Many eminent scientists have said those words. One of the latest is Professor Lord Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal. In an interview for This Cambridge Life in June this year he had this to say on the urgent need to address climate change –
Our planet is getting more crowded and our climate is warming. Climate change is not under-discussed but it’s dismayingly under-acted-upon. On the positive side, we have several politically realistic ways to mitigate the CO2 emissions warming the world by directing technology wisely.
The IPCC report was released today, it tells us it is crucially important, no matter where we might live on this planet, to ensure emissions are reduced, and to keep any increase in temperature below 1.5 C. Australia has many Pacific neighbours already being affected by climate change, but our government continues to deny them any help at all, let alone devise a way to reduce our increasing levels of emissions. It’s imperative our government stops adopting the ostrich posture, stops buck-passing by saying other nations need to do something before Australia acts and stops denying there is any such thing as climate change.
You can read the full report here – http://www.ipcc.ch/report/sr15/
If you prefer, here’s a summary prepared by the Climate Council.
https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/resources/limiting-temperature-rise/
Our interim prime minister decided to rubbish the report even before it was released. He said the report was not about Australia and there was no need for this nation to do a thing about it. He was wrong, of course. Maybe he should have waited and read the report before he spoke, but that doesn’t seem to be his style. The report has the word “Australia” more than 30 times in the main body of text, and in addition there are the mentions of all the Australia scientists – more than a dozen – who contributed. Then Morrison went further. The Guardian reported his words.
Morrison repeated his claim that Australia would meet its Paris emissions reduction target “in a canter”, despite environment department figures showing emissions increased 1.3% in the year to March 2018, suggesting Australia is likely to miss the target.
Advice from the Energy Security Board has said that a business as usual scenario will mean the electricity sector will “fall short of the emissions reduction target of 26% below 2005 levels” by 2030.
Asked if Australia would be held to the target to reduce emissions by 26% to 28% from 2005 levels, Morrison said: “No, we won’t … we’re not held to any of them at all. Nor are we bound to go and tip money into that big climate fund. We’re not going to do that either. I’m not going to spend money on global climate conferences and all that nonsense.”
Australia has contributed $200m to the Green Climate Fund from 2015 to 2018, but the Coalition has come under pressure from One Nation to rule out making further contributions. The fund’s purpose is to help developing countries respond to climate change.
Morrison’s mendacity, ignorance and arrogance are breathtaking. Most Australians understand just how urgent it is to address climate change, to do all we can. Even the most conservative farmers are now, finally, beginning to understand climate change is real and is affecting the way they farm, yet Morrison keeps on pandering to the extreme right wingers in his government, all climate science deniers to their fingertips. He is really on the losing side of this debate, but he can’t seem to understand that. Why is he taking this stance? Why does he keep insisting our ageing and inefficient coal-fired, carbon-pumping power stations should have their lives extended, at huge cost, when renewables are cheaper and are what the power companies want to go with? Is he pandering to Trump, in the hope he will get an invitation to the White House? Is he after bigger donations to the Liberal Party from mining and gas companies? Is he just plain stupid? Or is there more to it? You can decide.
Meanwhile our only hope of reducing carbon emissions and starting to take action that might save what’s left of the Great Barrier Reef and our entire agricultural industry is to change the government. That cannot happen soon enough.
THE PUB 
He’s a talentless hack who only got the job because of who is father was.
And he’s a perfect fit in the ranks of bigoted Murdoch cartoonists.
His ‘talent’ is so Yuuge it extends to using several characters copied straight from daddy’s cartoons.
I can’t be bothered with his stuff, I refuse to click on links to anything he does.
I tuned into the Press Club and The Spud was in full flow about keeping Australians safe and protecting kids.
I shouted at the TV. Six women were killed in five days about a week ago. Kids get killed in domestic violence attacks. His government cut services to women and kids fleeing domestic violence.
Keeping Australians safe, my arske!
You are a braver woman than I am. I couldn’t bear the thought of watching.
Leone
I did not stay long.
The terms of reference for the aged care RC were released yesterday.
You can find them in the Letters Patent – here –
Click to access Aged-Care-Royal-Commission-Signed-Letters-Patent-8-Oct-2018.pdf
Grunt says the terms are “deliberately broad” to let the commissioners look into quality and safety issues and examples across the aged care sector.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-09/terms-of-reference-released-for-aged-care-royal-commission/10354672
Some might believe that spin, I don’t. We know this RC was hastily announced to head off any criticism of the government after the first Four Corners program went to air. It was intended to make Scummo appear to be “doing something”.
The terms of reference are so broad that it’s going to take a lot longer than one lousy year to deal with this issue properly. I’d say this farce of a government has allocated only a year to the process in the hope most of the submissions will be skimmed over, and in the expectation revelations made in the earlier stages will give Scummo and Grunt some handy “we will improve these dreadful conditions” campaign material. That tactic may well backfire considering the cuts successive ATM government treasurers have made ti the aged care budget.
Thank goodness Scummo and his government will be long gone by the time the commissioners are ready to present their final report. I’m hoping an incoming Shorten government will substantially extend the timeframe .
Scummo’s campaign to win over very marginal seats by pretending to be just your average Aussie bloke continued this morning”He visited the Central Coast, along with the utterly useless Lucy Wicks.
Scummo indulged in a beer – before 9 a m.
https://tendaily.com.au/shows/theproject/comedy/a181010lip/scomo-smashes-a-breakfast-beer-20181010
Judging by this photo he did not enjoy it.
I just got an email asking me to fill in a survey to help Labor’s campaign for the next federal election.
