The Prime Muppet’s Bible

Fiona Uncategorized

For some strange reason, I’ve had the feeling for quite a while that any resemblance between extreme evangelical Christian scripture and that of mainstream Christianity is accidental at best.

As I’ve said before, I am an atheist, but from my education (not my family upbringing) I am very familiar with the Bible, especially the King James version. I’ve also read it, including the Apocrypha. (And I’ve read the Koran, and numerous Buddhist and Hindu texts).

So, tonight I am wondering what bits of the “mainstream” Bible our dear Prime Muppet might adhere to.

My choice should be obvious by the image above.

Yours? (Play fair, only one nomination per Pubster).

193 thoughts on “The Prime Muppet’s Bible”

  1. Frackmali?

    Letter from Scott Morrison raises questions about why the NT received GST top up

    A Freedom of Information request has raised more questions about whether the Federal Government’s decision to give the Northern Territory $260 million extra in GST was linked to removing its fracking moratorium.

    The Australia Institute, an environmental think tank, has obtained a partially censored copy of the Federal Government’s GST top-up offer letter to the Gunner Government, which refers to its decision to allow fracking to resume.

    The $260 million GST top up and $550 million for Northern Territory remote Indigenous housing were announced by then federal treasurer Scott Morrison at a press conference in Alice Springs on April 23

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-14/gst-fracking-government-morrison-moratorium/10497850

  4. The chairman of the agency responsible for the bungled My Health Record rollout has been privately advising a global healthcare outsourcing company.

    The Herald discovered the relationship between the UK based government contracting giant Serco and the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) chairman Jim Birch after obtaining internal documents that detail the board members’ conflicts of interest.

    https://www.theage.com.au/healthcare/hidden-conflict-my-health-record-boss-privately-giving-advice-to-health-firms-20181107-p50eh9.html

  5. Hidden conflict: My Health Record boss privately giving advice to health firms

    The chairman of the agency responsible for the bungled My Health Record rollout has been privately advising a global healthcare outsourcing company.

    The Herald discovered the relationship between the UK based government contracting giant Serco and the Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) chairman Jim Birch after obtaining internal documents that detail the board members’ conflicts of interest.

    The revelation comes as federal Health Minister Greg Hunt was forced to extend the My Health Record opt out period after a compromise deal with the Senate crossbench and a last minute meltdown of the website left thousands of Australians struggling to meet the original deadline.

    Since April 2016, Mr Birch has been ADHA chairman with oversight of the My Health Record system, which will automatically generate digital medical records for millions of Australians who do not opt out by the end of January.

    The ADHA board’s “Personal Interests Disclosures Register”, released under Freedom of Information laws, shows Mr Birch began “providing strategy advice to Serco” in November 2017. The register is not publicly available.

    After the Herald submitted questions last week on whether the relationship posed a conflict of interest, Mr Birch quit the advisory role.

    https://www.theage.com.au/healthcare/hidden-conflict-my-health-record-boss-privately-giving-advice-to-health-firms-20181107-p50eh9.html

    Was he doing this with the intention of flogging off our confidential health records to Serco? Who knows? It makes opting out seem the best option.

  6. Leone

    Thanks for clearing up my confusion between DSP and NDIS. From what you have said, Razz won’t have any problems, hopefully. Although Razz would love nothing better than to be fully independent, there is no way she would be assessed as such.

  7. MY Aged Care, NDIS, CHSP. What a complicated mess.
    My OH has Alzheimers Disease stage 5, is dual incontinent, is a chronic Asthmatic and has very, very limited mobility. She has been assessed by ACAT as requiring level 4 care. However she has been given only medium priority. She has been on the waiting list for a home package for the last twelve months. Checked with My Aged Care last week, It is estimated it will be at least another .3 – 6 months. Currently we have 3hrs personal care per week, 1 1/2 hours per fortnight domestic care, Physio 1 hr per month and 4 hrs per fortnight Respite provided under CHSP. All different Providers even though, under Home Package, they are all approved to provide all the services, under CHSP they are not.
    Even the Providers are confused.

    • I’m sure that if Labor had remained in government, many of these stuff ups would have been solved quickly. Luckily NDIS doesn’t start until January, so by the time, if Razz is accepted, all the paper work and stuff is done, hopefully Labor will be in.

  8. Leone

    What is the vibe in NSW now that Foley has gone? How is the new bloke being received? Are the media still reminding everyone about the change?

    • I don’t really know. No-one I know seems at all interested, probably because Foley was such a hopeless leader no-one knew who he was.

      All I’ve seen is a bit of “this is a blow for Labor” comment, which tells you the MSM could do their usual and support the current government. But – Gladys has been so hopeless even the usually Lib/Nats-friendly media were fed up before the Foley incident.

      Everything seems to have gone quiet, I suppose they are all busy checking their dirt files for anything they can throw at Michael Daley. I wouldn’t have chosen him as leader, he has baggage.

  11. I just got a robocall on behalf of a Liberal Senator or MP (can’t remember the name).
    wtte

    What of these four is your main concern, local jobs, health, security, something economic reducing living costs blah blah?
    (local jobs)

    Something or other and I answered
    (Not sure)

    The govt is doing wonders for shipbuilding in SA, is there enough information out there?
    (no) I wonder if this is pushpolling?

    Will you vote Lib, Labor, Centre Allianz,Green, another party?
    (Another party)

    Would you change your vote at the next election?
    (not sure)

    Given a choice , would you vote Liberal over Labor, or Labor over Liberal?
    (Liberal over Labor)

    Who do you think is the better PM, Morrison, Shorten or don’t know.
    (Morrison)

    Are you male or female?
    (Male)

    What is the first number of your age?
    (2)

    The questions are as I remember them. I answered as any decent ALP member would. 🙂

    • On ya, Puffy!

      I’m considering making up stuff next time I’m polled, anything to boost FauxMo’s already huge ego, I say. but I’d need to know it’s not a poll about Rob Oakeshott first though – I’ve already had one of those and he hasn’t yet announced if he’s going to run.

    • By the 8th robo poll in a month your answers should get very creative. Think about your persona and answer accordingly.
      Have fun!

    • Seriously why do the Liberals bother polling?
      They know they are going to be flogged.
      Is the polling company a political donor.
      I think that polling should be banned within 3 weeks of an election as I have been subjected to push-polling lately – I live in a seat that has 0.4% margin

  12. Pyne’s excuse, his “this is what he’s thinking of doing” lie is just plain ludicrous and will only make this situation worse.

  15. Your taxes at work –

    Canstruct: Nauru detention centre contractor’s profit from abuse

    At the same time as children and their families are being medically evacuated from Nauru, it’s been reported today that Canstruct, a Queensland company, is set to make in the order of $150 million in earnings from the Australian Government for running the Nauru detention centre.

    Keren Adams, Director of Legal Advocacy at the Human Rights Law Centre said it was appalling that a so-called family business was profiting from an intentionally abusive system.

    “It’s been five long years of misery and suffering for the men, women and children on Nauru. And now people are being evacuated after this prolonged cruel treatment. What kind of business looks at that abuse and sees an opportunity for profit?” said Ms Adams.

