We are having one of the poll-free weeks that have occasionally bedevilled us since Essential Research moved from weekly to fortnightly, with Newspoll having one of its occasional three-week gaps so its next poll coincides with the resumption of parliament. So here’s some random bits of electoral news:
• A polling nugget I forgot to relate a fortnight ago: according to a report by Nick Butterly of The West Australian, a Labor internal poll recorded a neck-and-neck result in the Perth seat of Stirling, which Michael Keenan holds for the Liberals by a margin of 6.1%. After excluding the 10.8% undecided, the primary votes were Liberal 40.2% (49.5% in 2016), Labor 37.6% (32.2%), Greens 9.0% (11.7%) and One Nation 5.3%. The poll was conducted by Community Engagement from a large sample of 1735.
• Gareth Parker in the Sunday Times reports that Matt O’Sullivan, who ran unsuccessfully in the lower house seat of Burt at the 2016 election, has narrowly won preselection for the third position on the Liberals’ Western Australian Senate ticket, behind incumbents Linda Reynolds and Slade Brockman. O’Sullivan emerged with 56 votes to 54 for Trish Botha, co-founder with her husband of an evangelical church in Perth’s northern suburbs. The closeness of the result surprised party observers, especially given Christian conservative numbers man Nick Goiran backed O’Sullivan. As Gareth Parker noted in his weekly column, Botha appears to have attracted support from “non God-botherers” opposed to Goiran’s alliance with Mathias Cormann and Peter Collier, who may not have been aware of the messianic language employed by Botha’s church.
• Katy Gallagher has announced she will seek preselection to recover the Australian Capital Territory Senate seat from which she was disqualified last month over Section 44 complications, after speculation she might instead seek the territory’s newly created third lower house seat. However, it appears she will face opposition from the newly anointed successor to her Senate seat, David Smith, former local director of Professionals Australia.
• As for the lower house situation in the Australian Capital Territory, Andrew Leigh will remain in Fenner and Gai Brodtmann will go from Canberra to the nominally new seat of Bean, leaving a vacancy available in Canberra. Smith appears set to run if he loses the Senate preselection to Gallagher; Sally Whyte of Fairfax reports he will be opposed by Kel Watt, a lobbyist who has lately made a name for himself campaigning against the territory Labor government’s ban on greyhound racing. Other potential starters include John Falzon, chief executive of the St Vincent de Paul Society; Jacob Ingram, a staffer to Chief Minister Andrew Barr; and Jacob White, a staffer to Andrew Leigh.
• Occasional Poll Bludger contributor Adrian Beaumont has launched his own website of local and international election and polling news.
The Australian
Front Page
The Daily Telegraph
Front Page
Sorry to pre-empt you KJ, but this certainly worth posting.
The Sydney Morning Herald
Front page
Herald Sun
Front Page
Greensborough Growler @ #3 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 6:31 am
Wot, only one crock in the photo.
Robert Mueller files request for 75 new blank subpoenas to use in Manafort trial
The request filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, requests 150 blank subpoenas — or 75 sets — for the prosecution and defense. Two subpoenas are required for each witness.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/06/robert-mueller-files-request-75-new-blank-subpoenas-use-manafort-trial/
Trump fixer Michael Cohen’s lawyers flee — and he’s likely to flip soon: report
A new report from ABC News claims that longtime Trump attorney Michael Cohen is getting close to accepting a deal to cooperate with federal investigators.
According to ABC’s sources, the law firm that has been representing Cohen so far “is not expected to represent him going forward” after this week.
The bigger news, however, is that Cohen is now likely to flip after being abandoned by his current legal counsel.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/06/trump-fixer-michael-cohens-lawyers-flee-hes-likely-flip-soon-report/
Prosecutors ‘preparing paperwork’ to arrest Michael Cohen: MSNBC
Longtime Donald Trump confidante Michael Cohen has received word from federal prosecutors that they are preparing to arrest the New York City lawyer, MSNBC’s Katy Tur reported Wednesday.
https://www.rawstory.com/2018/06/prosecutors-preparing-paperwork-arrest-michael-cohen-msnbc/
The Inimitable Rick Wilson brings reality to Trump’s week in diplomacy
“Hats off to you, Mr. President. You’ve cut the sinews of a strategic alliance with Japan and South Korea that has contained North Korea and kept a brake on Chinese power in the Western Pacific.”
