The fortnightly federal voting intention numbers from Essential Research, inclusive of an unchanged 5% undecided component, have Labor down a point to 34%, the Coalition steady on 31%, the Greens up one to 15%, One Nation up one to 6% and the United Australia Party on one to 2%. The pollster’s 2PP+ measure has Labor down one to 52%, the Coalition up one to 43% and undecided steady on 5%.
The poll also included questions on the housing system, which only 13% rated as good for renters along with 12% for future generations, respectively compared with 63% and 59% for bad. The system was deemed most favourable for existing home owners (43% good, 20% bad) and residential property investors (37% good, 27% for bad). The Housing Australia Future Fund, which respondents were told “aims to invest $10 billion and spend the earnings on building 30,000 affordable homes over the next five years”, was considered too much investment by 9%, too little by 30% and about right by 41%.
Questions on negative gearing found 36% support for its abolition with 25% opposed, widening to 49% and 17% for a limitation to one investment property. Majority support was recorded for all of five proposed reforms that did not involve tax, restrictions on foreign investment (69% supportive, 12% opposed), rental freezes (60% and 17%) and migration caps (60% and 15%) more so than allowing super to be accessed (56% and 20%). The poll was conducted Wednesday to Sunday from a sample of 1138.
Also out today was an SMS poll from Roy Morgan on the Indigenous Voice, which found 46% saying they would vote yes in a referendum, unchanged on mid-April, with opposition down three to 36%. Yes led in New South Wales (48% to 38%), Victoria (47% to 32%), Western Australia (41% to 35%) and South Australia (47% to 32%), but not Queensland (39% to 46%). The poll was conducted Friday to Monday from a sample of 1833.
The pollster’s weekly federal voting intention results, conducted separately online and by phone from Monday to Sunday, have Labor’s two-party lead unchanged at 55.5-44.5 from primary votes of Labor 36%, Coalition 33.5% and Greens 11.5%. There was also an SMS poll of state voting intention in Victoria last week that had Labor leading 61.5-38.5, conducted from a sample of 2095 from May 17 to 22.
So … Morgan has Labor on 55.5 – 44.5, and Essential divvies up to 54-point-something to 45-point-something.
Let’s say 55 – 45, give or take.
Labor’s ‘honeymoon’ is now into its 14th lunar cycle …
It would seem that these latest “satchels” of polling from both Essential and Morgan will be difficult for those willing and wanting to predict a collapse of the various “political souffles” on offer.
I understand NT and the ACT are not regarded as a States for the purposes of a referendum?
This does seem an anomaly that perhaps should be considered at some stage.
Could some PB’ers from Queensland “throw some light” on the Queensland “the Voice” voting intentions ?
I wish I could…I guess it must be the urban:rural ratio again.
Iceland update: I have seen some Icelandic horses, but they weren’t moving around enough to show off the unusual gait BK mentioned.
Australia hit the headlines here with the massive fire in Sydney (Surry Hills).
I notice quite a lot of electric cars here, unsurprising as petrol and diesel are both extremely expensive here: more than twice what they are in Australia. That being said, the cars aren’t cheap. Electric models seem to be at least 25% more expensive than they are in Australia.
I’ve noticed that Iceland is investing heavily in carbon capture technology, which will probably enrage some people who (I imagine) like to talk loudly in restaurants.
It’s rather cold here, even by Icelandic standards. Spring still hasn’t arrived, which is a bit of an issue as it’s almost summer.
goll
Sadly, State of Origin is more important to Queenslanders than Indigenous recognition in the constitution and their right to formally express an opinion to government.
Our regions are particularly conservative from a federal perspective and virulently opposed to most form of change. Note, there are those who still think Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Russ Hinze and Terry Lewis were just misunderstood.
Paul The Avenger says:
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 5:46 am
———————————
Appreciate the update. My sister-in-law was their last week and thoroughly enjoyed her short day and concurred re the cold. It’s on my bucket list.
