Michael West Media

Whyalla mega-rescue leaves questions for watchdog ASIC. While much of the ire over Whyalla’s struggling steel plant has centred on the billionaire formerly at its helm, how was the situation allowed to fester for so long? Where was ASIC? Andrew Gardiner reports. The turmoil surrounding Whyalla’s steelworks – now in administration amid a promised Federal-State bailout – took a new turn on Thursday, with attacks on the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The regulator was accused of being “asleep at the wheel” at the plant’s per... Story by: Andrew Gardiner

A win for transparency, a blow to secrecy, a loss for the Maugean Skate. In a landmark Administrative Review Tribunal decision, public servants have been warned their secrecy culture is unlawful and must end. Rex Patrick reports. The Albanese Government forked out tens of thousands of taxpayer’s dollars in legal fees to Clayton Utz to resist releasing a Ministerial brief on the prospective extinction of the Maugean Skate. That’s public money not well spent. And the government’s resistance has delayed the release of the brief by more than a year, which will make... Story by: Rex Patrick

Protests in Jakarta. Is Indonesia heading towards a one-party state?. After only four months into a five-year job, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto faces anger on the streets as he seeks a coalition to exclude parliamentary opposition. Duncan Graham reports. This week, huge Indonesia Gelap (Dark Indonesia) protests erupted (https://buff.ly/3ECBhyH) in Jakarta, with crowds claiming the government’s policies are not ”pro-people”, fearing a one-party state. History has sh... Story by: Duncan Graham

Cairo Takeaway stunt. Building antisemitism one caper at the time. An antisemitism stunt at Cairo Takeaway orchestrated by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and prolific Israel crusader Ofir Birenbaum backfired last week. Wendy Bacon reports. Egyptian food outlet Cairo Takeaway in Sydney’s Inner West was flooded with supportive customers this weekend after a DailyTelegraph undercover operation to find evidence of antisemitism badly backfired. MWM can reveal close links between the perpetrator, Ofir Birenbaum, and pro-Israel groups with a long history of amplifying ... Story by: Wendy Bacon

Peter Dutton’s DOGE: draining the swamp or making the swamp great again?. Would be prime minister Peter Dutton has vowed to slash 36,000 public service jobs but will bringing back consultants be efficient? Josh Barnett checks the evidence. Channelling the politics of Donald Trump, would be PM Peter Dutton has declared war on the public service pledging to axe the 36,000 public sector jobs added since Labor came to power under Anthony Albanese. The details of the Coalition plan are foggy. And putting aside the irony that Dutton’s war on waste is to be accompanied... Story by: Joshua Barnett

Three decades of policy failure. Productivity Commission’s housing shame file. The latest Productivity Commission report on government services underlines three decades of housing policy failure that the LNP promises to make worse while Labor attempts to maintain the deficient status quo. Michael Pascoe reports. In a parliamentary fortnight awash with miserable politics, Senator Andrew Bragg tried his very best to land the title of asking the most inane question in either house. The Coalition’s actual “shadow minister for home ownership”, Michael Sukkar, must have be... Story by: Michael Pascoe

Who’s your lover now? Trump’s trade war sends Indonesia China’s way. Donald Trump’s trade war risks changing the Asian power balance, forcing Indonesia to move away from its historic stance of neutrality to get closer to China. Duncan Graham reports. Jakarta is not a charmer, but her assets are attractive. Beijing and Washington have long been wooing the Indonesian capital for her strategic power and influence. She’s stayed coy until now, but the time has come to decide. It’s been hastened by discovering that one suitor is coarse, brutal, untrustworthy, and ig... Story by: Duncan Graham

Of hate speech, fat cats and parliamentary priorities. State capture was on display last week, with the contrasting treatment of two very different issues in the Federal and NSW parliaments. Andrew Gardiner reports. A Sydney synagogue was defaced with red swastikas last month. Proposed NSW laws would raise the penalties for that amid rising political concern about antisemitism. Compare the pair. While mandatory prison time for antisemitism sailed into law in Canberra, draft laws dealing with a bigger issue for battlers – ‘fat cat (https://mich... Story by: Andrew Gardiner

Productivity tsar Danielle Wood ducks for cover on Israel lobby promotion. Is the Productivity Commission in breach of international law by its support for Israel lobby Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce? Michael West reports. Chair of Australia’s Productivity Commission, Danielle Wood, has declined to respond to questions about her agency’s support for Israel lobby group Australia Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC). According to lawyers contacted by MWM, Ms Wood and the PC may be in breach of the Commission’s own policy guidelines which state “In the performanc... Story by: Michael West

Algos and major labels make life tough for Australian musos. Streaming algorithms, the power of major labels, and foreign-owned radio stations are drowning out homegrown music talent. Joshua Barnett with the story. Australia’s music identity has a history of vibrant and energetic bands. However, recent trends on Triple J’s Hottest 100 suggest that international record labels might be tightening their grip on the market. Only 29 Australian tracks made it into the 2024 countdown, the lowest since 1996. Is Triple J is losing Australian soul? This year, ... Story by: Joshua Barnett