First up, developments ahead of the Dunkley by-election, which Rachel Baxendale of The Australian reported yesterday was “unlikely to be held before late February”:
• A Liberal preselection ballot scheduled for January 14 is expected to include Frankston mayor Nathan Conroy; Donna Hope, who as Donna Bauer held the state seat of Carrum from 2010 to 2014 and is now an electorate officer to Chris Crewther, former federal member for Dunkley and now state member for Mornington; Bec Buchanan, another staffer to Crewther and the party’s state candidate for Carrum in 2022; and Sorrento real estate agent David Burgess, who was on the party’s Legislative Council ticket for Eastern Victoria in 2022.
• Paul Sakkal of The Age today reports the widower of the late Labor member Peta Murphy, Rod Glover, is being encouraged to seek preselection by “senior Labor figures”. The report describes Glover as a “respected former staffer to Kevin Rudd, university professor and public policy expert”. Also mentioned in Rachel Baxendale’s report were Madison Child, an “international relations and public policy graduate in her mid twenties who grew up in Frankston”, and has lately worked as an electorate officer to Murphy; Georgia Fowler, a local nurse who ran in Mornington at the November 2022 state election; and Joshua Sinclair, chief executive of the Committee for Frankston and Mornington Peninsula.
Other preselection news:
• Tim Wilson has confirmed he will seek Liberal preselection to recover the Melbourne seat of Goldstein following his defeat at the hands of teal independent Zoe Daniel in 2022. Paul Sakkal of The Age reports he is “unlikely to face a challenger”.
• Lydia Lynch of The Australian today reports nominations for Liberal National Party preselection will close on January 15 in the inner Brisbane seat of Ryan, which the party lost to Elizabeth Watson-Brown of the Greens in 2022, and the Gold Coast seat of McPherson, which will be vacated with the retirement of Karen Andrews. The front-runner in the former case is said to be Maggie Forrest, barrister and the party’s honorary legal adviser. In addition to the previously identified Ben Naday, Leon Rebello and David Stevens in McPherson (the first two being rated the front-runners) is Adam Fitzgibbons, head of public affairs at Coles. Party insiders are said to be “increasingly concerned” about the emergence of a “McPherson Matters” group that is preparing a teal independent bid for the seat.
• Lily McCaffrey of the Herald-Sun reports Emanuele Cicchiello, deputy principal Lighthouse Christian College deputy principal, has been preselected as Liberal candidate for Aston, the Melbourne seat that was lost to the party in a historic by-election result on April 1. Cicchiello ran unsuccessfully in Bruce in 2013 and has made numerous other bids for preselection.
• Rochelle Pattison, chair of Transgender Victoria and director of corporate finance firm Chimaera Capital, has nominated for Liberal preselection in Kooyong, joining an existing field consisting of Amelia Hamer, Susan Morris and Michael Flynn.
• The New South Wales Liberal Party website records two unheralded federal election candidates in Sam Kayal, a local accountant who will again run in Werriwa following an unsuccessful bid in 2022, and Katie Mullens, conservative-aligned solicitor at Barrak Lawyers who ran for the state seat of Parramatta in March and has now been preselected for the federal seat of the same name.
Polling news:
• The Courier-Mail sought to read the temperature of Queensland politics post-Annastacia Palaszczuk without breaking the budget by commissioning a uComms robopoll, crediting the Liberal National Party opposition with a two-party lead of 51-49. The only detail provided on primary votes was that the LNP was on 36.2% and Labor 34.4% – no indication was provided as to whether this was exclusive of the uncommitted, which is often not the case withuComms. Steven Miles was viewed positively by 42.7% and negatively by 27.6%, with only the positive rating of 37.8% provided for David Crisafulli. A forced response question on preferred premier had Crisafulli leading Miles by 52.2-47.8. True to the Courier-Mail style guide, the report on this unremarkable set of numbers included the words “startling”, “explosive”, “whopping” and “stunning”. The initial report on Tuesday was accompanied by a hook to a follow-up that promised to tell “who Queenslanders really wanted as Annastacia Palaszczuk’s replacement”. The answer was revealed the next day to be Steven Miles, favoured by 37.8% over Shannon Fentiman on 35.0% and Cameron Dick on 27.1%. The poll was conducted December 21 and 22 from a sample of 1911.
