The diversion of the South Australian election caused this site to take its eye off the ball during a highly eventful period for federal preselections, which it now endeavours to make good. We start in Victoria, where Labor’s process for the Senate is finally coming to a head. In common with the rest of Labor’s Victorian preselections, the matter has been in the hands of the party’s national executive, which asserted control in response to the branch-stacking scandal surrounding Victorian MLC Adem Somyurek. An already fraught situation was gravely complicated by the sudden death of Kimberley Kitching a fortnight ago, whose hold on the Right-mandated position at the top end of the ticket has since been a matter of fierce dispute.
• Kitching’s vacancy will be filled by Jana Stewart, a Muthi Muthi and Wamba Wamba woman and until recently the deputy secretary at the Victorian Department of Justice, who had previously been lined up to run in the safe seat of Pascoe Vale at the Victorian state election in November. Stewart will serve out the remaining months of Kitching’s term and take the one of the two seemingly unloseable positions on the Senate ticket, in an order to be determined. Tom Minear of the Herald Sun reported Stewart had backing from the Transport Workers Union and Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association, the chief Right faction parties to a pact with the Socialist Left that has frozen out the Right forces associated with Bill Shorten. The Shorten forces reportedly favoured Natalie Hutchins, the state Corrections Minister and member for Sydenham. Minear further reported that Fiona McLeod, a barrister who performed creditably as the candidate for Higgins in 2019, was “another name in the mix”.
• Following Kim Carr’s retirement announcement on Sunday, the Left-mandated position at the top of the ticket will be filled by Linda White, retired former assistant national secretary of the Australian Services Union. Carr cited health concerns in bringing down the curtain on a Senate career going back to 1993, but it was widely expected he would lose preselection in any case, most likely to White. There were widespread earlier reports that the position was also being pursued by Ryan Batchelor, executive director of the McKell Institute, but both Stewart and White have in fact emerged unopposed.
• A contest has also been avoided in the south-eastern Melbourne seat of Holt, to be vacated with the retirement of Anthony Byrne, with Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association organiser Cassandra Fernando emerging as the sole nominee. The seat will thus remain with the Right, despite what Tom Minear of the Herald Sun described as “a small push from the Left to claim the seat”. The faction’s favoured nominee appeared to be Jo Briskey, political co-ordinator of the United Workers Union.
In New South Wales, the Liberal Party’s long-delayed preselections for Warringah, Hughes, Parramatta and Eden-Monaro and Greenway are to be determined by a three-person committee consisting of Scott Morrison, Dominic Perrottet and state party president Christine McDiven, following an intervention by the party’s federal executive. Here too legal action is afoot, with earlier federal executive intervention being contested in the New South Wales Supreme Court by conservative activist Matt Camenzuli. The party’s conservative forces stand to benefit from party reforms to increase the power and the rank and file, which Scott Morrison and his centre-right factional ally Alex Hawke have been seeking to circumvent.
• The intervention entails the cancellation of a rank-and-file ballot to choose a candidate for Hughes, held by the once Liberal and now United Australia Party member Craig Kelly. Where previously it was thought an intervention would rubber-stamp the preselection of Alex Dore, a management consultant who lives in Manly, Murray Trembath of the St George & Sutherland Shire Leader reports there is “now speculation war widow Gwen Cherne, who was the inaugural Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner on the Repatriation Commission, is being considered”. The acknowledged front-runners for the now-cancelled rank-and-file ballot were state Holsworthy MP Melanie Gibbons and local lawyer Jenny Ware.
• Anne Davies of The Guardian reports that David Elliott, state Transport Minister and centre-right factional ally of Scott Morrison, is considering putting his name forward in Parramatta or Greenway. Elliott’s federal ambitions may be complicated by his recent efforts as minister, which placed him at the centre of a shutdown of Sydney’s public transport network last month.
• One rank-and-file ballot that was allowed to proceed was that to replace John Alexander in Bennelong, which was won by Simon Kennedy, a partner at consulting firm McKinsey. Anne Davies of The Guardian reports that Kennedy, a factional conservative, emerged an unexpected winner in a rank-and-file ballot over moderate-aligned Gisele Kapterian, former chief-of-staff to Michaelia Cash, by 148 votes to 95.
