Description

We cover the Dutch welfare scandal, the government shovelling more subsidies into the gas industry, the Celery Discorse and what Michael McCormack has been up to.

Clog scandal

• The Netherlands have done a mini-Robodebt, wrongly accusing thousands of families of abusing a childcare allowance scheme.
• The entire Dutch government have “quit” over this scandal.
• However, they remain in place in a caretaker capacity. Shades of Bridget McKenzie’s “resignation” here.

Climate news

• The Federal government is pouring hundreds of millions of dollars of subsidies into gas fracking in the Beetaloo Basin.
• The gas from the basin is set to emit up to 117 megatonnes of greenhouse gas per year. The entire Australian transport sector produces about 100 megatonnes.

Farm news

• Farmers in Victoria have been forced to dump $150,000 worth a celery crops.
• International students were abandoned by the government response to COVID.
• Fact check: Celery is good. A real team player. Put it in a stir-fry you dummies, or this fish stew is seriously great.

Sports corner

• The Australian open has been delayed, and is bringing Coronavirus-positive players and staff into Australia.
• Tennys Sandgren II has covid.
• Players are furious after being forced into hard hotel quarantine, despite being promised practice time.
• Premier Dan Andrews pushed for the Australian Open to remain in Melbourne.
• Who remembers last year’s Australian Open, when Slovenian player Dalila Jakupovic due to bushfire smoke?

Michael McCormack watch

• Scott Morrison is on holiday, leaving real man and Nationals Leader Michael McCormack in charge.
• First, he equated the US Capitol riots to Black Lives Matter.
• Then he doubled down, dropping an “All Lives Matter”.
• During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson attempted to introduce a motion that “All Lives Matter”.
• Australia doesn’t have a right to free speech.
• McCormack also defended George “Unusually Complex Online Presence” Christenson.
• Read Jeff Sparrow’s article on the rise of Australia’s far-right.

Actions

• Shoutout to Quantas workers and their unions, fighting back against the airline for underpayment and abuses of the Jobkeeper scheme.
• Keep an eye on the Australian media coverage of the US Capitol riots, and complete our bingo card.
• Attend the Invasion Day rallies around Australia.