• RedBridge Group has a poll of Victorian state voting intention showing Labor leading 55.9-44.1, little different to the 55.0-45.0 result at the November 2022 election. The primary votes are Labor 37% (36.7% at the election), Coalition 36% (34.5%) and Greens 13% (11.5%). Extensive further results include leadership ratings inclusive of “neither approve nor disapprove” option that find Jacinta Allan viewed positively by 24%, negatively by 30% and neutrally by 32%, John Pesutto at 16% positive, 36% neutral and 29% negative, and Greens leader Samantha Ratnam at 14% positive, 29% neutral and 35% negative. The poll was conducted December 2 to 12 from a sample of 2026.
• Nine Newspapers published results from Resolve Strategic on Thursday on whether various politicians were viewed positively, neutrally, negatively or not at all, which it had held back from its last national poll nearly a month ago. Whereas a similar recent exercise by Roy Morgan simply invited respondents to identify politicians they did and didn’t trust, this one took the to-my-mind more useful approach of presenting respondents with a set list of forty names. In the federal sphere, the five most positively rated were Penny Wong (net 14%, meaning the difference between her positive and negative results), Jacqui Lambie (10%), Jacinta Price (6%), David Pocock (5%) and Tanya Plibersek (3%). The lowest were Scott Morrison (minus 35%), Lidia Thorpe (minus 29%, a particularly remarkable result given what was presumably modest name recognition), Barnaby Joyce (minus 27%), Pauline Hanson (minus 25%) and, interestingly, Bob Katter (minus 15%). Of state leaders, Chris Minns (plus 14%) and David Crisafulli (plus 9%) did notably well, and John Pesutto (minus 7%) and the since-departed Annastacia Palaszczuk (minus 17%) notably poorly. The poll was conducted November 29 to December 3 from a sample of 1605.
Radical groups in Australia are circulating and sharing guides for anti-Israel activists, unionists and educators to sabotage and vandalise property and evade police by using encrypted communications and special codes.
Dozens of pro-Palestinian groups – ranging from well-organised criminals who damage property linked to Israel or its military trading partners to unionists trying to blockade Jewish-owned ships – have surfaced in Australia since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October.
The Weekend Australian can reveal some of the organisations, which are blatantly anti-Semitic, are backing secret advice to use code names for the targets of their demonstrations, and to use encrypted texts via the Signal messaging app and secure email servers to avoid police detection. They also have been advised how to case out locations covertly and how to track Jewish shipping interests.
Amid a surge in violent protests and anti-Semitic attacks nationwide, one of several guides being circulated urges groups to investigate whether property damage, sabotage and graffiti should be part of their campaigning. “Do you agree what non-violence means?” it says. “Explore the concept of what violence means to you and whether that doesn’t include topics like graffiti, sabotage and property damage. “Establish or adopt a set of principles – preferably written down for future reference and for new people who might join you.’’
The Direct Action Planning Guide, which sources said had been spread around the activist community, outlines in detail how to stage protests and deal with the fallout if people are caught. It suggests that protests could include blockades, barricades, sabotage, animal liberation, sabotaging construction machinery, graffiti and squatting.
The Melbourne-based guide, which radical groups are using as a template for activist campaigning in Australia, has been cited by militant protesters now targeting Jewish shipping interests. There are established links between union activists and a radical anti-Israel group targeting Israeli shipping company ZIM. Executive Council of Australian Jewry co-CEO Alex Ryvchin said Australia was witnessing a 20-year evolution in Palestinian campaigning, which he said was causing a lot of anxiety among the Jewish community. “This year, since October 7 it’s reached unprecedented levels. In terms of the resourcing going into it, in terms of the support they’re receiving from mainstream political parties, trade unions,’’ Mr Ryvchin said. “It’s always been centrally co-ordinated but it’s kind of been a lower-level thing, confined to university campuses, sort of fringe groups, but now you’re seeing the Australian Greens becoming agents of this movement and sizeable trade unions as well.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/radical-groups-sharing-antijewish-handbook/news-story/91ee15bf3ccc14280b2b6b6008426788?amp
They’d be mad not to try a Teal in that seat, esp with Andrews retiring.
