In 2011, Channel 9 scored a one-on-one interview with the Daili Lama during his Australian tour. It was handed to their larrikan breakfast guy – Karl Stefanovic.

Another COP has concluded in Brazil, with petrostates and their corporate allies ripping up the global road map leading us away from fossil fuels, encouraged by the absence of the USA and with China failing to take the opportunity to step into the vacuum. President Lula's hope that the nearby presence of the lungs of the world (otherwise known as the Amazon) might focus the minds of attendees proved forlorn. The fire which broke out in the final days of negotiations said it all.

The federal Standing Committee on Communications and the Arts has commenced a new inquiry into Australia’s regional newspapers (print and digital).  According to its terms...

From June 29, nearly 100 regional newspapers, owned by US citizen and multi-billionaire Rupert Murdoch, will cease print operations.

Activists have taken the fight to the front gates of the News Corp printing press in Murarrie, Queensland last night demanding that ‘News Corp tell the truth about the climate and ecological crisis,’ said a spokesperson for Extinction Rebellion (XR).

Australians are worried the government is becoming less transparent on key public issues including the misuse of personal data, public funds spent on political campaigns, immigration and climate change. Locally, the Byron Shire Council and the Byron Hospital has similar examples of blocking public access to information.

The Australian Consumer and Competition Commission has declined to intervene in the sale of the ARN newspaper titles on the grounds that a News Corp takeover would not ‘substantially lessen competition’ in the regional media market.