Yesterday’s interest rates cut has put election timing speculation into sharper focus, but the most widely touted option all along has been April 12, the earliest date that avoids overlap with the campaign for the Western Australian election on March 8. Labor MPs cited by The Australian today were “unanimously against a March budget, given the deficits it would forecast”, which is to say they would favour the three week window from March 29 to April 12 over an election on the other side of Easter in May. The first of these dates is rated a “small possibility”, and would help Labor prosecute the case that a corner has been turned on interest rates, which would be complicated in the very likely event that rates are kept on hold at the Reserve Bank’s next meeting on April 1. However, Labor sources cited by David Crowe of Nine Newspapers “play down the idea of an election being called this weekend”, as March 29 would require. Counting against April 12 is its being the date of Passover, sensitivity towards Jewish concerns being a priority at the moment. No one seems especially discouraged that it would land in the middle of school holidays in Victoria and Queensland.
The latest on the polling front:
• The fortnightly Essential Research poll has Labor steady on 30%, the Coalition down one to 35%, the Greens steady on 12% and One Nation up one to 9%, with a steady 4% undecided. The 2PP+ measure has both Labor and the Coalition on 48%, after the Coalition led 49-47 last time. Monthly leadership ratings have Anthony Albanese down two on approval after an unusually strong result last time to 43%, and up three on disapproval to 48%. Peter Dutton is down one on approval to 41% and up two on disapproval to 45%. The monthly “national mood” question likewise erases an anomalous improvement last time, with right direction down seven points to 31% and wrong track up five to 51%, both results being identical to the December survey. A quite of questions on “awareness of Labor’s achievements” records high awareness of $300 energy bill rebates (77% aware, 23% unaware) and TAFE and HECS debt cuts (66% and 34%), but relatively low awareness of consecutive budget surpluses (46% and 54%). The poll was conducted Wednesday to Sunday from a sample of 1146.
• The weekly Roy Morgan poll has the Coalition with an unchanged two-party lead of 51.5-48.5 based on respondent-allocated preferences, and a narrowing from 51.5-48.5 to 51-49 going off 2022 election preference flows. The primary votes are Labor 28% (down one), Coalition 39.5% (down one), Greens 12.5% (up one-and-a-half) and One Nation 5.5% (up one-and-a-half). The poll was conducted Monday to Sunday from a sample of 1666.
• The Australian yesterday has a supplementary result from Monday’s Newspoll finding 25% of the view that inflation would be higher than it is now if Peter Dutton and the Coalition were in government, 24% lower and 31% about the same.
Those unnamed Labor MPs cited by the Australian don’t know nuttin’.The Labor partisans of PB have declared almost unanimously that there must be a May election and another budget.
Labor MPs better get with the program.
meher baba @ #1 Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 – 5:53 am
It could be a red herring. 😉
While I’ve got the mike, I just saw some footage of Little Marco Rubio. Boy does he look like someone who has just swallowed a s__t sandwich!
Trump has clearly given him no useful guidance out of that magnificent phone conversation with Putin. He doesn’t have any idea what concessions Trump wants him to push for from the Russians. Trump has spoken about European peacekeeping troops and Russia has immediately ruled them out.
Meanwhile, Trump is playing golf.
The talk of increased receipts from Iron Ore was shut down pretty quick. I still believe there will be a Budget and campaign called after that.
Anyone checked the parliamentary calendar? 🙂
c@t. Going to an election before Easter is clearly the best strategy IMO. I’ll be really surprised if they don’t.
PS: I have a strong personal interest against an election on April 12 as I am going out that night.
While I’ve got the mike, I just saw some footage of Little Marco Rubio. Boy does he look like someone who has just swallowed a s__t sandwich!
That’s what happens when you sell your soul to the devil.
Lol, wouldn’t it be funny if it was actually Donald Trump who started the biggest of wars, the next World War, after he campaigned to the youngs that he would be the anti war president? Well, it wouldn’t be funny, it would be entirely predictable and sad.
c@t: budget schmudget. As I posted last night, budgets are massively overrated by the media in terms of their political impact.
They’ll go full term – it’s the only way Albo guarantees he exceeds Gough and Turnbull term in office.
meher baba says:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 5:53 am
Those unnamed Labor MPs cited by the Australian don’t know nuttin’.The Labor partisans of PB have declared almost unanimously that there must be a May election and another budget.
Labor MPs better get with the program.
