Wayne Swan calls Rudd “extremely vindictive and juvenile” in new book
Wayne Swan thinks Kevin Rudd has an “unstable personality” and that his treatment of people was “extraordinarily vindictive and juvenile”.
In an extract from the former treasurer’s memoir The Good Flight: Six Years, Two Prime Ministers and Staring Down the Great Recession, exclusively published in Fairfax papers today, Swan provides a behind-the-scenes view of the Labor leadership spill, as well as a scathing critique of the former prime minister’s behaviour.
”Too often his focus was on having something to announce, and the political upside of any decision … for all Kevin’s reputation as a policy wonk, it’s something that often took a back seat in his decision-making process,” he writes. “Too frequently it came a distant third, behind media and political considerations.”
The book is released next week.
First hearing in Tinder balcony death case
The man accused of murdering a woman who came to his high rise apartment after meeting through dating app Tinder did not appear at the first court hearing in the case.
Gable Tostee, who is accused of murdering New Zealand woman 26-year-old Warriena Tagpugo Wright, was represented by his legal team in the matter’s first hearing at the Southport Magistrates Court, so told reporters that Tostee maintained his innocence.
Tostee will appear via video link when the matter is next heard on October 10.
Child asylum seeker sues the Australian government
The parents of a child asylum seeker are suing the Australian government for damages, SBS News reports. The six-year-old girl is living on Christmas Island and has been described by a child psychiatrist as “thin, sad and anxious”. The psychiatrist told the Victorian Supreme Court that the girl was likely suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Solicitor Katie Robertson told the court she will begin to issue proceedings in the case next week.
Police officer who sparked the Ferguson riots named
The police officer who shot and killed an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, sparking riots has been identified as Darren Wilson. Ferguson Police Chief Tom Jackson said that 28-year-old Wilson has served six years with the Ferguson police force and had a good record.
Wilson shot 18-year-old Michael Brown after he asked him to move off the road an onto a footpath.
Boko Haram abducts dozens of Nigerian boys
Nigerian militant group Boko Haram have abducted dozens of young boys and men from villages in the country’s north-east, according to witnesses. Witnesses from Doron Baga say that they have 97 males unaccounted for after militants raided the fishing village.
The news comes four months after the organisation kidnapped over 200 girls from their school in the village of Chibok, the vast majority of whom are still missing.
Terrifying: This is how flight attendants are now dressing in west Africa.
As Doctors Without Borders announce that the containment of Ebola could take up to six months, pictures of daily life in West Africa demonstrate just how terrifying the disease is.
This is how flight attendants are dressing now in West Africa. pic.twitter.com/sp1Z3bpDRN
— So Bad So Good (@sbadsgood) August 8, 2014
Study directly links ADHD to involuntary eye movement
A new study could have the answer to detecting ADHD: involuntary eye movement. The study, from Tel Aviv University, compared the eye movement patterns of adults diagnosed with ADHD and who did not have the condition in relation to various stimuli, and found that those with ADHD were more likely to make involuntary eye movements and they anticipated the next piece of stimuli.
The study also found that Ritalin had a positive affect on the sufferers’ ability to control their eye movements.
Jessica Mauboy wins Artist of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards
Jessica Mauboy has won Artist of the Year at the National Indigenous Music Awards for the second year in a row. It’s been a big year for Jess, after she also performed at the Eurovision Song Contest and the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony.
Dan Sultan was the biggest winner on the night, taking home three awards, including Album of the Year and Song of the Year.
Here are all the winners:
National Artist of the Year: Jessica Mauboy
National Album of the Year: Blackbird, Dan Sultan
National Song of the Year: The Same Man, Dan Sultan
National New Talent of the Year: BRIGGS
National Cover Art of the Year: Blackbird, Dan Sultan – Artist, Ken Taylor
National Film Clip of the Year: Bright Lights Big City – East Journey
Community Clip of the Year: Artists – Desert Sevenz, Song – Fly Back Home, Community
NT School Band of the Year: Rockstar Band from Gapuwiyak, NT
NT Traditional Music Award of the Year: Jaydron Nundhirribala, Roland Nundhirribala and Grant Nundhirribala and Lindsay Gameraidj for his song Nangale
NIMA Hall of Fame: Munkimuk aka Mark Munk Ross
Top Comments
Went to the National Indigenous Music Awards concert last night. Dan Sultan was the headliner and he is an amazing musician.
A pity Swan always told us how great Kevin was while in office isn't it.
He is only telling us the truth now because he wants to flog his book.