“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 ” . . .”

  1. Anyone see this tweet from Kate McClymont?

    What the hell was going at the HSU? Kathy Jackson exposed as a thief, liar & hypocrite of the highest ordersmh.com.au/national/kathy… via @

    3:15pm – 19 Aug 15

    What the hell was going on she asks?
    Surely a Walkely winning investigative newshound like Kate should of known all about Kathy Jackson. There was enough smoke around that Kate should of known there was a fire?
    Instead she smugly and vindictively sprayed crap all over CraigThomson while praising the now totally discredited Jackson.
    What a complete and utter useless cow.
    Too busy polishing her peer selected awards to actually do any investigative journalism.
    And she had the fucking nerve to print under her name proclaiming herself Australia’s top investigative journalist!
    What utter bullshit. What a fucking joke.
    The fact she snagged a self nominated Walkely only proves what a sad and unprofessional lot we have working as journos in this country.
    If Kate had any integrity she would hand back her poxy awards and fuck off to a local community paper to focus her journalistic skills on stories more suited to her talents such as lost dog stories and local fete roundups.

  3. Stony Habbott,

    An exemplary summary of most Pubsters’ thoughts about the fragrant Ms McClymont (yes, it had already been linked, but your comment is just gorgeous).

  4. http://www.news.com.au/national/victorian-liberal-party-investigating-1-million-missing-after-election-campaign/story-e6frfkp9-1227490570041

    http://www.news.com.au/national/victorian-liberal-party-investigating-1-million-missing-after-election-campaign/story-e6frfkp9-1227490570041

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-18/flight-of-the-conchords-announce-plans-for-movie-reunion-tour/6705728

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/19/world/asia/china-identifies-executives-of-company-linked-to-tianjin-explosions.html

  7. The smh nailing Heydon

    What do you do when your star witness in a politically motivated inquiry turns out to be an alleged thief who may have stolen more than $1 million? Just ignore it.

    The credibility of the Royal Commission into trade union governance and corruption should suffer a serious blow from its glaring omissions on the allegedly corrupt behaviour of Kathy Jackson and how it has treated her throughout these hearings.

    The inquiry has always appeared politically motivated but the question was, despite this, was it a worthwhile process to root out corruption in the union movement and lead to a well-needed overhaul of questionable governance practices around slush funds and the like. The jury has been out on that.

    Yet the 1817-page interim report by Commissioner Dyson Heydon dealt with a range of issues both serious and trivial but ignored Jackson. There was an oblique reference, without naming her, that other issues to do with the Health Services Union would be dealt with in a future report.

    Last drinks, Dyson!

    http://www.smh.com.au/national/failure-to-deal-with-kathy-jackson-undermines-credibility-of-royal-commission-20141219-12aof9.html

  8. Why are the press still pussy-footing?

    The finding of the Federal Court of Australia is that Miss Jackson “misappropriated” $1.4 million from the HSU.

    No “alleged”.

    No “may have”.

    Got her bang to rights, guv.

  10. Ducky,

    Apologies to you (and to Fairfax) – I should have checked the date of the article you were citing.

    As for the GG, pfft.

  12. Actually I think Kate McClymont should be sent to the middle east to do an investigative story on how some truly courageous journos have had their heads chopped off in the pursuit of actual important news.
    Hopefully some nice locals would give her a real insight into the whole process 😆

  17. All that Cowdrey chap was doing was trying to “maintain the dignity of office” of the “Fellowship of the judiciary”…another Old Boys club!…stiff shit sir!…it has already been dragged into the mud..by both Barwick and now Heydon…forget the “esteemed sir” handle,. just don’t let the door hit your arse on the way out!..

  20. There was a disturbance in the Force here in Yass yesterday, didn’t realise what it was until I read later the visit by Abbott had occurred. Just loved the climb the fence shots, journos are retraining as proctologists most likely.

  24. Lord of the Fridge,

    Does he have a Working With Children permit?

    That arm around the shoulder is not a good look.

  25. “That arm around the shoulder is not a good look.”

    I assume the matching trousers were soiled?

