There are now three by-elections in the pipeline, one federal and two state:
• The Gold Coast Bulletin reports a Liberal National Party preselection vote for the July 25 Fadden by-election this weekend has attracted five candidates: the reputed front-runner, Cameron Caldwell; two widely noted rivals with strong support in Dinesh Palipana and Fran Ward; and apparent dark horses in Owen Caterer, who boasts “a long career in wealth management” including a decade working in China, and Craig Hobart. Labor is now committed to fielding a candidate, after earlier reports that Anthony Albanese would prefer to forfeit, with David Crowe of the Age/Herald reporting that the candidate from 2022, Letitia Del Fabbro, was “seen as the leading contender”.
• In Victoria, Liberal MP Ryan Smith announced his resignation on Wednesday, initiating a by-election in his eastern suburbs seat of Warrandyte, which he retained at the November election by 4.2% with a slight favourable swing. This has yielded the stimulating possibility of a return to politics for Tim Smith, who tested over double the legal blood alcohol limit in 2021 after crashing his car into the side of a house in Hawthorn, and abandoned his seat of Kew at the election. Smith had won favour with conservatives for the vehemence of his attacks on Daniel Andrews during the Melbourne lockdowns, and has presumably continued to do so as a regular on Sky News. His comments professing an interest in the seat were implicitly critical of party leader John Pesutto, who says he would “very much like to see a woman in amongst the candidates”. Between reports in The Age and The Guardian, five such are mentioned: Caroline Inge, one of the party’s federal vice-presidents and a “former staffer and political ally” of Smith; Sarah Overton, a director at KPMG; Michelle Kleinert, a Manningham councillor; Nicole Werner, a former Pentecostal pastor who ran at the election in Box Hill; and Ranjana Srivastava, an oncologist who was recently fortunate to be overlooked for the Aston preselection. The Guardian reports the by-election is “expected to be held between 5 August and 30 September”.
• The West Australian reports three Labor preselection candidates have emerged as potential successors to Mark McGowan in his surely unloseable southern Perth seat of Rockingham. These are Matt Dixon, who was the party’s state secretary in 2018 and 2019, and has more recently been a staffer to Stephen Dawson, Emergency Services Minister and a prominent figure in the AMWU sub-faction of the Left; Clem Chan, state president of the United Professional Firefighters Union; and Magenta Marshall, a locally based party official. However, there is said to be concern that Dixon’s candidacy would be “a distraction” due to the circumstances of his departure as state secretary, which followed controversy over the use of funds raised by state parliamentarians on the 2019 federal campaign, and Marshall is quoted saying she is “not sure it’s my time”. Electoral commissioner Robert Kennedy tells The West Australian the by-election is likely to be in late June or July.
Also of note:
• Maria Kovacic, who stood aside as the party’s state president to contest the preselection, won a Liberal Party ballot on the weekend to fill the late Jim Molan’s New South Wales Senate vacancy. Kovacic prevailed in the final round over Andrew Constance, former state government minister and unsuccessful candidate for Gilmore at last year’s election, by 287 votes to 243. Kovacic’s win means a seat formerly held by a factional conservative now goes to a moderate. Constance, who is also a moderate, gained some support from conservatives by promising to abandon the seat at the next federal election for another run in Gilmore, which is still considered likely to do. Anthony Galloway of the Sydney Morning Herald reports the seat would likely have stayed with the right if Dallas McInerney, chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW, had nominated, but in the event the only right nominee was Jess Collins, who narrowly failed to make the final round. Earlier exclusions were Space Industry Association chief executive James Brown, former Lindsay MP Fiona Scott and Shepherd Centre executive David Brady.
• An analysis by former Labor Senator John Black of Australian Development Strategies in the Financial Review identifies Labor’s targets to regain lost primary votes as working families on $100,000 to $150,000 a year, “digitally disrupted families” on $50,000 to $100,000, parents with children at state schools, and Christians who have supported Labor only under the leadership of Kevin Rudd; and the Coalition’s as white migrants, defectors in the teal seats, professional women on more than $150,000 a year, and professionals and the 35-to-50 age cohort.