——————–
Wonder if its the same unnamed Labor mp who said in November 2024 there would be federal election in February 2025
Meher Baba
No matter how much you try to deny it
The federal lib/nats and propaganda media units, do not want Dutton to do a budget reply
Dutton has no policies in keeping the inflation down, and will make sure interest rates will rise
World News & Politics Patrol:
Ukraine’s territorial integrity is nonnegotiable for Turkey, Erdoğan says: https://www.turkishminute.com/2025/02/18/ukraines-territorial-integrity-is-nonnegotiable-for-turkey-erdogan-says4/
Europe Preps Huge Defense Package in Boost to Ukraine: ‘Never Been Seen’: https://www.newsweek.com/europe-defense-package-700-billion-ukraine-boost-2032541
Saudi Arabia wanted Ukrainians at talks, but US and Russia were opposed: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/02/18/7498959/
As U.S. and Putin negotiate, intel shows he’s not interested ‘in a real peace deal,’ sources say: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/us-putin-negotiate-intel-shows-s-not-interested-real-peace-deal-source-rcna192524
Second crisis Ukraine summit planned for Wednesday – More EU leaders, plus Norway and Canada, are expected to attend, 48 hours after previous talks: https://www.politico.eu/article/second-crisis-ukraine-summit-paris-planned-wednesday-europe-leaders/
Trump secretly sends CIA drones into Mexico to spy on drug cartel labs: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14409511/amp/trump-cia-drones-mexico-spy-drug-cartels.html
Mexican president threatens to sue Google over ‘Gulf of America’ name change: https://globalnews.ca/news/11022996/mexico-president-claudia-sheinbaum-google-gulf-of-america-legal-action/
Decision to charge Quran burner could ‘create de facto blasphemy laws’, MPs warn: https://www.thejc.com/news/politics/quran-burner-blasphemy-laws-cnhlk1n7
Steve Bannon Escalates Feud With Elon Musk: ‘Parasitic Illegal Immigrant’: https://www.newsweek.com/steve-bannon-escalates-feud-elon-musk-parasitic-illegal-immigrant-2032675
Bannon: Musk ‘wants to impose his freak experiments’ on US: https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5150832-steve-bannon-elon-musk-doge/
GOP Proposes $4.5 Trillion Tax Giveaway to the Rich While ‘Ransacking’ Food Stamps and Medicaid: https://www.commondreams.org/news/house-budget-resolution
Democrat: Vance used ‘same language’ as Hitler did to ‘justify’ Holocaust: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5150710-seth-moulton-jd-vance-munich-security-conference-rhetoric/
White House Claims Elon Musk Isn’t Running DOGE After All: https://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-insists-musk-isnt-in-charge-of-doge-or-even-part-of-it/
Musk Slammed as Hypocritical ‘Parasite’ Who Sucked the Government Dry Himself: https://www.thedailybeast.com/musk-slammed-as-hypocritical-parasite-who-sucked-the-government-dry-himself/
Trump’s border czar ups the ante against Ocasio-Cortez, seeks DOJ investigation: https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trumps-border-czar-ups-ante-aoc-seeks-doj-investigation-rcna192556
Privacy advocates file lawsuit to stop DOGE from peeking at IRS taxpayer data: https://www.npr.org/2025/02/18/nx-s1-5300826/doge-irs-lawsuit-taxpayers-data
MAGA actor runs to Fox to beg Elon Musk to save ‘good’ pro-Trump federal workers from DOGE cuts: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/doge-cuts-maga-workers-zachary-levi-b2700286.html
US government tries to rehire nuclear staff it fired days ago: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g3nrx1dq5o
NIGEL Farage is now more popular with voters than Sir Keir Starmer – as Reform surged ahead of Labour in the polls. The populist party leader leapfrogged the Prime Minister in YouGov’s favourability tracker for the first time today: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/politics/33435409/nigel-farage-is-more-popular-than-keir-starmer/
Bond markets are sticking with their rate cut forecasts after the central bank finally joined the global easing campaign by lowering the cash rate to 4.1 per cent.
Missed the thread jump. Random thought of the morning.
If Trump negotiates the end of the war in Ukraine (however lopsided) does he deserve the Nobel Peace prize?
Labor MPs cited by The Australian today were “unanimously against a March budget, given the deficits it would forecast”, which is to say they would favour the three week window from March 29 to April 12 over an election on the other side of Easter in May.
To paraphrase Maggie Thatcher turning the interview tables on George Negus:
“Who are these Labor MPs? Will you tell me who, and where, and when?”
Good Morning! Here’s your Daily News and Views Roundup.
