Morrison and his blame game

Good morning, early birds. Scott Morrison wants state infrastructure projects to move faster and people to stop worrying about the economy, and in Europe, prosecutors have dropped an investigation into Julian Assange. It’s the news you need to know, with Rachel Withers.

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THE COMMENTARIAT

Police culture must be examined as part of investigating Kumanjayi Walker’s death – Melinda Hinkson and Thalia Anthony (The Guardian): “It is not our intention to doubt or disparage these expressions of compassion and care from the NT’s most powerful men. However, it is glaringly obvious that these leaders of government and police have direct oversight of a legal regime that has been systematically and adversely brought to bear on Aboriginal lives over the past two decades. Walker’s death is not an abhorrent event but a predictable outcome of an expanding law and order complex that has increasingly penetrated NT Aboriginal communities. If more deaths are to be avoided, any interrogation into Walker’s death needs to examine the constellation of coercive measures affecting the everyday lives of Aboriginal people in the territory.”

As a former top cop, I feel a duty to speak out – Mick Palmer (The Age/Sydney Morning Herald): “I am no bleeding heart drug use advocate. I was drawn – sometimes dragged – to where I am now by the evidence. Stark, in your face, compelling, evidence which was way beyond “reasonable cause” and, indeed eventually left me with “no reasonable doubt”. I again sincerely urge the Premier and the Commissioner to be prepared to examine the facts and change their minds or at least discuss the options. It is the only way we will make a difference and, in regard to the recent coronial inquiry, six families are sitting on the sidelines watching.”

China is closing itself off to criticism ($) – Andrew Hastie and James Paterson (The Daily Telegraph): “Raising these issues might not make us popular with the CCP. But we would be failing in our moral duty if we ignored or glossed over them. We remain interested in learning more from China. But we can never accept the precondition that we compromise our beliefs and self-censor. Repenting and being born again into CCP thinking will get us nowhere. Doing so would only encourage further demands that we forgo our values in order to get along. Any relationship which is based on the premise that we cannot freely share our sincere concerns is built on a shaky foundation. Australia can only build a healthy relationship with China through ­mutual respect and self-confidence, not acquiescence.”

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