With not much happening on the polling front his week, there is the following to relate:
• There is a modest field of five candidates for the April 1 by-election for Aston, which I’ve had less to say about than I would have liked due to the distraction of New South Wales. Following the ballot paper draw last Thursday, they are in order: Owen Miller (Fusion), Roshena Campbell (Liberal), Angelica Di Camillo (Greens), Mary Doyle (Labor) and Maya Tesa (Independent). Pauline Hanson interestingly offered last week that One Nation had decided to stay out of it as a “strategic decision not to take votes away from the Coalition”.
• Paul Sakkal of The Age reports that not only have Monique Ryan’s recent difficulties encouraged Josh Frydenberg in his determination to recontest Kooyong at the election, but that Tim Wilson and Katie Allen have similar ideas about Goldstein and Higgins, which they respectively lost to teal independent Zoe Daniel and Labor’s Michelle Ananda-Rajah.
• A by-election will be held in the Northern Territory on Saturday for the seat of Arafura following the death of Labor member Lawrence Costa. The candidates in ballot paper order are Leslie Tungatalum (Country Liberals), Manuel Brown (Labor) and Alan Middleton (Federation Party).
• The West Australian reports a rare item of state political polling crediting Mark McGowan with an approval rating of 63%, down seven since October, with disapproval up six to 24%. New Liberal leader Libby Mettam debuts with 24% approval and 18% disapproval. The poll was conducted “last week” by Painted Dog Research from a sample of 1052.
did any body watch that 4 corners report triying to protend barilarows government is some champion aginst the clubs nsw desbite the fact the nationals seem to have more clubs nsw lnks then labor
‘Another crisis is building’ at Fox News as second defamation lawsuit gets green light for trial
A defamation lawsuit against Fox News by voting machine company Smartmatic appears to be headed to trial after the New York Supreme Court gave the green light last week.
An analysis by The Guardian found that the $2.7 billion lawsuit could be “more dangerous” than the $1.6 billion lawsuit brought by Dominion Voting Systems. In both cases, Fox News personalities are accused of falsely claiming President Joe Biden won the election because of a voting machine conspiracy.
The complaint also noted: “Defendants did not want Biden to win the election. They wanted President Trump to win re-election … They also saw an opportunity to capitalize on President Trump’s popularity by inventing a story.”
Over 100 false claims were made about Smartmatic on Fox News, the complaint said.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2023/obx-rodanthe-erosion-rising-sea-levels/?itid=hp-top-table-main_p001_f005
If this was published in the Australian they’d have the obligatory photo of a surfer posing in front of the ocean saying he (and it would definitely be a he) had been surfing at that coast for 20+ years and could say with absolute certainty that the sea level had not risen one cm.
“ $8 billion will be spent on upgrading the naval base HMAS Stirling in Western Australia. From as early as 2027, four US and one UK submarine will start rotating through Western Australia, to be known as the Submarine Rotational Forces West.”
An important first step in establishing effective presence in the region.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-14/aukus-nuclear-submarine-deal-announced/102087614
Alpo @ Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 6:21 am:
“Ukrainian and Russian casualties mount as battle for central Bakhmut rages”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/13/ukrainian-and-russian-casualties-mount-as-battle-for-central-bakhmut-rages
The battle for Bakhmut has become a race to see who slaughters more enemy soldiers. The loser is expected to face a serious backlash at home. But there is a difference: The Ukrainians are defending their home and are ready to face heavy losses in order to do so, they know that if they lose, they will also lose their liberty. For the Russians, if they lose, they will be back home, to the safety of their house and the warmth and love of their family….
BIG DIFFERENCE!”
==================
Alpo, that’s right. The difference in morale, when augmented by superior NATO weaponry, should prove decisive to Ukraine’s resistance.
“ Australian shipyard and design construction is expected to begin from 2023. This will include “enabling works this year” in Osborne, South Australian, because the shipyard will be almost three times larger than the yard forecast for the abandoned French submarine program. The government argues up to 4,000 workers will be employed to design and build the infrastructure for the submarine construction yard in Osborne at the peak. In 20 to 30 years, a further 4,000 to 5,500 direct jobs are expected tone created (doubled the workforce for the French program).”
