The latest fortnightly Essential Research poll does not include leader ratings or voting intention, but does have the following:
• The regular question on COVID-19 response finds the federal government’s good rating suffering a seven point dip to 62%, returning it to where it was for several months before an uptick in November, with the poor rating up two to 14%. The small sample results for mainland state governments also record a drop for the Victorian government, whose good rating is down ten to 49%, while the New South Wales government holds steady at 72% and the Queensland government’s drops three to 73%. As ever, particular caution must be taken with the Western Australian and South Australian results given the sample sizes, but they respectively retain the best (down three to 85%) and second best (down one to 78%) results out of the five.
• The poll finds 50% of respondents saying they will get vaccinated as soon as possible, 40% that they will do so but not straight away, and 10% that they will never get vaccinated. Variation by voting intention is within the margin of error. By way of contrast, a US poll conducted by Monmouth University last month produced the same 50% result for the “soon as possible option”, but had “likely will never get the vaccine” markedly higher at 24%. This increased to 42% among Republicans, and doesn’t that just say it all.
• The poll includes a pared back version of the pollster’s semi-regular suite of questions on leaders’ attributes in relation to Scott Morrison, but not Anthony Albanese. The consistent pattern here is that Morrison is a bit less highly rated than he was last May, but substantially stronger than he was during the bushfire crisis in January. However, he has done notably better on “good in a crisis” (from 32% last January to 66% in May to the current 59%) than “out of touch” (from 62% to 47% and now back up to 59%), whereas his gains since January on “more honest than most politicians” (now 50%), “trustworthy” (52%) and “visionary” (41%) are all either 11% or 12%. Two new questions have been thrown into the mix: “in control of their team” and “avoids responsibility”, respectively 56% at 49%.
• Respondents were asked to respond to a series of propositions concerning “the recent allegations of rape and sexual assault from women working in Parliament”, which found 65% agreeing the government has been “more interested in protecting itself than the interests of those who have been assaulted”. Forty-five per cent felt there was “no difference in the way the different political parties treat women”, though the view was notably more prevalent among men (54%) than women (37%), and among those at the conservative end of the voting spectrum (53% among Coalition voters, 41% among Labor voters and 30% among Greens voters).
• A number of questions on tech companies found an appetite for stronger regulation, including 76% support for forcing them to remove misinformation from their platforms.
The poll was conducted Wednesday to Monday from a sample of 1074; full results here.
E. G. Theodore
That is what i’m starting to think has happened and that would also explain the 33 years because the lady has been searching for a solution but has been unable to fine it then its become too much.
MexicanBoomer
Are you attemptung to deny that the Australian, and Western, legal system was built by rich and powerful white men?
Are you attempting to deny that the Australian legal system continues to advantage rich and powerful white men?
Because if you are, you are at best a fool .
Mexicanbeemer really!!!!
I am going to post this back to you in a couple of when the rest of it starts to come out. Have you know perception for this after all you have read. I have a car for sale, low mileage….
3z
Keep up the racist language.
The laws are made by members of parliament which is made up by women and men from many cultural backgrounds and the courts.
The legal system does favors the wealthy just as the tax system does but you don’t change that by talking about skin colour but you fix it by talking about the system.
Brittany Higgins boss was a women.
This is one of the most naive posts I’ve ever seen on this blog.
It proposes that a commission of enquiry can find that Porter committed rape, but stopping short of finding it beyond reasonable doubt, so no need to give him a criminal record. Utter bullshit.
With rape, you either have a proper criminal investigation, or you don’t have one at all.
We’re not talking of a grope behind the filing cabinet, with a formal warning or a confidential dismissal with a payout.
We’re talking aggravated anal rape. As soon as it became apparent to any inquiry such a finding may be made, the inquiry would have to stop anyway, and a referral made to the police for criminal investigation, taking us back to square #1. That is basic. It is how modern workplace investigations work today. If it’s a criminal matter, drop everything and call the cops immediately.
You can’t find someone “sort-of guilty” of rape. It’s too serious a matter.
