Anthony Albanese has signalled Labor has gone too far in supporting the Abbott government’s national security agenda, particularly the new “draconian” restrictions on press freedom which would see journalists jailed for between five and 10 years.

Australians back the federal government’s decision to join the military effort against the militia group calling itself Islamic State, but believe doing so will make us “less safe”, according to a new poll.

Only the Australian Labor Party could kid itself into believing that the world is its oyster, simply because unity has broken-out within its parliamentary caucus.

David Crowe refers to the failure of Joe Hockey to follow through with Labor’s proposed repeal of section 25-90 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997. (‘Libs must fix credibility gap on tax dodge’ The Australian Friday October 10, Commentary p 14.)

from Crikey …..

In 1940, when the Communist Party of Australia was banned by the Menzies government, police raiding militants often compensated for their ignorance of socialism by simply confiscating all books with red covers. The legendary Sydney waterfront activist Stan Moran supposedly even convinced constables that a portrait of Karl Marx merely depicted a jolly old Santa.

I wish I could get a list of G20 delegates and send them copies of the documents Chevron✓ and the Australian Tax Office have filed for Chevron's appeal against an ATO claim for back taxes and penalties.

If the United States is not an empire, the word has lost all meaning.

No sparrow falls in the forest that does not provoke a national security assessment and response.

Dear John,

Let me say at the outset how much I respect your persistent calls for the Australian Labor Party to embrace significant internal change & reform.

Having said that, I would like you to be aware that, as a non-member but occasional supporter of the Labor Party in the past, no amount of organisation reform would persuade me to support your party again.

The wealthiest 400 people in the United States had their combined net worth grow thirteen percent to $2.29 trillion this year, amidst a surging stock market and record corporate profits.

The figures come from the Forbes 400 list of the wealthiest Americans, compiled every year since 1982 by the American business magazine of the same name.

In Britain, the mainstream media is in overdrive, trying to sell the latest war to the population. Prime Minister David Cameron and his sidekicks Theresa May and Philip Hammond are attempting to convince everyone that bombing Iraq and Syria is all about making Britain safe. To frighten the living daylights out of everyone, they talk of murderous jihadists and terrorists and how ‘British values' are under threat.

Even before the embarrassing backdown there were problems. For starters, it's not a burqa

A burqa is that particularly Afghan garment, usually blue, with the mesh covering the eyes.

The ABC must accept full responsibility for any controversial program cuts rather than blaming the Abbott government, Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull has warned.

A frustrated Mr Turnbull said cutting programming is the "laziest" way to save money and that the ABC should focus on reducing back-of-office expenses.

The ABC is considering axing current affairs program Lateline, the state-based 7.30 programs and cutting back on radio current affairs programs.