With a fortnight ago before the resumption of parliament, and what I presume will be the return of Newspoll to accompany it, two items to kick off a new week:
• The Australian reports SEC Newgate’s monthly Mood of the Nation survey finds “nearly four out of every ten” respondents believe the new government has done an excellent or good job so far, with 31% choosing the middle option of “fair” and 26% going for poor or very poor. It also finds a sharp increase in expectations that the economy will get worse over the next three months, up from 36% a month ago to 57%, with only 8% expecting it to improve, down from 13%. Given a long list of potential contributors to rising electricity prices, 42% thought “Morrison government inaction” a “large contributor” compared with 30% for “Albanese government inaction”.
Forty-seven per cent felt the Reserve Bank’s 0.5% interest rate hike last month (as distinct from the second hike last week) appropriate, with 31% thinking it too high and 9% too low. Sixty per cent said they were positive about transitioning to renewables and 55% believed progress had been too slow, compared with only 19% for negative and 17% for too fast. Sixty-one percent rated the 5.2% minimum wage increase appropriate, with 29% thinking it too low and only 10% too high. Regular questions on issue salience recorded mounting concern over cost of living, now rated extremely important by 68% (up five on last month), moving ahead of health care (down three to 61%). Forty-two per cent rated Labor best to manage the issue, compared with 23% for the Coalition. The survey was conducted June 23 and 27 from a sample of 1201.
• Linda Silmalis of the Sunday Telegraph reports “fresh gossip in Canberra this week” that Andrew Constance, the former state government minister who narrowly failed in his bid for Gilmore at the May 21 federal election, could be a nominee to fill the New South Wales Senate vacancy that will be created if rumours of Marise Payne’s imminent retirement come to pass. Others who reportedly might be interested include Dave Sharma and Fiona Martin, also on the job market after their respective defeats in Wentworth and Reid.
Cronus:
Yes, total delusion. Some sectors are still experiencing workforce shortages because of Covid absences. Higher rates of the virus among the population is only going to make that worse.
for what its worth
upcoming elections in eu countries & usa :-
september :
– parliamentary elections : Sweden.
– regional & local elections : czech republic.
october :
– parliamentary elections : latvia & bosnia-herzegovina.
– presidential elections : slovenia
– regional & local elections : germany.
– regional & local elections : poland.
november :
– regional & local elections : slovenia.
– mid-term elections : usa
This could be huge, if true..
Closely watched politics-focused news organisation Politico will consider an expansion to Australia, in a move that could shake up the local media landscape’s coverage of federal politics and policy.
Industry sources familiar with the US group’s expansion plans, who spoke anonymously because there is no launch date, said the publication is looking at Australia as a potential market to expand to as part of broader ambitions to move into the Asia Pacific.
Ryan Heath, journalist and one-time advisor to former environment minister and Midnight Oil frontman, Peter Garrett, was appointed as the news organisation’s editorial director for global growth earlier this year.
Politico declined to comment. Politico is a centre-left media website which also has a weekly printed magazine and runs radio and podcasts. It bills itself as a “global authority on the intersection of politics, policy and power.”
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/politico-mulls-possible-foray-into-australian-media-landscape-20220708-p5b05i.html
I wouldn’t class Politico as ‘Centre Left’, though I guess that’s an Australian perspective. I see it as absolutely down the centre line. It doesn’t paint a rosy picture of the Left or the Right. It seems to be as factual in its reporting as possible. So it’s a good thing, therefore, if it comes to Oz.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
The Albanese government would like to reframe the national conversation, so the language of politics has shifted. But with great change comes great expectation, and risk, opines Sean Kelly in quite an interesting contribution.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/word-s-out-labor-s-brave-new-world-comes-with-its-own-language-20220710-p5b0fl.html
Beijing has laid the blame for three years of spiralling relations with Australia on the former Coalition government, clearing the way for a more stable dialogue with Labor.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/china-blames-coalition-government-for-difficulties-with-australia-proposes-four-point-plan-20220710-p5b0iy.html
China’s Foreign Minister has issued Penny Wong with a four-point list of actions Australia must take to get the relationship “back on the right track” and said the Coalition government was the “root cause” of Canberra and Beijing’s spectacular bilateral breakdown.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/china-issues-new-demands-to-restart-ties-with-australia/news-story/47cb9bba00d85f4150b088d60cffcab8
Despite the meeting between China and Australia’s foreign ministers in Bali, the Labor government will largely continue the approach of the Morrison government towards China – minus the more excitable rhetoric, says Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/china-offers-a-first-step-but-hostilities-remain-on-both-sides-20220710-p5b0iw
Unable to criticise the substance of what the Albanese government is doing, The Australian takes aim at Albanese’s media staff.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/anthony-albaneses-media-team-still-finding-its-feet/news-story/12403b370ca35d681cc8db4809705c61
According to Lisa Visentin, the Greens will push the Albanese government to expand the scope of its proposed federal anti-corruption watchdog by lowering the bar for launching investigations and giving it the power to probe people and businesses outside of government.