And good news for South Australia beginning almost immediately.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. This is posted just before the AUKUS announcement in San Diego.
A key measure of the fateful importance of the AUKUS alliance is that an idea devised by a conservative government is about to be made an irreversible reality by a Labor leader and his cabinet. Anthony Albanese inherited the pact from his predecessor, Scott Morrison, but is taking full ownership after months of work to transform Australian naval power, says David Crowe.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/missiles-and-people-why-australia-is-scaling-up-aukus-pact-20230313-p5crll.html
Paul Bongiorno declares that the AUKUS submarine project should torpedo Stage 3 tax cuts and other myths.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/03/14/paul-bongiorno-aukus-submarine-tax-cuts/
Among the countries this week raising their voices against Australia’s plan for nuclear-propelled submarines, you will not hear India, the world’s most populous nation and fastest-growing major economy, writes Peter Hartcher who says that a “sweet spot” of mutual fear of China is driving the Australia-India partnership.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sweet-spot-mutual-fear-of-china-drives-australia-india-partnership-20230310-p5cr3j.html
Jim Chalmers has launched a review into the impact of the Morrison government’s controversial 2018 GST revenue deal. Chalmers has asked the Commonwealth Grants Commission, which oversees the allocation of more than $80 billion of GST revenue among the states and territories, to assess how the tax take should be shared in 2025-26, which is when a transitional arrangement included in the Morrison agreement ends. Fair enough, too.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8118088/govt-wants-to-establish-cost-of-24-billion-gst-deal/?cs=14329
Matt O’Sullivan reports that senior transport officials warned a year ago that parts of a critical digital system that failed last Wednesday, shutting down the entire Sydney rail network, were obsolete and needed urgent attention. Nicely done, fellas!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/equipment-that-crippled-sydney-train-network-obsolete-for-more-than-a-year-20230313-p5crm8.html
The daughter of a former Tax Office deputy commissioner has been found guilty of involvement in a conspiracy to siphon $105 million from a payroll business after her ringleader brother and two others were convicted last week.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/lauren-cranston-found-guilty-over-105-million-plutus-payroll-scheme-20230308-p5cqaq.html
The mainstream media has failed to hold the Liberal Party to account for inciting the Robodebt scheme that ruined the lives of thousands, says Victoria Fielding. She’s not wrong!
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/mainstream-media-fails-to-address-the-robodebt-elephant-in-the-room,17320
James Massola tells us that the federal Greens will not repay more than $75,000 in donations made over 20 years by a pair of wealthy investors with significant fossil fuel holdings, despite the NSW Greens handing back a $7000 donation from the pair last week because it violated the state party’s policy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/federal-greens-will-keep-76-501-in-donations-from-fossil-fuel-investors-20230313-p5crkn.html
“Why are economists’ forecasts so often wrong, and why do they so often fail to see the freight train heading our way? Short answer: because economists don’t know as much about how the economy works as they like to think they do – and as they like us to think they do”., says Ross Gittins in another swipe at that profession that he says keeps ignoring the social side of things.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/why-economists-keep-getting-it-wrong-but-never-stop-doing-their-sums-20230312-p5crdi.html
Mike Foley explains how the carbon market is bracing for a surge in demand following the Albanese government’s new legally binding climate target and laws to force the nation’s biggest emitters to cut their pollution, many of which will buy credits to meet their obligations.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/carbon-farming-bracing-for-a-bumper-harvest-20230310-p5cqyo.html
Chris Bowen has ruled out bowing to Greens demands to ban new fossil fuel projects under Labor’s cornerstone heavy emissions policy, declaring there will be a vital need for additional gas in coming years. As coal-fired power stations leave the grid in coming years and the share of renewables sources shifts towards the government’s 82 per cent target by 2030, the remaining 18 per cent of power “will increasingly be focused on gas”, he said.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bowen-defends-need-for-future-gas-supply-as-labor-pushes-greens-20230313-p5cro4
The world’s biggest offshore wind power developer has ambitions to develop up to 5 gigawatts of generation capacity off Victoria’s coast as part of aggressive entry plans into the nascent sector in Australia and may also consider buying a stake in the country’s most advanced offshore venture, reports Angela Macdonald-Smith.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/orsted-targets-5gw-of-offshore-wind-off-vic-20230310-p5cr4k
Four Corners has once again highlighted that Lobbyists are most prolific in Canberra. Lobby firms infest Barton and Kingston. It is easy walking distance to Parliament House, the National Press Club and the major departments. A real LobbyLand with the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Medical Association, Lockheed Martin, the Australian Pharmacy Guild, the Business Council of Australia and many more, writes John Menadue who says lobbyists are undermining public trust in our political institutions.
