The final poll of the year from YouGov, which will return next year as a regular three-weekly series, finds Labor with a steady 51-49 lead on two-party preferred based on preference flows from the previous election, despite recording their lowest primary vote of any poll since the election. Labor is down two points on the last poll to 29%, their day saved to some extent by a two point rise for the Greens to 15%. The Coalition is up one to 37%, while One Nation is steady on 7%. Anthony Albanese is down four on approval to 39% and up five on disapproval to 55%, while Peter Dutton is down one to 39% and up one to 48%. Albanese’s lead as preferred prime minister is in from 48-34 to 46-36. The poll was conducted Friday to Tuesday from a sample of 1555.
I have recently started adding YouGov and RedBridge Group polling to the BludgerTrack poll aggregate, which doesn’t seem to have caught all the way up with the recent slide in Labor’s fortunes. In the case of the earlier three YouGov polls (though not yet the latest one), the poll data feature incorporates an array of unpublished breakdowns by state and various demographic indicators.
From previous thread:
michael says:
“There is a national poll which says 62% of people say the transition to renewables is making their power bills more expensive.”
“There is a national poll”, is there, michael?
Where is this fabled poll, pray tell? Who conducted it? Who did they ask? What did they ask?
Please post a link for our edification. So that we can judge how authoritative your touted poll might be.
You do realise that this a psephology site, don’t you?
Michael will have read about it in News Corp, but you can find it from the source, Energy Consumers Australia, if you look hard enough. Michael hasn’t quite nailed what the result says, but the vibe of it isn’t far off. I don’t doubt that most consider the transition will increase prices, or the bona fides of the organisation. However, I rarely think there’s much value in response options that try to explain things to the respondent, and this is a textbook illustration of why. The 62% were agreeing that “electricity will become more expensive as the network has to pay for upgrades to wires, and new storage requirements to integrate the new generation sources”, which sounds rather persuasive if you put it like that. By contrast, the alternative response option airily offered that “electricity will become cheaper as moving to renewable generation sources mean electricity will cost less to produce”, with no equivalent guidance as to why that might be the case.
ETA: Turns out the actual survey was conducted by Essential Research.
Sweden.. Tesla strike.
Musk said last week: “I disagree with the idea of unions. I just don’t like anything which creates a lords-and-peasants kind of thing.”
Profiteering has played a significant role in boosting inflation during 2022, according to a report that calls for a global corporation tax to curb excess profits.
Analysis of the financial accounts of many of the UK’s biggest businesses found that profits far outpaced increases in costs, helping to push up inflation last year to levels not seen since the early 1980s.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/07/greedflation-corporate-profiteering-boosted-global-prices-study
Andrew_Earlwood (AnonBlock)
Thursday, December 7th, 2023 – 10:33 pm
Comment #1094
Why are you such an enthusiast for a Morrison marketing scam, C@t?
Because the Albanese government are turning ScamMo’s marketing scam into a reality to give the Echidna quills sharpened spines.
We’re not getting anything from France, so you should just forget that, but the Collins Class subs need replacing and the nation needs new ones. So, full steam ahead with AUKUS.
On Thursday afternoon, MSNBC legal reporter Lisa Rubin tweeted that appellate judges denied Trump’s request to stay (or halt) Judge Arthur Engoron’s ruling in favor of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who won a summary judgment in September in her initial claim that Trump committed “pervasive, widespread fraud in financial statements.” She linked to a copy of the appellate judges’ ruling in the initial post.
“What that means practically is that the provisions of the below order are enforceable and that if [independent financial monitor Judge Barbara Jones] is the agreed-upon receiver, Trump and his co-defendants owe her a bunch of information and advanced notice about their ownership structure and future activity,” Rubin added in a separate tweet, which showed a screenshot of an October order from Judge Engoron.
In September, the Associated Press reported Engoron ruled that Trump “committed fraud for years while building the real estate empire that catapulted him to fame and the White House.” That summary judgment order also ordered that the former president’s business licenses in New York be suspended, meaning he would no longer have the legal ability to make decisions on behalf of his businesses anywhere in the state. While Thursday’s appellate court ruling upheld Engoron’s conclusion that Trump committed fraud, it halted his order suspending Trump’s standing as a corporate officer in New York-based businesses.