I’m not sure if it’s OK to post the link here but if not could the moderators delete it?
http://email.contact.australianlabor.org.au/c/eJwVj8FuwyAQRL8GH9EuBuMcfEhq5wNaKddqDTgmwSbFuGr-vlgajTRvtbsa201iUrapfCcAWwQEUAoEcuTDaegH0KDOHwBDe2ESTFwzmcxp33Ki4GkNNMbEY7oXVs3diFK1DqU1FgAlKSsF6pGklro56alyf2XRUqaO6QsTwnhbnNVnRJBM91Xo5pxfWyFMXIu2Pf26N4palg_If3YKOXmzcROXMn5MrvgU0xG-bt-n15zeY92kmwkP8cnq654XVvduIR-q1C3-6Zb9TmtpM8d80OPSP6s8UNw
The link does work and takes you straight to the survey. Of course there is always a begging component in the survey but it is your choice to donate or not.
One of the last Rats of Tobruk passed away at 101 years old.
ck watt
Done.
And a cheerful article from Pepe Escobar re the Brazilian elections.
.
.
Future of Western Democracy Being Played Out in Brazil
Stripped to its essence, the Brazilian presidential elections represent a direct clash between democracy and an early 21st Century neofascism, indeed between civilization and barbarism, writes Pepe Escobar.
…………………………………….Dystopia Central does not even begin to qualify it. Progressive Brazilians are terrified of facing a mutant “Brazil” (the movie) cum Mad Max wasteland ravaged by evangelical fanatics, rapacious neoliberal casino capitalists and a rabid military bent on recreating a Dictatorship 2.0.
………….Brazil has 42 million evangelicals – and over 200 representatives in both branches of Parliament. Don’t mess with their jihad. They know how to exercise massive appeal among the beggars at the neoliberal banquet. The Lula Left simply didn’t know how to seduce them.
https://consortiumnews.com/2018/10/09/future-of-western-democracy-being-played-out-in-brazil/
This appeared last month, before the controversy over using the Opera House to advertise a horse race.
I hope Luke Foley has now changed his mind, but I don’t suppose he has. What is it with politicians and horse racing? Why are they all so keen to get involved?
LABOR PLAN WILL SEE THE EVEREST SCALE NEW HEIGHTS AND TURBOCHARGE NSW TOURISM
POSTED BY NSW LABOR ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2018
http://www.lukefoley.com.au/labor_plan_will_see_the_everest_scale_new_heights_and_turbocharge_nsw_tourism
It’s NSW. You get to choose between the Red Badged Rum Corp or the Blue Badged Rum Corp.
The barrier draw for this year’s race was to be done at a big function at the Opera House, with the places shown on the sails while the guests partied in the forecourt. Due to the protests the organisers decided to hold the draw early in the day instead.
It’s not just NSW. Politicians are into this fixation with racing no matter what state they come from.
I loath racing. The whole thing is full of criminals, money launderers and drug pushers, the cruelty to the horses is appalling and the devastation gambling wreaks on families is a scandal, yet our politicians, no matter what side they are on, just love appearing at big carnivals, especially the Melbourne Cup. I don’t understand why politicians believe being seen at the races is a great idea.
I suppose we will soon be getting happy snaps of Scummo and his obedient little wife hanging out at the cup, or Derby Day, or both, accompanied by more media gushing.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
As I begin to type this I am watching the landfall of the Cat 4 hurricane hitting Florida. It’s the strongest to ever hit the panhandle.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/potentially-catastrophic-florida-s-hurricane-michael-makes-landfall-20181011-p508xv.html
The SMH editorial rips into the government’s handling of the Ruddock report and says it won’t go down well in Wentworth.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/wentworth-voters-beware-religious-freedom-con-20181010-p508tg.html
Human rights lawyer Nicholas Stewart tells us to make no mistake, gay children are the target of Ruddock’s report.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/make-no-mistake-gay-children-are-the-target-of-new-report-20181010-p508ub.html
David Crowe looks at how religion will divide the Liberals and inflame the Parliament.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-religion-will-divide-the-liberals-and-inflame-the-parliament-20181010-p508qs.html
Michelle Grattan chimes in saying that the government has been keeping the report under wraps since May, but now it can’t stop the argument from raging in the final days of Wentworth campaigning.
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-discrimination-debate-will-distress-many-gay-school-students-104721
Will Ruddock’s “Religious Freedoms Review” become a bigots’ own goal?
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/will-the-ruddock-religious-freedom-review-be-the-bigots-own-goal,11983
Adam Carey writes that in Victoria Labor and the Coalition joined forces to defeat a Greens bill two years ago that would have revoked the right of religious schools in Victoria to target students for being gay.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/labor-and-liberal-blocked-bid-to-end-schools-right-to-bar-gay-pupils-20181010-p508vk.html
The Australian’s Joe Kelly writes that Scott Morrison’s cabinet must decide on a proposal for a Religious Discrimination Act, but faces a damaging backlash ahead of the crucial Wentworth by-election following disputed claims schools could be handed new powers to turn away gay students.
https://outline.com/WnNk9h
And John Hewson writes that the voters of Wentworth can send a message on climate governance. He says that voters today are looking for honesty, authenticity, and outcomes on key issues. They want their politicians to listen, and lead in the national interest.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/voters-of-wentworth-can-send-a-message-on-climate-governance-20181010-p508uk.html
Phil Coorey tells us that the nation’s energy companies and biggest electricity users have given up on politics and begun backroom talks about a self-regulated package of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, restore energy reliability and improve investor stability.