https://johnmenadue.com/lobbyists-are-undermining-public-trust-in-our-political-institutions/
Constitutional conservatives raising doubts about the proposed wording of the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament have been accused of acting like “white saviours”, finding flaws with the proposal “just to stay in the spotlight”, according to a member of the government’s advisory group.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/14/white-saviours-accused-of-finding-flaws-in-voice-proposal-to-stay-in-spotlight-by-working-group-member
Nick Bonyhady writes that Australian start-up founders and investors are taking stock after a furious weekend of shepherding their companies through the collapse of the most technology-friendly big bank in the United States.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/peak-fear-how-australia-s-tech-sector-handled-a-bank-meltdown-20230313-p5crk0.html
Joe Biden has insisted that the nation’s banking system is safe, seeking to project calm after the collapse of two banks stirred fears of a broader upheaval and prompted regulators to offer emergency loans to banks to stave off additional failures.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/biden-insists-banking-system-is-safe-after-2-bank-collapses-20230314-p5crss.html
Elizabeth Knight tells us why the Silicon Valley Bank crisis didn’t turn into Armageddon.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/from-crisis-to-calm-in-four-days-why-silicon-valley-bank-didn-t-turn-into-armageddon-20230313-p5crox.html
Robert Reich poses the question, “There’s a deeper story to Silicon Valley Bank’s failure. What can we learn from it?” He makes some very pertinent points.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/13/svb-collapse-2008-financial-crisis
Michael Pascoe thinks the Silicon Valley Bank downfall will increase nerves in a precarious sector.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/03/14/silicon-valley-bank-michael-pascoe/
There will be no better opportunity than now for Anthony Albanese to ask US President Joe Biden for the release of Julian Assange. Michael West reports on the Belmarsh Tribunal and calls for the release of Australia’s number one political prisoner.
https://michaelwest.com.au/calls-rise-for-albo-to-ask-joe-biden-for-release-of-assange-in-tonights-aukus-talks/
A council in Melbourne’s inner-north has booked a windfall from fining residents for overdue animal registrations, despite widespread claims from pet owners that they were unfairly fined without notice. Robo-pet?
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/like-robo-debt-for-pets-council-nets-600-000-windfall-from-late-pet-fees-20230313-p5crl8.html
Britain’s BBC reinstated its highest-paid presenter Gary Lineker on Monday after a decision to take the sports host off air over his criticism of the government sparked a near mutiny at the public broadcaster. The corporation was forced to axe much of its sports coverage at the weekend after presenters, pundits and commentators refused to work in a show of solidarity with Lineker, who criticised the government’s immigration policy.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/bbc-backs-down-and-reinstates-presenter-gary-lineker-20230313-p5crsc.html
Craig Foster says that Gary Lineker’s red card from the BBC exposes a shameful contradiction.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/gary-lineker-s-red-card-from-the-bbc-exposes-a-shameful-contradiction-20230313-p5crjc.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
David Pope
Mark David
John Shakespeare
Cathy Wilcox
Andrew Dyson
Mark Knight
Dionne Gain
Spooner
From the US
Thanks BK
“ Beginning in 2023, Australian military and civilian personnel will embed with the U.S. Navy, the Royal Navy, and in the United States and United Kingdom submarine industrial bases to accelerate the training of Australian personnel. The United States plans to increase SSN port visits to Australia beginning in 2023, with Australian sailors joining U.S. crews for training and development; the United Kingdom will increase visits to Australia beginning in 2026.”
