Roy Hill project faces fresh saftey concern - The West Australian Government recovers over $41 million worth of false claims after ‘rorting’ of Job Services Australia scheme - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) AUSTRALIA VS HUMANITY New burglary laws will jail more Aboriginal people in WA, experts fear Australia, Where Standing Up To Racism Ensures You’ll Endure An Eternity Of Racism Sri Lanka: Australia made asylum deal Australia secured asylum deal by staying ‘silent’ on rights abuses: Sri Lanka PM Asylum seekers transferred at sea by Australia to face court in Sri Lanka The World Today - David Hicks’ lawyer says Australian Government ignored warnings terror case was illegal 19/02/2015 Remember Those ‘Draconian’ Laws Morrison Passed? Here’s What’s

This week on Something Wonky, The Focus Group looks at the continuing fallout from the notspill and we check in on week two of “Good Government” while Tony tries to save the base. Australia versus Humanity is as ugly as ever, and Stop The Press may just break irony forever. The Focus Group Spill Fallout How Tony Abbott came within 11 votes of oblivion Coalition voters split over whether Tony Abbott should be dumped – poll Tony Abbott removes ‘father of the house’ Philip Ruddock as chief whip Philip Ruddock axed by Tony Abbott as government whip Philip Ruddock’s sacking as chief whip wasn’t a ‘captain’s pick’, says maverick MP Warren Entsch War in PM Tony Abbott’s cabinet over six month wait for the dole Australia should offer ‘matehoods’ in place of knighthoods, Liberal MP suggests Tony Tries to Save the Base Tony Abbott Is Going Full Commando To Save Australia From Terrorists, People On Welfare, Human Rights ‘Bad people’ treating us as mugs: Abbott’s national security warning Tony Abbott: immigration, welfare and citizenship too easy for extremists Tony Abbott meets Hetty Johnston over metadata Good Government - Week Two ABS is behind controversial proposal to axe the 2016 census, not the Abbott government Why The Coalition’s Attacks On The Census Make Perfect Sense Students Protesting Christopher Pyne’s University Reforms Have Been Pepper Sprayed By Police In Sydney Police Pepper Spray Blind Student At Anti-Christopher Pyne Higher Ed Protest Tony Abbott: Indonesia should reciprocate tsunami aid by sparing Bali Nine pair Motions — Request for more transparency in Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. — They Vote For You National hepatitis A response planned, but changes to food labelling rejected Barnaby Joyce criticises activists in greyhound live-bait expose New laws could stop revelations of animal abuse David Hicks Comment: David Hicks welcomes victory in appeal, as PM dismisses calls for apology David Hicks: It feels good to be an innocent man David Hicks welcomes victory in appeal against terrorism conviction, says he won’t seek official apology Victoria Melbourne Metro Rail Project funding ‘fast-tracked’ East West Link partners may get as little as $220m The Company You Keep Dr Powell, The Examiner letter and Mr Nikolic MP | Tasmanian Times Tim Wilson: nowhere to be seen, or heard Australia versus Humanity As The Coalition Tried To Distract From Children In Detention Report, It Was Moving Kids Back To Nauru ‘Well done, mate’ Revealed: Abbott government tried to remove Gillian Triggs as head of the Australian Human Rights Commission The rights and wrongs of a Labor luvvie Don’t shoot the messenger says Human Rights Commission President Gillian Triggs Academics and law bodies warn attack on Gillian Triggs threatens democracy Labor objects to George Brandis’s staffer ‘overseeing’ meeting with Gillian Triggs “Chair of @beyondblue blames refugee parents for the harms the state inflicts by caging their children. Shame. #auspol” Kids In Detention: A Choice No Parent Should Have To Make A Year On From Reza Barati’s Death Over 1,000 Men Remain In Manus Revealed: indefinite detention of asylum seeker is based on conviction secured by torture Lib elders slam child detention Anger over ‘whitefella way’ advice Stop The Press Chris Bowen struggles to name tax-free threshold during Alan Jones interview Gina Rinehart reaches settlement with Nine over TV show Columnist Tanveer Ahmed sacked by the Australian over new plagiarism allegation Sarah Ferguson interview with Joe Hockey ‘breached ABC bias guidelines’: review ABC defends Sarah Ferguson’s interview with Joe Hockey against bias accusation Bias against Tony Abbott is truly sickening Abbott government considers axing the Australian census to save money Young Australians are not giving up on work, despite high unemployment The Australi