    According to audited accounts lodged with Australia’s corporate regulator the company made a profit of $43 million dollars in the past seven months. While the exact figure is not known, the contract extension could potentially reach in excess of half a billion dollars, with the total contract expected to bring in $150 million in bottom line earnings when the contract expires in April 2019

    https://www.hrlc.org.au/news/2018/11/15/canstruct-nauru-detention-centre-contractors-profit-from-abuse

  16. If you can walk away from a landing, it’s a good landing. If you use the airplane the next day, it’s an outstanding landing.

    — Chuck Yeager

    No paying passengers on this flight, fortunately. After fighting with an “uncontrollable” aircraft (crossed controls?) and desperate to get over water to “ditch”, they managed to regain some control, and landed on the third attempt (albeit on the wrong runway.) A job well done!

    https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/kc1388#1e84fc24 (Click “Play”.)

    Astana E190 at Alverca on Nov 11th 2018, severe control problems
    http://avherald.com/h?article=4c04438e

  19. Concetta Fierravanti-Wells using parliamentary privilege to attack twitter user Sir Clyde of Nob and others (not sure of the context).

    • Forrest: Not an elected official. Makes welfare policy that will benefit his cronies
      Carnell: Not an elected official. Makes aged pension policy that will benefit her cronies
      Stokes: Not an elected official. Makes war memorial policy that will benefit his besties
      Gina: Not an elected official. Makes “special economic zone” policy that’ll gift her moar!
      IPA: Not even Australian. Owns LNP, No comment needed.

    • I really hope the ALP holds to its policy/promise to fund and start a federal corruption investigative unit. When next they are in government, of course.

      Though reading through old newspapers in Trove, I can’t say that things have much changed since before Federation, but then there are a lot of ‘dynasties’ in the various parliamentary settings around the country!

  21. Full text of the adjournment debate attack, under parliamentary privilege, on a few Twitter users by Connie Fierravanti-Welles.

    https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22chamber/hansards/180e57a2-f846-48db-9314-0022ab9c4706/0286%22

    I follow those people, I know one of them personally, and count her as a friend. I get a bit sick of their constant twittering, to be honest, and tend to ignore most of it. I couldn’t call it propaganda, and I doubt it would influence anyone in an election. If you follow these tweeters then you are already a Labor supporter.

    I wonder if Sir Clyde of Knob would like to sue for defamation?

  22. I suspect I know whom you mean, and also count her as a friend.

    Sir Clyde of Knob would have to overcome the impenetrable shield of Parliamentary privilege.

    • B U S T E D – so the Libs want to deny retirees their secret pleasure in countering government lies and wall to wall MSM propaganda

      I watched a bit of 7:30 Report for the first time in years. It was trivial muck that was more suitable for Kochie on Sunrise

    • So why is it OK for unelected, foreign billionaires like Twiggy Forrest, Gina Rinehart, Stokes, IPA to set COALition policy but it’s not OK for a bunch of retirees to use Twitter to disseminate a pro ALP message. Good thing Connie didn’t analyse Stop Adani or Asylum Seekers