How was the echo chamber today?
Mexicanbeemer says:
Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 12:48 am
E. G. Theodore
That is what i’m starting to think has happened and that would also explain the 33 years because the lady has been searching for a solution but has been unable to fine it then its become too much.
Violence will do that. It’s like an author; one that keeps writing and re-writing the story, trying to change the beginning and the end and never getting there. Violence is about hate. It is personal. It has its own smell and sound. It is outrageous and degrading. It is about annihilation and subjugation.
When violence is used on you by someone you love, then it’s longer just about hate. It’s about love and hate at the same time. Love and despair can be fused. I know.
Poor, poor woman. She was dealt the most intimate violence. She was young. Very young. She was alone with her attacker. She was degraded and annihilated. She should not be forgotten.
Bucephalus says:
Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 1:09 am
How was the echo chamber today?
It seemed far more civilised without you.
Don’t worry Buce, PB had the other side of the debate slandering the dead lady every other post while crying crocodile tears of “see what you guys made me do”.
Bucephalussays:
Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 1:09 am
How was the echo chamber today?
Been very quite since the crikey article then crickets. Might all be asleep wishing they had not hated Porter that much they stopped thinking straight.
No crocodile tears here I love that you guys now look so incredibly stupid after a week or more of nothing but slander from many PB’s So much egg lots to go round.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/christian-porter-rape-allegations-unreconcilable-teenage-memories/news-story/8af76679770f5b006809d146b7778979
I can’t help thinking that in WA the Liberal brand is in serious trouble now. They stand against the well-being, the dignity, the equality and the safety of everywoman in the State. If their uselessness in relation to covid and Palmer had not already damned them, their elevation and protection of Porter certainly will.
This is all the Liberals’ own work. They have scripted, produced and directed this under their own steam. It will get worse for them.
This goes to the heart and soul of the WA Liberals. They are by every possible test unfit to serve the people. They are going to find out just how few of us trust them at all.
Goodness gracious. Imagine being called racist for stating the entirely undeniable fact that the Australian, Western legal system was built, and is maintained, by and for rich and powerful white men.
It’s not even remotely controversial.
The “rule of law” as it is apparently defined, is entirely constructed to protect human filth. Their survivors are mercilessly attacked as jaded harridans, or otherwise silly bitches not of sound mind. Exemplified by the highest court in the land who most recently held that children who are victims of sexual abuse must never, ever be believed .
I, for one, have had enough of it. I will be happy to run a truck through the legal profession and their corrupted courts.
Kate:
The “snippet” says:
As I tried to point out to SteelyDan (who seems remarkably ignorant about women) that has historically quite a common female response to such situations- attempting to overcome a gross abuse of power through agape* – “do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” as it was said.
Before anyone else “goes off”, I am not saying that this is is what should happen, that that the situation is somehow acceptable or anything like that. I am simply saying it has occurred, often, in the past.
Why have a police force? Why have judges and juries? Why investigate crimes? Why have standards of proof and rules of evidence when all you have to do is ask what Briefly reckons happened?
If EGT is still around, this attitude is what I have been talking about: making the facts fit the verdict. Briefly has made up his mind, as many others have. They kid themselves that they are relying on evidence. They are not. They’re relying on accusations.
Before anyone accuses me of being equally irrational and emotional in the opposite direction, I am not. I’m simply calling for established due process to apply.
As to Porter’s guilt: he denies it. I personally have no opinion either way. How could I? I haven’t seen the evidence and the victim is dead, reportedly by her own hand, so she cannot supply any more, or be tested on what she has supplied so far.
Unless an eye witness as to lack of consent, and as to the act itself comes forth with corroboration of her story, then it’s over. Sad, but over.
If the criminal justice system won’t formalize what they have already decided, the lynch mob want to dumb down the standards of proof until some retired judge is found who agrees with them. It’s not going to happen this way. It’s a serious criminal matter, not an HR investigation.
One off inquiries are not the way to run a criminal law system. Pray to God you never get a Briefly on any jury hearing evidence against you.
