There's a looming pandemic and the energy is weird. We talk about police violence, the closure of the AAP, and how to survive coronavirus.
Policing
- New South Wales Police Minister David Elliot is under investigation after the release of photos showing him firing and illegal submachine gun.
The Police Minister has previously said he would want his own underage sons strip-searched by police if they were suspected of possessing drugs.New South Wales Police are complicit in a regime of strip searches of underage children and teens, without appropriate support or presence of legal guardians.Constable Zachary Rolfe, charged with the murder of Yuendumu teenager Kumanjayi Walker, has not spent a single night in jail.For an example of how community policing can work in practice, see the 1960s Black Panther Party.Coronavirus
- The Australian Grand Prix was canceled, at the last minute, via megaphone.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has coronavirus.Airlines are running empty flights to maintain their flight slots.Traveling in a long-distance, fully loaded flight is more efficient than driving.Guardian columnist Brigid Delaney enjoyed Bankok under lockdown, then was surprised to find herself under self-isolation on return.The ABC has a dedicated portal for Coronavirus news and information.Surviving the pandemic
- The median income in Australia is $48,000. Many of the people earning that or less will not be able to afford the costs imposed by other people panic buying staples.
Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter has suggested that casual workers without paid sick leave are well prepared for coronavirus because “they are paid extra in lieu of entitlements”.Italy has suspended mortgage payments during the coronavirus outbreak.An effective response to a dangerous oncoming threat will look like an overreaction in hindsight, as the reaction to the Y2K bug has been incorrectly presented (the Headlong podcast has a good history of the response).David Walsh’s statement on the cancellation of the Dark Mofo festical is an excellent, clear-eyed assessment of the risks of going forward.AAP Closing
- The Australian Associated Press has been closed, the majority of journalists laid off.
Some of the AAP journalists have been re-hired by Nine News and News Corp as freelancers, saving them money and stopping competitors from accessing their work.Actions
- Look after your friends and family. Make sure the people around you are coping with this new, weird time.
Check out the show notes. They’re great!Join your union, advocate for them to push for the change you want.Join your tenants union (VIC, NSW, WA, QLD). They’re great for advice on what your rights are as a renter.Read Progress and Poverty by Henry George.