The ex-president’s civil fraud trial may end prior to the Christmas holidays, as both he and his immediate family have already been compelled to testify in the case. Attorney General James is seeking $250 million in financial penalties, and she may still ultimately prevail in her goal of stripping Trump of his ability to do business in New York depending on the final verdict.
Sceptic @ #3 Friday, December 8th, 2023 – 5:59 am
That’s some Orwellian spin coming from Musk. Unions are exactly what get the workers on the same level playing field as the bosses. Well, as much as possible. And that statement is a bit rich (pun intended) coming from Musk, who views his wealth as placing himself as an Ubermensch above the ‘peasants’:
Congress is poised to pass critical legislation as soon as next week that would bring the AUKUS security pact between the US, Australia and the UK a big step closer to reality, giving the green light to the transfer of nuclear-powered submarines to the navy in the early 2030s.
After months of wrangling on Capitol Hill, the House of Representatives and the Senate and their respective Republican and Democrat majorities have agreed to remove legal impediments that would have thwarted the transfer of submarines and other advanced military technology.
“For the first time since the launch of the USS Nautilus in 1958, this National Defence Authorisation Act authorises the US Navy to sell three conventionally-armed, nuclear-powered submarines to another nation — our steadfast ally Australia,” said Democratic congressman Joe Courtney.
“It streamlines technology sharing among the three AUKUS allies under the umbrella of the Defence Production Act to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific”.
Up coming newspoll will decide Dutton’s fate as leader of the federal liberal party
Lib/nats combined primary vote after all the extreme propaganda , not 40%+, as i said in previous topic
Lib/nats never will get to 40%+ under Peter Dutton, which is good for Australians as a whole as it will keep the lib/nats in opposition
Big business will wage a mining-tax style campaign against the “economic vandals” in the Albanese government after it passed the most controversial part of its industrial relations shake-up, in a bid to pile on pressure before the next election.
BHP president Geraldine Slattery slammed Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke’s deal with the Greens and crossbench to rush through “same job, same pay” laws for labour hire workers as “extremely disappointing”, while the Minerals Council of Australia called it “a declaration of war” on business.
The secret deal, announced on Thursday morning, splits the government’s Closing Loopholes Bill into two parts. The first tranche, which targets labour hire arrangements used by BHP and Qantas and criminalises wage theft, passed both houses of parliament on Thursday afternoon.
Another bill with gig economy changes, casual conversion rights and minimum conditions for truck drivers will be voted on early next year.
The move upends a $24 million MCA campaign against the labour hire reforms, similar to the mining tax campaign that unseated former prime minister Kevin Rudd and that argued the laws would create huge complexity for business and threaten projects and jobs. The changes will require employers with collective agreements to pay labour hire at least the same as the direct workforce.
BHP had claimed this would lift its costs by $1.3 billion a year. Qantas, which has used in-house labour hire to circumvent legacy union conditions, said it would be made less competitive.
Ms Slattery said the laws made Australia “an even more expensive and less competitive place to do business, making it harder to attract the global capital needed to develop vital new resources projects”. “We are now compelled to assess the impact this policy will have across our operations, offices and labour strategy in Australia,” she said. “Alongside employers and businesses from sectors right across the Australian economy, BHP will remain steadfast in our opposition to this retrograde and damaging policy, and we will continue to urge the parliament to repeal Same Job, Same Pay.”
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/chunk-of-labor-s-ir-laws-to-pass-within-hours-after-crossbench-deal-20231207-p5epqn
29% primary vote.
That’s getting down into Gillard territory.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/talkback-radio-host-now-faces-tough-questions-20231207-p5epry.html
This could be momentous. Often in these matters it just takes one person to speak on record to give others the courage to do so.
Toowoomba Grammar alumni are having a good year…
Taylormade
What the lib/nats and propaganda media units should be concern about , the voters are not going to them
The NewsCorpse HR department has warned the staff about poor behaviour at work Xmas functions.
Will it be heeded by the boozing blokes? The RupertRooters? It wasn’t in the past.
And these are the men from a culture which produces tripe which some so avidly adhere to.
There’s no better dampener on holiday cheer than being reminded that work drinks are still work. On the other hand, few HR bosses have grappled with silly seasons quite like News Corp’s did last year.
