Today is the day of the federal by-election for the Queensland seat of Groom, which you can offer your thoughts on on this post in the apparently unlikely event that you have something specifically to say about it through the course of the day. This site will naturally be all over the count this evening, complete with a live results facility that is fully battle-tested so far as federal elections are concerned.
Other news of note:
• Roy Morgan had a result this week from the federal voting intention series it conducts regularly but publishes erratically. This one credited the Coalition with a slender two-party lead of 50.5-49.5, from primary votes of Coalition 42%, Labor 34%, Greens 12% and One Nation 4%. State breakdowns had the Coalition leading 53.5-46.5 in New South Wales, the reverse in Victoria, the Coalition leading 54.5-45.5 in Queensland, the Coalition leading 51-49 in Western Australia, and Labor leading 52.5-47.5 in South Australia. The poll was conducted online and by telephone over the two previous weekends from a sample of 2824.
• The Financial Review reports on JWS Research polling that shows 20% believe states should close borders to other states that have any active COVID-19 cases, “almost 60%” believe the same should happen if there are 25 active cases, and 75% say the same for 100 active cases. The report further relates that 60% of respondents rated the federal government’s handling of the virus positively, down six points from July, and that 87% of Western Australians, 82% of South Australians and 57% of Victorians (up seven since July) did likewise for their state goverments, with due caution for the small size of the relevant sub-samples. The poll was conducted from a sample of 1035 from last Friday to Sunday.
• John Ferguson of The Australian reports on Victorial Liberal Senate preselection contenders for the next election: Simon Frost, staffer to Josh Frydenberg and the party’s former state director (including at the time of its disastrous 2018 campaign); Roshena Campbell, a Melbourne lawyer; Greg Mirabella, Wangaratta farmer and husband of Sophie Mirabella; and Jess Wilson, policy director at the Business Council of Australia. This is likely to amount to a race for the second position on the ticket, with Sarah Henderson to be promoted to first and Scott Ryan not seeking another term. There is contention in the state branch over president Robert Clark’s reluctance to have preselections determined through party plebiscites, with critics accusing him of using COVID-19 to maintain control by the central administration, as it did before the last election. According to the report, “a statewide ballot would favour Mr Frost, while an administrative committee vote would favour those loyal to Mr Clark’s forces“.
Iran says it will avenge the death of its top nuclear scientist who has been assassinated in an apparent car ambush which the rogue nation is blaming on Israel.
Iran says Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was “martyred” when “armed terrorists” targeted the prominent scientist’s body guards before opening fire on his vehicle.
Images of the aftermath show bullet holes in a windscreen plus blood and broken glass scattered on a road in Absard town, a village east of the capital Tehran frequented by Iranian elite.
Thanks WB
That Phil Coorey article in AFR is breathtakingly biased. The man doesn’t even pretend to be a reporter.
He just can’t resist imposing his own views. Who do you think he supports with the following?
And NSW doesn’t “successfully live with the virus”, nor have the “borders (been) largely open”
He obviously doesn’t like “McGowan’s hardline stance”
Then he says this:
The Fed Gov’t’s rating dropped but….. poor things……. they are powerless to help.
No mention of Scotty’s failure to bring back stranded Aussies or beef up quarantine, both being his responsibility.
Coorey writes opinion pieces with his bias on display.
Morning all. To me there is also a fundamental problem with the structure of the AFP poll question,
“ 20% believe states should close borders to other states that have any active COVID-19 cases, “almost 60%” believe the same should happen if there are 25 active cases, and 75% say the same for 100 active cases.”
Rather than asking are you for / against border closures, it tries to get respondents to play amateur epidemiologist by saying how many cases is too many? Exact wording really matters here. The number of cases of community transmission is far more important than total cases, which may all be in quarantine. This poll seems designed to support a suppression strategy rather than elimination.