3Z
It is racist language to single out and criticise a group of people based on their skin colour.
The legal system is far from perfect and evolves overtime and the western legal system isn’t one legal system because the Europeans practice a different form of law than Britain and the countries that follow the British system.
E. G. Theodore – it’s a harrowing article and many aspects support what you have to say. I could access it from Ronni Salt’s twitter feed – the Stephen Mayne link.
Why have a police force? Why have judges and juries? Why investigate crimes?
Because every step of the way victims of sexual assault are disbelieved and derided. They are called sluts. They are denounced as chancers aiming for some.political or financial advantage.
There us a deep and obvious need for cultural change in our legal system. Powerful, priveleged white sex-pests should not be able to buy absolution with a $1000 an hour barrister. The Catholic Church should not be able to use its billions to attack its victims.
N:
Actually she was a highly talented person with an extensive body of work, and that should be celebrated. She was also trying womanfully to make sense of the situation and appears to have been trying to put it right for everyone involved (a bit of a saint, in fact). Unfortunately she did not succeed in this.
E. G. Theodore
Disclaimer – I’ve always been of the “why don’t they leave” school of thought but my confidence in that world view has more than wavered recently. Last night on QandA Anne Ally bravely described how she too, as a young uni student, declared she’d “knee him in the balls” if any man raised a fist to her…… and yet
Later, in a relationship, she was beaten, and …..she stayed. Eventually she did find the strength to leave. The dynamics in relationships are so complex, the effects of subjugation and connection such strong influences. The belief in a possible redemption so powerful.
I’m hoping I’ve (even at this advanced age) matured enough to start to understand that it is our communal responsibility to force change. That’s why I and my partner will be marching. All those stories over the years, all the blind eyes. No more.
Bushfire Bill:
I don’t . Apparently, you do? But actually, you don’t, So why pretend?
I am still around, and you have annoyed me further. Congratulations.
I am annoyed with Briefly too, but I am trying to engage with him in the terms he has chosen to adopt, whereas you seem to be trying to challenge him to a dicksize contest, a uniquely inappropriate approach under the current circumstances.
Due process will apply whether you call for it or not. And surely you realise that any “call” in this forum is unlikely to be heard by anyone with the authority to do anything. Why waste your time and ours with these periodic genocides of straw men?
There’s a lot of resentment there.
Who here has called anyone a slut, or denounced them as political chancers?
Plenty of women get to bring their accusations into the justice system, with the willing and enthusiastic aid of police and the courts.
Not everyone, of course, but no crime of any kind has a high prosecution rate. Some are covered up, some unreported. For some there is insufficient evidence. But that doesn’t mean we should solve problems by just accepting every accusation at face value.
There was an well argued article in the SMH by a prominent female SC, Rachel Doyle, with concrete suggestions for reforming sexual assault criminal procedures and rules of evidence without just declaring all men to be misogynistic slut shamers.
I’ve never raped anyone in my life, and I’d be willing to take bets that none of the other men here have either.
Try reading Doyle’s piece here: https://www.smh.com.au/national/bridging-the-gap-between-metoo-and-the-law-20210203-p56z1m.html
E. G. Theodore says:
Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 2:01 am
N:
Poor, poor woman. She was dealt the most intimate violence. She was young. Very young. She was alone with her attacker. She was degraded and annihilated. She should not be forgotten.
Actually she was a highly talented person with an extensive body of work, and that should be celebrated. She was also trying womanfully to make sense of the situation and appears to have been trying to put it right for everyone involved (a bit of a saint, in fact). Unfortunately she did not succeed in this.
She was betrayed. And now the para-LNP in the media are trying to entirely debauch her. They are the posthumous stalkers and grave-robbers who serve the Liberals. She is a symbol now for every person who has been sexually assaulted and then subsequently deprived of a hearing and of justice.
If the following paragraph is your standard of expression tonight, EGT, get some sleep:
That last post of yours was a shocker, nitpicking, and sophistry for the sake of it. We all know you’re clever, but you’re not the only person here with a considered point of view.