There was a trio of incidents involving senior men and parties at the company towards the back end of 2022. One involved then-Sky News barker Chris Smith who got boozed up, touched colleagues and by his own admission acted like a total dropkick at Sydney’s Establishment Bar.
He was sacked, but not before Andrew Bolt used his show to say his colleague needed to get help.
The Australian’s senior editor Sid Maher also resigned after an alleged incident at after-work drinks.
As this column revealed, Maher had been accused of grabbing the chest of a female colleague at Sydney’s Bar Cleveland, according to an internal HR note. Maher was also alleged to have been intimidating to another female colleague when confronted. He disputed the allegations, but left the company shortly after.
The third involved The Australian’s editor-in-chief Chris Dore, who abruptly resigned after 31 years with the Murdoch-controlled company for “health reasons”. There were later reports Dore left after allegedly making lewd comments at a Wall Street Journal event in California.
All, for what it’s worth, have landed on their feet: Maher is at a PR firm; Smith’s doing radio; and Dore is joining Seven’s new digital publication.
https://www.afr.com/rear-window/news-corp-parties-now-come-with-hr-warnings-20231207-p5epx5
UK voting intention: via @DeltapollUK , 01 – 04 Dec
LAB: 42% (-) CON: 27% (-1) LDEM: 13% (+2)
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/seven-s-lehrmann-scoop-disqualified-from-walkley-awards-20231207-p5epvk.html
I think that stories which are the subject of current court cases should not be accepted. Who knows how this trial will end up?
Confessions @ #12 Friday, December 8th, 2023 – 6:46 am
Also, to have one really significant backer. Who, in this case is Ray Hadley.
It’s easy for Jones to legally intimidate one or two complainants, but when the levee breaks and a flood of accusations come pouring out, it becomes exponentially harder.
Holdenhillbilly @ #10 Friday, December 8th, 2023 – 6:43 am
Boo freaking hoo, BHP, QANTAS, and the Miners. How much profit have you made over the last 10 years of mostly Coalition government?
Speaking of the Coalition, I can’t wait for them to campaign in an election for workers to get a cut in their pay so the bosses can make more. 😐
All that other guff about not being able to fund resource projects, is just so much persiflage from Ms BHP. If the stuff’s in the ground, they will mine it. And give me a break about the ‘complexity’ argument! What do you think different pay rates across all their divisions based upon whether a worker is Labour Hire or legacy Enterprise Agreement is!?!
All Labor has to say at the next election is:
‘Vote for the Coalition, get a pay CUT after the election’.
Though, knowing the insidious way the Coalition and their Big Business mates and donors work, they’ll say that no one will get a pay cut…but they will make sure again that no one gets any more wage rises, to peg wages back over time. Plus they will allow Labour Hire to be back in business.
True. John Laws wasn’t exactly positive either when asked about the matter.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
The arrest of another former detainee has sparked new calls for the federal government to toughen its checks before releasing more people from indefinite immigration detention amid the political dispute over about 150 people released since a High Court ruling four weeks ago. This is going to go on forever!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/new-arrest-sparks-calls-for-tougher-checks-before-more-detainees-released-20231207-p5eptj.html
Examining this issue, Binoy Kampmark writes, “The hideous spectacle leaves us a desperate, disturbing conclusion. Even after time is served behind bars, refugees will be subject to the very discriminatory and punitive regimes that the UN Refugee Convention guards against. The agenda here is to perpetrate a regime of permanent punishment and surveillance, using an actuarial model of justice. Released refugees are to be treated no less as potential terrorists, permanently menacing. And it is a conflation the government and the main opposition parties are willing to entertain.”.
https://theaimn.com/actuarial-justice-released-refugees-and-secondary-punishment/
Labour hire workers will be paid more, and intentional wage theft will be criminalised after Employment Minister Tony Burke secured a surprise deal with Senate crossbenchers to pass his same job, same pay laws. Paul Sakkal tells us that unions hailed the changes while peak business groups and the Coalition labelled it a sneaky deal that would increase business costs and hinder the economy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/lambie-pocock-hand-labor-big-win-on-same-job-same-pay-laws-20231207-p5epwm.html
The AFR tells us that big business will wage a mining-tax style campaign against the “economic vandals” in the Albanese government after it passed the most controversial part of its industrial relations shake-up, in a bid to pile on pressure before the next election.