https://www.thege.com.au/politics/federal/greens-to-push-albanese-government-to-broaden-powers-of-anti-corruption-watchdog-20220708-p5b089.html
Further reform is needed to tackle the depth of misconduct shaming Australian politics, other than just launching an integrity commission, writes Tim Dunlop who says an ICAC alone won’t fix our failing democracy.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/icac-alone-wont-fix-our-failing-democracy,16533
For governments, few things are harder than implementing or improving almost any arm of a fully functioning and effective integrity regime. Every such development – including effective freedom of information, an independent auditor-general, Ombudsman, whistleblower protection, an impartial professional and effective public service, an independent anti-corruption commission – appears to government to involve a surrender of part of its power rather than an acknowledgement that it needs to be open and accountable to the people it represents and from whom its power derives, writes David Solomon.
https://johnmenadue.com/integrity-reform-is-difficult-but-essential/
Alan Kohler says we should look to the west to find out how to get the end of coal right.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/07/11/alan-kohhler-end-of-coal/?breaking_live_scroll=1
“We mourn Shinzo Abe as a friend, but the world will miss his wisdom”, says Malcolm Turnbull in an op-ed.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-mourn-shinzo-abe-as-a-friend-but-the-world-will-miss-his-wisdom-20220710-p5b0fg.html
Anthony Albanese didn’t deserve the attacks on his overseas missions, but that doesn’t mean voters won’t prefer he focus on the home front., says Frank Bongiorno who looks at the history of travelling Australian PMs.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/unfairly-or-not-a-globe-trotting-pm-courts-trouble-if-only-menzies-listened-to-his-wife-20220707-p5azzz.html
More women than men voted against the Morrison government and women have continued to drift from the Coalition since the election, according to a new poll. Just 30% of women cast their first preference for the Coalition at the May election, compared with 37% of men, an exit poll of 1,424 voters conducted for the Australia Institute on the evening of the 21 May election found. Paul Karp tells us that a second poll in mid-June found the gender gap had widened to 10 points, with 28% of women saying they would vote for the Coalition, compared with 38% of male voters.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jul/11/more-women-than-men-voted-against-morrison-government-in-federal-election-polling-shows
Australian Labor isn’t alone. Parties of the left are making a comeback, writes Rob Mainwaring.
https://theconversation.com/australian-labor-isnt-alone-parties-of-the-left-are-making-a-comeback-185484
The surprise decision by Steph Ryan, deputy leader of the Victorian Nationals, to prematurely end her political career has turned the spotlight on the party and its role within the Victorian Coalition, writes Jon Faine.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/ryan-exit-a-blow-but-nats-recruitment-shows-libs-the-way-20220708-p5b06k.html
The Reserve Bank doesn’t want to send Australians broke as it hikes rates, but it would like us to feel a little less well off. It thinks we’ll largely be able to cope as it traverses the “narrow road” – as governor Philip Lowe said recently – back to a normal cash rate and lower inflation, writes Rachel Clun who tells us the bank would not be unhappy to see falling house prices.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/reserve-bank-charts-path-to-higher-interest-rates-but-there-may-be-potholes-ahead-20220710-p5b0h4.html
As Christchurch rebuilt after the 2011 earthquakes, the city designated red zones for areas they determined should never be lived in again. Sydney’s flood risk demands a similar response, argues Sam Kernaghan.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-s-flood-risk-equation-must-change-before-it-s-too-late-20220710-p5b0ic.html
Eryk Bagshaw reports that an ultimatum delivered by Vanuatu ahead of the first day of the Pacific Island Forum leaders’ meeting today, is aimed at pushing Labor to take concrete steps after promising regional leaders battling global warming was its top priority after almost a decade of conservative government.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/labor-faces-major-climate-test-under-pressure-from-the-pacific-20220709-p5b0ew.html
Victoria suffered its biggest net loss of residents since the early-90s recession as the COVID prompted a big interstate shift.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/a-mass-migration-victorians-leave-the-state-at-record-rate-in-pandemic-20220710-p5b0fk.html
The Albanese government could face decisions on whether to approve up to 27 coal mining developments, based on applications lodged under national environment laws, reports Adam Morton.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/11/labor-faces-decisions-on-approval-of-up-to-27-coal-developments-including-greenfield-mines-analysis-shows
Major business groups have rejected advice from state and federal chief health officers to consider allowing employees to work from home, warning that the fledgling economic recovery since the end of harsh lockdowns would be jeopardised.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/we-cannot-retreat-businesses-warn-a-return-to-work-from-home-won-t-work-for-them-20220710-p5b0ft.html
Legal services have turned away dozens of clients amid a funding shortfall affecting the sector, reports Nino Bucci who tells us Mark Dreyfus, has indicated he intends to reform the sector, and said in a speech to a legal conference in April that it would be one of “three key matters that I would be working on from week one”.