Cronus @Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 5:52 am
I recommend it. Definitely will come back, when it isn’t daylight 24 hours a day, to see the Northern Lights.
Morning all. The PWC case raises lots of questions. One of them is about the “right” to privacy on tax and income matters. It is a long standing tradition in Australian finance. In ethics books no such right exists. Some countries publish how much tax you paid. It would do our culture no harm if this “right” were curbed. Only those making so much others might ask questions want it kept.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-30/ato-raised-concerns-about-a-breach-at-pwc-to-federal-police/102413154
I do not suggest this excuse was sufficient to explain no AFP investigation for five years.
PwC was behind 15 schemes designed to help multinationals sidestep tax laws, Commissioner Chris Jordan told a parliamentary committee late on Tuesday. Mr Jordan also accused PwC of frustrating its investigations into these types of schemes – which, in total, put at risk $180 million in tax revenue a year – via “false claims” of legal privilege.
The ATO learnt that PwC partner Peter Collins had used confidential Treasury information to develop the schemes in late 2017. This was months before Mr Collins, signed the last of three confidentiality agreements to consult on the new tax laws, in February 2018 when Treasury did not know about the ATO’s discovery.
Second tax commissioner Jeremy Hirschhorn said the ATO had the first hints in late 2017 that Mr Collins had breached confidentiality. “By the start of 2019 we actually took an assistant commissioner offline…with a team of 20 or so staff were solely focused on dealing with these matters.”But Mr Jordan said the ATO was prevented by outdated secrecy laws from informing the Treasurer of these developments.
The commissioner named three PwC clients that were involved in claims for legal privilege. “The three companies…were all PwC clients that we’ve taken to the court and are public and that’s why we can mention Glencore…ABi InBev and JBS, the Brazilian meat processing [company],” Mr Jordan said.
https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/pwc-behind-15-schemes-to-sidestep-tax-says-horrified-ato-20230530-p5dcl4
Our former Member for Robertson and now our Senator for NSW (who replaced KK at the top of the Senate ticket last election in a bitter dispute, but that’s politics), is leading the charge against PwC:
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/my-interest-will-not-wane-labor-s-deb-o-neill-circles-bleeding-pwc-20230530-p5dce9.html
I only just caught up with this but quite disappointing- Labor voted with Dutton (ugh) last week to vote down a sound proposal from Teal Allegra Spender to require IA to publish results of project assessments. They don’t even publish what things really cost.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-and-albanese-unite-to-block-teal-transparency-demands-on-120b-of-projects-20230524-p5daw6.html
Maybe Albo pork will taste different to Scomo pork?
New Zealand already has a reporting mechanism similar to what was proposed by Spender. It works well.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Peter Martin reckons there is a sliver of hope that Albanese will live up to his own promises to end pork-barrelling.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-31/albanese-live-up-to-promises-end-pork-barrelling-evidence-hope/102411524
David Crowe writes that Anthony Albanese is seeking to turn the Fadden byelection, triggered by the resignation of Stuart Robert, into a campaign against the Coalition that reaches a broader audience.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/fadden-byelection-kickstarts-labor-campaign-to-raid-coalition-seats-20230530-p5dcjg.html
The $4.9 billion increase to unemployment benefits will pass the Senate after the Coalition resolved to try to modify the signature budget measure, but wave it through if unsuccessful, says Phil Coorey.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/coalition-resolves-to-back-jobseeker-increase-20230530-p5dcgy
The housing crisis threatens to unleash Australia’s darker angels, and Peter Dutton is intent on exploiting it, says Peter Lewis.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2023/may/30/the-housing-crisis-threatens-to-unleash-australias-darker-angels-peter-dutton-is-intent-on-exploiting-it
Consulting giant PwC blocked the Australian Tax Office’s attempts to garner more information about its involvement in the tax leak scandal at least six years ago, prompting the ATO to report its “significant concerns” to federal police in 2018. Rachel Clun reports that ATO Commissioner Chris Jordan told a parliamentary committee last night his office noticed that a few multinational companies had “suspiciously and quickly” tried to rearrange their affairs after the Multinational Anti-Avoidance Law was introduced in January 2016.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pwc-stonewalled-tax-office-attempts-to-investigate-leak-20230529-p5dca4.html
PwC was behind 15 schemes designed to help multinationals sidestep tax laws, Tax Commissioner Chris Jordan told a parliamentary committee late yesterday. Mr Jordan also accused PwC of frustrating its investigations into these types of schemes – which, in total, put at risk $180 million in tax revenue a year – via “false claims” of legal privilege.
