Plus: David Hardaker writes his final Crikey story.
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Saturday Sep 16
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This week, amid the worsening media furore over the Voice to Parliament, Arrernte writer and undecided voter Celeste Liddle implored readers: “All I find myself wishing for is that the Australian public votes according to knowledge, rather than half-truths and apathy”.

Meanwhile, the coverage of News Corp — which this week continued its protracted cruxification of Professor Marcia Langton — was described as “heavily biased in favour of the No campaign”.

There was plenty happening beyond the Voice too. We also appraised a Sydney property developer's bravery in trashing workers, considered why AUKUS could trigger an electoral warning shot from Chinese Australians, explained the logistical nightmare in delivering art to Desert Mob festival in Mparntwe, and much more.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend.
Jack Callil Jack Callil,
Opinion editor
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As an undecided Indigenous voter, I just want the Australian public to vote according to the facts
CELESTE LIDDLE

Rather than Australians going to the booths considering the merits, or lack thereof, of a simple advisory body with no legislative power, we have instead been fed the politics of fear, or the politics of hope.

Marcia Langton and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (Image: AAP/Private Media)
 
Polarisation, political campaigning and the stories the media tells itself about a Voice
BERNARD KEANE

If Australians vote No on October 14, it won't be the result of one campaign or another, but a revelation of our values. It's time to accept that.

Professor Marcia Langton (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
The Yes case is plummeting. For a sneaky win, it needs to knock on every door in Tassie and SA
GUY RUNDLE

The next steps? Triage Queensland and WA, assume Victoria and NSW will vote Yes, and send an army of volunteers to Tasmania and SA.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former AFL player Michael Long walking for the Yes campaign (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
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Morrison’s secrecy has been injected deep into the veins of the body politic
DAVID HARDAKER

Scott Morrison's addiction to secrecy has been embraced by Defence Minister Richard Marles, and extends to an entire new industry spawned by AUKUS. In his last report, investigations editor David Hardaker reflects on why Crikey has been right to break with the conventions of journalism and to go where others fear.

Scott Morrison announces the AUKUS deal in September 2021 (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
 
Anatomy of a media pile-on: the crucifixion of Marcia Langton
CHARLIE LEWIS

Over the past week, Professor Marcia Langton has been the subject of a protracted media storm. Crikey breaks down how such a campaign unfolded.

Professor Marcia Langton (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
 
A coup in Canberra as the Greens become the real opposition
GUY RUNDLE

The Greens took Labor to the overpriced woodshed in the six-month housing battle. But will the shift ultimately benefit the hard right?

Adam Bandt and Anthony Albanese (Image: AAP/Lukas Coch)
 
News Corp’s Voice coverage ‘heavily biased in favour of the No campaign’, study finds
ANTON NILSSON

News Corp commentators including Peta Credlin, Andrew Bolt and Paul Murray were all found to heavily favour No arguments in their coverage.

Peta Credlin, Andrew Bolt and Paul Murray (Image: AAP, Private Media)
 
For Labor, AUKUS could trigger a warning shot from Chinese-Australian voters
WANNING SUN

When Labor and the Liberals share similar strategies regarding China and national defence, why should Chinese-Australian voters stay loyal?

PM Anthony Albanese, US President Joe Biden and UK PM Rishi Sunak announce the AUKUS pact in March (Image: AP/Stefan Rousseau)
 
Tim Gurner is refreshingly honest — business hates workers and will break the law to hurt them
BERNARD KEANE

Judging by the prevalence of wage theft in Australia, Qantas is hardly alone in breaking the law and ripping off its workers.

Tim Gurner (Image: Supplied)
 
Silenced voices: How did we go from #BLM to #AdvanceAustraliaFair?
LATOYA RULE

The Voice to Parliament referendum distracts from the real issues faced by First Nations peoples: deaths in custody, state-sanctioned brutality and the ongoing desecration of Aboriginal Lands.

(Image: Zennie/Private Media)
 
As gas-guzzlers dominate our roads, the queue to buy an EV in Oz just gets longer
JOHN QUIGGIN

Australians are keen to get electric vehicles into their garages, but they're not having much luck.

EVs charging in a Connecticut station (Image: Sipa USA/Samuel Rigelhaupt)
 
Salt-powered cars could save the world
JASON MURPHY

Manufacturers need to figure out a way to make EVs cheaper if they are going to capture the bottom end of the market and chase cheap fossil-fuel vehicles off the road. That’s where sodium-ion batteries come in.

A sodium-ion battery-powered car unveiled in China (Image: JAC Motors)
 
‘Workers put through hell’: Qantas loses High Court appeal over sacking of 1,700 staff
MICHAEL SAINSBURY

As one pilot remarked, 'Pity Joyce wasn't here to face the fire that he caused. Hopefully some more heads will roll'.

Former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce (Image: AAP/Dean Lewins)
 
Can the last millennial leaving Sydney please turn out the lights?
BENJAMIN CLARK

Spiralling house prices and costs of living are forcing a gradual 'brain drain' of young people from Australia's biggest city.

The Sydney Opera House (Image: Adobe/Private Media)
 
Yes voters need to snap out of polling denial — the numbers are real
KEVIN BONHAM

There are a lot of false claims on social media about the accuracy of polls. Here's a rundown of just how wrong some of those claims are.

A young Yes vote supporter (Image: AAP/Bianca De Marchi)
 
Blankets and bubble wrap: how art from all over central Oz makes its way to Desert Mob
JULIA BERGIN

'It's a Hail Mary to get a sculpture 1000 kilometres from A to B in one piece.'

Mutitjulu artist Rolley Mintuma with the Ngiyari (thorny devil) sculpture (Image: Supplied/Nancy Green)