News remains thin on the ground over the summer holiday period, although we may possibly hopefully see the polling cycle crank up again as of next week. Two pieces of federal preselection news to relate:
• A report in The Australian today raises further doubts about the security of Craig Kelly’s preselection in Hughes – not for the reasons you would hope, but because he has failed to raise any campaign funding for head office since July 2019, according to leaked party documents. He is not alone in this distinction, however, with Farrer MP Sussan Ley, Robertson MP Lucy Wicks and Lindsay MP Melissa McIntosh likewise having come up empty. Kelly was saved from preselection challenges by prime ministerial intervention before both the 2016 and 2019 elections, and a Liberal source cited in The Australian says “there’s no appetite in the party to save him a third time”.
• Ken O’Dowd, who has held the central Queensland seat of Flynn for the Nationals since 2010, announced on January 5 that he will retire at the next election. Queensland Country Life reports that Colin Boyce, who holds the partly corresponding seat of Callide in the state parliament, will contest the preselection. The report quotes Boyce complaining about the failure of David Crisafulli, who replaced Deb Frecklington as Liberal National Party leader after the October state election, to have promoted him to the front bench. It also suggests he may face competition in Flynn from Gladstone councillor Glenn Churchill, who was the party’s unsuccessful candidate for the seat in 2007 and challenged O’Dowd for preselection ahead of the 2019 election.
With the Western Australian election now two months away, two bits of data have emerged from a Painted Dog Research poll conducted for The West Australian in mid-December, which as always do not encompass voting intention:
• Three weeks after Zak Kirkup replaced Liza Harvey as Liberal leader in late November, the poll found him with a 19% approval and 14% disapproval rating. While this compares favourably with Harvey’s 10% and 37% from September, but is obviously remarkably mostly for the 67% uncommitted rating. The poll also found 36% saying Kirkup would be a better leader than Harvey and 11% saying otherwise, with 53% uncommitted.
• With Ben Wyatt to bow out at the election, the poll found 21% favouring Health Minister Roger Cook to succeed him as Treasurer, with Rita Saffioti on 9%, Bill Johnston on 8%, “someone else” on 13% and 49% uncommitted.
Ugh – given their misuse of commas, I would not rely on the “Financial Express” for financial advice.
zoomster @ #219 Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 – 9:33 am
He may not be behaving that way to you but I have noticed a more caustic tone to his replies to me recently. It’s probably just me, I get that, but I’m also upset at the way OC has been targeting lizzie lately.
However, I have to say, that if you don’t think it was a bridge too far to accuse me of manifesting ‘White Privilege’ then you must have something that motivates you to overlook that. As I honestly don’t think there could be anyone here with less of an attitude of ‘White Privilege’ than me, for reasons I’ve outlined copiously over the years here. I simply call it as I see it, race or religion be damned. If you are doing something wrong in my book I’ll call it out, or if someone here posts something that is obviously erroneous. As Barney did today.
Jaeger @ #1052 Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 – 9:49 am
Not a misuse of commas….
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_numbering_system
Ugh – given their misuse of commas, I would not rely on the “Financial Express” for financial advice.
How do you know that isn’t the way Indians write their numerals?
C@
Not every criticism from a male poster is sexism – that’s all I’m saying.
You could have argued about the ‘white privilege’ bit without adding that slur.
This is terribly sad
Eric Feigl-Ding
@DrEricDing
· 6h
LET THIS SINK IN: So many people have died in Los Angeles that officials have suspended air-quality rules that limit cremations because current 2x deaths is “leading to hospitals, funeral homes & crematoriums exceeding capacity” unable to clear backlog of dead bodies. #COVID19
Show this thread
Oh dear. How sad.
https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/western-australia/one-nation-struggling-to-field-good-candidates-ahead-of-wa-election-hanson-20210118-p56uxp.html
Jaeger,
Would a Canadian source be more to your liking?
It also proves that Canada doesn’t believe India is a wealthy nation AND that one of the poorest Indians, a Sanitation worker, was the first to get the vaccine in a sign from Narendra Modi that no other Indian was above another in line to get the vaccine:
It is also the case that the UN thinks there are problems in the developing world:
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/india-starts-world-s-largest-covid-19-vaccination-drive-1.5269745
So the 1st World really should step up and put their hands in their pockets!
zoomster @ #227 Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 – 10:05 am
Yes but maybe it is simply the case that I am reacting to the few women on this blog being constantly subject to sharp criticism, over what seems the most trivial of things. Yourself included. And to be precise, because I certainly chose my words carefully, I didn’t say ‘sexism’ I said ‘male chauvinism’. Not AS damning an accusation I would have thought. Well, I did think.