https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/pwc-behind-15-schemes-to-sidestep-tax-says-horrified-ato-20230530-p5dcl4
Accountants were boring until the government paid them billions to do its job, says Ross Gittins in the wake of the PwC revelations. This is an excellent examination of the outsourcing of the public service.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/accountants-were-boring-until-the-government-paid-them-billions-to-do-its-job-20230530-p5dcbo.html
“PwC had one product to sell. Turns out it wasn’t a good one”, says Stephen Bartholomeusz who wonders if PwC’s blue-chip corporate clients continue to do business as usual with a firm that has acted so cynically.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/pwc-had-one-product-to-sell-turns-out-it-wasn-t-a-good-one-20230530-p5dccd.html
Jennifer Hewett tells us why PwC can’t contain the growing demands for heads on sticks.
https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/why-pwc-can-t-contain-the-growing-demands-for-heads-on-sticks-20230530-p5dce6
“The civil war engulfing the Victorian Greens over accusations of transphobia – sound familiar? – continues to take them to ever stranger places”, write Noel Towell and Kishor Napier-Raman as war is declared on the leakers.
https://www.theage.com.au/cbd/victorian-greens-declare-war-on-leakers-20230530-p5dcl9.html
The Victorian Liberals have promised to repeal the state’s incoming tax hike for private schools should the Coalition win government in 2026. But Opposition Leader John Pesutto will not commit to axing Labor’s other tax measures despite opposing them, arguing his party needs to be “fiscally responsible” and assess Victoria’s finances closer to the next election.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/parents-will-pay-this-liberals-promise-to-abolish-victoria-s-private-school-tax-hike-20230530-p5dcji.html
Fears that stripping “high-fee” Victorian private schools of their payroll tax exemption will lead to job losses are a “red herring”, education experts say.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/31/victorian-private-schools-fear-mongering-over-job-losses-after-tax-exemptions-axed-experts-say
If there was any ever doubt that building more homes makes them cheaper, the experience in New Zealand’s largest city should dispel it, explains Michael Read who tells us how Auckland took on the NIMBYs and won.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/how-auckland-took-on-the-nimbys-and-won-20230522-p5da9o
Insurance giants are the latest big companies attracting unwanted government attention over some of their prices, hot on the heels of Labor’s energy market intervention and its scrutiny of bank deposits. Clancy Yeates writes that there’s no question home and car insurance premiums are soaring, but Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones has singled out one group of affected customers in particular: people who have renovated their homes to deal with the risk of natural disasters such as floods.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/minister-warns-insurers-over-unfair-premiums-in-disaster-hotspots-20230530-p5dceo.html
Ben Roberts-Smith, the Victoria Cross recipient claims a series of news stories defamed him, but the newspapers defended their reporting as true. As a verdict looms, Ben Doherty looks at the key details of the case.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/30/the-ben-roberts-smith-allegations-war-crimes-domestic-violence-defamation-case-trial
The aged care payment system currently requires providers wishing to make a profit to do so by skimping on care and services. A new payment structure is needed to reverse the incentives, and link higher profits to better care, argues Charles Maskell-Knight.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-aged-care-payment-system-should-be-re-designed-to-support-quality/
The ABC and NewsCorp are locked in a co-dependent abusive relationship. As Dr Martin Hirst writes, part of the problem is the revolving door between their respective newsrooms.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/newscorp-and-the-abc-sliding-door-moments,17566
Nine Entertainment’s media title the AFR has had a crack at Michael West Media. Michael West responds, gently encouraging the Liberal Party and Big Business-led media outlet to expand its activities in journalism.