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2022/jul/11/community-legal-services-turn-clients-away-amid-funding-shortfall-as-family-violence-spikes
Matt O’Sullivan refers to secret papers that reveal the NSW government is embroiled in a dispute with manufacturers over “contentious design issues” for new Spanish-built trains.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/another-multibillion-dollar-nsw-train-project-at-risk-of-delays-cost-overruns-20220629-p5axs0.html
Here is an excellent contribution from James Valentine who ticked the “No religion” box in the last census.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-m-not-religious-but-my-faith-is-beyond-belief-20220707-p5azsc.html
In 2016, more than 20 per cent of Australians took time out of their busy lives to volunteer for one good cause or another. By 2021, this number fell to 15 per cent – a record low, writes Simon Kuestenmacher.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/2022/07/09/volunteering-australia-golden-decade/
Shane Wright tells us that women’s safety ministers will take their last steps towards finalising a 10-year plan to deal with violence against women and children the federal government hopes will put gender issues at the centre of policymaking.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/plan-to-deal-with-women-s-violence-top-of-agenda-when-ministers-meet-next-week-20220710-p5b0hu.html
In a major report, The Guardian tells us how a leaked trove of confidential files has revealed the inside story of how the tech giant Uber flouted laws, duped police, exploited violence against drivers and secretly lobbied governments during its aggressive global expansion.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/jul/10/uber-files-leak-reveals-global-lobbying-campaign
According to Tom Rabe, the NSW government is refusing to make public several documents relating to the process surrounding John Barilaro’s appointment to a US trade posting.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-government-cites-national-security-to-keep-barilaro-documents-secret-20220710-p5b0ir.html
Taxpayers spend billions every year on deductions for property investors, and the Australian Tax Office has some questionable claims in its sights this tax time, explains Tawar Razaghi.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/the-dodgy-tax-deductions-landlords-are-being-warned-not-to-claim-20220708-p5b05f.html
Inflation pressures in the housing sector continue to mount with new figures showing a 10 per cent lift over the past 12 months and there’s no slowdown in sight, says Shane Wright.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/building-costs-soar-10-per-cent-in-a-year-with-no-slowdown-in-sight-20220708-p5b095.html
Australia’s Catholic bishops have agreed to work to elevate the status of women in the Church – including by potentially serving in the ministry as deacons – after a major gathering plunged into chaos over the issue last week, writes Matthew Knott.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/catholic-bishops-backflip-on-status-of-women-in-church-giving-hope-to-reformers-20220710-p5b0hh.html
Britain is falling apart, and it could finish the Tories, says the London Telegraph’s Zoe Strimpel who says that eventually, possibly sooner rather than later, order will be restored – but whoever takes over is going to have a big mess to clean up.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/britain-is-falling-apart-and-it-could-finish-the-tories-20220710-p5b0if.html
With his criminal trial for contempt of Congress approaching, Steve Bannon, an ally of former President Donald Trump who was involved in his plans to overturn the 2020 election, has informed the House committee investigating the Capitol attack that he is willing to testify, according to two letters obtained by The New York Times.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/bannon-facing-jail-and-fines-agrees-to-testify-to-jan-6-committee-20220711-p5b0l3.html
“The Republican party is terrible. So why may Democrats lose to them this year?”, ponders Robert Reich.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/10/republican-party-terrible-democrats-midterms-elections
Cartoon Corner
Megan Herbert
Jim Pavlidis
Mark Knight
Peter Broelman
Leak
From the US
with the aukus deal the two leaders of the alience morrison and johnson are no longer there and wallace wont run for pm think he was johnsons pick he came out of nowhere now only bidon is still president
Thanks muchly BK
Opposition leader the Dark Lord Peter Dutton who is currently holidaying in America has sent his colleagues video footage of him shooting a puppy.
