Nacht und Nebel

Fiona Uncategorized

(Image credit: Wikipedia)

Fifty days ago, the Australian electorate blinked, and chose a Coalition government led by Mr Abbott – devout Catholic, Rhodes Scholar, Oxford Blue, sometime journalist, advisor to former LOTO Dr Hewson, exercise junkie, father of “not bad-looking daughters”, self-proclaimed political offspring of Mrs Bronwyn Bishop and Mr John Howard – a man who counts among his political and spiritual mentors B. A. Santamaria and Cardinal Pell.

The government as a whole, and Mr Abbott in particular, are deeply indebted to two powerful individuals, Mr Rupert Murdoch, and Mrs Gina Rinehart. The debt owed by the new Federal government and prime minister to Mr Murdoch in particular is extraordinary, and is most likely to be paid through the sale hand-over of the NBN and, possibly, the privatisation or abolition of the ABC. Mrs Rinehart’s rewards are the repeal of the MRRT, the “liberalisation” of 457 visas to enable the employment of ever-cheaper labour in her mines, and an open-slather approach to exploration and mining, maybe even in national parks, and to coal seam gas fracking. After all, what else is the environment for?

So, what has the new government achieved over the past 50 days?

  • Abolished the Climate Commission.
  • Sacked three departmental heads.
  • Sacked the NBN Board.
  • Announced the privatisation of Medibank Private.
  • Appointed the head of a major business union to chair the Commission of Audit which also includes (gaia help us) Ms Amanda Vanstone. Mr Tony Shepherd also chairs a company that has substantial contracts with the Commonwealth.
  • Announced a witch-hunt judicial enquiry into the Rudd Government’s home insulation scheme.
  • Cut disaster relief payments in the middle of major bushfires in New South Wales.
  • Denied any possible connexion between bushfires and climate change.
  • Released draft legislation to repeal the MRRT, which also (among other things) repeals
      • – the schoolkids’ bonus
      – the low-income tax superannuation contribution
      – geothermal exploration provisions.

    Then, and worryingly, are

    1. The increased demonisation of asylum seekers arriving by boat by requiring the Immigration Department and detention centre staff to call them “illegal arrivals” and “detainees”,
    2. The militarisation of border protection, which is the excuse for
    3. Attempts to restrict information about the arrival of asylum seekers, and their movement to and from various places of detention.

    What we are witnessing is an attempt – by shutting down sources of information, whether they are bodies like the Climate Commission, or reports in real time of boat arrivals – to keep Australians ignorant of the real state of affairs, and ultimately and as soon as possible to silence dissent. How long will it be before there is federal legislation of the type Queensland Attorney-General, Mr Bleijie, released two weeks ago – legislation that has the potential to control what people wear, what music they listen to, maybe even what books they read and films they see? How long will it be before all Australian courts are effectively instructed to do as they are told by the government that – in Mr Newman’s words – they should come down from their ivory towers and make decisions in line with community expectations?

    Silencing dissent sounds to me very like Mussolini’s third principle of fascism:

    1. “Everything in the state”. The Government is supreme and the country is all-encompasing, and all within it must conform to the ruling body, often a dictator.
    2. “Nothing outside the state”. The country must grow and the implied goal of any fascist nation is to rule the world, and have every human submit to the government.
    3. “Nothing against the state”. Any type of questioning the government is not to be tolerated. If you do not see things our way, you are wrong. If you do not agree with the government, you cannot be allowed to live and taint the minds of the rest of the good citizens.

    Prime Minister Abbott has made it clear time and time again that he will not brook questions, he will not brook debate, he will not brook dissent. He is, as Jeff Sparrow points out, a cultural warrior par excellence. He has no compunction about establishing the slush fund, ”Australians for Honest Politics”, that resulted in the jailing of Pauline Hanson. Is it beyond the bounds of possibility that he might act in a similar way to anyone who dissents, disagrees, or differs? It may seem ridiculous in 21st century Australia even to ask such a question. However …

    … remember,

    Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

    Remember Argentina in 1966, Chile in 1973, Germany in 1933.

    Nacht und Nebel has happened before, and will again unless we heed Martin Niemöller’s words:

    First they came for the communists,
    and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.

    Then they came for the socialists,
    and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist.

    Then they came for the trade unionists,
    and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.

    Then they came for me,
    and there was no one left to speak for me.

    883 thoughts on “Nacht und Nebel”

    2. CTar1

      I found some shoes and returned. 😀

      Wot not sandals with the socks ? 🙂

      They’ve found the furniture Rudd saved

    3. GD.
      The likes of Oakes, Lenore, Laura, Murphy, weak-kneed Cassidy and, in fact, the whole Canberra Press Gallery were too busy sitting on panels tearing Gillard and Labor to bits to see past their own noses. How these people ever got it into their heads that they are good journalists beats me because not one of them ever bothered to do any research, talk to experts with the brains and knowledge of the issues or find out FACTS to compare with the fiction they chose to believe. All they did was to spread gossip and innuendo and analyse it.

