The now weekly YouGov poll records a 50-50 result after two weeks with Labor in their nose in front, from primary votes of Labor 31% (steady), Coalition 37% (up one), Greens 13% (down half) and One Nation 7% (down half). Anthony Albanese is down two on approval to 43% and up one on disapproval to 50%, while Peter Dutton is steady on 42% and down one to 47%, with Albanese’s lead as preferred prime minister is in from 45-39 to 45-40. The poll was conducted Friday to Wednesday from a sample of 1500.
There is also a new federal poll from RedBridge Group showing Labor leading 51-49, after the Coalition led 51.5-48.5 at the poll from early last month. Labor is up one on the primary vote to 32% and the Coalition is down three to 37%, with the Greens up one to 12%. The gap favouring the Coalition on firmness of voting intention has narrowed, 61% of Coalition voters professing themselves solid, down four, compared with a steady 51% for Labor voters.
The RedBridge poll also finds 51% holding that the country is “generally headed in the wrong direction” compared with 29% for the right direction. Fifty-three per cent agreed with the statement “the Albanese government’s renewable energy policies and timelines are pushing the costs of energy through the roof”, with only 23% disagreeing, and 38% agreed that “if Australia were to produce nuclear energy it would be cheaper for consumers like me than renewable energy”, with 28% disagreeing. A question on whether Australia should be “more assertive“ or “do more to build a positive relationship” with China produced an even result of 39% and 38% respectively. The poll was conducted March 3 to 11 from a sample of 2007.
DemosAU has published federal voting intention numbers from the poll it conducted during the last week of the state election campaign, which proved highly accurate with respect to the result (Labor 43% compared with a result of 41.5%, Liberal 30% compared with 28.2%, Nationals 5% compared 5.3%, Greens 11% compared with 10.8%). The federal numbers are Labor 36% (36.8% at the 2022 election), Coalition 38% (34.8%), Greens 11% (12.5%), One Nation 6% (4.0%), with Labor leading 52-48 on two-party preferred (55.0-45.0). The poll was conducted March 4 and 5 from a sample of 1126.
Mavis and other Legal fraternity of PB
IT HAS BEGUN
Judges fear for their safety as GOP melts down over legal losing streak
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/20/2311447/-Judges-fear-for-their-safety-as-GOP-melts-down-over-legal-losing-streak?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_3&pm_medium=web
”
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s sister received an emailed threat that a pipe bomb had been placed in her mailbox.
Federal judges are receiving death threats and have expressed serious concerns about their safety, following attacks on the judiciary by President Donald Trump, the Republican Party, conservative activists, and right-wing media.
The climate is so hostile, even right-wing judges are being targeted.
For instance, Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s sister received an emailed threat that a pipe bomb had been placed in her mailbox. The email turned out to be a hoax. The threat came after the conservative majority on the Supreme Court ruled against the Trump administration, who was attempting to withhold payments from the U.S. Agency for International Development for work that had already been completed.
Federal judges are receiving pizza deliveries at their homes as part of an intimidation campaign, to let the judges know that their private home addresses are known. A bulletin from the U.S. Marshals Service noted, “We assess that these incidents are related to high-profile cases that have received extensive media coverage and public interest.”
Judge John C. Coughenour, who ruled against Trump’s attempt to abolish birthright citizenship, told The New York Times he had been targeted for a “swatting” attack—a false police report of a crime at his residence that led to a police response. Coughenour also said he received a mailbox bomb threat, which was a hoax.
The Trump administration is on a losing streak in multiple federal courts, as judges again and again say the actions of Trump, the Department of Government Efficiency, and figures like GOP financier Elon Musk are breaking the law or overstepping their legal authority. An analysis by the Washington Post determined that since Trump was sworn in for his second term, he has lost a case every four days.
Trump has gone on the attack instead of accepting his losses like other leaders.
Any cost advantage of nuclear evaporates when you consider the cost of a cleanup bill after a meltdown plus the cost of having to build a replacement power generator from scratch. If a wind turbine or a coal plant breaks down, you might be able to fix it. When nuclear breaks down, it’s catastrophic.
David Rowe
It appears that the results are locked in from a primary perspective. There will be a swing against the ALP around 1-2%, and subsequently a similar swing toward the coalition. The preferences will mean that the TPP could be somewhere between 51-49 through to 50%. Hard to see it moving as a) people aren’t entirely happy with Albo; however b) Dutton isn’t someone viewed to do any better. End result could be a few seats to the Liberals but nowhere near enough to upset the scorer. I’d suspect Newspoll will come in 50/50 as it’s usually a week or two behind the other polls that bounce more frequently.