https://outline.com/26JS8Y
Dave Sharma has written a piece full of motherhood as he pitched for his election. Hardly inspiring.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/political-turmoil-has-hurt-australia-but-we-must-look-forward-20181009-p508nz.html
Alexandra Smith reports that Sharma has distanced himself from religious freedom changes before Wentworth byelection. Well, sort of.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/dave-sharma-religious-freedom-wentworth-byelection-20181010-p508vj.html
Labor is promising to revitalise economic reform through the Council of Australian Governments, saying the biggest potential gains in productivity require co-operation between the commonwealth and the states.
https://outline.com/sL3P5b
Niki Savva tells us how Morrison is saddled with policy flux.
https://www.outline.com/cbv9sm
“Here comes the election infrastructure splurge”, says Michael Pascoe. It’s quite a spray.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2018/10/10/election-infrastructure-splurge/
Another panic effort from Gladys is getting a fair bit of stick.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/nsw-s-suggested-immigration-cut-alarms-business-and-universities-20181010-p508tr.html
Greg Jericho goes into detail to explain why the Coalition’s half-baked plan to push migrants into the regions cannot work.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2018/oct/11/why-the-coalitions-half-baked-plan-to-push-migrants-into-the-regions-cannot-work
Jess Irvine previews the parliamentary inquiry into the banks that kicks off this morning. But she says it’s a mere warm-up act for the real show, which kicks off next month when the bank bosses will undergo a more rigorous and potentially career-destroying interrogation from the royal commission’s razor-sharp-minded senior counsel assisting.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/spotlight-must-shine-on-bank-boss-pay-20181010-p508ut.html
Matt Comyn (CBA) and Brian Hartzer (Westpac) will face a revitalised line-up of politicians brandishing a more aggressive line of questioning when they appear in Canberra today.
https://outline.com/Ft4W28
Oh Dear! Commonwealth Bank has completed only one of 153 tasks it needs to satisfy in order to meet recommendations that flowed from APRA’s special inquiry into its governance, culture and accountability.
https://www.outline.com/FdVMkU
And to make natters worse for them law firm Slater and Gordon has filed the first of its superannuation class action proceedings against the Commonwealth Bank.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2018/10/10/slater-gordon-files-super-class-action-cba/
After years of fighting back, the big banks have been forced by the public “shaming” of the royal commission to concede that charging commissions in financial advice must finally be abolished.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2018/10/10/banks-commissions/
Gareth Hutchens writes that retail superannuation funds are facing their day of reckoning.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/11/follow-the-money-retail-superannuation-funds-face-day-of-reckoning
David Crowe reports that the Morrison government will bring forward a $29.8 billion tax cut for millions of small employers in a dramatic move to lift investment and wages, turning attention back to the economy after a spate of spending promises from Labor.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-brings-forward-29-8-billion-tax-gain-for-small-business-20181010-p508wp.html
Confidence in the housing market is collapsing in Australia’s biggest states and prices will continue to fall for another two years, according to a survey of property professionals.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/10/house-prices-set-to-continue-to-fall-for-another-two-years-survey-says
Matthew Knott looks a seven key issues that a now conservative SCOTUS could affect America for years to come. I’m glad I don’t live there!
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/the-seven-ways-brett-kavanaugh-could-transform-america-20181010-p508sx.html
Stephen Bartholomeusz writes that ill winds aren’t supposed to blow anybody any good but the US trade conflict with China and its reimposition of sanctions on Iran appear to be producing significant windfalls for some key commodity producers.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/how-a-us1-move-is-making-millions-for-australian-miners-20181010-p508si.html
Helen Pitt relates the moment she realised how much Sydneysiders love the Opera House.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-moment-i-realised-how-much-sydneysiders-love-the-opera-house-20181010-p508th.html
Ian Warden wonders if Gladys has hurt the Opera House’s feelings.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/has-gladys-hurt-the-opera-house-s-feelings-20181010-p508ts.html
Richard Di Natale writes that the Opera House fiasco speaks volumes about media barons’ power.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/opera-house-fiasco-speaks-volumes-about-media-barons-power-20181010-p508r4.html
And Chris Masters is pleased that the Opera House fracas has shown how the public can fight back against Jones.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/opera-house-fracas-shows-how-public-can-fight-back-against-jones-20181010-p508so.html
John Warhurst laments that the Jones/Opera House issue is an example of the tenor of debate which can flourish in what passes for democratic discourse in Australia today. We appear to have lost our bearings and our guiding principles. He’s not happy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/parallel-political-universes-for-experts-and-governments-20181009-p508pp.html
One of the world’s biggest lenders to green electricity projects says rapid growth in Australia’s renewable energy investment is likely to slow, as banks become more cautious about the financial impact of electricity grid congestion.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/greater-uncertainty-renewable-investment-boom-tipped-to-slow-20181010-p508te.html
Jennifer Hewett tells us that as minister for “Getting Electricity Prices Down”, Angus Taylor has to deliver in an energy market politely described as “anarchy” by Kerry Schott, chair of the Energy Security Board.
https://www.outline.com/SeHsB2
Leading climate researchers have overwhelmingly rejected the federal government’s claim it is on track to cut greenhouse gas emissions target as promised under the 2015 Paris agreement. So much for Morrison’s canter!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/11/in-a-canter-climate-experts-say-australia-will-not-meet-emissions-targets
Bloomberg in a syndicated article explains how ‘Trumponomics’ has taken a heavy toll on the world.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/trumponomics-has-taken-a-heavy-toll-on-the-world-20181010-p508q1.html
Telstra is facing its “Alan Bond moment” and could end up buying the $50 billion National Broadband Network from the government for a song once the project is rolled out, according to the head of a telco company specialising in wireless internet.
