Starting off with news relevant to the Indigenous Voice referendum, which according to recent reportage in the Age/Herald could be upon us on October 14:
• The latest monthly SEC Newgate Mood of the Nation survey finds support for the Indigenous Voice* at 52%, down a point from February, with opposition up four to 26%. There has also been a three point drop in strong support to 30% and a four point increase in strong opposition to 17%. Support was over 50% in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, and solidly ahead of opposition in Western Australia and Queensland. The poll was conducted April 13 to 18 from a sample of 1200.
• Social researcher Rebecca Huntley writes in The Guardian that recent YouGov research has found only 40% of non-Indigenous respondents believed the Indigenous Voice had majority support among Indigenous people, whereas their polling of 738 Indigenous respondents had support at 83%.
Other news:
• The aforementioned SEC Newgate survey finds the most highly regarded mainland state governments are those of Western Australia and South Australia, followed by the Victorian and newly elected New South Wales governments, with only the Queensland government below water. The federal government has been doing unspectacularly on this measure, which asks respondents to rate them on a six-point scale, but it has steady since the February result while each of the state governments has lost ground.
• Katherine Deves has withdrawn from contention to fill Jim Molan’s New South Wales Liberal Senate vacancy, without Warren Mundine having entered the race, for whom she had previously said she would step aside. In Mundine’s absence, the favoured conservative candidate to fill a conservative vacancy would appear to be Jess Collins, who is variously said to be backed by the centre right and conservative state MP Anthony Roberts. Moderates are likely to back state party president Maria Kovacic, but hostility to her among conservatives raises the possibility that another moderate, former state Bega MP and Transport Minister Andrew Constance, will emerge as a compromise candidate.
• Warren Entsch, who has held Leichhardt in Far North Queensland as a Liberal for all but one term since 1996, has confirmed he will retire at the next election. He earlier retired at the 2007 election, at which the seat was won by Labor, but returned in 2010, and did not follow through on his announcement on the night of the 2019 election that the following term would be his last. James Massola of the Age/Herald reports that Pharmacy Guild president Trent Twomey has “long been discussed as a possible successor”, but that he denies any such plans. Entsch says Twomey would be “great in politics, but he would be better in the Senate”, preselection for the Liberal National Party Senate ticket being set for finalisation at the end of June.
• Anthony Galloway of the Age/Herald reports the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters’ inquiry into the 2022 federal election is looking at recommending increasing to the size of federal parliament as part of its brief to consider the “one-vote one-value” principle, which is presently strained by the Constitution’s guarantee of five seats to Tasmania. Enrolments in these seats would be brought broadly into line with the rest of the country if two further seats were added for each state in the Senate and twice as many seats again added to the House of Representatives, which represents the only permissible increase to the size of parliament given the Constitution’s “nexus” provision, whereby the House must not be more than twice the size of the Senate.
• Broede Carmody of the Age/Herald reports division within the party formerly known as the Liberal Democrats, which can no longer use that name owing to legislation passed before last year’s election, as to whether its new name should be the Libertarians Party, as favoured by New South Wales and Victorian state upper house members John Ruddick and David Limbrick, and the Liberty and Democracy Party, which the party used at the 2007 federal election and which is favoured by former Senator David Leyonhjelm.
* The wording of the question: “The federal government is planning to hold a referendum to update the Australian Constitution and create an Indigenous Voice representing the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. This would be a permanent advisory body to the Federal Parliament on issues relevant to Indigenous people but would not have the power to create or approve laws. To what extent do you support or oppose the creation of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pearson-slams-weak-dutton-former-liberal-pms-on-indigenous-recognition-20230428-p5d3yp.html
He’s right about those former PMs. They all had the chance in government to progress this, but failed to step up.
Morning all.
Macca
“ May Day is Coming.
Does Ukraine have the missile capacity to give the annual parade some needed fireworks?
Maybe a couple of off-target hits on the centre of the fascist regime – Red Square, The Kremlin, too.”
I’d be more interested in two things about the traditional Russian May Day parade. First how many troops and tanks the Russian army will have spare to march?
Second whether Ukraine will use the opportunity to start its counter offensive?
I had no idea there are all these court cases resulting from the Higgins-Lehrmann case. This is a good summary of what each entails.
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2023/apr/28/bruce-lehrmanns-criminal-trial-is-over-but-a-string-of-related-cases-and-inquiries-remain-what-are-they
Wasn’t the Moscow MayDay Parade cancelled last year?…..(I could be wrong)
It could be a display not a parade on May Day in Moscow this year. Considering the age of the tanks Russia has left to deploy. 😀
Enough Already, this is for you from the previous thread:
Macca rB
Saturday, April 29th, 2023 – 7:01 am
Comment #2118
Ukraine Postings.
Enough Already – keep on providing the informative and regular updates regarding the criminal invasion of Ukraine by their fascist state neighbour.
Albanese & Sandilands.
The only thing I know of Sandilands is that he is a Sydney radio disc jockey, who has a high opinion of himself and is popular in western Sydney.
A rated audience of 1 .3 million seems like good PR for the Prime Minister, in a region where
the ALP has under preformed in recent years.