This week on Something Wonky we look at the fallout of the aborted LibSpill, and see what a week of “Good Government” looks like. And we take a look at the responses to this year’s “Closing the Gap” report and the Human Rights Commission’s report into children in detention. The Focus Group The Notspill The question that will haunt Tony Abbott Down periscope: Abbott torpedoes himself Tony Abbott spins out of control Tony Abbott must respond to MPs’ concerns about ‘protective’ Peta Credlin, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says - Liberal Leadership turmoil The inside story of how the Liberal leadership duo of Tony Abbott and Julie Bishop cracked Irate Prime Minister Tony Abbott implodes A eulogy for Abbott’s ‘signature Paid Parental Leave policy’ Week One of “Good Government” Defence Minister Kevin Andrews struggles to explain new submarine policy Budget may never get back to surplus, says Joe Hockey Tony Abbott Said That There Was “A Holocaust Of Jobs” Under Labor In Question Time Today And People Are Very Angry Scott Ludlam blasts cuts to homeless organisations as ‘vindictive’ and ‘a kick in the teeth’ Homelessness groups unite to plead with Scott Morrison not to cut funding | Society | The Guardian Is Tony Abbott’s GP co-payment scrapped or not? Government frontbench in confusion Health officials admit lack of analysis of Medicare co-payment GP co-payment architect calls for fee for doctor’s visits to be dropped Medicare architect suggests making business pay for sick certificates Tony Abbott to seek backbench and Labor support for childcare package Numpties ‘gonna numpt ‘Halal money’ funds terrorism: Jacqui Lambie Anti-halal campaigner sued over claims Islamic certification supports terrorism Women are people Bizarre ‘White Ribbon’ 50 Shades of Grey fundraiser sparks alarm White Ribbon Ambassador Tanveer Ahmed’s dangerous message on domestic violence Terror in the news Peter Dutton links Sydney terrorism suspect to Labor’s migration policies Abbott details alleged evidence against terrorism suspects, despite fair trial fears What up Victoria Campbell Newman approached to stand in Victorian seat of Indi Dorothy Dixer ban, Back to Work Act on agenda for return of Victorian Parliament Australia Versus Humanity Closing the Gap Tony Abbott’s Close The Gap Report Card: A Roadmap For Destroying Black Australia Australia May Stop Providing Water and Power to Remote Aboriginal Communities MPs who walked out on Closing the Gap, thanks for your honesty | Celeste Liddle Indigenous community closures: essential service uncertainty - ABC Kimberley WA - Australian Broadcasting Corporation They Came For The Abbott Spill, And Missed The Only Real Story In Town Children In Detention The Devastating Children In Detention Report Has Finally Been Tabled: Here’s What It Says Child detention report to unveil harrowing findings after months of delay and sniping | Law | The Guardian Video: Doctors Explain Why They Couldn’t Stay Silent On Detaining Children ‘A Version’ Of Asylum Seeker Rape Report Will Be Publicly Released, Promises Government Ricky Muir raises concerns about children in detention after Senate deal Even more versus humanity Government spends $1.2 billion on offshore processing centres in one year Scott Morrison loses High Court case against a refugee STOP THE PRESS Gina Rinehart sells out of Fairfax Media Bali Nine: triple j defends decision to publish death penalty poll after claims it would be partly to blame for executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran NO TIME FOR Politics Live: February 12, 2015 Bill Shorten’s leadership ballot under scrutiny after Sam Dastyari’s office redirected papers Tanya Plibersek: my husband’s life after drug conviction shows what Bali Nine pair have to offer A place to call home - In

Dave and Jeremy have a quick chat about the spill. Our apologies for the sound quality, Skype was not kind to us.

