Thank you, most wonderful Dragon aka Puffy, for coming to the rescue with the following thread-starter:
Our pollies are toppling over like nine-pins under S44 of our Constitution
South Australia and Victoria find out the water allocations upstream are not all smooth flowing, in fact the stench of rotting fish hangs about the air.
Barnaby has been ranting over few coldies and not all are happy.
The international bat-dung crazy embarrassment, The Peter Principle President of the USA, decided a serviceperson’s sexuality is more important than if they can operate millions of dolalrs worth of lethal machinery of war. There will be no lace in the armed services!
The ALP is busy developing policy, getting their message out and not interrupting an enemy while he is shooting himself in both feet.
And our fearless Prime Minister is….
so just relax…
I found a web archive version, someone must have saved ot there quick
“Liberal members opposing plebiscite warned they risk ‘destroying’ Coalition’
Sorry, join the queue.
So they are good for something,
Charming!
One Nation’s Brian Burston Slammed For Islamophobic Meme On Facebook
The post was riddled with factual errors and grammar mistakes.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2017/08/02/one-nations-brian-burston-slammed-for-islamophobic-meme-on-face_a_23061001/
I really despair for this country. People vote for barely literate loons like Burston. FFS! Why?
The foolish and ignorant vote in their own likeness.
Selfish … Not caring about the well-being of their nation.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
Mark Kenny says Turnbull could well be experiencing a near-death experience over ME.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/could-marriage-showdown-bring-down-malcolm-turnbulls-government-20170802-gxnkix.html
Peter Martin says that Bill Shorten’s onto something with inequality.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/hilda-why-were-suddenly-concerned-about-inequality-things-have-stopped-getting-better-20170802-gxnmo1.html
Meanwhile stagnant wage growth is beginning to limit Turnbull’s budget options. Google.
/business/opinion/david-uren-economics/stagnant-wages-beginning-to-limit-turnbulls-options/news-story/f577355c6a0a049c4a465df5a9356cfe
Warren Entsch has had enough of many of his colleagues and tells them to grow a pair.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/all-im-asking-for-is-to-have-a-bloody-vote-liberal-mp-warren-entsch-20170802-gxnomk.html
Niki Savva says that Turnbull is stuck in a terrain of rocks and a hard place with SSM. Google.
/opinion/columnists/niki-savva/turnbull-stuck-in-terrain-of-rocks-and-hard-places/news-story/b27bb16b53c4f2985fdf784c4409116d
Turnbull’s own words on a SSM plebiscite are being used to shoot him down.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/scorching-malcolm-turnbull-quotes-resurface-as-push-for-samesex-marriage-postal-plebiscite-grows-20170802-gxnpn0.html
James Campbell tells us why the Liberal’s can’t win the SSM debate. Google.
/news/opinion/james-campbell/why-liberals-cant-win-marriage-equality-debate/news-story/675eb44d391a7904a0fbec9b0f42d4a1
Josh Butler explains why a postal plebiscite is a terrible idea.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/our-parliament-is-in-crisis-over-s44-technicality–not-inequality,10565
David Crowe thinks that Malcolm Turnbull is moving to shut down a party room revolt over same-sex marriage by using a secret ballot of government MPs to cement a ¬“people’s vote” to decide the ¬reform, amid ¬growing signs that Liberal rebels will lose their bid to overturn the policy. A smart move it he can get away with it! Google.
/national-affairs/turnbull-eyes-secret-ballot-to-end-samesex-marriage-row/news-story/35ca0ee5f96ad1a5ecfd40e708cd8b5e
Section 2 . . .
Today is ICAC/AWH day.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/icac-to-release-longawaited-report-on-australian-water-holdings-20170802-gxnjkr.html
Big insurer AAMI is playing funny buggers.
http://www.theage.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/how-is-this-legal-insurer-aami-criticised-for-ad-that-looks-like-bill-20170801-gxn10p.html
As were the makers of Nurofen.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/nurofen-settles-35m-class-action-20170802-gxo5m6.html
This editorial from the SMH homes in on the Murray-Darling Scheme.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/we-should-refrain-from-converting-murraydarling-water-scandal-into-a-disaster-20170802-gxno98.html
This suggestion on managing the MDB could have merit.
https://theconversation.com/tax-returns-for-water-satellite-audited-statements-can-save-the-murray-darling-81833
Judith Ireland says that citizenship for MPs is a can of worms but it needs to be opened.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/citizenship-issue-is-a-can-of-worms-but-it-has-to-be-opened-20170801-gxmtut.html
John Warhurst writes on section 44 “Fear of change leads to the politics of the status quo. There is fatigue in the air about constitutional politics which must be challenged because, if it is not, constitutional change of any sort may become a thing of the past.”