Briefly’s position is that the accusations are true, but he has no justification for that position other than the existence of the accusations themselves. Of the two people who knew for sure, one denies it. The other is dead, reportedly by her own hand. Neither is budging.
We have a system for evaluating accusations, but that system includes a provision that evidence is required. If there is no evidence, or insufficient evidence, it’s not the system that is necessarily at fault. It might be just that an accusation isn’t evidence no matter how well embellished. That’s not a comment on the character of the accuser. It a simple observation that, in our system, accusations are just the start of the process.
I don’t kid myself that anyone outside of a tiny small circle of tragics read my posts, your posts or anybody else’s posts. I suspect the oft-expressed notion from some Bludgers that ALP HQ and other top political cadres log in to get their political ideas for the day is a bit overblown too. Same goes for Menzies House supplying paid trolls, who apparently work in shifts.
But a discussion is worth having even if only two are having it, so there’s no need to knock calls for action, or counter calls. It’s still a free country.
Briefly’s position is that the accusations are true, but he has no justification for that position other than the existence of the accusations themselves.
Some of us know Porter and know whether to believe him or not.
The very idea. The outlandiah misconception, that women are supported to level complaints of domestic (let alone sexual) violence into the court system.
The Australian, Western legal system hss beem built by wealthy, priveleged white men to ensure that no wealthy priveleged white man will ever have to be held responsible for anything.
Is this news? I dont think this is news.
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/05/india/father-beheads-daughter-india-intl-scli/index.html
New Delhi (CNN)Police in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state have arrested a man who confessed to beheading his teenage daughter.
Sarvesh Kumar was arrested as he was walking toward a police station in Hardoi district on Wednesday night, carrying the severed head of his 17-year-old daughter.
“He was making his way on foot to the police station to confess what he had done,” a spokesperson for Hardoi Police told CNN on Friday.
“He told police he had seen his daughter with a young man that he believes she was seeing, which made him angry as he was against it,” the spokesperson added.
Australia assisting Myanmar’s military – I would also suggest they assisting the coup as well.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-04/australia-dfat-response-myanmar-military-coup-deadly-protests/13215432
Documents released under freedom of information laws have revealed new details about Australia’s controversial program of defence cooperation with Myanmar’s military.
Key points:
The federal government says its military cooperation with Myanmar is “modest” in scale
The documents illuminate some of the challenges and pitfalls of dealing with a military, which has been accused of war crimes
The documents also show no evidence of military cooperation slowing during the Rohingya massacre
Australia is one of a small number of nations that has maintained cooperation with Myanmar’s armed forces — known as the Tatmadaw — in the wake of a brutal 2017 campaign of ethnic cleansing waged against the Rohingya minority.
Human rights groups have long campaigned against the program, and calls for it to be axed have intensified since the military seized power last month in a coup.
Pressure on the government has continued to mount over the last two weeks as the Tatmadaw cracks down on pro-democracy protesters in several cities.
The United Nations says at least 54 people have been killed by Myanmar police and military officers since the coup.
More than 1,700 people have been arbitrarily detained, including 29 journalists, and the UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet has called on security forces to “halt their vicious crackdown on peaceful protesters”.
Bushfire Bill:
I note in particular the following from Ms Doyle’s article:
That was my position at the time, for which I was widely criticised here (and in fact elsewhere). Ms Doyle is of course correct.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. This will keep you occupied for a while!
Another excoriation of Morrison’s women problem and his motives from Peter Hartcher!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/liberals-men-in-blue-go-zap-and-hope-we-forget-their-women-problem-20210305-p578am.html
Too many of us believe women lie about rape. In fact, they rarely report it, writes Julia Baird.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/too-many-of-us-believe-women-lie-about-rape-in-fact-they-rarely-report-it-20210305-p57889.html
In a cracker of a contribution, Katherine Murphy says that Canberra’s pale, stale and male tribe is missing the moment – as it did with Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/06/canberras-pale-stale-and-male-tribe-is-missing-the-moment-as-it-did-with-julia-gillards-misogyny-speech
Laura Tingle asks, “What if it wasn’t Christian Porter facing the allegations?”