• A weekend meeting of the party’s state council determined that incumbents Marise Payne and Jim Molan will respectively fill the first and third positions on the Coalition Senate ticket, the second being mandated to the Nationals. This amounts to defeat for the third incumbent, Connie Fierravanti-Wells, who has compared her situation to that of Kimberley Kitching. Another unsuccessful nominee was Mary-Lou Jarvis, a lawyer and Woollahra councillor.
Elsewhere:
• Andrew Charlton, economist and former adviser to Kevin Rudd, is expected to be imposed by Labor’s national executive as its candidate for Parramatta, where the Liberals are hopeful of overhauling a 3.5% margin with the retirement of Julie Owens, the Labor member since 2004. Michael McGowan of The Guardian reports Labor “spent weeks shopping for a celebrity candidate in a bid to railroad a local rank-and-file ballot”, with targets including former state Granville MP David Borger and Sydney barrister Cameron Murphy. A rank-and-file ballot would likely have yielded Durga Owen, a former staffer to Owens, who seemingly was not favoured by Anthony Albanese. Other prospective candidates for a rank-and-file ballot were Alan Mascarenhas, a former Sydney Morning Herald journalist, and Abha Devasia, a Left-aligned lawyer. All three are of of Indian background, and thus representative of a demographic with a strong presence in the electorate. The move to install Charlton, who lives in Bellevue Hill in the eastern suburbs, has predictably “infuriated local branch members”, and drawn criticism from Owens.
• Nick Xenophon announced last week he will seek to return to his earlier vocation at the election as Senator for South Australia, a position he held from 2008 until his ill-fated bid to gatecrash the 2018 state election. He has since maintained a profile as a partner of law firm Xenophon Davis. Rex Patrick, who filled Xenophon’s Senate vacancy in 2017 and later abandoned his Centre Alliance party, appears to have recognised that Xenophon’s return has ended whatever chance he had of being re-elected to the Senate, and is reportedly contemplating a run for the lower house seat of Grey.
• Joe Spagnolo of the Sunday Times reports the Nationals will field candidates in lower house seats in Western Australia against the wishes of Mia Davies, the party’s state leader and, thanks to the extraordinary result of the March 2021 election, the state’s Opposition Leader (a nicety that eluded Scott Morrison during his trip to the state a fortnight ago). The party’s strongest seats in the state are Durack and O’Connor, respectively held for the Liberals by Melissa Price and Rick Wilson.
Think I read on previous thread David Elliot pulled the pin
There are some moments that permanently change the course of things.
This was two rather ugly, pumped-up celebrities: one roasting the other’s wife for a cheap laugh, and the other too stupid to realise that having his wife roasted was the price of fame.
As I said: there’s no going back… like the time recently that Stan Grant undemocratically ejected an audience member for offering his unscripted opinion, live, from a show specifically designed and touted as democratically welcoming the live, unscripted opinions of audience members.
If you’re doing democracy, then do it Stan. If you’re doing the Stan Grant Show, then bye-bye.
Over 100mm of rain in Lismore in the last 24 hrs.
BB,
Always love your doggie stories!!
In fact any stories from Snoozeville.
A lovely start to the day.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-transport-minister-rules-out-a-tilt-at-federal-politics-20220328-p5a8lw.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/03/28/judge-says-trump-more-than-likely-committeed-crime/
“Connie Fierravanti-Wells, who has compared her situation to that of Kimberley Kitching.”…
Sorry Connie, but don’t hope to have the same media coverage as Kitching is still getting. Well, of course you are still alive and that does make a difference, but above all you are a Liberal and therefore a person of no real interest to the conservative-controlled MSM when it comes to spreading negative views. But hey, you can get some coverage if you blame Albo for your predicament…. c’mon, nobody in the media will scrutinise your arguments anyway….
“Owen and Devasia are both of Indian background, and thus representative of a demographic with a strong presence in the electorate. The move to install Charlton, who lives in Bellevue Hill in the eastern suburbs, has predictably “infuriated local branch members”, and drawn criticism from Owens.”…
But, but, don’t the Liberals always say: “We have to select the best candidate, irrespective of any other consideration”?… After all, a local representative in a party of government federally, is not just a local representative anymore, s/he must be ready to fulfill roles of national capability.
