Rob Smith

The cheapest tickets to the #DjokovicAlcaraz showdown at the #AusOpen going for $1899. When those were quickly snapped up on Saturday, some re-sale tickets went online for a staggering $6598. Other individual tickets ranged between $5718 and $5999. #AAP

Australia has rejected an offer from international partners to join a public statement condemning #Israel for the demolition of an international aid organisation's headquarters.
Canberra was invited to join, but declined without an explanation, one diplomatic source told AAP. #Auspol

#Australia is being asked to accept something extraordinary as if it were normal. Who invited #IsaacHerzog in the first place, and why did #AnthonyAlbanese say yes? Presented to us not as diplomacy, not as geopolitics, not as a strategic signal, but as “healing”. #Auspol

Of course, Mr President, of course ... your word is your bond.. #Trump

The #Nationals, led by the #LNP, have spent the better part of three decades dragging the #Liberals to where they are now. And like Monty Python’s Black Knight, the Liberal Party, bereft of direction, shared values, or understanding of what it is slides further and further into irrelevancy. #Auspol

Title: “Uses for the Australian Flag”. Six frames. 1. “To show support”. Guy in a crowd wearing green and gold waving little flag shouting “CARN THE AUSSIES”. 2 “To dogwhistle”. Pauline wrapped in flag as in Senate stunt. 3. “Survival abroad”. Woman with shorts, ponytail and large backpack with flag on it, Eiffel Tower in distance, says “Not American” 4. “To tell people who you are”. Big bloke in Aust flag t-shirt looks at smaller brown man menacingly? Assertively? Aggressively? and points to it. 5. “To tell people you belong”. Four people of diverse culture/ethnicity all proudly holding little Aussie flags. 6. “Sun protection for your lily white skin”. Two blokes, back to us, red necks, beach in front, thumbs up, beer in hand, saying “MATE” “MAAATE”.

Uses for the flag.
My @smh @theage cartoon

Israel has now said it accepts Hamas' estimate of the Gaza death toll, 71,000+, after years of insisting it was inflated. We're about to welcome the head of that state as an official guest.

The invitation to #Herzog to visit to Australia in the wake of the #BondiBeach atrocity also serves to add fuel to the already combustible debate about #antisemitism, #Zionism and criticism of the state of #Israel. #auspol

The normalisation of #OneNation, through reality TV, breakfast TV slots and inclusion as a serious political player in Australia has been #media-driven, dressed up as the people’s choice. #Auspol

Every word ... #HateSpeech

Muslim leaders slam Morrison as ‘reckless, irresponsible’ after Islam speech Andrew Bragg has urged Australian Muslims to take some responsibility for religious extremism, after Scott Morrison told an antisemitism conference in Israel that Islamic leaders should enforce stron...

#ScottMorrison’s speech drew swift condemnation from Labor MPs & the Australian National Imams Council, which said comments were “reckless, irresponsible & deeply ill-informed”. Treasurer Jim Chalmers said Morrison was a “pretty divisive figure” #Auspol
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

During intergovernmental negotiations intended to determine a maritime boundary, the Australian Government bugged government offices in #TimorLeste. This led Timor-Leste to file a case with the International Court of Justice, which in 2014 ordered #Australia not to spy on Timor-Leste.

#Herzog's visit has prompted legal groups to urge the AFP to investigate him for inciting #genocide. A UN Human Rights Council inquiry examining the war in #Gaza found comments Herzog made following the 7 October attacks by #Hamas against #Israel were evidence of genocidal intent. #Auspol

Cathy Wilcox

America feels like a country on the brink of an authoritarian takeover | Francine Prose This is the news we should be paying attention to. At least for the moment, everything else is a distraction

#America feels like a country on the brink of an #authoritarian takeover.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Well done, Tristan, enjoyable read...

Back to familiar territory: what went behind Scorchers' all-conquering season It was dominance personified from start to the end in front of a packed Optus Stadium and even on the road

This was the most dominant of Scorchers' 6 titles - won in different ways, road success + thrashed Sixers x2 in finals.

A look into how they shaped this bolder, aggressive side starting with the recruitment of Finn Allen + fostering a successful culture

www.espncricinfo.com/story/bbl-fi...

Rise of One Nation reflects deeper divisions in society We may be entering an ugly time – an awful concept. This is the nation the PM must now try to keep together.

‪We may be entering an ugly time – and given how horrible some of the past years have been an uglier time is an awful thought. This is the nation #Albanese must try to lead and keep together. “Lucky” is not the word that comes to mind. #Auspol
@mrseankelly.bsky.social www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...

Hugh Bonneville is a decent human being.

And Israel as a whole is an abomination. #GazaGenocide

Politicising the #bondiattack has its unintended consequences #Coalitionsplit #Auspol

YouTube video by ABC News In-depth Attorney-General attempts to explain extent of hate speech laws | 7.30

If the question is "can you accuse Israel of genocide without fear of prosecution" and the answer is anything other than an unqualified "yes", then there is something dangerously wrong with your "hate laws".
www.youtube.com/shorts/YmEcn...

The dark arts - The Shot The ideology of the Israel lobby in Australia is this - burn it to the ground rather than ever allow an opposing voice.

What the #Israel lobby fail to realise is that whatever sympathy Australians had for people of the #Jewish faith is being eroded by the Israel lobby every time they bang their drum; and bang their drum they do. @ronnisalt.bsky.social #Auspol
theshot.net.au/uncategorize...

Rob Hirst has had a massive impact on Australian culture. He was the engine driving one of the greatest live bands of all time. RIP, dear Rob. You are irreplaceable, one of a kind, and myself, my family, and all the rest of this great country will miss you so much.

Mesmerising watching #RobHirst whirling in action... absolute powerhouse and such piercing backing vocals.. one of the greats. RIP 💔

So how am I doing? #TrumpPutin

Growing sense of embarrassment at Fifa over Donald Trump peace prize There is a growing sense of embarrassment among mid-level and senior officials within Fifa over the awarding of the peace prize to Donald Trump

There is a growing sense of embarrassment among mid-level and senior officials within #Fifa over the awarding of its "peace prize" to #DonaldTrump.

www.theguardian.com/football/202...

“After losing the summer, Anthony Albanese is playing the long game. In throwing together a little of what everyone wanted into a bill no one wanted, he got to say he tried." -
@amyremeikis.bsky.social, The Australia Institute

Read more from Amy Remeikis on The Point Live: theaus.in/4bHDuY2

#SussanLey, and others in her increasingly small circle, mistook #JoshFrydenberg’s win in forcing the #Albanese government to call a royal commission into the events that led to #Bondi as a personal victory. It became obvious that was a mistake almost as soon as it happened.
#Auspol

I did it! Both 'recipients' shameful 🤢... #TrumpNobelPrize

The potent mix of poor political judgement, internal division and unwillingness to compromise has again put the #Coalition at risk of missing the chance to shape significant law changes. #Auspol