BK back?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/29/world-will-look-back-at-2023-as-year-humanity-exposed-its-inability-to-tackle-climate-crisis
For me that year was 2019.
‘fess,
Can you believe Dutton and the Coalition STILL want to do nothing? Because that’s what the SMR ‘absolute crap’ is, a fig leaf for doing nothing and letting Gina freaking Reinhart and Clive ‘Buy a Party’ Palmer, have their way with Australia.. 😡
C@r
Not until Jan 2
BK @ #7 Saturday, December 30th, 2023 – 7:15 am
Okay, BK, got it. 🙂
“It’s always been centrally co-ordinated but it’s kind of been a lower-level thing, confined to university campuses, sort of fringe groups, but now you’re seeing the Australian Greens becoming agents of this movement and sizeable trade unions as well.
Let’s see if The Greens are able to put their big boy pants on and repudiate the Anarchic Left. Or feed into the division and sectarian hatred in Australia they are trying to cause.
C@tmomma @ #6 Saturday, December 30th, 2023 – 7:10 am
Hansen says that it’s going to take a generational change of leadership to get any action on AGW. The problem is that the tactics of today’s young people is to just disrupt normal life by hanging from ports or lying in front of traffic on bridges, or vandalising container ships. What does that do in the scheme of things? Absolutely nothing, except get yourself locked up.
And even there were a generation of younger people who are sensible and capable of steering the world’s politics into a climate reality, I still think the vested interests are so entrenched into the political process, that any action is unlikely.
I’m afraid we are just set on a course of cooking the planet and ultimately killing ourselves off as a species.
Wow, Murdoch whipping up division and hate. I’m shocked !
Wow! The Greens whipping up division! I’m shocked!
I see they caught that dufus who was restreaming the defamation trial on YouTube. He’s off to court with charges to be laid soon.
MI
I hope they make him understand the error of his ways.
I would prefer to see the information presented by HH @6:15 from a credible source before making any sort of judgement. While I’m sure the Australian didn’t just make it up, it’s no doubt been selected, spun and distorted to advance their political agenda, which is among other things anti-Green ad anti-Union.
In the meantime, if they have knowledge of illegal activities done or planned, hopefully they’ve referred it to the State or Federal Police.
‘
…Mr Ryvchin said. “It’s always been centrally co-ordinated but it’s kind of been a lower-level thing, confined to university campuses, sort of fringe groups, but now you’re seeing the Australian Greens becoming agents of this movement and sizeable trade unions as well.’
———————————————–
The implication of this is that Bandt and his Party, as well as unspecified ‘unions’, their leadership and their formal organizations, are ‘agents’ which are involved in ‘it’ with ‘it’ being some form of informal something or other that lacks specifics but which is linked directly to the growing number of pyschological and physical assaults on Australia’s jewish community.
This sort of disinformation is published by ‘The Australian’.
And we are off! As Buffalo Bill would have pointed out this is a classic bit of boot strapping.
Bandt and the Greens political party are not ‘agents’ of anything, let alone any vague and unspecified ‘it’. They have strong views about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, the so-called ‘settlers’ treatment of Palestinians and Israel’s treatment of Gazans. As it happens this melds neatly with their views on war in general. (In this context it is somewhat beside the point that there is a short term memory loss about what happened on October 7 and what it means and the Greens’ vision here being somewhat blinkered with respect to Iran, its regime, its domestic bastardy, its export of terrorism, its use of military force and its vision for what should happen to jews).
In this context what matters is that the Bandt and the Greens are not part of some vast unspecified ‘movement’. They are not ‘agents’. There is no ‘it’. What there is is a party and a party leadership that has values, is explicit about how it views the ME and has explicit and open policies with respect to all of the above.
Bandt and the Greens are not secretly plotting and carrying out criminal attacks on Australian jewish persons, their homes, their business interests and their institutions. I call bullshit on that. Some Greens members might well be doing so. I am certain that if they were caught out they would be expelled from the Greens.
Were ‘The Australian’ a bit more even-handed it could publish a conspiracist theory by an islamist about how jews are secretly influencing Dutton and the Liberals into supporting Israel and its interests perhaps reminding everyone about ‘The Protocols of the Elders of Zion’ on the way through.