Every vote counts and really does anybody believe that being a guest at Sandilands’ wedding is not going to a be a vote winner amongst this audience?
And the medium is the message.
The suggestion that this means the honeymoon is over for Albanese and his government are deluded.
The polling, released this week, strongly suggests otherwise and it would be difficult to believe that voters, outside of Sydney, let alone NSW, would really care how the Prime Minister spends a part of his weekend.
I just hope that Chris Minns & Chris Bowen have time to attend the GWS match, this afternoon.
I have issues with one of our local community radio stations sourcing their news feed through Costello media, though.
Thanks C@tmomma, for forwarding my comment regarding Enough Already from earlier this morning to this post.
I seem to get up early each morning to catch up and then William creates a new thread.
Macca RB,
Not problem. It happens to the best of us. 🙂
I just think now is the time to reassure Enough Already that they are valued. I know what it’s like when Lars von Trier and Mavis try to bully you into submission. They have no right to do so, only Mr Bowe does. 😀
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
To consolidate as a centrist reformer, Anthony Albanese needs to consolidate as a responsible manager of the treasury. The budget is his opportunity to do so, says Peter Hartcher who sets the scene for his contribution with, “The Morrison government ran Australia on a de facto policy of managed decline. Just about every major national asset was allowed to run down.” This is well worth reding.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-cooks-up-tasty-recipe-for-revival-20230427-p5d3s8.html
Anthony Albanese has promised $2.2 billion in the federal budget to launch the biggest overhaul of Medicare in its 40-year history while pledging to clamp down on spiralling costs in the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Natassia Chrysanthos tells us what was announced,
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-pledges-2-2-billion-for-medicare-overhaul-20230428-p5d40w.html
The federal government is within reach of posting its first budget surplus in 15 years, as surging tax revenue from iron ore, coal and gas, and record numbers of people in work deliver Treasurer Jim Chalmers a financial windfall, writes John Kehoe.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/budget-closes-in-on-first-surplus-in-15-years-as-taxes-soar-20230428-p5d423
Danielle Wood lays out Albanese’s three biggest budget challenges.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2023/04/29/albaneses-three-biggest-budget-challenges
In areas such as migration and jobseeker the government’s rhetoric is timid, when it could boldly go bigger on both, opines Paul Karp.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/29/labors-instinct-is-to-indulge-what-it-thinks-middle-australia-wants-it-could-try-simply-doing-what-works
From working visas and migration to inflation, defence and housing: it’s been a week of budget night tasters, writes Laura Tingle in a long exposition in which she points out that the new $70,000 pay threshold for temporary visas will change a whole ecosytem of low-paid work in Australia.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-04-29/budget-policy-migration-defence-cost-of-living-housing/102280752
The SMH editorial describes what Clare O’Neill announced about immigration policy to the NPC this week as a welcome attempt to meet current and future economic challenges.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/a-welcome-attempt-to-meet-current-and-future-economic-challenges-20230428-p5d402.html
The shrinking of the working-age population across the rich world means companies will have to work harder to attract prime-age workers, explains Adrian Wooldridge who says that management has failed frontline workers.
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/management/management-has-failed-frontline-workers-and-how-to-fix-it-20230426-p5d3cf
David Crowe writes that Australia’s migrant intake will soar to its highest level on record as 400,000 people enter the country this year in net terms, sparking a debate among federal and state political leaders over new housing measures and tougher visa rules to deal with the influx.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/record-migration-revealed-400-000-to-arrive-this-year-20230428-p5d437.html
As the new Labor government settles in, its plans to steadily reshape Australia will begin to unfold. The Voice is Anthony Albanese’s focus this year. The Prime Minister hopes a majority of Australians in a majority of states will help him enshrine a say for Indigenous Australians within our constitutional framework. Peter van Onselen says that if the voice is achieved, that will just about do it for Albo’s first term, aside from minor nips and tucks to the budget. He’ll also campaign at the next election on having steered Australia through the turbulent economic times ahead – assuming that’s what he does.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/patience-a-virtue-in-anthony-albaneses-plan-for-the-nation/news-story/7a0b99208466f62fe8c89982bfdf1de8?amp
Strategy without dollars is just noise. We should bear this undeniable reality in mind as we try to work out just what the Albanese government’s Defence Strategic Review means for Australia. In many ways the DSR is a very good document. And yet there is an element of national tragedy underlying it, says Greg Sheridan.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/delays-defects-why-we-are-sleepwalking-towards-a-defence-tragedy/news-story/9ea061bdce138122134be6a73c360ca3?amp
The Defence Strategic Review is an urgent call for the biggest shift in Australia’s military stance in 80 years, but the government is being criticised for lack of clarity on spending, writes Karen Middleton.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2023/04/29/inside-labors-defence-strategy
Paul Sakkal writs that Voice architect Noel Pearson has delivered a stinging condemnation of contemporary Coalition leaders, accusing them of being too weak to embrace the task of changing the Constitution to acknowledge Indigenous Australians.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pearson-slams-weak-dutton-former-liberal-pms-on-indigenous-recognition-20230428-p5d3yp.html
