Rex Patrick

The smooth waters of the Murray River at Echuca enhancing a somewhat nostalgic scene.

Shakedown!

#AUKUS #auspol

Port Kembla? more nuclear submarine base secrecy. What's the scam? - Michael West Port Kembla is a possible host for an AUKUS nuclear submarine base on our East Coast, but nobody is talking about it.

(NSW Govt) “The public can’t see these docs about about a NSW #AUKUS base, they’re Cabinet docs”.

(Rex) “Here’s my appeal”.

(NSW Govt) “OK, they’re not Cabinet docs. We want to remake our decision”.

#NuclearBackflip #FOI #BrokenGIPA #nswpol #auspol

The Dept of Industry, Science and Resources wasted $109M of public money NOT establishing a National Radioactive Waste Management Facility. That takes some degree of incompetence. They’re now putting a $829 barrier in the way of public scrutiny of NRWMF 2.0 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

Paid, and appealed. #auspol

The AUKUS Submarine Deal is Dead The promise to give Australia nuclear submarines is collapsing. A severe industrial crisis in both the U.S. and UK means the AUKUS security deal's central pillar is no longer viable.

“In April, the Pentagon initiated a 30-day review to see if it could simultaneously meet the needs of the US Navy and the Australian demand. Four months later, the review is still not public, but the answer is already clear: the US cannot do both.” #AUKUS #auspol

Arbitrary FOI process exposed. What's the scam? - Michael West Two identical Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, one month apart. Two radically different disclosure outcomes. What’s the Scam? The scam lies in how a process intended to support government transp...

Two different freedom of information requests involving the same document produces two radically different #transparency outcomes. Why? 🤷‍♂️ #FOI #broken #dysfunctional #auspol

A good start … #auspol

AUKUS delusions. More rivets pop in submarine drama - Michael West Announcing sub-deal with the UK, resisting calls for a review, ignoring US admiral, building houses for US military, AUKUS shocker.

A lot happened last week on the #AUKUS front. It really was a ‘shocker’ for proponents of the massive nuclear submarine shemozzle, but a happy state of self-delusion persists at the highest levels of our Government. 👇Sit down before you read this👇. #auspol

Dithering over local TV content plays into hands of global streamers - Michael West A shroud of secrecy surrounds negotiations between the Labor Government and media companies about locally produced drama.

ICYMI

In Senator Lambie v Minister @tonyburkemp.bsky.social (re: content quotas), Burke has failed to comply with a mandatory law that requires him to hand over ALL docs relevant to the dispute. Instead he’s first asking foreign media companies if they’re OK with him complying. 👈👮‍♂️🚔 #FOI #auspol

I am no longer a Senator. I am spending my children’s inheritance on it. 😉

#AUKUS: China threat gravy train. #auspol

I took a very questionable NSW Govt document access refusal decision to NCAT. Just before the first Tribunal hearing the Govt has totally backflipped. What if I’d been an average citizen less familiar (or less tenacious) with the GI(PA) Act? Officials must do better! #nswpol #FOI

One Last Swipe: Australian Taxation Office still punishing whistleblower Richard Boyle - Michael West Richard Boyle argues he shouldn’t have a conviction recorded against his name for blowing the whistle. The ATO thinks otherwise.

Last year the ATO exercised its discretion to forgive $800M of tax debt owed by 301 taxpayers (on average $2.6M each). But no such ‘love’ was being shared with ATO whistleblower Richard Boyle in the SA District Court today. #hero #integrity #auspol

The Govt has not indicated where the money will come from - #AUKUS’s $368B budget or some other budget? 🤷‍♂️ #auspol

The Govt’s first Housing Bill for the 48th Parliament is a Bill to build 700 new houses in Perth for US personnel and families for #AUKUS. 1/2 #priorities #AmericaFirst #auspol 👇 @davidshoebridge.bsky.social objecting👇