I wonder if anyone else here was appalled by Tania Pliberseks ” I’m mates with Alan Jones” story. I call this guy wormtongue like the LOTR character, for his ability to get in people’s ears and make their thought patterns go awry. Like when you are watching that famous lumbering kiwi epic you are wondering how anyone could be conned by such a windbag, but Tania is proof of his P** in the pocket prowess.I thought Tania was prepared to fight in a ditch to keep Gillard safe against Rudd but it is now revealed she is mates with the guy who wanted to put poor old Julia in the chaff bag and toss her into Sydney Harbour. This shows why the ALP especially those from Sydney are so hopeless. They are part of the small incestuous pool of the Sydney media central office with the Koshies and Sam’s and Karl’s and AJ. The ALP needs a leader from Qld who is fair dinkum and knows who the enemy is. I for one cannot believe TPs poor judgement on this one. She will be defending Murdoch next.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Serious problems are piling up while Scott Morrison’s image factory works overtime and Gladys Berejiklian puts winning ahead of the electorate, writes a disgusted Katharine Murphy.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/28/the-prime-influencer-and-the-pork-barreller-voters-deserve-better
Gladys Berejiklian’s defence of pork barrelling is only the latest serious failure of judgment, opines Anne Davies.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/27/gladys-berejiklians-defence-of-pork-barrelling-is-only-the-latest-serious-failure-of-judgement
The main reason the Australian economy appeared to be robustly growing was that the population was increasing by nearly 400,000 people every year, mostly due to immigration. And now that has stopped, the government’s cover has, quite suddenly, been blown, says Mike Seccombe.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/11/28/population-decline-and-the-economy/160648200010788
At last Simon Birmingham has SOMETHING to say about China’s games with trade.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-hits-australian-wine-with-tariffs-of-up-to-200-per-cent-20201127-p56ikr.html
And Darren Gray reports that the country’s biggest wine company, Treasury Wine Estates, faces turmoil in its largest export market after Chinese regulators slapped a sudden 169.3 per cent tariff on its exports from Australia.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/penfolds-maker-treasury-wine-in-the-firing-line-of-fresh-china-trade-strike-20201127-p56imf.html
Ben Oquist writes that chest-thumping diplomacy is the wrong approach from middle-ranking countries like Australia. Quite an interesting contribution.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7031189/chest-thumping-diplomacy-is-the-wrong-approach-from-middle-rankers-like-australia/?cs=14258
Paul Kelly says that Morrison has to balance competing agendas with the US and China.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/scott-morrison-shifts-for-a-changing-world/news-story/a17c0a0250d247e118e2095565476c41
Paul Bongiorno wonders if Australia’s relationship with China can be healed. He points out that hindering Scott Morrison’s ability to repair the relationship is the uncompromising antagonism of the anti-China hawks in his government.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2020/11/28/can-australias-relationship-with-china-be-healed/160648200010774
China’s crackdown on Australian wine imports presents an ideal opportunity to develop a new strategy for wine and spirit exports. And the focus ought to be on India, says the AFR.
https://www.afr.com/chanticleer/why-australia-should-drink-to-a-new-wine-and-spirits-plan-20201127-p56im3
According to Darren Lim and Victor Ferguson, a collective approach to countering Chinese economic bullying may be Australia’s best option.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/28/a-collective-approach-to-countering-chinese-economic-bullying-may-be-australias-best-option
Katharine Murphy reveals that the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission has fired a warning shot at the Australian Conservation Foundation, asking the environment group to “immediately read the guide on political advocacy” and consider withdrawing an open letter of complaint about Angus Taylor’s lack of action on climate change.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/28/charities-commission-warns-australian-conservation-foundation-over-angus-taylor-open-letter
By defending pork barrelling, the NSW premier has exposed her inner moral compass. And it doesn’t point north, writes the AFR’s Aaron Patrick.