https://michaelwest.com.au/on-captured-media-we-respond-to-nine-entertainment-and-the-afrs-tepid-hit-job/
The fact that Australia is sleepwalking towards a catastrophic war against China has received very welcome and responsible coverage in Pearls and Irritations and other non-mainstream media. The head-in-the-sand stance adopted by much of the mainstream media stands in stark contrast. The most recent example of the latter was a 15-page supplement in The Canberra Times (CT) on 17 May – ‘Our Next Steps’, on the Defence Strategic Review. It was a most shameful collection of war-mongering articles and images, writes Sue Wareham.
https://johnmenadue.com/mainstream-media-need-to-focus-on-peace/
Cracks are appearing in China’s financial markets as investors fret about the hefty debt loads of local governments. That’s bad news for commodity exporters, writes Haren Maley about the A$15 trillion local government debt crisis there.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/a-15-3-trillion-local-government-debt-crisis-looms-in-china-20230530-p5dcd7
The AFL has reached an agreement with families who made allegations of historical racism at Hawthorn, and has made no findings against Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan and Jason Burt. What a clusterf**k!
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-does-deal-with-families-to-end-hawthorn-investigation-20230530-p5dclq.html
Bruce Lehrmann will break his silence on the accusations levelled against him in an interview with Channel 7.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/bruce-lehrmann-to-break-silence-in-channel-7-interview/news-story/9ed1ed959099e9a5a54313edb9794c78?amp
Detectives have arrested an alleged fraud syndicate chief trying to flee the country from Sydney airport after uncovering a $1.2 million phone scam targeting elderly and vulnerable people. A definite contender for “Arsehole of the Week”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/alleged-chief-fraudster-arrested-at-airport-trying-to-flee-country-20230530-p5dck3.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
David Pope
Matt Golding
Andrew Dyson
Glen Le Lievre
Spooner
From the US
Western Australia’s Labor Deputy Leader Roger Cook will the state’s next premier, after shoo-in Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson pulled herself out of the race, The West Australian reports. United Workers Union-backed MPs (that’s 28 of the 75 in caucus) had decided to support Sanderson for the role, cracking the left faction down the middle as the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union-backed MPs got behind Cook, its most senior figure. Why couldn’t they both run? Because of Labor Party rules heralding from the Rudd-Gillard years, as the ABC covered at the time, that would’ve seen a four-week-or-more leadership selection process ahead, and WA Labor’s popularity is built on the bedrock of unity. After factionless Transport and Planning Minister Rita Saffioti withdrew her leadership bid and said she’d be Cook’s deputy and treasurer instead, Sanderson knew she had to walk away.
Socrates @ #11 Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 – 7:01 am
Or, for balance, you could put the Minister’s words up as well:
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-and-albanese-unite-to-block-teal-transparency-demands-on-120b-of-projects-20230524-p5daw6.html
PWC stole secret government information and sold it to what we like to call “foreign actors”. Doesn’t this amount to espionage rather fraud? And if so, shouldn’t the smart-arses at PWC be charged accordingly?
“ Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be “a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war”, the Center for AI Safety says. ”
It’s unclear to me exactly how AI will put humanity at risk of extinction, can anyone explain this to me?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-31/tech-world-warns-risk-of-extinction-from-ai-should-be-priority/102413250
Soc,
Read Peter Martin’s article:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-31/albanese-live-up-to-promises-end-pork-barrelling-evidence-hope/102411524
it seems suprising that oniel got top senate spot despite her low publick profile she is part of the shoppies union which is aparently the largist trade union she is chair of the joint commity on corperations
”
gollsays:
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 4:22 am
It would seem that these latest “satchels” of polling from both Essential and Morgan will be difficult for those willing and wanting to predict a collapse of the various “political souffles” on offer.