‘Breathing room’: Rate cut means Sarah can ‘splurge’ on Easter eggs this year.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/breathing-room-rate-cut-means-sarah-can-splurge-on-easter-eggs-this-year-20250217-p5lcvm.html
David Crowe says Australians are finally seeing a glimmer of hope on household mortgages – and Anthony Albanese has a chance to use this moment to win back a jaded electorate.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-would-be-mad-to-justify-a-race-to-the-election-on-this-rate-cut-20250217-p5lcqr.html
Shane Wright says in the jargon-filled language of central banks, this was a “hawkish” cut. In layman’s terms, that means people shouldn’t get carried away with the idea that interest rates are going to fall dramatically.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/bullock-follows-rate-cut-with-a-bucket-of-cold-water-20250217-p5lcqp.html
Nicki Hutley says RBA reduced interest rates, but don’t hold your breath for too much more this year.
The path of the economy and inflation in the year ahead will dictate the timing of any future cuts to interest rates.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/18/rba-reduces-interest-rates-but-dont-hold-your-breath-for-too-much-more-this-year
Ian Verrender observes that no sooner had Reserve Bank governor Michele Bullock taken the lectern to confirm the news most Australians wanted to hear, that interest rates would be cut for the first time in almost four years, than the obvious question hung in the air. When should we expect more?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-19/reserve-bank-cuts-rates-but-will-it-be-the-last/104949396
Michelle Grattan View from the Hill: will Albanese opt for an April election now a rate cut has him breathing more easily?
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-will-albanese-opt-for-an-april-election-now-a-rate-cut-has-him-breathing-more-easily-250136
In many important ways – not just financial – Australia is as great a place to live for young people in 2025 as it was for youth “back in the day”, writes Stephen Koukoulas.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/boomers-tip-living-in-australia-in-2025-okay-for-young-people,19446
Ross Gittins says consumers and voters are in a sullen, sour mood and have been for a year or two. We’re feeling so sorry for ourselves it will take a lot to lighten us up and make us forget our obsession with the cost of living. Even if things improve, our negativity may lift only slowly over many months.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/sorry-to-break-it-to-you-but-this-isn-t-the-day-we-stop-feeling-so-sorry-for-ourselves-20250218-p5ld5i.html
Ross Gittins has another piece about the new political donation laws.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/when-does-bipartisanship-happen-when-mutual-self-interest-is-served-20250218-p5ld2c.html
Peter Lewis says that voters are sceptical about Dutton’s war on the public service. And America’s disembowelment is a cautionary tale. Labor must make the case to voters that paying tax leads to better collective outcomes in services and infrastructure.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2025/feb/18/voters-are-sceptical-about-duttons-war-on-the-public-service-and-americas-disembowelment-is-a-cautionary-tale
Overconfident opposition MPs are failing to grasp the hurdles facing Peter Dutton in his quest to defeat a first-term Labor government, former deputy prime minister Michael McCormack has warned as he rebukes his colleagues jockeying for ministerial positions. ‘Pride goeth before a fall.’
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/way-too-ahead-of-themselves-senior-coalition-mp-says-opposition-getting-cocky-20250218-p5lczt.html
Hung parliament could see crossbench seek NACC reforms after backflip on robodebt decision.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-19/crossbench-pushes-for-nacc-reforms-after-robodebt-backflip/104952584
On Wednesday the NSW government will face off against the rail unions in the Fair Work Commission in a bid to end the latest round of industrial action. But, if that doesn’t work, Premier Chris Minns has not ruled out asking the federal government to invoke never-before-used powers to cancel the action. How we got here:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/they-re-taking-the-proverbial-how-negotiations-with-the-rail-unions-unravelled-20250218-p5ld39.html
Sydney’s trains chaos has dragged on for months – could a meeting today end it?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/19/sydneys-trains-chaos-has-dragged-on-for-months-could-a-meeting-today-end-it
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the ageing buildings opposite Sydney Town Hall were becoming too expensive to maintain as she signalled her intention to start work on a grand civic square – which had previously been delayed until the mid-2030s – before the council term ends in 2028.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/this-sydney-public-square-has-been-promised-for-30-years-the-council-wants-to-get-a-move-on-20250218-p5ld40.html