The Focus Group Tony Prime Minister Tony Abbott desperately needs to get real, writes Laurie Oakes What’s wrong? Ask Grong Grong - the locals will be honest Shorten’s office distributes bingo game for Tony’s #NPC http://t.co/7vM8Ee2fku” Barnaby Joyce’s $700,000 punt on Tony Abbott’s longevity as Prime Minister Tony Abbott considered appointing The Australian’s Greg Sheridan to plum posting Rupert Murdoch on Twitter: “Abbott again. Tough to write, but if he won’t replace top aide Peta Credlin she must do her patriotic duty and resign. More” Turnbull and Bishop approached to take leadership as senior ministers rally support for the PM Julie Bishop urged to rule out challenge to Tony Abbott’s leadership Abbott Wedged Between Small Govt Ideology And An Electorate Wanting More Tony Abbott is making exactly the same mistakes Campbell Newman did Abbott says he is a ‘good captain’ after polls show voters prefer his colleagues Liberal MP Wyatt Roy dubbed ‘King Joffrey’ after working Queensland MPs to oust Tony Abbott Campbell It’s not the voters’ fault, you idiots LNP handing out dodgy Green-looking leaflets Peter McCutcheon on Twitter: “LNP sign at my local booth. To me it suggests Rudd/Gillard and consequently Abbott. Strange. #qldvotes” LNP sign in QEC colours telling people to not preference. LNP takes GetUp to court and seeks injunction to stop themn handing out HTVs Darwin Adam Giles And The Summer Slaughter In This, The Year Of The Sheep Man Sticks Cracker Up His Clacker, NT News Snaps Croc, And No-One Is Running The Northern Territory Dumped NT Minister Robyn Lambley says Chief Minister Adam Giles lacks ‘honesty, respect, integrity’ - ABC News Meanwhile… Abbott pushes data retention in Press Club address - Computerworld Data Retention: The Issue That Will Force Shorten To Show His Hand AGD slammed for secrecy on data retention costs - Security - iTnews.com.au Coalition Too Busy Chasing Refugees To Pursue Illegal Fishing Boats Scott Morrison cancels Federal Government’s relationship counselling voucher program to direct money to frontline services - ABC News ‘This is just insanity’: four Nobel laureates let fly over Australian science funding Early signs are that the new Health Minister doesn’t get it either… What the heck is wrong with spook HQ? Tasmanian Liberals Dump Anti-Activist Defamation Laws Australia vs Humanity Australian Open: Protesters draw attention to detainees on Manus Island Australia confirms 15 boats carrying 429 asylum seekers have been turned back Australia under the spotlight in Human Rights Watch World Report 2015 Dramatic Stand Of Three Passengers Enough To Stop Asylum Seeker Removal, For Now Asylum seeker returns not our job: govt - Yahoo!7 Manus Island: What will it take to shock us? TAMIL MAN FEARS TORTURE IF DEPORTED TO SRI LANKA Sinhalese asylum seekers’ on-water claims accepted by UN | The Saturday Paper Fraser: Did Gillian Triggs hit a raw nerve with her report? Stop The Press The Australian’s Colleen McCollough obituary an editing failure Colleen McCullough: we’ll celebrate a woman for anything, as long as it’s not her talent | Rebecca Shaw The Thorn Birds author Colleen McCullough dies on Norfolk Island The Weekly Beast: regional paper cuts, Margaret’s new show and more NOT REACHED How Daniel Andrews made a rod for his own back 8 reasons why James Hird lost his Federal Court Appeal | The Social Litigator Will the IR inquiry address the gender pay gap?

