Two brief news items to relate on Australian matters, as well as which we have the latest of Adrian Beaumont’s increasingly regular updates on the constitutional mess that is Brexit.
Sarah Henderson, who held the seat of Corangamite for the Liberals from 2013 until her defeat in May, will return to parliament today after winning preselection to fill Mitch Fifield’s Victorian Senate vacancy. This follows her 234-197 win in a party vote held on Saturday over Greg Mirabella, a Wangaratta farmer and the husband of former Indi MP Sophie Mirabella. After initial expectations that Henderson was all but assured of the spot, Mirabella’s campaign reportedly gathered steam in the lead-up to Saturday’s vote, resulting in a late flurry of public backing for Henderson from Scott Morrison, Josh Frydenberg, Jeff Kennett, Michael Kroger and Michael Sukkar.
Also, The Australian reports Queensland Liberal Senator James McGrath will push for the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, of which he is the chair, to consider abolishing proportional representation in the Senate and replacing it with a system in which each state is broken down into six provinces, each returning a single member at each half-Senate election – very much like the systems that prevailed in the state upper houses of Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia in the bad old days before the advent of proportional representation.
Ostensibly motivated by a desire to better represent the regions, such a system would result in a Senate dominated as much as the House of Representatives by the major parties, at a time of ongoing erosion in public support for them. The Australian’s report further quotes Nationals Senator Perin Davey advocating the equally appalling idea of rural vote weighting for the House. The kindest thing that can be said about both proposals is that they are not going to happen, although the latter would at least give the High Court an opportunity to take a stand for democracy by striking it down.
Craig Kelly may reveal how much he trousers from Big Dirty. He’s come a long way from a furniture salesman to expert on energy policy and climate science.
‘Events, dear boy, events’.
I thought Scott Morrison would find the governing thing more difficult than campaigning to win.
C@tmomma @ #449 Thursday, September 12th, 2019 – 7:54 pm
Wasn;t that the other night?
Looks like the European Central Bank has hit the panic button..
By
WILLIAM
L. WATTS
The European Central Bank on Thursday cut its deposit rate further into negative territory, decreasing it by 10 basis points to negative 0.5%, while also announcing it would restart its monthly bond-buying program as it attempts to lift a moribund eurozone economy. Among other measures, the ECB also extended its so-called forward guidance on rates, saying they wold remain at “present or lower levels” until the inflation outlook “robustly” converges with the bank’s target inflation rate of near but just below 2%. Previously, the ECB said it intended rates to remain at present or lower levels through the first half of next year.
The ECB also made adjustments to its targeted long-term refinancing operations to further encourage lending and, in a bid to ease pressure on bank profitability from a lower deposit rate, announced it would introduce a tiered system that would exempt a chunk of excess reserves parked by banks with the ECB from the negative rate.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/ecb-cuts-deposit-rate-restarts-bond-buying-program-2019-09-12?mod=bnbh
I’m just trying to determine the approved discourses. I understand what you are saying. If a person is born into a faith, then you may not attack them for their religious beliefs. If however, a person converts to a faith, then it is open slather. I just wonder if there are any other caveats or exemptions.
Oh bugger off will you? You’re so tiresome.
“Looks like the European Central Bank has hit the panic button.”
Looks like the European Reserve Bank need to appoint Justin Langer and Trevor Hohns to its board. As soon as the dynamic duo help BoJo resolve his spot of Brexit bother.
Truly. There is nothing they can’t do.
Confessions @ #453 Thursday, September 12th, 2019 – 10:03 pm
It says that it is the line-up for Monday the 16th of September. Which is next Monday, as far as I know. I stand to be corrected.
C@t:
You’re correct. Wow a whole numpty Qanda has slipped by me.
Peter Hartcher on The World on ABC24 just now was having a bet each way on Liugate.
He reckons Scott Morrison has overreached by accusing Labor of slurring every Chinese Australian with their valid questions about Gladys Liu’s questionable integrity.
He also feels that Labor have overreached by alleging Liu is not a Fit and Proper person to be in parliament.
I imagine there’ll be a column in tomorrow’s media about it from him.
Oakeshott Country:
For nath’s amusement it would need to be a Wagnerian cod-piece
At least this can put to bed any hype about Langer and Paine helping us win the series. It was Smith, Smith, Smith, Cummins and Hazlewood.
Massive surprise a WC Eagle would get done for drugs.
Truly. There is nothing they can’t do.
They even got MMarsh back in the side!
BB
It’s a sausage dog chasing its tail looking for relevance.
Well, Ben Stokes just embarrassed himself.
Springtime for Pollbludger!