https://www.outline.com/bXmZL8
Private health insurance premiums have been predicted to rise by up to 12 per cent for some people next year if a scenario, favoured by the government is adopted, confidential federal health department modelling leaked to Fairfax Media shows. WTF!
https://www.theage.com.au/healthcare/private-health-premiums-could-rise-by-12-per-cent-next-year-leaked-modelling-shows-20181009-p508lw.html
Elizabeth Knight tries to work out the motives of a former ASIC deputy chair joining the board of legally embattled, governance-challenged and disclosure-questioned software logistics firm GetSwift.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/from-asic-to-getswift-is-this-a-woman-facing-a-glass-cliff-20181010-p508u4.html
Pope Francis uses a strange metaphor to make a point about abortion.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/pope-compares-abortion-to-hiring-a-hit-man-to-solve-problems-20181011-p508xt.html
The Catholic school sector says it welcomes staff and students from all backgrounds and has not sought concessions to discriminate against students or teachers based on their sexuality, gender identity or relationship status. Then just who is asking for it?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/catholic-schools-say-they-don-t-discriminate-on-sexuality-20181010-p508vp.html
Australian women will continue to be exposed to severe chronic pain from mesh implants that remain on the market despite the government admitting they cause “horrific” pain.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/consumer/2018/10/10/vaginal-mesh-government-apology/
Apart from the efforts of the pilots this is not particularly comforting.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/calm-crew-averted-disaster-after-propeller-fell-off-plane-atsb-says-20181010-p508sm.html
More than one third of companies that had data breaches in the last quarter passed on private customer information because of simple human mistakes, according to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/human-error-to-blame-for-30pc-of-data-breaches-commission-20181010-p508u7.html
The Washington Post’s Paul Waldman explains why Nikki Haley was smart to jump off Trump’s sinking ship.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/why-nikki-haley-was-smart-to-jump-off-trump-s-sinking-ship-20181010-p508q0.html
Trump has attacked Democrats as ‘radical socialists’ and scorned its universal healthcare plan.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/10/trump-usa-today-op-ed-democrats-socialism-suffering
The former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg rejoined the Democratic party on Wednesday, going back to his political roots weeks before midterm elections and amid speculation that he might run for the White House in 2020.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/10/michael-bloomberg-democrat-party-2020-presidential-run
Clive Palmer has withdrawn counterclaims seeking $1.8 billion in damages from liquidators of Queensland Nickel, who are seeking to recover hundreds of millions of dollars over the closure of the Townsville refinery.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/10/10/clive-palmer-queensland-nickel-lawsuit/
Our cricket team would be hopeless without the efforts of the Marsh brothers.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/pakistan-set-australia-s-brittle-batting-line-up-462-for-victory-20181010-p508xj.html
Coalition government claims it will save $300 million by squeezing public servants into wasted office space have unravelled in an audit showing they were based on untested estimates.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/federal/claims-of-300m-reward-for-office-squeeze-unravel-after-audit-20181009-p508o0.html
Anna Patty reports that Fair Work inspectors will raid at least 60 restaurants, cafes and fast food outlets around the King Street dining strip in Newtown this week in response to tip-offs that staff have been underpaid.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/newtown-restaurants-raided-in-fair-work-underpayment-audit-20181010-p508ta.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe and the closeted Coalition.
Mark David hits Morrison hard on religion.
Off to Uluru with Paul Zanetti.
A climate change lament from Glen Le Lievre.
David Pope goes to Wentworth.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_828/t_resize_width/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/8e39315373d827a9a9b938c065fbd0a9c9859e7e
More in here. Plenty from Matt Golding.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-fairfax-cartoons-october-11-2018-20181010-h16grm.html
Thanks BK it took me 2 hours to read, I appreciate your daily round
SNAP! It took me two hours to put together.
BK, that will be my reading after work. thank you.
Without identifying anyone, today I will be helping a lovely lady go out and socialise. We had a beautiful visit to the art gallery and to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens in the last few weeks.
The Ruddock report – just some stuff that sort of puts things in sequence.
The SMH editorial is right, the Wentworth by-election is the reason this report was being kept secret. Scummo and his henchgoons did not want it released until after 20 October. The government knew it would not be well received, especially not in that electorate.
It’s interesting that Michelle Grattan hints Turnbull is the likely source of the leak, or maybe his supporters. It’s obvious, really. Turnbull decided to have this review because he wanted to avoid a damaging debate on religious amendments to a same-sex marriage bill.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/nov/22/philip-ruddock-to-examine-if-australian-law-protects-religious-freedom
We were lied to again yesterday – Scummo said cabinet has not yet considered the report.
Scott Morrison ‘has a blind spot’: Bitter Liberal MPs won’t stay silent for long on religious freedom split
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-10/religious-freedom-ruddock-schools-scott-morrison-christianity/10359612
Cabinet has had this report for months now, cabinet is said to have been debating it for months (more on that in a bit) and someone in the government certainly has considered it because it was leaked to Fairfax.
Turnbull received this report in May this year. Back then it was thought it would take only a few weeks for the government to consider it and then release it.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/ruddock-s-religious-freedom-report-handed-to-malcolm-turnbull
The report was kept secret in the lead-up to the Super Saturday by-elections in July,held back by a government terrified about the effect this report would have and desperate for a win.