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/chunk-of-labor-s-ir-laws-to-pass-within-hours-after-crossbench-deal-20231207-p5epqn
The prime minister needs his mojo back, writes Phil Coorey
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/the-prime-minister-needs-his-mojo-back-20231206-p5epdp
Michelle Grattan presents the winners and losers in her end-of-year report card on Albanese’s ministers.
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-winners-and-losers-in-end-of-year-report-card-on-albanese-ministers-219393
Shane Wright says that the 0.2 percent expansion of the economy over the September quarter lays bare the financial knife edge the country sits upon as the Reserve Bank tackles inflation and the federal government repairs its budget bottom line.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/can-t-afford-the-sugar-to-coat-these-poor-national-accounts-20231206-p5ephd.html`
It is time to debunk “the Coalition are better economic managers” theory — once again, writes Michelle Pini who says that while all this noise about the superior economic prowess of the Coalition hails from the Coalition itself, its symbiotic relationship with Australia’s media means even a murmur is soon amplified to a deafening cacophony.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/taylor-and-ley-continue-long-coalition-tradition-of-fudging-the-figures,18153
Business reporter Millie Muroi argues why the Reserve Bank’s wishes might land it on the naughty list. She points out that the measure that really matters, economic growth per person, slid faster in the September quarter than in the previous four, dropping 0.5 per cent. That’s how you know our growth hasn’t translated to better living standards for most people.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/why-the-reserve-bank-s-wishes-might-land-it-on-the-naughty-list-20231206-p5epf5.html
Finding an end to the cost of living crisis will depend on modern economic theories rather than the outdated monetary models currently in effect, writes Dr Steven Hail.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/finding-the-tools-to-end-the-cost-of-living-crisis,18150
David Crowe writes about the extraordinary work the late Peta Murphy did in getting unanimous cross-party committee findings and recommendations. Minister Rowland is prevaricating and Crowe wonders if Peta’s colleagues will gamble on her brave legacy.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/murphy-s-law-will-peta-s-colleagues-gamble-on-her-brave-legacy-20231206-p5epmv.html
Natassia Chrysanthos outlines the many recommendations from the major review of the NDIS that was released yesterday.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/diagnosis-list-for-ndis-to-be-scrapped-under-five-year-reboot-plan-20231207-p5epq6.html
Phil Coorey and Michael Read say that service providers and plan managers profit gouging the NDIS will be drummed out, equipment for the disabled will face price caps and real-time payments, and participants will have their needs reassessed, all as part of a concerted plan to reboot the scheme and stop it collapsing due to cost blowouts.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/ndis-overhaul-to-weed-out-profiteers-and-price-gougers-20231207-p5epu4
What’s the difference between ‘reasonable and necessary’ and ‘foundational’ supports? The Conversation explains what the NDIS review says.
https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-reasonable-and-necessary-and-foundational-supports-heres-what-the-ndis-review-says-216074
One of the men who alleged that Alan Jones indecently assaulted him has described feeling “sick to the stomach” after the broadcaster emphatically denied the claims. No doubt NineFax will use the truth defence in the defamation case.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/alan-jones-denials-leave-alleged-victim-sick-to-the-stomach-20231207-p5epx1.html
The SMH editorial says that it stands by the paper’s story. Kate McClymont’s investigation was lengthy, forensic and diligent, typical of her body of work which has helped make this country a better and more civilised place. It declares that men like Jones hold powerful people up to scrutiny. We believe it is now time that Jones was also held up to scrutiny, and the series of people who claim he indecently assaulted them and bullied them over decades be given a voice to air their claims.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/talkback-radio-host-now-faces-tough-questions-20231207-p5epry.html
Desperate apartment owners in Sydney’s notorious Mascot Towers are appealing for the state government to buy their defect-riddled building after the NSW Supreme Court slammed shut the gate on their last-ditch exit strategy. The residents had applied for permission to wind up the strata scheme so a liquidator could conduct a collective sale of the two towers to another developer who could knock them down or repair them for resale. What a disgrace!
