Spring has sprung

joe6pack Uncategorized

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Warmth may be returning in a big way if these two idiots don’t settle down

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But life goes on

 

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Footy Finals are here. Good luck to all involved. ( Go The Cowboys )

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I can’t wait till this waste of time is over

 

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And Just to remind you all

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According to the big retailers.

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Chin up folks. Things can only get better

1,096 thoughts on “Spring has sprung”

  1. The Newspoll quarterly breakdowns are showing us something that’s been evident for a long time. Turnbull’s government lost support fairly rapidly, and then the numbers just sat there. Nothing he does, no matter how populist or how scary, has the slightest impact on the numbers.

    One thing that’s notable is that the loss of support from the CPG hasn’t had any effect. Until a few months ago they were right behind him, eager to tell us how he was turning things around, or about to turn things around, or that things were turning around for him, or whatever they thought the electorate might swallow. They’re not bothering with that any more, but it hasn’t resulted in any sort of shift. Political journalists like to see themselves as major players, kingmakers even, but as far as the public is concerned they’re just voices chattering in the background. I suspect that if they reported everything straight instead of imposing their ‘angle’ on the events and statements, public sentiment would take the same course it currently does. We’d be better informed, though. And they might even start selling newspapers again.

    • “eager to tell us how he was turning things around, or about to turn things around, or that things were turning around for him,”

      So funny!

      And the last line!!!!!

  2. The point I guess is that it’s what governments do that the electorate responds to; it doesn’t really respond to being told what those things ‘mean’. People are actually capable of making their own minds up about things. I’m not saying the conclusions they come to are uniformly smart ones; just that they appear to be independent of the reportage they’re fed.

    The whole Bad Is Good vibe the media have been delivering re the Turnbull government just hasn’t worked.

  3. Anyone think that falling support in the regional electorates might have something to do with the National Party and the Liberal Party supporting CSG drilling and fracking, even though farmers and the communities likely to be affected are dead set against it? Or maybe something to do with the government’s insistence on more coal mining even though it destroys valuable farmland?

    Did any Press Gallery hack pick up on that?

    I suppose not.

    If the Greens can win a state seat in Northern NSW, once National Party heartland, and almost win another, then anything can happen in any electorate, state or federal, that is threatened by greedy gas and mining companies. Those seats could have gone to Labor, almost did, but the Greens got there on preferences. People there just didn’t quite trust Labor enough with their promise of a moratorium until the report from the Chief Scientist had been examined. A moratorium is not a total ban. Voters do not want their electorates fracked or ruined by gas well. There’s a lesson there for Labor and they don’t seem to be learning it.

    Just a refresher on what was happening in NSW in 2015 –
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/programs/nsw-country-hour/2015-03-17/nsw-coal-seam-gas-policies/6324636

  4. “eager to tell us how he was turning things around, or about to turn things around, or that things were turning around for him,”

    “Turning things around” such a polite way to say going in circles.

    • Yeah, Turnbull pretty much turned a corner each week from the start of 2016 until mid-2017. So he was back where he started about once a month. Sounds right.

      His bag of tricks consists of:

      1. Photo op – public transport/ $5 to homeless/ kiss baby
      2. Deranged rant about ALP/Shorten/unions
      3. Terrorist announcement
      4. Vague talk about innovation

      It’s probably a better set of tactics than Abbott had available, which was:

      1. Do something ludicrous
      2. Do something nasty
      3. Pretend to be a fireman

      But it’s about as cynical and about as well-received as Abbott’s stunts. As opposed to Abbott’s TV interviews, which consisted of Abbott relying on two or three slogans he’d repeat until it was over, Turnbull’s are kinda schizo. He alternates between forced chumminess and fake indignation. And he always looks like the strange uncle with the money who thinks that’s enough to force everyone’s respect no matter what he says.

