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.
Alpo
Indonesia is a good friend of Australia, with the exception of a little pause during the Howard years due to East Timor.
A 78 year nuanced and often volatile relationship summarised in a 20 word partisan slogan.
Some of the conflicts we have had with Indonesia without looking for references:
1. Australia’s ambiguous position on Indonesian independence – eventually the Wharfies refused to load Dutch war materials 45-49
2. Declaration of non-alignment at the Bandung conference in 1955
3. Invasion of Dutch New Guinea in 1962
4. Konfrontasi 63-65. Menzies went to the 63 election with the promise of F111s (with the unstated objective that they could reduce Jakarta to rubble in 24 hours)
5. The Year of Living Dangerously 1964
6. Withdrawal from the UN in 65
7. Coup and mass killings 65-68 (probably 1Million dead)
8. Formal possession of Irian Jaya 1969
9. Occupation of East Timor 1975
10. Instability with the toppling of Suharto 1998
11. Anti-chinese pogram 1998
12. Confrontation over independence of East Timor 2002
13. Bali Bombings and perceived leniency of justice 2002 and 2005
14. Unjust imprisonment of Schapelle and Bali Nine (satire) 2005
15. Execution of Chan and Sukamaran (not satire) 2015
I am sure BW could provide more but the paranoia about war with Indonesia in the early 60s was much stronger than the current China paranoia.
I agree absolutely that Indonesia is a key in Australian security and fortunately our relationship appears to have been stable for the last few decades
Arky @ #2797 Sunday, March 19th, 2023 – 3:59 pm
You need to re-read my post. Also, check out the post by Torchbearer. I did not say we were stupid as individuals. I said our economy is no longer complex or capable enough to support a project like AUKUS.
It is perhaps also worth pointing out that our higher education sector is precisely one of the “industries” that has been cast aside. Covid had a lot to do with that of course, but other industries got massive support during Covid while tertiary education was specifically excluded. One presumes this was because it was not seen as profitable enough to be worth subsidizing. I understand the tertiary education sector is busy trying to re-invent itself as an “online” education provider and is outsourcing whole courses to try and cut costs. That might help them boost their profitability**, but it does not help solve the real problem.
** Although why would it? … unless the private education providers are cheaper because they are already offshore? It is also worth asking why Universities must be “profitable”. When did making money become a key clause in a University “mission statement”?
Musk is a clear & present danger to Democracy
Keith Olbermann
@KeithOlbermann
Frontal lobe. What you’re missing,
@elonmusk
, is called the frontal lobe
https://twitter.com/KeithOlbermann/status/1637283439119327232?s=20
Another link worth looking at – these figures are for 2022, so current:
https://tradingeconomics.com/australia/exports-by-country
Our exports to China are US$102 billion – about the same value as our exports to the next four biggest countries in the list combined, which includes India at US$19 billion, or less than 1/5th the value of China.
After that, we get down into the single digit weeds.
Expecting India to save us from our reliance on China is simply … well … perhaps best to just leave it there … 🙁
Player One @ Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 4:58 pm
“Look, China manages it and I’m pretty sure we educate a significant fraction of their engineers and scientists. The idea Australians are too stoo-pid to build or maintain submarines is cultural cringe to a horrible extent.
You need to re-read my post. Also, check out the post by Torchbearer. I did not say we were stupid as individuals. I said our economy is no longer complex or capable enough to support a project like AUKUS.
It is perhaps also worth pointing out that our higher education sector is precisely one of the “industries” that has been cast aside. Covid had a lot to do with that of course, but other industries got massive support during Covid while tertiary education was specifically excluded. One presumes this was because it was not seen as profitable enough to be worth subsidizing. I understand the tertiary education sector is busy trying to re-invent itself as an “online” education provider and is outsourcing whole courses to try and cut costs. That might help them boost their profitability**, but it does not help solve the real problem.
** Although why would it? … unless the private education providers are cheaper because they are already offshore? It is also worth asking why Universities must be “profitable”. When did making money become a key clause in a University “mission statement”?”
What utter rubbish. You are entitled to an opinion but not to your own facts. The Australian Higher Education sector is performing very well across all international University rankings. It certainly punches above its weight with reference to national GDP.
The Coalition’s dereliction in supporting the Higher Education sector during the pandemic is nothing to do with profits either. The sector itself is very profitable. Further, it is our fifth largest export and the largest that we don’t dig up. It was and remains purely ideological. Like your posts 😉
Carry on!
