With the fortnightly cycles of Newspoll and Essential Research in sync for the time being, we would appear to be in another off week for federal polling (although ReachTEL are about due to come through, perhaps at the end of the week). However, there is a fair bit of preselection news to report, with Malcolm Turnbull having told the state party branches to get candidates in place sooner rather than later. That might appear to suggest he at least wishes to keep his options open for an early election, although betting markets rate that a long shot, with Ladbrokes offering $1.14 on an election next year and only $5 for this year.
• With the creation of a third seat in the Australian Capital Territory, the Canberra Times reports the member for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann, will contest the seat of Bean – new in theory, but in reality the seat that corresponds most closely with her existing seat – while Andrew Leigh will remain in Fenner. The ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, said he contemplated running in the Canberra electorate “maybe for a moment”. The other name mentioned is Kel Watt, “a member of ACT Labor’s right faction and lobbyist for the Canberra Greyhound Racing”.
• The Courier-Mail reported a fortnight ago that Jane Prentice, Liberal National Party member for the Brisbane seat of Ryan, is likely to lose preselection to Julian Simmonds, a Brisbane councillor and former staffer to both Prentice and her predecessor, Michael Johnson. Despite Prentice being a moderate and a Turnbull supporter, the move against her has reportedly “outraged” Campbell Newman.
• Elections for administrative positions in the Victorian Liberal Party have seen Michael Kroger easily face down a challenge to his position as president, and conservative young turk Marcus Bastiaan much strengthened, including through his own election to a vice-president position. The Australian reports Bastiaan is “largely regarded as Mr Kroger’s numbers man”, but his use of his new influence to cancel an early Senate preselection process suggests the situation may be more complex than that. According to James Campbell of the Herald Sun, the preselections had been initiated at the behest of Kroger, consistent with Malcolm Turnbull’s aforementioned call for them to be handled expeditiously. The report further says Bastiaan’s determination to delay proceedings suggests a threat to James Patterson or Jane Hume, the two Senators who will face re-election at the next election. However, a report by Aaron Patrick of the Financial Review suggest the bigger threat from the conservative ascendancy is likely to be faced by factional moderates in the state parliament.
• The Toowoomba Chronicle reports John McVeigh, the Liberal National Party member for Groom, has easily seen off a preselection challenge by Isaac Moody, business manager of Gabbinbar Homestead. Moody accused McVeigh of having “betrayed” his constituents by voting yes in the same-sex marriage plebiscite (49.2% of those constituents did the same).
• The Clarence Valley Daily Examiner reports Labor’s preselection for the north coast New South Wales seat of Page will be contested by Isaac Smith, the mayor of Lismore, and Patrick Deegan, who works for a domestic violence support service. Page has been held for the Nationals since 2013 by Kevin Hogan, whose margin after the 2016 election was 2.3%. Smith is backed by Janelle Saffin, who held the seat for Labor from 2007 to 2013 and is now the preselected candidate for the state seat of Lismore.
• The Townsville Bulletin reports that Ewen Jones, who lost the seat of Herbert to Labor’s Cathy O’Toole in 2016 by 37 votes, has again nominated for Liberal National Party preselection in the Townsville-based seat of Herbert.
• The Courier-Mail reported a fortnight ago that George Christensen might face a preselection challenge for his north Queensland seat of Dawson from Jason Costigan, member for the state seat of Whitsunday, but Costigan announced a few days later that he had chosen not to proceed.
If Barnaby was looking for redemption, this seems to have been a failure. This man must have the thickest hide in Australia (save for Dutton, Abbott, …)
[@CanberraKNAG
17h
Barnaby Joyce has dared to show his face at @CWAofA annual general meeting in Armidale . He arrived late through a side door & received a lukewarm clap from the audience. Rank & file members are not impressed that he is dared to show his face after his treatment of women #auspol]
Gonski’s second report can’t be all bad, Kevin Donnelly doesn’t like it.
Kevin Donnelly, who reviewed the curriculum for the Abbott government in 2014, dismissed Mr Gonski’s report as “all that is wrong with the system” – while Jennifer Buckingham, a researcher at the Centre for Independent Studies, said it privileged “psychobabble” over science.