The Senate has just passed the Bill that will cut student debt by 20% 👏. However … we are a country endowed with riches - first degrees should be free. #ProperRoyalties #MultiNationalTaxReform #ValueAddHere #auspol

“But now it’s back, and it’s literally the committee appearance opportunity from hell, where top bureaucrats get to explain to politicians why they are paid more than them for not making the decisions that politicians make.” #auspol

Great article 🫡

In 2023 Keating called #AUKUS the “worst deal in all history”. At the time he was unaware we have no say over the design, we don’t get our up-front billions back if the subs aren’t delivered, and there’s no warranty if they are. Keating should have said “dumbest deal”. #auspol

What an important and considered statement delivered to the Senate this afternoon by SA Liberal Senator Andrew McLachlan! 🫡 #AlgaeBloom #saparli #auspol

Neither confirm nor deny. Head officially stuck in the sand on East Timor spy scandal - Michael West All Australians know we spied on the Timorese to steal their oil and gas, yet DFAT still denies history because it alleges Australia spied.

ICYMI

Vol 1 of the official history of ADF operations in East Timor took 2 years to write and 3 years to clear (censor). Vol 2 is going through the same process, now cleared by PM&C but still not published. History Australian government style - ingrained censorship? #auspol

'Valley of death' or mountain of spin? Gas reservation must be retrospective to cut power bills - Michael West The price of electricity in Australia could be halved, but the Government is suckered by the gas cartel’s lies and spin. Rex Patrick reports

ICYMI

Gas shortage crisis develops as Santos takeover heats up There's a great deal riding on the contentious proposal, politically for the Albanese government, personally for Treasurer Jim Chalmers and economically for the nation.

“Within the next 18 months, the east coast will face chronic shortages and soaring prices possibly for at least a decade as Australian gas is shipped offshore.”

Who can’t see the stupidity of our current gas policies? Retrospective gas reservation policy, now! #auspol

Australia won’t receive Aukus nuclear submarines unless US doubles shipbuilding, admiral warns Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says there is a ‘very, very high’ chance Virginia-class subs will never arrive under Australian control

Everyone can see the #AUKUS risk, except Richard Marles and our Defence leadership. It’s OK, though - it’s just your money and security at stake. #auspol https://

The Attorney, the World Court and climate accountability - Michael West Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is about to intervene in a world court case relating to the climate obligations of countries.

ICYMI

The Govt supported the ICJ giving an advisory opinion on whether states have a legal duty to act on climate change, but then argued in Court they don’t (beyond undertakings like the Paris Agreement). The Court disagreed. We’ve heard crickets from the Govt since. #FOI lodged #auspol

CNO Nominee Caudle Says Sub Construction Pace Needs to Grow to Deliver on AUKUS Promise - USNI News WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. industrial base must double its attack submarine output for America to meet its obligations under the AUKUS agreement with Australia and the United Kingdom, the Navy’s nomi...

The nominee for Chief of the US Navy spells out the cold hard facts to the US Senate; “the delivery pace is not where it needs to be to make good on the Pillar 1 of the AUKUS [subs] agreement”. Our admiral running #AUKUS prefers sunny optimism🤦‍♂️. #auspol

Political parties hold vast amounts of data about Australians. Experts say it’s a growing risk Ransomware attack puts focus on privacy risks for political parties, which are exempt from many data protection obligations

Oh, the juxtaposition created by govt flouting #FOI laws to prevent you seeing information about what they’re doing (which you are entitled to see) and the total lack of rules to prevent political parties releasing information they hold about you. #auspol

Australia and UK to sign 50-year defence treaty despite US wavering on Aukus submarine deal While details of the treaty are yet to be announced, it’s expected to cover cooperation in shipbuilding and other areas

A new 50 year treaty level defence agreement between Australia and the UK may make everyone feel really good in parliamentary hallways, but it wont change the risk profile of the submarine programs being conducted in US and UK shipyards. #AUKUS #auspol