”America is a great place and full of opportunity,” said the Dark Lord. ”Previously I have enjoyed strangling puppies or on the rare occasion drowning them.”
”But, over here with the proliferation of guns I have really enjoyed blowing away a bunch of puppies with a semi-automatic.”
When asked if he were to become Prime Minister would he amend Australia’s World leading gun laws, the Dark Lord said: ”Well an election is a long way away and we will just have to see where the Nation stands in the future.”
https://theunaustralian.net/2022/07/11/dutton-sends-colleagues-holiday-snaps-of-him-shooting-a-puppy/
”
“The Republican party is terrible. So why may Democrats lose to them this year?”, ponders Robert Reich.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jul/10/republican-party-terrible-democrats-midterms-elections
”
It is because of people of USA, who voted in large numbers (~74 millions) for Republican party even after what Trump and Republican party did from 2017-2020.
”
In 2016, more than 20 per cent of Australians took time out of their busy lives to volunteer for one good cause or another. By 2021, this number fell to 15 per cent – a record low, writes Simon Kuestenmacher.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/2022/07/09/volunteering-australia-golden-decade/
”
What could be the reason, I wonder.
To Sean Kelly I would simply reply: No guts. No glory.
If you want to change the way politics has been done for the last 20 years, basically, you’ve got to risk it for the biscuit.
#weatheronPB
Strong light lures me outside.
Collar firmly up, fingers fumbling, I watch
two magpies patrolling past.
”
Aaron newtonsays:
Monday, July 11, 2022 at 7:51 am
with the aukus deal the two leaders of the alience morrison and johnson are no longer there and wallace wont run for pm think he was johnsons pick he came out of nowhere now only bidon is still president
”
Aaron Newton
I want to remind bloggers of PB that Albanese had ‘frank’ discussion with BOJO on plane while on trip to Japan.
Also, Albanese was openly critical of China (trade restrictions and for not criticizing Russia regarding Ukraine invasion), Russia (Ukraine invasion) and USA (gun culture), he was not openly critical of other Asian countries like Japan, Indonesia and India. Just saying.
Holdenhillbilly
Isn’t funny or appropriate.
Ven
‘Frank’ discussions usually mean one person was being critical.
As for Albo’s opinions of other countries, has he been asked for them?
For that matter, do we know what Bandt, Dutton, the indies et al have said about these countries?
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, the federal government’s peak decision-making body for disease control, recommended on Friday that the immunity time for COVID-19 cases be cut to 28 days amid the rise of the new BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants.
Previously, people who had recovered from the virus were exempt from being a close contact or a positive case for 12 weeks.
“BA.4 and BA.5 are associated with increased immune escape and we are likely to see rates of reinfection rise among those who have previously been infected with an earlier COVID-19 variant and those who are up to date with their vaccinations,” AHPPC said in a statement on Friday.
“Given reinfections may occur as early as 28 days after recovery from a previous COVID-19 infection, the AHPPC advises that the reinfection period be reduced from 12 weeks to 28 days.”
Morning all and thanks BK for the roundup. Several notable pieces.
A first comment though on the opinion poll. The turnaround in views on “who is best to manage” type questions matches the election, but is still striking. On cost of living
“ Forty-two per cent rated Labor best to manage the issue, compared with 23% for the Coalition. ”
The former LNP lead on managing national security is also scuppered with Wong and Marles doing a great job.
Thank you, BK
Sunny
Still
-1
‘China’s Foreign Minister has issued Penny Wong with a four-point list of actions Australia must take to get the relationship “back on the right track” and said the Coalition government was the “root cause” of Canberra and Beijing’s spectacular bilateral breakdown.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/china-issues-new-demands-to-restart-ties-with-australia/news-story/47cb9bba00d85f4150b088d60cffcab8‘
——————————————————-
Have the 14 Demands been quietly scaled back to just 4 Demands?