Trump’s Negotiating Style Is Pure Art of the Moron
Even by this blowhard’s YUGE standards, it’s been an exceptionally bad and destructive week of terrifying our allies and legitimizing our enemies.
So congratulations, Mr. President. You spent the week deliberately wrecking American alliances and leadership, allied yourself with one of the most egregious enemies of freedom in the world, and abandoned the shared values of our friends like Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Germany.
You must be so proud.
READ MORE : https://www.thedailybeast.com/trumps-negotiating-style-is-pure-art-of-the-moron?ref=scroll
One Nation senator Brian Burston is set to quit the party following weeks of bitter words with his leader Pauline Hanson over his decision to back the federal government’s tax reforms.
Senator Burston is due to announce his resignation today, leaving One Nation with only two members as the federal government builds its numbers in the upper house for crucial votes over the next two weeks, Fairfax Media reports.
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I am resigning from Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party,” Senator Burston said in a draft of the statement.
“The best way forward for me to represent the best interest of the constituents of NSW with honour and integrity is for me to resign from PHON.
“There is no democracy in the party – every single decision made is made by Pauline Hanson, and if you don’t agree then you’re gone.”
The crisis started when Senator Burston publicly revealed his plans to vote for the government’s company tax cuts, after Senator Hanson reneged on a deal to back them.
In a letter, Senator Hanson asked him to resign from the Senate over his decision to allow her to pick a replacement.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. Quite varied fare today,
Brian Burston is about to deliver a formal goodbye to PHON.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-should-be-called-gone-nation-brian-burston-quits-one-nation-20180613-p4zl76.html
Household leverage may have peaked, house prices are falling, and credit conditions are tightening. The combination of the three should have all of us asking: what next?
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/boom-turning-to-bust-is-an-aussie-financial-crisis-on-the-cards-20180613-p4zl94.html
RBA governor Philip Lowe says low wage growth is creating a group of people who feel left out of Australia’s prosperity. That’s something for business leaders to take notice of.
https://outline.com/cAFJUn
David Crowe reckons that the new foreign register will become a flashpoint over who has ties to China.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/foreign-register-a-flashpoint-is-certain-over-who-has-ties-to-beijing-20180613-p4zl79.html
Barnaby Joyce is expected to attend the NSW National Party state conference this weekend where he is unlikely to receive the warmest of welcomes.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/barnaby-joyce-warned-of-cold-reception-at-nsw-nationals-conference-20180613-p4zl9e.html
Now he’s got North Korea out of the way Trump declares the media to be America’s biggest enemy. The guy’s bonkers!
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-says-north-korea-no-longer-a-nuclear-threat-20180613-p4zlb3.html
The SMH editorial says that the agreement says nothing about how denuclearisation will proceed, or how it will be verified. Without clearer evidence that North Korea really is serious this time, the summit’s achievements amount to virtually nothing. And to achieve that, Mr Trump has conceded quite a lot. It concludes with “The world looks at the antics of Donald Trump and wonders: is he just a buffoon, in power by mistake, or is he very, very clever – the ideal adversary for rogue nations led by criminals and con artists? The summit, on balance, suggests the former. Australia has been warned.”
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/summit-of-illusions-has-a-clear-message-20180613-p4zl86.html
The mainstream media will now try to normalise Trump’s abnormal behaviour by focusing only on the “optics” of this week’s “historic” Singapore meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-un writes Martin Hirst.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-singapore-summit-chaos-is-the-new-normal,11593
If Trump’s video for Kim is our best hope for the future, we’re all doomed
https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/if-trump-s-video-for-kim-is-best-hope-for-the-future-we-re-all-doomed-20180613-p4zl7d.html
Trust Trump to snatch comedy from the jaws of victory.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/trust-trump-to-snatch-comedy-from-the-jaws-of-victory-20180613-p4zl5j.html
Greg Sheridan asks, “Has North Korea’s young dictator, Kim Jong-un, comprehensively outplayed US President Donald Trump?”
