“Steady, Eth ” . . .

Fiona Uncategorized

(Image Credit: BBC: Take It From Here – The Glums)

So many Captain’s Nose Picks bleeding – haemorrhaging even – in such a short time:

The Elder Bishop and her sudden relegation to cattle class

Marriage Equality over abbott’s decaying corpse (okay, that may alter come Wednesday – but I suspect too little too late)

Dyson Heydon and cognitive ease (failing to be cognizant of bias when it’s in your comfort zone)

A brand-new Speaker who wasn’t Captain Nose-Pick’s choice – much to Captain Nose-Pick’s wattle-wobbling fury

That brave whistle-blower, Kathy Jackson, and the missing $million plus (“Whaddaya mean, that $1.4mill was supposed to go to the *sharply indrawn breath* plebs?”)

The ABC will be Killing Bill next Monday (Typical lefty ABC – too little too late)

Not to mention ongoing security warnings about DEF KULTS in front of a gazillion or three Union Jacks Australian flags (Who the hell do these uppity colonials think they are, pretending to have their own flag?)

Oh, and who let the cat out of the bag about that thoroughly dee bloke Heydon being on the selection panel to choose the only possible candidate for the Rhodes Scholarship? Heads will roll.

* * * * * * *

Oops, someone seems to have gatecrashed the séance through the Ouija board’s back gate. Sorry about that . . .

I keep telling myself to calm down; it’s too early to order nonstop popcorn; almost anything could happen – but we might, just possibly might be on the cusp of viewing the Great Unhingement.

Or not.

Whateves.

Sit back, folks (fasten your seatbelts – it could well be rough) and enjoy.

(Though I still and really want him to stay until we hear those words that will be ripped from his guts – when he finally gives his post-election concession speech . . .)

462 thoughts on ““Steady, Eth ” . . .”

  2. Todays QT—scrappy is an understatement. Govt visibly fraying and approaching the end. They were never more than the dregs of the Howard govt and headed by the former Cab. Min. Howard had to carry, not capable of drafting or arguing a proper Cabinet Submission.

  3. That was then this is now….in 2009 Greg Hunt begged then minister Peter Garrett to use the EPBC Act to stop construction of a bitumen plant in his electorate because bandicoots were in danger.

    Now Grunt will vote to make sure the EPBC is downgraded to the point of being useless.

    When Greg Hunt called on the former govt to use the EPBC to halt a bitumen plant in his own electorate… #lawfare pic.twitter.com/Od1cKznc2i— Tim Beshara (@Tim_Beshara) August 18, 2015

    Abbott government to change environment laws in crackdown on ‘vigilante’ green groups
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-to-change-environment-laws-in-crackdown-on-vigilante-green-groups-20150818-gj1r4l.html

  4. leonetwo

    Re the wee Grunter and his bitumen plant. It is one of the wonders of the internet , one I do not think all pollies have woken up to , that ordinary ‘peasants’ can search for ,find and spread such stuff in an instant. In the ‘good old days’ looking for ,let alone finding was immensely harder.

  5. kk

    The government pollies certainly haven’t woken up. They also think we are all too stupid to be able to remember, search for and get quotes on the things they say. All this ‘I did not …..’ when we have the quote, often on video as well, is beyond belief.

    Say one thing one day, lie the next day about ever having said it – Abbott is the worst offender here, the man who built an election campaign on honesty. Oops – I’m not supposed to remember that…….

  6. Be interesting to see how the government mishandles Penny’s motion. They will certainly have to debate it because, even if they won’t support it, the crossbenchers will certainly want to have the discussion.

  7. Interesting. The National Party in Victoria appears to want to formally change its name to the National Country Party, in a move sending it roaring into the future (aka the 1970’s).

    Interestingly the Victorian branch of the Nationals never went through a transition period as the NCP like NSW and WA. It went straight from the Country to the National party like Queensland did.

