We’re not likely to see anything on the polling front this week, but there is other electoral news to relate following recent parliamentary vacancies and party defections:
• The Sydney Morning Herald reports preselection nominees to fill the late Jim Molan’s New South Wales Liberal Senate vacancy are likely to include Andrew Constance, former state minister and unsuccessful candidate for Gilmore, and Fiona Scott, who held the lower house seat of Lindsay from 2013 to 2016, together with reported front-runner Dallas McInerney, chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW. Constance and Scott are associated with the moderation faction, while McInerney is a conservative. Mary-Lou Jarvis, lawyer and Woollahra councillor, has also written to senior party figures staking her claim as a qualified woman and the third candidate on the ticket at last year’s election, while also criticising the party’s apparent intention to leave the position vacant until after the state election on March 25.
• The Australian reports the Liberal hierarchy’s hopes of fielding a female candidate for the Aston by-election stand to be complicated by the entry into the field of Emanuele Cicchiello, who is rated a strong chance by sources close to eastern suburbs conservative powerbroker and Deakin MP Michael Sukkar. However, other unidentified sources, “including some with strong Right faction allegiances”, rubbished the notion. Cicchiello is deputy prinicipal of Lighthouse Christian College, a former mayor of Knox and contestant for the seat of Bruce in 2013 and numerous preselections since. All other noted contenders have been women with the exception of Andrew Asten, a former staffer to Alan Tudge, who has since ruled himself out. Anthony Galloway of the Age/Herald reports the matter could be determined by a plebisicite of local members, which have lately proved resistant to female candidates, if the by-election is set for a date that allows sufficient time.
• Victorian Senator Lidia Thorpe’s resignation from the Greens last week marked the first change to party representation in parliament since the election, with the Senate numbers now at Coalition 32, Labor 26, Greens 11, One Nation two, Jacqui Lambie Network two, United Australia Party one and two independents, namely Thorpe and David Pocock. This leaves the government needing two extra votes when the Greens are on board and the Coalition are not, where formerly it needed only one. Thorpe was elected to a six-year term at the election last May, which will extend to the middle of 2028.
The footwork of the women cricketers is vastly superior.
Just been reading about silicosis which is shaping up to be our new asbestosis.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/the-shiny-kitchen-benchtops-killing-young-australians-20230215-p5ckpn.html
Silicosis is worse as it is affecting younger men whose usual employment is curtailed once lung markings are detected.
Plus the added risk of scleroderma which you would not wish on your worst enemy.
It seems unreal that in 2023 with so many laws and risk management initiatives across all workplaces designed to keep employees safe at work, that people are still being asked to work in conditions that, even if you didn’t know the first thing about silicosis seem dodgy.
…
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/the-shiny-kitchen-benchtops-killing-young-australians-20230215-p5ckpn.html
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/support-for-daniel-andrews-rises-as-he-marks-3000-days-in-office-20230219-p5clok.html
Victorians have thrown their support behind the Andrews government since it was re-elected in November, delivering Labor a boost to its primary vote as Premier Daniel Andrews reaches 3000 days in office.
An exclusive survey, conducted by Resolve Strategic for The Age, found Labor’s primary vote had increased by 4 per centage points to 41, up from 37 per cent at the state election less than three months ago.
The data also shows support for the Coalition has dropped from 34 per cent to 30 per cent since the election, giving the Andrews government a commanding lead over the opposition ahead of a parliamentary sitting week.
——————————————————
The more corrupt media attacks Andrews , the more lib/nats lose support
Anyone who is upset with how many Russian soldiers are dying every day should point their finger at the person who is causing them – Putin – and not the messenger. Remember, with a snap of his fingers they can down weapons and get straight out of there, and back to the safety of their own homeland. Where Ukraine is not invading them.
Ukrainian soldiers and civilians, though, cannot be saved from a mere snap of their fingers from anyone on their side. Unfortunately for them, the road to safety lies through the blood of their own blood, and that of Russian soldiers, until Sauron snaps his fingers or Barad-dur falls. So, until these latter events occur, anyone who abhors the shedding of innocent blood should welcome every single Russian belligerent in Ukraine who stops following their orders. Preferably, that will be through surrender or desertion, but for those who don’t, it is more important they be stopped the other way.
