Category: Scott Morrison

Australia, NZ Intervention Prolonging Rule of Unpopular, Pro-Beijing Solomons Leader: Pacific Expert

Australia and New Zealand should adopt a hands-off approach to the Solomon Islands and leave embattled Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare to deal with Beijing-linked bribery allegations and deep dissatisfaction with his rule, according to a South Pacific expert. Cleo Paskal, an associate fellow of the Asia-Pacific Programme at Chatham House, said last November’s intervention from…


Senior Australian Minister Steps Down, ‘Utterly Refutes’ Abuse Claims

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has told the federal parliament that Education Minister Alan Tudge has refuted the abuse allegations made by his former media advisor Rachelle Miller, but has agreed to stand down from his ministerial position while an independent review process takes place. In a statement on Thursday afternoon, Tudge said he would use…


‘A Disgrace’: Australian Unions Fire Back at PM on Port Warning

The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has said the fact that Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined the “attack” from stevedoring companies against wharf workers and their families was a “disgrace.” In a response to Morrison’s warning to the MUA that the government would intervene in future industrial action at ports if necessary, MUA national secretary…


Religious Discrimination Bill: A Cure Worse Than the Disease for Australians of Faith

The danger of the Australian government’s new religious discrimination bill is that in adding more laws on top of bad laws, Australians of faith could find it is a cure that is worse than the disease. New laws introduced into the federal parliament by the Morrison government on Thursday have been branded an attempt to…


‘We’re Not Going Back to Lockdowns’: Australian Prime Minister

Australians will not go back into lockdowns over Omicron, the new variant of the CCP virus first found in South Africa, Prime Minister Scott Morrison promised. State and territory leaders have agreed to stick to the reopening plan after Tuesday’s urgent meeting of the national cabinet. There will also be no immediate changes to current…


Australian PM Warns Maritime Union It Will ‘Take Action’ in Ongoing Industrial Action If Needed

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) that the government will step in to intervene in the port strikes at Patrick Terminals if necessary. “Our government is also keeping a close watch on the potential for industrial action to disrupt economic activity, noting that industrial action at Patrick Terminals…


Australian PM Warns Maritime Union He Will ‘Take Action’ in Ongoing Industrial Action If Needed

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has warned the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) that the government will step in to intervene in the port strikes at Patrick Terminals if necessary. “Our government is also keeping a close watch on the potential for industrial action to disrupt economic activity, noting that industrial action at Patrick Terminals…


Harkening Back to the Era of Former Australian PM John Howard

Commentary In June 1998, the Howard government looked to be in serious trouble. Notwithstanding having brought the budget back to surplus in just two years, introducing serious industrial relations reform, taking on the militant Maritime Union of Australia, it looked, for all intents and purposes, as if Howard would be only the second prime minister…


Harkening Back to the Era of John Howard

Commentary In June 1998, the Howard government looked to be in serious trouble. Notwithstanding having brought the budget back to surplus in just two years, introducing serious industrial relations reform, taking on the militant Maritime Union of Australia, it looked, for all intents and purposes, as if Howard would be only the second prime minister…


Fiji Dispatches Troops to Troubled Solomon Islands

The prime minister of Fiji has announced the deployment of 50 soldiers to the Solomon Islands after riots saw numerous buildings razed to the ground. The contingent will join the mostly Australian forces—with 34 Papua New Guinean troops—already dispatched to the island to maintain peace and order. “Out of concern for the safety and well-being…