The NSW government is seeking to push contentious hate speech legislation through parliament within 24 hours despite facing resistance from faith groups who warn it could erode social cohesion and leave sections of the community more marginalised.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/hate-speech-laws-rammed-through-nsw-parliament-within-hours-20250218-p5ld3z.html
Jewish community groups are heaping pressure on the Victorian opposition to support proposed anti-vilification laws after the government agreed to scrap a broad carve-out for political speech.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/jewish-groups-urge-opposition-to-back-hate-speech-laws-20250218-p5lczs.html
Anthony Albanese says ‘racist’ attacks must be punished after Muslim women targeted at shopping centre.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-18/islamophobia-envoy-anthony-albanese-epping-attack/104951562
Our migration is undergoing a major shift – here’s who Australia is welcoming, and why.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2025/02/18/australia-migration-shift
Police and the City of Melbourne are hunting for the head of a King George V statue after footage of the head alight on a barbecue was posted to social media on Australia Day. The statue was beheaded on the King’s Birthday holiday in June last year, and the head has been missing since.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/george-v-statue-s-lopped-head-shown-alight-on-barbecue-20250218-p5ld2r.html
A popular former mayor has abandoned Labor and is now targeting one of its federal seats in Melbourne’s north, seeking to capitalise on disenfranchisement with the major parties she says ignore those suburbs. Hume city councillor Carly Moore – a Labor-aligned three-time mayor – quit the ALP to run as an independent in Calwell, one of Labor’s safest seats in Victoria.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/ripped-off-popular-ex-mayor-quits-alp-to-challenge-for-one-of-its-safest-seats-20250218-p5ld2q.html
A WA Liberal candidate running for a seat with one of the highest populations of Indigenous Australians in the state once described a break-in at his Kununurra pub as a “welcome to country”.
However, Darren Spackman said he did not believe the post was racist, and said the incident highlighted the crime issues his town faced.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/kimberley-liberal-candidate-described-pub-break-in-as-a-welcome-to-country-20250218-p5ld4w.html
Arnhem Land leaders appeal to NT government to scrap planned child protection change.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-18/nt-yol%C5%8Bu-arnhem-land-leaders-on-child-protection-laws/104949976
Gold Coast councillor Brooke Patterson told to apologise for behaviour towards staff.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-18/gold-coast-councillor-brooke-patterson-required-to-apologise/104943026
Trump and Vance have smashed the old order – how should Europe respond?
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/18/trump-vance-smashed-old-order-realignment-europe-response
This is Nigel Farage’s moment of reckoning: he can choose British voters – or Putin and Trump.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/18/nigel-farage-british-voters-vladimir-putin-donald-trump-reform-kemi-badenoch
Britain must see being ditched by Donald Trump for what it really is: a great opportunity.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/18/britain-donald-trump-defence-foreign-policy
Europeans (and others) vs Trump By Saul Eslake
https://johnmenadue.com/europeans-and-others-vs-trump/
Hundreds of Cook Islanders have gathered to protest in the capital of Avarua after Prime Minister Mark Brown signed a pact with China. Opposition leaders have filed a no confidence vote against the PM in parliament. New Zealand has called for release of all agreements with China.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-19/hundreds-protest-in-cook-islands-after-pm-signs-deal-with-china/104952958
Jade Macmillan says that Donald Trump is testing the limits of his presidential powers, and some people fear a crisis is coming.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02-19/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-agenda-is-different-to-other-us-cuts/104949334
Second crisis Ukraine summit planned for Wednesday. More EU leaders, plus Norway and Canada, are expected to attend, 48 hours after previous talks.
https://www.politico.eu/article/second-crisis-ukraine-summit-paris-planned-wednesday-europe-leaders/
Europe’s leaders find no quick response to Trump’s bombshell on Ukraine. Common ground proves elusive, including on sending peacekeepers.
https://www.politico.eu/article/europes-leader-donald-trump-ukraine-peace-deal-emmanuel-macron-presidential-palace-donald-tusk/
Moscow’s media gloats over US-Russia talks, The meeting in Saudi Arabia is seen by Kremlin acolytes as Putin coming back in from the cold.
https://www.politico.eu/article/russian-media-gloats-us-russia-talks-saudi-arabia-donald-trump-vladimir-putin/
Russia and US eye joint Arctic energy projects after Saudi talks. The first meeting since a bombshell call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin puts joint hydrocarbons projects back on the agenda — as Ukraine watches from the sidelines.