The headline crawled across the front of The Australian like a Warren Zevon song: “‘Lawyers backing Yes for money’, may it please the court”. This is the latest argument in what is now a concerted campaign in the paper against the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, says the editorial in The Saturday Paper.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/editorial/2023/04/29/the-heart-the-nation
In any other context, the Albanese government could have expected to be wedged between national security and social security this week – with a debate on spending priorities and its willingness to do so much in one area and so little in another. That context, though, would depend on a competent and effective opposition leader. Peter Dutton is neither, declares Chris Wallace who reckons he’s not that smart.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2023/04/29/maybe-peter-duttons-just-not-that-smart
Behind the ‘Yes’ campaign is a carefully calculated mix of ruthless political expertise, business experience and grassroots involvement, explains Martin McKenzie-Murray.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2023/04/29/unfinished-business-the-people-behind-the-yes-case
A tough new spending target will save billions of dollars on the National Disability Insurance Scheme by increasing the scrutiny of service providers and preventing the annual cost rising to $97 billion within a decade. David Crowe reports that the new measures will cost $720 million over the next four years and will beef up the peak agency that oversees the providers and is charged with making the scheme more efficient.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/ndis-changes-tipped-to-save-57-billion-over-a-decade-20230428-p5d435.html
Despite tears and panic from the pharmacy lobby, Labor’s medicine reforms won’t cause the world to end, explains Elizabeth Deveny who addresses each of the alarm bells set off by the Pharmacy Guild.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/28/despite-tears-and-panic-from-the-pharmacy-lobby-labors-medicine-reforms-wont-cause-the-world-to-end
John Hewson critiques the report into the RBA.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2023/04/29/the-rbas-51-steps
Michael Pascoe tells us how the RBA is making inflation worse.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/04/29/michael-pascoe-rba-inflation/
Clancy Yeates reports that National Australia Bank chief executive Ross McEwan has highlighted the hit from surging rents and high inflation on stressed households, as a new survey shows more people are missing bills and hardship levels have risen to a six-year high.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/nab-boss-highlights-household-stress-as-inflation-soaring-rents-bite-20230428-p5d44t.html
As Albanese backs an AFL stadium for Hobart, Tasmanians are living in tents, complains Richard Flanagan.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/as-albanese-backs-an-afl-stadium-for-hobart-tasmanians-are-living-in-tents-20230428-p5d3yo.html
“Too many of Victoria’s apartments are Dickensian: small, dark, poorly insulated and badly built. But we’re going to ask millions more people to live in them. So what can be done to fix this blight?”, asks Michael Bachelard.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/duct-tape-two-ministers-and-a-tiny-bedroom-the-moment-that-altered-melbourne-s-too-small-apartments-20230411-p5cznt.html
According to NineFax, a cartel of organised criminals including several prominent bikie gangs has ordered cocaine dealers around the nation to freeze supply in a bid to reverse a recent slump in the price of the popular party drug. An underground OPEC?
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/dear-brothers-of-the-underworld-cartel-plots-to-stem-cocaine-supply-and-raise-prices-20230427-p5d3to.html
In a manner befitting Monty Python, the new King and Queen of Australia will soon be anointed, invested, oiled, crowned, and then throned. But we won’t get to see the silliest bit, writes Geoffrey Robertson who explains a superstitious rite whereby God is supposed to anoint the King to run the Church of England, a church to which, according to our last census, only 9.8 per cent of Australians adhere. It is Pythonesque infeed!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/in-a-land-far-far-away-a-silly-ritual-will-hand-us-our-new-king-and-queen-20230426-p5d3c9.html
Long Covid remains a mystery and a challenging daily reality for hundreds of thousands of people. A seven-month inquiry has found few answers, but vaccination remains one of them, says Mike Seccombe.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/health/2023/04/29/the-governments-take-long-covid
Pray tell me, will there ever be a time in the immediate future when Australia reaches Peak Hugh White? It would seem that the likes of the ABC, The Monthly and The Saturday Paper would hope that the answer is in the negative – since the emeritus professor of strategic studies at the Australian National University’s Strategic and Defence Studies Centre appears to be the go-to expert for them when it comes to discussing Australia’s defence and foreign affairs, whines dear old Gerard.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/anu-professor-hugh-white-well-wide-of-the-mark-on-china/news-story/2f279ef888bf4fa57219f1fc0518a21f?amp
Lucy Cormack tells us that the state’s global trade network attracted more than $1 billion to NSW in the past year, but the new government has been unable to quantify what impact, if any, a clutch of highly paid overseas trade commissioners had on the windfall, galvanising Labor’s decision to retire the lucrative posts in the aftermath of last year’s damaging trade job scandal.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-government-unable-to-find-value-in-high-profile-trade-commissioner-roles-20230428-p5d42m.html
Penny Wong has inherited huge challenges in her role as Foreign Minister. She is surrounded by alpha males controlling the defence and security debate, convinced that only deadly military weapons can secure a safe future for Australia. She heads a department historically seen as weak and irrelevant by too many men in power. They dismiss diplomacy and negotiation as a soft option preferring military dependence on old allies like the United Kingdom and United States, writes Margo Reynolds.