  8. Kirsdarke

    The National Party in Victoria appears to want to formally change its name to the National Country Party

    Why ? is a question that comes to mind. Besides a bag of shite labelled ‘truffles’ is still a bag of shite.

  9. Apparently Peter Walsh (Vic Nat leader) made a statement a couple of weeks ago that it was a move to make the party more recognizable as a counter to the Melbourne-centric Labor/Liberal parties.

    Load of rubbish, but that’s their reason.

    I only found out about it by reading a statement from the VEC about it in The Age, then searched google and that’s what’s happening, they’ve started the process to change, requesting submissions, etc.

  10. Tactically speaking it might be their way of trying to get Shepparton back, hold on to Morwell, and perhaps win Benambra (if they win Indi in the federal election). Either way it seems to be a reaction to them being reduced to 8 seats.

  13. Tactically speaking it might be their way of trying to get Shepparton back, hold on to Morwell, and perhaps win Benambra (if they win Indi in the federal election). Either way it seems to be a reaction to them being reduced to 8 seats.

    Then things are more dire for them than even I thought possible.

  17. Someoine has dobbed –

    Former NSW Government Minister and Liberal Party money man Michael Yabsley has been ordered to stop holding illegal functions on his Southern Highlands property.

    Yabsley and his wife have been running their property, Wombat Hollow, as a function centre, including holding regular ‘forum’ lunches with guest speakers, but they don’t have a liquor licence. Channel 10 News likened the operation to a bikie clubhouse selling booze without a licence.
    http://tenplay.com.au/news/sydney/2015/8/18/former-mp-throwing-illegal-events

    A plaintive little note has appeared on the Wombat Hollow website.

    With Regret …
    We announce that owing to compliance matters, functions scheduled to be held at Wombat Hollow will be held at a different venue, until we let you know otherwise. This includes all charity events. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause

    http://www.wombathollow.net.au/

  18. I remember Yabsley well from my ANU days.

    Thick as two short planks then, and clearly hasn’t improved with age.

  19. I wonder how an SAS Captain Liberal Favourite pick will go down with female voters in Canning? I gather it’s likely to be an all male contest. Labor is likely to pick a male lawyer – a local resident is standing as an independent and Pup says they will field a candidate. Colin Barnett Liberal premier is unpopular- wonder how it will all play out?
    If it plays well for the Libs Abbott will claim credit- if not it will be all local stuff.

  20. I’d be surprised if the swing in Canning is less than 10% to Labor.

    But I suppose I’d be less surprised if they prop up someone like Joe Bullock again.

  25. I REALLY wish Jason Clare, MP, would tackle Turncoat EVERY QT about the NBN and the fact only 67 subscribers are on FTTN and that in an area with new copper with plenty of spare pairs. Not only that, they rolled out new COPPER on Briby Is, Qld! New COPPER! Why not the much cheaper fibre?

    And the nodes, if and when (I reckon: never) FTTN gets rolled out widely, are way under provisioned with fibre and so are NOT a half way step to rolling out FTTH.

    Why the HELL isn’t Turncoat being interrogated about this nearly every QT?

    Jason Clare is useless!

  27. Pol Animal,

    Jason Clare is not useless.

    He, like all ALP MPs, is constrained by the leadership group’s decisions on Question Time tactics.

  29. Pol Animal,

    Yes and no. They have to make judgment calls based on whatever particular stupidity has been gifted them by abbot et al.

  30. Nope! They are predictable and do not ask unexpected Qs. Throw a few curly balls each QT, Libs will be wondering who/what will be hit next, will get anxious (they are not across their briefs) and that should lead to more unhingement.

  32. Stunt alert.

    Abbott is off to the Torres Strait Islands at the weekend, allegedly to keep his promise to spend a week every year in a remote community.

    Will he go the full week this time, or will he run away after a couple of days, as he usually does?

    One thing we can be sure of. He will take a media team with him, there will be plenty of staged photo opportunities of Tony pretending to help build things, paint things and teach school classes. As he always does, Abbott will walk away after every one of them instead of sticking around to help.