https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-us-saudi-arctic-energy-rdif-ukraine-russia-capital/
Arwa Mahdawi observes that Elon Musk keeps bringing his kids to work – and the reasons aren’t cute at all. Is this fun fathering or a cynical and exploitative PR strategy from the tech billionaire? She suspects the latter …
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/feb/18/elon-musk-kids-work-pr-strategy
“Ketamine is helpful for getting one out of the negative frame of mind,” Elon Musk told an interviewer last year. The unelected man currently gutting US federal programs isn’t the only one who thinks so. Ketamine, approved decades ago as a surgical anesthetic and long used as a party drug, is the off-label mental-health treatment of the moment. It induces a “trancelike” state of “sensory isolation,” researchers say, and may temporarily boost the brain’s neuroplasticity—which, in theory, makes mental ruts easier to escape. At the same time, ketamine abuse can be deadly, and the drug remains illegal to use without a prescription. (Musk says he has one from “an actual, real doctor.”)
https://www.wired.com/story/ketamine-psychedelic-slumber-parties-tech-executives/
Andrew Tate’s alleged victims urge US to stay out of Romanian criminal proceedings
Four alleged victims of sexual violence by self-styled ‘misogynist influencer’ react after reports US envoy asked for travel restrictions on Tate to be lifted.
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/feb/18/andrew-tates-alleged-victims-urge-us-officials-to-stay-out-of-romanian-criminal-proceedings
Cartoon Time!
Alan Moir
Mark David
Matt Golding
Marija Ercegovac
Simon Letch
Michael Howard
Joe Benke
Fiona Katauskas
From the Internet
Enjoy!
MI
People have received the Nobel Peace Prize for far less; looking at you Betty Williams.
God knows how this will end up but my guess is formal transfer of Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk and agreement that Ukraine will not join NATO or EU. In effect the deal that was on the table 2 years ago.
In many important ways – not just financial – Australia is as great a place to live for young people in 2025 as it was for youth “back in the day”, writes Stephen Koukoulas.
_____________________
Do you really expect people to click on that C@t.
I will be giving it a miss.
Scott: “Meher Baba
No matter how much you try to deny it
The federal lib/nats and propaganda media units, do not want Dutton to do a budget reply”
Scott, the Budget reply speech matters even less than the Budget in political terms.
I recall John Hewson giving the best Budget reply speech I have ever heard in the early 1990s (it was either 1993 or 1994, I can’t remember which). He scored many palpable hits on the Keating Government’s budget and economic strategies. He looked very statesmanlike and I remember thinking that he’d gotten his mojo back after his shock defeat in the 1993 election.
And do you know what? Shortly after that, the Liberals dumped him for Alexander Downer. That’s right, “Dolly” Downer. That’s how little Budget reply speeches matter in the overall scheme of things.
Thanks c@t
I did enjoy the MDavid toon.
Meanwhile:
‘GOP Proposes $4.5 Trillion Tax Giveaway to the Rich While ‘Ransacking’ Food Stamps and Medicaid: https://www.commondreams.org/news/house-budget-resolution‘
=============================
Free lunches for the rich is only the start.
Dutton will release his tax promise sometime in the next month or so. Since he doesn’t particularly give a rat’s arse about surpluses or responsible budgeting expect a massive give bribe give away.
meher baba says:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 7:53 am
Scott, the Budget reply speech matters even less than the Budget in political terms.
I recall John Hewson giving the best Budget reply speech I have ever heard in the early 1990s (it was either 1993 or 1994, I can’t remember which). He scored many palpable hits on the Keating Government’s budget and economic strategies. He looked very statesmanlike and I remember thinking that he’d gotten his mojo back after his shock defeat in the 1993 election.
———————————————–
The GST on Cake which Hewson couldn’t explain after his budget reply sprouting a GST in a debate with Keating , was the big political talk
It will be similar to Dutton , if Dutton can not explain his policies from the budget reply in a debate , its all over for federal lib /nats and propaganda media units
Biden let his ego get the in way of resolving which Ukraine started under his watch.
Trump trying to fix both Middle East and Ukraine Bidens weakness caused the mess.
Putin wants an exit with some saving face Russia will yield on this issue.
Musk derangement syndrome has set in all he is doing is slashing waste and one thing I do not like though is Kennedy jnr stopping fluoride in water which does help to stop/slow tooth decay.
The Stephen kouk is a labor man he advised Gillard-poorly.
Todays news covers Albos weakness on leadership he is too weak cannot set a vision,his high taxing and overspending labor government and the violence he has caused by chasing western Sydney votes.
Unemployment figures tomorrow.
Trump showing his true face…
It will not be the first time superpowers meet in the Middle East to divide a European state. The Tehran Conference in 1943 put a line right through eastern Europe. In Riyadh, Trump will take the Roosevelt role and Putin will play Stalin. It is long past the time when there was a place for a Churchill. Britain has joined the anxious European voices a long way offstage.
