Roasted celery
January 20, 2021 • Episode 54
We cover the Dutch welfare scandal, the government shovelling more subsidies into the gas industry, the Celery Discorse and what Michael McCormack has been up to.
Clog scandal
- The Netherlands have done a mini-Robodebt, wrongly accusing thousands of families of abusing a childcare allowance scheme.
- The entire Dutch government have “quit” over this scandal.
- However, they remain in place in a caretaker capacity. Shades of Bridget McKenzie’s “resignation” here.
Climate news
From @leolinne, based on this paper.
- The Federal government is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars of subsidies into gas fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.
- The gas from the basin is set to emit up to 117 megatonnes of greenhouse gas per year. The entire Australian transport sector produces about 100 megatonnes.
Farm news
- Farmers in Victoria have been forced to dump $150,000 worth a celery crops.
- International students were abandoned by the government response to COVID.
- Fact check: Celery is good. A real team player. Put it in a stir-fry you dummies, or this fish stew is seriously great.
Sports corner
- The Australian open has been delayed, and is bringing Coronavirus-positive players and staff into Australia.
- Tennys Sandgren II has covid.
- Players are furious after being forced into hard hotel quarantine, despite being promised practice time.
- Premier Dan Andrews pushed for the Australian Open to remain in Melbourne.
- Who remembers last year’s Australian Open, when Slovenian player Dalila Jakupovic due to bushfire smoke?
Michael McCormack watch
- Scott Morrison is on holiday, leaving real man and Nationals Leader Michael McCormack in charge.
- First, he equated the US Capitol riots to Black Lives Matter.
- Then he doubled down, dropping an “All Lives Matter”.
- During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson attempted to introduce a motion that “All Lives Matter”.
- Australia doesn’t have a right to free speech.
- McCormack also defended George “Unusually Complex Online Presence” Christenson.
- Read Jeff Sparrow’s article on the rise of Australia’s far-right.
Actions
- Shoutout to Quantas workers and their unions, fighting back against the airline for underpayment and abuses of the Jobkeeper scheme.
- Keep an eye on the Australian media coverage of the US Capitol riots, and complete our bingo card.
- Attend the Invasion Day rallies around Australia.
