One last federal voting intention poll for the year, it seems, contrary to the expectations expressed in my previous post. This one is a poll for the Financial Review from Freshwater Strategy, which has previous conducted New South Wales and Victorian state polls for the paper, the latter of which made a pretty good stab at the result three weeks out. This poll has Labor leading 54-46 on two-party preferred, with Labor at the Coalition at 37% apiece on the primary vote, the Greens on 12% and One Nation on 4%. Anthony Albanese records a favourable rating of 48% and unfavourable of 30%, while Peter Dutton is on 29% and 38%, with Albanese leading 55-29 on preferred prime minister.
The poll also finds support for an Indigenous voice at 50% with 26% opposed, with 63% saying they were aware of the proposed referendum compared with 37% for unaware. Forty per cent believed voters had sufficient information, with 50% saying they did not. Other findings related to the proposed cap on gas prices, which was supported by 56% and opposed by 20%. Sixty per cent expressed support for extracting and using more domestic gas with 22% opposed; given a head-to-head choice between a cap on prices and increasing the supply of energy, the result was an effective tie at 40% to 39%. An issue salience question produced the familiar finding that cost-of-living was far and away the greatest concern, with 71% choosing it when asked to offer three responses.
The poll was conducted online from Friday to Sunday with a sample of 1209.
Constitutional referendum polling is more useful with state by state breakdowns, of which I have not seen any yet.
“Freshwater Strategy: 54-46 to Labor (open thread)
A late federal polling entry for the Financial Review records a slightly narrow Labor lead than other pollsters”…
I remain quite happy with that “narrow lead”. As the end of the year approaches, the heavy artillery, drones and missile attacks from the usual pro-Coalition media have caused no relevant damage to the defences and capacity to counterattack of the ALP federal government… and next year there will be plenty of initiatives to further advance into and occupy “enemy” territory… This looks like it’s going to be a 3-year “honey moon”, followed by an increase in the ALP primary vote and 2PP at the next federal election, as compared with the 2022 federal election.
So far, so good….
Tom, you are indeed the first …
Historically, is there really much variability in state-by-state voting on referendum questions?
Material differences, that is, greater than the margin of error of state-level polls?
“given a head-to-head choice between a cap on prices and increasing the supply of energy, the result was an effective tie at 40% to 39%.”…
That “choice” is a bit artificial, isn’t it? If the government owns gas resources, they could simultaneously cap prices (when required due to a national emergency) and increase supply of energy. Some strategic sectors should not be privatised and left to the vagaries of the markets. Other sectors can be, not a problem.
MARKETS: Tesla stocks up 4.8% in premarket trade as a Twitter poll majority votes for Elon Musk to step down as the platform’s chief executive.
Artificial indeed, Alpo.
Coorey selects this result to lead off his article: “Almost two in three voters support Australia developing more of its natural gas reserves”.
One might almost think that the AFR is pushing a pro-gas industry line …
“The poll also finds support for an Indigenous voice at 50% with 26% opposed, with 63% saying they were aware of the proposed referendum compared with 37% for unaware.”
So, if those 37% of unawares split 50%-50% between Yes and No, should we expect the Voice to pass with the support of about 67% of the voters?… That’s quite likely, given that the official campaign on TV has not even started yet, and the government hasn’t produced informative ads on the referendum to be distributed urbi et orbi through the various media.
Where is Dutton?… Hasn’t anybody told him that the leader of the opposition can’t make himself invisible?… For a leader of the opposition, invisibility means irrelevance and bashing at the next federal election…. Oh well, if he is happy with that… “Never interfere with an enemy while he’s in the process of destroying himself”…
“PREMIER Dominic Perrottet has delivered a stunning ultimatum to his cabinet, warning them the next person to leak internal discussions will be denied a ministry if the government is re-elected.”
“Vladimir Putin has travelled to Belarus to meet the Belarusian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, as fears grow in Kyiv that Moscow is pushing its closest ally to join a new ground offensive against Ukraine.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2022/dec/19/russia-ukraine-war-live-news-drone-strike-on-kyiv-uk-to-announce-new-artillery-package
What should NATO do if Belarus officially enters the war on the side of Putin, and joins Russian forces to invade Ukraine from the North?
Jan. 6 committee recommends four criminal charges against Trump
The House panel unanimously urged the Justice Department to pursue Trump for inciting an insurrection, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiring to defraud the US government and making false statements.
“The committee has developed significant evidence that president Trump intended to disrupt the peaceful transition of power under our Constitution,” Representative Jamie Raskin said as he outlined the panel’s findings.