    4. The pompous fool had no plan for governing after knocking over the leader actually delivering government!

      He gave up back sometime in 2012, in my opinion.

      But his camp followers never gave up, especially after they lost their jobs. In effect they ran Rudd.

      By the time the February 2013 wimp-a-thon came about, Rudd had effectively thrown in the towel. But Crean insisted, Fitzy and all the rest knew their careers were over if Rudd didn’t challenge. It was like the movie El Cid: when the leader had been shot through the heart by a stray arrow and killed, they stuck a broomstick up his jumper, put him on his horse, suited him up in his best armour, trotted him out in front of the big castle in front of the enemy, and made believe he was still alive.

      It had the same effect on the wavering Caucus as El Cid’s dead (but seemingly alive) body did on the Moors: spooked the Moors into decamping and giving up, and, for Labor, spooked the wobbliest of the Gillard supporters into thinking Rudd could actually win an election. “Dare to dream”, and all that.

      But, having given up a year or so before (all except in a very, VERY dark corner of his mind), Rudd had nothing to offer except “I gotta zip!”, leaving the party in opposition, its leadership in tatters, while he swanned off to New York to try to bignote himself over there.

      What a bloody waste.

    5. Halloweenjack

      I don’t think you’ll be harassed by your new local representative. I don’t know what your old one was like but let’s hope you don’t need someone to help in some way.

    6. 2gravel

      Clive is replacing the somnolent and failed Howard minister Alex Somlyay; who had plenty of time for his constituents. As long as it was at the Horton Park Golf Club.

    7. Many thanks to Ærchie for this information. If you are not following his regularly updated Refugee Boat Timetable then you should.

      A huge slap in the face has been given to Herr ÜberGrossenFührer Morrison by the Indonesian Government.

      On Wednesday he went to to meet Mr Djoko, Minister for security, politics and law, the chairman of Indonesia’s people smuggling taskforce, and the man who must agree to any new policy direction. Mr Djoko was “called away to another event by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono”. Indonesian army commander, General Moeldoko. was also “unable to attend the meeting” and sent instead his chief of staff for general affairs, Boy Syahrial.

      The meeting was chaired by justice and human rights minister Amir Syamsuddin who last week had said,”Australia should pay more attention’ to the countries of origin of asylum seekers in searching for a solution, and be kinder towards refugees. The Australian government should pay more empathy to the position of the Indonesian government, who is not comfortable with having so many asylum seekers here, but also to show empathy with asylum seekers who are seeking to have a better future.”

      While the MSM is trying to put a nice spin on the event, the wording used by the Indonesians is telling. An “offer” to “maximise our navy patrols in the south sea, because normally we don’t have that many ships there, because there has been no threat from the south” beomes a” promise” just a few lines later. The person who will make the decisions, General Moeldoko, was one of those “Unable to attend the meeting.”

      Australia has been seriously dissed by its Northern neighbour!

      http://archiearchive.wordpress.com/

      This is the MSM article referred to.
      http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/indonesia-ramps-up-battle-over-people-smuggling-20131030-2whnu.html

    8. leonetwo

      A huge slap in the face has been given to Herr ÜberGrossenFührer Morrison by the Indonesian Government.

      Post it over the road. It would make Boerwar’s day.

    9. I think Rudd and his fanbois thought that Australia’s love for Kevin would be enough to win the election. Policies? Who needs them when The Great Man has returned?
      I recall the Ruddistas on PB, convinced that any efforts to bring Rudd down would backfire on the Coalition and their MSM toadies. I genuinely believe that Bowen, Fitzgibbon and co believed it too, that if only Julia Gillard would get out of the way The Great Man would return to lead Labor to a glorious win.
      I’d love to see whether MPs who voted for Rudd in July suffered bigger or smaller swings than Gillard supporters, or for that matter candidates in non-Labor seats or those with retiring Labor MPs. Would be potentially interesting.

    10. halloweenjack1

      I reckon Clive will put a lackey in the electoral office who will do everything to ensure that he doesn’t shit in his own nest. In fact, I think you guys are going to be looked after like never before.

      Presupposing that politics and the pursuit of real power is now Clives new obsession. It stands to reason that the parliamentary seat that will be the base his power cannot afford to be lost over a mere 50 or so votes. Remember he thought he bought a state government. That blew up in his face. This plan wont. Your electorate is going to be gold plated.

      Palmer isn’t a morbidly obese buffoon, who lucked out on a few mining leases. He needs power, he needs to exercise it and, imo, he needs to beat the people who own Abbott. That’s where the real power lay. I suspect they, somewhere along the way, have wronged him….badly. He going after them and the rest of us, except your electorate, are going to be collateral damage.