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/what-if-it-wasn-t-christian-porter-facing-the-allegations-20210305-p5781d
It took one week for Australia’s first law officer, Christian Porter, to come out of hiding. In those seven days, he and his prime minister did everything to minimise the grave allegations of a violent historic rape. Porter has issued vehement denials and attempted the demolition of the claims against him. A dark cloud still enshrouds the government of the nation, says Paul Bongiorno in a very good article.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2021/03/06/christian-porter-accusations-and-denials/161494920011227
Dennis Atkins writes that, from aged care to assault scandals, Scott Morrison is wilfully incurious. He says, “It sounds absurd but there’s a compelling case that Scott Morrison has a ‘don’t know, don’t tell’ policy with himself.” Another cracker.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2021/03/06/scott-morrison-aged-care-atkins/
Jordan Baker writes that police want schools to encourage student sexual assault victims to come forward, even if they decide against pursuing criminal charges, saying details about their experience could provide valuable intelligence.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/police-urge-schoolgirls-to-report-assaults-even-if-they-decide-against-charges-20210305-p5789f.html
The SMH editorial says that it will be a long and bumpy road, but the goal is to end sexual violence.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-long-and-bumpy-road-but-the-goal-is-to-end-sexual-violence-20210305-p5789g.html
Professor Jim Bright tells us how rape allegations have put workplace safety front and centre.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/rape-allegations-have-put-workplace-safety-front-and-centre-20210302-p576z7.html
Paul Kelly reckons the pile-on over Christian Porter will prove to be the defining test of Scott Morrison as power, politics and principle collide.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/when-power-politics-and-principle-collide/news-story/e77b3556da8586664c9aaea9211f85f2
David Crowe reports that the woman who accused Christian Porter of rape drew on counselling that she said helped to “resurface” a trauma she said she had known about for years.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/woman-drew-on-counselling-before-recounting-alleged-rape-20210305-p578at.html
Geoffrey Watson SC explains why Christian Porter and Scott Morrison are utterly wrong about the ‘rule of law’.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2021/03/06/christian-porter-rule-of-law/
The editorial in The Australian is concerned that the “grotesque political saga ignores principles of justice”.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/editorials/grotesque-political-saga-ignores-principles-of-justice/news-story/38049db609c0c841cbe28017b7d175ae
The Guardian reveals that two cabinet ministers attended the 1988 university debating competition at which a woman has alleged she was sexually assaulted by Christian Porter, although members of the Morrison government insist they had no ongoing association with her.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/05/two-cabinet-ministers-attended-event-at-which-woman-alleged-christian-porter-raped-her
Katina Curtis and Anthony Galloway tell us that former political staffers who have made allegations of harassment and assault will take part in a new investigation into Parliament’s workplace culture to be conducted by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/victims-will-join-jenkins-review-of-parliament-s-workplace-culture-20210305-p5787d.html
The Porter denial fails to end calls for an independent inquiry, writes Karen Middleton.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/03/06/porter-denial-fails-end-calls-independent-inquiry/161494920011222
If the PM really cares about the ‘rule of law’, he’ll hold an inquiry into the allegations against his attorney general, urges Professor Kim Rubenstein.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/mar/05/if-the-pm-really-cares-about-the-rule-of-law-hell-hold-an-inquiry-into-the-allegations-against-his-attorney-general
The only time our Prime Minister has demonstrated empathy is when it comes to protecting his own interests, writes Paul Begley.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/porter-allegations-have-again-revealed-scott-morrisons-misguided-empathy,14860
An internal email is causing furore among staff at the nation’s largest law firm after the head of MinterEllison criticised a senior partner for taking on Attorney-General Christian Porter as a client.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/furore-at-minterellison-after-partner-takes-on-attorney-general-as-client-20210305-p57887.html
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/05/australias-largest-law-firm-in-uproar-after-taking-christian-porter-as-client