  7. It’s likely the closure of the Ford plant at Broadmeadows a year ago and the flow-on job losses from that has a lot to do with 709 people going on to the dole in Craigieburn in the same period, but it’s so much more fun for Tudge to accuse them all of bludging and then send in the AFP.

    What an absolute bastard in a bastard of a government.

    Welfare integrity taskforce targets Craigieburn as suburb’s dole bill doubles
    http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/welfare-integrity-taskforce-targets-craigieburn-as-suburbs-dole-bill-doubles/news-story/bcc6278aa1973f323e282c86536245be

  11. It’s not often I agree with Jeremy Buckingham, but Luke Foley really is an idiot.

    What it’s all about –
    Lock the Gate responds to NSW Government move to weaken protection of Sydney’s water in favour of a polluting coal mine: let the Court do its job
    http://www.lockthegate.org.au/nsw_move_to_weaken_water_protection_let_court_do_job

    Springvale mine: NSW Government to defy court ruling with legislation to keep coal mine running
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-09/miners-celebrate-as-springvale-mine-saved-from-closure/9030424

    Allowing legislation that guarantees pollution of Warragamba Dam, which provides drinking water for more than half Sydney’s population – what an incredibly short-sighted thing to do.

    • I don’t understand why Luke Foley is so concerned about ‘jobs’ there. It’s the Bathurst electorate, used to be Labor, now safe National, so safe it didn’t even go to preferences the last two NSW elections.

      Why Foley decided to go there and spruik about coal mining jobs is beyond me. It’s not going to win him the seat, it’s just going to turn more voters across NSW to the Greens.

  21. One for the pianoistas of PB. How does this sound ? A kiwi 16 yo decides to build a piano in a shed on the farm. After 5 years he finished it. It is a bit longer than usual 🙂

    How low does it go ?
    Bass sound test in Alexander Pianos Workshop

  25. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Peter Martin provides some perspective on the GST sharing issue.

    Greg Jericho sums it up by saying all Morrison has to do is to sell a GST cut to every state bar one! As usual it’s full of good data.
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2017/oct/10/scott-morrisons-next-trick-selling-a-gst-revenue-cut-to-every-state-bar-one
    Paul Bongiorno writes “The Turnbull government is holding its collective breath as its majority in the Parliament is determined by the High Court this week. But that’s just one of the dangerous issues facing the Coalition before the end of the year.” The political time bomb ticks closer for Turnbull he says.
    http://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2017/10/09/political-time-bomb-malcolm-turnbull/
    Peter Hartcher examines the motives behind the likely appointment of Admiral Harry Harris as US Ambassador to Australia.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-china-hawk-most-likely-to-be-trumps-man-in-australia-20171009-gyx1ei.html
    Gladys Berejiklian’s government has passed the least bills of any new NSW premiers in three decades, a new analysis of records shows. She’s going to have to have to lift her game one would think.
    http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/gladys-berejiklian-so-far-slimmest-legislative-record-of-any-rookie-premier-in-decades-20171006-gyw57l.html
    George Williams has a final look at the government’s submission to the High Court on the citizenship issue.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/george-brandis-submission-to-high-court-in-mp-citizenship-case-is-a-stretch-20171008-gywv45.html
    The man behind Australia’s biggest ever home loan swindle has been sentenced to five years in prison for running the scheme that cooked up $170 million in fraudulent loan applications. Animal!
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/jail-time-for-man-behind-australias-biggest-home-loan-swindle-20171009-gyx35s.html
    George Christenson has gone troppo over the 4 Corners Adani program.
    http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/george-christensen-is-second-mp-to-use-taxpayer-funds-to-attack-abc-20171009-gyx9u7.html
    Adam Gartrell has issued a guide to the HC hearing.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/the-citizenship-seven-get-their-day-in-court-your-guide-to-the-hearings-20171009-gyx1h4.html
    A leading advocate for children with disabilities has accused the NSW government of failing to properly investigate allegations of child abuse.
    http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/government-investigates-246-reports-of-abuse-of-disabled-children-in-nsw-schools-20171009-gyxatt.html