I am catching up on Pollbludger after a few days of being too busy / too depressed at the Labor Greens wars to read Pollbludger.
After reading today’s efforts, I can see the early spring shoots of normal discussion returning, where we toss matters around in the Pollbludger lounge, each contributing something passing for sensible to the conversation.
I was about to give up (literally!!).
Anyway, Hi from Northbridge, Perth.
I only come to Perth every few years, but I am always stunned by what a beautiful place it is.
The hotel I booked through work is a bit weird. No windows, and also dirty sheets on the bed. Got in too late last night to request clean ones, but after a discussion with the front desk this morning have now got clean sheets. The worst part was that they did not look that surprised when I told them how I knew the sheets were left over from he previous occupant!
So, spending today and tomorrow working on (another fkn) grant funding application at the University of Western Australia. The campus is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen, looking out over Matilda Bay.
I had hoped for a change of Government in May so that this blue-sky science grant would have a better chance. But, alas, it was not to be. I live in hope that it will still have a chance.
Hi DandM
Is it the new hotel in James St?
Douglas and Milko
Friday, September 13th, 2019 – 12:31 am
Comment #466
♫Hello young ♫ lovers wherever ♫ you are, I hope ♫your troubles are ♪few tra la la la
Clean sheets or no – it could be worse.
I had the misfortune to somehow, while searching for TV entertainment, land on a news program just as a “carer” from a Bupa establishment was shown assaulting a defenceless residence.
Ah ❗ ♫Memories -♪ memories. My wife after leaving what we thought was a dreadful Aged Care Facility – endured a much worse time in a Bupa aged care facility – where she died.
Owing to the facility regulations – Marie was more or less evicted (after death – they don’t keep dead people hanging about making the place look untidy) from the establishment. Fortunately we were able to enlist the aid of a local undertakers establishment prior to Marie going off to University in Northern NSW.
How good was that. I have just yesterday done the 30 something questions relating to Depression Assessment Scale (this after watching 4 year old in aged care).
♫Ta ♪ Da – I’m either completely insane or as happy as a lark – maybe both.
And so, he said with a smile, it’s
Goodnight all. I’m off to bed to read and then 💤💤💤
Roger,
Robinson St.
I went for a bite to eat at the nearby Brisbane Hotel. Lovely place that also sells and displays art. They have a beautiful painting of a pug for sale, just like your gravatar 🙂
Kay Jay
You are absolutely right – it could definitely be a LOT worse – first world problems!
Enjoy your reading 🙂
D and M
I should go and check it out. I haven’t been to the Brisbane for a while. Many of my friends perform at Lazy Susans Comedy Den upstairs. The Big Hoo Haa on saturday night is always fun.
Brilliant bowling from Marsh keeps Australia in the game.
Regarding the Court of Disputed Returns new season offerings of Lui and Joshie:
I reckon Lui is gone on the electoral advertising but Josh is safe because it could have made a difference for Gladys but not for Josh.
I reckon Josh having rights to citizenship in Hungary could be a problem for him, but not sure enough about the law in Hungary. In any event there is NOTHING anti-Semitic about the argument.
The argument is simply that Josh should have the same rights as other children of expatriate Hungarians and the fact his mum was Jewish (and grossly mistreated) should not deprive Josh of those rights. If he has not been deprived of those rights and has not taken meaningful steps to renounce those rights s.44 very simply says “fuck off Josh”. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
Marsh bowling well as predicted.
A word of caution. As Viv Richards said when Hirwani took 16 wickets for India on debut:
“One swallow a summer doth not make.”
Viv may not have said doth.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
John Bercow has threatened Boris Johnson that he will be prepared to rip up the parliamentary rulebook to stop any illegal attempt by the prime minister to take the UK out of the EU without a deal on 31 October.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/12/bercow-warns-pm-not-to-defy-law-on-no-deal-brexit
Stephen Koukoulas laments that we are seeing a once in a generation policy failure.
