This bald-faced refusal to acknowledge their own inconvenient history in part comes from the politicians' belief that if you just burnish the "spin", you can get away with saying anything.
The Australian Banking Association says 'nearly 80% of bank profits go straight back to shareholders', the majority of whom are 'everyday Australians'. Is that right?
Malcolm Turnbull has again had his hand forced by rebel backbenchers.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Seldom is a government's impotence and frustration as much on display as it was when Malcolm Turnbull finally capitulated and announced he would set up a banking royal commission.
David Neves, University of the Western Cape and Deborah James, London School of Economics and Political Science
Entities at the centre of the storm engulfing South Africa's social grants distribution system have claimed to be champions of financial inclusion. The claim in itself is scandalous.
The majority of retiring South Africans look to the state for support.
Shutterstock
South Africa might want to consider raising its retirement age to 70 to cope with a challenge of an ageing population that's under-insured and relying on an already pressured public purse.
John Colley, Warwick Business School, University of Warwick
If the merger goes ahead, the new index would be Europe's largest, giving it dominance within the EU and a strong position in international trading too.
Research Director of Australian Centre for FInancial Studies and Professor of Finance at Melbourne and Monash Universities, Australian Centre for Financial Studies