Michelle Grattan (again) had this to say –
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-little-upside-for-malcolm-turnbull-in-debate-over-religious-freedom-99880
Tehan was very familiar with the contents of the report back then, his comments put paid to yesterday’s lies about cabinet not having considered the report. They had certainly read the lot it by June.
The Senate ordered the release of the report on 19 September. The government ignored that.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/release-religious-freedom-report-senators
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/3daeb55e-042b-4fc4-af6d-f3c815767f02/&sid=0000
And now the whole thing has been leaked to Fairfax, just a week before parliament returns and two weeks before that by-election. The timing has been carefully chosen, calculated to cause maximum damage to the government ahead of a very tricky by-election. Now Labor and the cross-bench have time to consider their attack, and you can bet there will be some heated debate in both houses next week.
Hinch has made his plans –
And – for the conspiracy theorists –
It’s beginning to look like Turnbull planned all this well before he left the parliament. His decision to leave the parliament rather than face an election loss, the way he resigned, the deluge of leaks since he huffed off to New York, his tweets, his phone calls, and now, right at the worst possible time for the government, the leaking of the Religious Freedom Review, which you can bet Scummo would have tried to keep secret for as long as he possibly could. It is beginning to look like the work of a man who wanted to leave at a time of his choosing and wanted to destroy those who had ruined his time as prime minister.
Truffles would very annoyed with those who tore out the last chapter.
I don’t think he would want to read the last chapter.
Investigating leaks is more important than investigating the minister’s exercising undue influence
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/11/afp-search-raids-affairs-department-peter-dutton-au-pair-visa-leaks
Can we get rid of all who “believe”?
In Melbourne the school you went to determined your employment outcomes as businesses would only hire the private protestant school alumni, the state public service was filled with catholic parochial schools etc etc
On this mornings radio it was pointed out that if you had a gay child, then would you remove all your children or just the gay one
Parents would avoid enrolling their kids in the school in case one turns out to be gay or to avoid the stigma of bigotry
In Belfast Hilary Clinton says Brexit was a self inflicted own goal
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/oct/10/hillary-clinton-brexit-biggest-self-inflicted-wound?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Obviously she could not be allowed to stand: she’s not an old white male
Key points:
. Ms Quinn was preselected in June, with Deputy Premier John Barilaro saying he had a strong belief in her ability
. She was criticised for a Facebook post showing her dressed as a pixie for a reading day
. The Nationals say they will look for a new candidate in the “near future”
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-11/yvette-quinn-stands-down-as-nationals-candidate-for-orange/10364516
You really have to wonder.
Not wrong, David
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/11/the-right-to-expel-children-from-school-isnt-about-freedom-its-about-cruelty
The ideal situation would be for the religious schools to be able to do what they like, but get no funding at all. The situation ought to be that the state says there is equality before the law for all LGBTIQ students, as for all citizens, and that any school that wishes to go against that dictum can expect nothing from the government. It preserves their ‘religious freedom’ while reminding them of their civic duties.
The current government sets appalling standards and projects appalling messages, and ought to be punished at the ballot box for it. Rabbiting on about the ‘religious freedoms’ of churches is neither their right nor their duty. Balancing the demands of the church against the standards of society is their duty, and in backing the church they’re abdicating that duty. That they can sit there and watch an overwhelming majority of this country vote for SSM – and even take credit for it as Turnbull tried to do – and then turn around and say “if these churches say gay children are monsters we’ll back them to the hilt’, is just unconscionable.
On a broader note: I saw one of Morrison’s video clips this morning (I have no idea how many of these he is producing), and searched for something resembling ‘information’ in it. To no avail. He made some claims about looking into aged care and reducing city congestion or something. But his main message is that none of these things can be done without money, and that’s why he’s helping small business by reducing taxes (?!) and broadening stuff they can claim for. It strikes me as odd that he’s planning on increasing revenue by reducing the sources of revenue, but that’s where populism leads you I suppose. Then he had a beer at a craft beer place on the Central Coast and claimed success.
The main thing I took out of it though is that it’s not really his fault. If we as a country are satisfied with having a bunch of egotistic middle-management types running the country (and let’s face it, that’s what the Liberal Party are), then it shouldn’t be any surprise to us that they behave like egotistic middle-management types. They don’t address climate change because they can’t see any short-term benefit from it. It’s not ideology or anything like that, it’s just myopia. They back the church in its mediaeval attitudes because they think it’s safer to stay on their good side. They trumpet small business tax cuts over proper economic stimulation because it’s an easier sell. And so on. It’s how they operate, and maybe it’s our fault (as a nation) for accepting it.
We often lambast political parties for lacking vision. But really, vision is too much of a stretch for them, and possibly not even what we need right now. At the moment we could just do with some rational, practical, consistent thinking – some suggestions regarding things that need to be done, and some notion of how those things can be sold to the public. I highly respect Daniel Andrews in that regard. He just went ahead and started replacing all the railway crossings, told us he was doing it and why, and didn’t bother entering into any debate about it. Who knows if it’s a vote winner? The fact was it was necessary. Matthew Guy is stuck whining about law and order, hoping to create a problem where none exists. It’s just an example, but it represents the kind of thinking this country needs.
Renewable energy ought to be a no-brainer. Out leaders need to just shut up and get on with it. Instead, we’re stuck with a government eternally looking for an ‘angle’, a ‘selling point’. That’s not what government should be about. They should be solving our problems for us, it’s what we pay them for.
Aguirre
Good to see you in fine form today, great comments.
Okay, call me ignorant, but I didn’t know we had tornados in Australia.