I understand NT and the ACT are not regarded as a States for the purposes of a referendum?
This does seem an anomaly that perhaps should be considered at some stage.
Could some PB’ers from Queensland “throw some light” on the Queensland “the Voice” voting intentions ?
”
ACT and Tasmania populations are in same range ~500000. But Tasmania gets veto vote just like UN permanent UN Security Council members have.
the new roinson mp gordan reid seems prity good as the new member one of the disapointments is dr andrew charlton who isdespite the hype and being a economicks advisor to rudd has dun little in parliament so far ayres and sheldon are good though
Some members of the most far-right group of House Republicans, the Freedom Caucus, admitted Tuesday their goals are to defeat the debt ceiling agreement, thereby killing the economy, which some of them believe would then help Donald Trump win back the White House in 2024.
Many of the House Freedom Caucus members are tied to the January 6, 2021 insurrection, by various methods, including supporting efforts to overturn state elections and spreading false claims about the results of the 2020 presidential election.
U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) in Tuesday’s Freedom Caucus’s press conference pointed to the portion of the debt ceiling agreement, brokered by President Joe Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy, which says the nation’s debt limit will not have to be raised until 2025. Outraged, Congressman Bishop admitted Republicans had wanted to have another debt ceiling fight next year, which would, he claimed, help a Republican presidential candidate win the White House.
Surrounded by far-right Republican Representatives Byron Donalds, Lauren Boebert, Chip Roy, Freedom Caucus chair Scott Perry, former Freedom Caucus chair Andy Biggs, and others, Bishop angrily complained, “And what does the device of two years do?”
Cronus @ #16 Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 – 7:33 am
This way? 😀
Cronussays:
It’s unclear to me exactly how AI will put humanity at risk of extinction, can anyone explain this to me?
___________________
Haven’t you seen The Terminator?
”
Socratessays:
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 6:50 am
Morning all. The PWC case raises lots of questions. One of them is about the “right” to privacy on tax and income matters. It is a long standing tradition in Australian finance. In ethics books no such right exists. Some countries publish how much tax you paid. It would do our culture no harm if this “right” were curbed. Only those making so much others might ask questions want it kept.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-30/ato-raised-concerns-about-a-breach-at-pwc-to-federal-police/102413154
I do not suggest this excuse was sufficient to explain no AFP investigation for five years.
”
Socrates
Is it a coincidence that there was no investigation and Morrison was Treasurer and PM of Australia during that period?
Could that be reason Morrison applied for a high position in PwC after federal election?
You can’t make this shit up. And Maria Butina her friend? Lol! More like her handler,
———
Remember Tara Reade?
The one-time Biden accuser who became a Putin apologist…
She’s live on Russian State TV announcing that she’s defected.
Sitting with Maria Butina whom she refers to as a friend.
h/t @OzKaterji
”
“The civil war engulfing the Victorian Greens over accusations of transphobia – sound familiar? – continues to take them to ever stranger places”, write Noel Towell and Kishor Napier-Raman as war is declared on the leakers.
https://www.theage.com.au/cbd/victorian-greens-declare-war-on-leakers-20230530-p5dcl9.html
”
How can I put it mildly? No I cannot.
Here it goes.
It appears a large section of Victorian Greens party are Transphobic.
”
Fears that stripping “high-fee” Victorian private schools of their payroll tax exemption will lead to job losses are a “red herring”, education experts say.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/31/victorian-private-schools-fear-mongering-over-job-losses-after-tax-exemptions-axed-experts-say
”
Ofcourse it is “red herring” . If the teachers don’t work in Private schools, then most of them will work in Government schools because there is shortage of teachers in Government schools.