Vance hits his daily ick quota with disgusting claim about Harris
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/20/2311474/-Vance-hits-his-daily-ick-quota-with-disgusting-claim-about-Harris?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=top_news_slot_1&pm_medium=web
“Vice President JD Vance called in to right-wing podcaster Vince Coglianese’s show this week to berate his predecessor, former Vice President Kamala Harris, saying that the main difference between the two is that he doesn’t drink before work.
“Well, I don’t have, you know, four shots of vodka before every meeting. That’s one way, I think, that Kamala really tried to bring herself into the role is, is these word salads. And I think that I would need the help of a lot of alcohol to answer a question the way that Kamala Harris answered,” he said.
“
Musk is just unhinged he’s unglued..
NYT..
Tesla Recalls Nearly All Cybertrucks Over Stainless Steel Panels Falling Off
The recall of about 46,000 vehicles includes all models that were manufactured from November 2023, when the Cybertruck was first produced, through February.
That second David Rowe cartoon is absolutely on point. No one has commented much on it elsewhere in the media but there is not only the fact that Netanyahu and Putin own Trump but that Netanyahu and Putin are themselves allied as ‘partners in crime’.
From William’s intro:
This indicates the success of the RW media in pushing utter bulllshit out to the general public.
These ideas are now embedded & virtually impossible to shift.
World News & Politics Patrol:
Germany Issues Travel Warning for US: https://www.newsweek.com/germany-issues-travel-warning-us-2047773
Britain Issues Travel Warning for US: https://www.newsweek.com/britain-issues-travel-warning-us-deportations-2047878
Ukraine strikes Russian strategic bomber airfield, triggering huge blast: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-attacked-airfield-near-engels-strategic-bomber-base-russian-officials-2025-03-20/
UK Says Putin’s War Has Triggered ‘Russia’s Largest Losses Since WW2’: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/uk-putins-war-has-triggered-russias-largest-losses-since-ww2_uk_67dbf22ce4b04be40e52cf05
CIA provides White House with intelligence refuting “encirclement of thousands of Ukrainians” in Russia’s Kursk Oblast: https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/03/20/7503761/
Tesla recalls most Cybertrucks due to trim detaching from vehicle: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-recall-over-46000-cybertrucks-nhtsa-says-2025-03-20/
Trump eyes Europe’s biggest nuclear power plant. Problem: It’s occupied by Russia: https://www.politico.eu/article/trump-eyes-europes-biggest-nuclear-power-plant-problem-its-occupied-by-russia/
Brexit created ‘mind blowing’ 2bn extra pieces of paperwork – enough to wrap around world 15 times: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-paperwork-business-red-tape-b2717885.html
Nigel Farage to speak at Trump fundraiser after 800 hours of non-MP work since election: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/20/nigel-farage-to-give-speech-at-25000-ticket-trump-fundraiser-in-florida
Tim Walz Issues Dark Warning About Trump’s Plans for His Opponents: https://www.thedailybeast.com/tim-walz-trump-will-start-arresting-political-opponents/
Tesla falls after Commerce secretary recommends buying stock: https://www.axios.com/2025/03/20/tesla-musk-lutnick
“They basically want to kill me”: GOP efforts to turn Musk into a MAGA martyr are backfiring: https://www.salon.com/2025/03/20/they-basically-wanna-me-efforts-to-turn-musk-into-a-maga-martyr-are-backfiring/
Donald Trump Approval Rating Update: President Negative in Multiple Polls: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-approval-rating-polling-update-2047868
MAGA Influencer And Fox News Guest Indicted On Child Sex Abuse Charges: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/maga-raw-ricci-wynne-homeless_n_67dc47a6e4b038b4d0a69941?tac
MAGA Republican Resigns After Being Charged With Soliciting Sex From a Minor: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/maga-republican-justin-eichorn-resigns-sex-crime-charge-1235300530/
Democrats Show Up In Republicans’ Backyards To Troll Them – Republicans are ghosting their constituents. Democrats are meeting with them instead: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/democrats-troll-republicans-town-halls_n_67db1b7ae4b097824b243026
Fed Chair Says Trump’s Tariffs Are Definitely Making Inflation Worse: https://newrepublic.com/post/192943/federal-reserve-trump-tariffs-inflation-forecast
Republicans Take Stand Against Reported Trump Admin Plan – The top two Republican lawmakers overseeing the Pentagon in Congress issued a rare joint statement Wednesday, voicing concern over a potential shake-up in U.S. military leadership by the Trump administration: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-administration-warned-top-republicans-over-possible-nato-move-2048065
Hawley to introduce legislation to curb court rulings against Trump agenda: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5205259-hawley-curbing-judicial-authority/
Steve Bannon Says Trump Will Run For President Again Despite Term Limit: ‘We’re Working on It’: https://www.latintimes.com/steve-bannon-says-trump-will-run-president-again-despite-term-limit-578879
Man deported to El Salvador under Alien Enemies Act because of soccer logo tattoo: Attorney: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/man-deported-el-salvador-alien-enemies-act-soccer-logo-tattoo-attorney/story?id=119983892
‘Don’t call it zombie deer disease’: scientists warn of ‘global crisis’ as infections spread across the US: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/20/chronic-wasting-disease-spread-zombie-deer-global-us-aoe
President Donald Trump fired two Democratic commissioners at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday, in another major test of the independence of regulatory agencies: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-fires-both-democratic-commissioners-ftc-sources-say-2025-03-18/
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is cutting two federal programs that provided about $1 billion in funding to schools and food banks to buy food directly from local farms, ranchers and producers, part of what the agency said was a decision to “return to long-term, fiscally responsible initiatives.”: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usda-cancels-local-food-purchasing-food-banks-school-meals/
For those with an interest in the modern battlefield, this Times Radio podcast (after discussing Trump and Zelenskyy) has good insight into the new ‘gray zones’, command and control, troop motivation and force skill and survivability.