We do, even in Victoria.
This article is from 2015.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/datablog/ng-interactive/2015/nov/06/how-frequent-are-tornadoes-in-australia-we-chart-every-tornado-recorded
There have been a few up here, locals tend to freak out when there are water spouts at sea because we know what can happen if they head for land.
Let’s not make the mistake of assuming all church schools discriminate against LGBTI students and assuming all state schools are models of tolerance. It doesn’t work that way.
I can only speak of my own experience, but I’ve been involved in schools as a teacher, a parent and now a grand-parent for longer than I care to think about.
My kids went through local Catholic schools. Some of the teachers at those schools were openly gay or lesbian, although none of them flaunted their sexuality. They just didn’t hide it. It was usual for these teachers to bring their partners to big school social events. No-one really cared. All my kids had classmates who were gay as well. Again, no-one really cared. These schools, and the Catholic schools in the wider area, where I taught for some years, have always had a non-discriminatory and compassionate approach. This also applied to staff going through family problems and divorce and to staff with mental illnesses like depression and nervous breakdowns.
Another local church school run by the biggest Pentecostal church here is entirely different.”Discrimination” should be part of that school’s name. I would not send a rabid dog to that school, let alone an impressionable child.
I’ve seen and heard some disgusting discrimination in NSW state schools, mostly against aboriginal kids. I’ve also seen discrimination in classrooms aimed at children from single parent homes and kids from public housing estates. I’ve heard some filthy remarks about people who happened to be not 100% heterosexual.
You can’t generalise by saying all church schools discriminate, or all state schools are more tolerant when it all depends on the culture of each individual school and on the way the principal runs a school. A good principal means a tolerant and fair school environment, a weak or bigoted principal means the school will reflect that.
While I’d like to agree that schools that refuse to accept LGBTQI students or staff should lose all government funding I can’t, because it’s just too difficult to do, in practice. If this is to be allowed on the grounds freedom of religion means a school can discriminate against LGBTQI students and staff then where does that discrimination stop? Do we allow schools to refuse to employ or to sack staff who are living with a partner without being married? What about divorced staff? What about staff who are adulterers? Can these discriminatory schools also refuse to take students from homes where parents are divorced, or “living in sin” or adulterers? All these things can be seen as grounds for refusing to take students or staff on the grounds of religious freedom to discriminate, and I’m not talking about just Christian beliefs here.
Where does the line get drawn? Exactly which schools would lose funding?
Let’s face it. All Australian kids deserve the best education we as taxpayers can give them. They all deserve equal opportunities. If we start making laws about which kids can be turned away and which schools won’t get funding then we are heading in the same direction as those who want to see all government funding, state and federal, taken from all private schools and we are also heading towards a very discriminatory and biased view of education in this country.
This is a wealthy country. We can afford to give our kids the best possible education and parents should have the right to choose whatever school they like. The best way to show disapproval of any one school’s policies on admission, staffing or anything else is to go somewhere else. We have had that right for a very long time. We don’t need it enforced by nasty laws foisted on us by a religious nutjob of a prime minister.
Big storm on Sunshine Coast.
Keep safe, Joe!
Could it be BK’s new admin right’s has gone to his head?
Pay that one, CK. Hi Jason.
From New York Magazine’s “Intelligencer”.
UN Says Climate Genocide Is Coming. It’s Actually Worse Than That.
By David Wallace-Wells
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/amp/2018/10/un-says-climate-genocide-coming-but-its-worse-than-that.html
“Nearly all coral reefs would die out, wildfires and heat waves would sweep across the planet.”
And Melissa Price says “building” trees will save us, there’s no need for her government to do a thing.
We need immediate and drastic climate action, not blathering from incompetent, way out of their depth idiots like Scummo and Price. .
We are fvcked. I can only hope my descendants are amongst the survivors and contribute to the action to mitigate AGW and rebuild a better world. They can start by damning the narcissists and the selfish.
Motormouth Scummo at it again.
Someone should have asked him one simple question – if the “existing law” allows schools to discriminate against students and staff on the basis of their sexuality, then why does he insist we need new legislation?
The “existing law” (which I bet Scummo would not have been able to identify) is Section 38 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984.
http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/sda1984209/s38.html
Some state legislation also allows schools to discriminate against a person because of their sexuality on the basis of religious belief, as explained in this article –
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/11/ruddock-religious-freedom-review-what-is-it-and-what-do-we-know-so-far
Scummo can’t have this both ways. He can’t claim there is an existing law that allows schools to discriminate for religious reasons while also claiming we absolutely must have a new law to allow that same form of discrimination. The only reason for new legislation would be if the Religious Freedom Review goes much further than we have been told so far. That is a chilling thought.
Alex Turnbull (yes, that’s Mal’s son) tells Wentworth voters “Don’t vote Liberal”.