”
If there was any ever doubt that building more homes makes them cheaper, the experience in New Zealand’s largest city should dispel it, explains Michael Read who tells us how Auckland took on the NIMBYs and won.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/how-auckland-took-on-the-nimbys-and-won-20230522-p5da9o
”
And Max Chandler-Mather is the most prominent NIMBY and Housing Spokesman of Greens political party.
#weatheronPB
Cool bright horizons,
on an endless flat blue sky,
swallow my mind.
Cronus @ #16 Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 – 7:33 am
Does anyone (except me) find it odd that they don’t mention the only actual imminent global threat of extinction we face, which is the looming climate catastrophe?
I smell a burning circuit board.
Cronus says:
It’s unclear to me exactly how AI will put humanity at risk of extinction, can anyone explain this to me?
—-
This guy is fairly readable, if prolix:
https://www.cold-takes.com/how-we-could-stumble-into-ai-catastrophe/
Vensays:
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 7:40 am
“ACT and Tasmania populations are in same range ~500000. But Tasmania gets veto vote just like UN permanent UN Security Council members have”
And Tasmania has 12 senators and the ACT only 2!
Victoria @ #25 Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 – 8:00 am
I hope she didn’t let the door hit her crazy ass on the way out of America. 😐
Victoria,
This one is for you 🙂
https://youtu.be/JDsTYa67KM0
”
Cronussays:
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 7:33 am
“ Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be “a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war”, the Center for AI Safety says. ”
It’s unclear to me exactly how AI will put humanity at risk of extinction, can anyone explain this to me?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-31/tech-world-warns-risk-of-extinction-from-ai-should-be-priority/102413250
”
Did you watch ‘Terminator’ movies? It addressed that issue very well.
Also, Asimov Robot rules
The first law is that a robot shall not harm a human, or by inaction allow a human to come to harm. The second law is that a robot shall obey any instruction given to it by a human, and the third law is that a robot shall avoid actions or situations that could cause it to come to harm itself.
There is a Will Smith movie “I, Robot”, where how AI can go wrong in the hands of a greedy and psychotic rich business man.
Most drummers neither know nor care what key something is in.
”
PaulTusays:
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 8:24 am
Vensays:
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 7:40 am
“ACT and Tasmania populations are in same range ~500000. But Tasmania gets veto vote just like UN permanent UN Security Council members have”
And Tasmania has 12 senators and the ACT only 2!
”
Paul
I was only posting wrt Referendum.
Similar populations but Tasmania has capacity to defeat the referendum, whereas ACT doesn’t.
Surely we could replace PwC with ai?
I can’t wait for the useless Bean Counters to be first on the ai chopping block…
Cronus
This is for you.
Terminator sound track – Main theme
https://youtu.be/mpMg1upld0w
Legal experts: Trump could be charged under “Espionage Act” over report that he showed off docs
New evidence “suggests an escalation in the seriousness of the charges Trump faces,” former federal prosecutor says
Prosecutors obtained evidence that former President Donald Trump kept classified documents in his office and sometimes showed them to people, according to a recent report from The Washington Post.
Legal experts say the report suggests the former president may be facing more serious charges than obstruction.
“The news report suggests an escalation in the seriousness of the charges Trump faces,” former federal prosecutor Kevin O’Brien told Salon. “Evidence that he showed highly sensitive documents to third parties implicates the Espionage Act, which forbids willfully conveying such a document ‘to any person not entitled to receive it,’ or willfully failing to deliver the same on demand to a government officer or employee entitled to receive it. Trump appears to fall under both prongs of the statute, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison per violation.”