Have the Young Libs taken down their Slap Tweet?
Just on Parramatta, and the ‘strong presence’ of the Indian demographic alluded to – it is 13.9% at the 2026 census https://quickstats.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/CED135?opendocument
As argued by Ben Raue, single member electorates preclude the worthy aim of having the Parliament reflect ethnic diversity..
https://www.tallyroom.com.au/45840
“Nationals … in Western Australia … Mia Davies, the party’s state leader and, thanks to the extraordinary result of the March 2021 election, the state’s Opposition Leader (a nicety that eluded Scott Morrison during his trip to the state a fortnight ago).”
Very good point, William!… In fact, as far as I can remember, you are the first person to mention that pretty embarrassing reality for Scomo and his gang, anywhere in the media.
Jim Chalmers out early this morning…
https://twitter.com/jechalmers/status/1508531955675308032?s=21&t=ec1pCvZkxOF1xQ9BuMfr0g
I don’t really see how it precludes it, and it’s not like upper houses are hugely diverse.
Biden, walking back walking back.. I think…. or is not walking back walking back?
JM Rieger
(@RiegerReport)
REPORTER: Do you believe what you said that Putin can’t remain in power or do you now regret saying that?
BIDEN: I’m not walking anything back. …I wasn’t then, nor am I now, articulating a policy change. I was expressing moral outrage that I felt and I make no apologies for it. pic.twitter.com/r34DosKkfP
March 28, 2022
Biden added: “Nobody believes I was talking about taking down Putin … nobody believes that. I was expressing my outrage at the behavior of this man.”
Previously, while making a speech in Poland, Biden said that Putin “cannot remain in power.” US officials quickly amended Biden’s comments, saying that Biden was not calling for regime change in Russia.
“sprocket_says:
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 6:52 am”
Re: Ethnic diversity in the Australian Parliament.
Yes, although a more ethnically diverse Parliament should be welcomed, and we are still not there yet, I think that things have been improving (somewhat) in the last few decades, compared with the ’50s and ’60s:
“A 2018 report by the Australian Human Rights Commission found just 4.1 % of MPs in Australia’s 45th parliament had a non-European background and 1.5% had an Indigenous background, both metrics that show diversity in Australian politics severely under-represents what is reflected in Australia’s population.” (The Guardian, Sept. 2021).
But then, why is that nobody mentions the obvious undemocratic result of our system in the H. of Reps. where the Greens have a 10% primary vote but just 1/151 = 0.6% representation? Oh, and the Greens are our third major party, nationally. Ethnically (after lumping all Anglo-Celtic ethniticies together), it would be equivalent to having just one MP of Italian heritage, whereas we actually have 5 (perhaps more if the maternal line is also considered)!
Great comment from south, late last night;
south (AnonBlock)
Monday, March 28th, 2022 – 11:25 pm
Comment #1792
Petrol prices, budget, who cares.
It’s all about Will Smith people.
Anyway, labor should talk about how it only costs $3 to run an EV for a charge. Then talk about Joe hockey killing the car industry and making it a certainty we didn’t get electric cars sooner and the constant lack of action by this government.
I’d also put in the budget reply a provision to accept that CC is here and there needs to be a federal buyback of houses in Lismore to help repair the flood affected areas. Accepting that our own inaction has created this problem and we need to stop pretending.
Though I did note, there’s a lot of Palmer on TV atm, but the greens omfg, it’s very very tiresome to see them paint each side as equally bad on Climate. I feel that this “each side is as bad as each other trope” is probably eating away at their credibility. It’ll be interesting to see what happens come the election.
Anyway. Tomorrow will be a nothing budget followed by a nothing election and hopefully a new labor government and a royal commission into the murdoch media along with a federal ICAC and a slew of jail time for Nationals MP’s who fucked over the Murry.