    The whole thing is just a long stunt, it achieves nothing, it costs us a fortune in transport, accommodation and staff costs. Last year the Army had to set up tents for Abbott and his party. After three days he ran away, claiming he had to go home to wave goodbye to troops. What excuse will he use this year?

  34. Nominations for the ALP candidates for the seat of Canning will close on Thursday afternoon. I’m hoping that some of the other interesting women I’ve met at ALP “do’s” will nominate, but it really is a question of someone with some local connection as well as a media profile that needs to be willing to stand, I think.

    Considering the lovely comment that Mr Barnett made about the quotas of women candidates recently, there could well be a bunch of very angry women of all flavours volunteering to stand – just because they are getting fed up with these pathetic petrified political paper panthers

  36. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Is this what we have become?
    http://www.smh.com.au/world/how-our-qa-session-with-a-refugee-highlighted-the-poisonous-state-of-debate-in-australia-20150818-gj1xuw.html
    This review suggests Abbott is talking out of his bum over the “legal sabotage” of projects.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/review-questions-coalition-push-to-end-legal-sabotage-of-resources-projects-20150818-gj1xp3.html
    Lenore Taylor completes the job saying Abbott and Co. are carrying on like Laurel and Hardy over it.
    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/18/abbott-government-war-on-green-saboteurs-is-laurel-and-hardy-slapstick
    It’s all over for Tone if Canning is lost according to James Massola and Judith Ireland. They report that some Liberal MPs have “had a gutful of the leadership team”.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbotts-leadership-all-over-if-canning-byelection-lost-nervous-liberal-mps-20150817-gj1bmh.html
    And Michelle Grattan suggests there might be a “Jesus moment” if Canning goes down.
    https://theconversation.com/the-voters-of-canning-could-have-quite-a-say-on-tony-abbotts-leadership-46286
    Ross Gittins tells us how most economists are at odds with Abbott’s direction on climate change action.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/economists-concerns-with-emissions-reduction-target-not-what-youd-expect-20150818-gj1h98.html
    Van Badham comes out and says that Shorten deserve to lead Labor to victory.
    http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/18/bill-shorten-is-no-longer-labors-tired-accountant-he-deserves-to-lead-them-to-victory
    Peter Wicks says the TURC does not have an air of integrity about it.
    http://wixxyleaks.com/mr-integrity-dyson-heydon-holds-both-his-and-the-royal-commissions-integrity-in-his-hands/
    Hunt buggers up the approval for big coal so Brandis sets out to change the laws.
    https://newmatilda.com/2015/08/18/environment-minister-bungles-big-coal-approval-so-attorney-general-tries-change-law
    Ben Eltham says it’s about time Eric Abetz started looking for a new job as more IR legislation bites the Senate dust.
    https://newmatilda.com/2015/08/18/eric-abetz-no-fixer-senate-kills-two-industrial-relations-bills-24-hours

  37. Section 2 . . .

    Lawyer Graham Hyrce says that Heydon is backed into a corner and his options are finite. “One way out for Heydon would be for him to resign as royal commissioner before Friday and leave the political consequences to the politicians. This may be the only way for Heydon to escape this controversy with his integrity and reputation relatively unscathed.”
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/economists-concerns-with-emissions-reduction-target-not-what-youd-expect-20150818-gj1h98.html
    “View from the Street” looks at Heydon’s dilemma.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/view-from-the-street/view-from-the-street-commissioner-dyson-heydon-to-rule-on-the-impartiality-of-dyson-heydon-20150818-gj20bg.html
    Essendon and James Hird have been reduced to a laughing stock.
    http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/essendon-and-james-hird-club-reduced-to-laughing-stock-20150818-gj1sd4.html
    The guard who ordered the spying upon S H-Y in Nauru has been called to appear in front of the Senate inquiry.
    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/19/nauru-guard-who-ordered-spying-on-sarah-hanson-young-to-face-inquiry
    Defence will wast $9b in four years as a result of the running down of technical expertise within the organisation.
    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/unions-say-defence-will-waste-9-billion-in-four-years-due-to-skills-shortage-20150817-gj1eob.html
    A ‘People’s vote’ on marriage equality: Abbott’s latest Truthiness phrase?
    http://theaimn.com/a-peoples-vote-on-marriage-equality-abbotts-latest-truthiness-phrase/
    “Is this our Abu Gharib moment?”, asks The Independent Australia.
    https://independentaustralia.net/article-display/australias-abu-ghraib-moment,8064