“We believe that the evidence described by my colleagues today, and assembled throughout our hearings, warrants a criminal referral of former President Donald J. Trump,” Raskin said.
https://www.rawstory.com/jan-6-committee-recommends-four-criminal-charges-against-trump/
As Belarus isn’t in NATO then Belarus can do what it wants and NATO still cannot retaliate.
https://www.pollbludger.net/2022/12/20/freshwater-strategy-54-46-to-labor-open-thread/#comment-4034293
Yeah, like trying to get a child to eat VEGGIES. These or these, and then …
The govs have quite a few options, be it state or federal, downstream or upstream.
Retail price gaps, wholesale gaps, unlinking from global cartel benchmarks, royalties, reservation, the immediate benefit of exploration seems irrelevant.
Less fossil fuels, even transitionary ones, more renewables.
Nine/ FewFacts/ 2GB/ sCam …
I guess it’s just another ‘witch hunt’ 🙄
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-referred-for-criminal-prosecution-over-us-capitol-attack-20221220-p5c7lo.html
First honeymoon ever with 37% primary vote.
“C@tmomma says:
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 6:44 am
As Belarus isn’t in NATO then Belarus can do what it wants and NATO still cannot retaliate.”
Restraint from NATO has nothing to do with the legality of retaliation, it’s merely strategic. NATO only needs to respond to direct requests from Ukraine for intervention, as they will be operating in Ukrainian territory in the case of a Belarus-Russia invasion. Neither Russia nor Belarus have any internationally sanctioned legal ground to support their invasion of Ukraine, whereas NATO would be supported by a direct invitation from the legitimate government of Ukraine.
C@tmomma @ Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 6:44 am:
“As Belarus isn’t in NATO then Belarus can do what it wants and NATO still cannot retaliate.'”
=========================
Disagree. NATO has launched several operations in Europe, involving both defence of, and attacks upon, non-NATO members. Take the war between Serbia and Bosnia/Herzegovina in 1992-1995. Neither Serbia nor Bosnia-Herzegovina were or are in NATO, yet NATO performed the following operations (along with multiple naval blockades and peacekeeping forces):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NATO_operations
1. Operation Sky Monitor, 16 October 1992 –12 April 1993, Bosnian airspace:
Established a no-fly zone over the airspace of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Effectiveness of the no-fly zone is debatable as by April 1993 500 violations (by all sides) of the no-fly zone had been recorded. NATO members voted for an “all necessary measures” resolution by the United Nations to allow NATO a mandate to enforce the no-fly zone more stringently.
2.Operation Deny Flight, 13 April 1993 –20 December 1995, Bosnian airspace:
Resolution 816 extended the ban to cover flights by all fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft over the country, and to use all measures necessary to ensure compliance with the ban. Resolution 836 authorized the use of force by UNPROFOR in the protection of specially designated UN “safe areas”.
3. Operation Deliberate Force, 30 August – 20 September 1995, Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Involving approximately 400 aircraft, Deliberate Force targeted at the Army of Republika Srpska whose presence in Bosnia posed a danger to United Nations “safe areas”.
“Lars Von Trier says:
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 6:55 am
First honeymoon ever with 37% primary vote.”
So?… What’s in the 54% 2PP that you don’t understand?
Never ever forget, it was the brouhaha about the “dwindling primary vote” for the “duopoly” that led the usual suspects to predict a “hung parliament” in 2022… How did that prediction go?… 🙂
Alpo @ Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 7:02 am:
“Restraint from NATO has nothing to do with the legality of retaliation, it’s merely strategic. NATO only needs to respond to direct requests from Ukraine for intervention, as they will be operating in Ukrainian territory in the case of a Belarus-Russia invasion. Neither Russia nor Belarus have any internationally sanctioned legal ground to support their invasion of Ukraine, whereas NATO would be supported by a direct invitation from the legitimate government of Ukraine.”
==============================
Yes. And there have definitely already been multiple such direct invitations from Kyiv. NATO can start bombing Russian (and Belarusian, if they directly enter) military targets whenever it likes, I think without need for any further warning.
“ While the January 6 committee’s decision does not hold any legal weight or require the Justice Department to take any action, it nonetheless sends a powerful sign that it believes the former president committed certain crimes and must be held to account.”