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/treacy-left-mascot-towers-four-years-ago-now-she-s-1m-in-debt-and-has-brain-tumours-20231205-p5epaj.html
One of the state’s top transport bureaucrats has faced a barrage of complaints from residents who have endured nearly two weeks of gridlock since the bungled opening of the Rozelle interchange. Transport for NSW coordinator general Howard Collins fronted a crowd of more than 250 people at a fiery public meeting at Balmain Town Hall in Sydney’s inner west last night. Brave man!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/i-just-gave-up-residents-vent-anger-over-rozelle-traffic-chaos-at-fiery-meeting-20231206-p5epms.html
NSW Liberal President Jason Falinski will bring the party’s factional warlords together in a bid to implement significant reforms to modernise and improve the performance of the “dysfunctional” state executive. Max Maddison reports that the confidential email sent to party powerbrokers on Monday afternoon proposed eight “principles” the former federal MP is hoping to discuss, with an eye on an “interim set of measures” to be passed at the party’s annual general meeting in February.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/ex-mp-s-eight-proposals-to-fix-the-nsw-liberal-party-20231207-p5epr9.html
Victoria’s public service is infected by a culture of fear that stops many bureaucrats from giving frank and fearless advice to the state government. That was one conclusion from Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass’ major report this week on how our government functions. Glass also found that bureaucrats were excluded from decision-making in favour of private consultants engaged to “prove up” the merits of the $200 billion Suburban Rail Loop, writes Annik Smethurst.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/for-victorian-labor-reports-of-dodgy-behaviour-are-of-no-concern-20231207-p5epta.html
Powerful lobby group The Pharmacy Guild of Australia argues the imminent reverse takeover of Sigma Healthcare by Chemist Warehouse poses “significant questions and risks” to patient care, community pharmacy ownership, and competition in the sector, writes Carrie LaFrenz.
https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/pharmacy-guild-blasts-sigma-chemist-warehouse-deal-20231207-p5epxw
The body in charge of Australia’s top journalism awards, The Walkley Foundation, has revoked the nomination of the Seven Network for its interview with Bruce Lehrmann in the Scoop of the Year category, following revelations the company covered Lehrmann’s rent for a year in exchange for exclusive access. Just desserts.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/seven-s-lehrmann-scoop-disqualified-from-walkley-awards-20231207-p5epvk.html
A former boyfriend of Brittany Higgins has told the Federal Court that she was sobbing in his arms and “broken” when they met in Canberra in the days after she alleges her then-colleague Bruce Lehrmann raped her in Parliament House. Michaela Whitbourn outlines some of yesterday’s evidence.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/watch-live-parliament-security-guards-higgins-ex-boyfriend-to-give-evidence-in-lehrmann-case-20231207-p5epqb.html
The Australian has gone troppo over the details of the Higgins payout from the government. Absent in the paper today is any mention of yesterday’s evidence which put Lehrmann and the PM’s office in a bad light.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/brittany-higgins-bombshell-24m-payout-based-entirely-on-her-own-evidence/news-story/d8859eccb1e350da7e6f9117590497de?amp=
The Guardian’s Amanda Meade DID write about it, saying Bruce Lehrmann’s former colleague, an aide-de-camp for the senator Linda Reynolds, has told the federal court she had “bad vibes” about him based on her “women’s intuition”. The army major, Nikita Irvine, also said she discussed Brittany Higgins’ allegation of sexual assault against Lehrmann with both Reynolds and her chief of staff, Fiona Brown.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/07/bruce-lehrmann-defamation-trial-brittany-higgins-update-bad-vibes-ntwnfb
And now Linda Reynolds has launched another high-profile defamation action, this time against the ACT government and former chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold. A writ lodged in the West Australian supreme court on Monday says Drumgold sent a letter accusing the senator of “disturbing conduct” during Bruce Lehrmann’s rape trial.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/07/linda-reynolds-sues-act-government-leaked-letter-shane-drumgold-afp
Andrew Forrest has used the backdrop of the Cop28 climate summit to pay for ads in more than 10 major newspapers around the world attacking the oil and gas industry and calling for fossil fuels to be phased out.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/07/mining-billionaire-andrew-forrest-in-scathing-attack-on-oil-and-gas-industry
The Albanese Government has just announced another $3B into the US submarine industrial base, in addition to the $4.7B already committed. It’s money that should have been spent in Australia instead. Rex Patrick reports on a widening foreign expenditure sinkhole.
