Respect the tropes
April 28, 2020 • Episode 16
We acknowledge the sacrifice of our fallen heroes, and discuss former PM Malcom Turnbull's testy responses to criticism of his new book. Then chat about the knock-on effects of tumbling oil prices and how to save the Great Barrier Reef.
News
- Congrats to the staff of Wired magazine for forming a union.
- “Private” Zoom messages can be seen by the creator of a meeting.
- It’s possible for employers to read private slack messages.
Former PM Book Tour News
- Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s book was pirated by a staffer working for current PM Scott Morrison’s.
- Turnbull has responded testily to even light criticism for his policies while in office.
- He was also responsible for the gutting of Australia’s National Broadband Network.
War, huh?
- It’s Anzac Day in Australia. Australians were encouraged to play the last post at dawn from their driveways.
- The reverence of Anzac Day was pushed by Prime Minister John Howard in support of the Iraq War.
- Corporations are known for their awkward tributes to fallen soldiers.
Oil prices are bad
- Oil prices are bad! How bad? So bad oil producers are paying buyers to take oil off their hands.
- Australia’s government is stockpiling oil storing it in the US for “emergencies”.
- The head of Australia’s organisation to post-COVID economic recovery is pushing gas and oil drilling.
- They’re also pushing for reductions in environmental regulations.
Smoking the Reef
- The Great Barrier Reef is dying, and quickly.
- Scientists are trying to use geo-engineering to try to save the reef.
- …funded by the same government that is pushing for increased coal production.
Jobkeeping up with the Jones
- Lawyers and accountants are overrepresented amongst employers applying for the Jobkeeper payments from the government.
- The Victorian Liberal party are applying for Jobkeeper.
- Victorian Trades Hall have started a program called Jobscammer, for employees to dob in bosses who are cheating the Jobkeeper program.
- Conservative politicians are starting to push for the increased Jobseeker rates to be maintained once the Coronavirus disaster is over.
- In Italy and Mexico, organised crime are taking over the holes in the social support systems left by governments.
- The Guardian have published a series mini articles by vulnerable people.
Nationalise it
- Virgin Australia has gone into voluntary administration.
- Perth Airport has put bulldozers in front of Virgin’s planes to try to force payment of debts.
- The Ararat Advertiser has closed, leaving a 16 year-old student as the city’s only source of local news.
Actions
- Listen to Ararat’s Latest — Ararat’s now only remaining souce of local news.
- Give us a review in your podcast app!
Music credits
- “Nationalise It!” — Written and performed by Brendan McPherson
- “Rock Thing” — by Creo