Fighting the Fake News, 14/6/19; This Governments record; Trump's Con-Way an illegal appointment; There are laws but only for some ; Logic tells us the States should go: Bye Bob:

 What global economic headwinds, Mathias? - Michael West

MATHIAS CORMANN is doing it again. He seldom gave an interview in his early years as finance minister without insisting “global headwinds” were impeding Australia’s economic progress. These ten pages show that. He belayed this in 2018 – four years into the current global boom – and switched instead to spruiking Australia’s “jobs and growth”.
Now the jobless rate is creeping up, economic growth has stumbled, interest rates have been cut and other indicators are sliding, he is back to “global headwinds” again.
There are no significant headwinds. The government wants to trick us into believing there are. Mainstream economics reporters know this is a ruse but play along.

Through the Labor years, Australia was in the top five OECD economies by GDP growth three times. The yellow chart, below, shows that in 2013 when Labor lost office growth was 2.64 per cent, ranking eighth


For much of its history, Australia’s robust economy has been in the top ten. It should still be there today. It was only after the change of settings in the Coalition government’s 2014 federal budget that the sails lost their trim and the vessel began to list to starboard.
Since then, Australia’s economy has gradually slipped back through the OECD rankings until on the latest figures, for the 2019 first quarter, it sits at an historically low 18th.

The fact that 34 of the 36 OECD members are in positive growth confirms that conditions are excellent for a well-set spinnaker. The average of 2.09 per cent is higher than the average of 1.61 per cent over the last twelve years.
Looking beyond the OECD, the evidence is even stronger. Average GDP growth for the top 100 economies is currently 3.05 per cent. That is higher than the twelve-year average of 2.99 per cent.
 From one of the world’s strongest employers through the GFC, Australia is now lagging badly. At 5.2 per cent Australia’s jobless rate ranks 75th in the world, out of 180 economies, and a lowly 19th in the OECD.

Trump's White House

'Unprecedented': Trump advisor Conway should be fired says federal watchdog

Wasn't Trump on the record for saying he hardly knew her yet she was his appointment? Should people in public office be political appointments? Why is Australia rushing to be American in so many ways? (ODT)

Federal law prohibits employees of the executive branch from using their official authority or influence to affect the result of an election.

Federal law prohibits employees of the executive branch from using their official authority or influence to affect the result of an election. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are exempt from the Hatch Act, but there are no exceptions for White House employees.

The agency does not have the authority to fire Conway, who was appointed by Trump, so it would be up to the president to follow its recommendation and dismiss one of his most unwavering defenders.
The recommendation to fire Conway is the first time the watchdog office has recommended the removal of a White House official over Hatch Act violations.
 White House spokesman Steven Groves called the agency's decision "unprecedented" and "deeply flawed" and said it violated Conway's constitutional rights to free speech and due process.
 Conway is a former pollster who helped Trump win election in 2016 as his campaign manager.

1. Rethink work, abolish the states: Bob Hawke's proposals to transform Australia 

   In 1979, well before he became Prime Minister, Bob Hawke laid out his vision for a radical remake of Australia in a series of lectures for the ABC.
    Instead, he outlined structural changes he thought could resolve some sources of conflict in Australia — conflicts he said threatened "the very fabric of a free society".
    Calculating that, in 1979, Australia had a house of parliament for every million Australians, he declared: "We must surely be the most over-governed country in the world." the duplication of resources due to the division of responsibilities between the federal and state governments was "enormously expensive" and made no sense today.
   
   However, he said abolishing the states would be "almost impossible to achieve".
   Not only would it need to pass a referendum, but each state parliament would have to then vote themselves out of existence.
   "This is one of those very difficult, almost impossible situations set up in the Constitution which are a real roadblock to reform."
   
    
   
   

   Keating pays tribute to 'great friendship' with Hawke in emotional speech

   Former prime minister Paul Keating has paid tribute to his predecessor Bob Hawke at a memorial service at the Sydney Opera House