As long as Pell is protected by the Pope no one can trust the catholic church

Guest Author Uncategorized

Today’s Guest Author is Jennifer Wilson, with her take on Cardinal Pell and the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse. Thank you, Jennifer, and you are definitely not alone.

BK:

Father Doyle, the CA Royal Commission witness from the US, was superb. His honesty and compassion were most evident. He gave many reasons for the behaviour of priest and the church and what needs to be changed.

The commissioners really appreciated his testimony. Doyle was effusive with praise for the establishment and conduct of the RC and on behalf of the “good” clergy in the US he expressed heartfelt thanks for what they are doing and how they are going about it. He said that of all the similar inquiries around the world this RC stands out and its findings and deliberations will be so important in the future.

Eat your heart out Pontificating Paul Kelly and your ilk!

The Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, Mark Coleridge, this morning expressed his horror and outrage at the latest report from the Royal Commission into Child Sexual Abuse on the extent of that abuse within his church.

The Archbishop was at pains to reassure listeners that after years of intense and ongoing scrutiny (thanks to former Prime Minister Julia Gillard ordering the Royal Commission which catholic MP Tony Abbott and his catholic henchman did everything possible to sabotage) catholic schools are by now among the safest possible places for your child to be.

While he might have a point he is missing the point: the former head of the church in Australia, Cardinal George Pell, is himself under investigation both for alleged child sexual abuse, and for his role in covering up the offences of other priests.

Cardinal Pell is currently in Rome, in a position that keeps him very close to Pope Francis. Victorian Police yesterday submitted a second brief of evidence against the Cardinal to the DPP. The Vatican is a sovereign state from which Pell cannot be extradited. When last required to appear before the Royal Commission, Pell pleaded a heart condition that left him unfit to fly long distances. He gave evidence via video link.

I would like to ask Archbishop Coleridge how anyone can trust the catholic church in Australia when its former head is under the protection of the Pope. I’m struggling to imagine this situation in a secular organisation in which 7% of employees were guilty of sexually abusing children, and 4,400 alleged cases of child sexual abuse had been brought against it.

Both these figures are conservative: how many victims have not made complaints? How many have suicided? How many made complaints that were mishandled by the church, or dismissed?

As a fish rots from the head, so has the catholic church. I’m neither heartened nor impressed by various catholic clergy and lay commentators wringing their hands at the awfulness of it all. Had it not been for an atheist ordering an investigation, this would still be hidden, and the perpetrators still protected.

I’m willing to bet a great deal that no one, but no one inside the church would have taken action to prevent the sexual abuse of children, or to instigate useful investigations that resulted in prosecutions, and demands for moral accountability.

This will not be over until those at the highest level are held accountable, including the Pope. Until churchmen and catholic commentators are willing to acknowledge that accountability starts at the head, nobody is safe in the catholic system, and the fish continues to stink.

329 thoughts on “As long as Pell is protected by the Pope no one can trust the catholic church”

  1. We’ve seen two things today.
    1) How easy it is for Shorten and Labor to get under Turnbull’s skin.
    2) The alternate reality that the Canberra press gallery live in.

    Turnbull’s rant was not in any way like Julia’s misogyny speech.

  2. There is a diifference, a big one. pM Julia Gillard tapped into a deep and ongoing social and personal issue, misogygy, abuse, discrimination and inequality. People,not just women, but especially women, were That Speech. It spoke directly to theirexperience.

    Who is Malcolm championing,
    ? Who will be galvanised by his articulation of their lot?

    Millionaires? Billionaires? Merchant Bankers?

    yeah, gor for it Mal.

  4. The lead article in the iPad version of the Age says that Victoria is getting a third the money of other states on a per capita basis

    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/wheres-the-money-victoria-the-forgotten-state-on-infrastructure-funding-20170207-gu7jdb.html

    The lead article on my laptop is “That’s my food money” : Students take welfare hit

    http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/students-among-worstaffected-by-proposed-newstart-changes-20170208-gu8jt8.html