It does make me wonder therefore where all this will really end. My suspicion is that Trump is more likely to face justice from courts in states such as New York or Georgia.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-referred-for-criminal-prosecution-over-us-capitol-attack-20221220-p5c7lo.html
Further to the Belarus-Ukraine border tensions issue: In the end, I guess that this is another one of those silly and infantile Putin’s ploys to divert Ukrainian defence resources away for the Eastern front, giving an opportunity to Gen. Sergey Surovikin to mount a more effective counterattack there. Unfortunately for little Vlad, the Ukrainians know perfectly well how the Russians think!!
I’m amazed that 37% of those sampled are unaware of the Voice referendum. That’s a bit of a worry. They would be the ‘low information’ voters who would be most mostly likely to be swayed by a very noisy and well-funded scare and disinformation campaign (“they’re coming for your backyard”). We know that one is coming.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Donald Trump has become the first former US president to face criminal referrals from a Congressional committee, after a damning probe into last year’s Capitol riot recommended prosecution for insurrection, conspiracy, false statements, and obstruction.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/19/trump-criminal-charges-jan-6-panel-capitol-attack
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-referred-for-criminal-prosecution-over-us-capitol-attack-20221220-p5c7lo.html
Matthew Knott writes that Australia is coming in from the cold with Penny Wong’s Beijing winter mission.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-comes-in-from-the-cold-with-wong-s-beijing-winter-mission-20221219-p5c7gp.html
It’s good that Foreign Minister Penny Wong is going to China to meet her counterpart, Wang Yi. She must battle now, though, the danger of false and unrealistic expectations, writes Greg Sheridan who concludes his contribution with, “Partly because her style is calm and measured, Wong is temperamentally well suited to handle these paradoxes. But whatever happens this week, don’t think for a moment our troubles with China are ending any time soon.”
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/big-challenge-now-will-be-to-manage-expectations/news-story/8297c890156e353f19c17b5c1bf65495
In quite a good read, Nick Bryant wonders what are in the Australian tea leaves as we close out this intensely political year.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-has-a-habit-of-sensing-global-political-shifts-so-what-s-coming-20221218-p5c7a9.html
Union-brawling Qantas chief Alan Joyce has capitulated to pay rises of up to 33% over five years in a deal struck with the Aircraft Engineers’ Association. Michael Sainsbury has the scoop.
https://michaelwest.com.au/alan-joyce-relents-to-more-than-double-pay-deal-in-its-fight-with-qantas-engineers-union/
In 2023, announcements from Canberra on foreign affairs, defence, and trade will come thick and fast. They can be expected to be regressive, in contrast to the Albanese government’s positive domestic agenda, writes Alison Brionowski who says we can expect some epiphanies on Australian defence policy this coming March.
https://johnmenadue.com/expect-epiphanies-in-march/
The bluffs of two of the most powerful industries in Australia have been called – one each by each side of politics. Federal Labor has taken on the fossils of the fossil fuel industry and the NSW Liberals have taken on the gaming industry. It is a significant power shift, writes Crispin Hull who says it’s now time to meet the military with political resistance.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8024660/when-the-going-gets-tough-call-their-bluff/?cs=14258
A bare six months after being elected, the Albanese government has surrendered almost all of the moral advantage it held over the public administration, and most of the moral advantage it held over the coalition, writes Jack Waterford who says, “Morrison’s abandonment of honest government made it imperative that he lose office. But Labor has yet to show any great reforming enthusiasm, or higher ideals of public stewardship.”