“I recorded this message for the people of Wentworth. We need to send a message on climate change. This time, don’t give the Liberals your vote”.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015190260523
More –
‘Taken over by extremists’: Malcolm Turnbull’s son urges voters to dump Liberals
Alex Turnbull makes dramatic intervention in Wentworth byelection, which was sparked by his father’s resignation
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/11/taken-over-by-extremists-malcolm-turnbulls-son-urges-voters-to-dump-liberals
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-lobbied-japans-abe-on-casino-for-adelson-report/
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
The banking heavies came across as quite smarmy at yesterday’s appearance at the parliamentary inquiry and Westpac came up with a telling admission.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/westpac-considered-passing-bank-levy-onto-customers-and-staff-20181011-p5094q.html
Clancy Yeates examines the less than stellar appearance of CBA’s CEO Matt Comyn.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/completely-unacceptable-cba-s-matt-comyn-admits-bank-s-flaws-20181011-p508zi.html
Comyn drew howls of laughter as he tried to answer questions during an interrogation at the hands of House of Representative MPs.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2018/10/11/cba-laughing-gov-hearings/
Labor MPs have chastised the Commonwealth Bank for its aggressive litigation tactics and lack of empathy for aggrieved customers as the bank pledged to do more to ensure deceased estates haven’t been charged inappropriate fees following scandals revealed by the banking royal commission.
https://outline.com/ZmJ7ur
In quite a thoughtful contribution Waleed Aly tell us why the Opera House backlash was so fierce.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-the-opera-house-backlash-was-so-fierce-we-ve-just-had-enough-20181011-p508ze.html
Jenna Price wonders what happens when Morrison, Porter and Shelton walk into your bedroom. She comes on pretty strongly.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/what-happens-when-morrison-porter-and-shelton-walk-into-your-bedroom-20181011-p5092x.html
Eryk Bagshaw explains how former treasurer Peter Costello has launched an excoriating attack on the Liberal Party leadership, warning the government is “operating in a parallel universe” by promising voters it would deliver reforms in 10 years’ time.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/very-very-weird-peter-costello-lashes-liberal-leaders-over-economic-policy-20181011-p5092e.html
The Australian tells us how Morrison has reacted to Costello’s savaging.
https://outline.com/Ux3G3R
According to Bagshaw Labor has left the door open to supporting the Morrison government’s accelerated company tax cuts as the Prime Minister moves to put them before Parliament next week.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-open-to-accelerating-small-business-tax-cuts-20181011-p5091c.html
And Amy Remeikis reports that the Morrison government is on track for its first major legislative win, having won over the bulk of the crossbench on its plan to accelerate further tax cuts for small and medium businesses.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/11/morrison-closes-in-on-votes-needed-to-get-business-tax-plan-through-senate
Bill Shorten has fired back at the Morrison government’s claim he is playing the politics of envy, telling business leaders he doesn’t mind how rich anyone is.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/bill-shorten-i-don-t-mind-how-rich-anyone-is-20181011-p5095q.html
David Crowe reckons the immigration debates has gone off the rails. And there’s a sting in the tail of the article for the Coalition.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/maddening-moment-in-immigration-debate-20181011-p5092o.html
Morrison’s certainly got his hands full with the freedom of religion issue.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-urged-to-draft-new-laws-to-ban-religious-discrimination-20181010-p508su.html
Morrison’s ‘blind spot’ may come from reading the Bible too literally according to theology lecturer Robyn Whitaker.
https://theconversation.com/on-gender-and-sexuality-scott-morrisons-blind-spot-may-come-from-reading-the-bible-too-literally-102843
And former minister Concetta Fierravanti-Wells has slammed the Coalition’s handling of religious protections, accusing senior Liberals of going missing during the same-sex marriage debate.
https://outline.com/5Jaezy
David Marr says the right to expel gay children from school isn’t about freedom; it’s about cruelty.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/oct/11/the-right-to-expel-children-from-school-isnt-about-freedom-its-about-cruelty
A Harvey Norman franchisee bailed out at a cost of almost $8 million – dragging down Harvey Norman’s Australian earnings and raising new questions about the independence of franchisees – had a troubled history.
https://www.outline.com/EX69W2
Phil Coorey writes that appeasing the political cancers on the right of the Liberal Party has left business furious and ready to adopt its own emissions reduction scheme.
https://outline.com/UZEdK8
Simon Benson reports that Shorten has flagged giving financial regulators the power to force bank-owned retail superannuation funds to appoint independent trustees to ensure members’ interests are put ahead of profits when dealing with workers’ compulsory retirement savings.
https://outline.com/btpdG2
Federal approval to clear more than 2,000 hectares of Queensland native forest in the catchment for the Great Barrier Reef could potentially be held up for months after the Environmental Defender’s Office launched court action to prevent it.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/11/legal-bid-to-delay-land-clearing-over-risk-to-great-barrier-reef
The SMH editorial reflects on yesterday’s stock market rout and says that the global economic sunshine can’t last forever.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/global-economic-sunshine-can-t-last-forever-20181011-p50928.html
And Stephen Bartholomeusz opines that the shudder that roiled the US share market overnight may not be the end of the near decade-long bull market but it might well signal the beginning of the end.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/an-ominous-sign-as-wall-street-s-fangs-are-bitten-20181011-p5090t.html
Meanwhile idiot Trump has launched a second day of criticism against the Federal Reserve on Thursday, calling its interest rate increases a “ridiculous” policy that was making it more expensive for his administration to finance its escalating deficits.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/markets/going-loco-trump-ramps-up-his-attack-on-the-ridiculous-fed-20181012-p50975.html
The crisis in Australia’s political system is less about the quality of individual politicians and more to do with the “majority media” and business lobby groups drowning out the independent centre for their own self-interest, distinguished economist, Prof Ross Garnaut has said.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/11/australia-is-in-trouble-majority-media-and-lobbying-destroy-trust-in-politics-garnaut-says
Jennifer Hewett explores the minefield of gas supply and pricing.