https://johnmenadue.com/penny-wong-has-inherited-huge-challenges-as-foreign-minister/
The daughter of a former Tax Office deputy commissioner is facing several years behind bars for her role in a $105 million tax fraud conspiracy, a judge has said, as her lawyer argued she was led astray by trusting her brother and his friends and will pay a “terrible price”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/facing-years-in-jail-lauren-cranston-s-tragedy-was-to-trust-brother-court-told-20230424-p5d2t1.html
Michaela Whitbourn tells us that a Federal Court judge has raised the prospect that Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation cases against Network Ten and News Corp will be heard by a jury, after he extended an expired one-year time limit to allow the former federal Liberal staffer to sue the media outlets.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/lehrmann-given-green-light-to-sue-ten-news-corp-over-higgins-interview-20230327-p5cvmo.html
The Governor General presided over a charity whose sole purpose appears to have been producing a trophy and medals for the King’s Cup rowing regatta, made from the melted down artefacts gifted by eight different nations. But where is the King’s Cup now? Jommy Tee and Ronni Salt with the investigation.
https://michaelwest.com.au/the-kings-cup-is-dead-long-live-the-kings-cup-er-but-where-is-it-chaps/
Bruce Lehrmann’s criminal trial is over, but a string of related cases and inquiries remain. Christopher Knaus tells us what they are.
https://www.theguardian.com/law/2023/apr/28/bruce-lehrmanns-criminal-trial-is-over-but-a-string-of-related-cases-and-inquiries-remain-what-are-they
In her weekly media round-up, Amanda Meade tells us how Sky News Australia turned watchdog’s rebuke over climate denial into an ‘exclusive’ story.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/28/how-sky-news-australia-turned-watchdogs-rebuke-over-climate-denial-into-an-exclusive-story
Fox News settlement seen as ‘moment of weakness’ that puts focus on Rupert Murdoch’s heirs and their future, says Mark Sweeney.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/apr/28/murdoch-empire-succession-fox-news-settlement
Mark Buckley wonders if our alliance with a Trumpian America is worth it.
https://theaimn.com/is-our-alliance-with-a-trumpian-america-worth-it/
As long as Australia clings to the ANZAC tradition of romanticising war, politicians will find excuses to involve our country in foreign conflicts, writes Binoy Kampmark.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/anzac-legend-still-inspiring-politicians-to-send-australians-to-the-slaughter,17463
First, there was oil in Saudi Arabia, then there was nuclear power in Bangladesh and, finally, there were railways in Pakistan. China is taking multibillion-dollar transactions away from the international currency that has underpinned them for generations, the US dollar, and pushing them into the yuan, explains Eryk Bagshaw.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-s-push-to-challenge-the-us-dollar-gathers-steam-20230427-p5d3o5.html
In Western Australia, the pursuit of anti-Woodside climate protesters by the government and police echoes crackdowns in other states, where democratic rights are being trampled, says Jesse Noakes.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environment/2023/04/29/the-cost-the-protest-crackdown
In Japan’s oldest communities the kids are gone, with the elderly left to keep their towns alive. It’s a glimpse of the challenges facing Australia and the world, writes Michael Smith.
https://www.afr.com/world/asia/world-s-oldest-cheerleaders-the-faces-of-japan-s-demographic-timebomb-20230426-p5d3fd
BBC chairman Richard Sharp resigned on Friday after an independent report found he breached rules for public appointments in relation to a loan for former prime minister Boris Johnson. The country’s public appointments watchdog has been investigating the way in which Sharp was selected by the government to chair the broadcaster in 2021. It followed concerns over whether he properly disclosed his ties to the UK’s Conservative Party leadership at the time of his appointment.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/bbc-chairman-sharp-resigns-after-report-into-johnson-loan-released-20230428-p5d46d.html
In a defiant show of force, masses of right-wing demonstrators have converged on Jerusalem to support an Israeli government plan to overhaul the judiciary that has deeply divided the country. The crowd was largely made up of people from the religious Zionist camp. Many said they wanted a more Jewish Israel that put their brand of traditional values ahead of the liberalism championed by the country’s old, secular elites. This heading for a gig showdown.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/right-wing-israelis-come-out-in-force-to-support-plan-to-overhaul-courts-20230428-p5d44n.html
Today’s “Arsehole of the Week” nomination goes to the former high-ranking Comanchero bikie has been charged with sexually abusing a nine-year-old girl, supplying her with prohibited drugs and sexually assaulting another woman.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/crime-news/2023/04/28/bikie-boss-child-sex-abuse/?breaking_live_scroll=1
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
Jim Pavlidis
Jon Kudelka
Matt Golding
Andrew Dyson
Alan Moir
Glen Le Lievre
Matt Davidson
John Shakespeare
Mark Knight
Simon Letch
Les Hewitt
Dionne Gain
Richard Giliberto
Leak
From the US
Thanks BK but you missed this one!
Good news! ONE MILLION children freed from tunnels under Australia, Ricardo Bosi and QAnon pals report back on how the evil global calls plan to make Australia the command centre has failed. Tunnels been cleared as we speak!!
https://twitter.com/tassiekaz/status/1651520451418419200?s=20
has evry body forgottin that gladis also regularly appeared on kile and jackey o and they strongly suported her while she was premier then minns desided to triy and winn over there audience after alan jones attacks on gillard did notstop the liberal mps from appearing on his show any itis not a good idea for albanese to attend the weding but this is a news corp beat up they never attacked gladis who regularly appeared on the show
#weatheronPB
Pale cream blurs the sun.
