MARCH 30, 2019

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Another torrid week for the far-right in Australia as One Nation was exposed for its conspiracy-minded, indecent approach to loosening Australia’s gun laws (though their conspiracy-minded lack of decency has been clear to several waves of immigrants for two decades now).

We took on the story from several angles: how did Al Jazeera carry out its sting? What kind of gun money really exists in Australia? And how, oh, how is Scott Morrison going to get out of this one?

As ever, let us know what you think by writing to boss@crikey.com.au.

Have a great weekend,

Bhakthi Puvanenthiran
Managing Editor

Pauline and the paranoid style in Australian politics

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

For Pauline Hanson, everything can be blamed on a conspiracy theory. In fact, paranoia is fundamental to her political existence.

Misrule Britannia

With nobody steering the ship, Brexit drifts into uncharted waters

GUY RUNDLE 5 minute read

Despite eight votes on Brexit options (and a pledge from Theresa May to resign), nobody won in the House of Commons this week.

Brexiteers ramble on in verdant home counties

GUY RUNDLE 5 minute read

Even ardent Leavers can't quite put their finger on what a successful Brexit would mean for their day-to-day lives. It seems Brexit is a liberation without content, a liberation that consists entirely of feeling liberated.

Bar naan: Brexit shuts the door on migrants and their delicious cuisines

SHAKIRA HUSSEIN 4 minute read

We are what we eat — so as more and more restaurants close their doors, what does the increasingly bland state of British cuisine say about underlying attitudes?

How The Project started setting the news agenda

EMILY WATKINS 5 minute read

The Project has grown up from a scrappy panel show on the sidelines to setting the news agenda, landing exclusive interviews with two prime ministers in a week.

Is Australia’s gun lobby as big as the NRA?

KISHOR NAPIER-RAMAN 4 minute read

A new report says Australia's gun lobby is as big as America's notorious National Rifle Association. Do the numbers all stack up?

How the Witness K/Collaery case is being delayed into oblivion

BERNARD KEANE 4 minute read

This is Australian politics' biggest scandal, and the most powerful people in the country are ensuring you know as little about it as possible.

Mark Latham is back in parliament. What's the worst that could happen?

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So, a week after the Christchurch massacre brought about a brief reckoning — albeit furtive and faltering — with racism in Australia’s discourse, a man who campaigned on male grievance, banning immigration from Muslim majority countries and junk science race theory now has eight years in parliament. — Charlie Lewis

Most of the damage Mark Latham can do as a member of the legislative council is rhetorical.

‘If the Andrews government wants a fight, they’ve got one’

DANIEL JAMES 4 minute read

The government is facing a growing resistance from Djab Wurrung traditional owners over the destruction of cultural heritage. Is this a litmus test for what's to come with treaty negotiations?

Morrison’s world of hurt over One Nation preferences

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

Scott Morrison tried — belatedly — to do the right thing on One Nation preferences, but the issue has turned toxic for him within his own ranks.

Changing of the guard at the ABC as high profile presenters retire

GLENN DYER and EMILY WATKINS 3 minute read

With prime hosting gigs soon to open at Insiders, Q&A and ABC radio, who will the ABC be considering for its next generation of star hosts?

Does the ABC need conservative voices?

MARGOT SAVILLE 3 minute read

At the launch of his new book, Jonathan Holmes asks if more right-wing voices are needed at our national broadcaster.

One Nation gun nuts present huge opportunity for Morrison

BERNARD KEANE 3 minute read

Scott Morrison has a chance to break free from his One Nation preference problem by using revelations of the party's links to the National Rifle Association — but is he bold enough?

Is this the AFL’s watershed moment on online abuse?

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The AFL reaches enormous audiences. It’s time they realise that this is not just confined to those on seats and watching on screens — these include audiences engaging through digital media. We are well overdue for a watershed moment where both the AFL and Channel Seven catch up and take charge, for the future of the league, for the protection of its players, and for the many diverse fans who are in danger of losing their enjoyment of the game. — Kylie Maslen

To date, much of the social progression from both the AFLW and the AFL has come from the players themselves. Will the AFL and its main broadcaster finally take decisive action to protect players?

The major stories Scott Morrison has denied this week

CHARLIE LEWIS 3 minute read

There is an awful lot that Scott Morrison "can't recollect" at the moment.

Anatomy of a sting: how Al Jazeera blew the lid off One Nation

CHARLIE LEWIS 4 minute read

How does an undercover sting go from investigating a powerful gun lobby to upsetting a minor party on the other side of the world?

How the major parties can win over Chinese-Australian voters

JESSIE TU 5 minute read

Finely tuned messaging will be the key in tipping over undecided Chinese voters — and it is harder than it looks.

The rise and coming fall of Updater, the unicorn that never was

ADAM SCHWAB 4 minute read

There is a certain odour developing around start-up company Updater, which always felt a bit more like Blue Sky than Atlassian.