How to Spot "Bad-Faith" Politicians and Why Politicians Hire Their Mates... + Rare Sighting: Aussie Labor MP Displays BACKBONE, Calls Out Gas Giants

How to Spot "Bad-Faith" Politicians and Why Politicians Hire Their Mates...

THE SCAM: A hidden review found the system for appointing public service and board roles is broken and looks like nepotism. The government, which campaigned against the practice, has continued appointing mates and ex-politicians to these taxpayer-funded jobs.

THE DAMAGE: This corrupts the public service’s independence. When mates get the jobs, impartial advice and accountability fail, putting political and corporate interests ahead of the public’s.

THE OUTCOME: The government rejected key fixes like cooling-off periods. Instead, it proposed a weak “trust us, bro” framework with buzzwords but no real rules, allowing the favours to continue.

Punter Citations:
ABC - Scathing 'jobs for mates' review finds government appointments too often look like 'nepotism'

Rare Sighting: Aussie Labor MP Displays BACKBONE, Calls Out Gas Giants For every $100 of Gas Exported

THE SCAM: Australia gives away its vast gas resources for almost nothing, allowing foreign-owned companies to export it, make massive profits, and even on-sell it overseas - while Australians pay high prices and get minimal royalties or tax revenue.

THE DAMAGE: This timidity costs the nation hundreds of billions in lost wealth that could fund housing, services, and tax cuts. It makes manufacturing unviable due to high energy costs and reduces Australia to a "porpoise" begging for scraps of its own resources.

THE OUTCOME: The government is ‘tinkering at the edges’ with a potential east-coast gas reservation policy (the bare minimum) while resisting a major tax overhaul. Major parties remain hesitant to fully confront the gas cartels, testing public opinion through backbenchers before acting.

Punter Citations:
The Age - 'For every $100 of Gas exported Australia gets 43 cents': Unions open new tax battle