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/section-44-reform-demands-bold-leadership-constitutional-change-20170802-gxnk2v.html
The s44 fiasco has already taken decent Senators but forcing Roberts out to be replaced by Hanson’s sister is hardly democratic reform writes John Passant.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/our-parliament-is-in-crisis-over-s44-technicality–not-inequality,10565
Jonathan Freedland says that Trump’s views on Britain show him up for the narcissist he is.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/02/donald-trump-britain-narcissist-wall-street-journal-brexit-us-trade-deal
Section 3 . . .
Bosses at the Immigration Department will get a second pay rise inside eight months while a freeze on salary growth remains for rank-and-file workers locked in a marathon bargaining dispute.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/immigration-hands-bosses-pay-rises-as-frontline-bargaining-dispute-continues-20170802-gxnmyz.html
Pilots have found further flaws in Australian airport screening.
http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2017/08/02/pilots-better-screening-australia-airports/
Researchers Tony Shields and Rod Campbell at The Australia Institute expose Santos’ wilful and exaggerated economic assessments (known in the trade as “strategic misrepresentation’) to win government approval for its controversial Narrabri coal seam gas project. There’s a disappearing $2 billion involved.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/the-tale-of-santos-coal-seam-gas-and-the-disappearing-2-billion/
Donald Trump on Wednesday backed legislation that would see the United States introduce an Australian-style skills-based immigration system, replacing a decades-old policy that favours family ties.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-backs-us-bill-to-introduce-australianstyle-immigration-system-20170802-gxo6ke.html
Trump has signed a “seriously flawed” bill imposing new sanctions on Russia.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-signs-russia-sanctions-bill-but-says-its-seriously-flawed-20170802-gxo69i.html
Eryk Bagshaw writes that the Turnbull government could be forced to choose between the military security of the US and the economic opportunity of China, experts warn, as President Donald Trump considers launching the first strike in a superpower trade war that could cause widespread damage to the Australian economy.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australia-should-take-trumps-trade-threats-against-china-very-seriously-lowy-institute-20170802-gxnk4c.html
Justice Peter McClellan says reliance on criminal cross examination damages vulnerable witnesses like children or sexual assault victims.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/aug/02/court-system-is-unfair-and-traumatic-for-child-sexual-abuse-victims-inquiry-chair-says
The world’s largest tobacco peddler has been caught moving millions of dollars in cash across international borders.
https://newmatilda.com/2017/08/02/exclusive-where-theres-smokes-theres-fire-and-lots-of-illegal-cash/
Section 4 . . .
Loopholes in Victoria’s new smoking laws have been quickly exploited.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/new-smoking-bans-are-riddled-with-loopholes-20170802-gxno7u.html
Police have released CCTV footage in an appeal for information about two suspicious fires at a building linked to corrupt former MP Eddie Obeid. Surely not!
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/cctv-footage-shows-people-in-building-linked-to-obeids-before-suspicious-fire-20170801-gxnh8f.html
Being an arsehole came at a high price for this guy!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/company-fined-record-660000-for-paying-refugee-worker-as-little-as-350-an-hour-20170802-gxnrsf.html
Superannuation trustees deal in risk on a daily basis, and are welcome to construct portfolios and investment options that bear a very high level of climate risk if they want. But not knowing or considering climate risk – that’s simply not good enough.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/energy/this-is-the-climate-risk-jolt-that-super-funds-need-20170802-gxnwst.html
Bill O’Chee says that children have a right to discuss their religious beliefs at school. (But avoids asking whether or not their parents have the right to poison them from birth).
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-hermit/school-children-have-a-right-to-discuss-their-religious-beliefs-20170802-gxnupq.html
Companies are in for a wild ride as office accommodation in Sydney and Melbourne fills up.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/property/wild-ride-tipped-as-office-towers-fill-up-20170802-gxnky3.html
Australians would no longer be able to receive wages in cash, and industries classified as being at “high risk” of illegally taking secret cash-in-hand payments including cafes and restaurants could be subject to a minimum rate of tax, which they could claim a refund on if they can prove to the tax man that they should be paying a lower rate. The black economy taskforce continues its examination.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/no-more-cash-wages-says-black-economy-taskforce-20170802-gxnxp8.html
Section 5 . . .
Australia’s climate research is in “urgent” need of dozens more scientists to help prepare farmers, businesses and governments for the expected worsening effects of global warming, the Australian Academy of Science said. I wonder how this came about!
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/more-climate-scientists-urgently-needed-for-australia-academy-says-20170802-gxnp6m.html
Environment groups say they have scored a “massive victory” against coal mining in Sydney’s water catchment area after the NSW Court of Appeal found that consent should not have been granted to a mine near Lithgow. Will this prove to be in interesting legal precedent?