https://thekouk.com/item/685-bitterly-disappointing-we-are-seeing-a-once-in-a-generation-policy-failure.html
In support of this the Australian Tax Office (ATO) has paid out more than $15.7 billion in tax refunds since July. But economists warn they won’t help the economy one bit.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2019/09/12/tax-refunds-fail-economy/
And the federal government is pushing the Reserve Bank of Australia towards “unconventional” monetary policy – a dive through the looking glass into the surreal world of ZIRP and QE (zero interest rate policy and quantitative easing) writes Michael Pascoe.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2019/09/11/michael-pascoe-australia-zero-interest-rates-risk/
Max Kozlowski explains what are cashless welfare cards are and how they work.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-are-cashless-welfare-cards-and-how-do-they-work-20190911-p52qer.html
And federal Nationals MPs are urging their party to back an Australia-wide rollout of cashless debit cards for welfare recipients under 35 and an inquiry into welfare payments. Come on down Larry Anthony!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/nationals-mps-push-party-to-support-australia-wide-rollout-of-cashless-card-welfare-inquiry-20190912-p52qjx.html
The SMH editorial declares that there is no evidence the cashless welfare card, which the Prime Minister has been promoting all week, will help the unemployed find jobs or live healthier lives.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/nothing-conservative-about-untested-welfare-reforms-20190912-p52qrz.html
With all the talk of drug testing welfare recipients, Melvin Fechner explores some of the deeper issues, largely from experience.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/the-deeper-problems-with-government-drug-testing,13098
The Morrison government’s plan to drug test welfare recipients could see users shift to more harmful substances and even commit crimes to fund their addiction, experts have warned.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/09/12/welfare-drug-test-warning/
David Crowe asks, “What is the point of the Morrison government? What does it want to achieve now it has passed on its $158 billion income tax cut? The answers will take time, if they ever come, and they will certainly be subject to events – not least the stuttering of the global economy.”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-s-gift-for-razing-expectations-20190912-p52qon.html
Dana McCauley writes on Sharron Burrow declaring that Australia’s wage theft among worst in the world.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-s-wage-theft-among-worst-in-the-world-top-union-leader-says-20190912-p52qmz.html
Australian researchers believe old class divisions based on work are over. The life chances of most people are now determined by property ownership says Shane Wright.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/forget-blue-or-white-collar-society-is-now-about-the-mortgage-20190912-p52qn9.html
Phil Coorey writes about Morrison obsessing over wedging Labor.
https://outline.com/g9VqU7
In a long and thoughtful contribution Waleed Aly wonders if declaring a climate emergency such a good idea.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/is-declaring-a-climate-emergency-such-a-good-idea-20190912-p52qjy.html
Rob Harris reviews the day Gladys Liu had yesterday.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-hits-back-on-chinese-smear-as-embattled-mp-reduced-to-tears-20190912-p52qry.html
And Gladys Liu shouldn’t escape scrutiny because the PM cries racism says David Crowe.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/gladys-liu-shouldn-t-escape-scrutiny-because-the-pm-cries-racism-20190912-p52qsm.html
Associate Professor Salvatore Babones says that the treatment of Liu is not racist, it’s politics.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/it-s-not-racist-it-s-politics-the-treatment-of-chinese-students-and-mp-gladys-liu-20190912-p52qm0.html
Michelle Grattan agrees.
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-asking-questions-about-gladys-liu-is-not-racist-123445
Sam Maiden tells us how Andrew Bolt ripped into Morrison for playing the ‘race card’ to defend Liu.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/09/12/andrew-bolt-attacks-scott-morrison/
The NSW Government interfered in the media to shut down a story involving a secret pilot training facility backed by powerful Chinese companies. It had earlier denied knowledge of the aviation project despite promising to commit taxpayer funds to it. Anthony Klan reports.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/how-premier-and-news-corp-muzzled-virgins-secret-china-flight-school-story/
In this op-ed Jacqui Lambie says she can’t make John Setka stand aside but I thinks he should.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/i-can-t-make-john-setka-stand-aside-but-i-think-he-should-20190912-p52qp6.html
Jennifer Hewett has some ideas on how to avoid the trade war and do good business in China.
https://www.afr.com/world/asia/how-to-avoid-the-trade-war-and-do-good-business-in-china-20190912-p52qre
Employer groups are furious with Anthony Albanese after Labor moved to overturn a federal government regulation aimed at preventing casual workers from “double dipping” on annual leave entitlements and the loadings supposed to compensate for them.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/employers-furious-after-labor-moves-to-overturn-double-dipping-fix-20190912-p52qml.html
As bushfires ravage Queensland and NSW, David Littleproud and the entire Coalition appear deaf, dumb and blind to manmade climate change, and the devastating consequences of their coal-loving actions, writes Michelle Pini.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/littleproud-fiddles-while-australia-burns,13099
“Is it good enough that we continue to show complete faith in a process designed at the time of the Magna Carta, 800 years ago?” asks Greg Barns as he puts the case for people to have the right to ask for a trial by judge rather than by jury.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/everyone-should-have-right-to-trial-by-judge-not-jury-20190821-p52j9i.html
Peter Brent writes that James McGrath wants to change the way we elect senators. According to The Australian, the Liberal National Party senator, who chairs the Joint Select Committee on Electoral Matters, wants to see upper house MPs elected from six provinces in each state, two per province.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6381905/is-it-time-to-turn-parliament-upside-down/?cs=14329
PwC has conceded “community expectations” have changed around what is acceptable tax advice and indicated it will consider both toning down its counsel and pushing back against clients seeking this type of advice.