  6. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Josephine Tovey writes that satire is a weapon that hurts Trump.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/satire-is-a-pointed-weapon-in-the-age-of-trump-20170208-gu808r.html
    All presidents come into office with something to prove, it’s just rarely their sanity. Comedian Frankie Boyle asks if the answer to stopping him rests in the hands of the people.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/08/donald-trump-obnoxious-karma-reincarnated-as-himself-frankie-boyle
    President Donald Trump used his Twitter account to criticise the major US department store Nordstrom for dropping daughter Ivanka’s brand. Poor thing!
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/president-donald-trump-slams-nordstrom-for-dropping-daughter-ivankas-brand-20170208-gu8pgl.html
    The son of Cutis Cheng fires back at Trump and does a good job of it.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/donald-trump-youre-wrong-my-fathers-murder-wasnt-the-tragedy-the-world-missed-20170208-gu8l07.html
    Peter Martin writes that so keen has Malcolm Turnbull become to appease his party’s right wing that he is actually governing badly. Martin is unimpressed.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/theres-a-way-out-of-turnbulls-economic-problems–not-embracing-bernardi-20170208-gu7zxf.html
    Andrew Street tells us that Turnbull should allow a free vote on SSM to save his job.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/view-from-the-street/malcolm-turnbull-should-back-a-free-vote-on-samesex-marriage-to-save-his-job-20170208-gu80w5.html
    Similarly John Warhurst writes that Turnbull should try something different or he may sink further. It is about him. He has a choice between remaining a sitting duck or switching to a new game plan. He can’t continue to pretend that the turmoil surrounding him doesn’t exist.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/sittingduck-malcolm-turnbull-must-champion-his-liberalism-20170208-gu848p.html
    Here’s Katherine Murphy’s take on Turnbull’s outburst.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/feb/08/turnbull-unleashed-after-months-of-frustration-the-pm-finally-lets-rip
    And Michelle Grattan says that the government seems confident it has a set of measures it can “land” in parliament. But there will likely be more trade-offs required for that to happen, amid a good deal of noise from those who stand to lose. The package will need better salesmanship than on Wednesday, when the mass of detail had it struggling to be understood – and then it was overshadowed by the Turnbull rant.
    https://theconversation.com/turnbulls-rant-about-shorten-a-treat-for-the-troops-but-will-it-play-with-the-public-72675
    Andrew Bolt says that Malcolm Turnbull is finished as Prime Minister and must be replaced — but only by a conservative. Google.
    /news/opinion/andrew-bolt/andrew-bolt-turnbull-must-be-dumped-as-pm-liberals-turn-to-the-right/news-story/2cd458ae2e6d94156615e5c1fd7b1917

  7. Section 2 . . .

    The Democratic base is not in the mood to compromise with racism and misogyny, let alone cater to Republicans after their unprecedented theft of Obama’s right and responsibility to fill the Supreme Court seat.
    http://www.politicususa.com/2017/02/08/democrats-overwhelmingly-senators-block-trump-supreme-court-nominee.html
    It’s difficult to argue that weather patterns are not changing.
    http://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/sydney-weather-biggest-burst-of-summer-to-have-records-teetering-20170207-gu7sdq.html
    Indonesia’s military chief says Australia has apologised over “very sensitive and painful” material found at an army base in Perth that insulted Indonesia’s state ideology and promised “strict punishment” for all personnel involved.
    http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesia-accepts-australian-apology-and-promise-of-punishment-over-offensive-material-20170208-gu8pbw.html
    Paul McGeough on the day in court yesterday over Trump’s travel ban.
    http://www.smh.com.au/world/in-court-donald-trump-administration-argues-for-travel-ban-20170207-gu7x0z.html
    Greg Jericho says The Reserve Bank’s outlook of the economy is optimistic. But is it just a case of hoping for the best because nothing else is working?
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/grogonomics/2017/feb/09/the-reserve-bank-puts-on-its-rose-coloured-glasses-with-interest-rate-decision
    Peta Credlin is taking on a greatly expanded role at Sky News in a move that will see the former chief of staff to prime minister Tony Abbott turned political commentator leave James Packer’s Consolidated Press Holdings. Google.
    /business/media/broadcast/policy-matters-as-peta-credlin-broadcasts-her-skills/news-story/96848358b2058bd9d9db909defd85b31
    The Turnbull government has been accused of holding parents “hostage” by surprisingly combining its childcare reforms with $8 billion in payment cuts to unemployed young people, welfare recipients and families whose employers provide paid parental leave. Matthew Knott exposes the government’s shabby strategy.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/holding-parents-hostage-turnbull-government-surprises-by-rolling-welfare-cuts-into-childcare-reforms-20170208-gu84bu.html
    Lisa Byant adds to the story saying that in the flurry of activity to get the childcare, family tax benefits cuts and paid parental leave changes through Parliament we have heard about impacts on families ad nauseum. What we haven’t heard, though, is the impact of all these changes on children.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/childcare-and-paid-parental-leave-changes-havent-considered-whats-best-for-children-20170208-gu87l1.html
    Yet more on the omnibus bill from Georgina Mitchell as she says students are expected to be among the hardest-hit by proposed federal government changes to welfare which would make jobseekers under the age of 25 ineligible for the Newstart unemployment benefit.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/students-among-worstaffected-by-proposed-newstart-changes-20170208-gu8jt8.html

