Tag Archives: Australia Day Honours

The Week That Was – January 21 to January 27

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This week began with the announcement that the USA will be sending more troops to Australia’s north, as they now see the threat of Russia and China to be greater than the threat of terrorism. Australia, being the closest friend of the USA in the region, is going to help play host to an increased number of American soldiers. This also makes Australia feel safer too, as the US is helping us be protected too.

After the USA left the TPP, and then Canada made a no-show at a meeting a few months ago, the TPP – although I don’t think it is called that anymore – is back on, and Canada is still in. Australia now has some export deals with Canada, Mexico and Japan, and while Australia already imports a lot, it will be our exporters that will benefit most.

This week also saw Australia Day either celebrated or mourned, depending on who you are. While some had citizenship ceremonies and barbecues, the City of Yarra council in Melbourne decided instead to re-enact the Day of Mourning Protests from 80 years ago.

Australia Day also means both the Australian of the Year Awards, and Australia Day Honours. The 2018 Australian of the Year is Professor Michelle Simmons, Young Australian of the Year is Samantha Kerr, Senior Australian of the Year is Dr Graham Farquhar and Australian Local Hero is Eddie Woo. In this year’s Australia Day Honours, nearly a third of the recipients were women. 2018 has also seen a large number of female athletes and sports stars awarded with honours varying from Member of the Order of Australia through to Companion of the Order of Australia.

Finally this week, there will be an increase in funding for the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, mainly to combat water quality issues and the Crown of Thorns starfish, although environmental activists want more; and a woman was arrested for sending money to terrorist groups.

Tweet of the Week

Things I’ve been Looking at Online

Stan Grant on Australia Day – ABC Online

NZ’s Waitangi Day is way different to Australia Day – ABC Online

 

The Week That Was – January 22 to January 28

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The week began with further commemorations and vigils for the victims of the Bourke St Mall tragedy, after two more people died in hospital – including a three-month old baby, who had been in such bad shape that police decided to transport him to hospital themselves before ambulances arrived. Malcolm Turnbull came to lay flowers, and the Federal Government is believed to be matching the Victorian Government’s contribution to a support fund for victims.

This week saw the country celebrate Australia Day. While many celebrated, Indigenous Australians protested the celebration of what they see as an invasion. There are calls to change the date, and while some agree, Malcolm Turnbull believed that constitutional recognition and reconciliation are the priorities. This year’s Australian of the Year is Emeritus Professor Alan Mackay-Sim, who developed a treatment for paralysis from nasal stem cells. He proved the treatment to be safe, while doctors in Poland recently had success using the treatment on a paraplegic man, who is learning to walk again. Mackay-Sim called for priority funding for medical research.

Meanwhile, Australia Day Honours were given to Julia Gillard, who became a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC); Mick Fanning, who became and Officer of the Order of Australia (AO); and several Olympians and Paralympians received Order of Australia Medals (OAM), including Chloe Esposito.

Barnaby Joyce is being criticised for telling people trying to get into the housing market should buy a house in regional areas, and that houses are bound to be expensive if you want to live in Mosman or Point Piper. The comment is being perceived as one similar to Joe Hockey’s infamous ‘get a high paying job’ comment, and Labor has jumped on it. They’re accusing Joyce of being out of touch, with critics pointing out that most jobs are in the cities, rather than the country.

There are also calls to change negative gearing, with data showing that only 8% of house sales in 2016 were to first home buyers, and that there has been a 61% rise in the number of investment property purchases in the last three years. While many are calling for these changes, the Treasurer Scott Morisson saying that supply just needs to be increased.

Finally this week, federal parliamentarians congratulated Gladys Berejiklian, who is the first female Liberal State Premier; politicians are getting cyber safety lessons; and there are concerns over Trump’s actions and how they will affect Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, although the Trade Minister is suggesting there could be alternatives if the USA actually leaves the TPP.

Tweet of the Week

Things I’ve Been Looking at Online

Kristina Keneally on Gladys Berejiklian becoming Premier – The Guardian

Alana Schezter on the ‘glass cliff’ – ABC Online

The Week That Was – February 1 to February 7

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This week has been one of the crazy ones, and it’s not going to calm down anytime soon.

The Queensland election appears to have resulted in a hung parliament, with most people believing that Labor will have government with the support of the three other MPs. Most people in the Liberal Party are blaming Tony Abbott, and the fact that he gave Prince Phillip a knighthood for the election loss. There is concern in NSW, that given the results of the Victorian and Queensland elections, that the Liberals could lose the NSW Election in late March if Abbott stays as PM.

Not only is there some concern in NSW, but also federally, with Abbott’s approval rating quite low. The PM made a speech at the National Press Club on Monday, in which he relinquished his involvement in Australia Day Honours, promised he’d listen more and has told Australians that they voted him and the government in, and only the electorate can vote him out – which is incorrect in terms of the leadership, as he can be toppled by the party if they so wish. In the days that followed, ministers and other senior Liberal figures have come out in support of the PM as rumblings of discontent within the party grow, and several backbenchers have publicly spoken about how they no longer support Abbott as the Prime Minister.

It came to a head on Friday with West Australian MP Luke Simpkins asking the Chief Whip, Philip Ruddock, for a spill motion during the party room meeting on Tuesday. Ministers, including the top contenders for the leadership – Julie Bishop and Malcolm Turnbull – have publicly said that they will not support the motion, although it is a secret ballot, so no one will know.

The crazy week in federal politics has led to some amusing slip-ups and some great pop culture references though. Defence Minister Kevin Andrews at one point said he supported the Tony Abbott and Julia Gillard leadership team, and Abbott made reference to Game of Thrones. Although his was more a reference to the title than to a specific part of the franchise (unlike the Harry Potter comments made in 2013).

Meanwhile, the Northern Territory had a more dramatic week, with Willem Westra van Holthe challenging Adam Giles for the NT Country Liberal Party leadership (and also the role of Chief Minister). Westra van Holthe called a press conference at one in the morning to say he was in charge, and was due to be sworn in before noon, only for no-one to show up. It turned out Giles was refusing to sign his resignation letter, so he and Westra van Holthe were sent to a room to come to a solution. The solution? Adam Giles is to remain Chief Minister, and Willem Westra van Holthe will be his deputy – much to the amusement of the rest of the country.

Finally this week, Peter Greste has been released from prison and is now back in Australia, the Bali Nine ringleaders are due to be executed this month, and the UK Defence Minister is in town for talks with his Australian counterpart.

Tweet of the Week

Things I’ve been Looking at Online

ABC News Librarians – ABC Backstory

Tony Abbott hashtag backfires – SMH

Reporters looking back on the Sydney Siege – ABC Backstory