https://michaelwest.com.au/join-our-team-aukus-foreign-expenditure-sinkhole-blows-out-to-12b-already/
Victoria’s watchdog for mental health complaints has not issued any compliance notices to service providers despite receiving more than 16,000 complaints over the past decade, prompting calls for an investigation into the system. Kieran Rooney reports that over the past five years, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission has issued just 22 “enforceable undertakings” – where serious issues were identified but providers admitted to problems and agreed to correct them.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/more-than-16-000-mental-health-complaints-but-watchdog-yet-to-bite-20231207-p5epu9.html
The Saudi-led OPEC+ cartel is trying to force prices higher. It isn’t working, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz who says the oil cartel may be losing control of the market.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/the-oil-cartel-may-be-losing-control-of-the-market-20231207-p5epqk.html
Far from cleaning up Boris Johnson’s Covid mess, Rishi Sunak is drowning in it, says Gaby Hinsliff.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/07/far-from-cleaning-up-boris-johnsons-covid-mess-rishi-sunak-is-drowning-in-it
And John Crace delivers another tasty serve of satire, saying Sulky Sunak tried to solve everything with a panicky press conference.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/dec/07/sulky-sunak-solves-everything-with-a-panicky-press-conference
“Arseholes of the Week” nomination goes to the thieves who tried to steal the body of underworld boss George Marrogi’s sister and had allegedly planned a revenge plot to film the desecration and mutilation of her corpse and send the recording to torment him in prison.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/plot-to-terrorise-gang-boss-by-mutilating-his-sister-s-corpse-on-video-20231130-p5enxv.html
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
Matt Golding
Mark David
Jim Pavlidis
Fiona Katauskas
Glen Le Lievre (plus a gif)
https://twitter.com/i/status/1732153900248043880
Simon Letch
https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.56%2C$multiply_2.2063%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0/t_crop_custom/q_62%2Cf_auto/c7aa43a8a4c6cf77f4177ba0db9bc4a0d4c65572,jpg
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
Ever since Paul Barry published Jonestown there must have been – to be generous – a bunch of fecklessly idle and incurious ‘journalists’ not doing ‘journalism’ by way of follow up.
It seems most of these stories in effect fell into 9-Faix’s lap and it has taken to NOW to expose him. … meanwhile there was another two decades of abuse that kept piling up.
This deserves a reprise of the ‘Institutionalised Response to Child Sexual Abuse’ Royal Commission but this time instead of the Catholic Church etc being placed in the dock, Macquarie Media, 9-Faix and the Australian media generally should be scrutinies with a blow torch.
The Simon Letch cartoon
James Ashby to run for Qld parliament?
…
https://www.smh.com.au/cbd/chaser-s-julian-morrow-loses-four-year-legal-battle-20231207-p5epxp.html
WB: “Michael will have read about it in News Corp …”
Yes, of course he would have! 🙂
“The prime minister needs his mojo back, writes Phil Coorey”
“Mr Mojo risin’”, sang Jim Morrison on ‘LA Woman’. An anagram of his own name.
The Lizard King would have celebrated his 80th birthday today.
SMH: ‘Rumblings this week that … James Ashby was about to enter politics grew to a roar …’
A mighty roar that has shaken the airwaves and splashed on the front pages.
Oh, wait … nope, it seems nobody gives a toss about the political prospects of a shady spiv in a fringe party.
The Guardian’s Amanda Meade DID write about it, saying Bruce Lehrmann’s former colleague, an aide-de-camp for the senator Linda Reynolds, has told the federal court she had “bad vibes” about him based on her “women’s intuition”. The army major, Nikita Irvine, also said she discussed Brittany Higgins’ allegation of sexual assault against Lehrmann with both Reynolds and her chief of staff, Fiona Brown.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/07/bruce-lehrmann-defamation-trial-brittany-higgins-update-bad-vibes-ntwnfb
And now Linda Reynolds has launched another high-profile defamation action, this time against the ACT government and former chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold. A writ lodged in the West Australian supreme court on Monday says Drumgold sent a letter accusing the senator of “disturbing conduct” during Bruce Lehrmann’s rape trial.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/07/linda-reynolds-sues-act-government-leaked-letter-shane-drumgold-afp
When you look at these cases in aggregate I’m of the opinion that they are of a piece that, if successful, will work to silence public criticism of anything a Tory does or says in the future. To enable a chilling effect on criticism of their actions. Or else you’ll have a Defamation action brought against you. Which is, most definitely, not a good thing.