Bandt and the Greens and Dutton and the Liberals are rational political players hoeing their own political row. They are speaking and behaving consistent with their values and their priorities. They are NOT ‘agents’.
There is no doubt that there is an increase in both islamophobia and anti-semitism in Australia as a direct result of daily news about the Hamas-Israel War.
There is also no doubt that there has been a substantial movement of sympathy in Australia arising from the daily feed of civilian deaths, shattered kids, outright hunger, lack of medical supplies, shattered infrastructure and shattered housing in Gaza. There is a strong natural sympathy for the underdog.
There is no doubt that Australian extremists on both the left and the right are trying to astroturf – grow and harness politically – the extreme emotions that the war is generating and that either islamophobia or anti-semitism are the very nearly the inexorable, if not actively cultivated, outcomes.
All of the above demonstrate the difficult policy path that any Australian Government would have to tread.
Dutton, ‘The Australian’ and, indeed, Mr Rychin would do well to be extremely careful with their language lest such language feed the astroturfing, the hatreds and thus the divisions they claim strenuously to abhor.
Great to hear that centre right actors in the southern Gold Coast are looking for a Teal style candidate in what is red hot conservative territory. The only ALP l.eader up here to make inroads into this blue stronghold was Beattie when he annihilated the LNP in 2001 election and took a good few GC seats. Turning the GC into a contestable area would be a great result and good for the Gold Coast. The LNP takes it for granted. One example of this is the now super popular tram line that was constructed by the ALP government when they could have easily ignored the place and not lost a single vote. I don’t expect it to become ALP heartland any time soon but for its own sake giving the moribund LNP a well deserved boot in the backside every now and then might result in a few dividends.On another note ,it’s hard to see how 36.2% of the primary vote is a great result for our state LNP.For the LNP aligned Courier this might be worth trumpeting to its remaining clientele of hardcore right wing voters but in reality it’s pretty ordinary at this stage of the cycle.
Holdenhillbilly
The nice thing about the Australian, you can avoid their hate filled article by not subscribing.
frednk says:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 7:55 am
Holdenhillbilly
The nice thing about the Australian, you can avoid their hate filled article by not subscribing.
############
I’m due for a conversation with a bloke I volunteer with…avid reader of The Oz and my New Year’s resolution is to try to offer him some emotional support!
BBC – The year the Australian dream died
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-67723760
“At the age of 31, Justin Dowswell never imagined he’d be living in a shared room in his childhood home.
He had a full-time, well-paying job in Sydney, and had rented for a decade before an unprecedented housing crisis forced him to upend his life and move back in with his parents, two hours away.
“It’s humbling,” he says. But the alternative was homelessness: “So I’m one of the lucky ones”.
It’s a far cry from the promise of the Great Australian Dream.
Where the American Dream is a more abstract belief that anyone can achieve success if they work hard enough, the Australian version is tangible.
For generations, owning a house on a modest block of land has been idealised as both the ultimate marker of success and a gateway to a better life.
It’s an aspiration that has wormed its way into the country’s identity, helping to shape modern Australia.
From the so-called “Ten Pound Poms” in the 1950s to the current boom in skilled workers moving from India, waves of migrants have arrived on Australia’s shores in search of its promise. And many found it.
But for current generations the dreams proffered to their parents and grandparents are out of reach.
After decades of government policies that treat housing as an investment not a right, many say they would be lucky to even find a stable, affordable place to rent.
“The Australian Dream… it’s a big lie,” Mr Dowswell says.
A perfect storm
Almost everything that could go wrong with housing in Australia has gone wrong, says Michael Fotheringham.
“The only thing that could make it worse is if banks started collapsing,” the head of the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute tells the BBC.
Underpinning it all is that buying a house is astronomically expensive – the average property now costs about nine times an ordinary household’s income, triple what it was 25 years ago.
It’s particularly dire for the three quarters of Australians who live in major cities. Sydney, for example, is the second least affordable city on Earth to buy a property, trailing only Hong Kong, according to the 2023 Demographia International Housing Affordability survey.
Australia has made home ownership virtually unattainable for almost anyone without family wealth. Last month the boss of a major bank, ANZ, said home loans had become “the preserve of the rich”.”