If only I had more than one vote!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/01/melbournes-water-supply-at-risk-due-to-collapse-of-forests-caused-by-logging?CMP=share_btn_tw
Stormy’s Revenge: Daniels Sues Trump For Defamation Over Tweet
Stormy Daniels is suing Trump for defamation after he tweeted that the sketch of the man who threatened her was a con job.
The tweet that got Trump sued:
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
A sketch years later about a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!
The suit alleges Trump’s comment amounts to an accusation that Clifford fabricated the threat and exposed her to ridicule and violent threats.
Clifford’s attorney, Michael Avenatti, said, “Regardless of who you are or what position you hold, you are not permitted to fabricate statements in an effort to deceive people. There are consequences for doing that.”
https://www.politicususa.com/2018/04/30/stormys-revenge-daniels-sues-trump-defamation.html
Trump campaign’s $228,000 payments to Michael Cohen could be ‘witness tampering’: ex-White House ethics chief
President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign is reportedly helping longtime Trump attorney Michael Cohen pay his legal bills — and one expert says that this raises the possibility of witness tampering.
Sources tell ABC News that “the Trump campaign has spent nearly $228,000 to cover some of the legal expenses” for Cohen, whose office was raided by the FBI earlier this month.
Norm Eisen, who served as the White House ethics chief under former President Barack Obama, writes on Twitter that these payments “could be illegal… on so many levels.”
“Is it repayment for $130k hush money that Cohen paid [to adult film star Stormy Daniels]?” he asked. “If so, campaign finance law issues. Equally troubling: Together with the Trump calls, it raises possibility of witness tampering. Risky biz!”
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/04/trump-campaigns-228000-payments-michael-cohen-witness-tampering-ex-white-house-ethics-chief/
The New Daily reports that the Business Council of Australia has asked each of its 130 members for $200,000 o fund a hearts and pockets campaign for business tax cuts ( plus unnamed, business-friendly, Gov’t regulation changes).
That’s $26M! Tax- deductible of course ( it’s a cost of doing business, don’t you know).
The campaign, targeting marginal seats, is apparently to counteract the threats from GetUp! and The Unions who are against said tax cuts.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/04/30/business-council-to-ramp-up-role-in-politics/
The article makes no comment about the relative size of GetUp, which is funded by small non-tax-deductible donations from members, and the monstrous BCA war chest.
Nor does it mention how many businesses are foreign owned.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. The banking royal commission fallout is still dominating the papers.
The NSW government is facing a suburban revolt over its new medium-density housing code, with one mayor predicting bulldozers in every street if the rules are implemented.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/bulldozers-in-every-street-nsw-govt-facing-suburban-revolt-over-new-housing-code-20180427-p4zc48.html
We are starting to get some tax revenue form Facebook and Google.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/facebook-posts-10m-loss-on-ato-bill-google-aussie-sales-top-3bn-20180430-p4zchu.html
Stormy Daniels has filed a lawsuit accusing Trump of defamation for a tweet suggesting she made up an incident where she said she was warned not to discuss an alleged sexual encounter with him.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/stormy-daniels-sues-donald-trump-over-one-of-his-tweets-20180501-p4zck7.html
When Father Rod Bower, the rector of the Gosford Anglican Church, posted a pro-refugee Anzac Day message on Facebook, he knew he would cop abuse. He wasn’t wrong. Will Angus Campbell have a look at this?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/threat-to-church-after-anzac-day-message-echoing-abdel-magied-s-post-20180430-p4zcgg.html
Nassim Khadem writes that it’s by no means over for AMP.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/more-is-needed-from-amp-say-investors-holding-a-12b-stake-20180430-p4zceu.html
The Australian’s Christine Lacy tells us that Catherine Brenner has left at least two unexploded bombs that could destroy further billions of shareholder value at endangered financial shop AMP.
https://outline.com/nA6Bnc
Colin Kruger says that former Australian of the Year Simon McKeon dodged the corporate bullet of the decade when he abruptly resigned as AMP chairman just two years ago and wonders now what was the then undisclosed reason for his departure.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/former-australian-of-the-year-dodged-a-bullet-at-amp-20180430-p4zch5.html
Elizabeth Knight tries to work out who were the movers and shakers at the AMP board’s night of the long knives.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/who-wielded-the-blades-on-amp-s-night-of-the-long-knives-20180430-p4zci4.html
AMP told the 2009 Ripoll inquiry that only big, vertically integrated companies could protect consumers from rogue financial planners and it was impossible to regulate against “inappropriate management behaviour”. Hmmm.