Anyway, back to twitter and Will Smith.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
A fall in unemployment to the lowest rate since 1974 will set up an election clash on jobs and wages in a federal budget that offers billions of dollars in household payments and cuts to fuel excise to lure voters back to the government, says David Crowe.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/hasn-t-been-luck-jobs-claim-sets-up-budget-clash-on-wages-cost-of-living-20220328-p5a8my.html
According to Shane Wright, the federal budget bottom line will be buoyed by another $100 billion in extra revenue from soaring company and personal income tax collections.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/frydenberg-to-show-turnaround-in-budget-revenues-but-more-deficits-20220328-p5a8ml.html
Michael Pascoe goes out on a limb and says, “Scott Morrison is gone. Anthony Albanese will win the election. Josh Frydenberg is fighting to save some of the furniture.”
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/03/29/michael-pascoe-scott-morrison-josh-frydenberg/
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s plan to provide a short burst of relief from cost-of-living pressures may be popular. But a wiser longer-term strategy is needed to steer the country after its rapid growth in debt, says the SMH editorial.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/long-term-budget-planning-needed-instead-of-short-term-handouts-20220328-p5a8i5.html
Paul Bongiorno writes that Morrison’s and Frydenberg’s best last chance looms.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2022/03/29/paul-bongiorno-scott-morrison-josh-frydenberg-last-chance/
The history of unreliable opinion polls in Australia is such that it would be a brave punter who would call the election result on the evidence of polls alone. Right now, however, it would be an even more courageous one, who would be betting against the definite trend of polls indicating a decisive change of government, writes Jack Waterford.
https://johnmenadue.com/this-is-now-one-for-albo-to-lose/
Apart from adopting a strategy similar to those favoured by zombie companies, the Treasurer could end up leaving the country much more exposed to other negative shocks, warns Karen Maley.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/the-most-dangerous-aspect-of-frydenberg-s-formula-20220328-p5a8j2
The budget is supposed to be about the long-term future. It’s really about the government’s short-term future. Labor will back it – and add spending of its own, says Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/spending-in-this-budget-will-certainly-be-targeted-at-re-election-20220328-p5a8kr
The Grattan Institute’s Marion Terrell laments that yet again, the government is jumping the gun, committing to spending big infrastructure bucks before establishing whether these are good projects and now is the right time to build them.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/right-on-cue-politicians-worrying-addiction-on-show-20220328-p5a8jk.html
Meanwhile, The Guardian reveals that just 15% of projects announced in the government’s multibillion dollar infrastructure budget splurge have been endorsed as priorities by Infrastructure Australia, with the Coalition instead funnelling billions into must-win marginal seats.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/29/analysis-reveals-morrison-government-funnelling-billions-into-must-win-marginal-seats
”Clearly not within scope,” said the department when Jommy Tee went on a Freedom of Information hunt for reasons a future prime minister’s first Australian government job ended in acrimony. Our correspondent found that while the Prime Minister seeks inquiries into the conduct of others, information about his departure from Tourism Australia is kept out of sight.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/the-first-time-morrison-lost-the-nations-confidence-the-story-they-dont-want-you-to-know/
The retiring former speaker of the House of Representatives, Tony Smith, has used one of his last addresses to Parliament to call on politicians to unite in supporting ongoing funding for the National Archives, saying the nation’s history cannot be left to rot.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/veteran-liberal-mp-calls-for-bipartisan-support-of-national-archives-20220328-p5a8gz.html
The responses Home Affairs officials recently gave to Senate Estimates on the Department’s handling of the Novak Djokovic case were a mixture of smoke and mirrors overlaid by outright misinformation, argues Abul Rizvi.