Wet grass follows me inside.
Cool quiet spaces.
i hope this serplus actualy happins not thefake back in black of frydenberg if he wants to re enter parliament he is not keeping a very high profile sava tried to rebuild frydenbergs corear buy protending he was the victem of morrison taking over his ministry and how we should feel sorey for the treasurer who let harvey norman make a profit of job keeper while targiting over payments that senter link made leaving pentioners poorer forgeting to mention that he also took over andrews pit and cormann
speaking of sava prodictions she was rong about cormann his switch to his best mate dutton over morrison realy did not deminish his reputation at all in fact one of morrisons few succesors as pm was hisactive campaign to inshure cormann became oecd secretary theit was prity dishonist of david speers to protend frydenberg was a liberal moderit he is a pragmatist who stood for nothingif he wanted to re enter politics wouldnt he keep a high profile as a comitntator unfortunately the averige voter has most likely forgottin who he was dutton basickly acted as morrisons deputy duringhis termwith bermingham the spokeseman leaving frydenberg in the back ground
the msm which are increasingly erelivant are desperate to come up with some narative that the liberals can come back they ran with the farmasee complaint until Warren entsch desided to confirm that Trent twomie is a long time liberal member undermining there campaign now allthe government has to do is quoate entsch probaly whiy he has stayed on the back benchas he now next media beat up issandilands first ucrane viset and the rat test for chinease travilers aparently that would end albanese honey moon
To the PB submarine fraternity, just saw an ad that 4 corners on Monday is going to be on submarines. I didn’t recognise most of the faces but Rex Patrick is one of the contributors. Looks like it’ll be one to watch!
And thanks BK, plenty there to keep me busy today
Insiders Sunday, 30 Apr
David Speers joins Peter Hartcher, Amy Remeikis and Andrew Greene to discuss the Defence Strategic Review, the upcoming Budget and growing calls from backbenchers to spend more on welfare, plus reform of the migration system.
Guest : Richard Marles – Defence Minister And Deputy Prime Ministe
Thanks BK!
”
Penny Wong has inherited huge challenges in her role as Foreign Minister. She is surrounded by alpha males controlling the defence and security debate, convinced that only deadly military weapons can secure a safe future for Australia. She heads a department historically seen as weak and irrelevant by too many men in power. They dismiss diplomacy and negotiation as a soft option preferring military dependence on old allies like the United Kingdom and United States, writes Margo Reynolds.
https://johnmenadue.com/penny-wong-has-inherited-huge-challenges-as-foreign-minister/
”
Is it the reason Australia invaded Vietnam, and Iraq alongside USA and signed up to be on the frontline to ‘defend’ Taiwan alongside USA?
A good foreign minister will convince the world that their military actions are for the good of the world especially when they don’t have to much concern regarding defending their own country.
”
The Governor General presided over a charity whose sole purpose appears to have been producing a trophy and medals for the King’s Cup rowing regatta, made from the melted down artefacts gifted by eight different nations. But where is the King’s Cup now? Jommy Tee and Ronni Salt with the investigation.
https://michaelwest.com.au/the-kings-cup-is-dead-long-live-the-kings-cup-er-but-where-is-it-chaps/
”
UN-F*****G-BELIEVABLE!
I really hope this Hartley guy is prosecuted for fraud because there was no King in 2019 for him to organise King’s cup event in a foreign country with Australian money.
And there is more….
“Australian charities’ regulator, ACNC, the King’s Cup commemoration was to be classified as “assisting national defence.”
When the charity was first registered, according to the Annual Information Statement 2020, it listed the location of its program as Government House, Dunrossil Drive, Yarralumla – the home of the Governor-General. Mr Hartley had previously kept the Governor-General updated of his efforts to obtain the artefacts from the AWM.”
And there is even more…..
“The King’s Cup was contested in early July 2019 as part of the famous Henley Royal Regatta. It appeared to be a week-long event of athletic endeavour, much pomp and ceremony and at times ordinary fashion sense.
Then Defence minister, Linda Reynolds, made an appearance at the event, squeezing in the visit as part of an official overseas trip that took in the UK, Belgium, France and the UAE. The visit to Henley to attend the King’s Cup was not listed as part of the travel summary she submitted to the parliamentary expenses watchdog (IPEA) – unless “undertake site visits” is a euphemism for a day out at the Henley regatta.
Reynolds strutted her stuff with a rowing guard of honour walk through ahead of some serious spectating that included watching the rowing finals and the presentation of the Cup.
Wall-to-wall senior military brass from the represented nations were present, including Australian Air Marshall Warren McDonald.
The various military attaches would later band together and in their enthusiasm, produce a unique blazer for Mr Hartley. The blazer was a gift from the Australian Defence Attaché, Guy Holthouse, “in appreciation”.”
”
Nobody knows where the King’s Cup is located now.
No wonder Australian Military brass wanted AUKUS deal.