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/consent-for-polluting-coal-mine-in-sydneys-water-catchment-invalid-court-finds-20170802-gxnkrr.html
Jim Pembroke ponders Malcolm Turnbull’s impressive fear mongering, which has accompanied the latest alleged terror threat.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/terror-bomb-plot-quick-australia-get-under-the-doona-covers,10566
Apple, the world’s biggest company, has been undergoing a subtle transformation in recent years. From the maker of iconic devices, to… a giant fee collection vehicle? This is why I won’t go near them.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/innovation/the-subtle-transformation-of-apple-from-phone-pioneer-to-fee-collector-20170802-gxnjtb.html
Happy criminal families!
http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/it-shouldnt-have-happened-to-me-i-didnt-deserve-it-shot-mum-bares-scars-20170801-gxn8j2.html
Industry body Australian Payments Network has revealed that transactions made using stolen credit card details accounted for 78 per cent of more than $530 million in total netted by fraudsters last year.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/online-credit-card-fraud-on-the-rise-accounting-for-78-per-cent-of-total-card-fraud-in-australia-20170802-gxnwd7.html
Section 6 . . . Cartoon Corner
Cathy Wilcox and a Foxtel goal.
Down the inequality hole with John Shakespeare.
Broelman visits the AFL match review panel.
Paul Zanetti catches Turnbull out.
Glen leFevre and Turnbull’s trouble with dykes. Oops! Unintentional pun.
David Pope puts some perspective into the delaying tactics of the right wing warriors.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0
General Kelly has instilled military precision into the White House already.
With some very ugly imagery David Rowe infers General Kelly will have his work cut out.
Section 3 . . .
Bosses at the Immigration Department will get a second pay rise inside eight months while a freeze on salary growth remains for rank-and-file workers locked in a marathon bargaining dispute.
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/immigration-hands-bosses-pay-rises-as-frontline-bargaining-dispute-continues-20170802-gxnmyz.html
Pilots have found further flaws in Australian airport screening.
http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2017/08/02/pilots-better-screening-australia-airports/
Researchers Tony Shields and Rod Campbell at The Australia Institute expose Santos’ wilful and exaggerated economic assessments (known in the trade as “strategic misrepresentation’) to win government approval for its controversial Narrabri coal seam gas project. There’s a disappearing $2 billion involved.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/the-tale-of-santos-coal-seam-gas-and-the-disappearing-2-billion/
Donald Trump on Wednesday backed legislation that would see the United States introduce an Australian-style skills-based immigration system, replacing a decades-old policy that favours family ties.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-backs-us-bill-to-introduce-australianstyle-immigration-system-20170802-gxo6ke.html
Section 3a . . .
Trump has signed a “seriously flawed” bill imposing new sanctions on Russia.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trump-signs-russia-sanctions-bill-but-says-its-seriously-flawed-20170802-gxo69i.html
Eryk Bagshaw writes that the Turnbull government could be forced to choose between the military security of the US and the economic opportunity of China, experts warn, as President Donald Trump considers launching the first strike in a superpower trade war that could cause widespread damage to the Australian economy.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australia-should-take-trumps-trade-threats-against-china-very-seriously-lowy-institute-20170802-gxnk4c.html
Justice Peter McClellan says reliance on criminal cross examination damages vulnerable witnesses like children or sexual assault victims.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/aug/02/court-system-is-unfair-and-traumatic-for-child-sexual-abuse-victims-inquiry-chair-says
The world’s largest tobacco peddler has been caught moving millions of dollars in cash across international borders.
https://newmatilda.com/2017/08/02/exclusive-where-theres-smokes-theres-fire-and-lots-of-illegal-cash/
Section 5 . . .
Australia’s climate research is in “urgent” need of dozens more scientists to help prepare farmers, businesses and governments for the expected worsening effects of global warming, the Australian Academy of Science said. I wonder how this came about!
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/more-climate-scientists-urgently-needed-for-australia-academy-says-20170802-gxnp6m.html
Environment groups say they have scored a “massive victory” against coal mining in Sydney’s water catchment area after the NSW Court of Appeal found that consent should not have been granted to a mine near Lithgow. Will this prove to be in interesting legal precedent?
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/consent-for-polluting-coal-mine-in-sydneys-water-catchment-invalid-court-finds-20170802-gxnkrr.html
Jim Pembroke ponders Malcolm Turnbull’s impressive fear mongering, which has accompanied the latest alleged terror threat.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/terror-bomb-plot-quick-australia-get-under-the-doona-covers,10566
Section 5a . . .
Apple, the world’s biggest company, has been undergoing a subtle transformation in recent years. From the maker of iconic devices, to… a giant fee collection vehicle? This is why I won’t go near them.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/innovation/the-subtle-transformation-of-apple-from-phone-pioneer-to-fee-collector-20170802-gxnjtb.html
Happy criminal families!
http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/it-shouldnt-have-happened-to-me-i-didnt-deserve-it-shot-mum-bares-scars-20170801-gxn8j2.html
Industry body Australian Payments Network has revealed that transactions made using stolen credit card details accounted for 78 per cent of more than $530 million in total netted by fraudsters last year.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/online-credit-card-fraud-on-the-rise-accounting-for-78-per-cent-of-total-card-fraud-in-australia-20170802-gxnwd7.html
The Daily Toilet paper goes the full Rupert today with this effort.