https://www.salon.com/2023/05/30/legal-experts-could-be-charged-under-espionage-act-over-report-that-he-showed-off-docs/
UK Cartoons:
Patrick Blower on #Putin #RussianArmy
Dave Brown on #BorisJohnson #CovidInquiry #BaronessHallett #Partygate #Chequers #BorisTheLiar
Kal on #POTUS #Biden
Dave Simonds on #Sewage #LakeDistrict
Seamus Jennings on #Erdogan #ErdoganVictory
Alpha Zero @ #37 Wednesday, May 31st, 2023 – 8:48 am
May be why they’ve tried so hard to inveigle themselves into government? Public Servants are harder to replace. 😉
The Hillsong experiment is over. Christianity was never meant to be cool
https://amp-smh-com-au.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.smh.com.au/national/the-hillsong-experiment-is-over-christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-cool-20230526-p5dbot.html?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16854842352167&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smh.com.au%2Fnational%2Fthe-hillsong-experiment-is-over-christianity-was-never-meant-to-be-cool-20230526-p5dbot.html
“There is a version of the Bible called The Message by Eugene Peterson. It translates ye olde King James verses like “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” into “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me, and you’ll recover your life.” Growing up Christian, I loved this modern adaptation because it revived words I knew so well and made them fresh.
Hillsong is a church famous for its contemporary take on Christianity – for turning a 2000-year-old religion into something relevant to hipsters in skinny-leg jeans who tell you that God is “so into you”.
On May 19, four-part documentary The Secrets of Hillsong premiered on Hulu, featuring fallen Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz. It expands on Vanity Fair’s 2021 investigative article, which did a deep-dive into Lentz’s abrupt firing from Hillsong following his extramarital affairs and the depth of dysfunction within the church including Brian Houston’s alleged cover-up of his father’s paedophilia, which returns to court in June and which Houston denies. Australian dates for The Secrets of Hillsong have not yet been released.”
Ven: “There is a Will Smith movie “I, Robot”, where how AI can go wrong in the hands of a greedy and psychotic rich business man.”
That… isn’t what “I, Robot” is about at all.
Can someone explain how replacing a (say) $80 an hour public service accountant with a $600 an hour PWC etc accountant/spiv is efficient and cost saving?
Paul The Avenger says:
Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 5:46 am
Iceland update: I have seen some Icelandic horses, but they weren’t moving around enough to show off the unusual gait BK mentioned.
Glad you are enjoying it there, September was when we toured there and although cooler, it was also a bit better for the lights. Caught this fine specimen posing for the tourists. Very muscular little horses and also a source of horse meat which we found expensive.
Caught the lights near the end of the trip (Helnar), but had to get up about 2am.
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-fbi-justice-department-purge-1234743318/
“In recent months, the former president has asked close advisers, including at least one of his personal attorneys, if “we know” all the names of senior FBI agents and Justice Department personnel who have worked on the federal probes into him. That’s according to two sources with direct knowledge of the matter and another person briefed on it.
The former president has then privately discussed that should he return to the White House, it is imperative his new Department of Justice “quickly” and “immediately” purge the FBI and DOJ’s ranks of these officials and agents who’ve led the Trump-related criminal investigations, the sources recount. The ex-president has of course dubbed all such probes as illegitimate “witch hunts,” and is now campaigning for the White House on a platform of “retribution” and cleaning house.”
Thanks BK
I visit Fadden weekly and have done so for 20 years. Although I doubt Labor’s chances of winning this seat, I don’t think Labor has anything to lose by trying as expectations are very low.
Knocking skin of the Liberals by diminishing their hold on the seat by even 2-3% would be an improvement of sorts giving hope for future elections in QLD.
Of course, CostelloFax doing their bit for the No campaign…arseholes!
Australians supporting the Voice have taken to social media to call out the “despicable” act that involved Sydney newsreader Amber Sherlock reading out the phrase “the divisive Voice to Parliament” at the start of an intro to the next story.
https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/quite-shaken-single-word-in-nine-news-bulletin-infuriates-viewers/news-story/60523aae3a996ed65104961d15f4fb40
I love the smell of a by-election in the morning.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victorian-liberal-mp-ryan-smith-quits-politics-triggering-byelection-20230531-p5dcoq.html