  24. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Big banker boy behaving badly?
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/nab-ceo-in-investigation-over-luxury-resort-holiday-20181115-p50g96.html
    A tip for bankers ahead of the royal commission: be more like doctors!
    https://theconversation.com/a-tip-for-bankers-ahead-of-the-royal-commission-be-more-like-doctors-106927
    Four resigned UK ministers and still counting! (I have just noted on UK Sky News that it’s now up to seven! And also on ABC24 they are reporting that a letter of no confidence in May is close to getting the required 48 signatures).
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/ministers-quit-may-government-as-brexit-deal-threatens-to-fall-apart-20181115-p50gct.html
    The SMH editorial makes its points on where Brexit is going and the hysteria surrounding the process.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/britain-cannot-turn-its-back-on-the-eu-20181115-p50g7b.html
    Nick Miller says that the current Brexit is the ‘worst deal in history’ and the one with the best chance because the alternative, at this late stage, is mayhem.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/brexit-the-worst-deal-in-history-is-the-one-with-the-best-chance-20181115-p50g4j.html
    Has it moved into Brexshit territory?
    https://outline.com/Mnp5vP
    Greg Jericho says that Morrison will feel relief at this overdue wages growth, but it is still pathetic. As is usual, he regales us with well-presented supportive data.
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2018/nov/14/morrison-will-feel-relief-at-this-overdue-wages-growth-but-it-is-still-pathetic
    Katharine Murphy reports that Albo has made a speech.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/15/progressive-side-of-politics-must-not-retreat-into-comfort-zone-albanese-warns
    Oliver Yates explains how the Liberals need to pay attention to protest votes – they are proving costly.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/16/liberals-need-to-pay-attention-to-protest-votes-they-are-proving-costly
    Phil Coorey tells us that soon after Scott Morrison became Prime Minister, he was presented with a policy wish list by Liberal senator Eric Abetz and other conservatives who had helped dynamite Malcolm Turnbull. It included abandoning the Paris climate change commitments and moving Australia’s Israeli embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. With friends like that who needs enemies?
    https://outline.com/je5XDM
    And Michelle Grattan reckons the Morrison government brings back memories of McMahon days. Ouch!
    https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-morrison-government-brings-back-memories-of-mcmahon-days-107033
    Richo says that the dismal state of mind of Australians of all income levels and backgrounds makes it extremely difficult for the Prime Minister to make a comeback in the polls and be competitive in an election ­almost certain to be held in May. He reckons Shorten is a “shoo-in”.
    https://outline.com/SKH3wb
    Stephen Bartholomeusz explains the volatility of oil prices and looks ahead at next year in general.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/volatile-times-oil-s-implosion-is-about-more-than-the-sanctions-on-iran-20181115-p50g6i.html
    Demographer Kim Johnstone writes that there’s some breaking news for Baby Boomers. You’ve had a very good run and you’re just about done.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/boomers-your-privileged-tax-deducted-time-is-up-millennials-have-arrived-20181104-p50dxj.html
    David Crowe reports that Morrison is being urged to rethink his policy shift on Israel in an extraordinary warning from Indonesia that “radicals” could target Australians in terror attacks in response to his new stance.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/indonesian-mps-claim-australians-could-be-targeted-in-terror-attacks-in-response-to-israel-rethink-20181115-p50gcc.html
    But Josh Frydenberg has launched a forceful pitch for the government to follow through with moving its Israeli embassy to ­Jerusalem.
    https://outline.com/CXCmJ8
    More from Crowe as he tells us the federal government will fund new criminal court action against banking executives in a $51.5 million move that prepares for a new wave of prosecutions from the royal commission into financial services.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/coalition-targets-the-banks-with-51-5-million-prosecution-funding-20181115-p50gar.html
    Private hospital coverage has fallen to its lowest level since 2009, a shift expected to add pressure on public hospitals.
    https://outline.com/hZDy2a
    Jenna Price examines the terrible legacy of Milne and Guthrie.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-terrible-legacy-of-milne-and-guthrie-20181115-p50g7h.html
    A flailing Trump has unleashed another Twitter barrage after spending the last three days meeting with his personal legal team, crafting answers to written questions from the special counsel, Robert Mueller.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/mueller-team-has-gone-absolutely-nuts-trump-says-20181116-p50gd2.html
    Macron has delivered a nice sideswipe on Trump.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/as-relationship-sours-macron-rebukes-trump-says-france-is-not-vassal-of-us-20181115-p50gcg.html
    America cannot afford “a truculent child president” if it is to fulfil its global leadership role, the former US secretary of state John Kerry said on Thursday as he lambasted Donald Trump for failing to attend a key Armistice Day commemoration ceremony in Paris at the weekend.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/15/john-kerry-trump-america-truculent-president
    The powerful lobby group representing Australia’s resources giants has backed the Morrison government’s controversial plan to underwrite new power generation, and says the replacement of the Liddell coal-fired power station must be the focus. Of course it does!
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/15/minerals-council-backs-coalitions-plan-to-underwrite-new-power-generation
    Dave Donovan writes that this Government is intent on undermining our public institutions. And nowhere is this more evident than with the ABC and NBN.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/editorial-excerpt-undermining-the-nbn-and-abc,12101
    Doug Dingwall explains how the Auditor-General has revealed which agencies want to gag him next.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/federal/home-affairs-crime-commission-flag-suppression-for-audits-20181115-p50g60.html
    Oh oh! We have some trouble within the security service ranks. The Uber Tuber has been forced into action.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/sexting-officer-steps-down-as-dutton-intervenes-over-corruption-claims-20181115-p50ga2.html
    Post-doctoral research fellow Randa Abdel-Fattah writes about her time as a Muslim in Australia from the time of the World Trade Centre attack.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/bourke-st-i-am-feeling-nothing-less-than-rage-alienation-and-despair-20181115-p50g6f.html
    Politics professor George Rennie explains how Australia’s NRA-inspired gun lobby is trying to chip away at gun control laws, state by state.
    https://theconversation.com/how-australias-nra-inspired-gun-lobby-is-trying-to-chip-away-at-gun-control-laws-state-by-state-105667
    According to The Australian, forty of the 300 refugees who left Nauru to resettle in the US have contacted the island nation asking to come back.
    https://outline.com/ZnyKqj
    Sex workers have been struggling to obtain fair rights, with laws and social stigma making it difficult to earn a living, writes Estelle Lucas.
    https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/the-unfair-stigma-surrounding-sex-workers,12100
    Timna Jacks writes that, courtesy of the preference whisperer, an arch-conservative group that looks set to win a seat in the Victorian Parliament is calling for a “10-year good behaviour bond” on new migrants and a ban on what they call “paedophile grooming content” in the anti-bullying Safe Schools program.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/life-coach-with-sights-on-upper-house-wants-10-year-bond-for-migrants-20181115-p50g99.html
    Peta Credlin gives he Victorian Liberal party a pep talk.
    https://outline.com/jkG83h
    The nation’s top financial watchdogs have warned of a “protracted” downturn in parts of the housing market and are closely watching moves by major banks to pull back from lending to residential property developers.
    https://www.outline.com/5JYTvs
    Anna Patty outlines the story of how the Fair Work Ombudsman Sandra Parker came to the job she currently holds.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/ripped-off-by-10-50-how-sandra-parker-learnt-meaning-of-fair-work-20181114-p50fzf.html
    “Your foetus is precious but not a person, no matter what Fred Nile says”, writes New Yorker Lou Dargan.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/your-fetus-is-precious-but-not-a-person-no-matter-what-fred-nile-says-20181115-p50gb0.html
    In the wake of the banking royal commission more than $5 billion flowed out of superannuation funds owned by AMP and the Big Four banks into AustralianSuper, Hostplus and Cbus in the six months to September.
    https://outline.com/jy5zgv
    Labor has blasted the Morrison government for delaying the next rounds of Australian Research Council grants, a move that will see the new “national interest” test for public funding applied to them.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/15/labor-attacks-morrison-government-for-delay-to-australian-research-council-grants
    The tragic death of Sisto Malaspina was seized as a publicity opportunity by Scott Morrison, writes Dr Binoy Kampmark.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/exploiting-death-scott-morrison-pellegrinis-and-sisto-malaspina,12098
    The ABC’s recent management implosion has sparked debate over the future of the embattled public broadcaster, and now existing staff are once again warning the corporation’s budget is “unsustainable” and needs “remedial action”.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/finance-news/2018/11/15/abc-funding-cuts-2/
    Matthew Knott reports that Ireland is trying to muscle in on a special United States visa class that only Australians currently enjoy and which has limited numbers. The visa was negotiated as part of our 2005 FTA with America.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/the-irish-are-muscling-in-on-our-special-us-visa-so-we-ve-gone-nuts-20181115-p50g8j.html
    The error-prone Indigenous affairs minister, Nigel Scullion, signed off on grants of almost $460,000 to fishing and cattle grazier groups in the NT, using funds earmarked for addressing Indigenous disadvantage, even though the groups had not applied for them.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/15/minister-approved-460000-indigenous-funding-for-fishing-and-cattle-groups
    More than 2000 small-to-medium companies will be excused from lodging annual financial reports to the corporate regulator, under a red-tape-cutting exercise announced by Frydenberg.
    https://outline.com/DgVeke
    The Australian oil and gas lobby is pushing to limit public information about greenhouse gas emissions from liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants, a move that contradicts the global industry’s pledge to increase transparency about their impact on the climate.
    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/nov/16/nothing-to-hide-oil-and-gas-lobby-pushes-to-limit-data-on-its-emissions
    ABC journalists have backed the union movement’s push for radical changes to Australia’s industrial relations system, dividing the broadcaster’s reporters and prompting outrage from ABC critics.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/abc-journalists-under-fire-after-signing-on-to-campaign-to-tear-up-industrial-relations-laws-20181115-p50g8i.html
    The AFR reports that big investors have slammed the Morrison government’s “big stick” approach to the electricity sector, saying any move to force companies to cut prices will have a major impact on profits, future investment and result in less competition in the long term.
    https://outline.com/9dTsUF
    Make no mistake – sinking department store Myer is at death’s door, according to the latest, undisclosed sales figures.
    https://outline.com/VFA2Hg
    David Crowe bemoans the snail-like pace of the Senate.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/federal/canberra-s-go-slow-is-now-beyond-a-joke-20181115-p50ga7.html
    In another indication of the march of climate change longer bushfire seasons in Australia and the US threaten to disrupt the sharing of vital personnel and equipment between the two countries, fire experts and coordinators have revealed.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/16/longer-fire-seasons-threaten-to-disrupt-us-australia-firefighting-cooperation
    I can’t believe the pathetic tabloid-style reaction to the perfectly reasonable request from Bunnings regarding the serving of snags and onion on bread.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-banger-sanger-the-onions-and-the-prime-minister-20181115-p50g9t.html
    James Willoughby tells us that Australia’s cricket fans have had enough and they’re voting with their feet.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/sport/cricket/2018/11/15/cricket-australia/
    And for “Arsehole of the Week” we have this guy . . .
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/a-terrible-downfall-dentist-admits-groping-faces-probe-over-death-20181115-p50g9p.html

    Cartoon Corner

    David Rowe and the denizens of the Brexit swamp.