Again, this is the moral reality of the situation Putin and his Kremlin have forced upon the people of Russia and Ukraine. There is no point complaining about people who point this out.
Excellent work. More needs to be done to remove the coalition stain on our institutions.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/doing-better-than-the-previous-government-is-often-enough-not-this-time-20230219-p5clmy.html
Nothing but bad news heard Morrison & Co. way …
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/20/robodebt-royal-commission-the-questions-that-remain-as-inquirys-final-public-hearings-begin
Greggery told the hearings in October he anticipated the evidence could show the reason public servants failed to get authoritative advice was because they expected it would be unfavourable. This raised the question of whether the government was “recklessly indifferent to the lawfulness” of the program.
It is likely Kathryn Campbell, the secretary of the Department of Human Services (which ran the scheme) and later the secretary of DSS, will be recalled to give further evidence. Renee Leon, who succeeded Campbell at the DHS, is also expected to be called.
Morrison ‘s claim that his obligation to protect the social security system was his paramount objective is going to go down in flames .
He will have a lot more time for his speaking circuit gigs.
Enough Already
I think the Ukrainian war is the most significant event this century ( so far), that Ukraine must win and they will win. I get my daily update from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asrB1-xw1EM&ab_channel=UkraineNewsTV
But that is enough.
C@tmomma says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 5:05 am
This is a fantastic article on Putin and how he has transformed Russia via the war with Ukraine. I have unlocked it for you to read for free. The man really is putrid:
As the war casualties pile up, Putin and top propagandists extol a fatalistic cult of death, arguing that it is better to die in Russia’s war than in a car accident, from alcoholism or cancer.
“One day we will all leave this world,” Putin told a group of carefully selected women portrayed as mothers of mobilized soldiers in November, many of them actually pro-Kremlin activists or relatives of officials. “The question is how we lived. With some people, it is unclear whether they live or not. It is unclear why they die, because of vodka or something else. When they are gone, it is hard to say whether they lived or not. Their lives passed without notice.”
https://wapo.st/3KCirZN
————————————————————————————————
Thanks C@T, interesting article. There’s almost an element of Jonestown on steroids in this scenario. The population seemingly willingly being led to their destruction by a delusional tyrant.
Scott says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 6:39 am
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/support-for-daniel-andrews-rises-as-he-marks-3000-days-in-office-20230219-p5clok.html
Victorians have thrown their support behind the Andrews government since it was re-elected in November, delivering Labor a boost to its primary vote as Premier Daniel Andrews reaches 3000 days in office.
An exclusive survey, conducted by Resolve Strategic for The Age, found Labor’s primary vote had increased by 4 per centage points to 41, up from 37 per cent at the state election less than three months ago.
The data also shows support for the Coalition has dropped from 34 per cent to 30 per cent since the election, giving the Andrews government a commanding lead over the opposition ahead of a parliamentary sitting week.