https://youtu.be/d-8GpOyJZvk?si=kgIw8oUXcIv989TM
The albatross around the Coalition’s neck..
Morning all. Thanks for the roundup HH.
Retirede Admiral and defence chief Chris Barry says USA under Donald Trump are no longer reliable allies and Australia needs a new defence policy. He stops short of calling to cancel AUKUS, but questions it and says we need a backup plan.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/21/vandals-in-the-white-house-no-longer-reliable-allies-to-australia-former-defence-force-chief-says-ntwnfb
I think we are seeing a Trump effect, and it’s only going to get stronger over the remaining time before the election. I think Dutton has blown it by looking too trumpy a few months ago, under instructions from Gina Rinehart. He is clearly trying to walk it back, but it’s too late and the electorate doesn’t buy this kind of sudden vacillating on “vibe”.
Thanks HoldenHillbilly for that frightening roundup .
Tim Walz nailed it- Trump is coming after his opponents.
Time our government issued travel warnings like UK & Germany. The danger to travelers is real, as shown by Newsweek
@Trent Slaters:
“ appears that the results are locked in from a primary perspective. There will be a swing against the ALP around 1-2%, and subsequently a similar swing toward the coalition. The preferences will mean that the TPP could be somewhere between 51-49 through to 50%. Hard to see it moving as a) people aren’t entirely happy with Albo; however b) Dutton isn’t someone viewed to do any better. End result could be a few seats to the Liberals but nowhere near enough to upset the scorer. I’d suspect Newspoll will come in 50/50 as it’s usually a week or two behind the other polls that bounce more frequently.”
_______
Opinion polls are ‘now casts’, not forecasts.
If one wants to use polling to take a punt on future polling, especially ‘the only poll that counts’ then the maxim ‘the trend is your friend’ is a good starting point.
Despite all the frizzle by Labor doom-casters since the big declines in labor’s polling from the extended honeymoon it enjoyed between May 2022 and August 2023, since the middle of last year there has been an extremely glacial decline in both Labor’s primary and 2PP positions until the end of January: basically. Declining from around 31.7 to just under 31 for the primary and 51.5ish down to 49ish on 2PP accordingly to poll aggregators like bludger. However since then – and especially since the end of February there has been an identifiable shift back to Labor. Whilst perhaps not as glacial as the long decline it is pretty slow and fairly weak (especially if one puts the weekly Morgan in the bin where it belongs).
Taking another look at my New Years ‘punt’ at this stage I think things are still on track for labor to end up with an election day primary of just over 32 and 2PP of around 52. Clearly there are headwinds in outer urban seats in Melbourne and Sydney. Also regional areas in NSW (the Hunter and south coast).
Perhaps Labor may lose a NT seat – or both. However, I also think Labor will effectively sandbag nearly all the vulnerable seats AND may likely pick up a few seats here and there to counterbalance any loses. I don’t see any reason to shift from my ultimate election punt = Labor on 75 seats: able to form government on its own terms, if not technically in ‘majority government’.
https://stocksdownunder.com/article/tesla-v-byd-shares/
Thank you, dawn patrollers.
A few mils to settle the dust overnight.
We are on our own.
We need to have a new national security plan along with a new associated defence plan to go with it.