https://outline.com/mHwTmN
In a new low Dutton has labelled the Biloela kids as ‘anchor babies’.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6382208/dutton-labels-biloela-kids-anchor-babies/?cs=14329
And according to Dana McCauley the federal government breached the human rights of three Iranian families seeking asylum in Australia by sending them to Nauru, the Australian Human Rights Commission has found.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/nauru-not-appropriate-for-children-australian-human-rights-commission-20190912-p52qse.html
Nick Toscano explains how brown coal is in sharp decline as power plants close and renewables rise.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/brown-coal-in-sharp-decline-as-power-plants-close-and-renewables-rise-20190912-p52qlu.html
Australia is facing a shortage of medicine vital for cancer diagnoses due to a mechanical fault at the Lucas Heights nuclear medicine facility.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/sep/12/australia-faces-cancer-diagnoses-crisis-after-shutdown-at-lucas-heights-nuclear-reactor
Women may find it tougher to get an abortion if the religious discrimination bill becomes law write these two law lecturers.
https://theconversation.com/women-may-find-it-tougher-to-get-an-abortion-if-the-religious-discrimination-bill-becomes-law-123089
The Washington Post tells us about the unspoken rules governing Trump’s inner sanctum and how they tripped up John Bolton.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/you-re-a-prop-in-the-back-advisers-struggle-to-obey-trump-s-rules-20190913-p52qul.html
The editorial in the UK Guardian explains the ugly truth about a no-deal Brexit.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/12/the-guardian-view-on-yellowhammer-the-ugly-truth-about-a-no-deal-brexit
And former Deputy PM Michael Heseltine writes that Boris Johnson has no right to call himself a one-nation Conservative.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/12/boris-johnson-no-right-call-himself-one-nation-conservative
Lucy Cormack tells us about today’s nomination for “Arseholes of the Week”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/mothers-arrested-in-raids-over-allegedly-fraudulent-family-day-care-scheme-20190911-p52q77.html
Cartoon Corner
Another great effort from David Rowe.
Mark David lines up Littleproud.
And Morrison on policy.
Sean Leahy is disgusted with Dutton.
Cathy Wilcox ventures to ALP HQ.
From Matt Golding
Jim Pavlidis on the government’s PR machine.
Zanetti and Labor’s troubles in Queensland.
Jon Kudelka has Morrison giving some advice to Gladys Liu.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/6ac70f24c36fd1c6b0fb408f96ea1688?width=1024
From the US
Thank you, BK. 🙂
Lots going on for a supposedly ‘quiet’ period in politics.
Something about Gladys, from the AFR
‘Given she was born in Hong Kong, 33 years before the territory was handed back to Beijing, it was noteworthy she identified as “Chinese-born”. But potentially more interesting was another biographical morsel detailed in her maiden speech.
“I feel extremely proud to be of Chaozhou descent,” Ms Liu told Parliament.
The former fishing village in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong is famous for its entrepreneurs and its “tight friendship networks”, wrote John Garnaut, the former journalist and foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
In Australia, Chaozhou’s most famous native is the controversial political donor Chau Chak Wing, who has given generously to both sides of politics.
Another generous donor who hails from the same region is Huang Xiangmo, who had his Australian permanent residency cancelled earlier this year and was accused, in a hearing before the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, of illegally giving $100,000 to the Labor Party.
Through his Chaoshan No.1 Trust, Huang also gave $20,000 to the 2016 Liberal campaign of Michael Sukkar in the federal seat of Deakin, a campaign where Ms Liu played a major role.
Julia Banks, the former member in neighbouring Chisholm, told the Guardian Australia that Ms Liu worked extensively on Mr Sukkar’s campaign in Deakin, as her “values are more aligned to the right wing conservative faction of the party”.
Morning all. Thanks BK. Kouk and the Pavlidis cartoon have it right. Beating up welfare recipients is a distraction from the fact that a $16 billion tax cut (60% of GFC stimulus I) has done nothing to stimulate our dead economy.
Talk of QE is even more nuts. That did not stimulate the US economy. It was a way of bailing out bankrupt US banks without admitting to markets they were bankrupt. So are our banks secretly bankrupt too? Or are Josh and Scomo incapable of any better ideas?
Bushfire Bill @ #450 Thursday, September 12th, 2019 – 9:56 pm
Surely there is someone in the Labor party capable of formulating a case which is irresistible. All the pieces are there. They just need to be put together.
