God Save Australia

[BMJ]

Australia’s productivity collapses to zero

The collapse in Australia’s labour productivity is well documented.

An OECD analysis published in The AFR found that Australia ranked second-last among wealthy nations in productivity growth since the COVID-19 pandemic.

EY’s chief economist, Cherelle Murphy, says the decline in Australia’s productivity is partly attributable to “capital shallowing”—the fact that local companies are not investing enough capital in new equipment to match the growth in their workforce.

“We’ve had strong labour market performance, but at the same time, we have not had particularly strong business investment or innovation”, she said.

“You’re not going to get strong productivity growth because you’re essentially asking workers to work with capital equipment that’s not keeping up with the number of workers”.

Murphy added that corporate Australia’s expenditure on research and development is also below that of other countries.

I have raised similar concerns repeatedly.

Private business investment as a percentage of GDP is tracking close to recessionary levels, as illustrated below by renowned independent economist Gerard Minack:

As a percentage of GDP, new machinery and equipment—which are essential to raising worker productivity—are tracking at historically low levels, as Alex Joiner of IFM Investors shows below. It is currently around half of what it was twenty years ago, at 4.6% of GDP:

As a result, the numerator of the capital-to-labour ratio has been weak, approaching recessionary levels.

In the meantime, huge volumes of low-skilled immigration have caused the denominator of the capital-to-labour ratio to increase.

This century, Australia’s population has grown far more quickly than that of other developed countries and has easily exceeded business, infrastructure, and housing investment. This population surge has also contributed to the “capital shallowing” of the country.

Australia has not provided the required equipment, technology, or tools to the millions of new migrant workers. For the millions of extra families, it hasn’t supplied adequate housing and infrastructure.

This ‘capital shallowing’ has reduced the amount of capital invested per person, which has hurt Australia’s productivity. Average quality of life has also declined.

Mark the Graph has published an interesting report on Australia’s multifactor productivity, which paints a similar picture.

With its manufacturing sector in terminal decline due to skyrocketing energy costs, it is difficult to see how Australia can achieve ‘capital deepening’ or an increase in the capital-to-labour ratio, and boost productivity growth.

As net-zero plans and gas policy failures cause energy costs to skyrocket, Australia will continue to deindustrialise and export its remaining manufacturing sector to countries with lower energy costs. As a result, businesses will make fewer capital investments in Australia.

The federal government also plans to add 13-plus million people to the country’s population during the next 40 years.

In 40 years, Australia’s population will grow by the equivalent of another Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, necessitating an unprecedented level of infrastructure, housing, and business investment to maintain the capital stock per person.

Such historically high levels of investment are not achievable and will inevitably lead to more ‘capital shallowing’ and slower productivity growth in the economy.

In summary, Australia faces a future of low productivity and deteriorating living standards because it is hell-bent on committing energy policy suicide, deindustrialisation, and flooding the nation with low-skilled migrants.

Link: https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/202...apses-to-zero/

[BMJ]

"Australia is about to pass Anti-Christian legislation" which would criminalize Christianity

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=FMUhP1lNwuA

Redacted
17 Jan, 2026
Next week, Australia will take up consideration of their "combating antisemitism hate an extremism bill in Parliament. This is one of the most draconian pieces of legislation to hit the English speaking world. The green party has now come out posting their concerns, saying they will not support it in its current form and that it may have unintended consequences that they've only had a couple of days to consider it, but they're big concern is about the combating hate portion of it saying "if we don't combat hate for everyone, excluding protections for people in the basis of religion ignores. The fact, both antisemitism and Islamophobia are increasing in our communities these laws should protect everyone from hate and discrimination, including LGBTQ plus and disabled communities"

[BMJ]

Australia Day, 26/1/26
It seem patriotism is back in fashion amongst the young.


Voters fed up with Australia Day debate

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Iz0YXizyqbU

Sky News Australia
Jan 19, 2026
Sky News host James Macpherson (with Warren Mundine) says taxpayers are becoming fed up with the debate over changing the date of Australia Day.

“Most of us are very happy with January 26,” Mr Macpherson said.

“Yet government institutions keep throwing our money at projects to change it.”