https://outline.com/Wma6Sd
AMP fall guy Brian Salter has hit back at criticism of his role in the fee-for-no-service scandal that threatens criminal charges for one of the country’s biggest financial services companies after he was sacked on a dramatic day in which chairman Catherine Brenner resigned.
https://outline.com/sCk2WZ
AMP may have been unlawfully deducting service fees from customer accounts since 2009, but it was its attitude to dealing with the regulator that has got the company in the most trouble.
https://outline.com/DYUxes
Richard Gluyas writes that AMP is showing a rare talent for spontaneous crisis generation. This is quite a bake.
https://outline.com/xF9A4M
Eryk Bagshaw on the resignation of the disgraced AMP’s Craig Meller from his advisory position to the Turnbull government on financial services.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ex-amp-ceo-craig-meller-resigns-as-a-turnbull-government-adviser-20180430-p4zcf6.html
Before the banking royal commission, Catherine Brenner and Brian Salter preached on good governance. Words have a habit of coming back to haunt some people don’t they.
https://outline.com/sb4JBy
Peter Martin reports that an overwhelming majority of voters from all sides of politics oppose the Coalitions plan to extend company tax cuts to big business.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cut-our-tax-but-don-t-cut-company-tax-say-voters-in-pre-budget-survey-20180430-p4zcgv.html
The Parrot has been accused of a string of extraordinary and baseless attacks on one of Queensland’s most prominent families on the opening day of his defamation lawsuit.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/alan-jones-accused-of-unparalleled-attack-on-toowoomba-family-20180430-p4zcev.html
Peter Hartcher’s not too excited yet about the prospect of peace in Korea.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/peace-in-korea-we-ve-been-here-before-many-times-20180430-p4zciw.html
Adrian Piccoli comes out swinging about NAPLAN.
https://www.smh.com.au/education/evidence-we-are-shifting-away-from-emphasis-on-naplan-20180430-p4zci1.html
The SMH editorial says that Gonski 2.0 neglects to mention the key problem of low teacher pay and high workload.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/proposals-ignore-teachers-low-pay-20180430-p4zcjb.html
These two education specialists give Gonski 2.0 a “fail”.
https://www.smh.com.au/education/gonski-2-0-report-a-fail-20180430-p4zci8.html
Jennifer Hewett also says that it’s hard to give a pass mark to Malcolm Turnbull’s description of David Gonski’s latest schools review as “a blueprint for education success”.
https://outline.com/D65FA9
Here’s Michelle Grattan’s take on it.
https://theconversation.com/gonski-review-attacks-australian-schooling-quality-and-urges-individualised-teaching-approach-95764
John Passant reckons that Turnbull will call the election after 2 July but before November.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/could-malcolm-turnbull-call-an-early-election–and-win,11449
The BCA is embarking on an unprecedented level of political campaigning in the run up to the next federal election, committing to a program of television advertising, television programs, town hall meetings and direct grassroots campaigning in marginal electorates to promote business-friendly policies, like lower company taxes.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/04/30/business-council-to-ramp-up-role-in-politics/
It’s decision day for George Pell. Regardless of the outcome of the committal hearing there will be howls of disagreement to follow.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/decision-day-has-arrived-for-george-pell-as-magistrate-weighs-options-20180430-p4zcgt.html
As many as one in five participants is reporting that the flagship NDIS scheme has left them worse off.
https://outline.com/SKbXBS
Greg Jericho tells us that low-income Australians are struggling to find a place to rent – and it isn’t going to get easier any time soon.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2018/may/01/if-buying-a-house-is-a-pipe-dream-renting-one-is-a-nightmare
Peter FitzSimons joins the call for the introduction of a sugar tax.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/time-to-introduce-a-sugar-tax-for-our-children-s-sake-20180430-p4zchh.html
Penny Wong says Labor will try and undo Abbott’s legacy on climate policy
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/may/01/penny-wong-says-labor-will-try-and-undo-abbotts-legacy-on-climate-policy
This is where Victoria’s millions are coming from.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/where-the-state-budget-s-cash-is-coming-from-20180430-p4zcgx.html
The United States has long been a global leader, but its might is crumbling under President Trump, writes Wazeer Murtala Gatta.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/trumps-america-first-doctrine-and-waning-of-us-hegemony,11448
Technical work undertaken for the Turnbull government’s national energy guarantee assumes the ageing Liddell power plant will be out of the system by 2023 – a development that will help drive the emissions reduction requirements of the Coalition’s new energy policy.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/30/coalitions-energy-guarantee-modelling-assumes-liddell-power-plant-retired-by-2023
Nurses at the new $2.3 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital have warned people will die during winter unless a solution is found to chronic overcrowding that has forced them to triage patients in the back of queued ambulances in the centre’s carpark.