——————————————————
The more corrupt media attacks Andrews , the more lib/nats lose support
———————————————————————————————
I can hear Credlin grinding her teeth as I read this 😆
aparently jackqui munrow is now the faverite has the backing of matt kean to replace his closist allie poulos the modderits dont want gibbins who has no has little support other then the premier
given kean helped poulos get the upper house spot and he was keans senyor advisor it seems kean is no longer a factional power brocker its not a good look that his closist backer in parliament has been dumped and his other allie rath moved to unwinable spot
Cronus,
Some not so willingly. The couple talking in a restaurant somewhat negatively about the war being set upon and arrested by the Secret Police after they had been informed upon by other patrons, was indicative of a horrifying progression along the path of those dystopian novels we have all read and films we have seen and a sign of where Australia would definitely have gone as well if we had re-elected the Coalition. Remember how Dutton wanted to introduce those ‘internet defamation laws’? I know what that would have been code for.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Anthony Albanese’s government is using Liberal failure as a justification to quietly remake the country. But that won’t work for every policy area, warns Sean Kelly.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/doing-better-than-the-previous-government-is-often-enough-not-this-time-20230219-p5clmy.html
Adam Bandt’s policy for tackling inflation – demanding Jim Chalmers reverse the Reserve Bank’s cash rate increase early this month – is more likely to entrench it, says the AFR’s editorial which urges the Treasurer to stand up for orthodox economics against the Greens.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/chalmers-must-stand-up-for-orthodox-economics-against-the-greens-20230216-p5ckyl
Alan Kohler opines that the RBA defence of its interest-rate mallet highlights the truth about inequality.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/02/20/rba-interest-rates-kohler/
Jim Chalmers is seeking feedback on a definition for superannuation, setting up a stoush with the Coalition over what exactly those funds should be used for. Rachel Clun tells us that today the federal government is opening up consultation on a proposed objective for superannuation that would be enshrined in law.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-should-your-super-be-used-for-labor-wants-to-end-the-war-20230219-p5cloj.html
The Australian’s Patrick Commins says that far from “ending the super wars”, Jim Chalmers with his proposed objective for super has simply set the markers for coming battles between Labor, big super and the unions on one side, and the opposition and a handful of independent experts on the other.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/instead-of-ending-super-wars-chalmers-setting-up-coming-battles/news-story/2647eb5f818261a95ba0c61a688df2e5?amp
Labor proposes to legislate that “the objective of super is to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way”. Once legislated, future changes to superannuation will need to be consistent with its official objective, though some experts say it will not be binding and questions remain over how it will be enforced, writes Michael Read.
https://www.afr.com/politics/chalmers-to-slam-the-door-shut-on-early-access-to-super-20230219-p5clon
The Guardian outlines the lines of questioning we are likely to see in this last round of robodebt royal commission hearings.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/20/robodebt-royal-commission-the-questions-that-remain-as-inquirys-final-public-hearings-begin
Former ASIC chairman James Shipton writes that ASIC’s remit is too large and it is being asked to do too much with too little. He argues that ASIC is one of the most complex regulatory agencies in the world. And even though many governments extended its jurisdiction, they failed to provide commensurate funding to support its (still) increasing jurisdiction.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/six-possible-solutions-for-a-right-sized-asic-20230216-p5ckym
The AIMN’s Rossleigh provides us with a cynical look at “the amazing Linda Reynolds.
https://theaimn.com/the-amazing-linda-reynolds/
Regional communities face more banking closures, even though some banks have stated they would put such closures on hold, writes Dale Webster.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/westpac-closes-regional-banks-despite-pledges-to-the-contrary,17249
Possibly through gritted teeth, Annika Smethurst writes about a new Resolve poll which shows Victorians have thrown their support behind the Andrews government since it was re-elected in November, delivering Labor a boost to its primary vote as the premier reaches 3000 days in office. The poll found Labor’s primary vote had increased by 4 per centage points to 41, up from 37 per cent at the state election less than three months ago.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/support-for-daniel-andrews-rises-as-he-marks-3000-days-in-office-20230219-p5clok.html
Shaun Carney explains how bypassing political norms put Andrews on the road to longevity.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/bypassing-political-norms-put-andrews-on-road-to-longevity-20230219-p5cln0.html
Daniel Hurst reveals that the Australian government decided to publicly release information about problems with Pacific patrol boats despite a warning from defence officials that this could harm important regional relationships.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/20/labor-overruled-defence-advice-not-to-publicise-problems-with-pacific-patrol-boats-documents-show
The Sydney public hospital now controlled in the Cayman Islands is not subject to penalties for healthcare failures. Michael West reports on calls for a public inquiry into the privatisation and performance of Northern Beaches Hospital.
https://michaelwest.com.au/privatisation-inquiry-call-cayman-island-owners-pay-no-penalty-for-australian-hospital-fails/
The good news for the Murdoch media is that it’s not the most distrusted brand in Australia – despite the efforts of its journalists. The bad news is that – according to the Roy Morgan Research Most Trusted and Distrusted Brands research – it is the fifth most distrusted behind Facebook, Optus, Telstra and Amazon. It just edges out Harvey Norman, whose ads in newspapers provoke much irritation, which rated sixth, writes Noel Turnbull.