.
Meanwhile over at the GG there are happier headlines. True or not it is good to see such speculation over there
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/pm-to-lose-job-before-end-of-year-says-credlin/news-story/84253c3cefc92500c51f1a7312559e39
BK,
Sorry – I was a bit late this morning. All fixed now.
Mark Kenny lifted all the stuff from Buzzfeed, no acknowledgement.
Bosses at the Immigration Department get a second pay rise in a year while the plebs get nothing – the department for torturing refugees and turning back boats really has morphed into Animal Farm.
If the refugees were animals, people would be outraged,and Animal Rights would relentlessly be after the govt.
It won’t make employees happy.
https://www.thelocal.fr/20170802/french-parliament-approves-macrons-drive-to-reform-labour-laws
This is hilarious, should be more of it.
Re the NBN: I note the our political media, having faithfully and unquestioningly reported all Turnbull’s talk about FTTN being “faster,cheaper and more affordable”, and then shutting out or ignoring all the warning voices about what a disaster it was going to be, and then faithfully and unquestioningly reporting all of NBNCo’s claims about how well the rollout was going, have now moved seamlessly into their “where did it all go wrong?” phase.
They are in fact getting very close to the “why didn’t anyone tell us?” phase. I’m looking forward to all the unforeseen circumstances and factors beyond their control and the belated realisation the the old copper network was in worse condition than they expected. And then the cautious suggestion that maybe FTTP was a better idea “if only we had known that at the time…”
Should be fun.
You can’t find anyone in the industry – be that IT geeks, NBN installers, Telstra people, JB hi-fi sales reps, tradies, bloggers or anyone else who uses a computer EXCEPT NBN CO executives – who has more than contempt for the disaster that Turnbull willingly foisted upon us with his “Faster, Cheaper, Sooner” Big Lie.
It is a monumental cock-up, a national scandal (and a national laughing-stock that has made us the butt of joke worldwide), a vicious, unnecessary piece of political bastardry, and a condemnation of the average IQ of the Australian voter who fell for the blarney that Abbott and Turnbull put out.
We are worse off than we were before, because to fix the problem we have to rip out most of the current disease-ridden NBN infrastructure and start again.
BILLIONS have been flushed down the gurgle hole of history.
Labor doesn’t get off scot-free either. It was their idea, and a brilliant, far-seeing one too. But they refused to sell it, or even speak in favour of it, except with tepid TV ads that took the politically correct line which advertized only medical and educational benefits: all good, solid bonuses, but boring as bat shit. Labor ran for cover as soon as the Murdoch media went after their purely optical NBN.They squibbed it – and still seem to be squibbing it – too afraid of their own shadows, or of criticism from the RWNJs who have gotten us to the situation where it is taken as a given that Labor fucked their own NBN and would have taken a hundred years to build it. It is a disgrace that Labor still won’t stand up for the NBN they envisioned and which would have truly transformed Australia in so many ways, from easing pressure on infrastructure to enabling business to be done almost anywhere in the country.
The Liberals don’t give a stuff. They wrecked it pursuant to a Faustian bargain with Murdoch who promised support for them in return for a nobbling of his competitors inthe media streaming business. But of course it’s come back to bite him, because now Murdoch is as much a victim of the pathetic, slow speeds as anyone else is. They wrecked it for nothing.
As to the media, don’t expect them to ever admit they were wrong, or (probably more accurately) went along with Turnbull’s Big Lie. They – all of them – were more interested in Julia Gillard’s big bum, Rudd’s Return and the laugh-a-minute circus that was the Tony Abbott Machine to give a shit about something with real potential like a national, fast, ubiquitous broadband network.
All that’s left of it now is the name. Turnbull and his crony mates are fantastic at keeping the facade while gutting the rest of the building. They steal the brand and ditch the product, then make themselves out to be heroes. In this area, and some others lately, I’ve seen the most egregious failures simply declared to be brilliant successes, and the media scribbles it all down.
We are at a turning point in Australia, between utterly incapable government and the promise of the future. The “NBN” is just a token for the mindless political proxy wars that go on and on, recycling the same substance with slightly different emphases and source material, be it the NBN, water rights, health, education or equality. We’ve dug our own graves and I’m not certain we’re going to be able to get out of them easily.