https://www.afr.com/politics/the-real-gladys-berejiklian-finally-stands-up-20201127-p56ihg
The Federal Government has shaped our nation into one that goes against the Australian values it promotes, writes Bilal Cleland.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-federal-government-is-out-of-touch-with-australian-values,14564
Dr William De Maria describes the Brereton report as the very model of a modern major war crimes scandal.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7031860/the-very-model-of-a-modern-major-scandal/?cs=14264&utm_source=website&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews
Army chief Rick Burr has told 13 special forces soldiers they will be sacked or face sanctions relating to allegations of war crimes.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/army-chief-starts-process-to-sanction-or-sack-13-sas-soldiers-20201127-p56im4.html
Amid the Brereton report’s findings that military reports have been ‘routinely embellished’, the IGADF is reassessing concerns raised by David Savage, a civilian who sustained serious injuries during a suicide bombing in Afghanistan in 2012, reports Karen Middleton.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-crime/2020/11/28/doubts-raised-over-adf-reports/160648200010790
Rob Harris tells us that Chris Bowen has said Labor must do better to embrace the aspirations of suburban Australians if it has any chance of returning to government.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/bowen-tells-labor-faithful-the-path-back-to-government-is-through-the-suburbs-20201127-p56imn.html
Shane Wright looks at the sea of debt the states and the feds are amassing.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/apocalyptic-deficits-the-sea-of-red-facing-every-state-20201125-p56ht5.html
In her usual excellent style, Julia Baird looks at the men who hate women and their online refuge of scoundrels.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/men-who-hate-women-and-their-online-refuge-of-scoundrels-20201127-p56ika.html
That gap between China and the west on digital currency could have profound consequences for control, surveillance, innovation and international sanctions, warns Eryk Bagshaw.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/china-s-new-digital-front-has-caught-the-world-napping-20201124-p56hkh.html
Christopher Knaus reports that oil giants Santos and Comet Ridge are again pushing to explore for gas under a licence that covers land owned by Barnaby Joyce, which he said he would sell almost seven years ago, acknowledging it could be perceived as a conflict of interest.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/28/mining-giants-make-fresh-bid-to-explore-for-gas-with-licence-that-covers-land-owned-by-barnaby-joyce
The editorial in The Saturday Paper gets stuck into Morrison over his lack of commitment to a global effort on climate change.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/editorial/2020/11/28/no-pants-no-target/160648200010767
You might not like Scott Morrison’s daggy dad shtick, but it is paying off big time, says Josh Butler.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2020/11/28/scott-morrison-daggy-dad-brand/
Adam Morton explains how the Andrews budget wedges Morrison on aged care.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/11/28/andrews-budget-wedges-morrison-aged-care/160648200010773
Charlotte Grieve writes about the chequered performance of the ASX.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/they-re-in-the-stone-age-is-the-asx-monopoly-short-changing-investors-20201126-p56i40.html
The Independent Commission Against Corruption found the NSW government’s water policies were inconsistent with the law and “created an atmosphere that was overly favourable to irrigators”, reports Peter Hannam. ICAC was quite scathing in its findings,
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/icac-finds-nsw-water-policy-unduly-focused-on-irrigators-interests-20201127-p56iob.html
Jennifer Duke writes about how the reactions to the Productivity Commission’s report into retirement incomes demonstrates that superannuation is just about a politically divisive issue as climate change.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/stalking-horse-or-fact-minding-mission-retirement-income-review-exposes-super-fault-lines-20201125-p56huj.html
The government and the opposition are walking a fine line – seeking to find policy positions that allow them to both advocate the interests of workers in the fossil fuel industry and promote the growing renewables sector. Neither is having complete success, writes Karen Middleton.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/11/28/how-australias-leaders-are-preparing-climate-change/160648200010771
Australians stranded overseas with little hope of getting home before Christmas say there is ‘one rule for them, and another for the PM’, who is currently quarantining at home in The Lodge.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/11/28/australians-stranded-overseas-pm/
Dennis Atkins writes on the death of Alan Ramsay, a Canberra press legend who would have torn strips off Scott Morrison. This is a cracker!