  8. Section 3 . . .

    Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is seeking what the Labor opposition calls “Trump-like” powers to target foreign nationals and require them to revalidate their visas. Should we be surprised?
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/peter-dutton-seeking-trumplike-powers-to-target-visaholders-from-certain-nations-20170208-gu89p7.html
    Mark Kenny reckons Bernardi’s desertion has seen the end of “moderate Malcolm” and he won’t be back. MPs as religiously conservative as Christensen have more sway in the Turnbull era that at any time in living memory. he says.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/cory-bernardi-defection-sounded-the-death-knell-of-moderate-malcolm-he-wont-be-back-20170208-gu84c2.html
    Amy Remeikis days George Christensen is readying himself to cross the floor in support of a banking commission of inquiry to be proposed by Bob Katter.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/george-christensen-preparing-to-the-cross-the-floor-on-banking-inquiry-20170208-gu8mvb.html
    Australia Post is facing legal action for using an executive recruitment agency to engage low-level workers at below the minimum wage. Is this my the CEO gets paid so much? Google.
    /news/policy/industrial-relations/australia-post-used-executive-recruitment-agency-that-underpaid-workers-20170208-gu8a0p
    As a former counsel for the banks, Chief Justice Kiefel, who presides over banking litigation cases, should be well aware of their corrupt behaviour, writes Dr Evan Jones in the first in a series of articles to come.
    https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/chief-justice-kiefels-role-in-failing-victims-of-bank-malpractice-part-1,10004
    Does NSW have its own DeVos?
    http://www.smh.com.au/national/education/nsw-education-minister-rob-stokes-im-no-expert-on-matters-of-education-20170208-gu815k.html
    Centrelink staff will use debt system inquiry to expose dysfunction, says union.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/feb/08/centrelink-staff-will-use-debt-system-inquiry-to-expose-dysfunction-says-union
    More evidence at the CA Royal Commission that the Catholic church is a “law unto itself”.
    http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/catholic-church-a-law-unto-itself-archbishop-tells-royal-commission-20170207-gu7v6k.html
    Lisa Flynn writes that the revelations at the royal commission of how widespread the child sex abuse was in the Catholic Church has shocked everyone. It really is the first time the community have truly understood how pervasive and extensive this abuse was over the decades in Australia. But believe it or not there will be some good that will come from hearing this horror.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/some-good-will-come-from-the-horror-of-the-royal-commission-20170208-gu7zt2.html
    And the subject of celibacy was examined at some length by the Commission.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/feb/08/catholic-archbishop-tells-abuse-inquiry-celibacy-vows-are-not-to-blame

  9. Section 4 . . .

    ONCE home to asylum seekers the former Inverbrackie Detention Centre in the Adelaide Hills could become a tourist hub under plans being considered by its new owners. Google.
    /news/south-australia/former-inverbrackie-detention-centre-sold-new-owners-plan-tourist-hub/news-story/7ec3eb2cda306893d6737353c8c1398c
    Will questions about former premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen and corrupt police chief Terry Lewis, raised by the Fitzgerald Inquiry into corruption and organised crime, ever be answered?
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/johs-corrupt-police-chief-terry-lewis-may-take-sordid-secrets-to-the-grave,10003
    Windbag Tony Wright got sucked in by Turnbull’s tirade.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-lights-up-parliament-with-savage-attack-on-parasite-bill-shorten-20170208-gu8c0u.html
    Bill Shorten has labelled the Prime Minister’s verbal attack on him earlier on Wednesday a show to “impress the right wing of his party” in order to keep his job.
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/02/08/shorten-says-turnbull-tried-to-impress-right-wing-liberals-with/?utm_hp_ref=au-homepage
    There’s a health card trap in the new superannuation rules. Google.
    /personal-finance/superannuation-and-smsfs/health-card-trap-in-new-superannuation-rules-20170205-gu640s
    Countless interviews, a lengthy press conference, a resignation speech in the Senate – and Cory Bernardi still can’t convince some people why he quit the Liberal Party.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/what-took-you-so-long-to-man-up-cory-bernardi-cant-explain-why-hes-quit-the-liberals-20170207-gu7rzj.html
    Former West Coast Eagles footballer Ben Russell Sharp has pleaded guilty to armed robbery and drug trafficking, blaming his descent on a culture of drug abuse at the AFL club he joined as a teenager in 2004. Nice!
    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/former-west-coast-eagle-pleads-guilty-to-armed-robbery-20170208-gu8k3g.html
    Fair Work Australia has well and truly sorted this mongrel out.
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/02/07/biggest-payout-ever-as-cafe-owner-demanded-staff-pay-back-wages/?utm_hp_ref=au-homepage
    Stephen Koukoulas tells us why a piece of bread, half an avocado and crumbs of feta costs $16.
    https://thekouk.com/item/458-why-a-piece-of-bread-half-an-avocado-and-crumbs-of-feta-costs-16.html