Labor’s NBN, with FTTH, was due to arrive at my place a year ago. This area would have been one of the last to get it. Turnbull’s mess is due to arrive here later this month and it will be FTTN. There’s still more than half the rollout to go. I expect my speed, when I get around to connecting (I’m in no hurry) will be lucky to reach 12 because of the woeful condition of the copper connection. I’ve been told for 27 years now that the piece of copper that connects my home to the line needs immediate replacement. Every Telstra techie who comes here (there have been lots, because of that faulty bit of copper) has told me this, every one of them has reported it. I’m still waiting. One of the techies said ‘Don’t expect them to hurry’. That was about eight years ago. He wondered why I laughed. Labor’s NBN would have seen that copper finally replaced, and I was excited about finally having a decent connection to the world.
Now I won’t have that.
That;s the difference, put very simply, and it blows Turnbuul’s ‘faster, sooner, cheaper’ rubbish right out of the water. The MSM have told us over and over that the roll-out was progressing faster than Labor’s rollout. Well, derr!. Labor had to set up the whole process and had barely begun the actual installation when the idiot voters of this benighted country decided to change governments. The Abbott and Turnbull governments just had to keep on going, following Labor’s plan, and they managed to stuff that up too. It has taken longer to achieve less, and it will take another year or so to finally finish the Turnbull abortion. Just in time for a new Labor government to have to start re-doing all that useless, expensive work.
What angeredme was that despite the whole project being put back a couple of years by Telstra’s nobbling of it, and then the asbestos beat-up, it didn’t get really started until late.
But the Liberals insisted on using the original start date – two years or more before the actual start date – to extrapoate a finish time inthe year 2286 (or whatever it was), based on rate of installations. By adding in those two dead years and then averaging the rate out the Libs – will the willing acquiescence of the media – perpetrated the lie that the whole project was decades behind schedule.
The second Big Lie was to define the benefits of the NBN in terms of doing it cheaper. As many have joked, two tin cans and a piece of taut string would have been cheap, but would they have been good enough? Of course not! Cheaper doesn’t mean anything if what you get is dysfunctional, and has to be fully replaced all over again. The media again joined in the kicking.
I didn’t see anyone on the Labor side object to that bullshit and try to explain just why it was an unfair criticism. Sure, they would have probably been accused of “blaming the weather” or something similar, and yes, “Pink Batts” and “Tin Sheds” would have been brought up again, but at least Labor could have tried to explain the problem. They didn’t. Instead they put up those pathetic touchy-feely TV ads that said nothing to no-one, and mumbled something about remote controlled robotic operations.
The NBN (as it is called) is this government’s biggest scandal. They have absolutely shovelled money down a sink-hole of national waste, but the most criticism you hear of it is a few whingeing hoburbanites saying their speeds are slower. THAT is the SYMPTOM, not the problem.
what does a crooked politician do when she runs out of staff to blame? She claims the weather has it in for her.
One Nation breaches Queensland electoral laws multiple times, blames weather and computer
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-03/one-nation-blames-weather-for-multiple-electoral-law-breaches/8767946
Funny isn’t it. So many things could and should destroy this government and it looks like marriage equality, a minor issue compared to big things like growing inequality, the dismantling of Medicare and the wreck of the NBN, is likely to be the one that does it in the end by tearing the Liberal Party apart.
The Prime Minister Has Called An Emergency Liberal Party Meeting For Monday Next Week
With tensions running high around marriage equality, Malcolm Turnbull has called a special meeting of the party for Monday afternoon
https://www.buzzfeed.com/aliceworkman/turnbull-meeting?utm_term=.rq9WbM6W4#.dl81ek61o
Will the existence of Potato Blight in Australia be confirmed?
Personally, I don’t think Labor’s handling of the NBN was the problem. The NBN wreckage was just a casualty. Abbott’s hit squad won the 2013 election for a variety of reasons, mostly to do with undermining Slipper and thus perpetrating chaos on the ALP, also with their utterly stupid but highly sellable border security policy, and of course Rudd being oh so willing to let his ambitions wreck his party.
I seem to recall a lot of people being very regretful that they were voting away a proper NBN, but they rationalised it away as being for a ‘higher good’ – you know, ‘fixing the economic mess’, ‘paying off the debt’, ‘helping small business’, ‘cutting red and green tape’, ‘securing our borders’ and the one that was uppermost in their minds, ‘ending the chaos in Parliament’. People generally believed that NBN was down their list of priorities, which is (as everything always is) the fault of both the Liberals and the media, who were both more than happy to distort the issues to suit their means.
We endured an era of utter stupidly and hysteria around 2012-13. A lot of good things got trashed for no good reason. The NBN was just one of them.
Yes, yes, yes and might I say I totally agree with you again, Aguirre.
Time for a Royal Commission.
What’ll you make of this, Trumble?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/aug/03/commonwealth-bank-accused-of-money-laundering-and-terrorism-financing-breaches
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-03/laurie-oakes-to-retire/8771236
And what did you do to improve it?
In other words – Oakes realises he won’t be able to swing the next election to favour the Liberal Party, as he did in 2013, so he’s getting out before there’s any mention of an early election.