  38. Section 3 . . . Cartoon Corner

    Ron Tandberg and a private member’s bill.

    Cathy Wilcox with some TURC advice for Abbott.

    Andrew Dyson with a simple one.

    David Pope has a ball at the theatre playing “Marriage Follies”. Look at Morrison’s attire!

    Mark Knight and James Hird’s fall from grace.

    A delightful little cartoon from The Australian on gender balance in the Liberal Party.

    David Rowe is having a lot of fun lately!

  40. BK

    Is this what we have become?

    Become ? Sadly we already were. Many of those tweets were virtually word for word the same bile that flowed out from radio and print etc in W.A. when Howard cranked it up in the early ‘Noughties’ . W.A. rednecks went quite feral and were pretty open about it.

    Before Howard cranked it up W.A. had been well primed . There had been previous “boat people” panics and “Asian invasion” bullshit in the 80s into the 90s. So when Howard got his anti AS show on the road it was all so familiar as the racist and bigots recycled the same old slogans.

    All in all one reason I won’t have a bar of any denial of racism in Australia . The other of course being attitudes to Aborigines.

  45. gigi

    I could never imagine Abbott wearing a beret … Abbott, an artist? Never!

    Or an onion salesman.

  47. When Heydon stepped up to the bench of a LNP. govt’ commission into their arch enemies ; The Unions , he, unless the most gormless fuckhead in the judiciary, must have known he was required to deliver a political stitch-up for the LNP.
    So now, after a couple of obvious “own goals”, he cannot be surprised if he is politically taken out in the most demeaning way.
    Screw the bastard!…good and proper!

  48. “Is this what we have become?”

    We always have been that way. I can remember the hatred of ‘reffos’ after WWII and in the 1950’s. I was just a little kid, I went to school with the children of refugees. I could not understand why my grandparents despised anyone who had an accent or looked ‘different. When I was a teenager my grandfather told me there were two things he hoped I would never do – become a Catholic and marry a ‘reffo’. Hatred of Catholics was big at the time too.

    All this was done without shock jocks or social media. I’m pretty sure the Anglo convicts aboard the First Fleet hated and hurled abuse at the convicts of other nationalities (and there were a lot of them), especially the Irish.

    I suspect an orchestrated campaign by certain groups was planned for that Facebook Q&A. They all recite the same script. If you watched the recent new series of ‘Go Back To Where You Came From’ on SBS you would have seen one participant quote all this rubbish. She has a Facebook page and many followers. If anyone can bear going near it I’m sure many of the names there would be the same names spouting all that hatred in the Q&A. I didn’t watch all the SBS thing, the prominence given to this vile woman really turned me off.

    We have been pig-ignorant haters and racists from the first day of British settlement.

    Fun fact – did you know our first bushranger was a black man? Black Caesar.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Caesar

    We have been whining about people of colour being criminals who should be sent back to where they came from since 1789. In a colony made up of convicted criminals. Even then there was inequality, the white crims were a cut above the black crims.

    Inequality. racism and discrimination has always been entrenched in Australia. Anyone who says we have an egalitarian, classless society is delusional.

  49. Inequality. racism and discrimination has always been entrenched in Australia.

    And in the entire world; certainly all over Europe.

  50. CTar1

    Well spotted. Looking at a few pictures they seem to get around on bicycles so that is another good tie in for Abbott.

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