To the Ukrainians, and many Europeans, this does not feel like Tehran. They fear a new Munich, with the gilded chambers and acres of polished marble of the Diriyah Palace auditioning for the role of a latter-day Führerbau, the venue in September 1938 for the betrayal and carve-up of Czechoslovakia.
In Munich, the Czechoslovak delegation were kept in an adjoining room to await details of when and how they would surrender the Sudetenland to Hitler. On Tuesday, the Ukrainians were not even in the same country. Volodymyr Zelenskyy was nervously waiting for news in Turkey. He is due in Saudi Arabia next month to be briefed by the royal court and make his feelings clear.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2025/feb/18/donald-trump-elon-musk-eric-adams-us-politics-live-news
Taylormade @ #17 Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 – 7:51 am
No one is forcing you to do it, Taylormade. And I know that the IA website concerns you. However, it’s not Taylormade’s news and views roundup. So it will stay.
US Cartoons:
I’d noticed Spain was one of the few countries that seemed to be avoiding a political shift to the right lately, and this article on how they’ve been thriving off immigration is really interesting.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/18/how-spains-radically-different-approach-to-migration-helped-its-economy-soar?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
I wonder if there’s anything that other centre left parties could learn from there (though no doubt the media narrative here would strongly resist and demonise any efforts no matter how positive the outcome).
I think there is good reason why the ALP would want to hand down a budget, even if it includes difficult numbers, and that is PEFO. The budget, coming just before an election, can’t contain radically different projections of course, but it does provide an opportunity for the incumbent to frame things in a way that PEFO doesn’t.
As to whether that will be at all significant in Albanese’s thinking, I have no idea.
From previous thread:
dave:
Tuesday, February 18, 2025 at 10:48 pm
[‘Decades ago my uncle was in his front yard and a postie with an English accent appeared at the front gate and said to him ‘did you know the woman two doors down is married to a black man?’
My uncle said to him with a straight face. ‘That’s nothing. A sheila across the road is married to a Pom’.’]
Good one.
_______________________________________________________
I fear a conclave is nigh, the Pope having developed double pneumonia.
Scott: “It will be similar to Dutton , if Dutton can not explain his policies from the budget reply in a debate , its all over for federal lib /nats and propaganda media units”
————————————————————————–
If Dutton does have to give a budget reply speech, he will focus on reining in inflation and interest rates by bringing both Labor’s “profligate” government spending and immigration rates under control.
His staffers could write such a speech for him in his sleep. It would be a doddle.
“Labor MPs cited by The Australian today were “unanimously against a March budget, given the deficits it would forecast”, which is to say they would favour the three week window from March 29 to April 12 over an election on the other side of Easter in May.”
I will say though the public doesn’t seem to be giving much credit to Labor for delivering back to back surpluses. Polling experts in I think RedBridge have suggested there will be no political benefits delivering a surplus during a cost living crisis.
If Labor are not going to prosecute the waste and debt accumulated from the Liberals in the previous government. And just emphasise Dutton’s cuts it does make you wonder how important it is calling a election before delivering a budget in deficit. However a Liberal source in the media suggested Labor are keeping the powder dry for the campaign – so maybe the Liberals fiscal incompetence will be given the scrutiny it deserves when the election campaign gets underway.
mavis: “I fear a conclave is nigh, the Pope having developed double pneumonia.”
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It sure does sound that way. Investors in the film “Conclave” will be delighted.
America’s betrayal of Ukraine (and for that matter, Europe) has the Molatov-Ribbentrop Pact written all over it.
Make no mistake, the United States is no longer the leader of the “free world”.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 3 years ago on 24 February was on Estonia’s Independence Day. The wounds remain fresh and raw.
There are rallies across Australia in support of Ukraine this week. I’ll be joining the Adelaide event on Thursday which will be addressed by SA Premier Peter Malinauskas (of Lithuanian descent).
I’ll be back in Estonia and Finland in about four weeks. I’ll let you know how it feels on the ground.
C@tmommasays:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 8:11 am
Taylormade @ #17 Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 – 7:51 am
In many important ways – not just financial – Australia is as great a place to live for young people in 2025 as it was for youth “back in the day”, writes Stephen Koukoulas.
_____________________
Do you really expect people to click on that C@t.
I will be giving it a miss.
No one is forcing you to do it, Taylormade. And I know that the IA website concerns you. However, it’s not Taylormade’s news and views roundup. So it will stay.
_____________________
C@t are you going to expand the selection to that other well known journal of record – Kangaroo Court of Australia?