How friendly!
More seriously, the China side is meddling in domestic politics when it blames the previous Australian government for the current imbroglio.
‘Ven says:
Monday, July 11, 2022 at 8:04 am
”
In 2016, more than 20 per cent of Australians took time out of their busy lives to volunteer for one good cause or another. By 2021, this number fell to 15 per cent – a record low, writes Simon Kuestenmacher.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/2022/07/09/volunteering-australia-golden-decade/
”
What could be the reason, I wonder.’
—————————–
A disproportionate number of volunteers come from the Boomer retirees. As the census shows these are dying off as a proportion of the population.
‘Unable to criticise the substance of what the Albanese government is doing, The Australian takes aim at Albanese’s media staff.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/anthony-albaneses-media-team-still-finding-its-feet/news-story/12403b370ca35d681cc8db4809705c61‘
——————————
Sour grapes at losing the drip feed.
Confessions raised some good points on this covid story earlier:
“Major business groups have rejected advice from state and federal chief health officers to consider allowing employees to work from home, warning that the fledgling economic recovery since the end of harsh lockdowns would be jeopardised.”
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/we-cannot-retreat-businesses-warn-a-return-to-work-from-home-won-t-work-for-them-20220710-p5b0ft.html
There are two extremes in covid management between open slather and lockdown. Business keeps lobbying to tip the balance towards open slather and needs to be ignored. We need mass vaccination, regular boosters, and wearing masks in any enclosed spaces with public assembly.
I have tried to spend more time working in town in the past month to keep in contact with people and support CBD businesses. It hasn’t worked. I am isolating for a week for the second time in three weeks as a close contact. Covid is rampant.
Now officially known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, the church was founded by South Korean pastor Sun Myung Moon in 1954 and is known for cultivating ties with conservative politicians around the world. The group has had links to the LDP dating back decades, including to Mr. Abe’s father, former Japanese foreign minister Shintaro Abe.
In recent years, an offshoot of the Unification Church run by the late Mr. Moon’s son, Hyung Jin Moon, has also begun expanding in Japan. The Pennsylvania-based World Peace and Unification Sanctuary Church — also known as the Rod of Iron Ministries — is notorious for its attachment to guns, with members taking part in religious ceremonies holding assault weapons.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-tetsuya-yamagami-japan-prime-minister-shinzo-abe/
Canadian press publish the facts Australian press curate the facts,”a get a religious”.
Look at the heading of the article. The article treats Karen Andrews with utmost respect even in article. Whereas they used to look for gotchas when talking with opposition spokesperson.
https://amp-9news-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.9news.com.au/article/34097648-a7ed-4345-a8f6-7391eb525e80?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIKAGwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16574905810567&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.9news.com.au%2Fnational%2Fshadow-minister-for-foreign-affairs-karen-andrews-issues-stark-warning-about-assassination-of-shinzo-abe%2F34097648-a7ed-4345-a8f6-7391eb525e80
What could be the reason, I wonder.’
—————————–
A disproportionate number of volunteers come from the Boomer retirees. As the census shows these are dying off as a proportion of the population.
________________
Tell me about it!!!!
Finding energetic and capable volunteers nowadays is an impossible task and the work is being left to those oldies who are still upright.
I fear for the future.
”
Boerwarsays:
Monday, July 11, 2022 at 8:42 am
‘Ven says:
Monday, July 11, 2022 at 8:04 am
”
In 2016, more than 20 per cent of Australians took time out of their busy lives to volunteer for one good cause or another. By 2021, this number fell to 15 per cent – a record low, writes Simon Kuestenmacher.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/2022/07/09/volunteering-australia-golden-decade/
”
What could be the reason, I wonder.’
—————————–
A disproportionate number of volunteers come from the Boomer retirees. As the census shows these are dying off as a proportion of the population.
”
Are you implying that other generations are not generous with their time and money?
My son volunteers with me. He comes along to hold me up. 😀
Ven
No, he’s stating facts based on Census data (and there’s a heap of other data to support it, too).
There is a shortage of volunteers. Those left tend to be in the older cohort. In some cases, people are staying on in volunteer positions long after they intended to, simply because they can’t be replaced and the organisation will fold without them.