Bugger! I’m out gamefishing tomorrow so will miss Amy on insiders, she’s just the best! Thank goodness for iView
”
In a defiant show of force, masses of right-wing demonstrators have converged on Jerusalem to support an Israeli government plan to overhaul the judiciary that has deeply divided the country. The crowd was largely made up of people from the religious Zionist camp. Many said they wanted a more Jewish Israel that put their brand of traditional values ahead of the liberalism championed by the country’s old, secular elites. This heading for a gig showdown.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/right-wing-israelis-come-out-in-force-to-support-plan-to-overhaul-courts-20230428-p5d44n.html
”
Israel is created after WW2 to protect and provide safe haven for Jews.
Trouble in t’Victorian Greens.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/a-line-in-the-sand-inside-the-greens-war-on-transphobia-20230427-p5d3sm.html
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/greens-free-speech-panic-alienating-members-20230427-p5d3mt.html
Good morning all. Thank you, BK.
From BK’s round up:
‘In areas such as migration and jobseeker the government’s rhetoric is timid, when it could boldly go bigger on both, opines Paul Karp.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/29/labors-instinct-is-to-indulge-what-it-thinks-middle-australia-wants-it-could-try-simply-doing-what-works‘
————————————————————–
Karp by name, carp by nature. The pejorative ‘indulge’ is indicative.
‘Instincts’ drive genetically determined behaviours.
Labor’s behaviours are driven by judgements about the balance between what it can do, given the trillion dollar debt, what it wants to do, how fast it can achieve what it wants to achieve, and what it reckons will ensure Prime Minister Dutton after the next election.
Any commentator who fails to include ALL these elements in a policy analysis that includes political considerations is failing as a commentator.
”
As long as Australia clings to the ANZAC tradition of romanticising war, politicians will find excuses to involve our country in foreign conflicts, writes Binoy Kampmark.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/anzac-legend-still-inspiring-politicians-to-send-australians-to-the-slaughter,17463
”
I don’t necessarily agree with that summation.
Other than East Timor peacekeeping mission, after WW2 Australia is involved in conflicts that are fought by USA. The main reason Australian politicians will find excuses to involve our country in foreign conflicts is because Australia feels obligated to USA for the role USA played in WW2. Also, they think the involvement is an insurance premium Australia pays for the Insurance policy they took with USA to secure Australia.
UK Cartoons:
Peter Brookes on #RichardSharp #BBC #TorySleaze #BorisJohnson
Martin Rowson on #RichardSharp #BBC #TorySleaze #ToryCorruption #BorisJohnson
Ben Jennings on #RichardSharp #BBC #TorySleaze #ToryCorruption #BorisJohnson
Andy Davey: Looks like #RishiSunak may have found the perfect new guy for the #BBCChairman gig. Wonder how long he’ll last
Graeme Bandeira: More misleading figures from Suella as @WestYorksPolice feel the pinch!
ChristianAdans on #BBC chairman Richard Sharp resigning
Martyn Turner on #Biden #Trump #JoeBiden #DonaldTrump #BidenHarris2024 #TrumpArraignment #Biden2024 #USPresidentialElections2024
Finally, Dave Brown’s #RoguesGallery cartoon, after #JoshuaReynolds and @BernardCornwell, for @Independent… #RichardSharp #BBC #TorySleaze #ToryCorruption #ToriesUnfitToGovern
Sean Bean as Sharpe – one does not simply post a picture of him:
”
BBC chairman Richard Sharp resigned on Friday after an independent report found he breached rules for public appointments in relation to a loan for former prime minister Boris Johnson. The country’s public appointments watchdog has been investigating the way in which Sharp was selected by the government to chair the broadcaster in 2021. It followed concerns over whether he properly disclosed his ties to the UK’s Conservative Party leadership at the time of his appointment.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/bbc-chairman-sharp-resigns-after-report-into-johnson-loan-released-20230428-p5d46d.html
”
Is BBC really Independent now?
”
First, there was oil in Saudi Arabia, then there was nuclear power in Bangladesh and, finally, there were railways in Pakistan. China is taking multibillion-dollar transactions away from the international currency that has underpinned them for generations, the US dollar, and pushing them into the yuan, explains Eryk Bagshaw.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-s-push-to-challenge-the-us-dollar-gathers-steam-20230427-p5d3o5.html
”
So only believe this when it comes from horse’s mouth, SMH Press.
From previous thread…
Snappy Tom says:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 9:10 am
Mexicanbeemer says:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 1:35 am
southsays:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 12:25 am
Albo’s having a bad PR week. This is why I liked Bill Shorten, he got out there during the years between elections so you got to know the guy. Absent Albo turns up right at the election. waits for scomo to fuck it then sneaks across the line. It turns out, he’s all about Rorts for the AFL. and hanging out with Kyle fucking Sandilands. A man who shouldn’t be near the PM’s office.
———————
What rort for the AFL?
Tassie has been wanting a AFL team for years and needs to suitable stadium as part of any license because that is what some of the clubs have said it must have before they will agree to granting Tasmania its own AFL team.
____________
Can anyone tell me why Bellerive Oval wouldn’t be suitable (Test cricket venue ‘n’ all)?