    Mark David delivers Malcolm’s NBN.

    Zanetti goes for the CFMEU yet again.

    From the US.

    Cathy Wilcox and ABC interference.

    A gif from Glen Le Lievre on Turnbull’s spin.

    Nice work from David Pope.
    https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_828/t_resize_width/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/98e9227468a86e07d57d0ccc4065bdc38eaa798c
    Jon Kudelka and Morrison’s embassy problem.
    https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/a0bc7eb1261fffb53827d89a1f95cefe
    More good ones in here.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-fairfax-cartoons-november-16-2018-20181115-h17xmi.html

    • I know that many of us here have said it before but, BK, the effort you put in for us day by day and the product you give us is breathtaking and something for which we say, again and again, “thank you”.

    • Hear hear brianmcisme, it is humbling to think that someone is willing to go to such lengths to keep us informed.

      Big thanks from me as well BK.

  25. From SMH letters

    Is this letter writer aware that Tay Sachs, a degenerative fatal condition in boys formerly rife in the Jewish populations of Eastern Europe has been eradicated through genetic testing of all 15 year old Jews and vigorous matchmaking to discourage couples who both have the Tay Sachs gene

    Gene tests threaten diversity

    With “landmark genetic testing to start for future parents”, if the options for future parents who carry genes for Spinal Muscular Atrophy and cystic fibrosis are to “choose not to have children” or for the pregnant mother to “consider termination”, then are we sending a message to those who have such health conditions that we’d rather they not exist (“Landmark genetic testing to start for future parents”, November 15)?

    Let the genetic awareness help us all plan to support the true diversity of humanity and continue to research for medical cures instead of eradicating through non-procreation. – Polly Seidler, Darlinghurst

    • Obviously Ms Seidler (is she the daughter of Harry Seidler?) has never had to care for someone with Spinal Muscular Atrophy or cystic fibrosis or any of the other genetic conditions that cut short the lives of those who inherit them.

      It’s the same sort of misguided argument that insists all women with disabilities have the right to have children. No, they don’t.

      Tay-Sachs affects Ashkenazi Jews, (central and northern European ancestry) who are also more prone to certain types of cancer than the general population because of their ancestral genetics.

  26. “Katharine Murphy reports that Albo has made a speech.”

    Why is it the MSM never report on all the outstanding speeches made by Shorten, or those made by other Labor shadow ministers? We all know why.

    Things get stickier for the government (yesterday’s conflicting comments on THAT embassy and the remarks by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad were terrible for FauxMo) and out come the implied leadership struggles yet again. It’s getting boring, it’s now too predictable and somewhere way beyond ludicrous.

    As usual the media cherry-pick in their reports. Murpharoo didn’t mention the one thing The Oz picked up on – Albo had a few things to say about the Greens, and why voting for them is a waste of time.

    But giving the annual John Button Oration, Mr Albanese emphasised Labor’s distance from the minor party, while also slamming the Liberals for deserting the inner city in a tactical bid to hurt Labor and improve the Greens’ chances.

    “Whereas the Liberals seek to use government to promote a ­reactionary agenda, the Greens party seek to wait for whoever is in government to make decisions and then determine whether to support or oppose them,” he said. “They are the observers and would-be judges of Australian politics, rather than the participants.”

    The comments add to those of Premier Daniel Andrews, who hit out on Wednesday at “cultural problems” in the minor party after it put up a candidate who rapped about date rape and themes of sexual violence

    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/victorian-election-a-vote-for-greens-is-a-waste-says-albanese/news-story/023ebee3e1baedc1fad6798af55c2e95

    https://outline.com/xLx7UA

    As yet there’s no transcript of the speech available, it will be interesting to see it and compare it with the dodgy media reports.

    Also – Why is The Oz referring to this speech as “The John Button Oration”? That event was held in August, as part of the Melbourne Writers Festival.
    https://mwf.com.au/program/megan-davis-john-button-oration-1405/

    The same thing happened last time Albo made a speech which the MSM insisted was all about a leadership challenge. It was reported as “The Whitlam Oration”. It wasn’t. That speech is given annually for the Whitlam Institute, and this year’s oration had already been given by Bret Walker SC when Albo’s speech to a small number of Labor Party members at a suburban club in Shellharbour was made.

    it’s extremely easy to find out these facts, but journalists ignore them, deliberately twisting their reports in their ongoing quest to get Labor to change leaders. Here’s some breaking news for them – Labor isn’t going to dump Shorten.

  27. Thought I might just mention Frydenberg’s response to the Mark Humphries clip (above) –

    I detect a strategy of sorts by the Morrison government. They’re looking to defuse satirical pieces by engaging with them in a jokey way. Morrison posted a similar response to a Humphries clip a while ago. I think that’s also what was behind Morrison appropriating ‘ScoMo’ as a nickname. It’s all meant to make them look more approachable and friendly, I suppose.

    Clumsy response, though. Frydenberg is misreading Humphries’ intent. Why on earth he would try to describe himself as ‘authentic’ when that’s exactly the thing he doesn’t look like is a bit of a mystery. Besides, if he can’t see that Humphries is lacerating him and not having a gentle dig, then he’s a bigger idiot than I thought he was.

    Plus – this goes to the heart of what we expect of politicians in positions of responsibility. Frydenberg is the nation’s Treasurer, the person entrusted with handling our economy. He appears to think it’s appropriate to continue badly sloganeering and verballing the opposition like a backbencher – or indeed like Morrison did as Treasurer. It feels like an abandonment of duty. And if his response to satire like that is to say “Aw yeah, I do look like a bit of a dill, but that’s just because I’m so authentic, yuk yuk yuk” there’s no chance of him thriving in his role.

    I used to think the Liberal/Nationals were venal and compromised, but still potent. Not any more. I think they’re now ineffectual idiots They’re unable even to control the surface message these days, and they’re misreading the mood of the nation quite horribly.

    • I don’t understand what “authentic” is supposed to mean when it’s used to describe a politician.It all comes back to marketing jargon, I suppose – stuff like “building an authentic brand” is pretty much incomprehensible, but they keep doing it.

      I thinks it’s supposed to imply the politician is staying true to who he/she is, or the party is true to its alleged “values”. None of that can be said of either Frydenberg or the current government.

      When I saw Frydenberg’s video I could think of only one thing – the steep path he was walking down was likely to cause an undignified fall, and I kept watching only in the hopes I’d see that happen. Once he reached level ground I gave up.

    • I don’t know what ‘authentic’ is supposed to mean with regard to politicians either. But I’m pretty sure it’s not the sort of word Frydenberg ought to be bandying about. He’s such a prat.

    • Some of these MPs and even the leader seem to follow their advisors’ advice quite reluctantly. Making appearances in a certain way can’t possibly make them look “authentic”. On the contrary.