US Cartoons:
”
The Wombatsays:
Friday, March 21, 2025 at 7:28 am
I think we are seeing a Trump effect, and it’s only going to get stronger over the remaining time before the election. I think Dutton has blown it by looking too trumpy a few months ago, under instructions from Gina Rinehart. He is clearly trying to walk it back, but it’s too late and the electorate doesn’t buy this kind of sudden vacillating on “vibe”.
”
I don’t know whether Gina, Murdoch and Stokes instructed Dutton to be ‘trumpy’ or not but IMO, Dutton looked ‘trumpy’ because Dutton is Trump mini-me.
1. He endorsed Trump Idea to turn a ‘Gaza in ruins’ into ME Reviera after emptying Gaza from Palestinians.
2. He said that he will remove 36 federal government employees and he will tell us from which department after he wins the May federal election
3. Like Trump he wants to deport Australian citizens after stripping off their citizenships for reasons given by him.
4. He wants to have a DOGE like Trump
5. Like Trump he openly embraces Oligarchs.
6. Liberal leader in Senate Senator Cash clearly they will follow in the footsteps of Trump.(Dutton would deliver the ‘exact same’ attitude as Trump: Michaelia Cash)
‘Confessions says:
Friday, March 21, 2025 at 7:53 am
….’
================
China is using non tariff rules to try to kill Tesla sales in China.
It used non tariff rules, virtually overnight, to kill foreign ICE sales in China.
BYD is subsidized heavily by China Inc.
It has a debt of around $80 billion.
It lose money on a per unit basis for care sales.
The Government has stopped it from reducing its domestic prices any further so the only way for it to become more competitive is to offer more goodies per vehicle.
A closely-related struggle is the development and manufacturing of chips. Get the chips, get the cars.
What we are seeing is a global fight to the death to see whether China can grab global auto and chip manufacturing in the same ways it grabbed most of the world’s manufacturing capacity.
Re: Ret. Admiral Chris Barrie’s comments as reported by the Guardian:
“ Let’s define why we really need nuclear submarines in the first instance, given a new independent defence posture for Australia,” Barrie said. “If they still make sense in that context, fine. But they might not. There might be alternatives. There might be alternatives with conventional submarines if we didn’t want to go any further than the Malacca Straits.”
_______
To which I would add – if we are still inclined to project force further afield than the Malacca Straits – for example to wave an angry little fist at Big Panda in the South China Sea – there would remain a heck of a lot of submarine work in a ‘Defence of Australia’ posture – which IMO must be reinstated as the ADF’s core mission – throughout the archipelagic arc that runs from Suva to Sumatra: work for which conventional subs – equipped with or with out AIP systems – are ideally suited.
As another retired Admiral – Briggs – opined there really is only one option available to Australia to pursue as a plan B – do a deal with the French.
I note the article published a couple of days ago in Naval News that raised doubt about the capacity of any alternative shipbuilder around the world to come to Australia’s rescue – including Naval Group (the construction of the next generation of ballistic missile subs and the contract to manufacture conventional subs for the Netherlands were cited as reasons). However, what the author of that article overlooked is the fact that Australia itself has an idle boat building hall and a workforce that is currently focused on a now postponed life extension rebuild program for the Collins.
Also overlooked by the author is the fact that when Macron made to firm offers to Albo back in 2022
the timetable for the French missile boats were already locked in (1 boat every 5 years) and Naval Group were already a firm favourite to win the Dutch contract.
In short I maintain that France does have spare capacity – especially it it utilises the boat building facilities in Adelaide – to at the very least ‘fast track’ the construction of 4 conventional ‘attack class’ boats form the RAN so that at the very least the Collins Class subs could be retired in the mid-late 2030s without a lose of capability.
Musk is demanding retribution against Australia for our social media laws.
Perhaps we should make them stronger.
Ban X!
The systematic pattern in the US now is for every special interest group to lobby Trump to impose tariffs.
Australia can respond with tit for tat tariffs but that only makes the economic damage worse.
A way in which Australia CAN respond and NOT make things worse economically for Australia is to buy defence equipment from elsewhere and to manufacture more of it in Australia.
It should start with AUKUS.
It should NOT be doing what Dutton says he will do: spend many billions on some more JSFs.
Good Morning! Here’s your Daily News and Views Roundup.
Labor braces for weak woke week as Advance steps into the light.