    11. Ian – I think you are right. Clive is an old style National who feels that the Liberal Party has taken over the LNP up here. He had his political beginnings under Joh who hated the Libs almost as much as the ALP and was campaign director for the Nats in the 1983 election – the one in which 2 Libs changed to the Nats to ensure Joh’s outright majority. He was also a keyu player in the Joh for Canberra campaaign – potentially costing the Libs victory.

      I think he thinks Mal Brough and Newman are the embodiment of how the Libs have taken over. He knows where the bodies are buried and will now have parliamentary privilege for cover.

      Also with Fairfax finally becoming a marginal we should get some long awaited and needed attention after being ignored by both parties forever. The ALP were never going to win Fairfax so all in all I think Clive is a pretty good result for us here on the Sunshine Coast.

    12. From what I remember the Rudd supporters were, with just a couple of exceptions, the only Labor MPs who lost their seats.

    15. That was fun. Clive looked like the cat who’d swallowed the canary. Loved him firing back questions at that humourless scrag

    17. leonetwo

      Ya made me do it. From 29 years ago. Bali was big in Sandgropia even then.

    19. Joe6Pack do you know anything about the Collinsville mine mentioned on 7:30 Tonight.
      Turns out Glencore Xstrata wants to use an ununionised workforce so they shut out the current workers.

      Xstrata is the new name for MIM incorporated in Switzerland paying its taxes in Bermuda.
      When will we make the bums pay their taxes?

    22. I posted that news on one of the many anti-government pages on Facebook, it should help spread it around.

    25. billie11,

      There was a bit of a sell-out of Collinsville Coal Mine workers about 40 years ago by the AWU. The people of Collinsville have never forgotten or forgiven the AWU for that, 3 generations of them. If Xstrata thinks they can get away with exploiting the locals, then they better have a long, careful think about their strategy.

      If their idea is to exploit outsiders, then they better do exactly what i said in my last sentence.

    26. Why is Their ABC showing Murdoch’s speech tonight?

      Because it is speech given by a great american in his interests.
      And he just brought a government.

    28. Glencore uses South African management and probably wants to pay African wages

      I thought MiM became Xstrata to reduce their tax liabilities in Australia

    31. scorpio6to2

      billie11,

      There was a bit of a sell-out of Collinsville Coal Mine workers about 40 years ago by the AWU. The people of Collinsville have never forgotten or forgiven the AWU for that, 3 generations of them.

      The farking arseholes also sold out workers in the Pilbara back in the 1980’s . Even without their religious nuttery I would hate the bustards.

    33. Barry J
      When we remember that this mob want to sign Trans Pacific Partnership which gives corporations power to demand legislative changes to suit their commercial interests – well more blatantly than we are used to

    34. I thought MiM became Xstrata to reduce their tax liabilities in Australia

      Xstrata is a Swiss based corporate raider which saw the opportunity of a lifetime when MIM shares dropped to the level of around 83 cents Australian and they jumped in and bought up a controlling share for next to nothing.

      There was some serious lack of government oversight at the time, & I’d love to know whose hands got greased in the process..

    36. Just watched the 7:30 report.

      If only some of the Labor pollies over the last 3 years had the wherewithal to carve up Sales like Clive Palmer just did. I guess having the odd billion or two insulates you a bit.

      I didn’t think I’d ever see it. But it’s possible Clive hates Cambell even more deeply than Gina hated Rose!!

    41. Paddy,

      Should we send out a search party? Or a rescue party? Get The Pub’s crack troops onto it?

    45. Hi Fiona,

      Its a bit lonely out here in Hatton Vale in the Lockyer Valley.

      All of my regular imaginary friends at the pub have disappeared and I am too timid to visit over the road. May have to go to bed instead.

    46. I’ve just arrived home after a congratulations to the honours students dinner. Good fun, great company, a bit sleepy now.

    47. My sister told me to watch this. Clive Palmer rips Leigh Sales a brand new one.

      There she is, doing her unsmiling, school marm, prissy best to regurgitate her mate, Hedley Thomas’s nobby bullshit, and Palmer just wipes the floor with her.

      All the old questions about whether he’s worth this or that, his holdings, his alleged conflicts of interest, his failure to report a crime (yes, she even accused him of that!)… all batted away for six, straight over the grandstand.

      My God, you wouldn’t want to be on Clive Palmer’s wrong side. He’s sharp, bright and rich. Doesn’t give a damn what anyone says about him, and (it seems) what he says about them.

      Leigh… you got pwned. tonight… so badly you probably don’t even realize it.

      Worth watching just for Leigh’s total humiliation.

      http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3881569.htm

    Comments are closed.