Just another rat abandoning a rapidly sinking ship.
That’s one gone I won’t miss. More to go. Suggestions: Michelle, Barry and Kate.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-03/icac-credo-findings-corrupt-conduct-obeid-tripodi-kelly/8769534
I’d love to see Joe Tripodi behind bars for a very long time.
NSW Labor should have dumped Tripodi in 2000, when allegations of sexual assault were made, but they chose to defend him and kept promoting him.
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s206484.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Tripodi
Tripodi has always been corrupt.
No complaints here, but what about seenodonors and the others?
Leigh Sales has lost her mojo: forgot to interrupt Bill Shorten more than twice.
Leone,
Tribodi has always reminded me of one of these:
leaving a sticky, icky trail behind him.
I accept that my opinion is very unfair to the slug.
To be fair to slugs – Tripodi is just the slime slugs leave behind.
Excellent point, Leone!
Speaking of slime –
Sophie Mirabella in court over defamation case
TESSA AKERMAN
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/sophie-mirabella-back-in-court-over-defamation-case/news-story/8b612a940af7a84cfb9eb89912cddc4a
Sorry if already posted but just caught up with PvO’s best ever pollie interview. Check it out. Hopefully it will start a trend .
https://www.southburnetttimes.com.au/videos/politician-cut-short-when-refuses-talk/51810/
My 17yr old Tenterfield Terrier, Chelsea aka Olde Woman Chelsea passed away in her sleep in my bed early this morning. I woke to find she had passed away. I am glad she had the peaceful end, fitting for all her loyalty and affection for 17 years. Vale Chelsea.
Good way to go.
Vale Chelsea –
Thank you.
Happy memories:
puffy
A lovely, peaceful end to a good life – that’s what we would all want. Vale Chelsea, a grand old lady.
More finger-wagging coming up. Next week.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/aug/03/turnbull-summons-major-power-company-heads-to-discuss-lowering-utility-bills
I am sure after a talking to from PM they will lower electricity and gas prices. Look at how he improved behaviour of banks after talking to them,
Will also make PM look like he doing something, cares. Coincidence might divert attention from his other woes.
Now, about the Commonwealth Bank …
When Fizz called Twitter Boy
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/03/trump-transcripts-australia-mexico-narcissism
Trump said he hated these people. PM denied they were criminals, saying they are economic refugees. We are lucky to have such humane leaders in this day and age, are we not.
Robert Hardy dead
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2017/aug/03/robert-hardy-harry-potter-actor-dies
He should be remembered more for his Siegfried Farnon. Not that many younger than fifty would remember.
He should be remembered not only for his Siegfried, but for all the other work he did. Harry Potter was not his entire career.
He appeared in just about every iconic British TV series. He played Winston Churchill a couple of times. He turned up in dozens of movies. His body of work is amazing.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0362735/
Another piece of trouble for Fizza
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/aug/04/bill-shorten-calls-for-finalising-of-referendum-question-on-indigenous-voice-in-parliament
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. In breaking news Mueller has just announced the formation of a Grand Jury on the Russia probe.
Latika Bourke gives us the lowdown on THAT telephone conversation between Trump and Turnbull. Ouch!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/leaked-call-transcript-reveals-trump-told-turnbull-you-are-worse-than-i-am-on-refugees-20170803-gxp0oh.html
A decade on from the start of the global financial crisis, voters think stimulus was money well spent, despite attacks over its size and claims of waste.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/aug/04/ten-years-on-voters-say-labors-52bn-stimulus-saved-australia-from-recession
Kate McClymont returns to the ICAC story and looks at n=what might be ahead for the star turns.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/exlabor-ministers-joe-tripodi-and-tony-kelly-found-corrupt-in-bid-to-enrich-eddie-obeid-20170802-gxo4ux.html
Sean Nichols writes that the ICAC findings should cause Turnbull to act on political donations. Failure to do so can only add to the suspicion that our federal political leaders are deliberately putting their own interests ahead of those of the Australian people.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/icac-findings-why-malcolm-turnbull-should-act-20170802-gxo9em.html
John Hewson is right on the money here as he homes in on the internecine problems the Coalition has with the SSM issue.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/john-hewson-egos-driving-samesex-marriage-vote-ignore-issues-of-the-majority-20170803-gxoaqu.html
Laura Tingle lets fly on our “useless bunch of indulgent politicians”. Google.
/opinion/a-useless-bunch-of-indulgent-politicians-who-deserve-to-be-turfed-20170803-gxonj5
A group of conservative Labor MPs are threatening to blow up any last-ditch attempt by Liberal rebels to legalise same-sex marriage, with the numbers in both chambers hanging by a thread.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/the-labor-mps-who-could-blow-up-rebel-liberals-samesex-marriage-plans-20170802-gxnkp7.html
Michael Koziol on the “emergency meeting” that Turnbull has called for Monday. He reports that constitutional expert George Williams has also warned a postal vote “could explode in the government’s face” if not underpinned by legislation.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-calls-emergency-liberal-party-meeting-to-debate-samesex-marriage-20170803-gxoh6h.html
Section 2 . . .