This week, while Dave attends the Superbowl in Arizona, Jeremy is joined by Keri James Sear. Tony the Popular unites Australia; be prepared for roving gangs of marauders roaming your suburb if you elect a Labor MP and the Coalition win government; Australia vs Humanity is joined by Australia vs Women; we enjoy a Happy Religion corner, and some of our favourite News Ltd figures reveal a little too much about themselves. THE FOCUS GROUP Tony The Popular Tony Abbott’s ‘Don’t Work On Weekends’ Comment Is Everything That’s Wrong With The Government Tony Abbott under fire from Cabinet colleagues over decision to grant knighthood to Prince Philip - ABC News Tony “determined to learn from all of this” ‘Is it April Fool’s Day?’ Social media reacts to Prince Philip’s knighthood Andrew Bolt launches into PM: AUDIO ON LINK Ministers defend PM Tony Abbott in wake of Andrew Bolt’s criticism of Prince Philip knighthood decision Still, Sinclair Davidson at Catallaxy thought it was brilliant “tormenting lefties” Rupert wants Peta sacrificed - “cruel choices”, although she’s “a good person” - Miranda Devine immediately calls for the same, for Chris Kenny to take her job and Uhlmann confirms Rupert has raised his concerns directly with the PM Prime Minister Tony Abbott takes Rupert Murdoch’s advice Queensland’s Hi-Speed Election Tony admits to distracting from the Queensland election campaign - but was that the point? Queensland election 2015: Alan Jones says LNP MPs are lining up to sue him Campbell Newman sues Alan Jones for defamation over Acland mine comment Campbell Newman tells reporters to Google evidence of bikie donations George Christensen posts cartoon of naked Annastacia Palaszczuk Newman stands by conditional local promises ECQ to investigate? MP to complain over LNP’s election ‘bribes’ Video Emerges Of ‘Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’ Dumping On Coal Project He Later Approved As Premier Former assistant LNP Minister in the Newman Govt urges voters to put them last: VIDEO Australia vs women Victorian family violence services face cuts Abbott Government’s cuts threaten to trap women in domestic violence Tony Abbott puts family violence on COAG agenda, Rosie Batty appointed to new panel But the “new” policy is just one from last June, word for word Happy religion corner Recruitment drive for school chaplains as secular staff make way NT: AMA head criticises ‘empowered female lawyers’ over abortion law reform Jewish sex abuse victims pressured not to assist police, secret tapes and emails reveal Australia vs Humanity Govt’s campaign to silence whistleblowers working in the camps It’s 145 Days Since Hamid Kehazaei Died, And The Abbott Govt Is Still Keeping The Final Death Report Secret Christmas Island asylum seeker children still waiting for release into community Arrested Manus protesters face jail conditions until refugee status decided Australia can detain asylum seekers on the high seas, the High Court decides Australia’s refugee deal with Cambodia uncertain David Hicks to be declared innocent? His critics should prepare to recant their smears STOP THE PRESS A little more from Andrew Bolt on 2GB as he admits (at about 5 mins) how he and his colleagues are just defenders of the conservatives, requiring some ammunition to run lines they don’t actually agree with themselves Rupert Murdoch takes on US gossip website over ‘tweeting while drunk’ rumour LEFTOVERS Fresh Scandal Surrounding Private College Climate change will hit Australia harder than rest of world, study shows Victoria’s prison population soars as reoffending rate jumps to 10-year high Adrian O’Hara on Twitter: “New ABC employee Switzer plagiarises Bolt in SMH effort”