  26. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Abbott’s outrageous myths over the Adani coal mine busted right open. So-called journalists and interviewers should be flayed for allowing him to repeat the obvious untruths time and time again.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/adani-mine-a-20b-project-creating-10000-jobs-the-abbott-governments-myths-busted-20150819-gj2u2o.html
    Waleed Aly is an exception to this as he puts Steve Price into his place.
    http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/waleed-aly-shuts-down-steve-price-on-the-project-over-greenies-20150819-gj36bq.html
    Geoff Cousins, a very effective communicator. steps in and explains how Abbott is on the wrong hose with his backing of coal and goes to the tactics the PM is using.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-government-is-backing-a-loser-in-coal-20150819-gj2kms.html
    This SMH editorial warns us that Abbott’s war on green groups will harm our environment.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/tony-abbotts-war-on-the-environment-20150819-gj2qjc.html
    And “View from the Street” joins in on the environmental debate.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/view-from-the-street/view-from-the-street-government-versus-environment–the-road-to-victory-20150819-gj2wn5.html
    And yet another Brandis legislation (“lawfare”) looks set to be defeated in the Senate.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-bid-to-crack-down-on-green-group-legal-appeals-facing-likely-defeat-in-senate-20150819-gj2m19.html
    Farming groups are most upset over the government’s moves to restrict environmental challenges.
    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/19/farm-groups-fear-coalition-move-to-restrict-environment-challenges
    Michelle Grattan openly laughs at Abbott’s “well functioning cabinet”.
    https://theconversation.com/a-well-functioning-cabinet-who-are-they-kidding-46348
    Kenny and Massola are on to Abbott and his new mantra – jobs and trade.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-shifts-focus-to-jobs-and-trade-but-leaks-continue-20150819-gj2u0f.html
    Surely it’s time to put an end to this anachronistic regulation and allow FTA television to broadcast sport in HD.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tv-networks-win-right-to-broadcast-aflnrl-in-hd-but-change-may-be-too-late-for-grand-finals-20150819-gj2xb9.html

  27. Section 2 . . .

    Paul Sheehan just doesn’t get it re the TURC. It’s not so much Heydon that is the target, rather it is the patently politically structured RC cynically put in place by Abbott.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-dyson-heydon-saga-innuendo-and-hypocrisy-blood-for-the-sake-of-blood-20150819-gj2veu.html
    Peter Wicks, the independent journo who was on to Kathy Jackson from day one, says “We’ve only just begun”, as Jackson walks from court after the $1.4m judgement against her. He explains how this judgement strikes at the independence of the TURC. The “judgement” exhibited by certain leading Liberal politicians also comes in for attention.
    http://wixxyleaks.com/weve-only-just-begun-kathy-jackson-walks-from-federal-court-mortally-wounded/
    Peter Wicks examines the integrity of Dyson Heydon.
    https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/a-man-of-integrity-dyson-heydon-and-the-turc,8073
    Here’s a very long article on what George Pell should be facing up to as the RC moves forward. (NSFW)
    https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/the-uck-ends-with-cardinal-george-pell,8076
    This is interesting. The inquiry shows that ASIO reps attended all court appearances of Monis in the years building up to the Lindt Cafe siege.
    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/19/asio-agents-attended-all-court-dates-of-lindt-cafe-gunman-in-year-before-seige
    Big Tobacco plumbs new depths.
    http://www.smh.com.au/national/tobacco-company-wants-schools-survey-for-insights-into-children-and-teens-20150819-gj2vto.html
    Michael Gordon says we’re all sick of politics but it’s not all bad.
    http://www.theage.com.au/comment/victorian-premier-daniel-andrews-is-doing-a-good-job-so-far-20150819-gj2iz3.html
    We have a boy running this country and he’s scaring the pants off everyone!
    http://www.theage.com.au/comment/tony-abbott-boy-or-man–or-maybe-just-wired-differently-20150819-gj2fyj.html
    Abbott’s three act play on SSM.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/samesex-marriage-plebiscite-tony-abbotts-threeact-play-20150819-gj2dr5.html
    In a world of change Tony Abbott denies the power of “yes”.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/in-world-of-change-tony-abbott-denies-the-power-of-yes-20150818-gj1vlb.html

  28. Section 3 . . . Cartoon Corner

    Tony Wright says that Abbott is up to his ankles in bulldust.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/up-to-his-ankles-in-bulldust-tony-abbott-hoofs-it-leak-follows-20150819-gj2pdw.html
    David Pope pours ridicule and scorn upon this shocking government.