EA: “peace, bro. ”
Indeed! I love peace.
“Oakeshott Country says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 4:52 pm
Alpo
Indonesia is a good friend of Australia, with the exception of a little pause during the Howard years due to East Timor.
A 78 year nuanced and often volatile relationship summarised in a 20 word partisan slogan [BAD, BAD “INDONESIA ARSE-LICKER” ALPO?].
Some of the conflicts we have had with Indonesia without looking for references….
… Blah, blah, blah, etc., etc, etc….
I agree absolutely that Indonesia is a key in Australian security and fortunately our relationship appears to have been stable for the last few decades.” [WELCOME TO THE “INDONESIA ARSE-LICKING TEAM” THEN?]
In the 60s, Indonesia barely had a warship to scratch themselves with, so yes, you could correctly ascribe the word ‘paranoia’ to a fear of an Indonesian invasion back then.
As of January this year:
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) surpassed the US Navy in fleet size sometime around 2020 and now has around 340 warships, according to the Pentagon’s 2022 China Military Power Report, released in November. 17 Jan 2023
So, to try and equate the two ‘paranoias’ is baloney of a Hugh White scale.
Donald Trump is trying to incite a Civil War. And then introduce a Police State in America, should he and his supporters win. Simple as that, really.
“Player One says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 5:14 pm”
Would you please just stop writing crap and start listening to our fantastic leader, the unparalleled ALP Prime Minister Anthony Albanese?
We will continue to foster good commercial relationships with China (unlike the pathetic Scomo who messed everything up), but we have our own national defence partnerships that have deep historical roots. Are we keen to also have more commercial partners?… Of course we are, we always are, all countries in the world always are!
Pi @ Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 5:29 pm:
“EA: “peace, bro. ”
Indeed! I love peace.”
=============
Me too. That’s why I was shocked and outraged last Feb 24 when Moscow’s missiles and tanks struck peaceful Ukraine. They have not ceased striking Ukraine ever since. Peace demands that Moscow’s attacks be brought to a stop, its armed and violent forces be expelled from Ukraine and that it be convinced never to try this again. I take it you agree?
David Rowe!
“C@tmomma says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Donald Trump is trying to incite a Civil War. And then introduce a Police State in America, should he and his supporters win. Simple as that, really.”
Trump is heading to jail…. and at least half of the GOP can’t wait for it (let alone the majority who voted for Biden in 2020).
Successive Coalition governments gutted universities because they see them as incubators for their ideological enemies. Spite combined with partisan self-interest. Sums up such governments to a tee.
In about 1995 I remember Noam Chomsky being in oz, and he was invited to the national press club:
https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-222698312/listen
He went to some length to spell out the ‘situation’ of East Timor for Indonesia. But even almost 30 years later I remember his term he used “get the stone out”. A proverb about a man who chooses to walk a thousand miles with a stone in his shoe. The context of this term was Indonesia and East Timor and the recognition that the problem that would never change until they ‘got the stone out of their shoe’. That’s what East Timor was to Indonesia. A stone in their shoe that they put there and refused to remove.
Then they did. Indonesia left East Timor. Australia helped in that transition. If anything the Australian government of the day proved that they were no friend of East Timor even while trying to assist Indonesia in getting the stone out of their shoe.
Since then, Indonesia has recognized the value of having Australia as an ally.
The entire talk is worth a listen. I can’t even remember where in the talk he mentions the shoe. I just remember it.
Good ole’ C@t. A DLP grouper to the last.
Hugh White would say – in fact he has written books on saying – that the rise of China – and indeed even Indonesia – who now does have economy which approaches parity with Australia and does have a growing Navy itself – plus all the other Asian Tigers – requires a response from Australia. Just the right one. White advocates increasing spending on defence to 3% of GNP. He advocates maintain ties with America, encouraging them to be a balancing power to the rise of China. He advocates us cultivating other relations.
His ‘sin’? recognising that China is already as powerful as america economically, and that unlike America, issues like Taiwan and pre-eminence in East Asia matter to a point of existential belief. How shocking. Clearly he must be ‘put in the bin’. His other sin? Recognising that America may well simply fuck off from that contest altogether when it realises that it can’t win in the long run militarily. ‘In the bin’, because C@t loves America and only feels safe in her sweaty embrace. Just like all the other ‘little Australians’ out there.
How on earth did you end up in the Labor Party – an institution dedicated to kicking against the pricks and forging an independent identity?