https://outline.com/XegcWK
Award-winning journalist Joanne McCarthy says Australia’s bishops still don’t get it – things have changed. An excellent contribution,
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/joanne-mccarthy-australia-s-bishops-still-don-t-get-it-things-have-changed-20180613-p4zl75.html
Tony Wright has a thoughtful piece on the announcement about the royal commission recommendations.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-great-unburdening-after-a-spilling-of-secrets-comes-hope-of-national-healing-20180613-p4zl96.html
South Australia will lead the charge to make sure churches around the country put the safety of children first — even if it means shattering the secrecy of the confessional. SA will in October become the first state to axe protections long afforded religious leaders, which have allowed them to keep secret admissions about child abuse made in the course of a confession, under the “seal of the confessional”.
https://outline.com/thhZnj
Leading child abuse advocates have responded with anger and dismay after the Catholic Church immediately pushed back against new laws that would force priests to break the seal of confession.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/06/13/child-abuse-royal-commission-advocate-outrage/
Meanwhile the school chaplains program has been labelled discriminatory in a test case against rules requiring pastoral care workers to be connected to organised religion. In a case that could have significant repercussions on the controversial program, the requirement that potential employees of Access Ministries, one of the groups that provides pastoral care, must be Christian will be challenged in the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/14/school-chaplains-legal-challenge-argues-program-is-discriminatory
Safe access to abortion clinics has finally been mandated in NSW and is being debated in Queensland, while “free speech” continues to be used as an excuse for harassment, writes Jacinta Coehlo.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/abortion-and-the-free-speech-warriors,11592
The ACT’s biggest electricity provider plans to pass on its maximum allowable price rise of 14.29 per cent from July.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/act/actewagl-customers-to-face-full-price-rise-from-july-20180613-p4zl6y.html
John Warhurst has his say on the high stakes Ramsay Centre controversy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ramsay-centre-controversy-a-high-stakes-affair-20180612-p4zl1d.html
Nothing to see here. Let’s move on.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/13/high-court-asked-to-block-sa-royal-commission-from-calling-witnesses
Peter Martin explains how there’s a case for taxing women more lightly than men, and Scott Morison has helped make the point.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pink-tax-versus-blue-tax-the-case-for-taxing-women-lightly-20180613-p4zl34.html
Michael Kirby is less than elated with the outcome of the Singapore meeting.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/i-ll-rejoice-in-trump-s-triumph-when-kim-opens-his-gulags-to-scrutiny-20180613-p4zl5h.html
Dr Patricia Ranald tells us about new research that shows that increased market power of global corporations is driving global income inequality.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-s-time-to-stop-giving-more-rights-to-global-corporations-20180611-p4zkrq.html
For the first time in three years, Chinese investment in Australia has dropped.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/chinese-investors-wary-of-australia-as-tensions-linger-20180613-p4zl2u.html
Jacinta Keast writes that amid the many unknowns and unknowables of the Trump-Kim Singapore agreement one thing is certain: it represents a strengthening of China’s position in north-east Asia.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-the-winner-from-the-trump-kim-deal-20180613-p4zl71.html
International law scholar Ben Saul says that Australia should show the will to prosecute elite soldiers or risk shame.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/show-the-will-to-prosecute-elite-soldiers-or-risk-shame-20180612-p4zkxh.html
The country’s “mental health architecture is stuffed” and should be reviewed by the Productivity Commission after years of rewarding activity instead of outcomes, a mental health commissioner says.