    At the TURC with Ron Tandberg.

    Alan Moir welcomes Abbott to another day at the office.

    Mark Knight gives us Kathy Jackson.

    David Rowe signals the end for Das Abbott!

  30. Mrs BK is none too happy. Some neighbours’ dogs have been visiting unannounced recently and have been digging up and eating the carcass of our recently departed alpaca. The carcass was buried 900mm deep but now is fully exposed.

  33. The coal boom is long over. In 2011 I was driven to the central Qld gemfields there was huge rail traffic on the line from the coalfields to Gladstone. Last year I did the same trip and counted eight trains total for driving up and back from Emerald and beyond. This year in March there were 12. In 2011 I would have seen 8 trains in 10 minutes! Including 1km long trains with 5 engines pulling the train.

    The fall in the price of coal explains all that, plus reduced demand as China and India turn to local sources and move from fossil fuels to renewables.

  34. Peter Wicks on the Kathy Jackson outcome – ho doesn’t hold back when it comes to the part the media played in the mess.

    This comment – “…..journalists who preferred to be lazy and run with the herd rather than put an effort into seeking out the truth.” not only deals with the easy ride the MSM gave KJ, it also applies to the easy run they gave Abbott. If the whole lazy mob had done just a little real work instead of grovelling adoringly at Tony’s feet we might have been spared an Abbott government.

    The MSM has a lot to answer for.

  38. Josh has inside info?

    Assistant treasurer, Josh Frydenberg has been chatting to Fran Kelly. He dismissed it again as a Labor party campaign.

    I don’t think he will stand aside, and the commission will continue. The Labor party… is seeking to blame the umpire. They’ve been seeking to undermine the commission since day 1.

    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/aug/20/dyson-heydon-unlikely-to-stand-down-says-abbott-minister-politics-live#comments

  39. Best line (and headline) of the day.

    “This government is as chaotic as a Tupperwear cupboard,” Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite told reporters on his way into Parliament.
    There have been fresh internal discussions about Mr Abbott’s leadership. There are three potential replacements for Mr Abbott: Scott Morrison who is currently aligned with right-wing conservatives, Julie Bishop, a West Australian moderate and the former leader, Malcolm Turnbull

    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/chaotic-as-a-tupperware-cupboard-labor-attacks-as-frontbencher-compares-tony-abbott-to-john-howard-20150819-gj39m1.html

    The Rudd and Gillard governments might have had their problems but they did manage to get all their legislation through both houses, Julia Gillard doing it with a very difficult parliament, and they did bring in some great reforms. What has this government done – apart from trying to undo everything Labor initiated? Nothing! Not only chaotic, but totally incapable as well.

  40. Terror! Terror!

    How do you ensure community anger doesn’t make it worse, Peter Dutton is asked.

    We work with those communities but we work with the broader society to provide a better future, not only for all of us but for those people at the moment who are answering the call of these evil perpetrators of terrorism overseas.

    And this issue is going to get worse for us. I think Australians need to understand that the threat from terrorism is at its highest level. And it’s not going to abate any time soon

    http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/aug/20/dyson-heydon-unlikely-to-stand-down-says-abbott-minister-politics-live#comments

  42. Just imagine how much worse this would have been if the guard had been armed.

    Sting allegedly captures security guard in Nauru detention camp confessing to fake assault story

    Fairfax Media has obtained a copy of the alleged confession, in which the Wilson Security guard boasts about the incident and jokes about taking a “dive” – the sporting term for falling to the ground and faking an injury. The guard said he wanted the asylum seeker convicted so he would never be settled in Australia.
    The asylum seeker is believed to be a young Iranian man. It is understood he spent one month in jail for the alleged assault and tried to kill himself at least three times after being falsely accused – once almost successfully hanging himself.
    Wilson Security says there was not enough evidence to make a finding against the guard, despite the company’s own investigators apparently recording his confession

    http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/nauru-detention-camp-security-guard-allegedly-confesses-to-fake-assault-story-20150818-gj1lxy.html

  44. Cringeworthy comments by tone and bill to the Diamonds.

    Gabrielle: “I dreamed a dream. Of grand orators. Then I woke up.”