  28. BK

    Thanks for your daily links. You are an essential daily institution along with a long black coffee.
    However, it puzzles me how today you missed the breaking news that “Morrison Appoints Abbott As Special Envoy To Bunnings To Sort Out The Onion Mess.” Well, I guess you are only human after all.

    https://theunaustralian.net/2018/11/15/morrison-appoints-abbott-as-special-envoy-to-bunnings-to-sort-out-the-onion-mess/?fbclid=IwAR3l22Q3VzFzVReGtTF2wru36YYbf-Tipq0N29MY4Dd0JlpO4CZZF0pJDTc

  30. Excellent piece by Trish Corry on Senator Fierravanti-Welles’s idiotic remarks last night.

    Liberal Senator Says Auspol Twitter Users Collude to Manipulate The Election
    https://polyfeministix.wordpress.com/2018/11/16/liberal-senator-says-auspol-twitter-users-collude-to-manipulate-the-election/

    These people are not Russian bots trying to influence an election and this is not the US, we do not need to be persuaded to vote. As someone said last night they are just a group of age pensioners (and retirees) who care about their country and the planet.

    Then there’s this, which the Senator conveniently forgot to mention –
    Turnbull wants Liberal social media army
    https://www.sbs.com.au/news/turnbull-wants-liberal-social-media-army

    Obviously that call to arms was greeted with a huge collective yawn by Liberals. Do they actually know how to tweet?

  32. Your taxes at work – this file is filling up too quickly.

    This time it’s our financial support for the PNG APEC summit.

    APEC 2018: 40 Maseratis, three cruise ships, 4,000 police and no Donald Trump
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-12/your-guide-to-the-apec-leaders-summit-in-png/10471794

    More, from The Monthly, which also details the appalling conditions in everyday PNG. What a colossal waste of money this meeting is! It could have been done with a video conference.

    APEC comes to PNG
    Shipped-in Maseratis and single-use venues are a world away from real life in Port Moresby

    Australia is underwriting the costs of this APEC meeting with something north of $100 million, almost half of it supporting the Australian Federal Police security commitment. It has also, according to the ABC, quietly deployed special forces soldiers on the ground, and will have Royal Australian Navy warships sitting off the coast to protect the cruise liners on which many APEC delegates will be accommodated. The final bill is not yet known.

    Australia’s heavy investment is couched as strategic, not least to counter rising Chinese influence. But China has also invested heavily, gifting a lavish $35 million overhaul of the International Convention Centre and upgrading the road we are driving on, where signs declaring “China Aid” are propped on sections still being completed. “They paid for it, they did it themselves – they brought the entire labour [force] here,” says Kelly.

    With late apologies from US president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin, China’s president Xi Jinping now enjoys unrivalled top billing at the summit, and is capitalising on the moment by arriving early to host a pre-APEC meeting with Pacific Islands leaders. Australian PM Scott Morrison will host a barbecue at the Australian ambassador’s residence in Port Moresby to try to make up ground

    https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2018/november/1540990800/jo-chandler/apec-comes-png

  33. There was a uComms/ReachTEL VIC state poll of 1,527 residents, 13 Nov.

    TPP of ALP 56 L/NP 44 (respondent allocated)

    Click to access Polling-13-Nov-2018.pdf

    Seems high and hard to believe? Maybe its rogue, maybe its not. I’m treating it with caution, although of course I’d be worried if it showed a narrowing. Its a privately commissioned, Victorian National Parks Association poll. Their press release focuses on the Parks questions, not the how will you vote questions.

    https://vnpa.org.au/victorian-polling-results/

  35. Good grief!

    Australia’s treasurer attacks Malaysian PM Mahathir for ‘antisemitic’ comments
    Josh Frydenberg escalates row over possible move of Australia’s Israel embassy to Jerusalem, saying Mahathir has ‘form’ for derogatory comments about Jews
    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/16/josh-frydenberg-malaysia-mahathir-mohamad-antisemitic-comments

    1 -Wanting our embassy in Israel to stay exactly where it is is in no way “anti-Semitic”. It’s just logical. Move it and we risk adding to the chaos in the Middle East, and we risk Australia’s relations with our neighbours.

    2 – There’s a huge difference between being Jewish and being a Zionist.

    3 – It’s possible to be Jewish and not be a Zionist.

    4 – It’s possible to be a Zionist and not be Jewish.

    5 – Many followers of the Pentecostal cult are devout Zionists.

    6 – It’s possible to be Jewish or a member of any faith and be an absolute jibbering idiot. Frydenberg is proof of that. So is FauxMo.

    I thought religion and politics were separated in this country, but now we have a Jewish, Zionist MP dictating government policy aided by a Pentecostal PM who is very keen to push the beliefs of his cult onto us all.

    Bring on that election ASAP and let’s have a government with some decency and some common sense.

  36. A state medical watchdog placed the privacy of a negligent doctor before the right of his employers to know of his history of harming patients and also before public safety, a damning report has found.

    Barrister Gail Furness recommended sweeping legislative reforms and changes to the way the Medical Council of New South Wales handles complaints as part of her independent inquiry into the disgraced gynaecologist Emil Shawky Gayed.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/16/emil-gayed-damning-report-finds-negligent-doctors-privacy-was-put-before-public-safety

  38. This must be symptomatic of the Political End-Times of the LNP! To stoop to this kind of tactic shows there is not much ‘left in the tank’ so too speak, surely.

    • She doesn’t mention all the Liberal plants on social media who respond negatively to anything Labor. They are easy to spot, they have only a handful of followers,if any at all, seem to be posting their first tweet or comment and all seem to say the same things. Hanson has whole flock of them on Facebook. I don’t see Senator F-W complaining about them.

      Here’s a question being asked a lot today – who was paid to trawl through a year’s worth of tweets and then complied a list of how many times each of these people tweeted or retweeted? Was it done by her staff? If so, don’t they have better things to do?

    • Lord of the Fridge

      One of those Senator Conceited Feral Ranter named has been a poster over at Poll Bludger for years. Bot my arse. Fool of a pollie.

  39. When goings-on in the Senate copy old Monty Python movies.

    Barry O’Sullivan is now a woman, it says so in Hansard.

    https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/b8a44c40-3453-4209-9b0b-b13bdd868983/&sid=0000

    https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/senator-barry-osullivan-says-he-is-now-a-woman-so-he-cant-be-attacked-on-abortion/

    Here’s Jan Fran on the subject –

    And here’s the original – “I want you all to call me ‘Loretta’ “.

  42. Had phone call from No.1 grandson (23yo). Who to vote for? Asked what he cared about. Then said something about tax cuts, explained why everyone pays tax. So, again, Labor it is. Good boy.

  43. I’ve just had the most delightful thought.

    If Ms Bishop the Younger were to “succeed” Scummo, would that make her the Prime Moppet?

  44. PM rejects report of a deal for Nauru refugees to come to NZ

    Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has shot down reports that New Zealand has agreed to accept 80 refugees from Nauru.

    And she says there is no truth to a report that New Zealand is blocking visa applications for hundreds more refugees on Nauru.