https://outline.com/CadPpF
Greg Jericho explains how the housing market is cooling but the affordability crisis isn’t over.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2018/jun/14/the-housing-market-is-cooling-but-the-affordability-crisis-isnt-over
Now it’s Ron Medich’s daughter who is in the dock. Some families!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/ron-medich-s-daughter-accused-of-fraud-over-luxury-hotel-stay-20180607-p4zk2k.html
Independent federal MP Andrew Wilkie has secured agreement from the commonwealth ombudsman to launch another investigation into the robo-debt program.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/13/centrelinks-deeply-flawed-robo-debt-to-face-new-investigation
Allowing companies to sue is a threat to free speech, writes contributing editor for The Monthly, Paddy Manning. At the very same time that the banking royal commission is proving beyond doubt the value of the investigative journalism practised by reporters like Adele Ferguson, whose “Banking Bad” series helped trigger the inquiry, the NSW government has come up with a proposal to restore the right of companies to sue for defamation.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/companies-to-sue-for-defamation-nip-this-in-the-bud/
Pru Goward’s under a lot of pressure.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jun/13/i-have-to-go-pru-goward-hangs-up-on-interview-over-secret-report
Robbie Williams is being accused of accepting “blood money” from a murderous dictator, amid sharp backlash to the British popstar’s decision to headline the World Cup opening ceremony in Moscow today.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/shame-on-you-robbie-williams-excoriated-for-headlining-world-cup-opening-ceremony-20180613-p4zlb6.html
Thirteen people have been charged following a series of raids across north-west Melbourne related to a “sophisticated” ice ring being investigated by police. The operation forms part of Victoria Police’s Operation Ezekiel, a year-long investigation into the distribution and trafficking of methamphetamines, with alleged links to organised crime groups.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/raids-on-sophisticated-drug-ring-results-in-13-people-arrested-and-charged-20180613-p4zlb1.html
Michael Cohen, the longtime personal lawyer of Donald Trump, was preparing to part ways with the legal team that has been representing him in federal court in New York, according to multiple reports yesterday.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jun/13/michael-cohen-trump-lawyer-parting-ways-legal-team-investigation
The Australian Taxation Office says it will be more closely scrutinising work-related clothing and laundry expenses this year and is particularly focused on what many people mistakenly believe is a “standard deduction”, or minimum amount that can be claimed without providing receipts.
https://outline.com/SqzMwb
Why some Western companies are distancing themselves from the World Cup brand.
https://theconversation.com/why-some-western-companies-are-distancing-themselves-from-the-world-cup-brand-96989
Adelaide is now the nation’s most affordable capital city, with a median house price of $470,000, according to new figures from the Real Estate Institute of Australia. Hobart’s is $492,000.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/property/2018/06/13/capital-city-median-house-prices-2018-hobart/
Cartoon Corner
Mark David’s take on Singapore.
And more on this from Peter Broelman.
Snap!
Zanetti sees the deal’s polarising effect.
And one from Mark Knight.
Ros Emerson with braggard Trump.
Jon Kudelka puts the agreement into perspective.
Seen Leahy with a hidden Singapore outcome.
This says a lot.
From the US.
David Pope with Singapore celebrations.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/act/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0.html
Jon Kudelka goes all the way with Barnaby.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/2fef6bfeb114b2f161490938f7879ebb
And several very good cartoons are in here.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-fairfax-cartoons-june-14-2018-20180613-h11c9e.html
The Pope cartoon cuts through brilliantly. All tin pot dictators should now push for nuclear power if they have any sense.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/06/13/michael-cohen-may-be-getting-ready-to-flip-that-would-be-a-catastrophe-for-trump/?utm_term=.6013ca1fc168
Would seem a salient point. Vanity Fair were reporting yesterday that ‘sources close to Cohen’ were saying an arrest was imminent, even though Cohen vehemently denied it himself.
This sounds vaguely familiar:
Ranked-Choice Voting in Maine
https://www.commondreams.org/news/2018/06/13/historic-victory-maine-voters-demand-ranked-choice-voting-statewide-electionsagain
This should go well:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/06/three-californias-draper-ballot-measure/
There have been quite a few attempts here in Australia to split states in various ways – SthQld Vs Nth Qld, Sth NSW Vs Nth NSW come to mind. Perhaps it is time for some new refferenda.
“Hours before polls had even closed on Tuesday, Republican Governor Paul LePage said he would “probably not certify the election” and called RCV “the most horrific thing in the world.””