If not Wong then who?
Interesting interview concerning Gladys Liu with Tim Soutphommasane. However I believe Scott Morrison’s ‘argument’ that Labor is playing the race card and appealing to those who believe in ‘Yellow Meance’ or ‘Chinese Invasion’. While it is very cynical, however it might actually work, especially among “low information” Chinese Australian voters.
Although I would defend Clive Hamilton who in his book ‘The Silent Invasion’ despite the title, is a well researched book and had balanced views.
https://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pgq6lywK8V
‘“Prime Minister Scott Morrison this morning played the race card five times to defend MP Gladys Liu, who served on propaganda arms of the Chinese Communist party,” he said.
“Extraordinary! Are the dictators in Beijing now writing Morrison’s lines?
“Morrison is offensive not just to everyone asking legitimate questions about Liu’s associations and untruths, from ASIO to Labor, and including many journalists.”…’
Is it ok to agree with Andrew Bolt?
“Dutton says if he & Morrison back Liu that should be enough”
Why not refer it to the HC like all the other cases? Trusting the government over MP eligibility has never proven reliable in the past.
Everyone I’ve spoken to who has received their tax return has either put it in savings or put it on their mortgage or other loans. Not using it to buy things.
What about that Mitch Marsh, if only he’d been given a fair suck of the sauce bottle, with a Captain who knew how to use all-rounders (Smith was useless at it).
I probably didn’t get any, but any I got I spent in NZ.
Confessions @ #485 Friday, September 13th, 2019 – 8:13 am
I reckon there’s also an aspect of the fact that people aren’t wanting to buy cheap stuff, which is all you can get with amounts <$2000 the amount on average that people are getting. It ends up in landfill and many people are also becoming upset about that and not wanting to add to it. Not to mention that the timing of the tax refund coincided with the Winter Energy bill and after a very cold winter a lot of people probably paid their bill with their refund.
I think it’s safe to say that Gladys Liu wouldn’t be marching in the Hong Kong protest marches going on at the moment if she still lived there.
C@t:
Yes bills would’ve been another thing people used their tax returns for.
mundo says:
Friday, September 13, 2019 at 8:04 am
….
Surely there is someone in the Labor party capable of formulating a case which is irresistible. All the pieces are there. They just need to be put together.
If not Wong then who?
Why haven’t the mighty Greens produced a response? Don’t tell me the best they can do is “Labor should yaba yaba yaba”
It’s looking to me like, just as in sporting teams these days where there are co-captains, we have a co-captain government. Morrison and Dutton.
QE is just an asset swap. Banks hand over bonds to the central bank and get reserves instead. It doesn’t change the net financial wealth of the private sector. It does nothing to stimulate economic activity.
Only three things can stimulate economic activity in the domestic private sector:
1. Net exports increase (foreigners increase their net spending into Australia).
2. Australian households and businesses increase their net spending (by drawing down their savings or by going into debt).
3. Federal government increases its net spending (by reducing its surplus or by increasing its deficit – in the current context, it would involve increasing a fiscal deficit).
(1) won’t happen unless there are major structural changes to global production and trade and to Australia’s economy – for decades Australia has been a net importer, not an export-led economy
(2) won’t happen because household debt is already at an historic high of 120% of GDP, wages are stagnating, households are not willing to spend more, and firms have no reason to expand production in that context.
So, let me get this right. Labor have had a pretty good week putting Guandong Gladys and Scott Morrison on the spot, and mundo is still wittering on about Labor not reaching the Everest high standards he sets for them?
Some people are determined never to be satisfied.
Morning bludgers
Thanks BK
You know thinks are getting Cray Cray in the UK, when it is even more interesting than the shit show in the USA.
Meanwhile, Sam Dastyari got the boot for far less than Liu. Seriously, the media are helping Labor on this one. It should be a no brainer
C@tmomma says:
Friday, September 13, 2019 at 8:25 am
….
I reckon there’s also an aspect of the fact that people aren’t wanting to buy cheap stuff
I reckon you have hit the nail on the head. The stuff in the stores now is just junk. Why buy it, it is going to end up on the tip.
C@t
Yep. People have been paying down debt, rather than going on spending sprees. Having said that, Xmas isn’t all that far away and perhaps many are holding off until the silly season.
Frednk
Lots of stuff being sold nowadays is junk.
But if you want a good pair of shoes, clothing, furniture etc. You need to shell out the big bucks.
For eg I have been looking at purchasing a new dining table.
It is possible to buy tables starting from as low as $90! Which would be okay if you didn’t want it to last very long. Meanwhile a well constructed table sets you back around 2,000.