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2020/11/28/dennis-atkins-alan-ramsey/
Lisa Visentin and Zoe Samios explain how regional TV networks have savaged the Morrison government’s proposed overhaul of the broadcast licensing system, saying the reforms will not ensure the sustainability of the struggling industry.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ill-considered-regional-media-companies-slam-proposed-broadcasting-licence-reforms-20201127-p56ilc.html
Is corporate Australia tougher on relationships than Canberra’s bonk ban policy, asks Anna Patty.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/is-corporate-australia-tougher-on-relationships-than-canberra-s-bonk-ban-policy-20201119-p56g3f.html
Victoria’s health department has been forced to release emails previously withheld from the hotel quarantine inquiry that reveal a bitter internal turf war about who should have been in charge of the program.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/previously-withheld-hotel-quarantine-emails-show-sutton-s-turf-war-with-emergency-managers-20201127-p56iom.html
As South Australian Premier Steven Marshall promises to ‘throw the book’ at a student who allegedly misled contact tracers, epidemiologists fear a punitive response could undermine efforts to trace and contain future outbreaks, writes The Saturday Paper’s Royce Kurmelovs.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/11/28/the-woodville-pizza-bar-incident/160648200010789
Andrew Tillett explains how the submarine project is drifting into very deep water.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/the-submarine-project-is-drifting-into-very-deep-water-20201126-p56ico
Opponents of Pope Francis’ push to clean up Vatican finances applied unprecedented psychological pressure and created a climate of fear in their attempt to stop George Pell and his allies investigating Swiss bank accounts which allegedly held more than $300m, according to a book chronicling events preceding the Australian cardinal’s downfall.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/george-pell-vulnerable-spied-on-in-vatican-cash-battle/news-story/2df5981f703500d2a545e8e4da41d15b
The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t stopped Israel’s appetite for land confiscation, settlement building and demolition of Palestinian houses in the occupied West Bank while besieging the Gaza Strip, writes Dr Ibrahim Natil.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/demolition-the-foundation-of-palestinian-civil-society,14562
A Lockheed missile blows up a bus full of Yemeni children; in Australia Lockheed Martin gains kudos by sponsoring the National Youth Science Forum. BAE Systems sponsors underprivileged kids in Australia while being complicit in the killing of thousands of needy children in Yemen. All you see in industry marketing pitches is euphemism, with nary a mention of the word “weapons”. Michelle Fahy reports.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/reputation-laundering-weapons-companies-now-infiltrating-schools-to-promote-education/
The number of COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals across the United States has reached 90,000 after nearly doubling in the past month, just as holiday gatherings are expected to propel the next wave of infections.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/hospitalised-covid-19-patients-hit-record-90-000-in-us-ahead-of-expected-surge-20201128-p56ipw.html
In quite a long explanation, Nick O’Malley writes that it’s not yet clear how much damage Trump has done to the functioning of democracy, but it’s significant.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/this-turkey-of-a-presidency-is-cooked-20201127-p56ik6.html
In yet another setback for the Trump campaign, a federal appeals court has rejected a request to block President-elect Joe Biden from being declared the winner of the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/court-rejects-trump-campaign-s-pennsylvania-election-case-20201128-p56ipx.html
Farrah Tomalin says that a Trump concession is becoming less relevant.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/a-trump-concession-is-becoming-less-relevant-20201127-p56iml.html
The AFR’s editorial says that a populist quits and a President steps up.
https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/a-populist-quits-and-a-president-steps-up-20201127-p56ig4
As Trump suffers another post-election court defeat, some Republicans worry he could depress turnout in crucial Georgia runoffs
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/27/trump-georgia-senate-runoff-election
Chris Zappone opines that the assault on Biden’s presidency has already begun.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/the-assault-on-biden-s-presidency-has-already-begun-20201120-p56gbq.html
The US is having its worst economic crisis since the 1930s, but its billionaires are just getting richer. It is difficult to think of a more obscene illustration of the unfairness of the American economic and political system, explains The New York Times.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-divide-widens-america-s-richest-have-made-us1-trillion-during-the-pandemic-20201127-p56ig9.html
Adding to its impressive number of nominations for “Arseholes of the Week”, Crown Casino recovered voluntary payment of two weeks’ wages to staff who were stood down due to COVID-19 from taxpayers by claiming it back through the government’s JobKeeper scheme.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/crown-gave-staff-covid-19-leave-then-clawed-it-back-from-taxpayers-20201126-p56ib1.html
Cartoon Corner
David pope
Alan Moir
David Rowe
Andrew Dyson
Matt Golding
Mark David
Jon Kudelka
Mark Knight
Johannes Leak
John Shakespeare
Simon Letch
From the US
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/28/charities-commission-warns-australian-conservation-foundation-over-angus-taylor-open-letter
Wow, the shit (literally) is starting to hit the fan about Donald Trump now that he’s losing his grip on power:
https://youtu.be/N60ceYRlY2I
Thanks BK for the Saturday (no penalty rates) Dawn Patrol. 😮☕
lizzie,
The ACF was started by a couple of lawyers, they have great lawyers that provide counsel. They will stand up to the government and it will not be a good look for Morrison (all he cares about), in the run-up to an election, for him to be seen to be setting the junkyard dogs onto the ACF about an issue which, since the election of Joe Biden, will be front and centre of global news.