https://outline.com/YnDmNt
New rules designed to simplify private health insurance will leave thousands of consumers facing significant premium increases, the Grattan Institute has warned.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/11/private-health-insurance-rule-changes-will-lead-to-premium-hikes-grattan-institute
Fergus Hunter looks at yesterday’s AFP raid on Home Affairs’ HQ. Is the Uber Tuber after Roman’s scalp?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/afp-raid-home-affairs-department-as-part-of-investigation-into-damaging-au-pair-leaks-20181011-p5091k.html
Urban specialist Chris Johnson declares that recent statements by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian that Sydney’s migration intake should be halved indicate a short-term populist policy to appease voters before next year’s state election.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/premier-nsw-infrastructure-growth-immigration-taskforce-20181011-p5093q.html
Nick McKenzie writes that the revelation that the disappearance of Interpol president Meng Hongwei was engineered by Beijing’s secret police shows what President Xi Jinping really thinks of those within the international community who care for the rule of law.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/chinese-move-was-an-up-yours-to-the-rest-of-the-world-20181010-p508tv.html
The recent Opera House billboard debate has not only outraged many but also shed a spotlight on other social problems, writes Jacinta Coelho.
https://independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/how-the-opera-house-debacle-has-highlighted-misogyny-and-gambling-addiction-in-australian-culture,11986
Labor candidate Tim Murray has an op-ed today in which he says Scott Morrison and the Liberal Party have no vision.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/two-things-wentworth-voters-must-remember-20181011-p5093v.html
Michelle Grattan looks at Alex Turnbull’s intervention in the Wentworth by-election lead up. She concludes with the observation “After the government’s shambles, Labor has a reasonable story to tell investors. But the story those investors really wanted to hear was a bipartisan one, and that won’t be delivered.”
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-malcolm-turnbull-is-gone-but-son-alex-keeps-the-climate-faith-104797
Dreamworld management “fobbed off” a safety officer’s attempts to provide out-of-hours training to staff at the Gold Coast theme park, an inquest has been told.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/oct/11/dreamworld-safety-officer-felt-fobbed-off-over-training-requests
Esther Han writes that a group of MPs has blasted NSW’s independent pricing regulator for suggesting that electricity prices had dropped over the past five years, with one member saying it was “on another planet”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/on-another-planet-mps-rebuke-ipart-for-saying-electricity-prices-are-going-down-20181010-p508t7.html
Madonna King has crafted a resignation letter for The Parrot. If only!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/queensland/the-resignation-alan-jones-should-like-to-announce-20181011-p508yp.html
Dave Donovan writes that the world is divided into two sorts of people: those who believe everyone is motivated solely by greed and self-interest, and those who are not solely motivated by greed and self-interest.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/conservatives-neoliberalism-and-the-projection-of-greed,11984
John McDuling reports that a rebuke of the Telstra board appears all but inevitable next week. And while it may just look like a protest against executive bonuses amid a falling share price and mass job cuts, it could hint at a more significant repudiation of the company.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/telstra-prepares-for-the-worst-as-shareholders-get-cranky-20181011-p5092j.html
These academics tells us how farmers’ climate denial has begun to wane as reality bites.
https://theconversation.com/farmers-climate-denial-begins-to-wane-as-reality-bites-103906
The Northern Irish party that British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government relies on for support says it will consider backing a vote of no-confidence if May agrees to EU checks on goods entering the region post-Brexit.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/northern-irish-party-threatens-to-topple-theresa-may-s-uk-government-20181012-p5096t.html
The Marsh brothers save the day for Australia yet again. Oh wait!
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/brave-aussies-draw-first-test-against-pakistan-20181012-p5096r.html
A Greens NSW politician who has railed against defamation laws and their effects on free speech is suing multiple members of his own party – including demands for a $75,000 payout – after being publicly accused of sexually assaulting a young Greens staffer.
https://newmatilda.com/2018/10/11/greens-member-publishes-details-mp-jeremy-buckinghams-75000-legal-threat/
Singer Shannon Noll has escaped a criminal conviction and been handed a 12-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to possessing cocaine. It must have been the character reference from Kyle Sandilands that saved the day for him!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/shannon-noll-pleads-guilty-to-drug-charge-20181011-p50909.html
And for “Arseholes of the Week” . . . .
https://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/you-ve-got-to-be-more-careful-android-enjoyed-ordered-not-to-mislead-customers-20181011-p508za.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe rolls out a new palette for this swipe at Trump.
Peter Broelman enters the church.
Paul Zanetti gives Gladys and The Parrot a nudge.
Some good ones from matt Golding.
A telling contribution from Alan Moir.
David Pope puts Trump in a hot tub.
https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_828/t_resize_width/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/1edb22113669b9b48b6a62315e781d4fccd3450d
The disturbed Johannes Leak with another exhibit.
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/360e2c56ecc4e48cdcb3a1ef786434ca
More in here.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-fairfax-cartoons-october-12-2018-20181011-h16ike.html
The banking RC –
Interesting that it seems only the Labor MPs on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics are asking the hard questions. Matt Thistlethwaite and Claire O’Neill are really doing all the work, it seems.
That committee is heavily loaded with Liberal MPs and includes some absolute dills, like Craig Kelly and Craig Laundy as well as likely dual citizen Jason Falinski.
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House/Economics/Committee_Membership
Here’s a new Outline link to BK’s item, I hope it works.
https://outline.com/ZmJ7ur
Boggle boggle !I just read an article about the race to build an Exaflop computer in the next couple of years. Some may remember the first ‘celebrity’ super computer the Cray 1. The exaflop babies will do in 1 second what the Cray would take 205 years to do !!
Have a spider embryo ………….
Spider? Eeeek!
New post
https://pbxmastragics.com/2018/10/12/the-flowers-that-bloom-in-the-spring/