https://outline.com/cfUuZp
Michael McCormack (who?) has penned an op-ed on the need for better rural health services.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ensuring-there-s-a-doctor-to-see-you-in-the-bush-starts-with-training-20180430-p4zce3.html
Craig Laundy says the Coalition has failed to take the fight to the labour movement on industrial relations and has urged employers to organise in a manner similar to unions to combat their “backwards-looking” demands.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/30/deal-with-moderate-unions-now-or-risk
Jake Niall says that if the AFL does not have a problem with handling complaints by women, it certainly has a problem with the perception of how it handles complaints by women.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/afl-facing-a-pr-battle-that-can-t-be-won-20180430-p4zcjl.html
Meanwhile ecstasy tablets and ice pipes were discovered during a raid of Mark “Bomber” Thompson’s Port Melbourne home, a court has heard. The Herald Sun reports the AFL premiership-winning coach’s DNA was also found on packaging containing more than 33g of ice, 4.2g of amphetamines and an LSD tablet.
https://outline.com/u6LZKf
Another day in court for the Puff Adder.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/mirabella-stopped-me-being-snapped-with-mcgowan-minister-tells-court-20180430-p4zcgn.html
Holdfast Bay Council in SA has tested a licence plate recognition system that nabbed 30 times more drivers than the traditional method of inspectors on foot chalk-marking tyres.
https://outline.com/f5qCpX
Geoff Davies writes that with the last of the centenary Anzac commemorations behind us, perhaps we can look more closely at the source of some current attitudes.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/howards-anzac-fictions-and-the-ageing-adolescence-of-australia,11446
In the ACT sick children can wait two years just to see a specialist, while people needing to see a urologist could face waits of up to six and a half years.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/act/hidden-data-shows-patients-can-wait-five-years-to-see-a-specialist-20180424-p4zbeh.html
Disruption to air travel for thousands of Tigerair customers looms this weekend as pilots are set to take industrial action as an industrial dispute deepens at the airline. Was it just a matter of time?
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/companies/tigerair-faces-flight-cancellation-threat-over-pilot-dispute-20180430-p4zcg0.html
One of the deadly substances uncovered at Canberra’s Groovin The Moo festival on Sunday is a highly potent new stimulant responsible for scores of deaths and hospitalisations worldwide.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/wellbeing/2018/04/30/n-ethyl-pentylone-bath-salts-australia/
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe sees Brenner off.
Paul Zanetti and our faithful financial watchdog.
Matt Golding sets up for the AMP’s AGM.
Mark Knight on inter-city migration.
Dark work here from Peter Broelman.
Alan Moir with some words of encouragement to Morrison.
Pat Campbell and “incels”.
Enough said!
Pat Clement with the AMP board’s new strategy.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/9ce24ea0844872c5b55009d41e7ad28b?width=650
Some good ones in here.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-fairfax-cartoons-may-1-2018-20180430-h0zgf8.html
Maude Lynne
I’m visualising a cartoon with a large, fat, cigar chomping BCA flattening little GetUp with a large, fat fist.