Geez lots of diversions on here by labor supporters don’t mention the war err 29 percent .What a total and utter failure of leadership by the fed government over months.Directionless and tone deaf to the consequences of their mass immigration and its disastrous effect on hundreds of thousands/millions of Australians.
A terrible opposition is heading for government that’s what happens when a federal government puts globalism ahead of locals.
Learnt nothing from brexit,trump etc etc.
“James Ashby to run for Qld parliament?”
Is he even eligible?
James Ashby could face being $4.5 million in debt to the Government
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/james-ashby-could-face-being-45-million-in-debt-to-the-government,16358
Pied Piper,
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 8:02 am
Geez lots of diversions on here by labor supporters don’t mention the war err 29 percent .What a total and utter failure of leadership by the fed government over months.Directionless and tone deaf to the consequences of their mass immigration and its disastrous effect on hundreds of thousands/millions of Australians.
A terrible opposition is heading for government that’s what happens when a federal government puts globalism ahead of locals.
Learnt nothing from brexit,trump etc etc.
Is this comment what you call “piped” vision ?
Chris Masters wrote Jonestown
The original of “Oh Kevin, my Kevin”
“Oh Captain, my Captain” by Walt Whitman after the assassination of Lincoln
O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done,
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won,
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring;
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/08/james-ashby-v-peter-slipper-the-shameless-game-was-always-about-politics
James Ashby’s case against Peter Slipper and the Commonwealth, and the associated infusion of media and political involvement, would have to be one of the grubbiest assaults on a government in recent memory. Importantly, Ashby’s allegations on 60 Minutes show that the original claims of abuse of process, which were dismissed on appeal by the full federal court, are actually alive and kicking.
The sequence of events is well known. The sexual harassment claims against the Speaker were struck out in December 2012 by Justice Steven Rares. He found that the real purpose of the litigation was to bring down the Speaker and damage the minority government, and should never have been brought in the court.
That was subsequently overturned by a full court majority in February. It left us with two judges saying this was more about politics than the law, and two saying this was more about the law than politics. Contrary to spin from the Ashby camp, the full court made no findings of fact about his allegations. That was to be determined by a trial that never happened because the complainant withdrew from the contest.
The main game was always about politics. The litigation was a means by which maximum distress could be inflicted on the minority government, and Liberal politicians were in there with their ears back.
Ashby told the 60 Minutes audience on Sunday night that Tony Abbott’s frontbench attack dog Christopher Pyne knew of his sexual harassment allegations against Slipper and knew about the staffer’s proposed litigation against the speaker. He had spoken directly to the then shadow minister in his parliamentary office.
Ah, the ‘mass immigration’ furphy again. *sigh* It’s amazing how easy it is to fool some people. But that’s the day job of the Murdoch media and Whitestone Strategies I guess. 😐
Morning all. Thanks for the roundup BK, which I will return to.
William on the lead in poll, the link takes you to a You Gov writeup which does not match the poll result you have reported. E.g it has the Greens steady on 13%. Thus:
“ Labor is down two points on the last poll to 29%, their day saved to some extent by a two point rise for the Greens to 15%. The Coalition is up one to 36%, while One Nation is steady on 7%.”
This is significant for two reasons. First it still suggests the Labor government will survive. However second it suggests Greens and Teals will not only retain, but might gain seats. Has YouGov had the Greens on 15% before? It that is true trends like their inner city seat success in Brisbane might expand elsewhere.
As I have said before, I think Labor needs to go harder in some areas included but not limited to climate change. If it doesn’t, it might end up in minority government. (That would kill off AUKUS even faster than a Trump win.)
Son of US Sen. Kevin Cramer crashes during police chase, killing North Dakota sheriff’s deputy
But the Senator statement says that his son has mental health issues.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/12/7/2210277/-Son-of-US-Sen-Kevin-Cramer-crashes-during-police-chase-killing-North-Dakota-sheriff-s-deputy?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_2&pm_medium=web
“The 42-year-old son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer crashed into a North Dakota sheriff’s vehicle during a police chase, pushing it into a deputy and killing him, according to authorities and the Republican senator’s family.
Ian Cramer, of Bismarck, was arrested and jailed following Wednesday’s crash, and charges are pending, the North Dakota Highway Patrol said in a news release.”
“The first-term senator wrote that his son “suffers from serious mental disorders which manifest in severe paranoia and hallucinations.””