https://johnmenadue.com/murdoch-media-problems/
Retail and industrial giant Wesfarmers supports an Indigenous Voice to parliament says chairman Michael Chaney, who reveals the company’s advocacy for the referendum stems from its own experience working with Indigenous staff to tailor jobs and training to better suit teams in remote areas.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/why-wesfarmers-supports-the-voice-and-parliament-should-too-chaney-20230219-p5cln9
A phalanx of SMAge journos have combined to explain how the world has changed since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/how-the-world-has-changed-since-russia-invaded-ukraine-in-2022-20230214-p5ckfn.html
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s wide-ranging inquiry into bank deposits is likely to reignite debate about banks offering new customers better rates than their existing clients receive. Clancy Yeates says a common feature of the banking landscape – and indeed other markets such as electricity – is that businesses often offer new customers a more competitive deal than their existing clients. Some have called this dynamic a “loyalty tax”.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/accc-probe-to-reignite-loyalty-tax-debate-20230217-p5cli9.html
Nobody, least of all the Greens and the Coalition, should be in any doubt that Australia voters endorsed much stronger action on emissions reductions and climate change when they went to the polls in May last year, says the Canberra Time editorial which urges those to parties to back Labor’s climate change bill.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8090138/greens-and-liberals-should-back-labors-climate-bill/?cs=27763
Jacob Greber reports that a group of the nation’s biggest carbon emitters say they can slash their emissions by 92 per cent by 2050, and crucially, do it without a heavy reliance on offsets. The group’s most eye-popping estimate is that the 30-year heavy industry transition needs about $20 billion a year to modernise industrial regions and energy systems, and could generate 1.3 million jobs.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/australia-s-grubbiest-firms-say-they-can-hit-net-zero-and-still-grow-20230219-p5clpi
The RBA does not want to admit there’s an important dimension of inflation that’s beyond the direct control of the central banks, writes Ross Gittins who suspects what’s worrying Lowe is his fear that our big firms will be able keep raising their prices even though his higher interest rates have greatly weakened demand.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-worry-the-reserve-bank-doesn-t-want-to-tell-us-about-20230219-p5clo8.html
Nicholas Stuart writes that Angus Houston and Steven Smith have apparently handed in much more than a political document providing an answer to the PM’s submarine problem. The document establishes a new setting for our forces, foreign relations and, effectively, the way this country will engage with the world. This is a good read.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8088826/buyers-set-to-lose-life-changing-25000-government-grant/
EVs will not stop climate change in themselves, but we must help motorists make the shift, exhorts Clover Moore.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/evs-will-not-stop-climate-change-but-we-must-help-motorists-make-the-shift-20230219-p5clmu.html
The editorial in the SMH says that calls to ban engineered stone kitchen benchtops and similar building products are understandably growing louder. This may be the only acceptable path if we cannot adequately protect workers from a lung condition that is eerily similar to that caused by asbestos in generations past. There are a number of articles on the subject in the masthead this morning.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/shiny-benchtops-come-at-too-great-a-price-20230219-p5clpo.html
Looking at UK politics, George Brandis writes that only a (John) Major comeback can save the Tories.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/only-a-major-comeback-can-save-the-tories-20230214-p5ckdn.html
An excellent contribution here from Mark Kenny on what a desperate Netanyahu is doing in Israel and how its supporters are reacting.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8090656/the-dance-of-democracy-and-deceit-with-the-world-watching/?cs=27845
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Peter Broelman
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Leak
Jimmy Carter still lives, as far as we know, but another great man of the US has passed away overnight.
RIP Richard Belzer aka Detective John Munch: a lead character on Homicide Life on the Streets (precursor to The Wire), Law and Order SVU and a dozen or so cameo appearances on various shows (including The X Files, The Wire and even Sesame Street).
He was a purveyor of conspiracy theories, both in and out of character, so it’s rather wonderful that the character of Munch is a key moving part in the highly amusing Tommy Westphall Universe theory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Westphall
Belzer’s dying words, as reported here, are true to form:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/actor-richard-belzer-law-order-dead_n_63f244d0e4b0a209e8283b39
Thanks BK
“ In some areas, doing better than the previous government is a worthwhile measure. On climate policy, it isn’t. The government may have forgotten that. Others – including the media – should not.”