Ex- NSA John Schindlers latest :
Forget Pee-Pee Tapes: the Kremlin Just Dropped a Bigger Bomb on the White House
It’s Trump’s shady business dealings and how they connect to powerful Russians that constitute the real scandal here. While it’s likely that the president has had some sort of less-than-above-board relationship with Moscow’s intelligence agencies for many years, as I recently elaborated, a Bondian secret agent he certainly is not. KremlinGate is fundamentally a long-term financial-cum-influence scandal with an element of espionage thrown in—not the other way around
Putin and his retinue now are seeking to inflict damage on our beleaguered and weakened president: More chaos on the Potomac is good for Russia, goes this perennial line of Kremlin thinking. The White House ought to prepare for rough seas ahead.
http://observer.com/2018/04/lawyer-from-trump-tower-meeting-natalya-veselnitskaya-is-an-informant/
The Koolaid is strong in this one.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/30/deal-with-moderate-unions-now-or-risk
One point on the company tax cuts, from next financial year the 10 year cost of the cuts rises from $65bn to $80bn. As an extra year of the full tax cut is included in the projection. Labor will be able to campaign against $80bn
Trump Humiliates Himself By Claiming Fitness Freak Immigrants Are Climbing Over Border Wall
During a joint press conference with the president of Nigeria, Trump went off on an immigrant rant and claimed that very physically fit immigrants are climbing over the border wall.
We need a wall, number one. And you see that right now, where they are, even though it is not a particularly good wall, even though a small percentage can climb to the top, they have to be in extremely good shape
https://www.politicususa.com/2018/04/30/trump-claims-fitness-freak-immigrants-are-climbing-over-border-wall.html
Thanks BK and phoenixRed. I’ve never been able to access the Observer links, so appreciate a precis being provided as to their contents.
Article on Gonski:
‘There are two key recommendations that have sparked particular interest since the report was released: a new on-line assessment instrument that teachers could use to continuously measure individual student learning growth over time; and a new national education and research evidence institute.’
1. As I’ve previously said, on line continuous assessment is available presently. NAPLAN style tests are available to schools and are used as required.
The article also notes: ‘ the report fails to discuss the evidence for and against such an approach, or similar approaches from overseas. New Zealand has a comparable system (and has worse international test results than Australia) but this is not even mentioned in the report.’
2. Education is often referred to as the discipline subject to the most research and the least delivery. There’s a heap of research out there already; adding to the pile isn’t necessary.
The article states:
‘The report released yesterday does not meet this brief. The report is more of a manifesto than a blueprint. It does not provide any guidance for how schools or school systems should spend the extra Gonski 2.0 money to improve student results.
It is full of generalities and a head-spinning number of platitudes. And it certainly does not include any comprehensive analysis of the costs and benefits of its recommendations. In short, it contributes very little to the education policy debate in Australia.’
…very much my own reaction!
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/education/gonski-2-0-report-a-fail-20180430-p4zci8.html
https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/flat-earth-conspiracy-theorists-convinced-the-idea-of-a-round-world-is-fake-news-20180430-p4zcgu.html
This WeekVerified account@ThisWeekABC
11m11 minutes ago
In new memoir, Sen. John McCain says this will be his last term in office, and criticizes Pres. Trump for “reality show facsimile of toughness.” https://abcn.ws/2KpMcLN
Good grief. Where do these people come from?
Good grief! Scott Morrison on the TV doing that heavy breathing thing of his which just sounds so creepy!
Fess
Is that McCain retiring at the end of this term or next?
Looks like Catherine Livingston, Chair of the CBA, might be in the gun next to resign.
Morrison speaking sense for a change as he outlines APRA’s damning report on the CBA and its board in particular.
Ides:
He’s retiring at the end of this current term.
Yawn. Just another Enforceable Undertaking between APRA and the CBA. Plus stern words from Scrote.
Laundy is Workplace Relations Minister? More like “Kill Unions and Labor” Minister.
Just as Frydenberg is “Kill the Environment” Minister and Birmingham is “Kill Public Schools” Minister.
“Laundy said employers should use their trust and friendship with their workers to explain that they face either “a more secure, positive future or one where their jobs are at risk”.”
Brilliant tactics!!
Yeah…that works or me. Especially after my employer cried poor and then spent millions on legal fees to terminate our EBA in 2017, delayed any pay rises, and tried but FAILED to gut the clauses from our agreement. Trust our management? FFS i have been to the strat planning presentations and basically they are idiots with no idea working from silly assumptions.
“Good grief. Where do these people come from?”
Under a rock at the shallow end of the gene pool…………….next to the one IPA drones bud off under…..
Fess
Ta.
This is the democratic Australia to be proud of, not Howard’s right-wing rewriting of history.
https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/beyond-anzac-what-really-shaped-our-nation
“Good grief. Where do these people come from?”