  10. Section 5 . . . Cartoon Corner

    Ron Tandberg and the sinkhole.

    Have a look at this beauty from Alan Moir!

    Mark David takes into the air with Turnbull.

    David Pope combines Bernardi with the Centrelink problem.

    A lovely one from Broelman!

    Getting the Supreme Court prepared for the first test of Trump’s executive orders.

    David Rowe and Postman Malcolm.

    Mark Knight and executive pay at Australia Post.
    http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/6d709b01cf569189a7d1e4560c362fe4?width=1024

  11. There’s another difference between Trumbull’s outburst yesterday and Julia’s misogyny speech. Actually a couple more differences.

    Trumbull prepared his rant in advance, He knew what the MPI would be, he had plenty of time to write notes, collect (allegedly) funny lines, have his speech writers put things together. He, supposedly a great debater, (I haven’t seen any signs of that) doesn’t have the wit or the ability to do an impromptu, off-the-cuff speech about anything. it all has to be scripted. He probably rehearsed the thing in front of a mirror. If only someone could find the notes. “Take off glasses”. “Turn left profile to camera”. “Emphasise point with glasses.” “Pause to allow Barnaby to laugh”. “Smile”. “Frown and pump fist”. And so on.

    His MPs also knew what was coming and they all stayed in the chamber, on orders. Usually when Labor begins an MPI they all leave like startled cockoaches when someone turns on a light, leaving behind only those who are going to respond. As they did on Tuesday when Tim Hammond spoke.

    Julia’s speech was spur of the moment. She says she jotted down a few points during Abbott’s lecture on sexism, but she says once she started it took on a life of its own. No speech writers, no carefully organised jokes, no rehearsing, just straight from the heart.

    One other thing – the whole world took notice of Julia’s speech, women and girls everywhere related to it and loved it. It went viral. Trumbull’s petulant sulk isn’t going to be seen anywhere much, only the Press Gallery and rusted-on conservatives liked it. The MSM have already moved on. It’s no longer headline news, by lunchtime it will have vanished from news sites, by this afternoon it will be forgotten. That’s what will really hurt Trumbull. He wanted a Trumbull speech to rival Julia Giilard’s speech, to attract the same sort of international attention, just to prove to everyone he is not the useless fop Trump thinks he is. All he did was prove he has a mental age of ten and is a nasty bully who becomes angry when someone gets under his skin.

    Has anyone in the Press Gallery said anything about Labor achieving exactly what they wanted yesterday? Labor chose the topic for that MPI, Labor speech writers produced the speech that so angered Trumbull. He responded as they hoped he would. As others have said, Labor did not try to shut down the rant, they let him carry on. Trumbull has been played, beautifully played. One day he might realise that.

    • Leone, in a very good piece in which you nailed Fizzer weel, the following stood out for me: “All he did was prove he has a mental age of ten and is a nasty bully who becomes angry when someone gets under his skin.” You know, that is so spot on. The image of the kid in the playground, upset that the other boys and girls don’t and won’t acknowledge how smart he is, rings true. Oh, Fizzer, we are so sorry for you (please don’t notice that we are giggling away at you, stupid, stuck-up bastard).

  12. Yep, I finally got to see Shorten’s speech late last night (having been out all day), and the first thing I noticed was the look on Turnbull’s face. He had that “I know something you don’t know” expression going on. I’m not sure if I’d have noticed it if I’d been watching in real time, but it stuck out like a sore thumb in retrospect. I’ll bet he had that same look during the Godwin Gretch saga too.