Although an article covering several areas, Kelly again shows the paucity good of journalism over the past decade by holding Labor to a significantly higher standard of performance. It’s not that higher standards and ambitions are not worthy but rather the hypocrisy of only holding one side of politics to this standard while almost exonerating the Coalition for their mendacity and incompetence. Where was this piercing analysis by the fourth estate for the past decade?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/doing-better-than-the-previous-government-is-often-enough-not-this-time-20230219-p5clmy.html
This is the comment I submitted to Sean Kelly’s article:
‘Mr Kelly appears to have forgotten how the Coalition weaponised Labor’s approach to dealing with Climate Change last time they were in power federally. He seems to believe that Labor could achieve the sort of transformative action now that they could not then. I’m not so sure.
That’s why I believe that, having learnt the lessons from the past, the federal government are determined not to fall into the same traps so that this time the change they effect can become entrenched. And not used by the Coalition to surf to victory again off the back of a scare campaign aided by the business community Sean Kelly disparages so readily.
I have faith in the way the government are approaching things. They know that global heating is the major problem confronting us and this time they simply want to make sure what they do about it succeeds for the long term. And that means doing what it takes to stay in power.’
“ As part of its research, Resolve Strategic also asks voters to explain why they support Labor or the Coalition. The latest survey found those who supported Labor believed the government had a vision for the state and Andrews had shown strong leadership.
“The opposition has no vision for an equitable, socially cohesive state,” one respondent said.”
The similarities between the Federal Liberals and the Victorian State Liberals is striking if not altogether unsurprising. There are none so blind as those who cannot see.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/support-for-daniel-andrews-rises-as-he-marks-3000-days-in-office-20230219-p5clok.html
C@tmomma says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 7:52 am
This is the comment I submitted to Sean Kelly’s article:
——————————————————————————————-
C@T +1.
Leaks cartoon almost funny and not the delusional/nasty stuff he usually vomits up.
‘Daniel Hurst reveals that the Australian government decided to publicly release information about problems with Pacific patrol boats despite a warning from defence officials that this could harm important regional relationships.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/20/labor-overruled-defence-advice-not-to-publicise-problems-with-pacific-patrol-boats-documents-show‘
——————————————
As if people couldn’t figure out the problems for themselves.
Arse covering, pure and simple.
Thank you, BK.
I wonder if that strong showing for Dan Andrews’ Victorian State Labor government will translate to the Aston by-election?
I am willing to bet that the RBA did not raise interest rates until too late in order to minimise damage to the Liberal Party brand.
The Small U.S. Weapon That’s Making Life Miserable for Russia in Ukraine
While everyone is talking about Western tanks, Bradleys, and even F-16s, there is a diminutive U.S. weapon system that is having an outsized impact in Eastern Ukraine.
The Remote Anti-Armor Mine System (RAAM) is a devious bit of U.S. kit that allows an army to seed landmines over a large area from a distance.
The key capability here is that these mines are delivered by a 155mm artillery shell from miles away.
The RAAM artillery shell is stuffed with no less than nine anti-tank mines providing an excellent stand-off area denial capability to Ukraine forces.
These mines can be delivered at ranges from 4 to 17.6 kilometers from the artillery battery position using either the M109, M198, or M777 series howitzers.
The mines are expelled from the rear of the projectile over the target and after impact, the mine is armed and ready to detonate upon sensing an electromagnetic armored vehicle signature.
I already know what you’re thinking…
“But Wes, Ukraine will have to contend with those same mines when they launch a counteroffensive — or even after the war has ended.”
It appears the big brains at the Pentagon have already thought of that.
The RAAM has a self-destruct timer, depending on the model, that can be configured for multiple days or as few as 4 hours. According to the U.S. Army, “if the mines are not initiated during their intended life span, a circuit is activated causing the mines to ‘self-destruct.’”
