MPs risk accusations of laziness and poor value for money because the number of hours they work in Westminster appear to be shrinking, according to the senior MP responsible for scrutinising public spending.

Intelligence agency ASIO has made startling allegations - of plots to kill, training of militants, forged documents and people smuggling - to justify the indefinite incarceration of dozens of refugees as security threats to Australia.

from The Stringer …..

from The Stringer ….

Maasai — Gus'  picture library (Gus does nor remember where — possibly Kenya — circa early 1960)

WHEN THE Gillard Government announced a set of mild reforms to media regulation recently — I had an epiphany.

Surely the FBI could have saved itself a lot of time and trouble if it had rung our very own Alan Jones, the visionary broadcaster, to find out who was behind the Boston bombing.

from Crikey ….

Hockey, finally, sees the light on the road to Treasury

The role of record-keeping is close to the centre of what the royal commission into abuse is all about: the battle between the Closed and the Open Society.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has indicated a Coalition government could change its position on gay marriage, after state Liberal premiers came out in support of the idea.

from the shovel ….

They say a measure of a civilisation is how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.

THE Australian Federal Police says it’s moving in the Ashbygate matter, but it apparently still cannot get its collective head around the difference between an appeal and seeking leave to appeal.