  27. Section 2 . . .

    Here’s a good analysis of the current flu season.
    http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/how-the-flu-kills-what-happens-when-a-person-dies-with-influenza-20171005-gyv9r1.html
    The NSW government will move to weaken laws protecting Sydney’s water catchment to circumvent a court’s ruling that threatened fuel supplies to the state’s newest coal-fired power station. Nice!
    http://www.smh.com.au/environment/nsw-bids-to-skirt-courts-coal-mine-ruling-by-weakening-laws-protecting-sydneys-water-20171008-gywt0o.html
    A day in the life of an abortion nurse. well worth reading for the sake of perspective.
    http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-abortion-nurse-20170922-gyn9f5.html
    In a speech to the International Bar Association George Brandis has delivered a sharp rebuke to Dutton, and reminded government ministers of the need to respect the rule of law and authority of the courts. He delivered a full-throated defence of the rule of law and the legal profession. George is an enigma at times.
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/george-brandis-slaps-down-peter-dutton-over-unaustralian-lawyers-attack-20171008-gywvcv.html
    Jenna Price tells us what Australia should learn from the Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment case.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/sexual-harassment-what-australia-should-learn-from-harvey-weinstein-20171008-gywtky.html
    Elizabeth Knight discusses the class action suit on the CBA and who’s in the firing line. The bank has said it will vigorously defend the case.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/whos-who-in-firing-line-in-cba-class-action-20171009-gyx69t.html
    On energy policy Laura Tingle wonders if this government knows what it’s doing. Google.
    /news/vale-the-plan-all-await-the-cunning-plan-20171009-gyx6fv
    Alan Finkel has made a last-ditch plea to save the proposed clean energy target, even as the Turnbull government signalled it will reject the proposal by the end of the year. The way things are going he’ll get the boot!
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/chief-scientist-alan-finkel-makes-last-ditch-plea-for-clean-energy-target-20171008-gyww1o.html
    Nicole Hasham sums up Finkel’s position with “The patient’s vital signs are not good. Power prices are high, and emissions haemorrhaging. Reliability and security of supply are in doubt. We need a treatment plan, and fast.”
    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/expert-views-make-way-for-political-expediency-in-climate-debate-20171009-gyx1ec.html
    Phil Coorey says that Australia risks more energy policy paralysis and another election fought on climate change after the government signalled it was stepping away from a clean energy target, setting the scene for a new fight with Labor. It will be a Climate War election. Google.
    /news/energy-chiefs-urge-the-government-to-stick-with-the-clean-energy-target-20171008-gywsvu

