Australian Politics

Via News: There’s real concern among experts that the spread of COVID-19 in the community in Victoria is about to get a lot worse.

Via the ABC: Hong Kong police made hundreds of arrests on Wednesday as protesters took to the streets in defiance of sweeping new security legislation introduced by China to snuff out dissent.

Via The Australian comes the sound of the door closing on cheap energy: Energy giant Shell said several of its high profile Australian gas projects were to blame for a massive $US8bn to $US9bn ($A11.7bn-$A13.2bn) writedown triggered by lower prices amid a Covid-19 demand shock.

The Australia/China relationship is sliding at astonishing speed towards outright strategic competition.

Yeh, I have been locked down again.

From Domain: The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald can confirm that Victoria will announce 64 new cases of coronavirus on Tuesday.

As it were, it is going off.

In the 1950s and 60s Australia had a policy of supporting manufacturing development in Australia, and its capacity to absorb large numbers migrants largely reflected its industry protection.

Up she goes and where it stops nobody knows: Victoria is experiencing a “concerning” upward trend in coronavirus, with 75 new cases identified overnight.

Via News comes generally good news: A major investigation into an alleged espionage plot to infiltrate Australian politics is continuing, with ASIO raiding the home of a political staffer.

The latest Newspoll survey has maintained the Coalition’s slim electoral advantage.

Ah, Labor, via Domain: Counter-espionage agency ASIO is conducting a sweeping investigation into allegations Chinese government agents have infiltrated the office of a NSW Labor politician to influence Australian politics.

It’s bleedin’ obvious, at the ABC: Victoria has requested logistical support from the Australian Defence Force and help from other states as it tries to tackle an increasing number of coronavirus infections in the community.

With 95% of Aussies backing trade diversification away from the evil CCP, let’s go back to first principles to reboot manufacturing: I use this video to show my econ students the degree to which active policy helped industrialise Australia.

Via the ABC: Around 700 jobs will be lost as Woolworths automates key logistics facilities in Sydney and Melbourne.

From the Lowy Institute: The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 will reverberate long into the future.

Via Bloomie: President Donald Trump plans to sign an order Monday temporarily halting access to several employment-based visas, affecting hundreds of thousands of people seeking to work in the U.S., a senior administration official said.

China has its “wolf warriors” and we have our “possum pansies”.

It’s here and it’s ugly.

Not-China up to no good again: The Australian Government is currently aware of, and responding to, a sustained targeting of Australian governments and companies by a sophisticated state-based actor.