https://johnmenadue.com/labor-lets-its-moral-mandate-wither-away/
Anthony Albanese has the last laugh in a busy 2022, write Matthew Franklin.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2022/12/19/albanese-last-laugh-in-busy-2022/
Researcher in clinical psychiatry, Ian Hickie, argues that halving the number of subsidised psych sessions is the right call.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/halving-the-number-of-subsided-psych-sessions-is-a-good-idea-20221218-p5c7ad.html
They’ve been waiting for a decade or more, but now many of the asylum seekers who arrived by boat in the Rudd/Gillard years will no longer be in limbo, reports NineFax about the more than 19,000 refugees set to qualify for permanent residency
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/i-can-see-my-family-again-more-than-19-000-refugees-to-qualify-for-permanent-residency-20221216-p5c6wr.html
Developer John Woodman will be given more time and information to respond to the state integrity watchdog’s draft findings against him over allegedly crooked land deals in Melbourne’s south-east, after the Supreme Court released its previously confidential judgment in his favour on Monday. Justice Tim Ginnane ordered the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) provide Woodman with footnotes supporting adverse findings from Operation Sandon, a long-running investigation centred on development approvals by Casey Council.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/developer-wins-legal-battle-against-ibac-but-now-comes-the-war-20221213-p5c61c.html
Australia is failing to tap into a talented workforce already in the country, according to two analyses of the country’s immigration system, and increasing overseas migration will bring billions more in economic growth. Rachel Clun reports that KPMG found lifting net overseas migration by a total 265,000 over the next five years would boost the Australian economy by up to $35 billion. In its submission to the government’s immigration review, the firm also recommended creating better pathways to permanency for foreign students.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/calls-for-migration-system-refresh-as-australia-grapples-with-skills-crisis-20221219-p5c7ht.html
Brian Houston has told a court he now has “no doubt” that his father Frank was a “serial paedophile” – and that it’s possible he even moved the family to Australia in the 1970s to get away from what he had done to young boys in New Zealand. Lenny Noyes reports on yesterday’s trial proceedings.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/no-cover-up-what-brian-houston-knew-about-10-000-payment-20221219-p5c7co.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/19/frank-houston-committed-child-sexual-abuse-at-a-time-when-he-felt-emotionally-low-court-hears
Surveillance expert Ausma Bernot explains the many ways in which we are constantly being watched and our data is being used.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/big-data-how-we-are-being-watched–all-the-time,17087
There are signs that Elon Musk is trying to restructure the mountain of high-cost debt he took on to acquire Twitter, with his own actions post-acquisition further undermining the platform’s already-shaky finances, explains Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-foundations-of-elon-musk-s-digital-town-square-are-wobbling-20221219-p5c7c0.html
Election results over the year now ending offer grounds for hope for democracy, as Alan Austin reports.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/voters-everywhere-made-the-world-a-safer-place-in-2022,17085
Melissa Singer reports that hundreds of employees at The Iconic, one of the nation’s biggest online fashion and lifestyle retailers, were underpaid $1 million while some were forced to work in a warehouse so cold that models’ hands had to be edited in photos, so they were the same colour as the rest of their skin. Enough for the company to be nominated for “Arseholes of the Week”.
https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/1m-missing-wages-and-blue-hands-the-ugly-side-of-working-for-the-iconic-20221219-p5c7cw.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
David Pope
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
Dionne Gain
John Shakespeare
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
I still do not believe NATO will put boots on the ground if Belarus agrees to join Russia in it6s invasion of Ukraine. They may agree to do the sorts of things that Macarthur has mentioned but I don’t even know that doing something like that will be successful in this instance as Russia has been firing its Cruise Missiles from ships in the Black Sea. Also, America doesn’t want its troops involved directly and I don’t know how many other NATO countries do, maybe Poland, maybe the Baltic States. However, that would surely precipitate a much larger conflict, which no one seems to want.
Thanks BK
Matthew Knott writes that Australia is coming in from the cold with Penny Wong’s Beijing winter mission.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-comes-in-from-the-cold-with-wong-s-beijing-winter-mission-20221219-p5c7gp.html
—————————————————————————————-
And yet another positive step to finish the year for Labor. It must be challenging for Wong having to dismantle the brick walls and moats built up around our region by the Coalition over almost a decade before she undertakes the critical work of improving our reputation and building our alliances and relationships. It makes her job twice as hard but she seems extremely well suited to the task.
Another way to drag out a corruption inquiry.
Give the subject of the inquiry the opportunity to see draft reasons and respond then argue in court about it.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/developer-wins-legal-battle-against-ibac-but-now-comes-the-war-20221213-p5c61c.html
Where we differ I think is that I see it as part of a growing systemic bias against boys/men in general and you don’t. To me the whole idea that you can rectify one form of systemic bias by introducing another,
————————————
I think that is right. Firstly, in my experience (with one girl at primary and one at high school) I don’t see any positive discrimination toward them. In one case, the main focus of the schools attention is the boys who are disrupting the class – the teacher and school time is consumed by them. There are 3 smarties in the class – two are boys and the teacher manages to give them the attention they need but would give them more if she had time. But almost all the other boys are a problem and yes, it needs examination (more male teachers needed maybe?) but it has nothing to do with feminism or fixing gender discrimination in society.
As I understand it, your second point extracted above is a critique of positive discrimination. Quotas? Yes, I am all for careful use of temporary quotas where it is desperately needed (eg politics). But this isn’t a cure all. For me, the problem is too much segregation that too often is led by bad eggs. Boys in groups led by f wits (from schoolboys to sport teams to execs). It isn’t all male groupings – I have played in male only sport clubs and we were led by strong male role models who demanded we show respect to everyone, especially women. Their masculinity was a clearly visible internal strength of character. It is why the term toxic masculinity came about to differentiate a “Masculinity” that defines its power in opposition to women. Toxic masculinity is indeed going to be threatened by the removal of sexism. That is a problem but it isn’t to be pandered to. Boys at schools? Yes, more focus needed.