  45. Email from Labor, just received –

    We would love to give you an update on the Abbott Government’s agenda in the parliament this week, but the reality is nothing is happening.

    They have very few bills before the house, in fact they’re only spending 10% of the time allocated to Government Business in Parliament on legislation. Given legislating is core business for government that’s pretty astonishing. What’s more is that there’s no sign things will improve, the Coalition Government have so little going on, it’s reported they cancelled their upcoming Cabinet meeting because there’s nothing on the agenda!

    What’s on earth is going on?

    Tony Abbott and the Liberals are a mess and that’s having its effect on the parliament.

    Meanwhile the rest of us are left with the reality of their narrow, cruel lack-of-an-agenda: blocking their own MPs from a free vote on marriage equality, attacks on our proud renewable energy industry; commitment to some of the weakest emissions reduction targets in the developed world; former speaker Bronwyn Bishop booted for her taxpayer funded helicopter trips; making it harder for environmental activists to take big coal mining companies to court; and vigorous defence of an expensive and politically motivated Royal Commission whose ‘independent’ head Dyson Heydon was billed to speak at a Liberal party Fundraiser?!!

    Still on the table are their $80 billion in cuts to schools and hospitals, $100,000 degrees, and cuts to the pension, just to mention a few.

    Oh, and in his spare time Tony Abbott hates windfarms.

    It goes on…and on…. The Abbott Government really doesn’t have anything even remotely constructive on its agenda

  48. There are three potential replacements for Mr Abbott: Scott Morrison who is currently aligned with right-wing conservatives, Julie Bishop, a West Australian moderate and the former leader, Malcolm Turnbull.

    Three terrible options. And I don’t just mean for Australia, though that’s the aspect that matters most to us. They’re terrible choices for the Liberal Party too:

    Turnbull – electing him as leader will cause an outbreak of civil war over there. A lot of the party won’t have a bar of the sorts of things he says he stands for, and if he abandons what he stands for and takes the party line the electorate will revolt almost immediately, just through a sense of betrayal. Selecting him would require a 180 degree turnaround of their entire policy positions, and that’s not an option for them.

    Bishop – hopeless. All facade, no building. Can’t stonewall, can’t go on the attack without making herself look ridiculous, nowhere near adaptable enough to change tack in the face of criticism. They’re falling apart now; they’d disintegrate under Bishop, and in record time too.

    Morrison – their best bet, but he’s not only unpopular as things stand, he also lacks any sellable angles. Another hard man after the Abbott debacle might give the impression they believe the electorate like the Liberal approach but just don’t like the salesman. The approach is just as much on the nose. It just be same shit, different container. Morrison might be the man if there’s a poll lead they want to protect. We’re way beyond that now.

    I think Abbott’s still there because things are so bad no other candidate could bring about the necessary improvement. Once they realise the deep hole they’re in, they won’t want to share the blame with Abbott, but I think they have to. We as a country don’t like any of them.

  50. First, dependence on Australian live cattle, boxed beef and wheat imports greatly undermines Indonesia’s food security. Bilateral trade in this area rests on a fragile foundation. Indonesia continues to find itself held hostage to Canberra’s quasi-tribal domestic politics.

    Indonesia is often treated merely as a rhetorical device whose interests and insecurities deserve neither consideration nor consultation.

    Jakarta’s growing reluctance to steadily continue, let alone expand, its trade with Canberra is the result of numerous precedents of perceived Australian unfairness toward Indonesia.

    http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/08/18/indonesia-s-beef-with-australia.html

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