    A story in The Australian today said that Nauru president Baron Waqa had asked New Zealand to grant visitor visas for up to 450 Nauru refugees so they can travel to New Zealand.

    He is also reported to have personally brokered a deal for New Zealand to take a special cohort of 80 refugees from Nauru.

    But Ardern, speaking from Singapore where she is attending the East Asia Summit, said there was no such deal.

    “It’s incorrect to say that there is some kind of agreement for 80 specific individuals … to take residence or visit.”

    She also said there had been no specific requests for visitor visas from refugees in Nauru

    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12161412

    The story in The Australian.

    New Zealand blocks holidaying refugees coming from Nauru
    https://outline.com/GDUnpz

    The Oz has also run lies from Baron Waqa about thriving refugee businesses, overseas holidays and refugees now in the US preferring life on Nauru. They are complete fiction.

    Refugees pick Nauru over the US
    https://outline.com/ZnyKqj

  47. Good morning Dawn Patrollers. Here’s a heap of weekend reading for you!

    The SMH editorial accuses the Morrison of being on diplomatic L-plates.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/government-on-diplomatic-l-plates-needs-to-get-up-to-speed-20181116-p50ggt.html
    Crispin Hull does not hold back in his criticism of the lack of leadership Morrison and Trump.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/100-years-after-wwi-a-glaring-lack-of-leadership-on-difficult-issues-20181115-p50gb2.html
    In a cutting contribution Jack Waterford says that of the Coalition’s big players of today, few have a future. But Labor should want to be sure that the one who does, the Treasurer who has yet to deliver a budget, should have a past by the time the election is over.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/frydenberg-will-pick-up-the-election-bill-20181115-p50g9s.html
    Laura Tingle tells us the government is usually the master of its own political strategy but the timing of the next election is becoming more complicated by the day. She says a softening economy could only further complicate election timing.
    https://outline.com/efmKDD
    The Australian’s Brad Norrington says that Malcolm Turnbull has declared the Liberal Party is not capable of dealing with climate change because of an influential group within its ranks that ­believes the phenomenon is a “fraud” and carbon dioxide is just plant food with “the more you have the better”.
    https://outline.com/r8gbfc
    In a highly critical article Paul Kelly says the fiasco over the Jerusalem embassy now looms as a diabolical dilemma for Scott Morrison risking a lose-lose outcome. This is a deepening embarrassment for Australia, a threat to the Prime Minister’s standing, an unnecessary problem for the new trade partnership with Indonesia and a failure in terms of foreign policy priorities.
    https://www.outline.com/JqRyXv
    And Paul Bongiorno says that the question dogging Scott Morrison as he rubs shoulders with world leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Port Moresby this weekend is how long he will remain a member of this exclusive club.
    https://outline.com/E2wAX9
    Stephen Williams gives us a breakdown of how the Liberal Party works and why it’s not the ideal party to govern our nation.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/australian-politics-for-beginners-part-one,12102
    Karen Middleton continues on from last week’s exposé on Morrison’s time in Tourism Australia to tell us that seven years before he was sacked as managing director of Tourism Australia – amid serious concerns about his management practices – Scott Morrison was the subject of criticism in a New Zealand audit report examining his activities as head of NZ’s Office of Tourism and Sport.
    https://outline.com/aJWNpn
    Ross Gittins tells us the banking royal commission isn’t over. We’ve yet to see what punishments it recommends be imposed and what tightening of regulation, and then what the next government decides to do in response. He says is the barrel that is rotten rather than some of the apples in it.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/not-one-rotten-apple-it-s-the-whole-barrel-crunchtime-for-banks-20181116-p50gfn.html
    Nick Miller writes about the despair of UK voters over Brexit.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/it-s-a-disaster-brexit-voters-despair-at-the-mess-they-re-in-20181116-p50ggl.html
    Fergus Hunter reports that Trade Minister Simon Birmingham says the government is fully prepared to focus its energy on trade negotiations with the European Union as the Brexit deal proposed by British Prime Minister Theresa May brings into question when or if Australia will be able to secure a high quality trade deal with Britain.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-prepared-to-focus-on-eu-trade-talks-amid-brexit-uncertainty-birmingham-20181116-p50gin.html
    Liam Phelan explains what the current Brexit proposal would mean for Australia.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/brexit-explainer-what-it-means-for-australia-20181116-p50ggq.html
    Meanwhile the UK government has inflicted “great misery” on its people with “punitive, mean-spirited, and often callous” austerity policies driven by a political desire to undertake social re-engineering rather than economic necessity, the United Nations poverty envoy has found.
    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/nov/16/uk-austerity-has-inflicted-great-misery-on-citizens-un-says
    John Ruddick explains the motives of Gladys Berejiklian in her intervention into the NSW Liberal Party’s preselection for the state seat of North Shore this week. He says it’s all about keeping the moderates of her party at bay.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/why-gladys-berejiklian-threw-convention-out-the-window-20181115-p50g3u.html
    David Wroe reports that Morrison will use a speech at the high-powered APEC summit today to deliver a coded appeal for greater leadership by the Trump administration on free trade, warning that its barrage of tariff reprisals risk shredding global trade rules.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-calls-for-us-leadership-on-free-trade-warns-of-breakdown-of-rules-20181116-p50gla.html
    Julian Assange has been charged under seal, prosecutors inadvertently revealed in a recently unsealed court filing – a development that could significantly advance the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election and have major implications for those who publish government secrets.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/julian-assange-has-been-charged-prosecutors-reveal-inadvertently-in-court-filing-20181116-p50gkh.html
    Gail Furness is back in the spotlight as a damning report has found state medical watchdog placed the privacy of a negligent doctor before the right of his employers to know of his history of harming patients and also before public safety.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/16/emil-gayed-damning-report-finds-negligent-doctors-privacy-was-put-before-public-safety
    Julie Szego says Muslims denying a terror problem exists need to acknowledge it.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/muslims-denying-a-terror-problem-exists-need-to-acknowledge-it-20181116-p50gh5.html
    The increasingly desperate Mathew Guy is going in full bore on Andrews and terrorism.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/bourke-street-mall-terrorist-was-on-bail-and-due-to-return-to-court-20181116-p50gj0.html
    Martin McKenzie-Murray writes that after three people were stabbed, one fatally, in the centre of Melbourne, terror experts, authorities and politicians are at odds on how to stop ‘lone wolf’ attackers.
    https://outline.com/JRd2pH
    Paul Karp explains how the peak communications industry body has warned the Coalition’s encryption cracking legislation could expand the reach of metadata retention laws to our browsing history.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/16/fears-coalitions-encryption-cracking-laws-could-expand-metadata-retention
    A judge has ordered the Trump administration to immediately return the White House press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta more than a week after they were revoked.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/2018/11/17/trump-appointed-judge-orders-white-house-return-cnn-reporters-press-pass/