[Ravenlocke]

WikiLeaks

Jan 22
Tax-deductible charities are sending Australian citizens’ money to Israeli military units and settlement projects in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

https://x.com/wikileaks/status/2014563263233568988

https://michaelwest.com.au/revealed-...nts-in-israel/

Revealed: Australian taxpayers subsidising the IDF, illegal settlements in Israel - Michael West

Australian taxpayers are subsidising the Israel Defense Forces and illegal settlements in the West Bank via Australian charities. Stephanie Tran reports.

Australian taxpayers are subsidising donations to Israel’s military and to organisations operating illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territories through a network of registered charities with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status, an MWM investigation has found.

Under Australia’s tax system, donations to DGR-endorsed charities reduce a donor’s taxable income, meaning the public indirectly contributes to the charity’s activities. Documents reviewed by MWM indicate that several Australian charities have raised and transferred funds to Israeli military units and to settlement-linked projects in occupied Palestinian territory.

Financing genocide

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, has

described the situation in Gaza as “the shame of our time”.

The death toll ranges from 71,500 to estimates of 680,000. Yesterday, a baby girl became the ninth child to die from cold weather in Gaza during ‘the ceasefire’ as Israeli aid restrictions continue. In December, Israel banned 37 International NGOs.

Concerns about tax-deductible charities supporting Israel’s military and illegal settlement expansion have been raised internationally. In a 2025 report, Albanese described faith-based charities as “key financial enablers of illegal projects” in occupied Palestinian territory, often benefiting from tax concessions abroad despite strict regulatory frameworks.

The report found that the Jewish National Fund and more than 20 affiliated entities fund settlement expansion and military-linked projects, while online platforms such as Israel Gives have enabled tax-deductible crowdfunding in more than 30 countries for Israeli military units and settlers since October 2023.

According to the report, Christian Zionist organisations in the United States, the Netherlands and elsewhere sent more than $US12.25m in 2023 to projects supporting settlements, including some linked to extremist settler groups.

The Jewish National Fund, Israel Gives and Christians for Israel all have subsidiaries in Australia that have been awarded DGR status.

ACNC registered charities Chai Charitable Foundation and United Israel Appeal have also raised funds to support the IDF.

The Chai Charitable Foundation

The Chai Charitable Foundation reported more than $19 million in revenue in 2024, with the vast majority of its funding directed overseas.

Registered with the ACNC in 2017, Chai says its purpose is

to alleviate poverty, distress and suffering in Australia and internationally.

In its 2024 financial report, the charity disclosed $15.39 million in grants and donations for use outside Australia, compared with $1.62 million domestically.

While the charity says it supports low-income families and “civilian victims of terror” in Israel, it has also hosted fundraising campaigns linked to organisations that openly provide equipment to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

One such campaign supports One People for Israel, founded in 2023 by Ari Briggs, an Australian-born man who emigrated to Israel. The organisation says it works directly with senior IDF logistics officials to deliver helmets, protective vests and other military equipment to Israeli soldiers. A letter dated October 14, 2023, from the IDF acknowledges (image above) that Briggs was supplying equipment to military units.

United Israel Appeal

The United Israel Appeal Refugee Relief Fund Limited (UIA) reported $50.9 million in revenue in 2024.

Established in 1992 and based in Melbourne, UIA raises funds almost exclusively for overseas use, though it does not publicly break down how much of its income is spent outside Australia.

The charity describes itself as part of Keren Hayesod, a global fundraising network that operates in more than 40 countries and acts as a “works to further the national priorities of the State of Israel”.

UIA funds programs that assist people to serve in the IDF.

Through its support of the Jewish Agency for Israel, UIA helps fund the “Lone Immigrant Soldier” program, which provides grants, counselling, employment guidance and housing assistance to immigrants who move to Israel and serve in the IDF without family support.

Around 1,300 lone soldiers complete their army service each year, according UIA.

UIA also funds education and training initiatives such as the Net@ program, which provides advanced technology training to young people. Promotional material for the program states that graduates are “strong candidates for elite IDF units”.

Charities response

MWM contacted each of the charities identified in this investigation, seeking comment on whether they have provided funds, equipment or other support to the Israel Defense Forces or illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank since October 2023

United Israel Appeal CEO, Yair Miller stated that “United Israel Appeal is fully compliant with Australian law”.

The Chai Charitable Foundation provided the following statement:

“The Chai Charitable Foundation does not provide equipment, funds or other support to the IDF or any of its units. The Chai Charitable Foundation does not support any activities that are affiliated with entities on DFATs list of sanctioned entities, including those based in the West Bank. Regular checks are made to ensure that funds are not made available to entities on DFAT’s sanctions list.”