At the moment Morrison thinks he can intimidate the ACF into silence by threatening their charity status. I don’t think they’ll care about that and will press on regardless. To the extent that Morrison will assess the damage being caused to his brand and he will eventually call the dogs off and craft a ‘compromise’ after ‘negotiations’.
I’m sure John Kerry knows about this letter to the ACF already and is watching developments with intense interest.
Scott Morrison is on the wrong side of history and his attempts to butter up Joe Biden and at the same time satisfy his brothers-in-arms in the fossil fuel industry, will not ultimately succeed. I’m sure the ACF won’t fold. They will relish the fight for what is right.
C@t
From memory it was in Howard’s time that the screws were first tightened on all “environmental charities”. I’m wondering which LNP supporters are now in positions of power within the ACNC. However, I agree with you that ACF will stand up for themselves.
lizzie,
Wasn’t that slimeball Labor turncoat, Gary Johns, put in charge of the ACNC?
So Morrison has the ROC and the ACNC and the AFP and he thinks that’s enough to stitch up voices of dissent. What he didn’t factor in was outside pressure that he can’t control. Probably why he did his best lickspittle impression to Joe Biden so quickly. Thinks he can manipulate them. I don’t think so.
C@t
😆 😆 😆 I think you have a slightly exaggerated view of the importance such details of Australian politics are to the US Empire’s ‘800lb gorillas’.
Thanks BK. Also in the Saturday Paper is the Morrison govt’s getting wedged by reality on addressing climate change. And who knew Cormann had it in him to recognise the scientific reality of AGW! Just goes to show they’re only holding their line because of party ideological grounds, they can flip if you shove the right carrot under their noses.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/11/28/how-australias-leaders-are-preparing-climate-change/160648200010771
I am concerned about something I read this morning about “The Crown”. From reactions on social media it seems that Millenials, and others who may not have been alive or even interested in the events portrayed, are treating the series as if it is an historical reconstruction rather than a drama.
Obviously it’s too late as history has now been rewritten by the producers.
Donald Trump has angrily declared Twitter a national security threat after #DiaperDon went viral following a news conference in which he repeatedly complained about perceived injustices.
“Twitter is sending out totally false ‘Trends’ that have absolutely nothing to do with what is really trending in the world. They make it up, and only negative ‘stuff’,” the US president tweeted without providing evidence in the early hours of Friday morning.
Mr Trump did not say which trending topic upset him, but following Thursday’s press briefing, which saw him furiously assail a reporter from behind a surprisingly small desk, the hashtag #DiaperDon surged towards the top of Twitter’s trending list in the US and UK.
If Kerry Stokes puts up the money, there could be a few years litigation in this
“Army chief Rick Burr has told 13 special forces soldiers they will be sacked or face sanctions relating to allegations of war crimes.”
Seriously, what is it with the majors in NSW?? I mean, there is corruption to be found in most parliaments, but NSW just seems to keep producing these scandals again and again.
Fight in NSW parliament over ICAC funding
NSW parliament’s upper house has voted to give the corruption watchdog an extra $7.3 million, as a debate continues over the funding model for the body.
The government will now be forced to vote on the funding boost in the lower house.
Greens MP David Shoebridge, who introduced the motion on Tuesday evening, said the money would restore the Independent Commission Against Corruption to what its budget would have been if funding had tracked with inflation.
ICAC told a parliamentary inquiry last year that its annual funding had been below inflation for most of the 30 years since its inception, leaving it with a $7.2 million budget shortfall.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7028468/fight-in-nsw-parliament-over-icac-funding/?cs=14264
Public broadcasters included in media code
Facebook and Google will soon be forced to pay Australian public broadcasters for their content.
The ABC and SBS have reportedly been added to a proposed media bargaining code alongside commercial news organisations.
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims initially excluded the broadcasters from the draft code because they were publicly funded.
Labor, the Greens and several crossbenchers suggested they should be among Australian news publishers to benefit from the bargaining laws.
“It was the wrong decision to lock the public broadcasters out of the draft code and allow Facebook and Google to continue to profit from their content,” Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said on Wednesday.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7028385/public-broadcasters-included-in-media-code/?cs=14264
On the Flynn pardon, and the likelihood of Trump self pardoning himself on January 19th.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6nEBu9nYB2FvQNGSEhvzuE
53 days until inauguration.