It appears when Republicans do it, it is because they have ‘serious mental health disorders ‘ not because they are bad.
Almost all the times The reasons trotted out for mass shootings are because of ‘mental health disorders/ issues ‘ not because they are bad/ evil.
Nobody explains how serious mental health disorder patients got hold of guns or are able to drive cars. Baffles me.
Why would AUKUS be killed off if Trump won? A Dutton-Trump team would be in perfect alignment.
And if Albanese or Chalmers dares to nix it in their own lame-duck period, the ALP can kiss goodbye to any hope of returning to office in a generation.
As for the morning roundup, great job Tony Bourke getting the Same Job Same Pay reforms through parliament. The only critics will be those already exploiting workers. This is exactly the sort of reform people expect from a Labor government.
Hopefully ten years from now, we will hve fairer wages… I fear the consequences of the last decade of broken wage dealing will take that long to fix. (Not a criticism, just a sad reality after a decade of flat real wage growth).
BK
Agree with your arseholes of the week nomination.
When I originally heard what occurred, it made me queasy.
Barbaric comes to mind.
Victoria @ #40 Friday, December 8th, 2023 – 8:25 am
When you steep yourself in that world, no low is too low to descend to. Their brains are broken.
Is the Rozelle Interchange working as planned? Christopher Standen, a research fellow in applied urban development at the school of population health, UNSW Sydney, says yes.
”To allow new traffic from WestConnex to flow unhindered onto the Anzac Bridge’s four eastbound lanes, traffic approaching the bridge from Victoria Road and City West Link had to be throttled.”
https://apple.news/AIspiQjigQWy2GGPUP_pzsA
MelbourneMammothsays:
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 8:23 am
Why would AUKUS be killed off if Trump won? A Dutton-Trump team would be in perfect alignment.
And if Albanese or Chalmers dares to nix it in their own lame-duck period, the ALP can kiss goodbye to any hope of returning to office in a generation.
Yah wouldn’t be getting ahead of yourself a bit there MM ?
Particularly having picked a couple of players not guaranteed a spot in the starting team!
Here we go again
Thanks WB for the info about the poll. Chris Kenny just provided the figures, no source.
On NDIS, Shorten is correct to reform the scheme and tighten rules on eligibility and payment amounts, to prevent it being rorted.
Given the demonstrated failure of private service providers to act with integrity on spending, it seems inevitable that the NDIS will need to establish Medicare/ PBS style tables of agreed services and schedules of payment for them.
The risk of a re-eleccted Trump killing off AUKUS has been discussed both here and abroad. It is not certain, but is a significant risk. For example see the link below.
https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/will-aukus-survive-trump-s-return-to-the-white-house
House Republican files resolution to censure Rep. Jamaal Bowman for pulling fire alarm
Republicans alleged that the New York Democrat was trying to delay a vote on government funding. Bowman said he activated the fire alarm by mistake.
https://www-nbcnews-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna128322?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17019854351362&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Fcongress%2Fhouse-republican-files-resolution-censure-rep-jamaal-bowman-pulling-fi-rcna128322
I love this line from Michelle Pini in IA:
Don’t believe the hype. The Coalition are, in truth, the tools without the tools when it comes to running the economy.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/taylor-and-ley-continue-long-coalition-tradition-of-fudging-the-figures,18153
😀
B. Lomborg is the source.
“This astonishing work has gone almost entirely unreported by any major news outlet. It shows that even with very generous assumptions, the benefits of pursuing net zero will just slowly inch upwards over the century. By mid-century, the benefits – meaning the avoided costs from climate change – could reach about $1 trillion each year.
But the costs would be much, much higher. Three different modelled approaches all show far higher costs than benefits for every single year throughout the 21st century and far into the next. By 2050, the annual costs of the policy range between $10 trillion and $43 trillion. That’s 4 to 18 per cent of global GDP.
Consider that the total tax intake of all governments across the world today is about 15 per cent of global GDP – and politicians would potentially have us spend more than that.
Across the century, the benefit is 1.4 per cent of global GDP while the cost averages out at 8.6 per cent of global GDP. Every dollar in cost delivers perhaps 16c of climate benefits. Clearly, this is an atrocious use of money.”
Its a joke, we have to find a better way.
We have time, we are not turning into Venus tomorrow morning.