Seriously?? I dont see preferential voting as all that bad?? 🙂
However, support for pref voting does show that, notwithstanding Trump, there is in fact the capacity for rationality in the US.
imacca @ #17 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 5:55 am
It’s a very rare occurrence, remember the UK rejected it.
From Bks Dawn Patrol
The mainstream media will now try to normalise Trump’s abnormal behaviour by focusing only on the “optics” of this week’s “historic” Singapore meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-un writes Martin Hirst.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-singapore-summit-chaos-is-the-new-normal,11593
booleanbach @ #64 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 8:45 am
Well, New England already has a ready made Pretender. “Tae yon Beetrooter! The King o’er the Sheepdip!”. Though perhaps an older Scots analogy pertains: “Ye can take oor pictures, but ye canna take oor frrrreeeedom!”. Mind you, woad would clash with Barnaby Willy Wally’s complexion.
Good Morning
A wonderful free kick to Labor here. Universities saying your first child will get in but if your second child has the same or better marks they will be denied entry.
This is a cut. It will help also with Medicare as the universities are arguing a freeze is in fact a cut.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-14/university-funding-freeze-regional-campuses-worst-hit/9857532?section=politics
The Loop tweets
Apple to close iPhone security hole that police use to crack devices – https://loopu.in/2t1YDVW
So much for Mr Turnbull’s legislate to get around encryption.
BAIER: Kim Jong Un is “clearly executing people.”
TRUMP: “He’s a tough guy. Hey, when you take over a country, tough country, tough people, and you take it over from your father … if you could do that at 27-years old, I mean, that’s 1 in 10,000 that could do that.” (via FOX)
Maine voters were supporting retention of the preferential system in a referendum on the early figures
Also random note on ALP selection of a candidate for the central Canberra seat in the ACT – selection of someone from the right might not be smart – its a Greenish area and might open the door for a fight with the Greens that would tie up resources
phoenixRED @ #23 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 9:48 am
You’re satirizing, right?
phoenixRED @ #23 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 6:48 am
And the USA has an aversion to executing people?
Unfortunately, no, that is not satire.
The Australian
“RBA boss backs income tax cuts”
Why not “RBA boss concerned at lack of wages growth”?
And put the pressure where it should be – on employers.
Not on the tax system.
Observer
What and stop the neo liberal is good and has not failed propaganda! You must be joking!
It’s official. Burston has busted out of One Nation.
a r says: Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 9:52 am
phoenixRED @ #23 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 9:48 am
BAIER: Kim Jong Un is “clearly executing people.”
TRUMP: “He’s a tough guy. Hey, when you take over a country, tough country, tough people, and you take it over from your father … if you could do that at 27-years old, I mean, that’s 1 in 10,000 that could do that.” (via FOX)
You’re satirizing, right?
********************************************************
Sadly a r – it appears to be an accurate report
Trump Dismisses Kim Jong Un’s Atrocities: ‘He’s a Tough Guy’
In an interview with Fox News immediately after his summit with Kim Jong Un in Singapore, President Donald Trump appeared to dismiss North Korea’s human rights violations and Kim’s atrocities against his own people. “Hey, he’s a tough guy. When you take over a country—a tough country, tough people—and you take it over from your father, I don’t care who you are, what you are, how much of an advantage you have. If you can do that at 27 years old, I mean, that’s one in 10,000 that could do that. So he’s a very smart guy. He’s a great negotiator,” Trump told Fox News’ Bret Baier. When pressed further, Trump responded: “Yeah, but so have other people done some really bad things. I could go through a lot of nations where a lot of bad things were done.” Last year, the president made a similar argument when dismissing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s human rights violations. “What do you think, our country’s so innocent?” he said at the time.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-dismisses-kim-jong-uns-atrocities-hes-a-tough-guy
On those University cuts to places.
Note its regional Queensland that is hardest hit.
How are the LNP going defend that to their voters up there. Vote LNP get shafted seems to be the message, Not good for the Nationals.