Holdenhillbilly
But Trump has been “ruling by Twitter” until now.
How things change!
”Seriously, what is it with the majors in NSW?? I mean, there is corruption to be found in most parliaments, but NSW just seems to keep producing these scandals again and again.”
The Rum Corps lives on.
Confessions
In order to bestow a pardon, surely a President must nominate the crime that is being pardoned.
Re Firefox @8:42.
Is Cormann’s plane costing $4000 an hour or $400,000 an hour? Obviously 9News didn’t check they’re numbers. The other stuff they report is no doubt just as reliable.
BK – no – he will pardon himself and his family and friends from all alleged crimes.
Thanks, BK!!
Can’t be said often enough.
An accurate cartoon of much “public debate” …………………………
BK:
In any case a presidential pardon only covers federal crimes. Go New York!
Cormann, quoted by Confessions @8:37.
So Cormann’s been lying about his beliefs all this time? Or is he lying now. Either way, he is totally unfit for the job he seeks. He should just take is fat pension and go away, maybe write climate-denying op-eds for the Australian that no one will read. Surely Labor could identify an attack dog to go out and say this.
Lets see:
“[We] need to be positive and grasp the opportunities presented to us by this pandemic, opportunities
like the pursuit of an inclusive – “Liberals” don’t do “inclusive”
and future-focused recovery – that benefits mates
including –
a green recovery, – the “Liberals” hate anything “green”
with an increased reliance on renewables, – which the “Liberals” have tried to block and hinder at every turn
improved energy efficiency – as long as it uses fossil fuels
addressing climate change – the “Liberals” have no intention of doing this
and accelerating the transition to [a] lower-emissions future,” Ditto
he
saidlied.Steve777:
I filed it under ‘I have principles and if you don’t like those I have others’.
From the green tweet feed we are subjected to each day:
NSW parliament’s upper house has voted to give the corruption watchdog an extra $7.3 million, as a debate continues over the funding model for the body.
The government will now be forced to vote on the funding boost in the lower house.
I am sure this is not correct. In NSW, unlike federally, the budget cannot be amended or rejected by the LC and, as federally, the upper house cannot initiate government spending.
The budget was sent directly to the governor by the LA last week
Much thanks BK for today’s offerings.
I had believed this from the get go, and was totally wrong about Trump being forced from office early in his term. I had not figured that the GOP itself would be corrupt beyond repair.
That they continue to go along with Trump in every way, is a complete and utter disgrace.
But I do maintain that in time, it will be exposed that Donald Trump was an illegitimate president who was a traitor to his country.
Victoria:
Enter Susan Collins who now wants people to believe she’s ready to work across the aisle. Problem is she has a long history, esp during the last 4 years of intimating this, but failing to deliver at the crucial time.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/us/politics/susan-collins-senate-biden.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
BK @ #25 Saturday, November 28th, 2020 – 8:59 am
Ford’s pardon of Nixon was “a full and unconditional pardon for any crimes that he might have committed against the United States as president.” The crimes were not specified.
P1
Thanks for the clarification.
“I am sure this is not correct. In NSW, unlike federally, the budget cannot be amended or rejected by the LC and, as federally, the upper house cannot initiate government spending.
The budget was sent directly to the governor by the LA last week”
***
Berejiklian shrugs off ‘slush fund’ scandal, backs away from ICAC boost
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has revealed the Independent Commission Against Corruption will miss out on an extra $7.3 million worth of funding, while also insisting that spending public funds to win elections was not illegal and part of the political process.
…
The Greens had moved an amendment to the budget bill on Tuesday to provide an extra $7.3 million for the ICAC from this month’s state budget to address “underfunding”. Ms Berejiklian on Thursday said the funding boost was unlikely.
“I suspect that we will leave our budget appropriation bills as they are,” Ms Berejiklian said.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/berejiklian-backs-away-from-icac-funding-boost-but-not-pork-barrelling-20201126-p56ic4.html
ICAC funding row leads to budget stand-off
A move to give the anti-corruption watchdog an extra $7.3 million has led to a constitutional stand-off in the NSW parliament.
The NSW lower house voted on Friday afternoon to send the parliamentary budget bill straight to the state’s governor for royal assent — without the funding boost agreed on by the upper house.