https://johnmenadue.com/home-affairs-misleads-senate-on-djokovic-case/
Petrol stations are promising to pass on the full savings from a fuel-excise cut to be unveiled in Tuesday’s federal budget, but some sites may be holding nearly a week’s worth of higher-excise fuel and will be unable to drop prices immediately. As matter of interest, the margins applied by petrol stations are probably less that what an excise cut will be.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/service-stations-to-face-delays-in-passing-on-petrol-price-relief-20220328-p5a8mm.html
Australia’s cost of living crisis is hurting ordinary households, and it won’t be over soon, writes Satyajit Das who says there’s very little politicians can do.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/mar/28/australias-cost-of-living-crisis-is-hurting-ordinary-households-and-it-wont-be-over-soon
The Australian tells us that households in NSW, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania could be forced to cut their gas use during next year’s winter due to an ongoing supply squeeze as production dries up from offshore fields and amid a year-long delay bringing on volumes from Australia’s first LNG import plant.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/gas-shortfall-fears-for-next-year-supply-squeeze-threatens-to-leave-users-out-in-the-cold-in-2023-winter/news-story/fed063002651bb62e5dc363a406d4bdb
Angus Thompson and Katina Curtis write that sidelined veteran Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells has taken a swipe at Prime Minister Scott Morrison, saying “mean girls” are not just confined to the Labor Party and revealing she bonded with the late senator Kimberley Kitching over the factional warfare they both faced.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sidelined-liberal-senator-accuses-party-of-its-own-mean-girls-culture-20220328-p5a8nc.html
A Labor backbencher and doctor says his party must commit to funding pay rises in the embattled aged care sector as a key union ramps up pressure on the ALP to support its wage case. Dr Michael Freelander, the member for Macarthur in south-west Sydney, said the time for talking was over and action was needed to ensure adequate training and remuneration for aged care workers.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/time-for-talking-s-over-medico-labor-mp-warns-party-must-deliver-more-on-aged-care-20220325-p5a82s.html
The former Liberal government went on an $854m spending spree in its final weeks in power and has put the planned budget surplus next financial year at risk, the state’s new Treasurer has claimed. In his first days in charge of South Australia’s books, Stephen Mullighan is scrambling to find out what was spent on in the Liberals’ final 10 weeks in power.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/stephen-mullighan-warns-of-budget-pressures-after-854m-liberal-spending-spree/news-story/6eb03276477ceca93466783b3aa7766a?amp
SA Senator Rex Patrick will go up against his former boss Nick Xenophon in this year’s election, ruling out running for the outback seat of Grey.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/federal-election-2022-rex-patrick-says-he-will-stay-the-course-to-run-for-the-senate/news-story/9e0b1c7c74abcb974be7349747551dbb
Putin’s war is proving to be a grave misjudgement, and four metrics tell the story explains Peter Hartcher.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/putin-s-war-is-proving-a-grave-misjudgment-four-metrics-tell-the-story-20220327-p5a8ei.html
Mike Foley reports that a new scheme to bring more foreign farm labourers into the country is underway, with the federal government signing an agreement to open negotiations with Vietnam for an agricultural visa.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/nationals-claim-foreign-worker-win-with-symbolic-ag-visa-agreement-20220328-p5a8oj.html
Colin Kruger tells us corporate governance experts are predicting further casualties from The Star Entertainment’s senior ranks and board after chief executive Matt Bekier resigned on Monday following damaging revelations about the group’s failure to stop money laundering and organised crime risks in its casinos.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-star-ceo-matt-bekier-stands-down-20220328-p5a8ig.html
It took only ten days of hearings and a three-line email to end the tenure of Star CEO Matt Bekier, explains Elizabeth Knight.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/10-days-and-a-three-line-email-how-star-ceo-fell-on-his-sword-20220328-p5a8lq.html
Nick McKenzie tells us that lopping the head of the casino company might not fix the problem.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/a-star-reborn-how-lopping-the-head-of-the-casino-company-might-not-fix-the-problem-20220328-p5a8ob.html
Lucy Cormack outlines more and more naughty stuff being exposed in the Star Casino inquiry.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/best-for-business-to-let-high-roller-do-as-he-wanted-inquiry-hears-20220328-p5a8iw.html
Alexandra Smith reports that NSW Labor leader Chris Minns has outlined the cornerstone of his election pitch, arguing Sydney is a divided city, where infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth in the west.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/coalition-labor-brace-for-state-election-battle-in-sydney-s-west-20220328-p5a8nv.html
A report has called for greater transparency on how taxpayer funds are being spent by aged care operators, many of which are expanding their businesses and acquiring new companies. Separately, the Morrison government’s first analysis of the $10 a day for every resident that it gave operators for better food found one-third of homes were still spending less than $10 a day per person on nutrition. (I have to tell you that the way the request for information from RACFs was shambolic and led to widespread difficulties. Recently the department has been ringing around trying to get standardisation of reporting in place.)
https://www.theage.com.au/national/report-questions-where-10-a-day-aged-care-food-budget-is-being-spent-20220325-p5a7v9.html
Tuesday’s budget will provide $49.5 million for aged care training for existing workers and people who want to work in the sector. “But what about wages”, exclaims Michelle Grattan.