No doubt when someone calls you out for your paranoid hatreds they will be labeled as bullies and misogynists and at the vanguard of the domestic violence epidemic in Australia. And so on.
Alpo @ #2792 Sunday, March 19th, 2023 – 5:39 pm
I just saw a report from America where his supporters, such as Mike Pence (even after Trump’s attempt to have him hanged!), Jim Jordan and the Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, have said that it’s not right to charge a former President of the United States!
That’s just wrong.
A_E: “recognising that China is already as powerful as america economically”
lolno.
Enough Already,
Did you notice Putin’s bad limp when he was in Crimea rubbing their noses in his takeover?
Glenn Kischner and Brian Tyler Cohen on Trump’s Arraignment:
https://youtu.be/NejI2jH2vww
C@tmomma @ Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 5:52 pm:
“Enough Already,
Did you notice Putin’s bad limp when he was in Crimea rubbing their noses in his takeover?”
====================
C@tmomma, no, I didn’t. Maybe the window wasn’t high enough. 😉
US Republicans have descended into a dishonest protection racket.
Czechia demonstrates to the world how to manage an enormous influx of refugees from a war-ravaged country:
“Well integrated: Ukrainian refugees in the Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has mastered the largest immigration influx in its history — to the advantage of the business sector. Many Ukrainians have legal jobs, despite nationalist narratives. …
… Speaking at a press conference marking the one year anniversary of the first arrival of Ukrainian war refugees, Minister of the Interior Vit Rakusan told journalists that the Czech Republic had passed the stress test. “We were able to take in nearly half a million Ukrainian refugees. And we did it without crashing or overburdening our health and education systems.”
The minister said the country had been able to create admissions mechanisms that allowed refugees to integrate into the labor market, adding, “Many have already seized that opportunity.”
https://www.dw.com/en/ukrainian-refugees-in-the-czech-republic-the-integration-miracle/a-65002494
Czechia has a population of about 10.5 million. They took in nearly 500,000 refugees this past year, We have a population about 2.5 times that. How would we go taking in about 1.2 million refugees in a year, I wonder…
Looking at it economically, we have a GDP about 5.5 times that of Czechia. How would we go taking in 2.76 million refugees?
Meanwhile in Marrickville..
Big turnout in Marrickville across the road from @AlboMP office on a hot day to hear @bobjcarr @DavidShoebridge @Alisonbroinowsk and Colin Powell’s fmr Chief of Staff Lawrence Wilkerson speak out against the drift to war
Putin has at least 3 body doubles, doubtful the real Vladimir Vladimirovich would go to the contested zone
Pi says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 5:44 pm
”’
Since then, Indonesia has recognized the value of having Australia as an ally.
…’
————————————–
Whatever Indonesia may think about the value of having Australia as an ally, Australia and Indonesia are not allies.
sprocket @ Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 6:12 pm:
“Putin has at least 3 body doubles, doubtful the real Vladimir Vladimirovich would go to the contested zone”
===============
sprocket, looking at that sad, lonely looking shopfloor dummy sitting there in the empty theatre in https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/03/19/739409putin%202/, I completely agree.
sprocket @ Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 6:10 pm:
“…the drift to war.”
===================
Whether or not there was to be a war in Ukraine since Feb 24 could possibly have been influenced by Western actions, but I think the influence was one of inadequate strength being threatened against Moscow. Apart from that, the decision was Moscow’s alone. I wonder how, if at all, the speakers at the Marrickville Town Hall this afternoon relate the crystal clear lessons of that conflict to the situation seemingly developing between the US and China.
Boerwar @ Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 6:16 pm:
“Whatever Indonesia may think about the value of having Australia as an ally, Australia and Indonesia are not allies.”
=================
This, if so, needs to change.
Morale among those Moscow is relying upon to carry forward its assaults upon Ukrainian territory is very poor:
“Russian soldiers who are being prepared for replenishing the units after their losses near Vuhledar, Donetsk Oblast, are looking for opportunities to avoid going to the combat action zone.
Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 19 March
Quote: “Considering the situation near Vuhledar, the Russian military leadership is hurrying to send reinforcements. They have conducted operational coordination in the Storm unit, which is part of the 37th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade of the 36th Army of the Eastern Military District. This unit is being prepared for deployment to Ukraine on 24 March.