This week on Something Wonky, we discuss whether the shadow of “Deflategate” will effect the New England Patriots’ preparation for the Super Bowl. Can Russell Wilson overcome the Pats’ fearsome secondary, and will Julian Edelman be able to evade Seattle’s Legion of Boom? Plus, Rob Gronkowski, what even is he? THE FOCUS GROUP Tony’s in charge Tony Abbott says boasting more will solve the Coalition’s problems. His colleagues don’t agree Tony Abbott acknowledges growing dissent, but asks colleagues to back him Liberal-voting caller Andrew calls Tony Abbott the ‘world’s worst salesman’ | 3AW Neil Mitchell Penalty rates, minimum wage: all bets are off Coalition Holiday Debacles LNP vs Health Patients face new $20 fee for seeing their GP Health Minister Sussan Ley backs away from plan to cut Medicare rebate Government accused of overstating health spending growth The facts on Medicare don’t lie: it’s affordable and effective without a GP tax Joe Hockey: Bill Shorten ridicules Treasurer’s claim Australians must pay more for health care because people will soon live to 150 - ABC News LNP vs Some Tax Joe Hockey repeats incorrect claim that half of people’s income goes on taxes Joe Hockey either doesn’t understand how tax works or he is deliberately misleading the public Hockey needs a crash course on income tax Coalition talks up a tax cut it wants to repeal as Labor fights a move it planned Other horrors Key Abbott government employment scheme struggles to meet target Welfare-to-work programs have failed to reduce unemployment Taxpayers to fund teaching of ‘pseudo-science’ Tony Abbott’s daughter Bridget races into post as brand ambassador for BMW Sydney Carnival Disability support pension crackdown will only apply to people aged under 36 Public service spending is not innately wrong, whatever games our main parties play (Not-so) Happy Public Domain Day! | Australian Digital Alliance Joe Hockey defamation case: Fairfax Media calls for documents regarding Treasurer’s involvement in North Sydney Forum as part of defamation case Queensland Election Queensland Election 2015: Man wearing ‘I’m with stupid’ T-shirt among LNP campaigners arrested by 10 police in Brisbane Queensland election: Newman government under scrutiny over coal donation Queensland taxpayers subsidised Abbot Point coal port expansion by up to $2bn Queensland MP oversaw mine approval for company where his daughter works Alan Jones WTF Other States Crave Attention Tasmania moves to allow corporations to sue protesters for defamation | Politics | The Guardian Trial set for Palmer United Party candidate’s challenge to Victorian election Australia Vs Humanity Christmas Island asylum seeker children still waiting for release into community Immigration takes water away from Manus asylum seekers; security guards occupy Foxtrot compound : Refugee Action Coalition Manus Island protest escalates, up to 700 detainees on hunger strike Hunger strikers fall unconscious as unrest grips Manus Island detention centre Manus Island: violent clashes break out between PNG police and detainees Peter Dutton praises PNG authorities for ending Manus Island standoff Manus Island: Two asylum seekers try to kill themselves at detention centre Leaked plan to move Manus Island refugees is policy on the run Australian-run asylum detention centres see sharp rise in serious incidents Refugees living on Nauru say they want to return to camps due to violence Scott Morrison threatens to stop citizenship ceremonies by Moreland City Council RISE: Refugees, Survivors and Ex-Detainees ASIO reverses finding refugees pose a threat Journalists reporting on asylum seekers referred to Australian police STOP THE PRESS The Oz vs Triggs Gillian Triggs: the Australian’s latest victim Committing a crime does not mean forfeiting all human rights for the future Legal Academics Add Support For

Something Wonky reflects on 2014. How John Howard’s tax cuts undid his protégé Tony Abbott | The Saturday Paper

Be First but first be something something How Australia Covered The Sydney Siege The Daily Telegraph goes with provocative speculation while the gunman still has people hostage TV News helpfully broadcast police actions so that the gunman can see what they’re doing 24 Hour Obsessive Coverage must be very tempting to the next nutter who wants to execute people live on TV (Odds of media recognising they went too far and putting something in place so as not to inspire the next one: zero) Media coverage of Sydney siege shameful A Stopped Abbott Is Right Once A Term Abbott points out to Uhlmann that we don’t blame the Pope for the IRA Sydney siege: Abbott refuses to blame Islam for Man Haron Monis’s actions Australia Isn’t Filled Solely With News Ltd Readers And Ray Listeners Yet #illridewithyou: A simple but elegant display of humanity, that today in Pakistan we need more than ever - Comment - Voices - The Independent Obama