Very fair comment, boerwar.
Another indication of the dodginess of the “Radical Groups” article in the Australian – it is given top billing (top left on the landing page and paper edition) and billed as an “exclusive”.
#weatheronPB
Ominous dull air,
and dark clouds with quiet rain,
set the early tone.
Princeplanet
Is there an evangelist element on the Gold coast of any electoral significance ?
C@t
I see you referenced daretotread on previous thread.
Definitely a hyperbolic poster. Although DTTs concerns of a pandemic, actually turned out to be accurate……….
Worth repeating…….
”
Confessionssays:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 7:05 am
The hottest year in recorded history casts doubts on humanity’s ability to deal with a climate crisis of its own making, senior scientists have said.
……….
………
As historically high temperatures continued to be registered in many parts of the world in late December, the former Nasa scientist James Hansen told the Guardian that 2023 would be remembered as the moment when failures became apparent.
“When our children and grandchildren look back at the history of human-made climate change, this year and next will be seen as the turning point at which the futility of governments in dealing with climate change was finally exposed,” he said. “Not only did governments fail to stem global warming, the rate of global warming actually accelerated.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/29/world-will-look-back-at-2023-as-year-humanity-exposed-its-inability-to-tackle-climate-crisis
”
2023 is classified by scientists as the year Anthropocene epoch started.
My sister is sitting at home with the generator on after days without power in the SE Qld region. More storms on the way and very hot. So far the extended families’ houses have avoided damage but next door have ‘installed’ a tree through their roof )-:
66% of Australians own their own homes.
There is a trend decline in home ownership.
There is a trend in Australian house sizes such that Australians occupy the largest house space per capita in the world.
There can be little doubt that this directly contributes to Australians being close to the largest CO2 emitters per capita in the world.
We need to:
1. Halve the housing space per capita.
2. Get rid of tax concessions that preference housing investment over other investments.
3. Re-introduce death duties.
4. Introduce a tax on empty bedrooms.
5. Introduce a punitive tax on second houses.
6. Ban foreign ownership of Australian houses.
7. Introduce tax concessions on build to rent.
But we will not be doing that while 66% of Australians own their own homes, while those houses contribute directly to their wealth effect and while a substantial number of children of those 66% hope to benefit from the deaths of their parents.
Dogs brunch
They are having a hellish summer to say the least.
Meanwhile so far in Melbourne town, another lovely mild day in store.
Fingers crossed the rest of summer goes this way.
Hot humid weather is very overrated.
‘Dog’s Brunch says:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:11 am
My sister is sitting at home with the generator on after days without power in the SE Qld region. More storms on the way and very hot. So far the extended families’ houses have avoided damage but next door have ‘installed’ a tree through their roof )-:’
—————————
Are they connecting their situation to CO2 emissions? (Serious question.)
Boerwar
My kids generation are either buying very small homes or apartments. Mainly due to the prohibitive cost of housing.
Governments are, one way or another, usually reflective of dominant opinion in their jurisdictions.
Blaming ‘governments’ is, in a sense, a cop out.
There have been NO turning points in humanity’s attitude to climate action.
Short-term greed/personal consumerism has been completely dominant throughout the modern era when CO2 emissions have been a thing.
There are tickets available at a starting price of around $25,000 twin share for a circumnavigation of the planet.
You will be propelled by diesel.
There are somewhere between 30 and 50 cruise ships in the construction pipeline.
#plus 2.5 degrees.
‘Victoria says:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:15 am
Boerwar
My kids generation are either buying very small homes or apartments. Mainly due to the prohibitive cost of housing.’
———————–
Yep. There is no doubt that the maldistribution of wealth and hence the maldistribution of housing space is having huge generational impacts.
Funnily enough I was discussing inheritances yesterday, as my MIL has sold the family home last week to move into a retirement village.
For anyone who has done this. It is widely known that not much money is left after spending some time in such a setup.
This was one reason why my MIL was reluctant to go.
She wants to leave something to her offspring when she departs this mortal coil.
We had to convince her that it’s her money and whilst she is alive she is to enjoy it however she sees fit.
And we reassured her that we are living a life that suits us and is not dependent on any funds coming our way from her.