• Rhianna Down of The Australian reports Anthony Albanese told colleagues on Tuesday that Labor’s target Liberal-held seats for the next election are Canning, Moore, Bass, Braddon, Banks, Menzies and Sturt, though presumably hopes for the first two have taken a knock with Mark McGowan’s resignation.
• Charlotte Varcoe of Border Watch reports Liberal MP Tony Pasin won a preselection ballot for his South Australian seat of Barker with 284 votes against 58 for Katherine McBride, who owns grazing property with husband Nick McBride, the state member for MacKillop.
Great to see the Queensland State Of Origin women’s team follow up the male team with a good win over the Cockroaches last night in Sydney.
#weatheronPB
Perfect shadows cut,
the unblemished glassy sky,
in pure artistry.
Labor is also targeting some QLD marginals, Petrie (which usually goes with government and has a right-wing Liberal MP) Longman, (They desperately want this), Bonner, Forde and Leichhardt, which will be their #1 target in QLD due to Entsch retring.
Labor also has aspirations for taking Brisbane off the Greens, but would rather take seats off the LNP.
I hear Labor aims to take 2-3 seats off the LNP in QLD, considering last election was a low point since 1996. The 3 most likely to go Labor in order or likelihood
1) Leichhardt
2) Longman
3) Forde
Bonner and Petrie will be harder but not impossible.
It’s kind of a grey wintry day here on the Central Coast of NSW. But I like Winter. 🙂
Arky,
Just a response to your comment late last night on the last thread …
The kids at the school down the road from me all get dropped off and picked up pretty successfully by mums, dads and grandparents, or get home with their older siblings on the bus. I have noticed, especially since Covid, that there seems to be a lot more dads who must work from home because they drop their kids off and pick them up as well every day (and it’s not cheap to live around here). Also, most Tradies finish work at 3pm and a large number of women who work in the Care industry have shifts that end at 3pm.
Also, between the hours of 3pm and 6pm (usual dinnertime) is when kids go to their after school music, dance, gym or sport classes, just run around with their friends and let off steam, or they do their homework. It’s also when the teachers do their marking and lesson prep.
So I can just imagine that making them all stay at school would lead to untold problems, actually. 3pm was decided on as the end of the school day for a very good reason, even if it was long ago. Not that much has changed about giving kids the right balance in life to alter things, I reckon. Just make the Before and After School Care, if needed, subsidised.
A summary of the media today on the Ben Roberts-Smith legal matter:
Justice sought after Roberts-Smith loss
The landmark defeat of Ben Roberts-Smith in his war crimes defamation case has sparked calls for justice for Afghan victims, the application of criminal charges and removal of displays celebrating the SAS veteran.
What we know:
*Roberts-Smith lost his landmark defamation case against three newspapers and three journalists in the federal court in Sydney on Thursday (The New Daily);
*Justice Anthony Besanko ruled all defamation proceedings should be dismissed, finding the media outlets had shown the most serious claims were supported by evidence, and the remainder would not have further damaged Roberts-Smith’s reputation (The Conversation);
* The claims found to be substantially true include that Roberts-Smith murdered an unarmed Afghan civilian by kicking him off a cliff, carried a man with a prosthetic leg away and shot him dead, and forced a young recruit to execute an unarmed elderly man;
* Mohib Iqbal, president of the Afghan National Council Australia, said the case highlighted the importance of the Australian government following through with compensation for families of civilian victims (SBS);
* The case brought by Roberts-Smith was a civil defamation trial not a criminal trial, and as such, could not result in any criminal findings or sentencing — Roberts-Smith maintains his innocence;
Legal observers however believe the judgement significantly increases the likelihood of criminal charges, with investigators from the Australian Federal Police and the Office of Special Investigations assessing evidence (The Australian $);
* The Australian War Memorial is facing calls to remove Roberts-Smith’s uniform from its display (The Guardian);
* It is estimated the case has cost at least $25m, with Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes likely to be liable for much of Roberts-Smith’s legal bill (news.com.au);
* Nine will now try to recoup millions of dollars of costs from Roberts-Smith’s side (ABC).
Not seeing a seeing a single word defending BRS, just the ‘we wish this wasn’t made public’ from the SAS…..
He is the darling of the right, surprised they have not mounted a rear guard defense. Maybe its coming.
Oh no! You did a Cure best of without me?!