As far as I can see, this is the crux of Morrison’s renewed ‘stronger’ criticism of the insurrection.
Disappointed !! What sort of a word is that?
I don’t see any criticism of what, for want of a better expression, is Trumpism, or Trump. It reads to me that he has no qualms about the whole thesis of the protest movement, just the way it was executed. He keep using the word ‘disappointing’. It’s pretty clear that yes, he is disappointed with the outcome. He wanted Trump to get his second term, and disappointed that the election steal was mishandled and unsuccessful.
Don’t want to overstep the mark, but I’d say Mr Trump is disappointed too.
Three Texas Newspapers a calling for the resignation of Senator Ted Cruz after he opportunistically gave rioters false hope that congress could change the election result. I would love nothing more then to see this spineless opportunistic creep out of office.
Problem is that his re-election doesn’t come up until 2024. So momentum for the Democrats for a potential Cruz vs Beto O’Rourke rematch may have tapered out by then.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/ted-cruz-houston-chronicle-resignation-b1784881.html
Entitled brat alert:
https://www.news.com.au/sport/tennis/bernard-tomics-girlfriend-vanessa-sierra-fires-back-at-clowns-from-quarantine/news-story/03d7d0ab85e46c6c2b3021e2cb1289bc
Earlier, Sierra said she had abandoned the hotel’s menu and been ordering Uber Eats instead, “because the food is s**t”.
She said nobody had cleaned their room, they didn’t get fresh sheets, and were forced to wash their dinner plates in the bathroom sink.
Despite other players being able to hit tennis balls against walls and windows in their hotel rooms in videos posted to social media, Sierra said their “tight space” only allowed for “minimal yoga”.
She said they spent about 11 hours a day playing video games.
“I played Pokemon for 11 hours straight yesterday and I think 12 hours straight the day before,” Ms Sierra said.
“Bernard’s been playing World of Warcraft for about the same time I’ve been playing Pokemon.
“It’s sort of all we’ve got as an option.”
You beat me to it C@t!
I wonder how many years in the trenches of Western Front the tennis brats would last?
THATS a World of Warcraft!!
c@t: I’m sorry, I didn’t see your original post on this.
I don’t block anyone on PB: what’s the point of going to a discussion forum and blocking some of the other posters? I seems to me to be a step along to path towards conducting conversations exclusively with oneself.
Anyway, thanks for the link to the article. It looks to me that the journo doesn’t fully grasp the stuff he is trying to write about.
The payment of taxpayer’s money to provide personal taxation advice for a government employee is an obvious scandal and deserves all the coverage it can get. And it’s also reasonable for politicians and journos to ask why, after Shipton stood down some months ago, a decision has yet to be made about his future.
But this article is chasing a red herring about the suggestion that KPMG, as an auditor, might somehow have signed off the payment made to it by ASIC. I reckon there is zero chance that this ever happened, and the author of the article doesn’t produce any convincing evidence for it, beyond insinuations.
He would need to produce a document showing that KPMG had been engaged to undertake an internal compliance audit of a procurement made from KPMG. No such document is produced, and I think it’s reasonable to suggest that KPMG – which has its own reputation to protect – would never have agreed to undertake such an inappropriate audit.
Anyway, the author can’t even provide any evidence that KPMG undertook any internal auditing work for ASIC post-2016: which was a long time before Shipton’s arrival on the scene. I can’t see a story here.
IMO, the whole matter is concerning enough as it stands, and there is no need to search for conspiracies within conspiracies.
Morning all. On the US riots, people are starting to dig into causes and those responsible now and the news is going to get worse for Trump and the leaders of the Republicans.
There is no sign of any leftist or Antifa involvement – literally every participant so far identified has been a Republican or Trump supporter.
Much worse, the organisers of the Trump rally that led to the riot have been identified. They previously worked (paid roles) on the Trump election campaign.
https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-donald-trump-capitol-siege-campaigns-elections-d14c78d53b3a212658223252fec87e99?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=AP%20Morning%20Wire&utm_term=Morning%20Wire%20Subscribers
The impeachment vote will still be political but the evidence will be pretty damning.
That’s okay, meher baba. Fair play to you.
Hmm, maybe you should put your analysis directly to Anthony Klan? I’m sure he would appreciate the considered feedback. 🙂
You’re never going to unsee this!