The brigade has a significant shortage of personnel; therefore, commanders of the units are calling up their subordinates who are in the treatment or rehabilitation process right now. Soldiers complain that the level of provision is low. There is a very low level of personnel motivation and a large number of attempts to avoid being sent to the combat action zone.”
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/03/19/7394095/
You read that right: Moscow’s commanders on the ground are rounding up incompletely recovered WIA from former engagements to cover gaps caused by deserters.
The once-feared Russian Federation Armed Forces is but a flimsy shell of its former self. All thanks to Putin’s vainglorious bloodthirstiness.
Or parliamentarians would never accept a predominantly Muslim country like Indonesia as an ally.
ALPo @ #2810 Sunday, March 19th, 2023 – 5:37 pm
OMG. I’m keeping this one! 🙁
Boerwar
Whatever Indonesia may think about the value of having Australia as an ally, Australia and Indonesia are not allies.
———————-
That might be news to Canberra and Jakarta.
Does Australia have any allies at the moment?
Rex Douglas
Or parliamentarians would never accept a predominantly Muslim country like Indonesia as an ally.
I don’t know where you got this particular assertion. I’m guessing it came from the usual place: your arse.
Its time to reinvigorate S.E.A.T.O
That gave us a sense of security (and also engaged us in an unjust post-colonial war)
Re BK @5:39.
Here is the original from 1939:
https://www.reddit.com/r/PropagandaPosters/comments/564adf/the_scum_of_the_earth_i_believe_the_bloody/
Big turnout in Marrickville across the road from @AlboMP office on a hot day to hear @bobjcarr @DavidShoebridge @Alisonbroinowsk and Colin Powell’s fmr Chief of Staff Lawrence Wilkerson speak out against the drift to war
I’m guessing anti-war services like this are popping up all across central Beijing too.
Boo!
Even Downer got it. We are not a country that needs to ask anothers leave. Sheesh. Australia is a country that other countries want to be friends with. One day soon we as a country may even reconcile with the people that have lived here since forever. We are a stable democracy and the largest energy exporter in the world
“Player One says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 6:36 pm
ALPo @ #2810 Sunday, March 19th, 2023 – 5:37 pm
OMG. I’m keeping this one! ”
You are most welcome, Pooh1…. 🙂
Has Player One finally seen the light and learned to love Labor and Albo?
‘Mexicanbeemer says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 6:40 pm
Boerwar
Whatever Indonesia may think about the value of having Australia as an ally, Australia and Indonesia are not allies.
———————-
That might be news to Canberra and Jakarta.’
===============================
Under which treaty are we allies?
“Shogun says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 6:49 pm
Rex Douglas
Or parliamentarians would never accept a predominantly Muslim country like Indonesia as an ally.
I don’t know where you got this particular assertion. I’m guessing it came from the usual place: your arse.”
I strongly agree, Shogun. Rex is a biological conundrum…
What Howard, Downer and Marles have in common is a public declaration that Australia will not necessarily follow the US into a cross-Strait war.
BW
It’s the vibe
Also Marles was blinking rapidly when he said he did not agree to a Taiwanese adventure
Steve777 @ #2841 Sunday, March 19th, 2023 – 6:59 pm
On Labor and Albo I have mixed opinions. Mostly, I find them simply useless.
But I do have strong opinions on COALition policies.
I’m against them.
You?
“Steve777 says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 6:59 pm
Has Player One finally seen the light and learned to love Labor and Albo?”
He would do it right now…. if somebody paid him to do so….
Boerwar says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 7:00 pm
‘Mexicanbeemer says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 6:40 pm
Boerwar
Whatever Indonesia may think about the value of having Australia as an ally, Australia and Indonesia are not allies.
———————-
That might be news to Canberra and Jakarta.’
===============================
Under which treaty are we allies?
——————————-
There might not be a formal treaty but there was a defence pact.
“Player One says:
Sunday, March 19, 2023 at 7:06 pm
Steve777 @ #2841 Sunday, March 19th, 2023 – 6:59 pm
Has Player One finally seen the light and learned to love Labor and Albo?
On Labor and Albo I have mixed opinions. Mostly, I find them simply useless.
But I do have strong opinions on COALition policies.
I’m against them.”
You truly keep that “strong” rejection of COALition policies well hidden, during your routine posting activity here, P1…. Why is that?
Never ever forget: Playing the Greenie-Environmentalist is not the same as Being a true Green-Environmentalist…. and most people here can see the difference, and detect scams….
OC: “It’s the vibe”
It’s the Lombok treaty. Which Downer signed.