The song they did for the movie The Crow. Great song, great soundtrack. Unforgettable movie – saw it on a late session and walked out to a deserted street, ink black silent night with drizzle slow dancing in the street light. Just needed a crow to be standing on the street light.
theunaustralian.net
BREAKING: Due To Budget Cutbacks At Channel 7, Brought On Suddenly Yesterday, David Koch Won’t Be Getting A Gold Watch For His Retirement. Instead He Will Simply Be Told The Time.
Torchbearer. It will come. I assume they will lodge an appeal regardless of prospects to quieten things down for a bit? I then assume the narrative will turn to well what do we expect when we send people off to war for a prolonged period or at all. You know trained killers killing and all that. The debate about sending people off to war, prolonged or not, and what is expected of them, and what we ultimately offer them, is a totally legitimate one but it will be used as a debate point to try to excuse BRS now.
I appreciate that this story is being told, in part, as journalists are great, journos won, journos have it so hard, lets have a world journo appreciation day, but the story is really important not who told it and in what forum. Hopefully the debate will now focus on that and what is to be done.
We really should be looking at the now alleged criminal actions and the sanctions which should be the subject of determination. Sadly I have little faith in the ability or willingness of the AFP, or our insipid and largely moribund and incompetent defence leadership, to do much moving forward. I assume they will think that the defamation loss is sufficient punishment and its all too hard.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Nick McKenzie is now able to tell us quite a bit more about the incidents that were at the centre of the B R-S trial.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/you-machine-gunned-that-guy-a-witness-tells-his-truth-of-day-he-will-never-forget-20230220-p5cm08.html
Ben Roberts-Smith chose not to face his moment of destiny. Nearly every day during the trial he strode through the sliding doors at Queens Square in Sydney in his well-fitted suit, offered a smile to the waiting press pack and took a seat at the back of the court, the very study of a man relaxed in the knowledge that “the truth would out”. But when the time came for the truth to be unveiled, only his spectre hung over the court, writes Harriett Alexander.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/spectre-of-a-killer-looms-over-judgment-day-in-defamation-case-without-compare-20230529-p5dc85.html
While the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial is now over, the mission to achieve justice over alleged war crimes committed by Australian service members in Afghanistan is still in its infancy, says Matthew Knott.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-reckoning-over-afghanistan-war-crimes-is-only-just-beginning-20230530-p5dciz.html
The Herald and The Age have won the libel case of the century. These were always stories that deserved to be told. It should not have required one of the most expensive trials in the nation’s history to establish that, writes barrister Matt Collins who says Ben Roberts-Smith took the fight to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald and it was a disastrous miscalculation. A very good read.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/ben-roberts-smith-took-the-fight-to-nine-it-was-a-disastrous-miscalculation-20230601-p5dd7y.html
Ben Roberts-Smith’s personally disastrous defamation case is not the complete victory it seems for Australian journalism. Hugh Riminton thinks the gruelling five-year legal battle will leave the Nine stable out of pocket by a seven-figure sum, even after payment of costs.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/01/why-the-ben-roberts-smith-verdict-is-not-a-complete-victory-for-journalism
Mark Kenny writes that, either way, the decision by Justice Anthony Besanko in the Federal Court a case brought by Victoria Cross holder Ben Roberts-Smith is a mortar fusillade of its own, lobbing straight into the citadels of Australian battlefield practice, alpha-male military culture, and national security sensitivities. He says, “In dismissing the application from Australia’s highest profile war hero, the court has cut through the fog of war and boldly reinforced a role for disruptive public interest journalism.”