Richo says that the Liberals are ready to sink with Turnbull. Google.
/opinion/columnists/graham-richardson/liberals-are-ready-to-sink-with-malcolm-turnbull/news-story/38751719c6fbf27436f892fdc8f8258d
Warren Entsch has had enough and unloads on “gutless” colleagues.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/all-im-asking-for-is-to-have-a-bloody-vote-liberal-mp-warren-entsch-20170802-gxnomk.html
Michelle Grattan puts in her piece on the Coalition’s “marriage on the rocks”. She refers to Turnbull’s penchant for inconsistency. She says that the contrast this week between a riven government and a united, policy-centred opposition was dramatic.
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-marriage-on-the-rocks-in-divided-liberal-party-82033
Simon Benson writes that Turnbull’s authority and ultimately his grip on the leadership will turn on the outcome of next Monday’s party room meeting, called to again resolve the Coalition’s position on gay marriage. Google.
/opinion/pms-future-depends-on-issue-that-wont-go-away/news-story/ce0c363a76ab5db5ca937be3d5100091
PM in the wings, Peter Dutton, has asked MPs to keep comments to party room and calls on Andrew Broad to stay in the fold following his threat to resign if plebiscite promise broken.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/aug/03/marriage-equality-dutton-urges-coalition-to-rein-in-emotional-views
Peter van Onselen had a very short and humiliating interview with Tim Wilson yesterday.
https://newmatilda.com/2017/08/03/time-wilson-destroyed-in-what-could-be-the-shortest-political-interview-in-history/
Matthew Knott takes exception to Turnbull blaming the media for his SSM woes.
http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/how-many-pollies-does-it-take-to-open-a-perth-freeway-extension-20170803-gxokrb.html
Waleed Aly on why Trump can’t kill off Obamacare. He draws some interesting parallels with Australia since 2013.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-sterile-politics-of-anger-20170802-gxo7oy.html
Clive Palmer has declared his fugitive nephew Clive Mensink has left Australia for good, as the resources magnate battles to stop liquidators freezing $219 million worth of his assets. Google.
/news/investigations/clive-palmer/mensink-gone-for-good-says-clive-palmer/news-story/56d1c768b078b8e3a738e0f43d08a453
Amy Remeikis writes that the creation of a new category of not-for-profit journalism in Australia could be enough to convince crossbenchers to pass the government’s changes to media laws.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/notforprofit-journalism-push-could-help-australian-media-changes-over-the-line-20170803-gxolo4.html
Seems PM told Trump he could save face by just assessing refugees., He didn’t have to take any, ABC News Breakfast. Full transcript worse.
Section 3 . . .
Mark Kenny tells us that Turnbull has thrown the switch to brow-beating, calling in the nation’s biggest electricity retailers for face-to-face talks next Wednesday in a bid to curb galloping household and business electricity bills, and improve their market sensitivity.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/feel-the-power-malcolm-turnbull-summons-electricity-retailers-to-canberra-for-summit-20170803-gxotv1.html
Adele Ferguson unloads on the latest CBA shocking allegations. She says that despite a series of parliamentary and industry inquiries and a series of mea culpas of sorts by various bank bosses, it seems mistrust is increasing and the scandals keep coming. Royal Commission anyone?
http://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/fake-names-drug-lords-suspicious-trading-and-cba-20170803-gxov29.html
Former Australian Statistician Bill McLennan says the Independent Assurance Panel’s ‘Report on the Quality of 2106 Census Data’ is the flawed outcome of a sloppy process, which glosses over significant failures by the ABS.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/former-chief-statistician-condemns-censusfail-whitewash,10571
A Sydney-born terrorism plot to place a bomb on a passenger plane was dangerously close to being carried out before it was unwittingly thwarted at an airline check-in counter.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-terrorist-plot-bid-to-smuggle-bomb-through-airport-thwarted-at-checkin-20170803-gxodlz.html
How many pollies does it take to open a Perth freeway extension?
http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/how-many-pollies-does-it-take-to-open-a-perth-freeway-extension-20170803-gxokrb.html
Another by-election in NSW as Robbo announces he’ll be quitting next month.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/former-labor-leader-john-robertson-to-quit-parliament-20170803-gxomp8.html
Leading retailers of Australian broadband ISP services say the NBN pricing model is broken, making high-speed internet connections too expensive for most domestic customers.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/exclusive-retail-isps-say-nbn-pricing-model-must-change,10570
The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank writes that the way Trump plays golf tells us a lot about the man.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/donald-trumps-golf-game-tells-us-an-awful-lot-about-him-20170803-gxoylu.html
Section 4 . . .
