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Saturday Mar 4
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It took real courage for Lidia Thorpe to lie down in front of a vehicle, even one done up like a giant slice of fairy bread, Guy Rundle wrote this week. Is this the return of actual politics?

In NSW politics, Margot Saville explained the property developer at the centre of a political probe and criminal investigation, Charlie Lewis brought you the story of a quirky new Liberal candidate, and Anton Nilsson brought you the latest on the John Barilaro trade scandal — and revealed the NSW government could have broken US counterintelligence law.

Elsewhere this week, Maeve McGregor argued the Reserve Bank’s “war on inflation” could be construed as a war on the average Australian, Christopher Warren blasted the media for serving up sawdust on the superannuation debate, and Kristin O’Connell examined whether the government’s housing plan is “ambitious” enough to address Australia’s housing crisis.

Plus, what is the legacy of departing Australian Christian Lobby boss Martyn Iles?

Have a lovely weekend and thanks for your support,
Gina Rushton Gina Rushton,
News editor
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Laying down the law
Lidia Thorpe’s gutsy Mardi Gras protest is the return of actual politics
GUY RUNDLE

It takes real courage to lie down in front of a vehicle — even one moving at 4km/h and done up like a giant slice of fairy bread.

Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe's Mardi Gras protest (Image: AAP/Alex Day)
Lidia Thorpe hits the road at Mardi Gras. And your point, senator?
CRIKEY

Readers drop a Thorpedo on Guy Rundle’s piece about the independent MP’s Mardi Gras protest.

 
Does the RBA actually care about inflation or is it waging class warfare?
MAEVE MCGREGOR

The Reserve Bank says it's fighting a war on inflation, but it could easily be construed as a war on the average Australian.

RBA governor Philip Lowe (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
Labor’s housing plan is a ‘turning point’ taking us in the wrong direction
KRISTIN O'CONNELL

The government calls its $10 billion package 'ambitious' — but it is uninterested in any meaningful action addressing the housing crisis.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Housing Minister Julie Collins (Image: AAP/Rob Blakers)
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We must ditch gas stoves and electrify our homes now
BENJAMIN CLARK

It's a costly exercise, but getting rid of gas-powered products will save not only the planet but Australians' lives.

(Image: Sipa USA/Richard B Levine)
 
ScoMo wants you to know he’s definitely, absolutely not in the foetal position
CHARLIE LEWIS

The former PM is not in the foetal position. Please do not put in the newspaper that Scott Morrison is in the foetal position.

(Image: AAP/Zennie/Private Media)
 
What is the legacy of the Australian Christian Lobby’s Martyn Iles?
CHARLIE LEWIS

He's been dismissed by the ACL after five years in the job, 'not for misconduct' but because he's more a preacher than a politician.

Former head of the Australian Christian Lobby Martyn Iles (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
NSW politics
Dom’s New York cash splash: NSW spends $105,000 on events thrown by Murdoch-linked non-profit
ANTON NILSSON

When the NSW government opened a New York trade office, it also opened up its books for scrutiny.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet (Image: Private Media)
Revealed: Labor edited Barilaro report to omit NSW premier’s ‘inappropriate influence’
ANTON NILSSON

Minutes from a parliamentary committee meeting last Friday show a key finding from a trade scandal report was altered.

Ex-NSW Liberal councillor is CEO of property developer raided in fraud investigation
MARGOT SAVILLE

Jeff Egan was a member of the state executive of the NSW Liberal Party and now heads up Toplace, the subject of a parliamentary inquiry.

Former NSW Liberal executive member Jeff Egan in 2008 (Image: AAP/Paul Miller)
NSW’s New York trade office may have broken US counterintelligence law
ANTON NILSSON

Crikey can reveal the NSW government failed to register an employee 'technically acting as a foreign agent' on time.

Detail from a document the NSW government lodged with the US Department of Justice, and the Chrysler Building in New York City (Image: US Justice Department/AAP)
 
The Balmain event: Freya Leach, 20, runs for the Liberals in NSW state election
CHARLIE LEWIS

The protagonist in an odd little university culture war skirmish is standing in the historically strong Labor seat.

Freya Leach (Image: nswliberal.org.au)
 
When the media make a super sausage, it comes wrapped in political tripe
CHRISTOPHER WARREN

The press don't offer any meat for readers and viewers to chew on — they just add sauce to sawdust-filled snags and serve them up.

(Image: Zennie/Private Media)
 
Australia has drastically underestimated coal and gas emissions: new analysis
JULIA BERGIN

A reported miscalculation could potentially break the Albanese government's safeguard mechanism.

Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen (Image: AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
 
Our justice system ignores the fully conscious behaviours of child sexual predators
MICHAEL BRADLEY

Each time a person who has sexually assaulted a child is humanised by the media, that child and all other victims relive the horror.

Jeffrey Corfe arrives at the Melbourne County Court on February 21 (Image: AAP/Joel Carrett)
 
Aged care providers ‘gaming’ funding with threats to withhold wages: union
JOHN BUCKLEY

Workers have reported resistance from providers to pass on the 15% wage increase ordered by the Fair Work Commission.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation secretary Annie Butler and United Workers Union aged care director Carolyn Smith (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
 
Gautam Adani, Narendra Modi and India’s new brand of capitalism
SALIL TRIPATHI

He may be in a spot of bother, but the ties that bind the influential businessman and the prime minister are strong — and beneficial to both.

Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and Indian PM Narendra Modi (Images: AP, EPA)
 
‘State-sanctioned intimidation’: armed police raid home of climate protester who defaced painting
JULIA BERGIN

A 'short pink skirt' and 'white T-shirt' were items on a WA police search warrant when climate activist Joana Partyka's apartment was raided.

Ceramic artist and protester Joana Partyka spray-painting a painting by Frederick McCubbin (Image: Disrupt Burrup Hub)
 
‘Like the subprime mortgage crisis’: Most of Australia’s carbon credits are junk, experts say
EMMA ELSWORTHY

Carbon credits have been around for years, but experts say most of them are hot air.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen (Image: AAP /Lukas Coch)