The week’s federal election preselection developments:
• Facing the apparent certainty of preselection defeat, Craig Kelly announced his resignation from the Liberal Party at a party room meeting Wednesday. Kelly says he will sit as an “independent Liberal” and then run in his Sydney seat of Hughes again at the election, which I believe leaves open the possibility that that may be as the candidate of another party. He appeared to rule out running for the Nationals, as some in the party hoped he might, saying he was “not sure whether a pair of RM Williams and a big Akubra and a Driza-Bone will necessarily work in Sutherland”.
• It had generally been assumed the Liberal preselection in Hughes would prove third time lucky for Kent Johns, Sutherland Shire councillor and factional moderate, from whom Kelly had to be saved by prime ministerial intervention before the 2016 and 2019 elections. However, The Australian reported on Tuesday that moderates were cooking up a deal with conservatives in which Hughes would go to Dallas McInerney, chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW, in exchange for a free hand in the preselections for Warringah and Gilmore. Reports that the Hughes preselection might be contested by police commissioner Mick Fuller were dismissed as a “furphy” by a source quoted in the St George Shire Standard. Those who may run were said in the report to include Carmelo Pesce, a cafe owner and former Sutherland Shire mayor; Ned Mannoun, a former Liverpool mayor; Bree Till, a veterans service adviser whose husband was killed on service in Afghanistan in 2009; and Naji Najjar, a former Bankstown councillor and staffer to Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.
• Nicolle Flint, two-term Liberal member for the marginal Adelaide seat of Boothby, announced on Friday she would not contest the next election. Flint said she had soured on politics after personal attacks against her during the 2019 election campaign, which the Liberals have cited in support of proposed electoral law changes that would clip the wings of the GetUp! organisation, and the recent rape allegation by former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins.
• Labor has announced that Ali France, a motivational speaker and former television producer who lost a leg in a car accident in 2011, will again be the party’s candidate in Peter Dutton’s northern Brisbane seat of Dickson. Dutton won the seat by 4.6% in 2019 after a favourable swing of 2.9%, a fairly typical result for Brisbane.
Just on the “fat” issue that seems to have been raised. There are some individuals in this world that due to circumstances aren’t able to lose weight due to genetics.
However the majority of us, are overweight due solely to CHOICE. You choose to overindulge, you choose not to exercise.
I can speak from my own personal experience, I’ve lost 15 or so kilos from my peak. I’m retired but get up at 5.30am three times a week to go to a 6.30am gym class, I could choose to go to a 6.00pm class but I choose to go to the early class. It gets me going for the day. Again, choice. I don’t indulge in alcohol as much as I use to. Again, choice. I don’t indulge in takeaway as much as I use to. Again, choice.
We all make choices in life, which we must accept responsibility for.
As PM, the look isn’t a good one but given the type of individual he is and given he markets himself, this was calculated. No ifs, no buts.
PS : remember those photos on a bike when he was in 14 days isolation. Marketing 101!
Thanks BK for news and toons on the previous thread. I see Mark David has added a substantial girth to the other MorrisonMemes….
Australia pumped out an extra six months’ worth of emissions than previously recorded
The revised emissions data reflects better understanding of the role highly potent methane gas plays in global warming
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/27/australia-pumped-out-an-extra-six-months-worth-of-emissions-than-previously-recorded?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
The Liberal and Labor backed Betaloo & Narrabri gas projects must not go ahead. When will the duopoly start taking climate change seriously?
Morning all. This article says a lot about coalition attitudes to wealth and morality generally. They describe criticism of jobkeeper being abused by firms to inflate profits as “the politics of envy”. Their only goal is personal gain, and they assume everyone else thinks the same way. Would we all do the same if we could get away with it?
What rubbish! It is the politics of outrage, not envy. Just because I see somebody else doing something selfish and harmful to society, does not mean I wish to do the same myself. I want the abuse to stop.
What if these people think about human intimacy in the same way? It is hardly a shock if they turn out to be sexual abusers.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-28/were-jobkeeper-payments-supposed-to-be-flowing-to-shareholders/13200230
Arlene Machiavelli says:
Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 7:46 am
….
The Liberal and Labor backed Betaloo & Narrabri gas projects must not go ahead. When will the duopoly start taking climate change seriously?
Take it up with P1, she is the Gas Gas Gas girl.
