BuzzFeed – the news outlet famous for its click-generating ‘listicles’ is shutting down its Australian and UK operations to focus on the US market. Apparently coronavirus has hit its advertising revenue hard leading to the shutdowns. “More awful news for the Australian media sector with the closure of Buzzfeed’s local wing,” said Greens’ senator Nick McKim. “They did important, essential reporting, often covering issues that other outlets would not.”

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John Beattie – the former politician passed away this week. He served as the Liberal Member for Franklin in the state parliament from 1972-1989, and held the position of Chair of Committees during the Gray government from 1982-1989. “It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Mr John Beattie,” said Premier Peter Gutwein. “In his retirement John was an active member of the Lindisfarne branch and was well-known to many. I would like to acknowledge the support and contribution Mr Beattie made to the Liberal Party over his many years as a member. On behalf of the Tasmanian Government, I extend my deepest condolences to Mr Beattie’s wife Melinda and his entire family.”

private health funds – providers of private health insurance could reap a COVID-19 windfall with many elective procedures simply unavailable, say the Australia Institute. Their research shows the funds could save between $3.5 and $5.5 billion in payouts. “Visits to dentists, physios, chiropractors and other services by policy holders have been and will be significantly reduced as a result of social distancing rules and ‘stay at home’ advice to older Australians,” said report author and health finance expert Roy Harvey. “Every policy holder will pay, on average, $500 to $750 for services their insurers know they will not be able to use.” The Institute urged the Productivity Commission and APRA  to monitor benefit  payments on a monthly basis and require adjustment of premium levels. “Insurers claim to be supporting their members through the crisis by delaying premium increases, but they should be passing on these significant savings to households.”

Jack Mundey – the unionist and activist passed away earlier this week, leaving a stellar legacy best known for the ‘green bans’ that preserved urban heritage. In Tasmania, Mundey was instrumental in saving sections of Battery Point and Salamanca Place from demolition through cooperation between the Builders Labourers’ Federation and National Trust. Justice McClelland commented that “When the respectable burghers of Hunters Hill are sitting eating their lunch on the grass at Kellys Bush, I wonder how many realise they have to thank a certain communist for the fact they are not sitting on concrete.”

Teddy Sheean – the WW2 soldier is everyone’s hero these days, except the federal government. The Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal hearings in Hobart last year reconsidered whether Sheean should be awarded Australia’s top wartime honour, the Victoria Cross. The Tribunal handed its report to the federal government in July recommending a VC be awarded to Sheean, but they decided to ignore this recommendation. “It is disgraceful that this extraordinarily courageous Tasmanian has not been honoured as he should have been,” said Labor Senator Anne Urquhart. “There are four possible tests for whether someone should receive a VC, and you only need to reach one. Teddy’s an outstanding example of all of them,” said Senator Jacqui Lambie. “Teddy’s family, his relatives, his supporters and the Tasmanian public are pretty justified in wondering exactly how this 18-year-old kid could show more bravery than the entirety of the Australian Government.” Tasmanian Minister for Veterans Affairs Guy Barnett said, “I do not accept the Prime Minister’s decision and will ask the Federal Government to reconsider. We will closely examine the Tribunal’s report as part of determining the next step in the ongoing campaign to see this extraordinary young Tasmanian honoured.”

Loaves & Fishes – the non-profit food charity provides about three quarters of all emergency food relief in Tasmania, with demand increasing by more than seventy percent since the COVID-19 pandemic kicked off. “It’s beyond time the Fed Gov stepped up to provide funding for this indispensable emergency food provider,” said Clark MHR Andrew Wilkie. He pleaded with the federal Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston, by letter and in person. to provide more support. “Despite taking over SecondBite’s Tasmanian operations in 2018, Loaves and Fishes have not received a cent of COVID-19 allocated funding provided by the Federal Government. In other words, Loaves and Fishes missed out on any pandemic funding despite its crucial role in pandemic emergency food relief.” Wilkie said that there was multi-partisan support from Tasmanian politicians on the issue and he still hoped that ‘common sense would prevail’.

Alan Jones – the controversial broadcaster announced his impending retirement from radio. It wasn’t so much that tributes poured in, more the opposite. It’s hard to know who summed up Jones best, The Feed or The Chaser?