  28. Section 3 . . .

    Abbott has doubled down on his scepticism of climate change science, reigniting a decade-old debate in a major speech in London after the Turnbull government moved yesterday to rule out proceeding with a clean ¬energy target proposed by Chief Scientist Alan Finkel. In years to come the history books will not put Abbott in a good light. Google.
    /national-affairs/climate/tony-abbott-calls-for-climate-pushback-as-cet-goes-cold/news-story/6568708f050e62c8d33b2190b7e7fbd7
    How hate seeps in and damages us all. The Hanson effect.
    https://theconversation.com/the-hanson-effect-how-hate-seeps-in-and-damages-us-all-85314
    The Turnbull Government, with the eager support of the state premiers, is marching us towards becoming a police state, writes Dr Binoy Kampmark.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/gaoling-children-australias-latest-anti-terrorist-solution,10802
    John Pilger writes about the rise of “new politics” in Great Britain.
    https://newmatilda.com/2017/10/10/the-rise-of-britains-new-politics/
    Domino’s Pizza says it has returned $5.4 million in underpaid wages and superannuation to its employees over the past four years under a national audit of its stores that is due to wrap up in December.
    http://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace-relations/dominos-delivers-54m-to-underpaid-staff-20171009-gyxen8.html
    Religious institutions and free-speech advocates have condemned a bid by the Northern Territory government to “modernise” anti-discrimination laws, describing proposed changes as a significant threat to religious freedom. The Australian continues its tub thumping. Google.
    /news/nation/churches-schools-fear-antidiscrimination-changes/news-story/420a5cc35ad0cc2fcba0d4902120a25d
    The Age has asked Dr Brian Owler what how the proposed Victorian assisted dying legislation would treat six hypothetical cases. The dementia example is a difficult one.
    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/would-these-people-get-help-to-die-under-victorias-proposed-euthanasia-laws-20171007-gywcrb.html
    This article goes to the dynamics of change when it comes to population growth and living in Sydney.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/why-sydney-cant-pull-up-the-drawbridge-20171009-gyx1no.html
    The SMH editorial says that Sydney isn’t full, it just feels that way.
    http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/sydney-full-no–it-just-feels-that-way-20171009-gyx91f.html
    Victorian independent schools have been accused of “gaming the system” to almost double their federal funding for students with a disability. This really peeves me off!
    http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/private-schools-accused-of-gaming-the-system-to-double-disability-funding-20171009-gyxar2.html
    Poor Clive Palmer cops another adverse court decision. Google.
    /news/nation/clive-palmer-loses-court-fight-ordered-to-pay-us176m/news-story/cc1292d58de4c70dec118368f9c8a36b
    According to John Passant Nick Xenophon is a self-interested show pony, who may win votes in South Australia but will never fix anything.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-froth-and-bubble-that-is-nick-xenophon,10801

  29. Section 4 . . . Cartoon Corner

    Brilliant work from David Rowe on the energy summit.

    Matt Golding and some CET rebranding.

    Golding looks at how Morrison might manage the GST carve up,

    David Pope says it all with this effort.
    http://www.smh.com.au/photogallery/federal-politics/cartoons/david-pope-20120214-1t3j0
    Cathy Wilcox and THAT fence.

    Peter Broelman has Trump using the ultimate weapon.

    Paul Zanetti and Trump’s negotiation style.

    Nice work from Jon Kudelka on Xenophon’s citizenship and parliamentary footprint.

    Alan Moir and the plight of the ABC.

  30. The abuse of kids with disabilities in NSW schools thing –

    i saw the 7.30 piece on this and it made me angry, and not just because of the abuse that poor boy suffered.

    Why was this kid in a normal, mainstream classroom? Did his mother insist her darling could cope? What was that school thinking? Did someone see a way for that school to get a bit of extra funding for taking in a student with such challenging behaviour?

    I know more about coping with disabilities than the average 7.30 viewer or casual reader of the SMH. I can tell you, most definitely, that while some children with disabilities can be successfully integrated into ‘normal’ classes others most definitely cannot. It’s usually the kids with physical disabilities who do well, after all, they only have to cope with their physical limitations. Some kids with Down Syndrome do well too, as do some with mild intellectual disabilities. But kids with challenging behaviours, kids who are non-verbal, kids who are likely to go into a melt-down without warning, kids who can be a danger to the rest of the class, do not cope well and should never be placed in that situation.

    The boy in question was non-verbal. Could he use sign language to communicate? Could his teachers use it? Or was he just dumped in a classroom with teachers who were not trained to care for him and left to fend for himself?

    There are special units in many primary and high schools to cater for kids with disabilities, they are there so these kids can still attend a mainstream school, but can also get the attention and care they need. The boy on 7.30 last night should have been in such a unit. Why wasn’t he?

    When he eventually leaves school he will, if his mother comes to her senses and accepts his disability, be placed in a disability service like the one I used to be involved with. There he will receive education appropriate for his abilities.

    All I can say is shame on his mother for forcing her child, who obviously has high support needs, into a mainstream classroom where neither the teachers or the other students had the knowledge to give him the care he deserves.