Zerlo
“She said they spent about 11 hours a day playing video games.
“I played Pokemon for 11 hours straight yesterday and I think 12 hours straight the day before,” Ms Sierra said.
“Bernard’s been playing World of Warcraft for about the same time I’ve been playing Pokemon.
“It’s sort of all we’ve got as an option.”
11 hours of Pokemon? Vanessa must have a rich inner life. Obviously, Bernard and Vanessa must have finished reading all the books they brought with them quite quickly.
C@t
I’m sure their God would be pleased that the lady’s nipples were modestly covered with tape.
Political Nightwatchman @ #236 Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 – 10:29 am
If there is any luck, Cruz and his ego may have resigned to run for President by then.
Aaargh Cat. My eyes! 🙁
The tough macho men among Trump supporters have also been noted for their visual appeal. They are being described as the Gravy Seals of Meal Team Six.
lizzie @ #246 Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 – 10:46 am
I was more shocked by the fact she was that overweight but still had short shorts on! 😆
Socrates says:
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 10:47 am
Lonely guys with beards.
Soc
Yep. There’s been a large amount of ‘distancing’ activity going on. If the relevant texts have been cached there is many a peccant elephanteer whose goose is cooked.
Morrison has still got it on with his political fuck buddy Trump.
Sometimes ‘never admit you got it wrong and never apologize’ can turn you into an abject political crab walker.
c@t: “Hmm, maybe you should put your analysis directly to Anthony Klan? I’m sure he would appreciate the considered feedback. ”
I could, but he probably wouldn’t appreciate it. He seems to me to be one of those journos who goes around turning over every rock he can find looking for gold. Klan has uncovered lots of interesting (but perhaps not all that relevant) stuff about the ASIC internal audit committee.
I’m inclined to think he should keep on looking. Sometimes these people turn up something of great interest: the most famous example (but one which probably wouldn’t appeal all that much to most PB readers on ideological grounds) was Matt Drudge with the Lewinsky scandal.
I’m generally a fan of these sorts of journos. Well, at least as long as I never again encounter an umpteen thousand word article by Peter Wicks about how Craig Thomson was the innocent victim of a vast global conspiracy .
“Besides, Scotty said I could do it…so nyaah.”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/19/sports-rorts-bridget-mckenzie-to-give-evidence-but-says-inquiry-appearance-a-cheap-political-stunt
Morrison is apparently in Qld looking at drought affected areas.
Is he always just off the pace? Isn’t the problem floods and rain at the moment?
Lol, meher baba. 🙂
Wixxy has been rather silent lately. 🙂
Yes, like you, I do appreciate investigative journalism because it is the obsessive amongst the journalism community who turn over every rock and then end up finding something interesting under a rock no one ever thought would be capable of being turned over, which is where the real smarty pants hide their most radioactive stuff.
It’s true that sometimes some long bows are drawn by these journalists but nothing ventured, nothing gained. 🙂
lizzie @ #256 Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 – 10:59 am
I thought so as well. However it will make for some great photo ops in Morrison’s RM Williams. 🙄
Another doughnut day in NSW (almost, but not quite, a double doughnut).
The states maintaining border closures to NSW, Vic and Queensland should be having a hard look at themselves IMO, particularly in light of Murphy’s comment last night that international tourists aren’t likely to be back before 2022 at the earliest.
The Australian tourism sector desperately needs a boost. The rapidity and harshness of border closures by some states in response to a thimbleful of new cases is a major disincentive to internal travel.
C@tmomma @ #1029 Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 – 5:39 am
Yes, and it clearly demonstrates that they have the wealth and ability to do so, hence they are not an example of what WHO is talking about.
So who is throwing up red hearings?
Developed countries are placing orders with manufactures which account for all of their production for some time leaving basically nothing for the kind of countries WHO is talking about.
I never used the words “white privilege,” I did refer to first world privilege because we in the first world are using our wealth to reserve vaccines and hence denying access to them in less developed countries.
ABC: #BabyDonaldTrump balloon now part of @MuseumofLondon collection
Raking over the same old coals, Brian T-C nicely explains how Josh Hawley’s bullshit that they were only doing what Dems do, ie question the legitimacy of the votes, is just that – bull shit – by giving details.
He also reminds us that Trump’s plan to say the election was stolen was hatched as early as October, when he first became aware of the red mirage (early returns favouring Repugs) and was actually rehearsing his approach and speeches well before November. The complete disconnect about what was happening on election night and what Trump was saying is still uppermost in my mind – his plan was for Americans to go to bed thinking he, Trump, had won, and wake up to the news the election had been stolen.