    I managed to get my control group talking about it. I’m not getting much from them though. They seem to think Turnbull being fired up is a good thing, but they don’t seem as keen to defend the actual points Turnbull was trying to make.

    I saw a post on Facebook too. The comments on political FB posts are usually a wild ride, with insults traded and both sides hoeing in. But this was running about 99% anti-Turnbull. I was surprised.

  13. fixed typos

    There is a difference, a big one.
    PM Julia Gillard tapped into deep and ongoing social and personal issues, misogyny, abuse, discrimination and inequality. People, not just women, but especially women, were moved by That Speech. It spoke directly to their, or their close ones, experience.

    Who is Malcolm championing?
    Who will be galvanised by his articulation of their lot?
    Millionaires? Billionaires? Merchant Bankers?

    yeah, go for it Mal.

  14. I Saw the play ‘The Mousetrap’ last night in London’s West End.
    The first rule of Mousetrap is, ‘Never talk about Mousetrap.’

  18. The health card trap in the new superannuation rules –

    Could someone explain to me why a person with $1,6 million needs a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card?

    Isn’t it time we stopped handing freebies to older people who are well able to afford to pay for their prescriptions and the other goodies the card offers?

  19. Turdball continued his nasty attack on Bill Shorten this morning – the media are loving it. However, as usual our Bill didn’t blink an eye but said he felt a bit sorry for the PM because he came in to the job amid high expectations of his ability. I’m sure Turdbull will love it to think Bill merely feels ‘a bit sorry for him’ after all the sticks and stones he hurls at him at every moment.

    • Which raises an interesting speculation: does murpharoo see herself as Mattie Storin to trumball’s FU?

    • Quite apt, really. One definitely extinct creature, one heading rapidly for political extinction.

    • Brian,

      Leone has beaten me to the punch. Mattie Storin was the young journalist with whom FU had an affair, and whom he ultimately murdered.

    • In the original House Of Cards out of the UK, Mattie Storin is an impressionable young journalist Francis Urquhart used to get to the Prime Ministership. When she was no longer useful she was thrown off the balcony, see below

  23. Which raises an interesting speculation: does murpharoo see herself as Mattie Storin to trumball’s FU?

    If she does then she’ll be sorry.

    • Murpharoo is too long in the tooth to still be considered impressionable, although she is actually impressionable.
      Gabrielle Chan, also at The Guardian, is younger and more clear eyed

  26. Mr Shorten’s analysis is pretty good:

    Shorten told reporters in Canberra he was comfortable in his own skin and comfortable with his record representing working people, and the comments were indicative of a prime minister under intense pressure.

    “You all work in Canberra, you hear that the drums are beating,” he said. “There is leadership instability in the ranks of the Liberal party. What he is doing is firing up about his own job.”

    Shorten said he wondered whether all the yelling across the dispatch box was actually a prime minister yelling at himself.

    “The more he yells at me, the more I wonder if he is judging himself,” he said. “The more he yells at me and calls me names, I think he is looking in the mirror and he is worried about the fact he has sold out on climate change, the fact he has sold out on marriage equality, sold out on Australia becoming a republic.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/feb/09/malcolm-turnbull-boasts-of-standing-up-to-billionaires-while-defending-attack-on-shorten

    • “I am myself,” he said. “I am my own man. I can’t be bought by anyone”

      He sold himself to the National Party to become Prime Minister.

  28. It’s so obvious what the government is doing.

    They have been spooked by the latest Newspoll and someone has decided Something Must Be Done to swing things back. Instead of trying to come up with some policies that will help Australians they have decided attacking Shorten is the way to go.

    Barnaby had a go at Shorten this morning. Trumbull had another go. We can expect QT this afternoon to be all about ‘Get Bill’. Labor will continue to ask proper questions about policy and the government’s lack of any, and about instability in the ranks and the government will ask lots of Dixers that allow Trumbull to use the word ‘sycophant’ another eleventy-thirteen times. It’s going to get very stale very quickly.

    Yesterday’s childcare subsidy business was a weak attempt at policy. In itself it’s basically a good idea, although it has flaws. This government being what it is they just couldn’t help themselves and had to encase it in yet another omnibus bill full of nasty zombies.

