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South Australian 鈥渆nergy intervention鈥: a gift to the gas industry

In public policy, there are many dog鈥檚 breakfasts presented as considered initiatives. Rarely, though, are we served up such a self-contradictory, irrational and generally talentless a dish as the new 鈥渆nergy intervention鈥 announced by South Australia鈥檚 Labor government on March 14.

Aimed at side-stepping conservative attacks over recent power cuts, the government鈥檚 plan makes some provision for storage back-up to underpin wind and solar. But mainly, the $550 million scheme consists of large-scale concessions to fossil fuel interests 鈥 in this case, the gas industry.

Deport the government, not asylum seekers

鈥淚鈥檇 rather kill myself than return to Iran 鈥 to the hell where I was violently raped by my own stepfather. But unless immigration minister Peter Dutton urgently intervenes by exercising his discretion and allowing me to apply for a partner visa while in Australia, I鈥檒l spend my life in limbo with the never-ending threat of indefinite detention in Australia or forced return to Iran.鈥

ABCC 鈥榳asting taxpayers鈥 money鈥

A Federal Court judge has blasted the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) for wasting time and taxpayers' money on taking two Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) officials to court for 鈥渉aving a cup of tea with a mate鈥.

Justice Tony North said on March 10 it was 鈥渁stounding鈥 that the ABCC had conducted days of hearing with dozens of participants over two years for 鈥渟uch a miniscule, insignificant affair鈥.

Letter from the US: Trump鈥檚 foreign policy tactical shifts bring prospect for more war

The disarray among politicians of both major parties on display in last year鈥檚 election campaign has intensified in the first two months of Donald Trump鈥檚 presidency.

Charges and counter-charges are hurled between the Democrats and the Trump administration, prompting Congressional investigations that may bring in the FBI, CIA and other spy agencies.

Will FIFA ever stand up to Israeli teams in illegal settlements?

The situation for Palestinian and Arab football (soccer) players in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza has, for some time, been dire.

On one side of Israel鈥檚 Apartheid Wall, within the formal borders of Israel, segregated youth teams, racist abuse, and heckling 鈥 including charming chants such as 鈥Death to the Arabs鈥 鈥 are frequent. On the other, in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967,聽聽have become regular features of what is supposed to be the people鈥檚 game.

Given the powerful role that football plays as a point of community cohesion in the West Bank and Gaza, this everyday violence feels like a full-frontal attack on civil society, normalcy and hope.

Scientists cure Tasmanian devil facial tumours

For the first time scientists have cured Tasmanian devils suffering from the deadly devil facial tumour disease by injecting live cancer cells into infected devils to make their immune system recognise the disease and fight it off.

Five devils with the disease were treated using the technique over six years, and three survived.

Coopers feels power of boycott for its anti-equal marriage stance

Pubs have taken Coopers beer off their taps and drinkers have vowed to boycott the beer after a political marketing stunt backfired on the South Australian brewer.

Aboriginal Housing Company criticised for abandoning Aboriginal housing plan

The Aboriginal Housing Company (AHC) called a meeting to inform residents about its housing development, the Pemulwuy Project, at the Block in Redfern on March 9.

About 200 people packed the Redfern Community Centre to ask questions of AHC about its plans to increase the size of the development. After just 25 minutes, AHC closed the meeting down as the audience loudly voiced its opposition to the radically enlarged plans.

2016's politics in 59 albums (or just 1 song, if you prefer)

Here's a look back at the insane politics of 2016, summed up in 59 revealing albums. If you want just this month's albums, skip to album 50. If you'd prefer the year's politics summed up in just one song, skip to album 59. What albums would you suggest? Let us know on聽听辞谤听. Videos not playing? Try a bigger screen.