congratulations Australia on #illridewithyou Flowers take over Martin Place Aftermath Fin Review as bad as the Tele Some awkward facts for your Sydney siege narrative - Left Flank Man Haron Monis: fringe figure whose crime record and erratic behaviour made him notorious Martin Place cafe siege: Overreaction from fear is a measure of a terrorist’s success Let’s be honest: Man Haron Monis was an IS terrorist News Ltd vs The Real Villains: LEFTISTS Kenny vs #illridewithyou An imaginary backlash Devine vs The noxious and naive Left Teh News Unhinging, (with images, tweets) · swearyanthony · Storify Ray vs Tony on releasing MYEFO WaggaDailyAdvertiser fails to notice the Muslim community had actually been trying to get police to attend to Monis. Jerks on Twitter Des Houghton +After Twitter Tirade No One Wants To Ride With George Christensen MP Ewen Jones MP on Twitter: “Just want to distance myself from comments by @GChristensenMP . Completely insensitive and ignorant of the motive #illridewithyou” Govt MP Andrew Nikolic has now taken down this tweet on the #martinplace incident. The Day We Lost Our Innocence (If You Don’t Count All The Other Times Gunmen Have Taken Hostages Or Killed Australians) Timeline of major crimes in Australia - Wikipedia Ray, The Oz, Derryn, Abbott vs The Rule Of Law Derryn calls for tougher bail laws for next time he offends Tony Abbott ‘infuriated’ over funding for legal challenges Extra punishment for foreigners Libertarians Have The Worst Ideas John Howard rejects David Leyonhjelm’s call to relax gun laws as simplistic and flawed

The Focus Group Backdowns that Aren’t Tony Abbott moves to plan B on Medicare co-payment for GP visits Higher education ad makes ‘demonstrably untrue’ claims - Labor Abbott government accused of trying to set up climate change talks for failure Green Climate Fund will get $200m from Australia after Tony Abbott’s about-turn - but it’s from the aid budget Coalition will alter paid parental leave scheme Paid parental leave scheme changes made by Abbott gov. Modern Slavery Remote area unemployed face punishment for ‘passive welfare behaviour’ Black Australia Would Be ‘Essentially Free Labour’ Under Work-For-The-Dole Changes Remote work-for-the-dole scheme not discriminatory, Indigenous Affairs Minister says, as welfare group warns of ‘double standards’ - ABC News Fuck You Nigel | thekooriwoman A Happy Future Queensland Police sold to OCP Greens call for Qld Police Minister to explain Arrow Energy rent-a-cops Queensland police defend use of vehicles branded with Santos logo LIBS OOOOFFF DIIIGNITTYYYY Julie Bishop vs Peta Credlin - unnamed frontbencher tells Oz: “like two Siamese fighting fish stuck in the same tank” Jan Stuckey and Karen Andrews had a ‘heated exchange’ in front of Elanora students Tony Abbott Gives Authors Prize Money; Authors Give Money To Causes The Government’s Cutting Les Murray attacks PM’s decision to overrule judges and split $80,000 prize between Carroll’s work and Richard Flanagan’s ‘pretentious and stupid book’ David Hicks heckles George Brandis and claims government knew about his torture David Hicks heckles Brandis: police unaware former Guantánamo captive was at event The Liberal Party has ‘completely betrayed its core principles’ says Young Liberal Executive Team member in scathing resignation letter Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she will blame Labor if there are further cuts to her department Christopher Pyne tells colleagues to hold their tongues, but he can’t control Andrew Bolt’s Release of ministerial travel costs could damage our international standing, government claims Tony Abbott says cabinet reshuffle likely, but praises Hockey for ‘resilience’ Jobs-for-girls appointment to leading government drug advisory body latest row to split Abbott Government New poll: Tony Abbott’s personal approval rating drops sharply Team Abbott needs to have a long break John Howard attacks Cate Blanchett’s ‘outrageous’ Whitlam speech Sophie Mirabella’s remorse over lack of women in Abbott cabinet Climate Australia may not sign up to Paris climate deal: Andrew Robb Australia named worst-performing industrial country on climate change The Electorate Is Going Cold On Abbott’s Climate Change Sabotage Australia versus Humanity Senate gives Scott Morrison