This week’s best stories

Saturday Jun 15

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This week we revealed ABC chair Kim Williams' critical remarks of the opposition’s approach to policymaking just weeks after the broadcaster's political correspondent Laura Tingle was counselled over her comments about the Coalition’s position on migration.

Elsewhere we looked into how the media shapes ideas about how much AUKUS would protect us from a Chinese military threat, brought you the latest on the Tourism Australia holiday expenses scandal, and wondered whether Peter Dutton is saying what we're all thinking.

Plus is a NACC that ignores robodebt worth much?

We hope you're having an outstanding weekend.

Gina Rushton,
Editor

‘I’m not being political’: ABC chair criticises Coalition’s approach to nuclear policy

DAANYAL SAEED

Kim Williams’ remarks about the opposition's approach to policy come just weeks after ABC political correspondent Laura Tingle was counselled in relation to her comments around Coalition policy on migration.

ABC chair Kim Williams (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)

Tourism Australia drops immunity claim as federal police begins investigating the agency

ANTON NILSSON

Exclusive: Just a day after the corruption watchdog announced it wouldn't investigate Tourism Australia, Crikey can reveal the Australian Federal Police has now been called in.

Australian Federal Police logo and Tourism Australia branding (Images: AFP/Tourism Australia/Private Media)

‘Like being king hit’: How Andrew Wilkie weaponises whistleblowing

RACHEL WITHERS

The veteran crossbencher says he won’t enter any formal deals in future hung Parliaments. But he’s found a powerful way to use parliamentary privilege.

Independent MP Andrew Wilkie (Image: Private Media/Zennie)

Australians believe AUKUS will protect them from China. What’s the media’s role?

WANNING SUN

A new poll reveals half of Australians believe AUKUS will help keep Australia safe from China, with many seeing an imminent conflict possible. The media's fingerprints are everywhere.

(Image: Private Media/Zennie)

IDF sniper rifle supplier to feature at government-backed arms expo

BERNARD KEANE

Not content with handing more than $900 million to an Israeli arms company, the government is providing a platform for the manufacturer of Israel's preferred sniper rifle.

An Israeli sniper (Image: EPA/Abir Sultan)

Maybe Dutton is saying what everyone is thinking

ANJALI SHARMA

Regardless of the political reasons behind his promise to scrap Australia's emissions reduction target, the opposition leader is right about Labor's failings on climate action.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)

PwC and ‘stretching credibility’: Ban Luke Sayers, and ban consultant donations

BERNARD KEANE

Either former PwC CEO Luke Sayers has a shocking memory, or he misled a Senate committee. Either way, his firm shouldn't be getting taxpayer money.

Former PwC Australia CEO Luke Sayers (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)

AI bot with ‘IQ of 155’ to advise real estate agents on ethics

CAM WILSON

The Real Estate Institute of NSW has appointed a ChatGPT-run bot called Alice Ing to 'analyse huge quantities of data' during board meetings.

An image provided by REINSW of its AI bot board adviser "Alice Ing" (Image: REINSW)

NACC shouldn’t exist if it’s going to dog its remit by ignoring robodebt

MICHAEL BRADLEY

Anti-corruption bodies exist to focus lights into dark corners and flush out the rats.

Scott Morrison at the robodebt royal commission in 2022 (Image: AAP/Jono Searle)

Sunak bombs on the beaches of Normandy, but why?

GUY RUNDLE

Did a man who has downplayed his heritage find it impossible to consent to European triumphalism?

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meets D-Day veteran Eric Bateman (Image: AP/Andrew Matthews)

Queensland Labor goes to its grave vomiting money

BERNARD KEANE

Queensland Labor has opted to plunge deep into deficit in a desperate effort to buy its way back to electoral favour.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles (Image: AAP/Jono Searle)

I tricked a selfie AI age-verification tool into letting a child ‘buy’ a knife

CAM WILSON

Governments are looking at using AI to estimate people's age using a selfie. I fooled it using a stock image and an old aging filter.

A stock image of a '9-to 10-year-old-girl", the same image edited with an aging filter, and a knife for 'purchase' (Image: Supplied)

Australia’s feminists are finally being memorialised. Can we grapple with their racism?

YVES REES

Some of Australia's early feminist pioneers supported the White Australia policy and actively espoused racist views. How should they be remembered?

(Image: Private Media/Zennie)

A Starmer government wouldn’t get in the way of AUKUS. The UK has too much money on the line

ANTON NILSSON

Keir Starmer would be stupid to oppose AUKUS, given how much money Australia is paying the UK to make nuclear reactors for the submarines.

UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer (Image: PA/James Manning)

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