Antony Green tweets
30 MPs have been elected to represent One Nation. Six are current members. 19 resigned in their first term, two were disqualified in first term, only three lasted long enough to face re-election, two were defeated and only one One Nation MP has ever been re-elected. #auspol
imacca @ #17 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 8:55 am
Imacca
It is of course Maine which is one of the sane states – almost Canadian.
I think that preferential voting could well be the ONLY thing that might save the USA form political collapse. Trump would NOT have got up under such a system. Probably not Clinton either. However by giving voters choice the most obviously “bought” candidates would have trouble getting elected.
Now with say 20% of the Democrat or Republican vote you can easily be on the ticket and thus candidate with money enough to buy an add or two will almost certainly be elected. Moreover any clever organiser will encourage a number of minor candidates to rum and split the vote allowing their chosen one to win.
Well that would be one way to lose a large slab of the male vote. Far too ‘courageous’ for any government to ever try it. It would be electoral suicide.
davidhogg tweets
The deep state is real
They’re called corporate lobbyists.
Gareth @ #27 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 9:55 am
Fucking hell. America is broken.
Half of Australian 25-year-olds are unable to secure full-time employment, despite 60% of them holding post-school qualifications, according to a new report. https://www.buzzfeed.com/ginarushton/half-of-aussie-25-year-olds-are-unable-to-secure-full-time?utm_term=.nn3j65lB7#.nhAN6BMm2
James Campbell report that: The Liberal Party has failed in its bid to get 2/3 of the Cormack Foundation shares.
This is a huge blow to the Libs in Victoria
guytaur @ #32 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 10:09 am
It is going to get worse too.
I am taking a guess here but the easiest and most devastating act that China can take in retaliation against the Turnbull government’s many anti China decisions will be to cut student Visas, thus denying unis the funds on which they have come to rely.. This is virtually no cost to China – the kids can go elsewhere or stay at home. In particular if they cut the visas for the best and brightest, allowing only their no hopers to come, they systematically improve their own academic standards while destroying ours. They are already doing this (whether by accident or design I am not sure) but I expect it to get much more significant and targeted.
Indeed you do not even need government action – the obvious rise in anti-Chinese sentiment will certainly ensure that parents will be much less keen on sending their kids to Australia.
It is a sad but true reality that here in Qld the STATE and Private schools have become heavily reliant on the funding from international students of whom most are from China.
They certainly put a lot of thought into the design of this Mars rover:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasa-mars-rover-opportunity-loses-contact-dust-storm/
I heard on the news yesterday that the government has committed to implementing 102 0f the 104 recommendations of the child abuse royal commission. Does anyone know what the other two are?
daretotread. @ #34 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 7:12 am
So who would have won?
The Green?
Do you even think before you type!!!
If the preferential system in Maine succeeds really well & voters in other parts of the US see the benefit of such a system, then we could expect a rash of refferenda to introduce preferential voting.
Yes, it may just save the USA from its self destructive impulses; but I will not be holding my breath over that.
DTT
Yes I can certainly see that happening
Graham Edwards has his say on the SAS war crime allegations.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/graham-edwards-tells-critics-to-put-up-or-shut-up-on-sas-war-crimes-claims-ng-b88866067z
Odd response. I would have thought the fact that the inquiries are taking place means that people, including SAS members and veterans, decided they would put up after shutting up for quite a while.
Darn @ #42 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 10:23 am
I thought it was the ones related to applying mandatory reporting to things people hear in confessionals?
Ostensibly because “that’s a matter for the states”, but really because there’s no way a conservative government is going to piss off the Church unless/until they’re left with no other option.
booleanbach @ #44 Thursday, June 14th, 2018 – 10:25 am
I doubt this. Maine is not influential in U.S. domestic politics. Like, at all. Some of the other Northeastern (and reliably blue) states may jump on, but probably nowhere else will.
a r
You may be right about that. I did hear something about it yesterday but I can’t recall in what context.
Greensborough Growler says:
Thursday, June 14, 2018 at 10:20 am
James Campbell report that: The Liberal Party has failed in its bid to get 2/3 of the Cormack Foundation shares.
This is a huge blow to the Libs in Victoria
The Liberals are decaying from the inside. They are basically just a shell these days.