Finally, a fully phased plan that covers the actual weapon platform (old and new), initial regional presence, national infrastructure in terms of bases and crew training and genuine interoperability.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/mar/14/australia-news-live-updates-aukus-submarine-nuclear-defence-albanese-agreement-biden-sunak-meeting-pacific-politics-virginia-class-collins#top-of-blog
Ukrainian intelligence reports significant levels of dissatisfaction among Russian troops, which spells possible big trouble for the Kremlin:
“A Ukrainian intelligence agency has published intercepted conversations between Russian service members that are fearful of the increasing numbers of Russian causalities.
It has been reported that in a conversation between Russian serviceman, one was heard to complain: “It’s just genocide, the sifting of people. If they don’t stop it soon, we will really bring the Ukrainians to the Kremlin ourselves.”
He went on to say that Ukraine has become “… a military training ground where the whole world is testing its military weapons, and we were told to go there. Our losses are enormous. These stupid volunteers, who went to fight for the motherland, to save people they’re just fools led to the slaughter.”
The conversation went on to express his attitude to the war in Ukraine and predicted the future for the Russian leadership: “That we came for peace and to protect people is all an absolute lie.
“The people who come back from here to Russia will tear down military offices and government buildings. It will be like in 1993. The army will turn on them.”
These Russian occupiers suggested that Putin must prepare a plan for withdrawal: “If Putin doesn’t stop all this in the next couple of months, he will be finished.”
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/14210
First point: if morale is a significant factor in military success, this bodes ominously for Russia’s invasion and occupation.
Secondly: Putin might face an armed mutiny if he’s not careful.
Thirdly: whether that happens or not, life in Russia with all those enraged demobilised soldiers is going to be hell.
Senior Hillsong pastor Phil Dooley defends against allegations from independent MP Andrew Wilkie that he used church funds to repeatedly fly business class.
As Jesus famously said, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to squeeze into economy class.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-13/hillsong-leaders-announce-independent-financial-review-/102087160
Peter Dutton says Coalition would support NDIS cuts to pay for Aukus submarines
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/13/peter-dutton-says-coalition-would-support-ndis-cuts-to-pay-for-aukus-submarines
I don’t think this is the genius wedge Dutton thinks it is.
Do as I say, not as I do!
With apologies to DM, when there are no flies in your immediate vicinity to pull the wings off, you would say this…
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton called on the government to look at cuts to the National Disability and Insurance Scheme to help fund the submarine program
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/03/14/peter-dutton-support-budget-cuts-submarines/
Nuclear reactors powering the next-generation Australian submarines being built under the Aukus defence pact will be made by Rolls-Royce to a British design, officials have said.
The deal for the submarines – which are intended to help Australia counter Chinese aggression and will be delivered from the 2040s – will also secure the future of the UK’s manufacturing yard at Barrow in Furness for decades to come.
In addition to the reactors, Britain is expected to supply other vital parts including elements of the vessels’ sonar arrays.
Rear Admiral Tim Hodgson, director of nuclear technology at the Ministry of Defence, said: “The anticipation is that Australia will be building that first submarine in Adelaide.
“Inevitably, components of that will be provided from the UK, the reactor plants in their entirety are being provided by the UK.”
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/rolls-royce-to-make-nuclear-reactors-for-aukus-attack-submarines/ar-AA18A7LP
Dandy Murray says:
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 7:50 am
Peter Dutton says Coalition would support NDIS cuts to pay for Aukus submarines
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/13/peter-dutton-says-coalition-would-support-ndis-cuts-to-pay-for-aukus-submarines
I don’t think this is the genius wedge Dutton thinks it is.
———————————————-
Never put the words genius and Dutton in the same sentence. The only pulse he has his finger on is the Coalition’s cold dead corpse.
