How governments hide their activities
Primary school students learn in their early days that accountability is a keystone of democracy. Not far into secondary school that reassuring notion is tempered as schoolies get to appreciate that for governments accountability equals political risk. It’s a pain in ministerial necks and should be kept within bounds sufficient to minimise electoral discomfort.
Corruption commission has yet to prove its worth
It hasn’t even finished its first year of operations, but those who were hoping for big things from the National Anti-Corruption Commission and its chair, Justice Paul Brereton would be wise to temper mightily their hopes and expectations of what it might achieve.
Independent inquiry launched into NACC decision not to probe Robodebt referrals
The Hon Stephen Jones MP
The Albanese Government will join a cutting‑edge intel exchange between Australian banks, telecommunications companies, digital platforms, and the Australian Financial Crimes Exchange (AFCX). Government joins cutting edge intel tool to fight scammers
“Scammers aren’t mugs, they’re cunning criminals who adapt and change their tactics and we need to be able to do the same. Having near real time data sharing is vital that.”
Andy Greenberg’s thoughtful commentary on cybercrime, law enforcement, anonymity, privacy, and whether we really need a “war against cryptography” – codes and ciphers that the government can easily crack if it thinks there’s an emergency – to cement our collective online security.
Tracers in the Dark: The Global Hunt for the Crime Lords of Crypto
A bill of rights is now tantalisingly close
Reserve Bank has squeezed us like a lemon, but it’s still not happy
Let me be the last to tell you the economy has almost ground to a halt and is teetering on the edge of recession. This has happened by design, not accident. But it doesn’t seem to be working properly. So, what happens now? Until we think of something better, more of the same.
West under clowns and zealots Alex Krainer’s TrendCompass
Navy Admiral’s bribery charges expose greater rot in the system Responsible Statecraft
The Desire to Be “Your Own Boss” in America
On the romance of being you own boss.
Single cigarette costs $20 in Gaza as prices for basic goods spiral
The Urge to Surge The American Prospect. “Businesses are hiking prices to take advantage of consumers. They learned it from Uber.”
Uber and Lyft made a deal to raise drivers’ wages. It was another victory for big tech The Guardian
Sudden cardiac arrest occurring in temporal proximity to consumption of energy drinks Heart Rhythm