The inept, dishonest and unethical continue to prosper at the expense of the decent under this mendacious Government, all supported by its press gallery cheer squad, writes legal expert Ingrid Matthews.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/and-another-thing-path-transfers-public-resources-direct-to-business,10569
If things weren’t already terrible for the Turnbull Government on marriage equality, the prime minister and deputy prime minister are front and centre in two other big problems. Crikey’s politics editor, Bernard Keane, reports in Michael West’s website. Very good reading!
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/if-ssm-doesnt-wreck-the-government-nbn-or-murray-darling-disasters-might/
After months of discrediting the mainstream media as fake news, US President Donald Trump has launched his own news program hosted by his daughter-in-law. Is there no end to this idiot?
http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2017/08/03/donald-trump-real-news/
Garry Linnell looks at the career of Laurie Oakes.
http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/laurie-oakes-said-one-word-and-i-tumbled-out-of-the-hammock-20170803-gxosub.html
The recent surge in the Australian dollar has led to a sell-off in stocks of companies exposed to US dollar earnings, but Macquarie reckons the falls have been overdone. Our strong currency is a phantom menace, he says.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/currencies/aussie-dollar-strength-a-phantom-menace-for-overseas-earners-20170803-gxok40.html
The NSW government is planning to dismantle a homeless camp at Martin Place for a second time, and police threaten to throw anyone who resists “in the back of a truck”.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/they-should-be-gone-police-government-plan-to-dismantle-martin-place-camp-20170803-gxow4l.html
Trump’s great feat? Making Mitt Romney look like the epitome of common sense.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/03/trump-mitt-romney-normalisation-republicans
A second Brexit referendum is becoming more likely by the day.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/aug/04/ten-years-on-voters-say-labors-52bn-stimulus-saved-australia-from-recession
Jenna Price on the design of public toilets and how to increase throughput by making them gender-blind.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/waiting-time-when-the-queue-for-the-loo-hurts-the-bottom-line-20170802-gxnrff.html
Section 5 . . . with Cartoon Corner Part 1
More from the Black Economy Taskforce as it is explained to them that certain ethnic groups are predisposed to dealing in cash.
http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/some-ethnic-groups-predisposed-to-deal-in-cash-says-black-economy-taskforce-paper-20170803-gxoe1y.html
In Australia, 800 people die annually of an opioid overdose. How can patients be sure if they are right in taking them? Here’s what you should know.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/03/opioids-addictive-or-irreplaceable-as-a-doctor-i-urge-you-to-ask-more-questions
Simon Letch in the US.
Cathy Wilcox has Turnbull receiving Abbott’s postal vote.
David Rowe on Arfur’s escape from ICAC. And have a look at how he’s drawn Tripodi.
Mark David gets to the heart of Turnbull’s “emergency”.
Section 6 . . . Cartoon Corner Part 2
A ripper from David Pope on the nature of the SSM debate.
Glen le Lievre on choice.
Sean Leahy with the Palmer asset freeze.
Andrew Dyson takes a gay wedding cake into the Coalition party room.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/andrew-dyson-20090819-epqv.html
Ron Tandberg with Trump’s new White House appointment.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/ron-tandberg-20090910-fixc.html
John Shakespeare contrasts Shorten’s and Turnbull’s situations at the moment.
http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/illustrations-and-cartoons-by-john-shakespeare-20090909-fhba
Mark Knight farewells Laurie Oakes.
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/6b67d213fb0cbbad2a4347ef99ab9fe5?width=1024
Jon Kudelka gives us Malcolm and the non-binding plebiscite.
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/b649240cbeaa86494ebbcdccb6f6cea9
let’s try again!
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. In breaking news Mueller has just announced the formation of a Grand Jury on the Russia probe.
Latika Bourke gives us the lowdown on THAT telephone conversation between Trump and Turnbull. Ouch!
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/leaked-call-transcript-reveals-trump-told-turnbull-you-are-worse-than-i-am-on-refugees-20170803-gxp0oh.html
A decade on from the start of the global financial crisis, voters think stimulus was money well spent, despite attacks over its size and claims of waste.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/aug/04/ten-years-on-voters-say-labors-52bn-stimulus-saved-australia-from-recession
Kate McClymont returns to the ICAC story and looks at n=what might be ahead for the star turns.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/exlabor-ministers-joe-tripodi-and-tony-kelly-found-corrupt-in-bid-to-enrich-eddie-obeid-20170802-gxo4ux.html
Sean Nichols writes that the ICAC findings should cause Turnbull to act on political donations. Failure to do so can only add to the suspicion that our federal political leaders are deliberately putting their own interests ahead of those of the Australian people.
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/icac-findings-why-malcolm-turnbull-should-act-20170802-gxo9em.html