The priorities of the federal government’s stimulus package are not only wrong — they will not work. Lisbeth Latham argues the focus must be on protecting incomes.
COVID-19
Little more than 10 years after the Global Financial Crisis, the world economy faces another crash. Last time, the trigger was so-called “sub-prime” mortgages; but this time, it is a virulent virus — COVID-19 — writes Graham Matthews.
As COVID-19 spreads globally, and the threat of widespread community transmission becomes more real, it has become clear the new coronavirus poses not only a major health risk but a significant threat to the livelihoods of millions of workers, writes Lisbeth Latham.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison might think he can revive his political fortunes by pressing the panic button over the new coronavirus, but this will not help society deal with the real medical challenges we face, writes Coral Wynter.
Panic and fomenting fear are well-tried methods of control, distraction and of shifting popular support towards the right, writes Tamara Pearson.
Blame for the dramatic fall in international stock markets in the last week of February has widely been pinned on the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the likelihood of a stock market crash was in place well before the virus emerged, writes Neville Spencer.
There is growing concern the university sector is not following best practice in dealing with the outbreak of the coronavirus, but is instead joining in the racist hysteria, write Yaji Spencer and Chris Slee.
The spread of coronavirus 2019-nCoV, argues Coral Wynter, has been whipped up by the media and governments to promote hostility against China, provoking outbreaks of racism against Chinese people.
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