https://theconversation.com/budget-to-give-49-5-million-boost-for-aged-care-training-but-what-about-wages-180133
Michaela Whitbourn reports that a former Special Air Service soldier has objected to giving evidence in the Federal Court about his potential involvement in missions in Afghanistan with war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith, on the basis his testimony might incriminate him in an alleged murder.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/former-sas-soldier-objects-to-giving-evidence-about-alleged-murder-court-told-20220328-p5a8ij.html
Some time on or around March 15, an ice shelf called Conger that was the size of the city of Rome collapsed into the dark and not quite frigid waters off the east coast of Antarctica, writes Nick O’Malley.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/antarctic-iceshelf-collapses-after-unprecedented-heatwave-20220328-p5a8jx.html
Endometriosis sufferers have had enough of the misinformation, inadequate care and ill-considered government funding, writes Claire Pini.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/the-truth-about-endo-and-where-government-funding-should-go,16198
If Europe can wean itself off Russia gas it would reshape the global energy market and the market for LNG in particular. But it’s easier said than done, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/out-in-the-cold-the-race-is-on-to-solve-the-russian-gas-puzzle-20220328-p5a8h3.html
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
Matt Golding
John Shakespeare
Peter Broelman
Andrew Dyson
Fiona Katauskas
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
Julie Owens, White Woman MP in a diverse electorate, didn’t specifically ‘criticise’ Andrew Charlton. She said, why wouldn’t you take the opportunity if it was offered to you? Also, that he would be qualified well enough to be in Cabinet one day. But yeah, being a successful White Man in a diverse electorate could look a bit whiffy.
…Even though that same diverse electorate kept voting for the same White Woman for over a decade!
Talking about EV’s , to date I have paid $0 for a charge as using NRMA fast chargers and being a member, entitles me to free charging.
Have travelled 2000 + kms to date.
Wow, the cartoons are brutal today, to both Morrison and Putin!
Quasar,
I can’t wait to afford the price of admission to own an EV! After that it seems like smooth, cheap sailing/driving.
C@t
For sheer cartoon brilliance, I found this one to be today’s standout.
Despite Elliott’s explanations for not contesting Parramatta, you can’t help but think that Charlton nominating as the ALP candidate may be the underlying reason for him having second thoughts. The Libs have been talking up their chances in Parramatta for months. Suddenly, their star candidate vacates the field without a shot fired.
Interesting!
Thanks BK
Confessions
But are we actually, really expecting anything to come from the Trump-Eastman rulings?
China Freaked: B-2 Bombers, F-35s and F-22 Stealth Fighters are in Australia
Last week, a B-2 Spirit bomber flew thousands of miles from Missouri to Australia, showcasing the flexibility and capability of the U.S.’ strategic nuclear bomber fleet.
Show of Force
The B-2 bomber flew from the 509th Bomb Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, to Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley, Australia, and participated in a rare training event with U.S. and Australian fighter jets, including F-35A Lightning IIs, F-22 Raptors, F/A-18F Super Hornets, EA-18 Growlers, and F-16Cs.
“This is the most consequential theater with the most challenging security issues…and advancing our interoperability with critical allies like Australia is critical to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. There are many aspects that are going on daily to continue to move the security relationship forward in a positive way to provide deterrence, prevent war, and maintain peace and stability within the region,” U.S. Navy Admiral John C. Aquilino, the commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, said in a press release.
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/03/china-freaked-out-b-2-bombers-f-35s-and-f-22-stealth-fighters-are-in-australia/
”The Libs have been talking up their chances in Parramatta for months. Suddenly, their star candidate vacates the field without a shot fired.”