Good morning all.
Thank you, BK.
I add this link to your Dawn Patrol.
It is the official view of where things stand between China and Australia.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202212/1282181.shtml
C@tmomma says:
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 7:26 am
I still do not believe NATO will put boots on the ground if Belarus agrees to join Russia in it6s invasion of Ukraine. They may agree to do the sorts of things that Macarthur has mentioned but I don’t even know that doing something like that will be successful in this instance as Russia has been firing its Cruise Missiles from ships in the Black Sea. Also, America doesn’t want its troops involved directly and I don’t know how many other NATO countries do, maybe Poland, maybe the Baltic States. However, that would surely precipitate a much larger conflict, which no one seems to want.
——————————————————————————————-
Agreed C@T, the moment NATO formally puts boots on the ground the entire scenario changes. After 20 unsuccessful years in Afghanistan and wounded internally by Trump, the US is tired and not psychologically we’ll positioned at the point to commit to a fully declared war on even a weakened Russia. It wouldn’t necessarily even make sense for Putin to enlist Belarus because the minor increase in capacity risks a larger war with NATO that Russia can’t win. And as mentioned before, US war with Russia would vacate the space for China to take advantage in Taiwan should it choose.
Boerwar says:
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 7:44 am
Good morning all.
Thank you, BK.
I add this link to your Dawn Patrol.
It is the official view of where things stand between China and Australia.
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202212/1282181.shtml
—————————————————————————————-
Thanks for that link.
Seems perrottits threat was aimed at david elliott who made another rant yesterday claiming sexizm because his chief of staff tania rafale has no chance in paramatter his factional chief allex hawke chose to save ray williams and mark Tayler key allies in stead of elliott who is not as loil to hawwke this is the same elliott who weaponised aligations against luke foley with out consent as he was woried labor was about to win
Snapshot of UK voting intention: LAB: 49% (+1) CON: 23% (-6) LDEM: 13% (+6) GRN: 3% (-) via @IpsosUK, 07 – 13 Dec
“C@tmomma says:
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 7:26 am
I still do not believe NATO will put boots on the ground if Belarus agrees to join Russia in it6s invasion of Ukraine.”
A joint Russia-Belarus invasion, if serious and real, will obviously have the objective of taking and controlling Kiev. Although the attempt failed at the beginning of the war, it may not now unless the capacities of Ukraine are seriously enhanced. That may require a NATO direct intervention, against which the Russians can do nothing. They can’t accuse NATO of anything, and they can’t retaliate with an escalation to involve NATO countries territory when they haven’t even been able to secure the allegedly “ethnic Russian” Donbass region. That is why this is probably a distractive manoeuvre.
As for the ultimate escalation involving the nuclear arsenals, not for nothing the Western military are in direct contact with the Russian military, completely by-passing the politicians. The military will finally decide whether to pull the Armageddon trigger, and they are best qualified to understand the consequences… Just as it happened in ancient Rome: Mad emperors ended up eliminated by the Praetorian guard, and a new emperor given the chance to get the country back on track.
Alpo @ Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 7:16 am:
“Further to the Belarus-Ukraine border tensions issue: In the end, I guess that this is another one of those silly and infantile Putin’s ploys to divert Ukrainian defence resources away for the Eastern front…”
============
Alpo, that looks most likely. Russia is much weaker now than on Feb 24, and Ukraine is much stronger (militarily) and, more importantly, better prepared for an assault in that direction. If Putin actually attacked from Belarus, I can’t see it working for him any better than last time.
C@tmomma @ esday, December 20, 2022 at 7:26 am:
“I still do not believe NATO will put boots on the ground if Belarus agrees to join Russia in it6s invasion of Ukraine.”
=====================
Completely agree. It would take an intentional strike of significant magnitude upon a NATO country to provoke NATO into ground assaults in this theatre.
#weatheronPB
Step into cool air.
Look up into cool blue sky.
Where have the clouds gone?
Alpo @ Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 7:56 am:
“As for the ultimate escalation involving the nuclear arsenals, not for nothing the Western military are in direct contact with the Russian military, completely by-passing the politicians. The military will finally decide whether to pull the Armageddon trigger, and they are best qualified to understand the consequences… Just as it happened in ancient Rome: Mad emperors ended up eliminated by the Praetorian guard, and a new emperor given the chance to get the country back on track.”