Of course, statistically, some of these self-destruct circuits will malfunction leaving some mines for Ukraine to have to deal with at the war’s end, but by and large, this is a one-way capability that is making life miserable for the Russians.
https://wesodonnell.medium.com/the-small-u-s-weapon-thats-making-life-miserable-for-russia-in-ukraine-e32dfa7c825
Confessions @ #2557 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 6:53 am
Labor has at least learned something from Rudd’s mistake (or one of them, anyway). But they need to go further. Nearly all government and semi-governmental bodies will need decontamination.
enough already
I this this stuff more interesting. The strategic consequence of the war. In my view this is the reason why the West has decided Russia is going to lose this war. Perun view is Russia have already lost, Ukraine still has to win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bqk8cB9iQ&ab_channel=Perun
phoenixRED @ Monday, February 20, 2023 at 8:20 am:
“The Small U.S. Weapon That’s Making Life Miserable for Russia in Ukraine …”
=============
This is an excellent development – in both senses of the word! 🙂
Thank you, phoenixRED.
C@tmomma says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 8:05 am
I wonder if that strong showing for Dan Andrews’ Victorian State Labor government will translate to the Aston by-election?
——————————-
Also Dutton and the other federal liberal party cronies along with the corrupt media , likely to help Labor as well
frednk says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 8:25 am
enough already
I this this stuff more interesting. The strategic consequence of the war. In my view this is the reason why the West has decided Russia is going to lose this war. Perun view is Russia have already lost, Ukraine still has to win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94bqk8cB9iQ&ab_channel=Perun
=============
Frednk, yes, Perun has been an excellent source of deeply informed analysis during this war, coming at it as he does from a military procurement background. Right on point.
C@tmomma @ #2568 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 7:52 am
And this might be a reasonable argument … if Labor weren’t promoting COALition climate policies that are as ineffective as they think they can get away with, and instead pandering to their “mates” in the fossil fuel cartel instead of doing what the science says we need to do.
Labor builds. The Coalition destroys. The Greens block.
2009. Delay. Tick. Sow confusion. Tick. Block. Tick.
2023. Delay. Tick. Sow confusion. Tick. Block threatened.
Player One: “Confessions @ #2557 Monday, February 20th, 2023 – 6:53 am
Excellent work. More needs to be done to remove the coalition stain on our institutions.
Labor has at least learned something from Rudd’s mistake (or one of them, anyway). But they need to go further. Nearly all government and semi-governmental bodies will need decontamination.”
I don’t see this issue as being about party politics: both sides have richly rewarded their mates with cushy government jobs over the years. But most of those mates have had significant careers in politics or business or the trade union movements and thereby had claims to being meritorious appointments.
But what happened with the AAT in recent years was unprecedented in scale.
Nepotism and favouritism become a truly serious concern when people you have never even heard of are being lavishly rewarded because they happen to have the right connections: that’s the first step towards the world of the apparatchiks and commisars.
Lots of interest in this, IMO.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/feb/20/the-never-ending-fallout-of-the-lismore-floods-people-are-just-worn-down
C@tmomma says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 8:05 am
I wonder if that strong showing for Dan Andrews’ Victorian State Labor government will translate to the Aston by-election?
Family event on Sunday in Aston. Ranging from a moderate Liberal, through to a Green supporter, religious nutters are not to be found in our circle of friends or relatives.
Summary, outcome is not decided. Labor candidate is wrong for the electorate, but running her again is the cheapest option. It is an electorate of young ( from my point of view) professionals, both male and female. The teals would do well if they run, with their type of candidate ( accomplished female professional), but none is expected. The Liberals have not decided, there are four candidates, three females and one male. The normal idiots in the Liberal party are making things very difficult.
EA: “Anyone who is upset with how many Russian soldiers are dying every day should point their finger at the person who is causing them – Putin”
There’s a difference between being upset with how many people are dying, and celebrating it. You’re the one celebrating it. More than a little bit creepy.
#weatheronPB
Thin clouds spread too far.
I seek the shade even now.
Early as it is.
Morning all. Thanks BK. On the super “debate”, there is really no debate, just a jokying for position between those concerned about worker’s wellbeing and finance industry’s sharks.
“ The Australian’s Patrick Commins says that far from “ending the super wars”, Jim Chalmers with his proposed objective for super has simply set the markers for coming battles between Labor, big super and the unions on one side, and the opposition and a handful of independent experts on the other.”