Political Nightwatchman: “I will say though the public doesn’t seem to be giving much credit to Labor for delivering back to back surpluses. Polling experts in I think RedBridge have suggested there will be no political benefits delivering a surplus during a cost living crisis.”
—————————————————————————–
I think the days of people really caring whether or not the Government can deliver a surplus are gone. Wayne Swan destroyed Labor’s reputation in this regard by his constant promising of a surplus that never eventuated. Then Tony Abbott claimed that he could deliver a surplus without working up a sweat, and then we had a horror budget and Joe and Matthias with their cigars and a massive backdown on Medicare, etc, etc. and year after year of no surpluses and the Libs lost their reputation as well.
However, if Jim Chalmers is allowed to deliver a budget next month with deficits over several years, all that will do is to put lots of ammunition in the hands of Dutton. So why do that? Why not just announce the Budget goodies as a fully-costed package at the start of the election campaign? This has worked well in the past.
There’ll be a day or two of Dutton accusing Labor of running away from delivering a budget because the news is so bad. But I think that’s manageable.
meher baba says:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 8:23 am
If Dutton does have to give a budget reply speech, he will focus on reining in inflation and interest rates by bringing both Labor’s “profligate” government spending and immigration rates under control.
His staffers could write such a speech for him in his sleep. It would be a doddle.
——————————-
Dutton is keeping the failed 2022 federal election policies which had inflation over 6% and interest rate rising
And Dutton’s new thought bubbles Nuclear , lunch for the bosses, supermarket, super , housing
Cutting public servant , Dutton will have to increase immigrants for the nuclear thought bubble and supply them with housing to live in
All they will do is increase inflation and interest rates , his staffers would have trouble in writing a speech how that is going to stop inflation and interest rates from rising , with general cost of living
No wonder they are sweating on prime minister to call a federal election before the budget
meher baba:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 8:25 am
mavis: “I fear a conclave is nigh, the Pope having developed double pneumonia.”
——————————————————————————-
[‘It sure does sound that way. Investors in the film “Conclave” will be delighted.’]
Yes, that was my thought too.
C@tmomma, Victoria or any other blogger
Will the below bill be laughed out of its existence or codified as law? I kid you not.
Another MAGA cultist introduces ridiculous bill to worship Trump
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/18/2304432/-Another-MAGA-cultist-introduces-ridiculous-bill-to-worship-Trump?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_7&pm_medium=web
“Yet another MAGA die-hard is falling at President Donald Trump’s feet by introducing an outlandish bill that is likely to be laughed out of existence.
Rep. Claudia Tenney of New York introduced a bill Friday that would make Trump’s birthday a federal holiday.
The wordy legislation—called the Trump’s Birthday and Flag Day Holiday Establishment Act—would designate June 14 as a federal holiday commemorating both the convicted felon and Flag Day.
“Just as George Washington’s Birthday is codified as a federal holiday, this bill will add Trump’s Birthday to this list, recognizing him as the founder of America’s Golden Age,” Tenney wrote in a news release.
Kissing the ring further, Tenney added, “No modern president has been more pivotal for our country than Donald J. Trump.”
According to Tenney, Trump’s “impact on the nation is undeniable.” Given his upending of the federal government, tariff wars, and other attacks on civil liberties—sure, his impact is absolutely undeniable in one way.
Tenney’s ring kissing bill follows suit with other MAGA cultists who introduced bills with similar vibes.
As Oliver Willis reported for Daily Kos last week, Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter of Georgia introduced legislation proposing the renaming of Greenland to “Red, White, and Blueland.”
The Republican was amplifying Trump’s unhinged calls to take over the sovereign territory of Denmark.
“President Trump has correctly identified the purchase of what is now Greenland as a national security priority, and we will proudly welcome its people to join the freest nation to ever exist when our Negotiator-in-Chief inks this monumental deal,” Carter said in a statement.
Lars Von Trier says:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 8:29 am
C@tmommasays:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 8:11 am
Taylormade @ #17 Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 – 7:51 am
In many important ways – not just financial – Australia is as great a place to live for young people in 2025 as it was for youth “back in the day”, writes Stephen Koukoulas.
_____________________
Do you really expect people to click on that C@t.
I will be giving it a miss.
No one is forcing you to do it, Taylormade. And I know that the IA website concerns you. However, it’s not Taylormade’s news and views roundup. So it will stay.
_____________________
C@t are you going to expand the selection to that other well known journal of record – Kangaroo Court of Australia?