unchecked control over asylum seekers’ lives Sunday Explainer: The unprecedented immigration powers awarded to Scott Morrison ParlInfo - BILLS : Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014 : Second Reading By bargaining with children, Morrison’s refugee strategy has a kidnapper’s logic | Julian Burnside Deal Supposed To Help Children Will Likely Send 25 Babies To Offshore Detention Independent South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon to launch his own political party, NXT Immigration Minister ‘has the powers of a tyrant’, says Malcolm Fraser Scott Morrison should not be trusted to decide the ‘good character’ of vulnerable citizens | Antony Loewenstein Scott Morrison may gloat but asylum seekers’ boats haven’t really stopped | Sunili Govinnage Royal Australian Navy personnel open up about trauma of seeing asylum seekers die at sea - ABC News New Stats Confirm Majority Of Asylum Seekers Forced Offshore Are Genuine Refugees On Nauru the scarcest commodity is freedom, for refugees and residents alike Manus violence that killed Rez

This week on Something Wonky we bid farewell to the Napthine government in Victoria, attempt a reset for Tony Abbott, and ask Christopher Pyne to stop texting us. Australia Versus Humanity looks even grimmer than usual as Scott Morrison’s bill is on the verge of passing. And Stop The Press asks whether stalking six year old girls is in the national interest. The Focus Group Victoria says goodbye to the LNP Victoria’s Swing To The Left: Eltham’s Analysis Of Saturday’s Result Nationals could lose party status after disastrous showing Tony Abbott had ‘toxic’ effect on Victorian election, say former premiers Victorian state election 2014: Greens leave preferences blank in key seats, angering Labor What reset button? TheVine - Karl Stefanovic just savaged Tony Abbott on The Today Show - Life & pop culture, untangled Edumacation Pyne embarrassing himself over uni reforms says Glenn Lazarus PUP’s Glenn Lazarus can’t stand heat of the Senate scrum Senate votes down Abbott government’s higher education changes University cuts: government spends $150,000 gauging need for advertising “Better Economic Managers” Weak economy to push interest rates down Joe Hockey - Economy faces new headwinds GDP: Australia enters income recession, dollar dives as economy stalls Tax the rich not the poor, corporate advisers tell Tony Abbott Government is hard Tony Abbott faces another Senate headache over David Leyonhjelm threat Australian soldiers win battle with PM Tony Abbott over pay with the help of Senator Jacqui Lambie Joe Hockey rejects open tender for new submarines Liberal Senator’s ag-gag bill targets whistleblowers | Lee Rhiannon Freya Newman’s ordeal sparks Greens bill to bolster whistleblower protection Global Citizenship Julie Bishop ‘went bananas’ at Tony Abbott over climate chaperone report Federal Government cuts funding to UN environment agency by over 80pc ahead of Peru climate talks - ABC News Cuts to foreign aid ‘another broken promise’ More cuts in store for foreign aid Australians abroad may be cut off from consular assistance in claims crackdown A grab bag Nobel prize contender San Thang cut from CSIRO “Remember when Hockey DARED car manufacturers to leave Australia?” New report finds gas is uneconomic at home Opening of world’s largest solar power plant in California brings inspiration and disappointment to Australia’s renewable energy sector - ABC News NBN: next 1.9 million homes and business to be connected to broadband network revealed Ebola paperwork: It looks important, but no one collects it Australia Versus Humanity Jailing four not-guilty Indigenous men with disabilities ‘breached human rights’ Australian asylum seeker policy may contravene torture convention - UN Manus Island asylum seeker had to rip out infected tooth, says case worker Sailors talk of torment of pulling asylum seeker bodies from ocean Federal Government approves plans for new detention centre near Port Moresby | Australia Plus Palmer United party backs asylum bill after Scott Morrison concessions Scott Morrison vows to increase refugee intake if crossbench senators support migration bill Manus Island detainee fears jail for homosexuality if rape reported to police Pregnant protesters locked up in detention despite refugee status Chris Kenny vs Gillian Triggs Stop The Press ABC and SBS could save $6m by refusing to pay Foxtel retransmission fee Here is Christian Kerr in the oz using a photo of a 6 year old to sledge a senator. No Gender December: Abbott criticises bid to end gender stereotypes in toys Nobody panic, Larissa Waters is not trying to kill Christmas And Finally This Government Is Shit - Ross Sharp