    • Well said Leone, although who will answer those why questions? Seems to me there is no-one who will take responsibility for the treatment of kids in ‘normal’ schools who have such a disability….maybe it’ll come down to blaming former PM Gillard and Labor for daring to shine a light on disability and to attempt to get schools better funded according to need.

    • OK – I’ve read comments from the mother on the 7.30 Facebook page. She blames the abuse on her son’s teacher. She says he was in a special unit, with a teacher who had a Masters in special education. (A TAFE certificate in Disability would have been of more use.) She alleges that teacher was the abuser, and the one who introduced the boxing batons. She also blames the abuse on a change of leadership at the school. She says she has been waiting since November last year for a place for her son in another school. I think that’s at the root of her allegations – she wants to move her son and she can’t, or alleges she can’t.

      I find it difficult to believe all she says. If my child was being abused for whatever reason in a school then I’d take them out and go for distance education or just at-home care. I would not leave them there, suffering abuse, for a year or maybe more.

      This woman also believes mainstream schools are wonderful for all kids with disabilities, as long as the proper support is given. I can’t agree with her on that. Mainstream schools are definitely not suitable for all kids with disabilities.

      I can tell you that many parents who have kids or adult kids with disabilities refuse to accept the extent of their child’s problems. They will insist that their child is just a bit slow to learn, or is a bit clumsy, or would never, ever hurt anyone (one of this woman’s claims) when the truth is very different.

      Here’s an example. A local couple have a daughter, now in her 30s, who has severe intellectual disabilities. She is also violent at times and will bite, kick, punch or in other ways attack anyone within range, without provocation or any apparent behaviour trigger. Her parents, both primary school teachers, now retired, have always insisted their daughter is just a bit slow to learn and would never harm anyone. Her behaviour became so bad that she was placed on one-to-one care only at her disability service and was kept away from all the other clients for their safety. Staff who cared for her had to have special training to prevent harm to themselves. When this woman was a child her parents insisted she was OK in a mainstream classroom and remained in denial for years about the extent of their daughter’s disabilities. Everyone who knew them could see the problems, many tried to reason with these parents, but it didn’t work. I think they are still in denial to some extent. Eventually they agreed to place her in the special unit at a local school where she should have been all along.

  31. leone

    I agree with you that many parents do not see the weaknesses in their children just as they don’t see their obesity. It’s sad. Parents need help not from friends but from professionnels. In some cases they distrust the experts as well. That’s parents for you. And I still don’t blame them completely.

  33. So how ‘loon’ has Tones been in the UK ? You be the judge

    Here are ten highlights from the speech.

    1. “Climate change is by no means the sole or even the most significant symptom of the changing interests and values of the West. Still, only societies with high levels of cultural amnesia – that have forgotten the scriptures about man created ‘in the image and likeness of God’ and charged with ‘subduing the earth and all its creatures’ – could have made such a religion out of it.”

    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/ive-learnt-to-speak-my-mind-ten-excerpts-from-tony-abbotts-climate-change-speech-in-london-20171009-gyxk92.html

  34. Leone,
    I have seen that too. You cannot mainstream everybody. There are other opportunities for integration, in controlled circumstances.
    It also comes down to dignity. It is not to a child’s dignity that he or she be placed in situations that will almost certainly lead to a scene that they cannot be extracted from immediately if necessary.

    There is the dignity of risk. I understand that. No-one should be denied an opportunity to do something they want purely based on increased risk because of their disability. The proper supports can be put in place to reduce the risk. No-one wants to live in ‘cotton-wool’.

    But that does not mean no account is taken of the individual circumstances. A child might be partially mainstreamed, in a recreation group, or at a public swimming school, for example. Places where they can be immediately removed if they act out, as they say.

    What the hell is a teacher in a classroom going to do? He or she has 29 other kids to think of? I strongly support mainstreaming kids because not only does the child with the disability benefit, the other kids benefit, immensely, too.