I can’t read the article, but surely this can’t be serious?
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/patience-a-virtue-in-anthony-albaneses-plan-for-the-nation/news-story/7a0b99208466f62fe8c89982bfdf1de8?amp
I don’t care whether you are in favor or against the voice (and for the record, I am in favor), given the huge number of critical and urgent issues we face, surely no-one would seriously either propose or believe that this one issue is worth spending an entire term of government on?
Surely even readers of The Australian couldn’t be that daft?
‘Rossmore says:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 8:54 am
Trouble in t’Victorian Greens.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/a-line-in-the-sand-inside-the-greens-war-on-transphobia-20230427-p5d3sm.html
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/greens-free-speech-panic-alienating-members-20230427-p5d3mt.html‘
—————————-
Was it the Newspoll state-wide aggregates which showed that the Greens’ post 2023 polling is hurting most in Victoria?
‘Ven says:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 9:07 am
”
First, there was oil in Saudi Arabia, then there was nuclear power in Bangladesh and, finally, there were railways in Pakistan. China is taking multibillion-dollar transactions away from the international currency that has underpinned them for generations, the US dollar, and pushing them into the yuan, explains Eryk Bagshaw.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-s-push-to-challenge-the-us-dollar-gathers-steam-20230427-p5d3o5.html
”
So only believe this when it comes from horse’s mouth, SMH Press.’
———————————
This is a regular meme in the Global Times.
PageBoi @ #22 Saturday, April 29th, 2023 – 8:50 am
I’d usually agree with you re Amy , but listening to a podcast with her, Karp & Butler I have to take issue with their narrative based on a view this government is governing for the centre.
This Albanese Govt shows all the economic characteristics of the former right wing Howard Govt with tax cuts and subsidies for the wealthy while essentially abandoning those living in poverty.
‘Ven says:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 9:07 am
”
First, there was oil in Saudi Arabia, then there was nuclear power in Bangladesh and, finally, there were railways in Pakistan. China is taking multibillion-dollar transactions away from the international currency that has underpinned them for generations, the US dollar, and pushing them into the yuan, explains Eryk Bagshaw.
___________
Wait. Another country wants to make their currency the default currency? How monstrous.
C@tmomma:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 7:35 am
[‘…I know what it’s like when Lars von Trier and Mavis try to bully you into submission.’]
Given your less-than-stellar record on this site, you’ve got a damn cheek to call anyone a bully. Think of Pegasus, for example, who pulled the plug because she didn’t tow the party line that you & others so earnestly espouse. I generally support Labor but respect, unlike you, those who don’t.
Mavis @ #37 Saturday, April 29th, 2023 – 9:50 am
As Labor transitions into a right wing Govt, so it seems the majority of commenters here become right wing economic supporters. A fascinating study of human behaviour.
Revealed: the hidden toll of Tucker’s termination
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2023/apr/29/revealed-the-hidden-impact-of-tuckers-termination
There is absolutely NO electoral danger in Albanese addressing S3 in this years budget forward estimates. Dutton has less than zero chance of election success. This economic agenda from Albanese is a deliberate strategy to appeal to right wing voters, at the expense of those living in poverty
Mavis @ #37 Saturday, April 29th, 2023 – 9:50 am
If you find it so objectionable, don’t mimic me then. 😐
And don’t rewrite history about Pegasus, either. She spammed the blog relentlessly with carefully and misleadingly-edited Greens’ agit prop. She got called on it, she couldn’t handle it, she left.
Also, and this is the last time I’m going to say this, Mavis. That was then and this is now, and now under the expert guidance of Mr Bowe I have mended my ways almost 100%. I’m just saying maybe you should try it. So stop hounding Enough Already, and myself, may be a good place to start.
Thanks BK
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/do-we-need-234-mps-labor-open-to-expanding-parliament-20230419-p5d1lh.html
____________
As I’ve posted before, my issue is not about whether MPs/Senators are ‘stretched’ by their workloads (one of the arguments canvassed in the article).
I am focused on ‘one vote, one value’. The Hawke reforms of the 1980s addressed that within jurisdictions – voters in any state/territory vote in seats with no more than 10% variation in number of voters relative to other seats.
What was not addressed is ‘one vote, one value between jurisdictions’.
I though the article was a little disingenuous in cherry-picking a couple of seats to show how much more voting power some voters have compared to others – comparing Macarthur in NSW (136k voters) with Clarke in Tas (74k).
I’m more concerned with average numbers of voters per seat between states/territories. One example, Qld, where I now reside, has 3.5m voters across 30 seats – 117k voters per seat. The four other larger states have averages of 110k voters per seat or more.
Tasmania has about 400k voters and is guaranteed a minimum 5 seats in the Constitution – 80k per seat, currently.
I want 2 things:
1) an adjustment so all jurisdictions have seat numbers within 10% of each other. In Tasmania’s case (along with the NT, e.g.) this means no change. Qld would get an increase from 30 to 43-44 seats. Several other states would receive extra seats according to voter population.
2) an automatic mechanism (which may be already in place) that ensures population changes are reflected in seat numbers – always assuming a 5 seat minimum per original state.