    Cara Waters tells us that superannuation funds will be courted to participate in the federal government’s $2 billion push to increase funding for small business.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/small-business/government-looks-to-super-funds-to-back-2-billion-small-business-plan-20181116-p50gi8.html
    Dr Bjorn Sturmberg, Research Leader of the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program, calls for fair dinkum language to be used in the energy debate.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-fair-dinkum-language-is-crucial-in-the-energy-debate-20181113-p50fug.html
    John Kerry says that people are going to die because of the decision Trump made about climate change.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/16/john-kerry-paris-climate-donald-trump-presidential-bid
    While the threat of nuclear war seems like a thing of the past, the reality is that the global nuclear arms race is still dangerously alive, not helped by Donald Trump’s hunger for power, writes Dr Glen Anderson and Blake Pepper.
    https://independentaustralia.net/article-display/trumps-withdrawal-from-the-inf-treaty-could-signal-a-new-nuclear-arms-race,12103
    A leading business group, the AiG, has expressed significant concern with the Morrison government’s controversial plan to underwrite new power generation, noting it could leave taxpayers exposed to liabilities “with a net present value of billions of dollars”.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/16/underwriting-coal-power-exposes-taxpayers-to-billions-industry-group-says
    Mike Seccombe looks at the flawed strategy for an Australian republic.
    https://outline.com/ahFx3V
    Peter Hartcher looks at Australia’s poor record on R and D spending and how it’s going to be up to Labor to bring us back on rack.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/so-much-for-the-clever-country-we-re-squibbing-it-20181116-p50gkx.html
    The AFR reveals that Labor’s planned crackdown on negative gearing would still allow wealthy owners of multiple properties to benefit from tax breaks for interest expenses on a portion of their investments. The ending of negative gearing for future investments, except newly-built homes, would apply to an investor’s total portfolio value of assets, such as property and shares.
    https://outline.com/FaegGF
    And it goes on to say that the next federal election will be about property.
    https://www.outline.com/NNCWrt
    As the government pushes to legislate for control of energy prices, retailers blame poor policy for rising bills. Meanwhile, experts say, the market continues to be gamed by energy generators writes Charles Palmer.
    https://outline.com/qE74Zx
    Nick Enfield writes that in times of ‘alternative facts’ we must care about truth on a larger scale.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/nov/16/in-times-of-alternative-facts-we-must-care-about-truth-on-a-larger-scale
    Peter FitzSimons says exactly what we are all saying about cricket.
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/bbl-odi-t20-it-s-not-just-cricket-any-more-and-it-s-too-much-20181116-p50gju.html
    Using her personal experience Clementine Ford explains perinatal anxiety and the extent to which it is encountered by both sexes.
    https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/i-wish-i-had-known-about-perinatal-anxiety-so-i-wasn-t-so-frightened-20181115-p50gcd.html
    Julia Baird has written a good essay on the changes occurring around the way women are treated and how they react.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/chaos-and-confusion-of-course-that-s-no-reason-for-women-to-shut-up-20181116-p50ggb.html
    Nurses and midwives spokesman Brett Holmes writes that as issues begin to surface at Sydney’s new Northern Beaches Hospital just weeks after its opening, it’s hard not to question the efficacy of private-public partnerships.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/a-farce-perpetrated-on-the-people-of-the-northern-beaches-20181116-p50gjp.html
    And in South Australia forensic accounting has uncovered $112 million in payments without proper approvals in the SA Health agency running the Royal Adelaide Hospital, including $4 million for staff travel.
    https://outline.com/7vLWAa
    Inspired by Stiglitz’s lecture in Sydney Ebony Bennett writes that a succession of Liberal governments have shown contempt for institutions that underpin civil society like the Australian Human Rights Commission, the judiciary and the ABC. She gives Greg Sheridan a good swipe as well.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/beyond-2018-truth-telling-must-be-protected-if-growth-is-to-continue-20181116-p50gjf.html
    Nicole Hasham explains the animal extinction crisis facing Australia.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-disaster-forest-deals-reignite-tension-between-loggers-and-conservationists-20181116-p50gfq.html
    New information regarding the so-called removal of koalas from the Coomera-Pimpama region reveals a lack of compassion on behalf of the Palaszczuk Government, writes Sue Arnold.
    https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/government-hides-truth-about-koala-mortality-rates,12104
    Pressure is mounting on the Coalition government to raise the Newstart rate following unanimous lower house crossbench support for a $75 increase. Now Bob Katter’s joined in.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/11/16/raise-the-newstart-rate-push/
    Elizabeth Knight wonders how bad must it get for bank bosses to lose all their bonuses.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/how-bad-must-it-get-for-bank-bosses-to-lose-all-their-bonuses-20181116-p50gip.html
    Inflows to industry superannuation funds have jumped by at least $6 billion in the wake of negative publicity around retail funds from the financial services royal commission.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/superannuation/2018/11/16/industry-fund-inflows-booming/
    Australia’s wealth continues to shift to the wealthy, according to the latest Credit Suisse global wealth report. Meanwhile our world ranking and GDP per adult continue to tumble. Alan Austin reports.
    https://www.michaelwest.com.au/australias-wealth-has-shifted-towards-the-rich-again/
    Lawyer Josh Bornstein explains why Australia’s whistleblower protections are waning.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/11/16/whistleblower-protections-waning/
    Credit Suisse says economic growth is likely to slow quite sharply in the coming quarters, raising the prospect that the next move in official interest rates may not actually be higher as the RBA currently expects.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/the-economy/serenity-now-insanity-later-credit-suisse-sends-a-warning-on-the-australian-economy-20181116-p50gh1.html
    The ailing department store group Myer revealed late on Friday that sales for the first quarter of 2018-19 had plunged by 4.8 per cent as it belatedly responded after a day of high drama when its shares were forced into a trading halt by the ASX.
    https://outline.com/pdK2Z8
    Malcolm Knott has some good news for Australian sport … we may have hit rock bottom!
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/good-news-for-australian-sport-we-may-have-hit-rock-bottom-20181116-p50gem.html
    Channel Seven’s new promotional campaign to introduce its on-air cricket team is being belted mercilessly amid calls for it to be sent back to the pavilion.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/tv/2018/11/16/seven-im-coming-cricket-ad/
    Victoria’s worsening flesh-eating ulcer epidemic may have spread into the heart of Melbourne, with two infections confirmed in residents of the city’s western suburbs.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/flesh-eating-ulcers-in-city-s-west-as-mystery-infection-creeps-north-20181116-p50gfy.html
    And for today’s nomination for “Arsehole of the Week” we have . . .
    https://outline.com/D3J8fA

    A quite sparse Cartoon Corner today!

    Paul Zanetti with a hapless Morrison.

    Matt Golding with a Christmas wish list for Morrison.

    Jon Kudelka with more on Morrison’s policy development.
    https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/e7da7af6437b8ad3d57cfad1c9a18e31
    More in here – particularly from David Pope and Alan Moir.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/best-of-fairfax-cartoons-november-17-2018-20181116-h17zru.html

  48. “Nurses and midwives spokesman Brett Holmes writes that as issues begin to surface at Sydney’s new Northern Beaches Hospital just weeks after its opening, it’s hard not to question the efficacy of private-public partnerships.”

    We tried to tell them it wouldn’t work, us people further up the coast.