Firefox in full Liberal support mode.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
A cynical Peter FitzSimons says that Morrison’s absurd position on predators in his ranks is imploding.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pm-s-absurd-position-on-predators-in-his-ranks-is-imploding-20210226-p57659.html
James Massola reveals that Alan Tudge and Michaelia Cash are facing legal action over the treatment of a former staff member, former senior media adviser Rachelle Miller, who has engaged a high-profile law firm to seek compensation.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/workplace-lawsuit-against-two-cabinet-ministers-looms-20210225-p575tq.html
David Crowe outlines three changes for Morrison needs to fix a broken system.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/three-changes-for-morrison-to-fix-a-broken-system-20210226-p5768v.html
Whatever the Liberal Party is, it is not a place for women, writes John Lord.
https://theaimn.com/whatever-the-liberal-party-is-it-is-not-a-place-for-women/
Victoria’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Kerri Judd, explains how we need to make the justice process less traumatic for victims.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-need-to-make-the-justice-process-less-traumatic-for-victims-20210226-p5766r.html
Jaqui Maley tells why women don’t pursue their attackers through the “correct channels”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/why-don-t-women-pursue-alleged-attackers-through-the-correct-channels-here-s-what-happens-when-they-do-20210226-p57666.html
The ‘jobdobber’ hotline is another policy aimed at keeping wages low says Greg Jericho.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/commentisfree/2021/feb/27/the-jobdobber-hotline-is-another-policy-aimed-at-keeping-wages-low
A war of words has erupted over the timing of Morrison’s first coronavirus vaccination, with the federal government fiercely denying claims from Labor and the Greens that the jab was brought forward at the last moment after a difficult political week.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-s-covid-19-jab-what-really-happened-behind-the-scenes-20210225-p575tp.html
Zac Hope tells us how the combative fringe of Australia’s anti-COVID-19 vaccination movement is getting political.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/the-combative-fringe-of-australia-s-anti-covid-19-vaccination-movement-gets-political-20210227-p576co.html
And social media chatter among Australian anti-vaccination groups skyrocketed in the past week as the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine were delivered amid false claims that the jab would be mandatory.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/social-media-chatter-skyrockets-among-australian-anti-vax-groups-20210227-p576cz.html
Meanwhile, Jacinda Ardern has announced a seven-day lockdown of Auckland after the emergence of a “mystery” case involving a man who moved through the community for a week when he should have been isolating.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/auckland-to-head-into-week-long-lockdown-tomorrow-ardern-20210227-p576eo.html
Craig Kelly, who quit the Liberals on Tuesday, claims he was told to “shut up” and stop promoting medically unproven COVID-19 treatments by one of Prime Minster Scott Morrison’s most senior staff — or he would be dumped as the party’s candidate for Hughes.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/shut-up-or-you-ll-lose-endorsement-kelly-reveals-details-of-meetings-that-led-him-to-quit-20210226-p5768n.html
Clive Palmer has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on newspaper ads attacking the Australian Securities and Investments Commission which is prosecuting him on criminal charges that carry lengthy jail terms.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/28/clive-palmer-spends-hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars-on-ads-condemning-asic
Internships might seem appealing to younger people entering the workforce, but to the older generation, they come with a host of problems, writes Kare Godsell.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/the-perils-of-being-an-older-intern-in-a-modern-world,14844
Annika Smethurst reports that within two years single-use plastic items including straws, cutlery and plates will be banned in Victoria in a bid to reduce the amount of plastic waste going into landfill.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-to-ban-single-use-plastics-within-two-years-20210227-p576cs.html
Cartoon Corner
Peter Broelman
Matt Davidson
Matt Golding
Mark David
Alan Moir
From the US
Lizzie
“ Tony Windsor
@TonyHWindsor
10h
Howard had an inferiority complex relating to “class” ….spent most of his political life trying to “make it” on the same terms as the “elite”. Many of his policies perpetuated greed , self service and damaged our sense of community. He made a destructive difference.”
Further to my previous comment, Windsor sums up well the thinking of all those who prattle on about the “politics of envy” and “elitism”. They are themselves desperately envious of wealth and status and project their insecurity onto others. They appeal to the greedy (codename: aspirational) whether rich or poor.
‘One of the ramifications of Australia acknowledging it has previously underestimated its emissions is that it increases how much the country can put into the atmosphere while still hitting its climate target.
Previously, the data said the country emitted 615.5m tonnes in 2005, the year against which cuts are measured. Under the revised data, that has now leapt to 630.1m tonnes.
Because the 2030 target is relative, the amount that can be emitted to meet the goal increases too.
For example, three months ago a 26% cut would have put Australia at 455.5m tonnes in 2030.
Now the country can release 466.3m tonnes in that year and still claim to be meeting its target despite contributing more to the problem.’
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/27/australia-pumped-out-an-extra-six-months-worth-of-emissions-than-previously-recorded?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
So revising the figures to allow for the ‘true’ (and, by the sounds of it, still to be determined) impacts of methane means that Australia doesn’t have to cut its emissions by as much to reach its targets.
As the article states, there are suggestions that methane emissions are still being underestimated, so the government will be able to come out in a couple of years’ time, say that their figures for 2005 were too low, and then say they’re meeting the targets, despite nothing really changing.