Maybe he doesn’t want to go into Opposition.
agre about charlton owins wasnt to woried about deversity then plus they ran Suzie bengerman and Derga owen in 7 hills last 2 elections of endian and shralankin background and lost the owins group are long time criticks of albanese going back to the 1980s on Elliot assume he was to deevisive and hill be parasuted in to sennot
I have paid $0 for fuel in 3 years of transporting myself and family around…..I have paid $0 to service said vehicles. I have paid $0 to keep house buzzing with electricity for the last 3 years…..Solar panels, batteries and EVs the way to go. I estimate that in 2-3 years that large investment will have paid for itself and from then on its free all the way baby,
The Morrison Government is finalising a six figure financial settlement with the ex-lover of Liberal frontbencher Alan Tudge, despite an investigation into the affair clearing him of breaching any ministerial guidelines.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/sixfigure-payout-for-liberal-frontbencher-alan-tudges-exmistress-rachelle-miller/news-story/9a23861a73f5b5f66064f5eeb98a8ef0
in holtIn holt there must of been a deal when Byrn retired he could pick his sucesor from his shopies union ashame a good candadate wasnt selected like the union oficial or even julia foxmor hi profile byrne seemed very low profile for 20 years not doing much to attack the libs and he can pick his sucesor and leave holt badly represented not shore whiy the left faction allways folds to the right it seems jill henasee would of been better in 1999
Hh
Australia is digging itself a very deep and permanent hole if it is lining itself up for a war against China with the US.
BK,
That cartoon is verging on art, I agree.
Last night on the ABC the presenter and journalist we’re discussing whether the government had even dropped the ball on The Solomons/China, perhaps only in the eyes of the government’s political opponents. WTF! After all the government was saying there was little it could’ve done to prevent the advances of a large nation with deep pockets, again, WTF! This was real alternate universe stuff, mind blowingly stupid.
Perhaps the budget cash handouts are providing great cover for this incredibly serious issue.
I keep wondering if we are seeing ‘Peak Authoritarianism’? This monologue by Ari Velshi got me thinking that, with 2/3 of the world under Authoritarian or Dictatorial rule, and the Ukraine/Russia War being classified as the War for Democracy, maybe we are seeing the pushback necessary to put an end to the Authoritarian project?
I hope so.
https://youtu.be/uzSZIOEsvDE
Cronus,
The ABC are suffering from over two decades of Battered Public Broadcaster Syndrome. It’s now almost reflexive for them to take the Coalition’s position on any subject and make excuses for them and harangue Labor.
WB
As BK has featured in the Dawn Patrol, Rex Patrick has now decided that he WILL run again for the Senate. This will make it interesting for Nick Xenophon and his apparent but largely ineffective sidekick Stirling Griff. I hope Rex Patrick gets up.
Another independent, a pro euthanasia campaigner who is close to Patrick is considering running in the seat of Grey.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-29/independent-rex-patrick-to-run-again-for-senate/100938264
I keep wondering if we are seeing ‘Peak Authoritarianism’?
One can hope, but the authoritarian project would receive a big boost should the Republicans win the US Presidency in 2024.
You could also point out that Labor must not feel confident if they feel they need a star candidate to hold Paramatta.
Thanks BK
The stand out story for me was Bongiorno calling out Morrison complaining about Albo being irresponsible fiscally whilst ignoring the $20 B given to employers like Harvey Norman in job-keeper payments and the ROBODEBT disaster, not to mention the “carporks” fiasco of the last election which has been revived for 2022.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2022/03/29/paul-bongiorno-scott-morrison-josh-frydenberg-last-chance/
And Jack Waterford nailed it when he wrote
“Newspoll detail shows how much ground Morrison must retrieve. It has the coalition 10 points behind Labor, in two-party preferred terms: 55 per cent to 45. That is the same with men and women. Among younger voters, 18 to 34, 66 per cent indicated a Labor vote, to the Coalition’s 34. Among those 35 to 49, it was 60 per cent to 40”.
“Morrison’s problem is not of finding the right formula of words to make voters terrified of Albanese or secret Labor agendas. It is of finding the words and actions to persuade voters that the government is deserving of re-election, that it has tapped the popular mood and that it better understands the challenges before the country”.
https://johnmenadue.com/this-is-now-one-for-albo-to-lose/
Steve777 @ #37 Tuesday, March 29th, 2022 – 8:31 am
But by saying that you are buying into the framing that they use, that of the inevitability of it all. I beg to differ and hold out hope that the pendulum starts swinging away from that as Americans begin to realise what the Republicans and the Murdoch global project, because he is a very large part of it, means.
I also hope that we, in Australia, begin that pendulum swing away from Authoritarianism and corruption, in May.