    But it has to be well planned, properly resourced, and well staffed, and be in the kid’s best interests, not the parents.

  36. I see Abbott is out there talking crap again. Not even new crap, just the same old rehashed crap. And the press gallery are lapping it up. Fresh from his failure to do anything for the No vote on SSM – he probably damaged their cause, in truth – Abbott’s back trying his hand at climate change denial.

    If anyone can explain what “post-Christian nostalgia” is supposed to be, let me know. I have no idea. But Abbott rolled that one out as a reason not to pay any attention to warnings on climate change. He added in “post-socialist instinct: for good measure.

    The whole speech is completely lunatic. Just about everything he’s quoted as saying is idiotic. He’s claimed that renewable power can be “too much of a good thing”. He’s claimed that the focus should be on preserving jobs and keeping energy prices down, completely ignoring the fact that losing jobs and driving prices up have been key achievements of his government. He’s claimed that if there is climate change it’s doing good rather than bad. He’s compared action on climate change as akin to killing goats to appease the volcano gods. He’s also made the deranged claim that a 99% consensus amongst scientists that climate change is happening is scientific truth by ‘votes rather than facts’. As if they vote for this sort of thing.

    Oh, and he praised George Pell in his very first line. And he included his own term as PM in what he describes as “ten years of disappointing government”.

    Forget the news report. Here’s the transcript of his speech. I don’t necessarily recommend anyone reads it through. But if you’d like to know the damage that is being done to this country’s reputation by this global idiot, at least have a glance at it.

    http://tonyabbott.com.au/2017/10/transcript-hon-tony-abbott-mp-address-global-warming-policy-foundation-westminster-london/

  40. The latest Essential results are online. I prefer reading the actual report to the spin The Guardian puts on it.

    No change in anyone’s voting intentions, Labor still leads 54/46. Except for one little thing – NXT is down one point. Maybe NXT fans are a bit pissed off by Xenophon dumping them to further his ambitions.

    The rest is predictable answers.

    Click to access Essential-Report_101017-1.pdf

  41. This does not make me confident about the government’s new facial recognition database.

    Defence contractor’s computer system hacked, files stolen, cyber security report reveals

    Cyber thieves hacked into the computer system of a national security contractor last year, the Federal Government will today reveal.

    The intruders had access to the IT network for a long period of time and stole large amounts of the defence supplier’s data.

    The Government’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) learned of the incident last November and helped end the attack

    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-10/defence-contractors-files-stolen-in-hacking:-security-report/9032290

    Given this government’s woeful record on IT the new Turnbull/Dutton brainfart will be another failure, hacked within weeks.

    There’s more on the problems with the database. From last week.
    Facial recognition: Feature creep may impose government’s software in our lives, expert warns
    http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-05/facial-recognition-coag-privacy-concerns-about-the-capability/9017494

  47. Should we really be surprised that Abbott made this speech? He’s long been a climate change denier and he spoke at a climate change denial forum.

    One extra thing, it looks to me that he is positioning himself to challenge Turnbull. I originally thought that he would only do it if the survey returned a no vote but it’s fairly clear that a challenge will come. My hypothesis is that it won’t be this year, Abbott will use the summer break to gather support and will strike in March after the elections in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

  50. More on Turnbull’s mean-spirited, politically motivated refusal to congratulate the first ever Australian organisation to win a Nobel Peace Prize

    I think he’s scared of upsetting that nuke-loving, war-mongering orange loon allegedly running the US.

    Australia’s Nobel Peace Prize Winners Expected A Little More Love From The PM
    On Friday the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons became the first Australian-founded organisation to be awarded the Nobel, but there’s still pretty much crickets from the PM.
    https://www.buzzfeed.com/bradesposito/ican?utm_term=.eh8pkRApz#.yy4Lx87L2

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