I’d suggest we need to look at other ways of delivering some of these community services, which might require (gasp) higher taxes in the long run.
Ven
I am stating the facts.
Other than that, we all know that Boomers are evil, greedy and selfish people who have wrecked the planet.
On this article and the story about the need to stop development in the NW Sydney floodplain, I find a frustrating common theme – governments that have largely de-skilled their departments that should have a core group of skilled engineers, then making bad technical management decisions.
“ Matt O’Sullivan refers to secret papers that reveal the NSW government is embroiled in a dispute with manufacturers over “contentious design issues” for new Spanish-built trains.”
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/another-multibillion-dollar-nsw-train-project-at-risk-of-delays-cost-overruns-20220629-p5axs0.html
In the rush to shrink the public service in the 1990s, many departments (in Liberal and Labor governments) got rid of technical engineering positions and relied on technical outsourcing. This has reached the point where many do not even have enough internal engineering skills to write the technical contract, let alone design or build something. It also means policy in technical areas becomes vague and driven by over simplistic economic metrics.
I admit to bias as an engineer who worked in government for the first half of my career. But in recent times I can point to major technical failures in contract delivery in areas ranging from transport, power and water infrastructure to Defence acquisition. It isn’t just the employee headcount. Skills matter.
In the worst cases departments have not only lost the skills, but the ability to train people in those skills.
C@tmomma
That is one type of volunteering. 🙂
Socrates
I like the Christchurch ‘red zone’ no build concept.
Simple, sensible and easy to understand.
Which reminds me. I must add up my volunteer hours!
UK Cartoons:
Clay Jones is the best cartoonist in the USA:
”
zoomstersays:
Monday, July 11, 2022 at 8:32 am
Ven
‘Frank’ discussions usually mean one person was being critical.
As for Albo’s opinions of other countries, has he been asked for them?
For that matter, do we know what Bandt, Dutton, the indies et al have said about these countries?
”
I know what one of the ‘et al’ said. Shoebridge was critical of India.
”
Socratessays:
Monday, July 11, 2022 at 9:00 am
On this article and the story about the need to stop development in the NW Sydney floodplain, I find a frustrating common theme – governments that have largely de-skilled their departments that should have a core group of skilled engineers, then making bad technical management decisions.
“ Matt O’Sullivan refers to secret papers that reveal the NSW government is embroiled in a dispute with manufacturers over “contentious design issues” for new Spanish-built trains.”
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/another-multibillion-dollar-nsw-train-project-at-risk-of-delays-cost-overruns-20220629-p5axs0.html
In the rush to shrink the public service in the 1990s, many departments (in Liberal and Labor governments) got rid of technical engineering positions and relied on technical outsourcing. This has reached the point where many do not even have enough internal engineering skills to write the technical contract, let alone design or build something. It also means policy in technical areas becomes vague and driven by over simplistic economic metrics.
I admit to bias as an engineer who worked in government for the first half of my career. But in recent times I can point to major technical failures in contract delivery in areas ranging from transport, power and water infrastructure to Defence acquisition. It isn’t just the employee headcount. Skills matter.
In the worst cases departments have not only lost the skills, but the ability to train people in those skills.
”
As an Engineer in early days of my career, who was forced to change my career, I agree with you.
Ven
So one other person was critical of one of the countries on your list?
I suggest you need to spread your outrage a little more widely.
House Jan. 6 committee reveals when Pat Cipollone’s video testimony will become public
Cipollone appeared behind closed doors on Friday for several hours and the committee revealed that he did confirm some of the information that was already known.
“In our interview with Mr. Cipollone, the Committee received critical testimony on nearly every major topic in its investigation, reinforcing key points regarding Donald Trump’s misconduct and providing highly relevant new information that will play a central role in its upcoming hearings,” the statement from the committee read.
“This includes information demonstrating Donald Trump’s supreme dereliction of duty,” the statement also said.
https://www.rawstory.com/january-6-pat-cipollone-testimony/
Thanks BK.
Regarding Sean Kelly’s opinion piece, it’s perhaps not surprising in that as a writer he naturally focuses on words. The pen being mighty and all that, and framing politics with framing words is after all the point of politics. So, he gets a no shit sherlock award.