Media Watch gave it to Harcher (and by extension Costello) last night
Harcher remember spent the lead up to the last NZ election in NZ (with Sheridan) warning against a Labor government day in and day out
He not only looks a relic of the 1950’s and the Cold War, he is a relic of that generation as highlighted by Media Watch
And totally discredited
And as I contributed to the prior thread, Dutton offering bipartisan support for cutting NIDS to pay for the subs is just typical of the disgusting Dutton and the tawdry politics he plays
No bipartisan support to rewind Franking Credits legislation to its intent nor to forego the Liberal Party bribe tax cuts in future Budgets
No
Go after NIDS, a Labor Party initiative
I would dearly love for Aston to be lost to the Liberals and the “trickle down, austerity” Candidate they have selected to send Dutton the ultimate message (and the media, now seeking a sympathy vote in NSW thru the premiers wife)
But unfortunately, it consists of just too many me, me, me highly borrowed god botherer’s living on Facebook to swing to Labor
It is also noted that the hysteria in regard banks (and Regional boutique banks) sees market volatility, particularly in Australia given the weighting of our major banks on the ASX AND sees a flight to Bonds, pushing price up and Yields down, sharply
So what will the response of Powell and his voting Board be?
And the impact on Markets given any shift in bias, the Market doing the work of the Feds impacting the economy
Then the Fed supporting recovery, the Markets forward looking so embracing and lifting – which is the economic cycle
That is the hope anyway!!
#weatheronPB
The sky is swept clean,
and now there’s nowhere to hide.
The sun rules today.
“Paul Sakkal of The Age reports that not only have Monique Ryan’s recent difficulties encouraged Josh Frydenberg in his determination to recontest Kooyong at the election, but that Tim Wilson and Katie Allen have similar ideas about Goldstein and Higgins, which they respectively lost to teal independent Zoe Daniel and Labor’s Michelle Ananda-Rajah.”
Well, let’s put it clearly: any issues confronted by the Teals are designed by you know whom in order to increase the chances of losing Liberals such as Frydenberg, Wilson, Allen at the next federal election. Will the trick work?…. I doubt it!
Voter Moronism is on the retreat… and Progressives: ALP, Teals and Greens are doing a good job overall.
“The West Australian reports a rare item of state political polling crediting Mark McGowan with an approval rating of 63%, down seven since October, with disapproval up six to 24%. New Liberal leader Libby Mettam debuts with 24% approval and 18% disapproval. The poll was conducted “last week” by Painted Dog Research from a sample of 1052.”
The Australian: Mark McGowan down a massive 7% in approval rating, McGowan is in big troubles and the WA ALP party is in deep turmoil….
Ha, ha, ha…. 🙂
I live in Dutton’s seat of Dickson and four of the six homes immediately surrounding our house have NDIS recipients. Dutton is an absolute idiot.
Why was Albanese shouting ???
It sounds terrible on the world stage.
Biden and Sunak were much more calm when speaking.
400 billion is a lot of money’s.
Kerry stokes loves the military, maybe it’s time he pays more tax.
Infact we’re all going to pay more tax.
A great “Jolly” deployment for submariners during my time in the 70’s was multiple visits to many NZ ports. Guess our next generation of submariners will be denied this. As far as I know NZ still doesn’t allow Nuclear powered vessels to enter NZ waters.
Pity, great times had by all.
“ 400 billion is a lot of money’s.
Kerry stokes loves the military, maybe it’s time he pays more tax.
Infact we’re all going to pay more tax.”
Weening us of our addiction for tax rorts?
$268 billion per year in foregone revenue to tap into there.
A “AUKUS dividend” equivalent to a 3% haircut to that racket would just about do it.
Looks like putin hasnt got the funds to pay the wagner group.
Head of wagner had better watch his back.
Most legal analysts are confident that fox is going to lose these court cases.
My hope is that damages including punitive damages are eye watering amounts.
It may finally make fox change direction.
Can we define which part of dividend imputation (franking) needs to be abolished under the government’s tax reform? Shorten’s target was a very small sector. Should Albo abolish the whole system?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/carbon-farming-bracing-for-a-bumper-harvest-20230310-p5cqyo.html
Q: How on earth does this actually reduce emissions? …
A: It doesn’t. At best it does so temporarily. Every tonne of carbon stored will end up being released back into the atmosphere, either slowly over the course of the next drought, or all at once in the next major bushfire event. Both of which, because of this massive stupidity, will be bigger, more dangerous, and occur more frequently.
There is a massive scope for fraud.
Gosh, given that the price of ACCUs will be held artificially low indefinitely by not ever limiting their supply to things that actually reduce emissions, I wonder which one these companies will choose to do?