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8218829/journalism-is-vital-in-war-and-in-peace/?cs=14329
Cameron Stewart says that the Ben Roberts-Smith verdict leaves SAS rogues in the ranks to await their fate.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/rogues-in-the-ranks-await-their-fate-as-agiant-is-toppled/news-story/57c7b264648f6ebceb86bc57eb2e8019?amp
As the Ben Roberts-Smith case proves, it’s time for Australia to abandon our farcical Anzac myths, declares Paul Daley.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/01/as-the-ben-roberts-smith-case-proves-its-time-for-australia-to-abandon-our-farcical-myths-of-anzac
Seven West Media boss Kerry Stokes is facing a potential legal bill of almost $40m in the wake of Ben Roberts-Smith’s failed defamation case. Mr Stokes, who not only bankrolled Roberts-Smith’s legal action, but also employs him as general manager of the Seven Network in Queensland, said he was disappointed by the court findings, reports James Madden.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/dismissal-of-ben-robertssmith-case-is-a-big-win-for-nine-over-kerry-stokescontrolled-seven/news-story/f6f93bcad0fd23e0d1909b9d36c98d83?amp
In seeking answers, the Herald has adhered to its own code, which is not to remain silent but to go where the evidence takes us and ask hard questions. Thursday’s verdict shows why that commitment is vital. This editorial says that the SMH is proud of its work and thank readers for their support.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/herald-s-court-victory-first-and-foremost-a-win-for-the-truth-20230601-p5dda8.html
Chris Barrett writes that defence secretaries and ministers from the United States, China and elsewhere are heading to the plush surrounds of the Shangri-La hotel on Orchard Road for Asia’s leading security summit. But it is Albanese who has top billing, giving him a platform to lay out the Australian government’s world view at a time of heightened superpower competition and concern about the potential for conflict.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/the-prime-minister-s-biggest-moment-on-the-world-stage-has-arrived-20230601-p5dd5t.html
The ACT’s victims of crime commissioner, Heidi Yates, says she would have reconsidered standing next to Brittany Higgins during a televised speech after the Lehrmann rape trial was aborted if she’d known what she was going to say. Angus Thompson reports that Yates, who has been publicly accused of damaging the presumption of innocence of former Coalition staffer Bruce Lehrmann by her actions in the high-profile case, has told a public inquiry she was instead thinking of the possibility of his accuser collapsing while addressing the media shortly after the mistrial.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/she-was-not-okay-act-victims-advocate-feared-higgins-would-collapse-during-speech-20230531-p5dcs7.html
In a rather scathing contribution, David Crowe explains what the PwC scandal tells us about a broken system, and how to fix it.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/what-the-pwc-scandal-tells-us-about-a-broken-system-and-how-to-fix-it-20230531-p5dctl.html
Michelle Grattan thinks the PwC scandal should be ripe for the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s attention.
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-the-pwc-scandal-should-be-ripe-for-the-national-anti-corruption-commissions-attention-206867
Australians are tired of neoliberalism. We are sick of that much talked about and ever-widening gap between the haves and have-nots. The idea that endless privatisation and unfettered corporate greed will somehow leave us all better off no longer appears to be swallowed by the vast majority of Australians. Certainly, public confidence in our political leaders as well as in our institutions has been severely eroded in recent years, writes Michelle Pini.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-pwc-disaster–neoliberalism-on-steroids,17570
The Public Service Act doesn’t just allow secretaries and their departments to push back on politicians’ abuses of power; it demands it. But targeting ministers or SES, or tightening the standards and laws under which they operate, will not be the most effective way to repair what is a broader issue, explains Richard Manderson.
https://johnmenadue.com/value-focused-repair-of-the-public-service/
New research shows Australia is lagging behind Europe and other parts of the world in regulating online wagering, as gambling reform advocates push for the federal government to quickly bring in new regulation. Josh Taylor writes that, according to new analysis from the Alliance for Gambling Reform, Australia is far behind a broad range of countries including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Spain in curbing gambling advertisements, or online gambling.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/02/australias-online-gambling-regulation-far-behind-global-pack-advocates-find
National Australia Bank boss Ross McEwan and property leaders have called for urgent action to fix Australia’s chronic undersupply of housing, warning that the failure will accelerate the sharp rise in property prices and rents.
https://www.afr.com/property/residential/unmanageable-ceos-demand-urgent-fix-for-housing-20230529-p5dc91
Sumeyya Ilanbey, in her last column for The Age, reflects on politics and the Dan Andrews era.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/democracy-has-withered-on-andrews-watch-i-know-because-i-watched-it-happen-20230601-p5dd5q.html
It’s game, set and almost match to Biden on the debt ceiling, writes Edward Luce who says the Republicans’ high drama has barely dented the US president’s agenda.