This was very reassuring to her. So happily for us all she is looking forward to the next stage of her life .
The Age Editorial 30/12
To water down such a key election promise, however, and hope no one will notice is too cynical for a government that rode a wave of excitement and nostalgia for the days when the SEC was able to deliver cheap, reliable power on the back of a market monopoly and access to vast quantities of brown coal. The government needs to treat Victorian voters with respect and be upfront about what this iteration of the SEC can accomplish.
_____________________
I wouldn’t be surprised if the SEC goes the same way as the Commonwealth games.
It’s done it’s job. It helped deliver an election victory.
‘Victoria says:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:21 am
Funnily enough I was discussing inheritances yesterday, as my MIL has sold the family home last week to move into a retirement village.
For anyone who has done this. It is widely known that not much money is left after spending some time in such a setup.
This was one reason why my MIL was reluctant to go.
She wants to leave something to her offspring when she departs this mortal coil.
We had to convince her that it’s her money and whilst she is alive she is to enjoy it however she sees fit.
And we reassured her that we are living a life that suits us and is not dependent on any funds coming our way from her.
This was very reassuring to her. So happily for us all she is looking forward to the next stage of her life.’
——————–
Not all MILs get that sort of love and consideration, Victoria!
‘Taylormade says:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:28 am
The Age Editorial 30/12
To water down such a key election promise, however, and hope no one will notice is too cynical for a government that rode a wave of excitement and nostalgia for the days when the SEC was able to deliver cheap, reliable power on the back of a market monopoly and access to vast quantities of brown coal. The government needs to treat Victorian voters with respect and be upfront about what this iteration of the SEC can accomplish.
_____________________
I wouldn’t be surprised if the SEC goes the same way as the Commonwealth games.
It’s done it’s job. It helped deliver an election victory.’
++++++++++++++++++
Fancy Costello having a destructive opinion of the Victorian Government!
And fancy Taylormade repeating that like a parrot!
Squawk, squawk!
Good Morning Dawn Patrollers from BK’s B Team of one 😀
Today we start with a round up of some state of NSW, but a lot of federal legislative changes that will take effect from January 1.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/new-year-new-laws-the-toll-and-legal-changes-coming-this-january-20231229-p5eu5h.html
This story analyses the NSW economy and people’s reactions to it with one issue dominating like no other. Cost of Living. I’m sure it’s the same everywhere.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-single-issue-that-will-hold-the-nsw-economy-back-in-2024-20231228-p5eu0p.html
This is a fascinating story based on released Thatcher government documents about the Spycatcher trial, Malcolm Turnbull and Kerry Packer!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/turnbull-thatcher-and-packer-declassified-files-reveal-tycoon-s-brush-with-notorious-spycatcher-case-20231229-p5eu6u.html
Ret Major General Mick Ryan on Australia’s Defence readiness and national security ponderings that should be considered by government.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-australia-is-less-ready-to-face-a-more-dangerous-world-in-2024-20231227-p5etu9.html
Sadly Russia on Friday unleashed one of its biggest missile attacks on Ukraine of the war, killing 18 civilians, wounding more than 130 others and hitting residential buildings in Kyiv, the south and west of the country, officials said.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry said the vast end-of-year air assault showed there should be “no talk of a truce” with the Kremlin at a time when uncertainty hangs over the future of vital Western support for Kyiv.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/russia-launches-massive-air-attack-on-ukraine-at-least-10-dead-20231229-p5eu99.html
And it seems as though Putin has decided that Polish sovereignty can be ignored now. “Everything indicates that a Russian missile intruded in Poland’s airspace. It was monitored by us on radars and left the airspace,” said Poland’s defence chief, Gen Wiesław Kukuła.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/29/russia-launches-huge-wave-missile-strikes-ukraine
World will look back at 2023 as year humanity exposed its inability to tackle climate crisis, scientists say.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/29/world-will-look-back-at-2023-as-year-humanity-exposed-its-inability-to-tackle-climate-crisis
Here’s a good news story you may have missed. ‘I’m a suburban Melbourne renter. Here’s how I weaned my home off gas and saved money on energy bills’
After ditching central heating and focusing on power efficiency, we’ve cut our gas usage by 83% and are well on the way to paying off our new appliances.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2023/sep/30/im-a-suburban-melbourne-renter-heres-how-i-weaned-my-home-off-gas-and-saved-money-on-energy-bills
This is one of The Guardians’ ‘Best reads of 2023’. How a burnt out, abandoned ship reveals the secrets of a shadow tanker network
The number of vessels transporting sanctioned oil is booming and the consequences can be felt across the world – from Iran, to China, to Ukraine.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/sep/18/how-a-burnt-out-abandoned-ship-reveals-the-secrets-of-a-shadow-tanker-network
Simon Tisdall in The British Guardian makes a good point.