    Labor has already said they won’t support the bill in its current form.
    http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/breaking-news/no-deal-labor-says-on-childcare-bill/news-story/d6b9b51d15c5887a5c7ce11caca5dfd2

    So why do it? Why make so much fuss about a bill that will never pass? Propaganda, that’s why. Labor bashing. The bill will fail, Turnbull will then start raving about Labor refusing to help families and the MSM will all into line with ‘Bad Labor’ and lots of gushing about Malcolm and his non-existent mojo.

  29. Barnaby says farmers should be paid for CSG mining on their land.

    Hmmmmm.

    Wouldn’t have anything to do with this would it?

    Election 2016: Santos has CSG plans in remote area where Barnaby Joyce owns land
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2016/election-2016-santos-has-csg-plans-in-remote-area-where-barnaby-joyce-owns-land-20160606-gpcupq.html

    And –
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/barnaby-joyces-pilliga-pillage,5796

    http://www.theland.com.au/story/3587224/joyce-will-sell-pilliga-properties/?cs=4951

    In 2013 Barnaby announced he would sell that land to avoid any accusations of conflict of interest. In June last year he still owned it and I can’t find any indication the land has since been sold.

  33. http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/why-south-australias-blackouts-are-a-problem-for-us-all/news-story/bc3bbc8be17d80844bc05ab7f5760d56

    http://www.farmonline.com.au/story/4456684/senate-to-investigate-apvma-relocation/

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-09/political-donations-industry-dataset/8229192

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-09/compensation-push-for-australian-volkswagen-drivers/8252342

    http://reneweconomy.com.au/high-energy-prices-blame-fossil-fuel-generators-not-renewables-84196/

    • Sounds like the Australian electricity generators have learnt from Enron in California in the 1990s

  37. Very pleased that “Waldorf” Ian Macdonald is having a huge dummy spit about losing the Gold Pass perks. It does mean that Fizza’s got something right, but it’s nice to get a bit of payback against one who’s run a consistent spoiling and obstruction program for the government, along with “Statler” Barry O’Sullivan.
    http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/ian-macdonald-defends-pollies-perks-threatens-split-with-government-over-life-gold-pass-20170209-gu8xl5.html

  38. Today’s MPI –

    Ms Plibersek (Deputy Leader of the Opposition)
    “The Government’s $30 billion of cuts to schools hurting Australian children.”

  40. I saw a bit of Trumbull’s attack on Adam Bandt, it was sickening and I turned it off.

    From Trumbull’s repulsive answer it;s clear he will happily send more Australians off to whatever war the US want. All Trump has to so is ask and Trumbull will send off the troops.

    • It’s also clear that, after securing the support of the Greens for the Senate changes and a couple of other things last year, Turnbull has basically come out and said he hates them. The Greens are Charlie Brown and the Liberals are Lucy.

  42. Obviously the Liberal Party big guns have all gone back to Tiberius’s – oops – Trumbull’s office to quaff champagne and congratulate themselves on another QT filled with failing to answer any Labor questions. A couple of also-rans have been delegated to respond to Tanya’s education MPI and have lied their arses off in good old Liberal fashion.

    Note the difference to yesterday’s MPI – the government troops couldn’t wait to get out of the chamber. Stampeding cattle have nothing on this mob.

    Te PG crew will be disappointed there was no encore performance from Mojo Mongrel Malcolm.

  43. Sometimes I wonder if a non-satirical news program will end up like this. Although that moment has probably come and gone somewhere.

  44. msm will be disappointed with this result. Has anyone heard any radio talkback about yesterdays off the planet rant? We were out early for foot doctor, who by the way, are now charging $5, so I guess lnp have cut their rebates too.

  49. I watched Mal’s tirade of unsubstantiated abuse in parl’t. What a wangker! Accusing shorten of wanting to be like him! What genius thought that would work?

  50. I don’t like Trumble’s chances on this one

    The government is attempting to stymie plans by Department of Human Services staff to strike next week, arguing the protests are purely designed to pressure the ministers over its automated debt recovery system.

    The strikes, announced on Monday, are designed to protest against job cuts, the protracted enterprise agreement negotiations, and problems with the automated debt recovery system.

    The department said the industrial action had nothing to do with enterprise bargaining, and was instead designed to ramp up pressure over the debt clawback system.

    “The applicant alleges that the CPSU has organised the action to pressure the department and the government … in relation to the operation of its online compliance intervention system,” the application said.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/feb/09/government-launches-bid-to-stop-centrelink-staff-strike

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