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/game-set-and-almost-match-to-biden-on-the-debt-ceiling-20230601-p5dd25
The debt ceiling fight was never about debt. It was about Republican power, opines Mark Weisbrot.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/01/debt-ceiling-fight-democracy-republican-power-extortion
Republicans love to make up fake crises. Robert Reich lays out five of the biggest.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/01/republicans-fake-crises-five-biggest
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
Andrew Dyson
Matt Golding
Jim Pavlidis
Leak
From the US
Funny all the ‘absolute freedom of speech’ advocates aren’t celebrating yesterdays decision…or do they only like freedom of speech when they are doing the speaking?
Judge Lewis Kaplan dismissed a motion from a Donald Trump ally to dismiss E. Jean Carroll’s 2019 defamation case because he’s being persecuted for being a white Christian.
Court documents uploaded on Thursday revealed Kaplan’s decision to dismiss the demands of far-right Trump pal, James H. Brady. He has been described by the New York Post as “a gadfly who clogs courts with ‘vexatious’ claims.” It goes on to claim that the man “has filed so many repetitive lawsuits he’s been ordered to stop and sanctioned in both state and federal courts…”
Writing to Judge Kaplan, Brady said: “I am making this motion to intervene in the case of Carroll v. Trump, 20-cv-7311, because I am unwilling to sit silent and watch another white Christian be treated as poorly and unfairly as I personally have been treated in the New York State and Federal Courts.”
Judge Kaplan replied in less than 24 hours, telling Brady, “There are only two legal bases on which one may intervene in a civil action. The first is intervention as of right, which is available only to one who ‘is given an unconditional right to intervene by a federal statute’ or ‘claims an interest relating to the property or transaction that is the subject of the action, and is so situated that disposing of the action may as a practical matter impair or impede the movant’s ability to protect its interest, unless the existing parties adequately represent that interest.'”
WB: “if Dallas McInerney, chief executive of Catholic Schools NSW, had nominated, but in the event the only right nominee was Jess Collins, who narrowly failed to make the final round. Earlier exclusions were Space Industry Association chief executive James Brown, former Lindsay MP Fiona Scott and Shepherd Centre executive David Brady.”
Look at the list of people, who nominated or should have nominated.
CEO of Catholic Schools, NSW, Space Industry Association CEO, Shepherd Centre Executive.
1. they are CEO of influencial organisations.
2. Once Catholics were solidly behind ALP.
”
WB: • Charlotte Varcoe of Border Watch reports Liberal MP Tony Pasin won a preselection ballot for his South Australian seat of Barker with 284 votes against 58 for Katherine McBride, who owns grazing property with husband Nick McBride, the state member for MacKillop.”
Why is the preselection so early for this federal seat?
”
Torchbearersays:
Friday, June 2, 2023 at 7:40 am
Not seeing a seeing a single word defending BRS, just the ‘we wish this wasn’t made public’ from the SAS…..
He is the darling of the right, surprised they have not mounted a rear guard defense. Maybe its coming.
”
There was a very good possibility that BRS would have contested one of the WA Labor seats at next federal election as Libs candidate if he had won the defo case. But alas!
Labor should not completely write off taking the Opposition Leader’s seat of Dickson, although this is somewhat harder than the margin of less than 2% suggests. There is also the logic that it is better for Labor to keep Dutton in the Opposition Leader position although whether he lasts there if the Coalition loses the next election is somewhat doubtful.
Deakin, Casey and Monash in Victoria should be in play.
Thanks BK!
Legal eagles in the US are stating that they believe indictment for the orange mussolini in the documents case are imminent.
Morning all. Thanks for the roundup BK. The media are entitled to crow after the BRS verdict, though the article by the SMH barrister is very well reasoned. Overall I think yesterday was a good day for Australian democracy.
Several on Twitter have pointed out that the possibility of this story was first raised way back in 2012 by Yumi Steynes and Yassmin Abdiel-Magied, who were both viciously criticised for daring to question a war hero at the time. Sussan Ley was among the defenders of BRS.
Rachel Withers@rachelrwithers·14h
“Sussan Ley in 2012 on the Yumi Stynes outrage, when Stynes was publicly eviscerated for “disrespecting” dud root Ben Roberts-Smith:
“How dare you losers denigrate not just Cpl Roberts-Smith but everyone who wears the uniform of the ADF. You make me sick.”
Sumeyya Ilanbey, in her last column for The Age, reflects on politics and the Dan Andrews era.