Amid fears of escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict, consider this: war without end suits Netanyahu
The Israeli prime minister has his own agenda to galvanise his coalition and strengthen himself. A wider war is a real danger.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/29/israel-gaza-conflict-war-benjamin-netanyahu
Last week, 18-year-old Tal Mitnick was jailed for 30 days for refusing Israel Defense Forces enlistment, becoming the first conscientious objector imprisoned since the Israel-Hamas war began. “I refuse to believe that more violence will bring security. I refuse to take part in a war of revenge,” Mitnick wrote in a statement.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/29/tal-mitnick-israel-soldier-military-service-society
Because who doesn’t want to feel more depressed?
With the international focus on the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s continuing war in Ukraine, other countries in crisis have dropped out of the global spotlight.
So, where should we be watching in 2024? International politics expert Jessica Genauer looks at five hotspots where ongoing conflicts or simmering unrest could worsen in the coming year.
https://theconversation.com/will-the-world-see-more-wars-or-unrest-in-2024-here-are-5-hotspots-to-watch-217807
Is Joko Widodo paving the way for a political dynasty in Indonesia?
https://theconversation.com/is-joko-widodo-paving-the-way-for-a-political-dynasty-in-indonesia-219499
The forever partners are trying to be everywhere, all at once. Australia can no longer afford to ignore Russia’s expanding naval power in the Pacific.
https://theconversation.com/australia-can-no-longer-afford-to-ignore-russias-expanding-naval-power-in-the-pacific-217913
It’s not a good time to be a resident of Britain. Every review of Britain 2023 says the same. The country is not being well run.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/29/british-politics-local-councils-ministers-town-hall-democracy
Is Stoicism the answer? Social media can amplify our own helplessness and guilt – perhaps it’s time to return our focus from the global to the local, where we can truly make a change.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/dec/29/we-cant-control-what-disasters-a-new-year-may-bring-stoicism-can-help-us-get-up-and-try-again
Finally, your guide to trading hours across New Year’s weekend
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/12/28/trading-hours-new-year-weekend
Here are the best Fiona Katauskas cartoons of 2023
Sorry this is a bit late but this was Cathy Wilcox’s gift suggestions for our pollies
Cathy Wilcox
And that’s yer bleedin’ lot for today!
Ven says:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:07 am
Worth repeating…….
”
Confessionssays:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 7:05 am
The hottest year in recorded history casts doubts on humanity’s ability to deal with a climate crisis of its own making, senior scientists have said.
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………
As historically high temperatures continued to be registered in many parts of the world in late December, the former Nasa scientist James Hansen told the Guardian that 2023 would be remembered as the moment when failures became apparent.
“When our children and grandchildren look back at the history of human-made climate change, this year and next will be seen as the turning point at which the futility of governments in dealing with climate change was finally exposed,” he said. “Not only did governments fail to stem global warming, the rate of global warming actually accelerated.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/29/world-will-look-back-at-2023-as-year-humanity-exposed-its-inability-to-tackle-climate-crisis
”
2023 is classified by scientists as the year Anthropocene epoch started.’
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Some scientists… For others the Anthropocene Extinction Event has been in full swing for some time.
Shifts in the distribution of the earth’s mass caused by melting ice has long since tilted the axis of the earth. 95% of terrestrial biomass is domestic stock. There are enough fresh water storages to, when full, lower global ocean height. River flows have been savagely blocked. Forests have been cleared. Rainforests are disappearing. Reefs are dying. Large fish have largely disappeared from the oceans. 97% of India’s vultures have gone, Etc, etc, etc.