Hawley and Cruz are in a race to the bottom.
https://youtu.be/Q8wgNX2S0Hk
Melania, the caring, loving… Ugh!
meher baba says:
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 11:07 am
border closures…. is a major disincentive to internal travel.
Lol. Yes. The prevention of travel is carried out deliberately. In WA, we are covid-free. It’s a pity this does not also apply in the whole country. We would have a completely normal life within our own domain if this were the case. WA is covid-free precisely because it has prevented travel from zones where cases have been identified.
meher baba @ #810 Tuesday, January 19th, 2021 – 10:07 am
Yeah, nah. Public health is a first-order priority at the moment. International tourism is like a fifth-order priority.
That it is. But it’s also the appropriate thing to do in a pandemic. Especially with a vaccine on the way. Rapid and harsh vigilance all the way. Travelers can learn patience.
Seeing as the women here are making comments about women, specifically Vanessa Sierra…
Is there some law that says once you have reached the point where you’ve faked your tits, collagened your lips to the point that it looks like two dolphins beached themselves on your face then died, had grotesque, tasteless, unoriginal tatts inked all over your body, been done over by the Photoshop “Liquify” tool so that your waist looks like its about 14″, don’t seem to be able to wear anything, anywhere, but an almost non-existent g-string bikini, and had a boyfriend clad only in underpants with a couple of bananas shoved down his Y-front crowd into an Instagram photo with you, that you start to resemble all the other sultry chancers who inhabit the internet’s Love Island hinterland?
I know Shellbell fancies himself giving Vanessa The Undresser a going-over with a scrubber and a bottle of Sunsilk, but Shelly, you really don’t need it mate. You only think you do. She and Bernard Tomic are a far better match: two losers, losing.
lizzie
“Melania, the caring, loving… Ugh!”
At least after the power is gone, and possibly the money too depending on the outcome of quite a lot of court cases, Donald and Melania will still have the warmth of each other’s love 🙂
I can relate to the poor tennis player as I have not washed my hair in decades, although it’s also been that long since I had to visit a hairdresser.
Is this another plan of Scomo that won’t happen?
Cornwall has been chosen because it’s comparatively virus free. I used to live in Cornwall and I doubt they want hordes of covid carrying international visitors.
https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/pm-morrison-plans-to-attend-uk-g7-in-person/news-story/ee8b4b618ce3786d1bd06f238c8ded6a
This was very moving
State of the Union
@CNNSotu
“I’m not going to lose my son at the end of 2020 and lose my country and my republic in 2021,” Rep. Jamie Raskin says as he presses forward with impeachment articles while mourning his son. #CNNSOTU
https://mobile.twitter.com/cnnsotu/status/1350817490415312900
Australian banks washed half a billion dollars for violent South American cocaine cartels in a sophisticated money laundering scheme that saw the proceeds of crime moved through multiple countries before it was disrupted by Australian law enforcement.
Between 2014 and 2017 more than $100 million in drug money was being funnelled through Australian banks each year before being routed to other destinations including South East Asia and the Middle East.
Once in Australia, illegal profits from the drug trade were often used to buy high end electronics which were shipped overseas in containers in order to move the funds without being detected and further disguise its origin.
The criminal network was discovered when law enforcement bodies noticed the valuations on the invoices being used by the exporters and importers didn’t match, a technique used by criminals to transfer funds known as trade-based money laundering.
The syndicate was referred to Australian Border Force which deployed the Border Related Financial Crimes Unit to take down the network.
The role of the unit is to disrupt illicit financial flows and it was assisted by domestic and international partner agencies including Australia’s financial intelligence regulator AUSTRAC.
The ABF says at least 16 domestic and international financial institutions became unwitting conduits for drug cartels. The ABF declined to reveal the names of the banks or drug cartels for reasons of operational security.
“Through the course of the investigation, ABF identified nine Australian financial institutions and seven international financial institutions that were unknowingly facilitating various banking and loan accounts for the suspect entities involved in the case.”
The ABF said traffickers used a number of techniques including ‘placement’ or introducing the funds to the banking system, ‘layering’ or a series of cross border transactions used to buy goods and disguise the origin of the funds, and ‘integration’ – where the goods are sold and the profits are legitimised.
In this instance, the source of the funds were some of the most violent criminal enterprises on the planet.
“The trade in cocaine from South America was identified by the referring agency as the source of illicit funds cleaned by the money laundering processes,” the ABF spokeswoman said.