The third-party campaigning group is pivoting from attacking the Greens to focus on the ALP. Plus: what to do with a message from ‘Jason’s iPhone’ By Josh Butler and Dan Jervis-Bardy
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/21/labor-braces-for-weak-woke-week-as-advance-steps-into-the-light
Albanese’s surprising first, as jobless rate holds
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/work/2025/03/20/unemployment-rate-albanese
This week, the Albanese government said it would make medicines even cheaper. The Coalition pledged to follow suit. But complaints from pharmaceutical companies in the United States have thrown a spotlight on our system for pricing medicines and whether it could be threatened by the Trump administration in its next round of tariffs.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australians-medicines-are-about-to-become-cheaper-why-would-trump-target-them-20250320-p5ll05.html
Behind America’s decades-long fight to dismantle the PBS. By chief ABC business correspondent Ian Verrender
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-21/behind-americas-decades-long-fight-to-dismantle-the-pbs/105078864
The flow of migrants into Australia has slowed – and the change could not come soon enough for Anthony Albanese. The prime minister has been under pressure on migration for some time, thanks in part to the tough talk from Opposition Leader Peter Dutton about cutting the intake. Now we have a new set of facts to shape the election.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-likes-to-talk-tough-on-migration-but-he-s-yet-to-reveal-what-voters-need-to-know-20250320-p5ll5s.html
Mediscared? Why Albanese and Dutton are bidding everything at a health auction.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/mediscared-why-albanese-and-dutton-are-bidding-everything-at-a-health-auction-20250224-p5lejl.html
Dutton calling Albanese ‘limp-wristed’ over Chinese ships ‘unsurprising’, Wong says. Opposition leader criticised for using historical slur against gay men, with a spokesperson for Dutton saying ‘no offence was intended’. Just the dog-whistle & lack of respect for the Prime Minister.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/20/dutton-calling-albanese-limp-wristed-over-chinese-ships-unsurprising-wong-says-ntwnfb
Newsroom edition: can Dutton and Albanese get voters to listen to them? – Full Story podcast
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/audio/2025/mar/21/newsroom-edition-can-dutton-and-albanese-get-voters-to-listen-to-them-full-story-podcast
Grumpy Geezer’s back! The phony campaign is underway. How nasty will Spud go? He’s not a smart man but he’s the best the veggie patch has got. To date the strategy has been to hope that things got worse…that our bad news would be their good news. Plus an occasional thought bubble.
https://www.geezerspot.com/single-post/he-s-not-a-smart-man-but-he-s-the-best-the-veggie-patch-has-got
Climate protesters have interrupted Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s key foreign policy speech on Thursday and forced another shadow minister to abandon a press conference.
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2025/03/20/peter-dutton-climate-protest
Australia’s major supermarket chains are among the most profitable in the world, a damning report into the sector has declared, as the competition watchdog warns they have failed to pass on the full benefit of cost savings during the cost-of-living crisis.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/checkout-pain-australia-s-supermarkets-most-profitable-in-the-world-20250320-p5ll72.html
One of the ritual sacrifices of electioneering is political dissent. But Matt Kean, a former NSW deputy Liberal leader, treasurer and energy and environment minister who is chair of the Climate Change Authority, is illustrative of the benefits of being able to hold divergent stances on polarising issues.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/mp-voices-raised-in-protest-or-common-sense-should-be-hailed-not-muted-20250320-p5ll2d.html
Activists are spending big on pro-nuclear ads, but it’s Dutton’s silence that has Labor’s attention. Centre’s boy, Will Shackel gets a mention.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/activists-are-spending-big-on-pro-nuclear-ads-but-it-s-dutton-s-silence-that-has-labor-s-attention-20250319-p5lkoc.html
The Coalition MP who tried to stop the solar farm that will help save thousands of local jobs
By Giles Parkinson
https://johnmenadue.com/the-coalition-mp-who-tried-to-stop-the-solar-farm-that-will-help-save-thousands-of-local-jobs/
US President Donald Trump is being urged to target Australia over its federal laws on social media and the digital economy in a powerful campaign by American tech giants including Elon Musk to block measures that hurt their profits.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/musk-and-big-tech-urge-trump-to-punish-australia-20250320-p5ll09.html
Australian university researchers told ‘woke gender ideology’ among reasons behind Trump funding cuts. Researchers receive memo notifying ‘temporary’ funding pause prompting push for Australian government to pursue European partnerships
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/20/australian-university-researchers-told-woke-gender-ideology-among-reasons-behind-trump-funding-cuts
International students not to blame for rising rents, Australian study finds.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-21/australia-rent-crisis-not-international-students-fault-study/105076290
Peter Dutton says he could handle Donald Trump, but can any Australian PM? By Michelle Grattan
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-21/michelle-grattan-australian-pm-handle-trump/105078694
Waleed Aly opines that Gazans are trapped in a forever war designed around Netanyahu’s impossible aims
https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/gazans-are-trapped-in-a-forever-war-designed-around-netanyahu-s-impossible-aims-20250320-p5ll1n.html
Australia in discussions to avoid ‘devastating consequences’ of US aid cuts for Pacific nations
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/20/australia-pacific-nations-us-aid-cuts
Western allies have met in Brussels and London to discuss boosting military aid and security for Ukraine. An Australian delegation attended the summit in the British capital, while in Belgium, EU leaders reiterated plans to increase aid to Kyiv.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-21/eu-reiterates-ukraine-support-as-australia-joins-london-talks/105078992
‘Vandals in the White House’ no longer reliable allies of Australia, former defence force chief says
Chris Barrie says Donald Trump’s second term is ‘irrecoverable’, but stops short of calling for end to Aukus pact
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/21/vandals-in-the-white-house-no-longer-reliable-allies-to-australia-former-defence-force-chief-says-ntwnfb
A parliamentary inquiry has been called into the troubled childcare sector following a landmark ABC investigation into serious safety breaches in the industry. On Thursday night the NSW upper house committee on education met and formally backed an inquiry.
