Donna Ex X

The Voice would have renewed Australian democracy. Its failure leaves us all worse off Democracies thrive on adapting and changing to new injustices and problems. The failure of the Voice referendum raises questions about Australia’s democratic health.

theconversation.com/the-voice-wo...
What a missed opportunity thanks to Littleproud, Dutton and Advance. #auspol

“We found an etching nearby that read ‘everything was better before the meteor’. That’s when we thought it might belong to Howard."

Read more:
theshovel.com.au/2026/02/03/d...

Why the ghost of Epstein is driving Trump’s war ‘pageant’ In the 1997 movie Wag the Dog, the US president creates a fictional foreign war to distract attention from a sex scandal. Is life imitating art?

www.smh.com.au/world/north-...
Peter Hartcher making sense of Trumps foreign policy

Trump is pushing China and Europe together to create a new world order It takes a lot to throw these two foes together, but the US president may have pulled it off over the 10 days that shook the world, culminating in the Greenland disgrace.

www.smh.com.au/business/the...
one can only hope this analysis is spot on. #auspol #ClimateChange #FossilFuel

He didn’t hold a hose, but Morrison’s still happy to fan the flames An incendiary speech by former prime minister Scott Morrison has reminded us that when it comes to matters of cultural sensitivity, he’s still a bulldozer.

www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Morrison doesn’t hold a hose but he certainly causes me to hold my nose 😡#auspol

An anxious world awaits as Trump's perpetual bluffs come at a political price As the US president faces domestic consequences for his violent immigration crackdown, his geopolitical bluffs across the world also come at a price.

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Tingle nails it. America can neither be trusted to do what it says or not do what it says..slobaganda and dystopia

Wise words from the erudite Paul Bongiorno. The world is changing and Australia needs to change with it, lest we be left behind. #auspol #usalliance

I know it is very wrong of me, and I will try to shake it off because we do need good opposition parties, but the federal Liberals and Nationals just give such good schadenfreude.
Phillip Hankin, Camberwell
The Age, letters

Grattan on Friday: Coalition split is massive blow for Ley but the fault lies with Littleproud Sussan Ley may pay the price for the implosion of the Coalition, but the blame rests squarely with Nationals leader David Littleproud.

theconversation.com/grattan-on-f...
#auspol

Am l the only person who thinks 10 year olds are not capable of forming criminal intent?

Australia spends more on tax breaks for landlords than social housing, homelessness and rent assistance combined Exclusive: Acoss report shows property investors received $12.3bn in tax concessions in 2025, while the share of social housing dropped to a record low * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Australia spends billions of dollars more on tax breaks for property investors than on social housing, homelessness and rent assistance combined, according to research by the Australian Council of Social Service (Acoss). The analysis comes as new data from the Productivity Commission reveals the share of homes dedicated to social housing has dropped to a record low 3.6%, from 5.7% in the 1990s. Continue reading...

Australia spends more on tax breaks for landlords than social housing, homelessness and rent assistance combined

Few words.
My @smh @theage cartoon

Louise Adler:
“There’s a history dating back to 2023 of pro-Israeli lobbyists arguing against the inclusion of Palestinian writers…assisted and abetted by the Murdoch press.” 🔥

She called their statement “word salad” that very clumsily linked Randa Abdel-Fattah to Bondi. 💥

Misogyny doesn’t get a guernsey either in these new hate speech laws.

Albo’s says his new anti hate speech legislation is the result of consulting with all “faith groups”. As an atheist I feel discriminated against. I have no faith (pun intended) but expect my govt to outlaw all hate speech under one humanitarian umbrella also covering (eg) LGBTQ+, disabled and race.

As a Jew who knows antisemitism, I need answers, not the stifling of free speech We’ve heard calls not only to investigate how the Bondi massacre occurred but to place universities, protest movements and migrants under suspicion.

www.smh.com.au/national/as-...

Finally got his dream job..heading up an Asia/China ThinkTank.

I cannot be party to silencing writers, which is why I am resigning as director of Adelaide Writers’ Week | Louise Adler Cancelling the Australian Palestinian author Randa Abdel-Fattah weakens freedom of speech and is the harbinger of a less free nation

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
#auspol #AdelaideWritersWeek

Royal commission must focus on the role of Pezzullo and Dutton in serial intelligence failures The failings of security agencies in the years leading up to the Bondi attack demand that two men face particular scrutiny in a royal commission — the men most closely associated with the Home Affairs...

www.crikey.com.au/2026/01/12/b...

Gazans beg for shelter as winter storms batter millions and Israel limits aid Homeless Gazans are begging the Israeli government to allow proper shelters into the strip as winter storms batter the enclave and destroy many people's tents.

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-01...
Of course there’s a ceasefire. Who needs guns when you can let the elements do your dirty work. #Gaza

The "How DARE you question Dear Leader's lies" defense.

After Bondi, our leaders needed to draw breath. Now, so do we all Our political classes have shown Australians how not to respond to a crisis. Can we learn from it?

www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Good stuff from SeanKelly. #auspol

Israeli violence against journalists has evolved to target the families and relatives of journalists “in a clear attempt to turn journalistic work into an existential burden for which sons, wives, fathers, and mothers pay the price”.
Our ruling class continues to condone such atrocities.

Iceland has hottest Christmas Eve ever with temperature of 19.8C recorded Meteorological office reports high temperatures across country and record measured at Seyðisfjörður in east

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/d...
Thank goodness theres no such thing as climate change 😵‍💫

Netanyahu funded Hamas in order to undermine the Palestinian Authority and prevent a two state solution. Certainly the Israeli intelligence services have questions to answer. Did they want that attack to happen to legitimise an all out war on Gaza?

Minns has completely lost the plot.

Nothing spells togetherness with our Jewish neighbours like gun toting private armies wearing the star of David.

Clearly the indigenous community does not have the resources to influence Australian governments, unlike the Jewish community. I wonder why that is. Maybe a RC could uncover the reason? 🙄

Australian Jewish population 0.46% of 25million (2021ABS)
Population first people 3.8%

618 deaths in custody since Royal Commision 1991

12 in NSW in 2025

Where is the outrage?

#auspol

I’d be happy to see a RC into Bondi providing it investigates why the Jewish community has so much influence over Australian governments, Aust media, Aust business & the ABC. How did they get Latouff sacked? Why do they want Universities silenced? Why are other forms of racism not as abhorrent?

I remain stunned that Piers Morgan is on the right side of humanity here.