Colin E Penter

When public services become PR: How charities and corporations blur the line between care and self-promotion There are certainly cases where working with a charity lets government draw on specific expertise and enhance service delivery. But too often, that’s not the case.

When public services become PR: How charities and corporations blur the line between care and self-promotion

thepoint.com.au/opinions/251...

Grog's rule of privatisation:

"The day you decide to allow the private sector deliver a public service is also the day you should set the future date for the Royal Commission into abuses in the system."

‘Absurdist leaps of logic’: Robodebt misused in FOI reforms I am furious. Angry, certainly, about the federal government’s proposed freedom of information laws, which mock the very idea of transparency, but seething especially about the justification for them,...

The dishonesty around the use of Robodebt in prosecuting the government’s Freedom of Information secrecy drive is galling in the extreme. I set out some facts that deflate the specious claims being used as cover. www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/comment/topi...

Democratic states need a defense pact to protect them from the fascist federal government. Lawsuits and press conferences are fine, but not enough. We need coordination of defensive action. I’ve an essay on this coming out next week. But we need it now.

The National Press Club of Australia, caving to the Israeli lobby, Cancels My Talk on Our Betrayal of Palestinian Journalists The National Press Club of Australia cancelled my talk on how the media, by amplifying Israeli lies, have betrayed Palestinian journalists, 278 of whom have been assassinated by Israel.

Well surprise surprise. The National Press Club of Australia has cancelled a speech by acclaimed American journalist and author Chris Hedges who was scheduled to speak on the betrayal of Palestinian journalists.

More than 300,000 Australians had Centrelink payments cancelled illegally, new analysis shows Peak body for community legal centres finds number of payments suspended due to IT glitch higher than department initially identified

Good to see that Centrelink and the govt learnt their lessons from robodebt

Was just reminded of this episode of Q&A from 12 years ago - You would never see anyone like Ilan Pappe be able to speak like this on Australian TV today.

Israel, a democracy? Ilan Pappe on Q&A (ABC) youtu.be/XIKuqjhyTeA?...

Housing as a social determinant of health: a contemporary framework Housing is a key social determinant of health. Healthy housing is affordable, suitable, and secure. It is characterised by warmth, dryness, and proper…

A new paper in @thelancetph.bsky.social with a great team of researchers (inc @katemason.bsky.social). We lay out an updated framework for thinking about housing as a social determinant of health www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Who’s part of the opposition within the Opposition? | Fiona Katauskas Seems like there’s someone new every week

The heat is on- my #Auspol cartoon for @australia.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Thanks to Amy Remeikis, one of this country's finest journalists who puts into words what many people feel and think. @amyremeikis.bsky.social

Aged care "free market" where a home care package deal masks a crisis - Michael West The Labor Government continues to prevaricate on actioning the recommendations from the Aged Care Royal Commission.

Aged care is 'free market', older people are 'consumers'. Strong report by Dr Sarah Russell on home care packages and RC recommendations passed by in favour of privateers
#auspol
michaelwest.com.au/aged-care-fr...

Australian politicians reveal their housing portfolios, with some owning as many as six homes Dozens of politicians are landlords, having also declared rental income from their investment properties

Wonder why politicians are so unwilling to address the crisis affecting renters? Or why they support negative gearing and other policies that directly landlords and homeowners? Here is the answer. They benefit personally from these policies.
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

Good, careful review justifying calls for action on alcohol marketing – and also noting that in some areas such as sport and sporting events, gambling exposure and advertising were even more common than alcohol. As so often, predatory industries use similar strategies.

Excellent and important piece by Amy Remeikis about the failure of the Australian media to seriously scrutinise the allegations of Iran's involvement in anti-Semitic attacks

Not to mention the impact on health and healthcare!
#Auspol

Imagine having a Productivity Summit with the theme of Resilence and failing to address first up the impact on Australian life, community, landscape and infrastructure of existential twin crises of global heating and biodiversity collapse. Instead it’ll be Env is a handbrake on ‘jobs and growth’.