“The Chai Charitable Foundation employs an overseas Compliance Officer who oversees the onboarding, vetting and monitoring of our overseas partners. This includes ensuring that the purposes being advanced align with our mission and status as a registered charity in Australia. We are committed to the external conduct standards issued by the ACNC and the DGR conditions regulated by the ATO.”

The other charities contacted for this story did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.

How DGR status works

In Australia, charities endorsed with DGR status can receive tax-deductible donations, an incentive intended to support activities that advance the public good.

The ACNC oversees charity registration, while the Australian Taxation Office administers DGR endorsement.

MWM has obtained legal advice in respect of charity registrations. To remain registered, charities must continue to pursue a recognised charitable purpose and provide a public benefit.

The ACNC Act allows registration to be revoked if a charity has a “disqualifying purpose”, including where it engages in, or supports,

serious criminal activity such as terrorism,

or where it operates for a non-charitable purpose. Charities can also lose registration if they fail to comply with the External Conduct Standards, which apply to overseas activities.

For charities operating internationally, the External Conduct Standards require that funds and resources be applied consistently with the charity’s stated purpose, that reasonable controls and risk-management processes are in place to prevent misuse, and that charities take reasonable steps to comply with Australian law while operating overseas.

This includes compliance with relevant provisions of the Criminal Code, such as those relating to terrorism financing.

Evidence suggesting charitable funds or resources are being used to support foreign military units or settlement-linked activities could justify regulatory scrutiny by the ACNC, particularly where such activities appear to fall outside a charity’s stated purposes or raise risks under Australian criminal law.

Canada’s crackdown on JNF

Regulatory action against charities funding Israeli settlements is not without precedent. In Canada, multiple charities including Jewish National Fund Canada, have had their charitable status revoked after a tax office audit found “the organisation used donations to help fund infrastructure for the Israeli military, a foreign army, which contravenes Canada’s Tax Code”.

JNF Canada was ordered to wind up its operations in Canada and disperse its remaining assets valued at $31 million. The revocation of JNF Canada’s charity status followed decades of grassroots campaigning and activism.

ACNC response

MWM put detailed questions to the ACNC about its oversight of charities funding the Israeli military and illegal settlements, including whether it considers such funding compatible with charitable purposes and whether any compliance reviews have been opened since October 2023.

The ACNC said it cannot enforce international law unless it has been incorporated into Australian domestic legislation. While the United Nations considers Israeli settlements in occupied territory to be illegal under international law, the regulator said this position “has not, at this stage, been incorporated into domestic Australian law”.

The regulator said it does not categorise concerns using identifiers such as “funding the IDF or settlement-related activities”, but stated that “between 7 October 2023 and 31 December 2025 it received 896 concerns relating to 88 charities in connection with the Israel/Gaza conflict.”

The full ACNC response to questions is below.

What obligations do ACNC registered charities with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status have to ensure their activities and overseas funding comply with Australian law, including sanctions law and counter-terrorism financing requirements, as well as Australia’s international legal obligations? How does the ACNC assess whether a charity’s overseas activities are consistent with the requirement to pursue a charitable purpose and to operate for the public benefit, particularly where funds may support foreign military units or activities in occupied territory?

The ACNC registers and regulates charities. The ATO is responsible for DGR endorsement. In most cases, organisations must be registered charities to qualify for DGR endorsement – some limited exceptions apply (government entities, ancillary funds or entities specifically listed in tax law).

Once registered with the ACNC, charities have ongoing obligations to the ACNC that they must meet to remain registered. These obligations include notifying the ACNC of changes, keeping records, reporting annually and complying with the ACNC Governance Standards (unless they are a Basic Religious Charity) and External Conduct Standards.

Australian registered charities that operate outside of Australia must comply with the External Conduct Standards (ECS) set out in Division 50 of the ACNC Act. ECS 1 covers the way a charity manages its activities overseas and how it is required to control its finances and other resources including ensuring resources are applied in accordance with charitable purposes and that reasonable risk management processes are in place to protect against misuse. ECS 1 also requires registered charities to comply with Australian laws while operating overseas, including to take reasonable steps to ensure they are not breaching international sanctions (this only applies where international law has been incorporated into Australian domestic legislation).

Speaking generally, the ACNC has a range of tools to monitor charity compliance with obligations in addition to compliance and enforcement powers.