_____________________
She will be missed.
I am just curious about the awarding of highest awards like Victoria Cross in Australia.
In other countries usually they are awarded to a military person who had consistently shown extreme bravery and action under very trying conditions on more than one occasion and they are usually awarded to a person above Corporal rank.
Highest military honour is the greatest military commendation a military person can get and we (military and civilians) are all usually proud of that person actions.
Biden reminds me of my dad.
About had it
Maybe they could get him a walker as well.
Taylormade
Have you read the biography Sumeyya Ilanbey wrote re Daniel Andrews?
It’s a great read.
Taylormade
I daresay the only similarity between your dad and Biden is that they have male appendages.
Lol
Thanks BK, BRS represents our darkest demons and lurks in the background of all moves to go to war.
It should be a massive impediment to making a decision to take up arms but I doubt it.
The complexity of this was encapsulated by HI who just said, what if someone who unselfishly risked their life to save a drowning child was found to be a paedophile?
We have a hero who seems to be predisposed to killing unarmed civilians.
I’m for leaving BRS’s display in the AWM but with an equally prominent description of his ex-curricular predilections.
And meanwhile…
I’m trying to come up with a word that describes ‘the wait for a definitive action that will finally deal with the menace that is Trump’.
Intrumpable?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.. Biden is shaping up to be the most consequential president in many a generation. He continues to be underestimated.
He took a tumble today. He is 80. Nearly everyone I know who is considerably younger has taken a tumble in more mundane circumstances.
Anyone seen the orange Mussolini and his gait. Now that is some serious shit.
Also not forgetting that he is an actual traitor.
wranslide says:
Friday, June 2, 2023 at 7:59 am
Torchbearer. It will come. I assume they will lodge an appeal regardless of prospects to quieten things down for a bit? I then assume the narrative will turn to well what do we expect when we send people off to war for a prolonged period or at all. You know trained killers killing and all that. The debate about sending people off to war, prolonged or not, and what is expected of them, and what we ultimately offer them, is a totally legitimate one but it will be used as a debate point to try to excuse BRS now.
——————————
And to further support your comments, while sending soldiers on multiple tours is obviously an incredibly bad practice, there were many SAS soldiers who didn’t act in the manner of BRS (ie: Corporal Mark Donaldson) and who despite this poor political and command practice, undertook their duties to the highest professional and moral standards. This is what differentiates the minority of bad actors from the majority.
Any attempted deflection of BRS’ actions and a handful of others diminishes the actions of the majority. The actions of the majority only serve to prove his/their actions to be indefensible. In many ways, the high standards of the majority of BRS’ colleagues only further condemn him. He is not representative of them.
”
While the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial is now over, the mission to achieve justice over alleged war crimes committed by Australian service members in Afghanistan is still in its infancy, says Matthew Knott.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-reckoning-over-afghanistan-war-crimes-is-only-just-beginning-20230530-p5dciz.html
”
Query: Were any Australian military personnel prosecuted over alleged war crimes committed in Vietnam war?
Surely, It was much more intense and hands on combat than Afghanistan war.
If Australia military personnel, who were relatively much less involved than US and British military personnel in Afghanistan, committed war crimes( and I consider Australian military is not gungho like US Military personnel ), what are chances US and UK military personnel committing war crimes?
Especially US, who were in control of large swathes of Afghanistan.(look at what happened in Iraq under the command of US as case study).
I was hoping Boerwar would have something to say about the BRS outcome.
Biden has been underestimated in the same way Daniel Andrews has been.
Who can forget all the sniping and pot shots from the likes of Morrison, Frydenberg, Hunt, Berejiklian, Tim Smith, Tim Wilson, etc. yep. Fun times.
Thanks BK
I’m enjoying observing the nation focus on critical national issue regarding both Defence and the media and debating them vigorously. And rarely would I say this about journalists but kudos to McKenzie and Masters.
Cronus
Yes kudos to McKenzie and Masters.
Yumi Stynes didn’t raise a thing about Roberts-Smith and war crimes. She got media crucified for basically calling him a stupid himbo (commenting on the Circle about some channel 7 puff piece interview with him). There wasn’t a hint of war crimes stuff.