==========================
Alpo, this is an excellent point we in the West would all do well to remember. Putin’s state of mind is less relevant in considering possibilities of nuclear escalation than it is for levels of escalation which fall short of that point.
Elon Musk was with Jared Kushner and the Saudi leadership at world cup final……
You gotta wonder
—–
What did Elon do very early? Alienated his Tesla customer base? Why? Who has a vested interest in fossil fuels? Who did he just meet with? He’s owned somehow.
Morning all, thanks for the roundup BK. Obviously a lot of journos are already on holidays, unlike Penny Wong… what a great Foreign Minister we now have.
My first comment was on the lead-in survey in the AFR
“ A late federal polling entry for the Financial Review records a slightly narrow Labor lead than other pollsters, while recording strong support for an Indigenous voice and a cap on gas prices.”
This all sounds plausible. It does not explain why the AFR keeps portraying the gas price cap like some sort of reversion to communism when the paper’s own survey says it is the clear preference of the Australian community? Why can’t AFR writers read the room from their own data?
https://www.insider.com/elon-musk-and-jared-kushner-seen-together-at-world-cup-final-in-qatar-2022-12
Second I think this article questioning the direction of Defense policy may be a bit pessimistic. It correctly points out the too closely pro-USA policy at present, but then wonders what might change in the coming months.
https://johnmenadue.com/expect-epiphanies-in-march/
Yet only yesterday the SMH reported Albo in an interview making some significant and sensible changes clear, like backing away from billions on AFVs.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-need-to-be-prepared-to-invest-albanese-highlights-need-for-subs-not-tanks-20221214-p5c6ah.html
Only a mere 4 years since an Aust Foreign Minister visited China.
They are trying to spin it as if it’s been 54 years.
I guess he’s staying on.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/dec/19/elon-musk-says-step-down-twitter-ceo-poll-tesla
Scrolling through my mastodon feed last night after a week away from it, I noticed how it had changed since I first started exploring there 6 or 7 weeks ago. It’s still mostly respectful, not unlike PB. But there’s more going on now. The lack of algorithmic “help” still means you have to do a bit more work to find what you want, but it’s not hard. (For anyone still contemplating, the biggest tip I can offer is to follow accounts less and follow hashtags more.)
Now that it is Labor negotiating with China, you never hear about the Uyghurs.
It wasn’t just the Saudis Musk was with in Doha.
“Elon Musk is posing for a selfie with a top Russian state propagandist Nailya Asker-zade in Qatar. She is a girlfriend of sanctioned Putin’s private banker Andrey Kostin.”
If Elon can’t repay his debts, he’d better stay away from open windows on the upper floors of high buildings, as well as bone-saws.
“Taylormade says:
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 8:41 am
Only a mere 4 years since an Aust Foreign Minister visited China.
They are trying to spin it as if it’s been 54 years.”
You don’t seem to understand how fast the world can run these days… Much distance can be covered (in the positive or negative direction) in a very short time. Scomo was a complete disaster for our Sino-Australian bilateral relationship… But we have Penny Wong now in charge of our diplomacy, and the relationship can be rebuilt.
Step by step we will completely obliterate the negative legacy of the Liberal party… until it’s all gone…. in a puff of smoke!
🙂
Lols Taylormerde.
Spiteful, nasty to the last.
The body that will replace the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) could be up and running as soon as October next year.
The boss of the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), which represents many AAT workers, has been assured by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus that staff will be offered jobs at the new body with equivalent pay.
The union has also been promised that staff will have a say in the consultation process to design the new body.
This former Victorian minister has a good way of putting things.
“Martin Pakula@MartinPakula
Jeremy’s going to be more careful, in that he might not seek to have his darkest thoughts published in a major daily newspaper. He’ll still think them mind you, whilst lying awake at night grinding his teeth…”
“nath says:
Tuesday, December 20, 2022 at 8:48 am
Now that it is Labor negotiating with China, you never hear about the Uyghurs.”
If you don’t hear about the Uyghurs it’s because the media are not interested on the topic, and the media are NOT controlled by the ALP, not even the progressive The Guardian (that leans far more to Greens and Teals).
What about the media being controlled by Big Businesses which don’t want to upset China, lest their financial deals with that country are compromised?… Surely the Uyghurs’ freedom can’t stand on the way of some juicy profits for the private, Liberal-party loving, Big companies?