Since 2020, the ACNC has had a program to review around 2% of all DGR endorsed charities annually (approx. 500 charities per year), focusing on entitlement to charity registration and correct charity subtypes. The selection of charities reviewed as part of this program is based on an assessment of emerging concerns or patterns of risk identified in our work.

Between 2020-2025 the ACNC conducted compliance reviews that sought to identify areas where governance could be improved amongst particular cohorts of charities where emerging risks and/or areas of regulatory focus had been identified by the ACNC and communicated to the sector. Summaries of matters that the ACNC has considered in these proactive reviews are published on the ACNC’s website here: Compliance reviews.

In addition, the ACNC has the power to compel individual charities or cohorts of charities to complete self-audits of their compliance with specific governance obligations. Programs of self-audits allow the ACNC to better understand emerging issues, areas of operating or governance risk in the sector.

The ACNC publishes information about the regulatory areas we focus our attention on.

Does the ACNC consider funding directed to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which is illegal under international law, to be compatible with charitable purposes under Australian law?

The United Nations’ view that settling civilian populations in an occupied territory is contrary to international law has not, at this stage, been incorporated into domestic Australian law. The ACNC cannot enforce international law unless that law has been incorporated into Australian domestic legislation.  

Has the ACNC received complaints or opened compliance reviews or investigations into any Australian charities alleged to be funding the IDF or settlement-related activities since October 2023?

The ACNC does not categorise concerns with identifiers such as ‘funding the IDF or settlement-related activities’.

However, between 7 October 2023 to 31 December 2025, the ACNC received 896 concerns relating to 88 charities in relation to the Israel/Gaza conflict.

What enforcement or regulatory action is available to the ACNC if a registered charity is found to be supporting activities that may contravene international humanitarian law or undermine Australia’s stated foreign policy position on settlements?

The ACNC can only enforce Australian law.

Is the ACNC working with other government agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or AUSTRAC, to monitor or address risks associated with overseas charitable funding in conflict zones?

The ACNC works collaboratively with other Australian Government agencies to ensure the best placed agency takes a lead. We support a whole-of-government approach to addressing fraud, and work with other government agencies when it is appropriate to do so.

When our intelligence work uncovers broader illegal activity – for example, detecting suspicious conduct that could be related to terrorism financing, money laundering or serious fraud – we refer these matters to the appropriate authorities.

[BMJ]

Posted by BMJ (here)

Posted by Violet3 (here)
Hi BMJ, re your summary of possible signs of progress and 'white hats' speculations, how about Pauline Hanson's recent invite to Mara Lago and the growing popularity of her One Nation party in Australia? I am a fan of her 'please explain' cartoon satires which I think have surely helped to wake many people up (after a few good snorts of laughter) to the craven politics in this country.
And in contrast and also recently, didn't the Americans hand prominent ex-Labour Party Prime Minister Kevin Rudd his marching orders as Ambassador for Australia?
I am not sure that President Trump is on the side of the 'white hats,' or if there is such a thing, but perhaps he recognises a competent straight talker in Pauline, whereas most of the professional political class here is an elitist failure.

I think Pauline is a step in the right direction, and recognised as such by President Trump and the whites hats.

But personally I don't see her as our PM, she may have good intentions and courage but you have to admit she's not the brightest spark and she gets flustered quit easily which indicates to me she can not take pressure.

So unless she has a good support team that will carry her and protect her I think she would get chewed up and spat out by the political circus in Canberra quit quickly as PM.


I didn't know that about Kevin Crude but I like it.

President Trump has said to his face during the Albo visit " I don't like you and never will " he could have been shunned in Washington for this comment making him an ineffective ambassador, or Albo sought to out right replace him for the sake of diplomacy because President Trump didn't like dealing with him.


I feel a better pick for Prime Minister is Riccardo Bosi of the AustraliaOne Party, he and his team are putting in a huge effort to create the right framework for proper governance of Australia.

Riccardo Bosi is a former SAS Lieutenant Colonel, (the highest rank a soldier you can have in the Australian SAS), an author, highly intelligent, tough as nails (you would have to be to succeed in the SAS), experienced, passionate about Australians and their welfare and a capable individual whom has great respect for our strongest ally in the USA.

Riccardo Bosi ticks plenty of boxes.

He and his team would be the right persons to lead and represent Australia. Riccardo Bosi is the man I would want as our Prime Minister.