Sadly from all around the globe.
Strong language from Morrison.
Weak action, was the summation from Stephen Dziedzic of the ABC’s Canberra bureau.
CBA forced to put aside $1 billion extra by bank regulator APRA
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-01/cba-forced-to-put-aside-a-billion-dollars-extra-by-apra/9713646
He made the point that the Billion is not a fine either and it will be petty cash to put aside that money.
Also made a point that Morrison coming out like this is the government trying to get on the right side of history and that if anyone else had said this even 12 months ago the Turnbull government and Morrison would have labelled it ‘bank bashing’.
Yeah…that works or me. Especially after my employer cried poor and then spent millions on legal fees to terminate our EBA in 2018, delayed any pay rises, and tried but FAILED to gut the clauses from our agreement.
imacca, you guys got an honourable mention at our last branch meeting! You have become cult heroes of the workers! 🙂
Bill on ABC24 now.
Bill said the CBA Board ‘should be marched out the door’. Like ordinary people would if caught doing wrong.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/30/worlds-oldest-known-spider-dies-at-43-after-a-quiet-life-underground
“imacca, you guys got an honourable mention at our last branch meeting!”
Ta cat. 🙂 We had lots of support and survived. ACTU change the rules campaign is going to be a biggie.
The flat earthers are indeed a diverse bunch. Former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff is one of them.
Read more: http://metro.co.uk/2018/04/30/britains-first-flat-earth-conference-hears-final-definite-proof-gravity-doesnt-exist-7509101/?ito=cbshare
😮
@Sadly from all around the globe.
From the ends of the Earth and the four corners of the World.
To be consistent the Flat Earthers must deny space travel, otherwise they’d have to admit that the globe seen from space is real. Oh, sorry, I believe they already do. 😆
I haven’t had a chance to catch up with Gonski 2.0. I was worried when I first heard of it, given that the PM and Federal education ministers approved. I profoundly distrust this Government on education.
The principle sounds fine – tailoring learning to individual requirements, rather than age-based streams, where the gifted are bored at the slow progress and repetition while those who are weaker for whatever reason get left behind. It sounds expensive, though, and would need proper funding, guaranteed in the long term.
Has anyone else noticed that the Coalition’s press conferences these days are coming with scripts? Not the normal sort that is used to get the point of the presser across but something that sounds like a story has been written, pitched at the level of the first years of High School, to create atmospherics around the announcement. A pertinent anecdote is inserted, a prominent Australian’s name thrown around to lend credibility and enhance persuasiveness, so as to land the announcement in the feel good area that allays concerns.
Like the one just now from Michael Keenan to announce the creation of the Data Commissioner. You could almost hear him saying, ‘Once upon a time…’
Scott Morrison seems to have been allocated the role of outrager-in-chief with respect to shenanigans revealed by the banking Royal Commission.
What I am liking is that news outlets are relegating pressers like Keenan’s to a lower order channel so people actually have to seek the presser out rather than be compelled to listen.
I also think the Libs are tactically wrong in their approach … they send out several in one day with announceables and the messages get lost amongst one another.
Eureka ❗
My favourite daughter accompanied by her husband (a flat earther) visited last Sunday evening.
I do not allow him to put forth the various theories (9/11, no gravity, flat earth, no moon landings). However he did commence with the thought that ASIO and the various such agencies know lots of stuff.
Fortunately my super power came to the fore. Son-in-law speaks quite softly and even though, from time to time I tell him that I can’t hear him, he continues with whatever while I ponder the mysteries of life and long for daughter to show me bunny and puppy pictures on her phone.
The verdict chez KayJay. Flat earthers – dumb &*%&* who deny most of the scientific advances except the mathematics involved in counting and keeping money.
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/04/30/politics/karen-pence-doctor-privacy-ronny-jackson/index.html
I also think the Libs are tactically wrong in their approach … they send out several in one day with announceables and the messages get lost amongst one another.
Yes, a poorly designed attempt to dominate the news cycle which gets lost in the overwhelming amount of Coalition bumpf.
kayjay:
I’ve never met a flat earther (that I know of) but can’t imagine having any patience for hearing their crap.
From BK
GASP!!! shock, horror!!! Does Penny Wong really think ‘and’ is a verb or was she misquoted?