    Port Macquarie had the state’s first private/public hospital foisted on us by the Greiner/Fahey government. It was a colossal failure from Day 1.

    Many of the problems involved underpaid, over-worked staff and staff discontent with their conditions. Some nurses were employed under a public hospital award, and received pay rises when they were due, others were employed as private hospital staff and had to wait for a pay rise while negotiations took place, so we had a system where some workers were paid less for doing the same work as their more fortunate colleagues. CEOs came and then ran away, there were six in six years. Doctors threatened to leave. Money was diverted into the bank accounts of the profit-hungry owners, instead of being spent on adequate services, staff levels and proper wages.

    If you want to know more about this failed experiment it’s all here –
    https://www.uow.edu.au/~bmartin/dissent/documents/health/nswprivatisation.html

    Here’s a quote, it will be exactly the same for Northern Beaches.

    The other side of the problem then is what Mayne did if it did not have the money to provide services at the hospital. Did it reduce profits to provide more staff and facilities to care for more patients. Well of course not. It took large profits. They come first. Publicly owned and not for profit hospitals do the best with what they have got and complain. Corporate hospitals complain that they have not been paid for all the services and so don’t provide them. This is how the market operates.

    PREVIOUSLY undisclosed profit figures from the Port Macquarie Base Hospital have come to light before a parliamentary inquiry into the quality of care and value for money for patients in the state’s major regional hospitals.
    Testifying before the inquiry, former chief executive officer of the Port Macquarie Base Hospital Sandra O’Brien said the hospital had made a profit “from day one”.

    During her time it had posted profits for Mayne in the order of $2.5 million, with a combined profit of about $6 million for the public hospital and the Port Macquarie and Armidale private hospitals.
    ———————————-
    Mrs O’Brien left the CEO role at Port Macquarie in early 2001. She said that because of recent changes in Mayne’s management structure she was sure profits had increased since then.
    ———————————
    Port Macquarie MP Rob Oakeshott, said he found the profit figures “extraordinary” particularly considering the hospital had one of the longest elective surgery waiting lists in NSW. Hospital hearing told of profits, long lists Port Macquarie News 24 May 2002

    Rod Oakeshott, during his time in state parliament, was instrumental in getting this hospital back into public hands. Bob Carr finally bought it back about ten years after it had opened

    The NSW Libs and Nats learned nothing from this fiasco. Once back in government in 2011 they began plans to do it all again with the Northern Beaches hospital. It has only been open for a few weeks and already things are looking rocky.

    In 2014 the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, using their past experience with the Port Macquarie experiment, said the new hospital would be about profits for Healthscope rather than patient care.
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-29/union-slams-private-operator-plan-for-northern-beaches-hospital/5851770

    How right they were!

    Brett Holmes says “This is a company relying on its investment in Northern Beaches Hospital to contribute to a 15 per cent return on the capital it has invested.” The article he links is very revealing.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/healthscope-s-day-of-reckoning-is-looming-20181029-p50cm7.html

    Public hospitals don’t make money. Private/public partnerships just don’t work. It’s time the NSW “Liberals and Nationals” government worked that out.

  49. US midterm update

    Maine’s 2nd District
    Preferences were distributed in this race (Maine uses preferential voting for federal races) and Democrat Jared Golden has defeated Republican incumbent Bruce Poliquin 50.5% to 49.5%.

    Utah’s 4th District
    After trailing for most of the count Republican incumbent Mia Love has moved into the lead by 419 votes.

    Georgia Governor
    Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams announced that she was ending her campaign but left the door open to a lawsuit against some of the questionable decisions made by Georgia’s Secretary of state (and Republican Gubernatorial candidate) Brian Kemp which she alleges were attempts to suppress the vote.

    California’s 21st District
    Republican incumbent David Valdao has seen his lead decrease substantially over the post-election night count and a win by Democratic candidate TJ Cox is not out of the question.

    California’s 39th District
    Democrat Gil Cisneros pulled into the lead yesterday by about 900 votes and most observers contend that this will widen.

    California’s 45th District
    Republican incumbent Mimi Walters has been defeated by Democrat Katie Porter.

    Georgia’s 7th District
    With all votes counted Republican incumbent Rob Woodall won by 419 votes however Democrat Carolyn Bordeaux would be eligible to seek a recount and has indicated that she will do so.

    Florida Senate

    The machine recount of the ballots for the Florida Senate race concluded with Republican challenger Rick Scott holding a very slim lead over Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson. State election officials have now ordered a further recount to be done manually. This race has been a rollercoaster with lawsuits flying left, right and centre and the Republicans spewing out allegations of fraud but providing no evidence.

    Florida Governor

    A machine recount was also completed for this race and Republican candidate Ron DeSantis is the apparent winner.

    • A further note on Utah

      I neglected to mention in my guide that there was a ballot measure in Utah that would’ve created an independent redistricting commission.

      Utah is another heavily gerrymandered state with Democratic-leaning Salt Lake County deliberately split over 3 districts. This split is the main reason why 4th district Republican incumbent Mia Love looks set to hold her seat as it was drawn to include parts of heavily Republican Utah county in order to cancel out the democratic leaning areas in Salt Lake County.

      The result for this measure has being going back and forth but it is currently leading by about 2000 votes.

  50. Tally of gains and losses

    Senate

    D Gain from R
    Nevada
    Arizona

    R Gain from D
    Florida (leading)
    Indiana
    Missouri
    North Dakota

    House

    D Gain from R
    Maine’s 2nd
    New York’s 11th
    New York’s 19th
    New York’s 22nd
    New Jersey’s 2nd
    New Jersey’s 3rd
    New Jersey’s 7th
    New Jersey’s 11th
    Virginia’s 2nd
    Virginia’s 7th
    Virginia’s 10th
    South Carolina’s 1st
    Georgia’s 6th
    Florida’s 26th
    Florida’s 27th
    Pennsylvania’s 5th
    Pennsylvania’s 6th
    Pennsylvania’s 7th
    Pennsylvania’s 17th
    Illinois’s 6th
    Illinois’s 14th
    Michigan’s 8th
    Michigan’s 11th
    Minnesota’s 2nd
    Minnesota’s 3rd
    Iowa’s 1st
    Iowa’s 3rd
    Texas’s 7th
    Texas’s 32nd
    Oklahoma’s 5th
    Kansas’s 3rd
    Colorado’s 6th
    New Mexico’s 2nd
    Arizona’s 2nd
    California’s 10th
    California’s 25th
    California’s 39th (Leading)
    California’s 45th
    California’s 48th
    California’s 49th
    Washington’s 8th

    R Gain from D
    Minnesota’s1st
    Minnesota’s 8th

    R lead but might be D gain
    Utah’s 4th
    California’s 21st

    Governor
    D Gain from R
    Maine
    Michigan
    Wisconsin
    Illinois
    Kansas
    New Mexico
    Nevada

    R Gain from Ind
    Alaska

    • “Touting his blitz of rallies, especially in the two months before the election, Trump said his vigorous campaigning “stopped the blue wave that they talked about,” resulting in a “great victory.””

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