According to the AEC, 17.3m Australians are enrolled to vote – an extra 500k are eligible.
This suggests a House of Reps of 210-220 members (we currently have 151), with appropriate adjustment to the Senate to ensure that house is at least 50% the size of the Reps (another Constitutional requirement).
Ven says:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 9:07 am
”
First, there was oil in Saudi Arabia, then there was nuclear power in Bangladesh and, finally, there were railways in Pakistan. China is taking multibillion-dollar transactions away from the international currency that has underpinned them for generations, the US dollar, and pushing them into the yuan, explains Eryk Bagshaw.
The idea that the Yuan might replace the USD as the favoured reserve currency in the global system is just preposterous. The Yuan is not freely convertible. There is no very large, liquid and transparently regulated system of Yuan-denominated assets that could constitute a market for reserve holdings and trade. China has attempted to work around this by making the Yuan a partial surrogate/proxy for gold. But this will fail. There are very compelling reasons why no currency is fixed to gold. If China were to fix a Yuan/Gold nexus, their economy would soon enough go into a recessionary dive from which it might not recover.
In the currency business, we’re simply seeing a further example of supremacist ideology at work. No independent financial actor would willingly hold their reserve assets in Yuan. China knows this. Their response is to attempt a form of financial repression in the external domain, in keeping with the repression they apply to all things internally.
The Greens sent the AUKUS deal to the PBO for costings. IMO, this is a reasonable step in holding a Government accountable.
The Greens got the PBO Report on the costings.
Before he had a chance to digest the numbers Shoebridge jumped the shark.
He double-counted the contingency figure. This caused him to be out by around $139 billion.
There are three points of interest.
Shoebridge is NOT the Greens defence spokesperson.
Shoebridge has involved himself in another spectacular look-at-moi stunt. (Blocker Bandt had better extricate himself from Greens’ Victorian TransWar and look after his political back.)
Shoebridge can’t get his head across a most basic item in project costings.
But Jordan Steele-John has yet to issue any media response to one of the biggest reforms to Australian defence since the Vietnam War. There is an intellectual vacuum there which Steele-John habitually fills with ideologically-driven media puffers. (He has yet to withdraw his rather vicious statement that Australians who were concerned about China’s activities in the Solomons were ‘racist’.)
‘The Apostate Stooge says:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:20 am
Ven says:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 9:07 am
”
First, there was oil in Saudi Arabia, then there was nuclear power in Bangladesh and, finally, there were railways in Pakistan. China is taking multibillion-dollar transactions away from the international currency that has underpinned them for generations, the US dollar, and pushing them into the yuan, explains Eryk Bagshaw.
The idea that the Yuan might replace the USD as the favoured reserve currency in the global system is just preposterous. The Yuan is not freely convertible. There is no very large, liquid and transparently regulated system of Yuan-denominated assets that could constitute a market for reserve holdings and trade. China has attempted to work around this by making the Yuan a partial surrogate/proxy for gold. But this will fail. There are very compelling reasons why no currency is fixed to gold. If China were to fix a Yuan/Gold nexus, their economy would soon enough go into a recessionary dive from which it might not recover.
In the currency business, we’re simply seeing a further example of supremacist ideology at work. No independent financial actor would willingly hold their reserve assets in Yuan. China knows this. Their response is to attempt a form of financial repression in the external domain, in keeping with the repression they apply to all things internally.’
————————————-
I have no problem at all with China trying this on. Caveat emptor!
”
nathsays:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 9:48 am
‘Ven says:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 9:07 am
”
First, there was oil in Saudi Arabia, then there was nuclear power in Bangladesh and, finally, there were railways in Pakistan. China is taking multibillion-dollar transactions away from the international currency that has underpinned them for generations, the US dollar, and pushing them into the yuan, explains Eryk Bagshaw.
___________
Wait. Another country wants to make their currency the default currency? How monstrous.
”
That was not my contention nath. What I meant and mean was I posted about this quite a few times previously. But we only want to believe it only when it is reported in Australian MSM. So I don’t understand your sarcasm. 🙂
Looks like PB will be the place to avoid that night too.
‘Rex Douglas says:
Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:09 am
There is absolutely NO electoral danger in Albanese addressing S3 in this years budget forward estimates. Dutton has less than zero chance of election success. This economic agenda from Albanese is a deliberate strategy to appeal to right wing voters, at the expense of those living in poverty’
—————————–
Klutz trolling.
A bumper edition of dawn patrol today thanks BK.
Rossmore @ #24 Saturday, April 29th, 2023 – 8:54 am
I found this comment ‘interesting’:
The party figure agrees that the new provision further restricts free speech within the Greens but points out that freedom of speech has never been a core value of the party. “We are not a libertarian party,” they said. A survey conducted as part of the ABC’s “Australia Talks” series suggests that most Greens voters would agree.
…
Nearly all Greens voters surveyed – 97 per cent – agreed that freedom of speech was often used to justify discrimination against minority groups.
Yes, but freedom of speech isn’t ONLY a justification used by Libertarians to enable bigotry. It’s actually a core pillar of a free society. The right to speak your mind freely. The sort of things that can be said can be codified but not the right to free speech itself.