However, he’s right in that the Albanese government feels very different to the Morrison government. There is a sense of a lot being done behind the scenes. It doesn’t feel like a honeymoon period. It almost feels rushed, it certainly feels unusually busy. Politically that can be explained by the urgency needed to repair the damage inflicted by Morrison et al. But as a consequence Albanese’s government doesn’t feel small target. (By comparison too, the Albanese government feels bigger and bolder than its predecessor. Perhaps because the previous government was a no-target government, or perhaps because those targets were mean and hidden. Perhaps it’s just the more open style.)
What this government feels like is full of promise. And there I agree. It’s risky. Promises, even implied, need to be kept.
The UK conservative leadership race is a true horse race. 11 candidates so far and there are still few others looking like throwing there hat into the ring. Seems to be an interesting mix of rich tax cheats and a few with strong military backgrounds.
One aspect about volunteering is that some people who are forced to volunteer to receive jobseeker (or what ever it is called this week) don’t see it as volunteering. They see it as a form of work.
”
Boerwarsays:
Monday, July 11, 2022 at 8:40 am
Thank you, BK
Sunny
Still
-1
‘China’s Foreign Minister has issued Penny Wong with a four-point list of actions Australia must take to get the relationship “back on the right track” and said the Coalition government was the “root cause” of Canberra and Beijing’s spectacular bilateral breakdown.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/china-issues-new-demands-to-restart-ties-with-australia/news-story/47cb9bba00d85f4150b088d60cffcab8‘
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Have the 14 Demands been quietly scaled back to just 4 Demands?
How friendly!
More seriously, the China side is meddling in domestic politics when it blames the previous Australian government for the current imbroglio.
”
Oh no! Only 4 demands. 🙂
what are the 4 demands, anyone know?…Cant/Wont read The Australian
Confessions at 6.26 (previous thread)
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/we-cannot-retreat-businesses-warn-a-return-to-work-from-home-won-t-work-for-them-20220710-p5b0ft.html
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The AI group is not being illogical or delusional – they’re just being themselves. Exposing staff to significant risk while pursuing profit? No problem, situation normal.
I wonder if a legal eagle has explored the degree to which deliberately exposing staff to Covid risk (regardless of official advice/mandates re masks etc) breaches WHS laws? Increasing case numbers, hospitalisations and fatalities should create potential for law suits.
If businesses start losing lawsuits they’ll 1) lobby the govt to change laws to exclude Covid from WHS; and 2) if that doesn’t work or they end up losing too many staff to remain profitable, lobby for a re-start of govt Covid assistance. What they won’t do is make changes they think will threaten their profits.
Arseholes of the century? Probably not – Putin is also a nominee…
Ven,
Isn’t it the same with France and the Pacific nations?
Are they also meddling in Australian domestic politics?
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Barney in Cheratingsays:
Monday, July 11, 2022 at 9:32 am
Ven,
Isn’t it the same with France and the Pacific nations?
Are they also meddling in Australian domestic politics?
”
Barney
Meddling in domestic politics was mentioned by BW, not me.
BTW, Shouldn’t France meddle in domestic politics in Pacific nations as long as they are France colonies?
Thanks BK.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/icac-alone-wont-fix-our-failing-democracy,16533
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I don’t accept the view that our democracy is ‘failing.’ Morrison failed to get anywhere with bullshit Religious Freedom laws. He failed to get anywhere with anti-democratic Voter ID laws. He led his party to a disastrous defeat in an election carried out using compulsory, full-preferential voting: if we’d used FPTP and voted the same way, he’d still be PM.
Our democracy is ‘under threat’ (from the Right) but in the past year has proven far stronger than that in say, the USA.
The French Pacific polities like New Caledonia and Tahiti are part of France. People who live there have French citizenship and vote in French elections, so they are not “colonies”.
This is as far as I can read the article in The Australian.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/china-issues-new-demands-to-restart-ties-with-australia/news-story/47cb9bba00d85f4150b088d60cffcab8
The ABC is more open.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-10/treat-us-as-a-partner-not-a-threat-wang-yi-told-penny-wong/101225434
The four demands seem to be:
* Accept China as a partner.
* Seek common ground.
* Don’t meddle in the Pacific.
* Promote China.
I expect Dutton will seize on these points.
China four demands.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-10/treat-us-as-a-partner-not-a-threat-wang-yi-told-penny-wong/101225434