Did Yassmin Abdel-Magied say something about Roberts-Smith? She got pilloried over comments about Anzac Day but I can’t find any past thing about BRS specifically.
Twitter mythmaking again, sounds like.
I thought Sumeya’s piece underlined the problems with The Age’s state political coverage. Their reporters let opinion cross over into news. It colours their viewpoint. They buy into narratives like “everyone hates Andrews”, “Andrews is under threat in his own seat of Mulgrave” etc as a result turning a blind eye to the actual data, because the narrative follows their own prejudice about the government.
There’s not even the tiniest acknowledgement of the media’s role in creating the situation she describes.
Sumeya’s piece relies on a classic “appeal to authority” by saying some unnamed former Labor MP she texts with shares her criticisms of the Andrews government. Would anyone like to hazard that this is probably someone like Jenny Mikakos who has reason to be disgruntled? But of course anything that might undermine the authority used is kept undisclosed, only things to build up the unnamed authority are used.
I don’t think she’s a bad person or anything, nor do I think it’s likely whoever replaces her will be better, not while they have Chip and Annika in command of the Vic state political coverage, who are full of anti-Andrews narratives to their eyeballs.
Brereton report and now BRS defo case along with AUKUS deal, where US Military informed that Australian Military personnel have committed human rights violations, are certainly dark days for Australian Military.
Note that it was Morrison, who released Brereton report.
I truly and honestly believe that Australian Military personnel are better than US and UK Military personnel in their conduct in comparison.
Arky
Thanks you make some good points on Stynes and Abdiel-Magied, and after a few searches I think the link suggested was overblown.
They both challenged the Anzac myth and militarism, and got attacked for it by the same crowd that defended BRS. But I see now they did not raise the BRS war crimes.
This one is so good it bears repeating.
(Thank you, BK. You’re an inspiration.)
Grattan’s piece still doesn’t explain to me how the actions of PwC fall within the NACC ambit.
“s8(a) – Meaning of corrupt conduct (a) any conduct of any person (whether or not a public official) that adversely affects, or that could adversely affect, either directly or indirectly:
the honest or impartial exercise of any public official’s powers as a public official; or
the honest or impartial performance of any public official’s functions or duties as a public official;”
The rest of the definition all specifically refers to conduct of a public official, which PwC is not.
PwC’s conduct is worthy of a political response for being unethical. Government withholding further business from them is a justifiable step, but it’s for the breach of trust, not for a criminal or legally corrupt act.
Long time readers will be aware of my lack of respect for Grattan. This is unlikely to improve that.
Ven says:
Friday, June 2, 2023 at 8:55 am
I am just curious about the awarding of highest awards like Victoria Cross in Australia.
In other countries usually they are awarded to a military person who had consistently shown extreme bravery and action under very trying conditions on more than one occasion and they are usually awarded to a person above Corporal rank.
Highest military honour is the greatest military commendation a military person can get and we (military and civilians) are all usually proud of that person actions.
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Historically on the battlefield, lower ranks, namely Privates and Corporals, comprise the majority of combatants, do most of the fighting and are at greater physical risk. The corollary being that they are more likely to be involved in acts of individual heroism.
As a generalisation, the risk to direct involvement diminishes as the ranks increase though this may differ depending upon the type of warfare. Though certainly there are instances (sometimes unwisely) whereby senior ranks find themselves in positions very far forward on the battlefield, normally this is less likely. Honours may be awarded for single or multiple events, each is considered on its merit.
I’ve been mulling over the BRS matter.
This is not a defence of the undefendable.
Whilst I only served in the reserve I have many friends and family who served or went on operations in the past 20 or 30 years, some on multiple tours of Afghanistan. I recently ran a project aimed at ex-ADF getting recognition for prior learning of their training into university courses. As an example of why this project was so important to ADF members, a cousin of mine who was a nurse in the army, went on operations in Afghanistan, exited the ADF with zero “qualifications” and had to go back to uni to get the same degree she had in the army. This scheme has now been replicated across multiple universities.
BRS was a hero to many of these people, they defended him at any point throughout the past 5 years or so. There has been a real sense inside the ADF, the army particularly, that civilians just dont understand and that there’s been a concerted effort to denigrate them. There is an organisational memory of what happened to soldiers returning from Vietnam.