What a sick joke.
Australia, you’re standing in it.
So, we now know that the cost of renting US-designed, built, fueled, armed and manned submarines is going to be $386 billion. Most of which – apart from a few token gestures here and there – will go into the US economy, not ours.
This is many, many times the cost of actually building such submarines. The yanks sure saw us coming. However, if anyone thinks that this is anywhere near the final amount, just look at our past record of defence acquisitions. Going by past experience, the final cost is likely to be much closer to a trillion dollars.
Why, this even makes the stage three tax cuts look sensible by comparison. Perhaps that was the plan?
I believe the name “Turkey” is now available for a country again. If this was our audition, we are going to romp it in.
“Player One says:
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 8:49 am”
Yep, we all know that for IPA-friendly stooges any CO2 emissions control initiative is always bad, whereas their ideal is always no CO2 emissions control initiatives at all….
Keep trying….
Interesting to see which bludger was the first to comment on the AUKUS announcement 🙂
There is still lots to come out re the collapse of SVB.
Although i am quietly confident that there wont be a collapse of the financial system this time around. Phew….
“Player One says:
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 9:06 am”
I believe that the Coalition are very supportive of the initiative and the Greens are not standing up against it, suggesting that with a cheap white flag it will be enough in case of attack.
You seem to be alone… But of course, for stormtroopers like you the only thing that matters is to desperately try to argue against any ALP initiative…. and then hope.
Good luck!
“Taylormade says:
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 8:28 am
Why was Albanese shouting ???
It sounds terrible on the world stage.
Biden and Sunak were much more calm when speaking.”
Did anybody else notice and care about that? Or is it just you?
Griff @ #31 Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 – 9:12 am
I cant really comment on the suitability of the proposed subs, but I’d say Australians will blink at a bill of a quarter of a trillion dollars.
Whilst the USA budget often talks in terms of trillions of dollars, we havent quite gotten used to sums that large yet. During Covid when the government was talking in amounts of $100 and $200 billion dollars you could hear the collective whistling through teeth across the country. Even though this sum will be across 30ish years there is no denying it’s a lot of money in Australian terms.
And you watch PD say something stupid like, we were going to deliver this for $90 billion, regardless that this amount for was for something completely different (and that they knew it was always going to cost above $200billion but lied to us through omission).
Wow! That was great! The Prime Ministers’ speech was fantastic and gave us new insight into how the AUKUS deal will pan out for Australia.
Australian Submariners are already training in the US and the plans are ready to go to start building the infrastructure required for the project.
I saw Ambassador Caroline Kennedy answer a question about people, so-called ‘experts’ in Australia, who have expressed scepticism about the AUKUS project. She said they were simply cynically attempting to diminish the significance of AUKUS.
One thing I will add, from my own consideration, is that, as disposal of the nuclear material down the track will be required, I think it’s about time, as SA will be the greatest beneficiary of the largesse of the Australian taxpayer when it comes to AUKUS, that the disposal site that was mooted for SA, be agreed to by the SA State government.
Alpo says:
I believe that the Coalition are very supportive of the initiative and the Greens are not standing up against it, suggesting that with a cheap white flag it will be enough in case of attack.
You seem to be alone… But of course, for stormtroopers like you the only thing that matters is to desperately try to argue against any ALP initiative…. and then hope.
________
Well it was a Liberal policy. So naturally Labor have followed it through.
Griff @ #31 Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 – 9:12 am
The TSU (Tankies and Subbies Union) must all be off somewhere trying to figure out how they can possibly spin such a massive debacle.
But never fear – they’ll be back soon to tell us how this was the best of all possible outcomes.
Now C@t wants to dump nuclear waste in S.A. Which I think was a long held Liberal idea presented to us at various times.
Military equipment bores me shitless (I prefer model trains) but the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier/San Diego Museum is a great visit.
Alpo says:
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 9:17 am
“Taylormade says:
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 8:28 am
Why was Albanese shouting ???
It sounds terrible on the world stage.
Biden and Sunak were much more calm when speaking.”
Did anybody else notice and care about that? Or is it just you?