Convenient.
(Oh, and apparently ‘balance’ to ‘The Guardian’ means that you quote comments from the Liberals and the Greens….)
Scott Morrison’s cartoon iconography is gathering more and more ‘attributes’: a lump of coal, a cross, a baseball cap, toilet paper, a blue tie, a cocktail and a substantial gut. Also a Hawaiian shirt, but that’s now seen less often.
Did someone say that Morrison’s mother and his mother in law are living in Kirribilli?
Thanks BK for the Dawn Patrol. ☀️
“Howard had an inferiority complex relating to “class” ….spent most of his political life trying to “make it” on the same terms as the “elite”. Many of his policies perpetuated greed , self service and damaged our sense of community. He made a destructive difference.”
If you think he made a destructive difference here, which he certainly did, just wait until you hear how he helped Bush turn Iraq into the failed state that it still is today…
Without doubt the worst PM we have had in recent memory, which is saying something when you take into account the disgrace who currently holds the job.
Next week’s T20Is in Auckland involving the Australia men’s team and the England women’s side have been relocated to Wellington, after Auckland was put into a week-long Covid-19 lockdown. The remaining matches of the two tours are set to be played behind closed doors.
Under Level 3 of the New Zealand government’s alert system, which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced would take effect from 6 AM on Sunday morning following the emergence of another case of community transmission, sports events cannot take place, which means that New Zealand Cricket has shifted the two matches on March 5 in an attempt to keep both series going.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7141990/john-howards-legacy-lives-on-and-we-are-worse-for-it/p/
PhR:
Scaramucci makes quite a lot of sense: with the Trubes worshiping the farcical Gold-painted
CalfGroin no one is going to stop pointing and laughing – while the GRASPers continue to pick their pockets.Great day in the morning! The tumescent Tudge and the screeching Cash are being targeted by Rachelle Miller and a high-powered legal team. You go girl! Game on!
Backing up my theory that all you need to make it as a Nat is an akubra and a big mouth.
rhwombat @ #16 Sunday, February 28th, 2021 – 8:20 am
I know, right!?! It’s just so obvious that the Trumps are the biggest grifters since Barnum and Bailey!
Confessions @ #18 Sunday, February 28th, 2021 – 8:22 am
*cough* Barnaby from St Ignatius Riverview.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/nurses-will-have-to-pay-for-parking-again-from-their-own-pocket-from-april/news-story/c7767bed41f7591a04e079f9f2499aa9
Quite right – what have they done for the community lately ❓
It’s very disappointing that journalists, who in theory have been following politics for yonks, are only just realising this now. Were they asleep during the Howard years which arguably started this rot with Howard’s infamous ‘potplants’, all women shoved in corners never to be seen until it was politically convenient for them to be dragged to the middle of the room? Only to be shoved back in the corner when the scandal was over.
And perhaps they weren’t paying attention during the Gillard govt days when Abbott and his mob blatantly used sexist and misogynistic rhetoric against her.
Re Machiavelli @8:12
“[John Howard] Without doubt the worst PM we have had in recent memory, which is saying something when you take into account the disgrace who currently holds the job.”
John Howard’s term marked a substantial change in the character and direction of the nation. Abbott built on and extended his legacy, Turnbull did nothing much and Morrison is doubling down on the Howard track. Australia is a smaller, meaner country as a result. The damage is likely irreparable.
Dammit
Amendment to my post below
C@t:
Barnaby is a Grade A example of the ‘don an akubra and talk like a hick’ National who doesn’t talk that way normally.
A soft read on evolving thoughts on catching Covid –
*surface contact spread probably overestimated, with early studies done in the dark, so no protective UV effect
*eye protection likely underestimated, remember the eye lining (conjunctiva) is very vascular
*yes, it’s close contact with talking, coughing, sneezing, singing etc that’s the main culprit
This is about generalisations and not absolutes, so yes, there are cases where someone got it from lingering particles in a hotel corridor, or the like.
Also it refers to compliance fatigue, and just how many decisions one can make in any time frame. I remember a European trained world class skull base (tiger country) surgeon talking about just how many decisions he makes in (say) a minute – answer: a lot. We are good at it (just driving a car for example) but there are limits.
Hello Sunday. Thanks BK.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/feb/28/clean-break-the-risk-of-catching-covid-from-surfaces-overblown-experts-say
I wonder if there’s a study on people who wear glasses all the time, and infections rates.
Remember Albo is on this morning.
Howard wasn’t alone when it comes to wanting to suck up to the real elite and its why many of them have little in the way of real policy ideas.
The dob in a job bludger phone number isn’t about keeping wages low but it is about being seen to be tough on the unemployed.