——————————
Lars von Trier and Taylormade should click on informative link which C@tmomma posted
May learn more from Stephen Koukoulas, than the lib/nats propaganda media unit
I sure have triggered the Liberals by putting the Kouk’s piece in today’s news and views roundup. 😆
”
Ukraine’s territorial integrity is nonnegotiable for Turkey, Erdoğan says: https://www.turkishminute.com/2025/02/18/ukraines-territorial-integrity-is-nonnegotiable-for-turkey-erdogan-says4/
”
Whaaaaat?
Scott @ #37 Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 – 8:55 am
I bet neither of them actually read it before they allowed themselves to be triggered and posted their hot under the collar take. The fact that is evidentially-based appears to have eluded them. 😐
Ven
As you know, I have been bleating about Trump, Putin etc for years.
I have not been wrong about who Trump is, and what he would wreak on the globe. Hence why I was hyper focussed on all things Trump. I saw the trajectory of where it was going. Trump is merely the vessel for those wanting a new world order. When Musk took over twitter, I also knew then that Musk was an Integral part of the shit show.
My big mistake was believing he would lose in this election cycle.
I know I sound conspiratorial, but I watched the election campaign very closely. Trump always tells on himself.
He said that he didn’t need more votes for the election, and further he said that subsequently there would be no need for voting again.
As can be observed, the UK, Europe, Canada etc are all coalescing together. The USA is becoming the pariah state.
The world order is on the brink of change. i still have the belief that Trump shit show will end badly for him.
And unfortunately the Trump Derangement syndrome is all on the side of the MAGA followers. Hopefully a majority will finally wake up from their stupor.
Nightmare for WA libs McGowan is back on the campaign trail this weekend in the state election.
Pub owner state liberal candidate in Kimberley was robbed and said quote”it’s welcome to country”.
Well he has now got cut through…
Excellent start for Trump USA is back!
Cmon labor luvvies altogether now
It’s fun to stay at the YMCA at the YMCA
Ven @ #39 Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 – 8:55 am
He can probably see that Putin’s motto is, ‘From the Atlantic to the Pacific. Except for the bits China and the US want.’ He’s probably also looking over his shoulder at Saudi Arabia, who seem to be a party to the Authoritarian global carve-up talks.
Oops I should add. Think about the location of Canada and Greenland, and its mineral resources.
It is across the waters from Russia.
And think about the extortion Trump is doing to the Ukraine regarding its minerals.
These are not merely Trump’s brain farts.
2 or 3 possible reasons, just a starting position in negotiations and it isnt serious, or maybe concerned about internal tensions within Turkey and possible break up of his own country, or the longer view is that Russia and Turkey have had a few run ins over the centuries and he’s got an eye on that.
The coming election messaging for the Teals, Greens and other non-majors is “Put Liberal National Party Last”.
pied piper
I’m convinced you are merely taking the piss. The stupidity of what you post can’t be anything else.
Via Helen Haines, the cross-bench will seek to make the NACC more transparent and amend the instant Act so that public hearings will become the norm, not the exception. Brereton must go after he failed at the first hurdle, failing to understand what constitutes a conflict of
interest – this from a senior judge! And no more mess diners in the company of Ms Campbell.
”
C@tmommasays:
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 8:11 am
Taylormade @ #17 Wednesday, February 19th, 2025 – 7:51 am
In many important ways – not just financial – Australia is as great a place to live for young people in 2025 as it was for youth “back in the day”, writes Stephen Koukoulas.
_____________________
Do you really expect people to click on that C@t.
I will be giving it a miss.
No one is forcing you to do it, Taylormade. And I know that the IA website concerns you. However, it’s not Taylormade’s news and views roundup. So it will stay.
”
C@tmomma
I don’t care what TaylorMade, Lars or meherbaba think about the current Australian government.
It is best Australian government on balance since 1996, covering all sectors of Australian society as best as they in difficult circumstances with 2 surpluses to boot (the metric with which Howard government lived and died), The only government that gave real boost to renewable energy sector (which is the future of Australia energy requirements) although it may not be to the fullest extent I like, massive spending boost to child care sector, real wage increases to people on low income. etc. etc. etc.
Although meherbaba said that this is most talentless Australian cabinet he as ever seen (right their you know he is BSing), according to Laurie Oakes, this is the best talented cabinet for first term he has seen since Hawke first term government.
I can go on and on and on…
Trump imagines a world where USA and Russia combine to take over the world and lord over all its resources to share between himself and their oligarch friends.
Trump is mad, bad and evil.