Crikey Worm: Border Force to be reckoned with – Crikey

Good morning, early birds. A corruption investigation into Border Force has created multiple divisions, and a school in the Melbourne suburb of Preston will reportedly be closed for the rest of the week after a year 5 student tested positive for COVID-19. It's the news you need to know, with Chris Woods.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, reports that a corruption investigation into Border Forces $573 million Cape-class patrol boats contract has created multiple divisions within the federal anti-corruption agency running the inquiry, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.

ACLEI, which is investigating Border Force over allegations it funnelled $39 million from a national security project to defence company Austal in order to prop up its financial position, has reportedly seen planned hearings scrapped, counsel assisting removed, and claims it is a toothless tiger.

As The Mandarin explains, the news comes as the Morrison government defends against claims it is delaying plans for a Commonwealth Integrity Commission, with Attorney General Christian Porter claiming legal complexities such as retrospectivity mean the government was not inclined to release draft legislation during the pandemic.

In unrelated news, The Guardian reports that acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge has appealed a federal court ruling that he engaged in criminal conduct by detaining an asylum seeker granted a visa by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

PS: The Sydney Morning Herald also reports thatsenior advisers from Gladys Berejiklians office have been called before a parliamentary inquiry to explain why the premier handed out $250 million in council grants without any signed paperwork.

According to the ABC, East Preston Islamic College in the Melbourne northern suburb of Preston will be closed for the rest of the week after a year 5 student tested positive for COVID-19, with residents of surrounding suburbs now urged to get tested if they have symptoms. The states health department has also issued an updated list of exposure sites in Shepparton.

Elsewhere, the Herald Sun ($) reports that Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville has has confirmed she has been ordered by the hotel quarantine inquiry to submit a sworn statement over a phone call with an unidentified person at the premiers office, made in the minutes leading up to the decision to use private security.

And in advance of businesses reopening with indoor dining restrictions, the Andrews government has announced that venues can use existing outdoor spaces such as streets, footpaths, carparks and nearby parks and public land without the need for a planning permit. However, according to The Age,the need to comply with council by-laws could render the promise unworkable.

The New Daily reports that, LNP leader Deb Frecklingtonhas made an election pledge to create curfews in Townsville and Cairns for young people, a plan that would include slapping parents with $250 fines if children are found out at night without a reasonable excuse.

Critics point out that the curfew would disproportionately target Indigenous teenagers or kids from disadvantaged homes Townsville, notably, has recorded white supremacist vigilantes targeting Indigenous youth while Amnesty announced the policy may breach international law.

Elsewhere, The Guardian reports that Coalition senators Matt Canavan and Eric Abetz, former deputy prime minister John Andersonm,and News Corp columnist Miranda Devine have endorsed Toowoomba doctor David van Gend for LNP pre-selection, despite his support for conversion therapy a process the International Rehabilitation for Torture Victims considers torture and opposition to abortion and climate science.

On the topic of law and order, yesterday saw multiple stories of police abuse:

The latest New York Times ($) investigation into Donald Trumps tax history has unearthed bank accounts in China, Britain and Ireland held under corporate names.

The Chinese account is reportedly controlled by Trump International Hotels Management LLC, and has paid more than US$180,000 in taxes to China from 2013 to 2015; this is significantly more than the $750 he paid in US federal income taxes during the first year of his presidency, and the zero dollars he paid in 10 of the past 15 years.

Elsewhere, The Daily Poster reports that Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett has doubled-down on climate denialism and refused to commit to recusing herself from cases involving oil companies, despite recusing herself as a lower-court judge from cases involving Shell Oil because her father worked at the company as a top attorney for decades.

Finally, in news that would make Peter Dutton blush, NBC reports that lawyers appointed to identify migrant families separated by the Trump administration say they cannot find the parents of 545 children, about two-thirds of whom were deported to Central America without their children.

I wish they had approached my position as they approached Gladys. I would probably be in a different position if they had, but good luck to her.