Submissions will remain open until the end of May, with public hearings scheduled for August, September and October in Sydney and regional NSW.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-21/nsw-to-launch-inquiry-into-childcare-sector/105078484
Libby Mettam quits as WA Liberal leader with Basil Zempilas to put hand up.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/libby-mettam-quits-as-wa-liberal-leader-20250320-p5ll95.html
Zempilas the only choice for WA Liberals to rejoin the fight.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/zempilas-the-only-choice-for-wa-liberals-to-rejoin-the-fight-20250320-p5llas.html
$814 million for green hydrogen dream near Kalbarri
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/814-million-for-green-hydrogen-dream-near-kalbarri-20250320-p5ll77.html
Three reasons Victoria has joined Tasmania, SA as a beggar state. By Saul Eslake
https://johnmenadue.com/three-reasons-victoria-has-joined-tasmania-sa-as-a-beggar-state/
Large buses would be banned from stopping at an immensely popular hamlet on the Great Ocean Road under a push by local authorities to curb skyrocketing tourist numbers and prevent wildlife from being harassed.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/a-great-ocean-road-hotspot-pushes-back-against-tourist-hordes-20250319-p5lku4.html
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has denied allegations of corruption over the ousting of two police chiefs, calling the claims “absolutely baseless”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/premier-police-minister-conspired-to-dump-police-chiefs-corruption-watchdog-told-20250319-p5lkms.html
The peace deal signatures that confirm full steam ahead on Victorian airport rail
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/the-peace-deal-signatures-that-confirm-full-steam-ahead-on-airport-rail-20250319-p5lkvf.html
‘Gaslighting and manipulation’: Why people suspect consultation on major projects is just a cynical exercise
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/gaslighting-and-manipulation-why-people-suspect-consultation-on-major-projects-is-just-a-cynical-exercise-20250319-p5lkom.html
New data reveals four in five Queensland motorists have not signed up for the digital licence app launched more than a year ago, despite a $50 million spend on development and roll-out.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-21/digital-licence-app-queensland-government-services-products/105073482
Endometriosis sufferers experiencing long delays for treatment, report finds, as SA government vows change
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-21/endometriosis-sufferers-experiencing-long-treatment-delays/105077112
NT government planning to recoup public housing rent debts, evict tenants.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-20/nt-public-housing-rent-debt-evict-crime-antisocial-behaviour/105078158
By merely doing her job, Tanya Plibersek has become persona non grata in Tasmania’s north-west, where despite a Coalition margin of 8 per cent, the seat of Braddon is very much in play.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-20/braddon-salmon-farming-tanya-plibersek-referendum-pbs-drugmakers/105074518
The Project airs MFW’s fight against toxic masculinity … then diminishes it. By Michelle Pini
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/the-project-airs-mfws-fight-against-toxic-masculinity–then-diminishes-it,19545
Media legend and former CEO of The Age, Ranald Macdonald, chats with IA managing editor Michelle Pini about the media, the rise of fascism and the power of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/indy-eye-murdocracy-with-ranald-macdonald,19542
Nuclear is big news for Australia. For the coming election, the federal Opposition party – the Liberal-National Coalition, has as its major, indeed, pretty much its only policy – to establish the nuclear power industry at 7 sites across the continent. At the same time, a Liberal group has sprung up – Liberals Against Nuclear, vowing to ditch that policy.
https://theaimn.net/the-great-era-of-nuclear-decommissioning-begins-well-sort-of-even-in-australia/
Elon Musk’s daughter says father’s rally gesture was ‘definitely a Nazi salute’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/20/elon-musk-daughter-vivian-jenna-wilson-salute
‘$225 and dropping!’: Minnesota Governer and Former VP candidate, Tim Walz taunts Musk over Tesla
https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/people/2025/03/20/tim-walz-elon-musk-tesla
Is RedNote, the Chinese social media app millions in the English-speaking world flocked to after the US banned TikTok, generating any more or less misinformation than its Western equivalents? US-owned social media platforms Facebook, X and Instagram all play host to millions of posts with false content. In Australia, these platforms produce far more fake content than we see on Chinese social media. By Marcus Rubenstein
https://johnmenadue.com/misinformation-in-politics-anti-china-media-watch/
EU slams the door on US in colossal defense plan. Bloc aims to build up military-industrial complex to deter Russia and brace for the U.S. shift away from Europe.
