Tag Archives
Libs split over preserving Sydney’s heritage
By ALEC SMART A split has appeared in the Australian Liberal Party over preservation of Sydney’s heritage, with Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s NSW Government favouring commercialisation over the Federal Government’s plans for conservation. NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes rejected the outcome of an independent inquiry into maintaining and caretaking historically and culturally important sites in Sydney […]
Brewery brawl, car thievery captured, Endeavour’s endeavour: News Bites – 2 Oct 2019
Bite-sized bulletins by ALEC SMART Brewery brawl A fight disrupted a punk rock gig at Staves Brewery in Glebe on Sunday 29 Sept, resulting in broken furniture, smashed beer glasses and a window, damaged drums and a woman punched. The brawl attracted six carloads of police. City Hub was told two members of the band […]
Fighting for hope
Opinion by PETER HEHIR With politicians all over the world still stumbling about, lost in the maze of the late 19th century right/left polemics, I was pleasantly reminded of the time I was privileged to interview one of my two political heroes. It was in the early 80’s. The exact date is buried somewhere in […]
Houston, we have a problem with you
By ALEC SMART Prime Minister Scott Morrison dismissed as ‘gossip’ but didn’t deny the report in the Wall Street Journal that he sought a visa for his spiritual mentor, Pentecostal minister Brian Houston, to accompany him on his visit to the USA on his new jet – Shark One – for a state banquet with […]
WestConnex takes its toll in Annandale
By WENDY BACON WestConnex contractors chopped down scores more trees in Annandale late on Monday night, just hours after residents protested against the destruction of Buruwan Park, which will make way for road widening and a giant overpass across to Rozelle. Since 2016, 8000 trees have been chopped down across Sydney's Inner West by WestConnex, […]
NSW gambles with democracy
By WENDY BACON The NSW Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) has already established a strong case that NSW Labor disguised a prohibited $100,000 donation from Chinese businessman and property developer Huang Xiangmo by organising ‘straw donors’. A number of minor supporters and donors have admitted that they signed false declaration forms in 2015. One of […]
Cruise ship crisis, dog-gone food, Nine feeds Liberal Party: News Bites – 4 Sept 2019
Bite-sized bulletins by ALEC SMART Ship avoid Randwick Council is engaging specialists to research potential impacts of a proposed third Sydney terminal for cruise ships at Molineux Point and Yarra Bay in Botany Bay. Mayor Kathy Neilson tabled the motion on 27 August and the council voted overwhelmingly to endorse a budget of $50,000 to […]
Religious freedom: sword or shield?
By ALLISON HORE Is freedom of religion under threat in Australia? Christian lobby groups and conservative media commentators seem to believe it is. Whilst protections already exist for people of faith under sections of the Constitution, federal anti-discrimination laws, state-based human rights acts and anti-discrimination laws, our Pentecostal Christian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, thinks it’s […]
Builders’ battles belittle betterment
BY ALEC SMART Whilst cracks appearing in new apartment buildings are dominating news headlines and analysts point the blame at dodgy builders, lax inspectors, corrupt developers and poor governance by the NSW Government, a vicious feud continues between two of the most powerful forces in the construction industry – the ABCC and the CFMMEU. In […]
Can Kerryn cure our democracy?
BY MERRILL WITT Wentworth MP Dr Kerryn Phelps has given the electorate some very good reasons for keeping the Independent in the House of Representatives. In the six months since winning the traditionally safe Liberal seat - a remarkable feat that robbed the Morrison Government of its majority - Phelps has shown the advantages of doing […]
