A high-profile investigation is under way in the USA to determine whether and how Russia may have influenced the last Presidential elections, while here at home the focus has been more on prohibiting political donations from overseas (read China).

The federal government has just passed new laws to this effect with a lot of rhetoric about what a terrible thing it is for a foreign country to do. Of course, Australia would never do that.

So it has been a surprise to say the least, to learn that the federal government has proceeded to charge a former spy (for Australia) and his lawyer for allegedly revealing that in 2004 Australia had bugged East Timor’s government offices at the time when maritime boundaries were being negotiated.

The bugging was a clear breach of international law, and East Timor successfully took legal action in the International Court of Justice.

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The maritime boundary between Australia and East Timor has been a controversial subject for a long time because of the oil and gas reserves at the location in dispute.

So the alleged revelation did not endanger national security or any operatives, but it has severely embarrassed a succession of governments which have decided in turn to wait until the East Timor agreement was finalized before taking retaliatory action against the whistleblower.

Followers of international affairs would be aware of the federal government’s strong criticism that China’s activities with artificial islands in the South China Sea do not comply with international law.

The East Timor situation makes the Australian government look totally hypocritical.

But then to go after the whistleblower for allegedly revealing an international crime is not only poor form on suspect grounds, but it acts as a clear deterrent for others.

No doubt that’s the purpose.

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The reason for the whistleblower’s action may never be known but one factor appears to be the appointment of former Foreign Minister Alexander Downer to a very well-paid job with the very company seeking to access the contentious oil and gas fields.

No conflict of interest there, of course.

Downer as a minister was best known for very little apart from being photographed unflatteringly in fishnet stockings and describing his party’s domestic violence policy as “The Things that Batter.”

This road to riches seems to be quite well-travelled by our pollies.

Former Trade Minister Andrew Robb was lucky enough to pick up a very lucrative job with a Chinese firm after concluding negotiations for several free trade agreements with countries including China.

Obviously he must have impressed them with his finely honed negotiating skills.

And more recently we had Sam Dastyari who managed to have several trips to China and some of his personal expenses paid for.

As the old saying goes, “You make your own luck,” and some of our pollies appear to be better at it than most of the rest of us.

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The power of the media might be mighty but the power of government remains mightier still. At least that’s the message coming out of Nauru whose government has banned the ABC from covering the Pacific Islands Forum later this year.

A long list of reasons has been given including “blatant interference in Nauru’s domestic politics” and “continually biased and false reporting about our country.”

Nauru is the country which has agreed to operate the migrant facility for refugees on behalf of Australia, a facility which has come under heavy criticism from aid workers and those few media representatives who have been able to access it.

The ABC has led much of the Nauru reporting and has obviously got up a few noses, both there and back here at home.

The Feather Duster has a strong suspicion that the Nauru government might have received a bit of encouragement from Australia to act as they have.

Things are much simpler when a critical media is silenced.

Just ask Indonesia or Turkey or China or Russia, to name a few.

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The Liberal party has a bit of form with anti-ABC sentiments after a meeting of the so-called Young Liberals voted to sell off the ABC, ostensibly to lessen the drain on the public purse.

Most commentators saw it differently, as a payback for “frank and fearless” reporting which has often been critical of government.

Impartial commentators also acknowledge that the critical examination of government decisions has been going on for a long time no matter which party is in government, but the Liberals seem to believe the ABC is full of leftie socialists.

Perhaps it is, but your scribe appreciates a lot of their programmes and is perfectly happy to make his own decision as to whether they are biased or not.

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After all the above, it seems only fitting to have a dedication to poor government, so this week it is ‘A Castle Full of Rascals” by Deep Purple.

Actually, a purple Parliament House might be as big a drawcard for Canberra as Vivid is for Sydney. Maybe.

Feather Duster No 3

T Lobb

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