Makes sense
On the topic of gas, fossil fuels and emissions targets the Greens really are the only opposition
Fitzgibbon was the mining and agriculture shadow since the last election.
All the way with the libs on gas.
Arguably he is even more influential at keeping Labor strung up on the useless do nothing targets the LNP have, now that he is freer to provide public comment to the media on any rumours of an idea Labor might have.
On transport Labor jump right into bed with the LNP and ONP to avoid any parliamentary enquiry into the de-carbonisation of transport in Australia.
Why would you even bother talking to Labor on these topics, just take the LNP press release, as empty and useless a position as possible, and there you go. Labor supports the government.
Steve777
The cycle will turn and the Liberals might well find themselves struggling nationally as they do at state level. The Liberals at state level only win when the ALP stuff up or after a long period in opposition.
Itza
But we were presented with a number of studies that told us how long the virus lingered on various surfaces. Assisted in the sales of disinfectants, no doubt.
ItzaDream @ #28 Sunday, February 28th, 2021 – 5:37 am
Yes but the panel is substandard.
Quoll says:
Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 8:40 am
…
Makes sense
On the topic of gas, fossil fuels and emissions targets the Greens really are the only opposition
..
The Greens aren’t an opposition to anything, they are just a noise machine keeping the Liberals in power. They are as responsible for the current mess as the worst of the Liberals.
ItzaDream says:
Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 8:37 am
Remember Albo is on this morning.
My money is on Spears going on and on about the dismissed shorten rape allegations.
Fess
Insider will almost be interesting, to see how much the panel distorts and conceals the Morrison reality.
Both the Bunnings belly on Bronte Beach (in the Daily Fail, not the local Rupertarium) and the deathly hush (even in the Gruniade & Nein-Fairfaux) since Friday night’s revelations suggest that the none of the Masters (never Mistresses) of the Universe (or their supporting scum) have a clue what to do. I wonder how long the AG can hold his breath?
Here’s a really interesting article about the state of play between the factions within the Labor Party…
What are Labor’s factions and who’s who in the Left and Right?
They’re derided as faceless men, they make and break Labor leaders and they determine the policy decisions the ALP takes.
…
There are two major factions in the ALP – the Right and the Left. Traditionally, the Left has been more progressive, focused on social issues and more supportive of intervening in the private sector, whereas the Right has been more economically dry, more supportive of the US alliance and in some cases, more socially conservative.
…
At the moment, of the 94 Labor MPs in the House of Representatives and the Senate, 49 belong to the Right, 43 are in the Left and two are not factionally aligned.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-are-labor-s-factions-and-who-s-who-in-the-left-and-right-20210210-p5718j.html
They’ve even split each State and Territory into Left and Right, eg…
“…the Right has been more economically dry, more supportive of the US alliance and in some cases, more socially conservative.”
This sounds exactly like some acquaintances of mine actually. Funny that.
lizzie:
I’ll be surprised if there are no distortions, what-aboutisms or deflections from the panel.
Insiders opens the batting with rape, rape, coverup, rape…
I am betting Coorey hasn’t read the tea leaves and will play both sides but barbrady style downplay it. And look like a rat doing it.
Texans who receive their electricity from Griddy Energy are being shifted to other providers after the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the power grid for most of Texas, revoked the company’s rights to operate because it missed required payments to ERCOT, according to a market notice.
In all, Texas electricity providers failed to make more than $2.1 billion in payments that were due to ERCOT, according to another market notice Friday. The state entity depends on transaction fees from providers to help operate the state’s electric grid. Those missed payments came after the costs for a megawatt hour of electricity jumped from an average of $35 to $9,000 during the height of last week’s devastating winter storm that contributed to the near-collapse of the state’s power grid.
Griddy made headlines for sending massive bills to customers. One woman in Chambers County filed a class-action lawsuit accusing Griddy of price gouging. In the lawsuit, her attorney claimed the company charged her more than $9,000 for the week of the storm in stark contrast to her normal $200 to $500 monthly bill.
Hacks R Us on the Insiders couch today.
Coorey is all ‘allegations’ and incredulity- Speers agrees – the NewsCorpse hack straight onto whataboutism
Coorey rattles of what he knows with all the feeling, and a hint of a dismissive tone, with all the feeling of someone saying their two times tables.
Coorey straight into apologism- nothing to see, let the AFP deal with it, move along now…
Oh I get it, Rosie Lewis from The Australian says that Scott Morrison should ignore historic rape allegations against a senior Cabinet Minister because it happened before he entered parliament.
Have at it Young Liberals! 😡
ItzaDream @ #46 Sunday, February 28th, 2021 – 9:10 am
Totally, especially the quizzical expression along with “1988 was it?” He knew exactly.
Who are these people? The only one I’ve heard of is Phil Coorey!