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-freeze-us-multi-billion-defense-plan-arm-makers/
EU leaders hustle to transform Europe into a military superpower — live updates. The bloc’s 27 leaders meet to tackle defense spending, support for Ukraine, competitiveness, the Middle East and migration.
https://www.politico.eu/article/european-council-summit-live-updates-eu-defense-spending-ukraine-war-military-financing/
ECB’s Lagarde: EU needs to be ready for tariff ‘blackmail’ in age of Trump
https://www.politico.eu/article/ecbs-lagarde-watch-out-us-we-can-live-without-you/
Judges, rankled by Trump’s impeachment calls, agree: ‘It’s not a great strategy’
Current and former jurists say the president’s call to impeach judges is dangerous and unwise.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/20/judges-impeachment-donald-trump-00003536
If Trump Defies the Courts, Here’s What a Judge Can Do. A former federal judge weighs in on the escalating tension between the White House and the judiciary.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/03/20/trump-defy-courts-judge-interview-00239359
‘Dodging your question’: Bennet stops short of calling on Schumer to resign — but invokes the Biden fight. The Colorado senator’s remarks are a more subtle jab compared to the barrage some House Democrats have launched against the Senate Democrat leader.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/20/michael-bennet-chuck-schumer-leadership-026834
Cartoon Time!
Alan Moir
Simon Letch
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
Aresna Villanueva Budget Time
Fiona Katauskas
From the Internet
https://electrek.co/2025/03/19/tesla-tsla-accounting-raises-red-flags-as-report-shows-1-4-billion-missing/
Enjoy!
Here’s another opportunity for Trump to defy the courts.
…
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2025/03/19/trump-deportation-georgetown-fellow-immigration/
Thanks C@t.
Interesting ACCC report on groceries
https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-recommends-supermarket-reforms-to-provide-better-outcomes-for-consumers-and-suppliers
It makes the point I’ve long been making – “divestiture” is not a good idea as most consumers aim to access local options, so you need more store brands in a common vicinity rather than simply changing the composition.
Interesting that there was no evidence of “land banking”, though the ACCC did welcome Labors incoming merger reforms to help with monitoring.
Big target on local governments and zoning, mainly due to the difficulty if access.
Most of the recommendations are in the supplier relationships.
The lucky country under attack from the tightly controlled right wing media organisations, disinformation rampant and a nation at risk.
Can’t happen ?
Have a gander at the Ununited States of America!
I can see that the US regime is now starting to meddle in our sovereign affairs re the social media laws.
Clearly that’s about money for control for them. But this is overt pressure by the Trump (mostly his surrogates of course), starting to feel like the 19070s again in terms of what the US did to left wing governments in South America. I recall when the phone call between Trump and Turnbull went south a whole lot of senior members to the Trump 1 cabinet jumped to our defense, not happening this time as the Trump 2 cabinet only has true believers left.
The US is not our friend at the moment.
Labor keeps Rudd in place at the expense of the national interest.
Dutton doing well cutting through laying groundwork and next week labor is going to have to explain a sea of deficits.
All Dutton has to next few weeks is say a vote for labor is a vote for the Greens,Kevin Rudd has cost Australia via Albanese who is scared of Trump and libs will get a surplus.
Meanwhile Trump is clearing out the leftie trash and getting the budget right,releasing documents,getting education to the states like in Australia,hooking into fast growing AI industries and he can remember what he did last week Biden cannot.
Musk doing well and fentanyl crisis over,borders now secure and lefties angry!
YMCA….
Astronauts home,trade imbalances being worked on not ignored and Russia at the table also Hamas and Iran and the Houthis being dealt with hard.
Murderers and rapists Biden let in being arrested and deported even has a self deport App for illegals!
China on April 2 will be dealt with all good news!
And Dems are having a civil war!
Cmon labor YMCA…
“getting the budget right”
Trump 1 had an $8 trillion deficit due to tax cuts and rampant spending.
Biden had an $4 trillion deficit, half of which was the $2 trillion spent of nationwide infrastructure.