Margaret Simmons says that the shift in gender balance means abuse claims are being taken seriously. She concludes this interesting essay with, “Journalists and politicians should get used to this new understanding. Women and decent male reporters will not let it go, nor should they.”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/shift-in-gender-balance-means-abuse-claims-are-being-taken-seriously-20210305-p5786r.html
The Australin says that Scott Morrison’s industrial relations bill faces months of delay as key crossbenchers call for a planned March vote on the reforms to be shelved in the wake of rape claims against Christian Porter and backed an independent inquiry into the allegations.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/rape-stalemate-threat-to-scott-morrisons-agenda/news-story/203208d60a86ff6ceddf0841e331a6d5
Scott Morrison should be basking in the glory of a vaccine rollout and a remarkable economic recovery. Instead, two of his senior ministers are on the ropes. Phil Coorey explores where it all went wrong. He reckons that Morrison will hold the line – until he starts to see he’s losing votes.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/damage-done-pm-struggles-to-change-the-message-20210304-p577xt
Michael McGowan goes to the questions left unanswered by Gladys Berejiklian’s budget estimates appearance this week.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/mar/06/the-questions-left-unanswered-by-gladys-berejiklians-budget-estimates-appearance
Kate McClymont tells us that sensational new evidence – withheld from a royal commission – throws fresh light on the involvement of former NSW premier Neville Wran in a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/bombshell-corruption-claim-about-former-premier-neville-wran-20210305-p5788k.html
Mathias Cormann has defended his bid for the top job at the OECD as backlash from leading climate change experts and environmental groups grows. Cait Kelly says he is feeling the heat.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2021/03/06/mathias-cormann-oecd-climate/
Ben Bramble argues why it’s OK for Australia to miss out on vaccines for now.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-it-s-ok-for-australia-to-miss-out-on-vaccines-for-now-20210305-p5786z.html
Rachel Clun wonders if the government has what it takes to fix aged care.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/does-the-government-have-what-it-takes-to-fix-aged-care-20210304-p5782m.html
After two-and-a-half years, the report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has landed. Its findings are clear: without a major overhaul and more resources, our elderly will continue to receive substandard care, explains Rick Morton.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/03/06/aged-care-royal-commission-final-report/161494920011214
Eliabeth Farrelly explains how Japan puts our nursing homes to shame.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/ageing-disgracefully-japan-puts-our-nursing-homes-to-shame-20210304-p577ot.html
Adele Ferguson reveals that injured workers are being left high and dry by icare’s excruciatingly slow pace. What a mess!
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/injured-workers-left-high-and-dry-by-icare-s-excruciating-slow-pace-20210305-p5789i.html
Jennifer Duke and Dominic Powell tell us that the small business lobby boss has lashed out at corporate giants taking taxpayer-funded JobKeeper payments while reporting huge profits and delivering shareholders dividends instead of paying it back, describing the practice as being “pretty close to theft”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pretty-close-to-theft-small-business-slams-big-corporate-jobkeeper-profits-20210304-p577sn.html
The government’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout plans have been stymied by untrained doctors, spoiled doses and communication failures with the states, writes Mike Seccombe. Experts are saying the rollout deadline is looking impossible at current rates.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/03/06/experts-vaccine-rollout-deadline-impossible-current-rates/161494920011220
Peter Dutton has led the Australian people to accept things that would have been unthinkable ten or 20 years ago, writes Julian Burnside AO QC.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/julian-burnside-dutton-is-still-spending-billions-to-keep-people-in-misery,14851
Sarah Danckert reports that the teetering financial services house Greensill Capital has capped off an extraordinary week of bad news with revelations that it waited until only recently to tell its financial backer Credit Suisse it had no insurance for over $US4.6 billion ($5.9bn) worth of assets.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/greensill-caps-off-horror-week-with-fresh-credit-suisse-revelations-20210305-p57811.html