Can I interest you in a ticket to circumnavigate the globe? Starting price around $25,000 twin share?
Confessions
“ “When our children and grandchildren look back at the history of human-made climate change, this year and next will be seen as the turning point at which the futility of governments in dealing with climate change was finally exposed,” he said. “Not only did governments fail to stem global warming, the rate of global warming actually accelerated.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/29/world-will-look-back-at-2023-as-year-humanity-exposed-its-inability-to-tackle-climate-crisis
For me that year was 2019.”
Confessions I share your pessimism of climate change action. For me 2019 was the year the problem became clear in the Southern Hemisphere and 2021 in the Northern. But 2023, with COP28, is the year that confirmed there is not the collective political will in a politically fractured world to solve the problem.
Victoriasays:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:14 am
Meanwhile so far in Melbourne town, another lovely mild day in store.
Fingers crossed the rest of summer goes this way.
_____________________
Politically, Labor wants raging bushfires. Liberals want blackouts.
Let’s see how it goes in Jan/Feb.
Boerwar
We all figured as a family, that if any of us have gotten to this stage of our life and are counting on an inheritance from our MIL, We have done something very wrong. lol!
Taylormade
Are you kidding. No one wants bushfires or floods
‘Simon Tisdall in The British Guardian makes a good point.
Amid fears of escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict, consider this: war without end suits Netanyahu
The Israeli prime minister has his own agenda to galvanise his coalition and strengthen himself. A wider war is a real danger.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/29/israel-gaza-conflict-war-benjamin-netanyahu‘
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The Tisdell article refinforces strongly points made yesterday in Bludger about the good sense of Dreyfus’ call for restraint and for de-escalation.
I am beginning to suspect that the Labor Government is giving Dutton full access to the insider domestic and international security feeds. While still hopping in and trailing his coat such as with despatching a ship to the Red Sea, Dutton’s interventions may be being done with a bit of circumspection. But. Who knows?
‘Victoria says:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:42 am
Boerwar
We all figured as a family, that if any of us have gotten to this stage of our life and are counting on an inheritance from our MIL, We have done something very wrong. lol!’
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True. That said I have seen some wonderfully creative and terribly destructive nastiness around inheritances over the years.
Taylormade says:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:41 am
Victoriasays:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:14 am
Meanwhile so far in Melbourne town, another lovely mild day in store.
Fingers crossed the rest of summer goes this way.
_____________________
Politically, Labor wants raging bushfires. …’
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Idiot.
Boerwarsays:
Saturday, December 30, 2023 at 8:31 am
Fancy Costello having a destructive opinion of the Victorian Government!
And fancy Taylormade repeating that like a parrot!
Squawk, squawk!
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59000 jobs including 6000 apprenticeships remember.
It was a con. Even you should be able to see that.
Taylormade takes his Liberal Kool Aid straight up.
Someone asked yesterday if the decline in housing affordability was partially related to an increase in house sizes.
An article on affordable Australian housing in the 60s indicates that current average housing has increased in size by 2-3x at the same time as average households have decreased.
https://www.watoday.com.au/national/nsw/a-home-that-costs-two-cars-could-these-retro-masterpieces-help-solve-our-housing-crisis-20231212-p5er0c.html
Morning all. There has not been much news in local outlets in the past week with most Australian press obviously on holidays. So I have been in a reflective mood.
Overall I found 2023 a difficult, even depressing year on almost all levels. For both Xanthippe and myself it was the worst we can recall.
It started with my Dad passing in February, the halt on my work projects not ending till June (thanks Catherine King!), the Voice referendum beginning its downward spiral, watching western support to Ukraine dwindle and its offensive fail, the Hamas atrocity in Israel and the following Israeli atrocity in Gaza, the futility of COP28 in UAE, constant bad news about inflation and cost of living, one cat getting snakebitten, another cat losing a kidney (both surviving 🙂 ), Xanthippe and I finally catching covid, and progress on policy issues my professional association has been pursuing with the Albanese government stalled in December.
Good news? Australian Super finally returned Dad’s balance after six months of inquiries, and the form of the Matildas and Austrlian cricket team.
Nobody can say Albo drew an easy year of political fortunes in 2023. I hope 2024 is better.