Putting aside the direct impact on the victims of the alleged war crimes, through his betrayal of the ADF ideals, I think BRS has caused untold mental anguish to many many people who are currently serving or have previously served. It’s a betrayal that they will feel deep in their hearts and it’s just a shitty situation for them all.
So if you do know someone who served, ask them if they are ok, listen to them without judgement.
Or…. he is a just a competent caretaker.
The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. His competency isnt winning people over to the point he can then use that capital to truly resolve any of the problems facing US politics. The GOP will never be a responsible political party again and that isnt solvable by Biden while the public seem determined to keep falling for the GOP culture war cult. That makes everything harder for Biden.
IMO, Obama was the last hope for real change. Now, the US and the planet just need someone capable to oversee the US de-federalise in an orderly manner.
“Biden reminds me of my dad.”
Hey, he reminds me of my dad too.
Almost the same age and same nationality. Same complexion and dress sense (sans aviators, con Ray-Bans). Quietly spoken. Smiles a lot and impeccably polite. Helps without being asked.
Absolute (card) shark.
Linked in Dawn Patrol (thank you BK): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jun/01/republicans-fake-crises-five-biggest
Fake crises are pretty much basic to the Coalition’s business model as well. Much of it is imported Republican bullshit, including TransPanic and being woke to Wokeness. The whole “Debt and Deficit disaster” may have home-grown elements but it is largely a Republican import adapted to Australian conditions.
But give the Coalition some credit for creativity in making stuff up and bootstrapping a crisis from whatever material comes to hand. We’re seeing it now with the Voice “No” case. Going back a decade or so, the whole “Pink Batts” affair was entirely concocted out of what was an average rate of industrial accidents in the Home Insulation Program: https://www.crikey.com.au/2011/04/25/csiro-debunks-media-hysteria/
A clueless Lauren Boebert misses the vote on the debt ceiling deal
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/1/2172732/-A-clueless-Lauren-Boebert-misses-the-vote-on-the-debt-ceiling-deal
“As reported by Bevan Hurley, writing for The Independent, Boebert wasn’t even in the chamber when the House cast its crucial vote.
MAGA firebrand Lauren Boebert emerged as one of the fiercest critics to the debt ceiling deal brokered by House leader Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden to avoid a catastrophic default.
But when it was time for the House of Representatives to cast their votes on Wednesday night, she failed to show up.”
Description of court before verdict, in SMH:
“There was Roberts-Smith’s barrister, Arthur Moses, SC, looking funereal, though he did not yet have cause. ”
Oh, he had cause, alright. He knew he’d lose before he even first appeared in court on this case. He knew that the decent, upright, honest people he would work to abuse, malign, defame and tear apart were truthful, and he knew that his client was a liar. His only hope of winning was to cause the mental breakdown, under his well-honed abuse, of the consistent array of truthful eye-witnesses to his client’s bastardry.
He’s quite smart, is Artie. Not actually stupid, you understand. He defended Gladys, too.
Lots of moolah, though. He was only following orders. It’s his job, after all. Perfectly understandable.
Nice chap, but.
When you’re sinking , grab the nearest piece of flotsam available and gang on!
“Your Honour, could I just raise an issue,” Moses interjected during Owens’s cross-examination of Roberts-Smith back in 2021. “It might be that my friend is not au fait with military issues, but … my friend has posed an issue based on an incorrect premise.”
Owens replied in a tone of studied patience. “I’m grateful to my friend,” he said. “I understand what I’m doing.”
Nobody can question that now.
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Artie knew that he was flogging a legless horse.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/spectre-of-a-killer-looms-over-judgment-day-in-defamation-case-without-compare-20230529-p5dc85.html
Fair Work announces 5.75 per cent rise in award wages
BRS a soldier, a corporal, and impressively huge, unfortunately, having been offered a home by the Liberal Party, and the captains of industry, particularly a media captain, accepted the offer.
BRS had become a trophy, something to be used, for reasons not in BRS best interests.
BRS was in all likelihood, a corporal for good reason, chose to feted by a particular political party together with business types to be ornamentally displayed at particular times.
BRS may have been recklessly advised as to his future.
Perhaps some medical assistance and remedial guidance may have been more appropriate.
The bastards will drop him faster than the evacuation from Afghanistan or Vietnam.