In the face of the pandemic and workers’ reluctance to return to old commuting habits, many blue-chip corporations are delaying making decisions and reassessing how they will use their office spaces, explain Simon Johanson and Carolyn Cummins.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/hub-and-home-new-norm-for-workers-is-a-grim-reality-for-office-owners-20210303-p577ja.html
The AFR reveals that sophisticated British criminals have exploited vulnerabilities in Australia’s search engine and cryptocurrency infrastructure to dupe small investors, lured by the promise of high-yield funds badged by some of the finance world’s most trusted brands.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/high-yield-bond-scam-millions-vanish-into-the-crypto-world-20210303-p577iy
As far-right groups in Australia adopt an increasingly aggressive posture and become more organised, Victoria Police has been criticised for drawing an equivalence between far-right extremism and the far left, departing from the stance taken by other security agencies in the country. Experts have warned that this position risks minimising the serious threat posed by white supremacists, writes Osman Faruqi for The Saturday Paper.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/03/06/victoria-police-and-extremism/161494920011218
Three villagers who allege they saw Ben Roberts-Smith kick an unarmed farmer off a cliff in Afghanistan before the man was shot dead are unlikely to be granted entry into Australia to give evidence in a defamation trial, a court has heard.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/doubts-over-witnesses-entering-australia-for-ben-roberts-smith-defamation-trial-20210305-p57828.html
Brigadier Ian Langford told superiors soon after the Brereton war crimes report was released that he wanted to hand back his Distinguished Service Cross but was stopped from doing so because there was no formal process to deal with the request.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/officer-brigadier-ian-langford-to-keep-afghan-medal/news-story/d3e1a0a06d36888c75939c8879fe3359
Australia’s economic partnership with China is beset not just by short-term fundamental political differences, but now faces structural change that will present far longer-lasting challenges to the Australian economy, warns Eryk Bagshaw.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-s-next-great-leap-forward-could-be-a-setback-for-australia-20210304-p577y4.html
The most rampant era of welfare rorting in Australia’s history draws to a close at the end of the month when the JobKeeper scheme ends. Luke Stacey and Michael West investigate some of the big grifters and how they pulled it off … while we await a response from Business Council of Australia.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/the-big-grift-how-the-top-end-of-town-rorted-jobkeeper/
Media watchdog ACMA has found that veteran broadcaster John Laws breached the commercial radio code with “dangerous” and “highly offensive” remarks made during a March 2020 segment of his morning talkback show.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/john-laws-found-to-breach-radio-code-with-dangerous-suicide-insult-20210305-p5785s.html
Jennifer Duke looks at Tim Wilson’s “Housing first. Super second” campaign.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/liberal-mp-s-housing-campaign-a-bigger-problem-than-super-guarantee-for-labor-20210305-p5782y.html
In an open letter, epidemiologists are calling for a new inquiry into covid-19’s origins, arguing WHO’s team did not have “the independence or the necessary access”.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/who-s-coronavirus-inquiry-compromised-by-politics-say-scientists-20210305-p5789c.html
A former State Department aide in Donald Trump’s administration has been charged with participating in the deadly siege at the Capitol and assaulting officers who were trying to guard the building, court papers show.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/state-department-aide-appointed-by-trump-stormed-the-capitol-fbi-says-20210306-p578c3.html
Cartoon Corner
Alan Moir
David Rowe
Simon Letch
John Shakespeare
Andrew Dyson
Matt Davidson
Robin Cowcher
Jim Pavlidis
Michael Leunig
Matt Golding
Mark David
Jon Kudelka
Peter Broelman
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Johannes Leak
From the US
‘Too many of us believe women lie about rape. ‘
And that’s what the whole ‘Recovered Memories’, ‘she dissociated’ crap is all about. Finding a sleazy way to say, she lied.
I can’t really think of a far left extremist incident in Australia or a risk
The worst trial by media,was against Julia Gillard , when they involved public rallies held by Newsltd , other libs/nats propaganda media units and the libs/nats in front of insulting signs and character assignation.
BK
Thank you.
The second worst trial by media , Newsltd , other libs/nats propaganda media units in the pink batts
The third worst trial by media, Newsltd , other libs/nats propaganda media units royal commission to get Gillard and Shorten
“Brittany Higgins boss was a women.”