Website: www.australiaoneparty.com
Rumble Channel: https://rumble.com/c/AustraliaOneParty


P.S. If your thinking Andrew Hastie is a good alternative he featured in a SAS documentary years ago and has been groomed to become PM he is no rebel or pro Australian he is part of the cult. He is the cults answer to Riccardo Bosi.

Well you have to work with what you have got so it looks like Pauline is going to be the white hats guy as our next PM. She has been getting plenty of air time as of late and they are making her look good.

So here she is in a hour face to face with Karl "MSM" Stefanovic.


The Karl Stefanovic Show Live With Pauline Hanson


The Karl Stefanovic Show

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=4t5L4oexXJk

Jan 25, 2026
On the launch episode of The Karl Stefanovic Show watch Karl Stefanovic interview Pauline Hanson.
One Nation is stronger than it's ever been.
Join us to ask your own questions live on air.

[lunaflare]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t5L4oexXJk

If you are not familiar with One Nation Senator Pauline Hanson, this interview is insightful.

oh, I see it has already been posted!

[Violet3]

Pauline is very smart in my opinion. Many belittle her. She has a working class background and no posh accent, but listen to what she is actually saying - I think she is on the whole spot on and refreshingly direct. Go Pauline!

[Mike Gorman]

Australians in the main have been used to being comfortable, like other western countries it has its share of poverty/social problems, but up to 2020 its main population were quite affluent, or at the least able to ignore macro-political issues: since 2020 it has changed, with basic living standards slipping, people who were unable to participate in the real-estate market, renters in particular have been terribly affected with more & more families, singles unable to afford or even locate modest accommodation - there are lots of people living in their vehicles, tents: this is a familiar situation to most of us, America/UK/Europe - ordinary people even in jobs unable to find a home. The government insists on bringing more Indian nationals, more African people into the country each month. This is a recipe for a very ugly outcome, & the reality is hitting previously apathetic (politically) folks very hard - I think we shall witness a major upheaval in all of the Australian cities, but Sydney & Melbourne are most affected currently - the previously quiet cities of Adelaide & Perth are not so peaceful & comfortable any longer. All across Australia this irresponsible, & very deliberate importation of Labor voters is destroying the culture & peace of the nation, sound familiar? International in scope, this is very deliberate.

[Tigger]

God is not going to save Australia (to purloin the title of this thread). Only Australians can do that. And in light of what’s been happening over our national weekend, it seems like the tide may be turning. Sentiments like the ones highlighted in Topher’s video below are rapidly rising to conscious awareness:

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=PUVo-G01_I8

[BMJ]

Yes Yes It Is !!!

‘Greatest country on Earth’: TV host gets emotional over Australia Day significance

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=hzbGNk4KPMI

Sky News Australia
Jan 26, 2026
Sky News host Peta Credlin comments on Australia Day celebrations, saying Australia is the “greatest country on Earth”.

“This is the day when I stop and give thanks for having won the lottery of life. Because to live here in this magnificent wide brown land is to live in the greatest country on Earth,” Ms Credlin said.

“This Australia Day, let's drop the nonsense of flying three flags, not one; and pretending that the country belongs to some of us, rather than equally to all of us.”

[BMJ]

15 MEMORIES You'll Only Understand If You Grew Up in 70s Australia

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=wzvKnZC1N9U

Vintage Australia
Jan 8, 2026
Close your eyes and picture this: Saturday morning cartoons flickering on a tiny black and white telly, the smell of your dad's Winfield Blues drifting in from the back porch, and the sound of kids yelling in the street because someone just scraped their knee on the footpath and nobody's mom was watching. That was the seventies.

A decade caught between the old world and the new, where decimal currency still felt weird, where cars didn't have seatbelts but somehow everyone survived, and where childhood meant freedom that would get your parents arrested today.


10 MEMORIES You'll Only Understand If You Grew Up in 80s Australia

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=LPOAUpkr6VU

Vintage Australia
Jan 17, 2026
Remember waiting with your finger hovering over the pause button, trying to catch your favorite song on the radio before the DJ talked over it? Remember Friday nights at the video store, standing in front of rows of VHS tapes, hoping the movie you wanted wasn't already out?

Remember the Bicentennial, when the whole country went absolutely mental for tall ships and fireworks?

If you grew up in nineteen eighties Australia, these aren't just random memories, they're defining moments, rituals that shaped your childhood in ways that kids today will never understand.