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/instead-of-ending-super-wars-chalmers-setting-up-coming-battles/news-story/2647eb5f818261a95ba0c61a688df2e5?amp
The “independent experts” almost always come from a certain ideology, and/or closed set of consultants or politically aligned think tanks.
‘Labor’s Super reforms, whatever they are, will not be good enough and we will delay them and block them until they are perfect.’
#Greens-spokesperson.
War is creepy. Not talking about the creepy bits helps no-one.
Putin’s War should be a useful lesson for Australia:
1. Be neutral.
2. Be very powerfully armed and always be instantly ready to wage war for years on end.
3. Never enter a war willingly.
We are studiously ignoring all three and it is getting worse, not better.
So the China warhawk maniacs want to drive us to a war with the US against China, over an island that isn’t an independent country, a war 4 Guardian experts say the US (and we) will lose.
And there is a track record of losing, Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam.
Madness.
“He says that unlike the experience of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan that affected only the members deployed into the conflict and their families, a war with China would have an impact on all Australians — “economically, financially and personally it is likely to impoverish us all; it may even kill most of us if it goes nuclear”.
Thanks to the Guardian for not being captured by Murdoch and Morrison’s toy soldiers fever dream.
“There’s a difference between being upset with how many people are dying, and celebrating it. You’re the one celebrating it. More than a little bit creepy.”
Yes disgusting.
BW: “War is creepy. Not talking about the creepy bits helps no-one.”
Celebrating the death of people is not the same as ‘talking about’ it.
The link to the Canberra Times article on the defense review takes you to a different article. Does anyone have another link that works and evades paywalls?
On the “smart” mines this is a good technology, a more ethical way of fighting war (from the US military for once). The same principles are being applied to the sea mines Australia is buying as well. They can be programmed to only detonate against certain (war)ships and have a timelimit.
“Celebrating the death of people is not the same as ‘talking about’ it.”
The latest youtube contribution by Hello Future Me, or something like that was ‘talking about war’ and it was very interesting.
Thanks BK
Possibly through gritted teeth, Annika Smethurst writes about a new Resolve poll which shows Victorians have thrown their support behind the Andrews government since it was re-elected in November, delivering Labor a boost to its primary vote as the premier reaches 3000 days in office. The poll found Labor’s primary vote had increased by 4 per centage points to 41, up from 37 per cent at the state election less than three months ago.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/support-for-daniel-andrews-rises-as-he-marks-3000-days-in-office-20230219-p5clok.html
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You know how newspapers have little head-shots of their major opinionists (journalists)? Can we have one of Smethurst gritting her teeth?
Pi @ Monday, February 20, 2023 at 8:58 am:
“There’s a difference between being upset with how many people are dying, and celebrating it. You’re the one celebrating it. More than a little bit creepy.”
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You’re really not getting the context. Every Russian soldier who remains in their unit and follows their commander’s orders is, at the minimum, postponing the day when peace finally arrives in Ukraine. The best outcome for and Russian soldier, in my view, is to either surrender to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, or to desert and try to flee to a third country. Both such classes of Russian soldier should be actively encouraged to pursue these paths and be rewarded for doing so.
But it is best for humanity that the ones who do not do so be eliminated ASAP. Russian soldiers present in Ukraine with a hostile posture towards Ukrainians have: (a) directly committed war crimes themselves; (b) defended a front which has shielded Russian occupation authorities’ acts of genocide against the Ukrainian people (especially children); and (c) made it necessary for Ukrainian soldiers to give their lives for the defence of their people. How can you not see that, for as long as Russian soldiers remain in Ukraine under arms in a hostile, aggressive posture, more human suffering will be caused by their remining alive than by their being killed?
Pi & WWP – I’d much rather people here thought me ‘creepy’ and ‘disgusting’ than that Putin get his wish and the grisly dimensions of his unjustified invasion get swept under a carpet of politeness.
S. Simpson says:
Monday, February 20, 2023 at 8:10 am
I am willing to bet that the RBA did not raise interest rates until too late in order to minimise damage to the Liberal Party brand.
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Are those odds available on Sportsbet?
PS It looks a lot like the RBA TRIED to shield Scomo from rate rises, but had to do it by May because the situation (which they had helped create) threatened to become overwhelming. Coalition-stacked Board.