Sickening. Every journalist in America should think deeply about the fact that most American politicians are willing to accept and indeed facilitate the murder of our colleagues.

Journalists are increasingly becoming a loathed profession.

‘Complicity’ is an insufficient word: the violence of western media The story of Palestinian author Mona Zahed and the violence of western media.

Such a horrifying example of media “complicity” in punching down. Aided and abetted by “progressive” politicians.

open.substack.com/pub/amymcqui...

Does the cultural establishment recognise a cultural event when they see one? or would they rather censor the Harbour Bridge march?

This is an outstanding piece on an important question- why have there been no art reviews of the Sydney Harbour Bridge march as a cultural event?
ianmilliss575982.substack.com/p/does-the-c...

Biggest protest in history reveals morbidly inadequate action from Government The Australian people have made a meaningful statement to the elected class of people in Canberra: action is what we demand from our leaders.

The biggest protest in Sydney's history just occurred on the weekend, and from the gov and media response, you'd hardly know it.

My latest article:

'Biggest protest in history reveals morbidly inadequate action from Government'
#auspol
open.substack.com/pub/joeljenk...

Outstanding investigative journalism by Anthony Klan and the Klaxon.

EXCLUSIVE: Segal's "husband" donation claims a sham - The Klaxon The nation’s Antisemitism Envoy Jillian Segal — who claims to have “had no involvement” in her husband’s “donations” — has been donating with him for decades.

🚨Antisemitism Envoy Jillian Segal's "husband" claims are a lie – the couple have been donating together for decades, investigations reveal.
The couple’s donations were even overseen and applauded by a sitting NSW Premier...
Explosive 👇
theklaxon.com.au/lztu

Last Thursday, two 18-year-old Israelis, Ayana Gerstmann and Yuval Peleg declared their refusal to enlist in the army, protesting the annihilation of Gaza. They were both sentenced to military prison.

By Oren Ziv @mekomit.bsky.social

YouTube video by Ralph Wilde Ralph Wilde: States legally obliged to prevent Gaza starvation and recognize Palestinian State

Ralph Wilde, Prof International Law explains why Israel's presence & its conduct in Gaza is illegal & must be terminated, why the Israel-US aid program involves war crimes, crimes against humanity & contributes to genocide & the legal duty of States to prevent this
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3QR...

Labor decision to lift ban on PwC ‘an insult’ to inquiry that investigated Treasury scandal, Pocock says Finance department rejects last minute plea from three senators urging it to maintain block on consultancy firm competing for new government work * Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The finance department has rejected a last minute plea from three senators who led parliamentary inquiries into PwC Australia urging it not to lift a ban on the consultancy firm competing for new government work. Last month, Guardian Australia revealed the finance department had recommended the end of a long-term ban triggered by a scandal involving the misuse of confidential Treasury information. Continue reading...

Labor decision to lift ban on PwC ‘an insult’ to inquiry that investigated Treasury scandal, Pocock says

Failures in privatised care starkly illustrate the inevitable failure of neoliberalism The failures of privatised child care and aged care have starkly illustrated the inability of markets to deliver quality service. The failure applies to all human services.

Failures in privatised care starkly illustrate the inevitable failure of neoliberalism
johnmenadue.com/post/2025/07...

MWM - nine years and counting on your support for independent journalism - Michael West We are in our 10th year and would like to thank the community for supporting us in independent media. Without it, this wouldn't have happened.

MWM - in our 10th year in indi media. Deepest gratitude for all those who have helped get us here.

This story maps out the future, records our business model, plans and case for funding
#auspol
michaelwest.com.au/nine-years-a...
youtu.be/SDyXCS3DyE0?...

At least 32 Palestinians killed in Gaza as IDF fires on crowds seeking food Witnesses say scenes near Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid hubs in the south of the territory resembled a massacre

Mass murder

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

‘He begged not to die’: partner of man who died after being restrained by police joins calls to change mental health response Taite Collins filmed his partner Collin Burling being restrained by officers at their public housing block in Sydney’s Waterloo

“I can’t breath,”

www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...