It is the first time in more than 20 years the parliament has referred a law to the governor disregarding changes made by the upper house.
Under an amendment to the bill introduced by the Greens in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the Independent Commission Against Corruption would get an extra $7.3 million in funding for 2020/21. All non-government parties supported the amendment.
…
Opposition Leader Jodi McKay said she was “shocked and very concerned” that the government would not agree to the additional funding for ICAC, which is said to bring its funding in line with inflation increases.
It was “extraordinary and unprecedented” that the government would seek to refer a bill to the governor without upper house changes, she said.
“They are ignoring the will of the upper house which passed this amendment with significant support and that is how the parliament should work,” Ms McKay said.
Labor and the Greens want ICAC’s funding model to be determined independently, arguing that it has been starved of the funds it needs to run complex investigations. Currently, a cabinet committee signs off on its funding requests.
https://www.newcastlestar.com.au/story/7031830/icac-funding-row-leads-to-budget-stand-off/
Will the Green bashing continue now? Or maybe Laborites will fall in behind the NSW Labor leader?
#WeatheronPB. It’s 34° in Sydney on the way to 39°. Rinse and repeat for tomorrow.
The U.S. Army sneaked a pair of long-range rocket launchers near Russia’s Black Sea outpost on Thursday, fired off a few rockets then hurried the launchers back to the safety of their base in Germany. All within a few hours.
The one-day mission by the Army’s new Europe-based artillery brigade was practice for high-tech warfare. It clearly also was a message for Moscow. The U.S. Army in Europe has restored its long-range firepower. And it wants the Russians to know, Forbes reported.
Still haven’t been able to find a ‘word’ on Barilaro from the MSM on the latest allegations.
Constitution of NSW Section 5a
5A Disagreement between the two Houses—appropriation for annual services
(1) If the Legislative Assembly passes any Bill appropriating revenue or moneys for the ordinary annual services of the Government and the Legislative Council rejects or fails to pass it or returns the Bill to the Legislative Assembly with a message suggesting any amendment to which the Legislative Assembly does not agree, the Legislative Assembly may direct that the Bill with or without any amendment suggested by the Legislative Council, be presented to the Governor for the signification of His Majesty’s pleasure thereon, and shall become an Act of the Legislature upon the Royal Assent being signified thereto, notwithstanding that the Legislative Council has not consented to the Bill.
Why am I not surprised that the “journalists” of the Newcastle Star do not know that NSW has a constitution?
Just more Green showboating
“Why am I not surprised that the “journalists” of the Newcastle Star do not know that NSW has a constitution?”
***
So you disagree with Jodi McKay? Fair enough.
Just more Labor infighting.
I certainly agree with Jodie that ICAC needs more funding
What I was commenting on was the irrelevance, under the NSW Constitution, of the Legislative Council passing an amendment to the budget.
I am sure that Jodie knows this, as I remember a NSW Labor politician crowing about it when the last Labor government sent a budget directly to the Governor. (Although bizarrely she calls it unprecedented)
I am not sure that Shoebridge does but it hasn’t stopped him showboating.
I suspect the Newcastle Star would have difficulty finding a copy of the constitution.
C@tmomma says:
Saturday, November 28, 2020 at 8:24 am
lizzie,
The ACF was started by a couple of lawyers, they have great lawyers that provide counsel. They will stand up to the government and it will not be a good look for Morrison (all he cares about), in the run-up to an election, for him to be seen to be setting the junkyard dogs onto the ACF about an issue which, since the election of Joe Biden, will be front and centre of global news.
….
Let us be thankful the ACF is not one of the environment groups the Greens have managed to destroy, even thought they have had a good try.
Fess
Biden has been in the senate for decades. He has friends across the aisle.
I dare say Susan Collins will happily work with him going forward.
Of course, it hasn’t helped that she has been a sycophant for Trump during this last term.
She truly thinks that occasionally stating she is concerned about Trumps conduct every now and then, cuts the mustard. Sheesh.
https://www.pollbludger.net/2020/11/28/miscellany-morgan-poll-liberal-senate-preselection-etc/#comment-3518671
… went into Sydney CBD yesterday (reopening AM), mid morning to mid afternoon, quite busy.
On the train very few people masked, may be 2 or 3 out of 10.
So a few days to 18 days from now …