This week on Something Wonky, the not cuts set to cost the ABC over a quarter of a billion dollars, the commercial media demonstrates why we need the ABC. Australia Versus Humanity wonders if anyone gets paid to listen to Something Wonky? And The Focus Group checks out the Senate, Canoeing for Dummies and digging holes with Gina, before we finish up with a Victorian election wrap up. Stop The Press ABC Cuts Confirmed ABC, SBS cuts: one in 10 to lose jobs, regional offices closed Hadley’s billions Thousands rally to protest funding cuts for ABC and SBS ABC regional closures designed to ‘hurt Coalition’ over funding cuts Christopher Pyne on Twitter: “My letters this morning to @mscott and James Spigelman of the ABC: the ABC must not stop production in SA. #auspol http://t.co/JcHApf0Kzx” Matter of Public Importance speech on ABC/SBS Cuts and a lesson on the meaning of “efficiency | Scott Ludlam WHY THE CUTS TO THE ABC ? DUH! | Badly Behaving Commercial Media The Daily Tele’s double standard on lies Andrew Bolt’s TV show viewer’s solution for deaths in custody - as selected for broadcast by his producers Paul Barry in Twitter stoush over journo’s pay Australia Versus Humanity Abbott’s dirty deal with Cambodia will condemn refugees to destitution | Sarah Hanson-Young Fears Escalate As Another Teen Asylum Seeker Assaulted On Nauru | newmatilda.com Govt visa plan faces shaky Senate Scott Morrison may be forced to give 31,000 asylum seekers chance of settlement Indonesia says Australia’s decision to reject refugees creates bilateral tension Immigration Minister Scott Morrison defends media monitoring spend The Focus Group The Abbott government is doomed without narrative PM’s credibility comes under assault TRACKING ABBOTT’S WRECKAGE - Unions. Politics. And stuff. Senate Shake-up Jacqui Lambie resigns from Palmer United party, ending speculation New-look Jacqui Lambie to emerge from wilderness Clive Palmer: Jacqui Lambie infiltrated PUP to blow it up Canoeing for Dummies Defence minister offers apology for ‘canoe’ jibe about submarine maker Defence Minister David Johnston looks like a political case of man overboard? Privacy Corner Freya Newman Escapes Conviction For Exposing Secret Frances Abbott Scholarship FREYA NEWMAN SENTENCE: A Full Transcript Of Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan’s Judgement Christopher Pyne Takes To Twitter To Whine About Freya Newman Verdict Dig a Hole Anti-mining lobby winning, says Gina Rinehart Baird government cracks down on protesters, fast-tracks mining UK Tories slam Tony Abbott on climate policy Heatwave hell as 5000 dead bats drop from trees in Casino, northern NSW Summer’s hot, get used to it, says Tony Abbott Incompetents In Charge Great Barrier Reef will be ‘slaughtered’: scientists dismiss Julie Bishop’s claim reef not at risk Claims nearly 900 jobs to go at CSIRO as Australia aims to boost farm production - ABC Rural Government sends mixed messages over future of $7 GP co-payment High Court hobbles Green Army for local, community projects Turnbull, NBN Co ignored Telstra real-world FttN speed warnings Victorian Election Tony threatens Victoria with loss of $3bn if the Libs don’t win Victorian Coalition pins hopes on minority rule - hello Rise Up Australia with the balance of power! Victoria heading for upper house chaos following minor party preference deals ahead of the State election Minister ignored business case when approving plans for $6.8 billion road VicForests given control of commercial logging before state election campaign Vic Labor promises to reintroduce emissions reduction target Liberal candidate sacked over Bollywood porn star invitation Little kings | The Monthly Public transport brings out the worst in us We’re better than this Famous Australians record song condemning treatment of asylum seeker children | Music | The Guardian Extras not reached Gay marriage: Liberal pa