C@tmomma DP
”
Grumpy Geezer’s back! The phony campaign is underway. How nasty will Spud go? He’s not a smart man but he’s the best the veggie patch has got. To date the strategy has been to hope that things got worse…that our bad news would be their good news. Plus an occasional thought bubble.
https://www.geezerspot.com/single-post/he-s-not-a-smart-man-but-he-s-the-best-the-veggie-patch-has-got
”
At the top of the page, this is the quote:
“If conservatives become convinced that they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy.” – David Frum
BTW, David Frum, another conservative Jew, who turned against Trump. He was major supporter of Bush jr administration and Iraq war 2.
#weatheronPB
Easy brilliance shines,
against a cool, dark, wet earth,
breathing in with life.
‘… the Trump administration’s efforts to deport Indian national Badar Khan Suri, who was apprehended earlier this week for what a DHS spokesperson said was “Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media.”
You just need to replace ‘Trump’ with Dutton.
#SameSame
Christine Lagarde gets it about how to handle Trump:
https://www.politico.eu/article/ecbs-lagarde-watch-out-us-we-can-live-without-you/
Australia needs to hit America where it hurts, in the hamburger bun! Diversify our markets away from the US. There’s another 8 Billion people out there for us to sell our stuff to.
There’s more ..
In WA Basil will be teaming up with Dutton with Stokes backing and they will roll the dice and give themselves every opportunity to win.
Trump is also making parasites like the EU and Australia when it comes to their defence pay up.
Also dealing with Woke policies and sport is now safer for women as they are not being injured by men in the USA.
Also dealing with Woke policies and sport is now safer for women as they are not being injured by men the USA.
I’ve played mixed teams netball and volleyball, all of the women I’ve played with and against run rings around the men.
Governor of Maryland Wes Moore said it best.
Trump was an instrument for peoples frustration. But he isn’t the solution, as the citizenry is finding out.
Pied Piper crossing the Quisling line…
Trump is also making parasites like the EU and Australia when it comes to their defence pay up.
”
Deesays:
Friday, March 21, 2025 at 8:15 am
Musk is demanding retribution against Australia for our social media laws.
Perhaps we should make them stronger.
Ban X!
”
Trump told his supporters and I quote “I am your retribution”.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/05/i-am-your-retribution-trump-rules-supreme-at-cpac-as-he-relaunches-bid-for-white-house
“sport is now safer for women as they are not being injured by men in the USA”
Pied Piper keeping his finger on the pulse of this country’s burning issues. (That was sarcasm, BTW)
The local Murdoch having had some success in forcing Jacinta Allan into changing bail laws is now running a series on lockdown legacy.
Obviously aiming to get Dan on that issue if they can.
Obsession!
Interesting poll from Barnyard country – New England
Not all banjo players given the commentary..
https://www.netimes.com.au/2025/03/19/engage-poll-is-new-england-ready-to-dump-the-nationals/
And you can participate in their next poll on the Labor Party…
https://engage.netimes.com.au/2025/03/poll-what-do-you-think-of-the-australian-labor-party/
This is the Administration that that low life pied piper continuously praises here:
https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/venezuelan-professional-goaltender-rendition-deported-dhs
How FITH do you have to be to support that monster Trump?
Where are you nath?
Nearly all Tesla Cybertrucks have been recalled because Tesla used wrong glue.
I am not kidding!
https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:it4vfrn3hgrb3hsvvwfltqqa/bafkreieywh4nftfzkiflkchirqubfw43vohmy37i36r2bqeynsakp37zde@jpeg
First, it was Dutton calling Albo “limp-wristed” and now Miss Sports Rorts herself describing Chalmers’ response to the ACCC report into supermarket competition as “flaccid”. Clearly going for the Andrew Tate(r) crowd here…
Coalition slams Labor’s ‘flaccid’ response to ACCC report
‘The Coalition has accused the government of siding with big business in its “flaccid” response to the ACCC’s report that found Australia’s supermarkets are among the most profitable in the world.
In a Sky News interview, Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie claimed Labor had failed for three years to address rising prices for consumers and the “poor deal” that primary producers were getting because of the duopoly.
“This is a very flaccid response from Jim Chalmers, we put a very comprehensive proposal on the table to address the lack of competition in our supermarket sector that the government failed to pick up,” she said.’
Why are we talking about trans women in sport? I can see that it is problematical for those directly affected. In a Venn diagram that would be those close to the intersection of women who play team sports after leaving school, men who play team sports after leaving school and men who transition to being women on account of chromosomal or other medical problems. It is remote from the day to concerns of the great majority of people, however. Why isn’t it just being left to those directly concerned to sort out? A bit of good will and common sense would go a long way.