____________
I’m going to go out on a limb here: perhaps no one else noticed because it didn’t quite happen the way Taylormade portrayed?
Oh and yes, P1, we’re absolutely going to pay $386bn for just three ex-rental US subs. If you’re going to tell lies of this magnitude, at least get your digits in the right order.
More than 100 killed as Storm Freddy returns to Mozambique and Malawi
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/13/more-than-100-killed-as-storm-freddy-returns-to-mozambique-and-malawi
I’d say Australians will blink at a bill of a quarter of a trillion dollars.
I don’t. Remind me again how much money Frydenburg and Morrison kissed goodbye on JobKeeper? Whereas we’ll actually get something for this spend. Money that will flow back into the Australian economy, via wages and ancillary businesses and resource companies which will benefit, and keep benefiting, for decades to come in Australia.
Also, you just have to look at Xi Xinping’s announcement of ‘The Great Wall of Steel’ and listen to the fact that China will be going from 48 nuclear warheads to 1500 in the years to come to just know that the defence of Australia has now become a top-of-mind issue for us all. So I honestly believe that it’s a price Australians are willing to pay for peace of mind.
C@tmomma says:
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 9:19 am
Wow! That was great! The Prime Ministers’ speech was fantastic and gave us new insight into how the AUKUS deal will pan out for Australia.
Australian Submariners are already training in the US and the plans are ready to go to start building the infrastructure required for the project.
I saw Ambassador Caroline Kennedy answer a question about people, so-called ‘experts’ in Australia, who have expressed scepticism about the AUKUS project. She said they were simply cynically attempting to diminish the significance of AUKUS.
One thing I will add, from my own consideration, is that, as disposal of the nuclear material down the track will be required, I think it’s about time, as SA will be the greatest beneficiary of the largesse of the Australian taxpayer when it comes to AUKUS, that the disposal site that was mooted for SA, be agreed to by the SA State government.
____________
I’m sure the SA govt will happily agree to the disposal site…as long as it is not in SA…
Mostly Interested @ #35 Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 – 9:18 am
Good point. We’d all better get used to it. Just as we now routinely talk about billionaires instead of millionaires, our budget deficits will forever more be expressed in trillions rather than billions.
Australia has finally joined the big league.
Or … Shark: Jumped.
I’m sure the SA govt will happily agree to the disposal site…as long as it is not in SA…
It needs to be close by. So, SA or NT at the furthest, I reckon.
Though, with a former naval man as WA Premier …
Mostly Interested @ Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 9:18 am
Definitely agree on that. The Australian public has been traditionally conditioned to consider Government expenditure in time-limited chunks e.g. over 3 years. Even defence spending was manipulated for public consumption. It shall be interesting to see whether the public starts taking a longer term view of expenditure and whether our media guides us there.
Snappy Tom @ #41 Tuesday, March 14th, 2023 – 9:23 am
Apologies. $368 billion, not $386 billion.
Bargain!
C@tmomma says:
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 9:26 am
I’d say Australians will blink at a bill of a quarter of a trillion dollars.
I don’t. Remind me again how much money Frydenburg and Morrison kissed goodbye on JobKeeper? Whereas we’ll actually get something for this spend. Money that will flow back into the Australian economy, via wages and ancillary businesses and resource companies which will benefit, and keep benefiting, for decades to come in Australia.
Also, you just have to look at Xi Xinping’s announcement of ‘The Great Wall of Steel’ and listen to the fact that China will be going from 48 nuclear warheads to 1500 in the years to come to just know that the defence of Australia has now become a top-of-mind issue for us all. So I honestly believe that it’s a price Australians are willing to pay for peace of mind.
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Not sure where “48 warheads” comes from – current estimates are China has about 350…about the same as France…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction
“nath says:
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at 9:19 am
Well it was a Liberal policy. So naturally Labor have followed it through.”
Wasn’t the majority of the voters who supported the policy and that’s why the ALP followed it through?
Some parties “lead” against the will of the majority of the people (Liberals and their Neoliberal policies, Greens and their white-flag policy), others listen and offer reasonable solutions (ALP)… Check the primary votes of each one of those parties at the last federal election.