@Itep – it’s a bit concern-troll-y lol
BK and C@T
I enjoyed the parachuting cartoon, but then it also takes me back to my roots.
in my lived experience in the labour market . . .
Phil Coorey’s phrase “A fall in unemployment to the lowest rate since 1974”
is codswallop
Mean girls still leading with multiple articles in the Oz.
So we have in NSW, the party of State Government and National Government unable or unwilling to set a simple set of rules to govern preselection and stick to them. Whether this is by incompetence, corruption or uncontrollable lust for power doesn’t really matter.
The only way to really exercise real democratic power in Australia, if one is so inclined, is to get preselection for either Labor and Liberal parties. But even with barriers to entry, innate filtering systems and the benefit of the existing power structure to weed out undesirables the Liberals in NSW can’t run a process that even pretends to be in anyway fair or democratic, within the rarified party air.
In Victoria the party of State power and the only viable contender for power at the Federal level, and the ‘workers party’ likewise can’t manage to run a simple set of rules to hold within the rarified party air anything like a fair or democratic preselection.
On both sides it is all patronage and networks of power all the way down, power and influence unchecked by reality, unfazed by ‘democracy’ because even though in a functioning democracy both parties wouldn’t even be allowed to run candidates (at least in the failed states if not nationally) in Australia one of them is guaranteed power, and one of them is happy to lose almost all the time which makes the other even happier.
Then we have Paramatta, the explosions of white fragility unwilling and unable to comprehend what is happening.
Which is worse: one, the ALP actually believes there is noone worthy in all of Paramatta, that they need to send in this rich white guy with deep connections, not to the people he wants to represent but to the ruling elite in society and the ruling powerbrokers of the upper ends of the ALP who are most clearly defined by their ability to lose elections no matter how good the conditions and ability to run and hide, shivering in fear from any and every fight.
Or two, there are many people worthy in Paramatta , but f*ck them just f*ck them, we choose this guy.
The tally room article was interesting, acknowledges that it really isn’t about merit at all (softly implies it is choice two just f*ck the rank and file of Paramatta), but that wasn’t really the point, and while i don’t necessarily embrace, without other changes the prescription for reform, it is very obvious that very deep and very extensive reform wouldn’t just be good it is necessary and urgently required.
No wonder Murdoch and the ruling elites in this nonfeudal late capitalism shitshow want us distracted by China and thinking about irrelevant but expensive and profitable toys for what is predominantly a class of very silly or it appears in Australia in many cases across the leadership and at the murdering civilians front line, evil boys.
billie @ #43 Tuesday, March 29th, 2022 – 8:47 am
And when are people going to talk about the quality of the job rather than just silly raw numbers?
This made me laugh this morning.
‘Cancelling’ news keeps readers in the dark
CHRIS MITCHELL
Media consumers are sophisticated enough to understand highly polarised news sources today often refuse to report stories that do not fit their preferred narrative. This is different from the old newspaper tradition of ignoring or shooting down scoops by other papers. The news desk once would assign reporters to speak to people who could pour cold water on a story. Much worse is the modern tendency to “cancel” news that does not fit a media outlet’s narrative.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/cancelling-news-keeps-readers-in-the-dark/news-story/8963eb8c2cf77b96a5c39cbc27e49a24
This whine from a Murdoch Press parrot . And who are these one-eyed media hacks. Well RN Breakfast, ABC News and the Guardian Newspaper of course along with anyone who does not subscribe to the world according to Rupert.
‘Cronus says:
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 8:48 am
Mean girls still leading with multiple articles in the Oz.’
——————————————-
Karvelas raised it twice this morning. I am ready for:
‘Karvelas announces that Albanese’s Budget-in-Reply speech failed to bury Kimberly Kitching!’
C@tmomma @ #23 Tuesday, March 29th, 2022 – 8:48 am
It’s all you going to hear out of Frydenberg’s fat-fuck grinning face today.
WeWantPaul
How’s Bandt going with his costings for increasing everyone’s wages, building a million houses and giving everyone free health care, free education and free dental care, closing down the uranium industry, cotton industry, irrigation industry, native forestry industry, feedlot industry, rodeos, defence industry, etc. etc. etc?