Barnaby Joyce

The former deputy prime minister throws a pity party over the real jihad he faced over his romantic tryst in 2018 ($), while failing to note that he went a touch further than an affair by approving two newly-created MP jobs for his former staffer/current partner Vikki Campion.

As a Crikeysubscriber, you hardly need convincing about the threats that media monopolies pose to democracy.

You already know that, as James Murdoch says, News Corps output is rife with hidden agendas and disinformation designed to confuse public debate.

You know that News Corp is no longer interested in reporting facts. It operates like a mafia syndicate with a well-funded protection racket for politicians who back its commercial interests and espouse hard-right ideology on issues like climate change.

Where does the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) end and the National COVID-19 Commission begin?

Thats the question being asked after another eye-opening appearance by commission chair, former Fortescue boss Nev Power, at Senate estimates yesterday.

Power, appearing alongside Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, faced questions about the commissions high-level access to cabinet documents and ministers, including aboard Powers private plane.

Inked-up Aussies can now walk straight from the tattoo parlour to a blood donation centre to give plasma. Gay men, on the other hand, still have to remain celibate for a year before donating even if theyre married or monogamous.

The new rules for tattooed Australians came into effect earlier this month as the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood tries to pull new donors especially those who arent afraid of needles into its centres amid dwindling donations during the pandemic.

Alleged Vatican payments linked to George Pell case referred to Victorian corruption watchdog

Childs suicide prompts WA Police admission accused sex offenders bail should have been opposed

Pope Francis pushes new boundaries and expresses support for same-sex civil unions

Retail sales offer cautious optimism for Christmas shopping season

ASIO warns MPs they are potential targets for foreign interference

Crowns ex-chair Rankin faces ASIC referral over China arrests, Packer threat

ACCC puts News Corp on notice that its closely watching newswire duel

Senior Army officer admits to inquest there were warning flags before death of PTSD soldier

Scott Morrisons excuses for failing to establish a federal integrity commission dont hold water Katharine Murphy (The Guardian): The speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith, didnt like Anthony Albaneses opening jab in question time on Wednesday: where the bloody hell was the federal integrity body the government has long been promising but serially failing to deliver? The speaker thought Albaneses framing was ironical (and possibly provocative, given where the bloody hell was a marketing line developed during the prime ministers Tourism Australia days).

PM must replace Linda Reynolds with Peter Dutton at Defence ($) Greg Sheridan (The Australian): When he comes to do his cabinet reshuffle, probably early or mid-December, Prime Minister Scott Morrison should move Linda Reynolds out of Defence and replace her with Peter Dutton. Defence industry has been alive with rumours that both Reynolds and the Defence Industry Minister, Melissa Price, were likely to be moved. Now a widespread view in the government is that replacing Reynolds with Dutton would be the best move, but its unlikely to happen.

AEMO leads global push for $10 trillion of investment in next 10 years to slash emissions Ketan Joshi (RenewEconomy): Between various energy forecasts of the coming decades, one consistent trend emerges: in power systems around the world, renewables wind and solar will grow far faster than has been previously predicted. The economics have changed at breakneck pace over the past decade, meaning these technologies are now the default replacement for existing coal and gas-fired power stations. That means more effort is needed to ensure grids are upgraded and updated to suit new forms of energy technology.

Canberra

Peter Dutton, department secretary Michael Pezzullo, Malcolm Turnbull and Kevin Rudd will address the SMH/Age virtual National Security Summit.

Senate estimates will hear from Australia Post and Australia Council; Attorney-General portfolio; Finance; and Agriculture.

Melbourne

In the Wheeler Centres latest digital event, Creative Careers, Liminal magazine founder and PhD student Leah Jing McIntosh, and journalist and documentary filmmaker Santilla Chingaipe will discuss the changing landscape of the arts in Australia in conversation with Footscray High School student Felix Briggs.

The Lost Dogs Home will run webinar event, Helping your dog cope with your return to work.

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Crikey Worm: Border Force to be reckoned with - Crikey