Sadly, this seems to mean little. Speaking generally, being a woman doesn’t automatically make someone a decent person who takes sexual harassment and assault seriously. Many are furious – with damn good reason – but there are those who would just rather sweep this kind of thing under the carpet. Their only real concern in these kinds of situations is the political fallout for their side of politics. One minute they are abusing victims and calling them liars, then the next they are crying conservative crocodile tears for them. Such hypocrites.
I’ve even seen some people talking about how much they are “loving” this situation because of the damage it is doing to the Morrison Government. Frankly, that kind of attitude is sickening. I understand their desire to see an end to the Coalition’s rule but the only reason this situation exists is because people have allegedly been raped, assaulted, harassed, and discriminated against. Someone even committed suicide. That is not something to be happy about at all. People from all sides need to remember that these are not victimless crimes. The whole thing is deeply disturbing from start to finish and should not leave anyone feeling good.
imacca @ #2135 Saturday, March 6th, 2021 – 12:16 am
A vile and obnoxious prick, if you ask me.
PB was not a very pleasant place, last night.
The ‘Pile On the Dead Woman’ crowd are clutching that Crikey piece hard to their breasts I see. Even when it has been proven to be factually incorrect by more reliable sources. They are all males as well. Which only goes to prove how difficult it is for women to be believed because men will clutch at any straw in order to try and invalidate a woman’s claims. Sad.
Especially when she is dead and has lost her voice.
Bushfire Bill, there needs to be an enquiry as to Porter’s fitness for office. It’s got nothing to do with criminal law or presumption of innocence.
Or are you saying that the only standard to which a Minister of the Crown should be put, and the only time that he should be turfed out, is when he is convicted of a criminal offence?
If that’s your argument, I think you are barking up the wrong tree.
There is enough doubt by the actions of Christian Porter in a number of cases where he should not be the attorney general .
There is enough doubt by the actions of Michaelia Cash in a number of cases where she should not be the acting attorney general .
Scott
Michaelia Cash is unfit for a LOT of things!
BK says:
Saturday, March 6, 2021 at 8:08 am
Scott
Michaelia Cash is unfit for a LOT of things!
——————-
Exactly , they talk about Abbott , Turnbull’s judgements being very poor
Morrison’s judgement is disgraceful
BB
‘Many here want an inquiry into Porter, to trawl through the circumstances of the alleged rape case, in order to establish some kind of abusive connection between him and the woman that would result in his being declared unfit for office.’
Well, that has never been my stance.
I have looked at the ways in which Porter could move forward. My question has been what would an innocent person, who wants to protect their reputation, do?
Brittany Higgins provides a nice example – she sued, because she doesn’t want the words ‘lying cow’ to be coupled with her name for the rest of her life.
Without an inquiry, or suing someone for damages, Porter will forever have the word ‘rapist’ coupled with his name, particularly if he leaves politics at the next election (“Porter, who left Parliament after being accused of rape…” will be the by line for the rest of his life).
No one accuses Shorten of rape in the media because if they did, they know he will sue their a*se off. They also know he would win.
If Porter wants this to be a nine day wonder, he needs to take a similar approach.
From the Dawn Patrol’s article by Dennis Atkins. By golly some honesty from Mr Flimflam Man. Between not holding hoses and not being arsed reading an accusation of rape against one of his senior Ministers he sure has shown us how true it is.
Reporters for Australia’s ABC Tasmania have reportedly been warned to avoid using the term ‘pedophile’ when referring to an accused serial child molestor, for fear of “discouraging” non-offending pedophiles from seeking help.
In an email to reporters, an unnamed senior producer at ABC said that the Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS) had “mentioned their concerns” about describing former nurse James Geoffrey Griffin – who committed suicide in 2019 after the allegations against him were made public – as a pedophile.
Griffin was accused by multiple women of having abused them as children as far back as the 1980s, and after police searched his home in 2019, “a significant amount of child exploitation material” was found, ABC reported. He was subsequently charged with more than a dozen crimes.