Two wise sages to support us into this interregnum – now that a 3rd March 2019 poll is predicted.
However, I wouldn’t be totally surprised if FauxMo were to call it sometime in February. St Valentine’s day is, perhaps, a tad too soon (and, anyway, it’s not a Saturday), but I still wouldn’t rule out February … after all, there might be the distraction of disasters, like cyclones and bushfires. Surely, Shirley, that would play best for the Coalition.
Meanwhile, I hope Mack Dog and the ghost of Einstein will – somehow – preserve us.
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/12/unemployment-individual-character-flaw-or-mere-feature-of-capitalism
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
David Crowe reports that at yesterday’s COAG State premiers have demanded more say over infrastructure decisions in a debate with Prime Minister Scott Morrison over whether to cut permanent migration by 30,000 a year, amid fears of a hit to the economy from a smaller intake.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-signals-population-cut-after-premiers-warn-on-infrastructure-20181212-p50lw0.html
Katharine Murphy reviews the interview Andre Bolt had with Shorten last night.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/12/bill-shorten-stares-down-andrew-bolt-and-says-he-would-unite-employers-and-unions-as-pm
Now who could this possibly be referring to?
https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/why-the-media-is-unable-to-report-on-a-case-that-has-generated-huge-interest-online-20181212-p50lta.html
In a thoughtful and confronting contribution Anne Aly writes that multiculturalism in Australia is in desperate need of a recalibration.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/so-we-re-a-multicultural-nation-dipping-a-sausage-roll-in-soy-sauce-won-t-do-20181211-p50lic.html
Latika Bourke tells us that the Liberal candidate for Wentworth, Dave Sharma, has hit out at “ideological zealots” taking over mainstream political parties in a late-night tweet widely believed to be directed at far-right MPs in his party.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/brexit-shambles-dave-sharma-hits-out-at-idealogical-zealots-20181213-p50lwm.html
Greg Jericho tells the RBA that housing is enough of a worry so don’t scare us with warnings of rising interest rates.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2018/dec/13/housing-is-enough-of-a-worry-dont-scare-us-with-warnings-of-rising-interest-rates
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet defends privatisation.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/why-we-privatise-public-assets-to-build-schools-hospitals-and-rail-20181212-p50lth.html
Michael Koziol looks at the real motives behind the review of the operation of the ABC and SBS.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/no-smoke-and-no-fire-abc-review-was-no-more-than-a-sop-to-one-nation-20181212-p50lsa.html
But John McDuling writes that the inquiry has found that the public broadcasters are “not having a significant negative impact on the commercial market”.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/abc-review-a-slap-in-the-face-for-big-media-20181212-p50ltx.html
More from Koziol on this.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/review-clears-abc-and-sbs-over-claims-they-compete-unfairly-with-commercial-rivals-20181212-p50lpj.html
Greg Sheridan says that Theresa May brought this leadership challenge on herself. The surprise is not that her leadership has been challenged, but that it went unchallenged for so long.
https://www.outline.com/KfLDBU
Jonathan Freed land says Brexit is a national crisis – not the time for a pointless Tory feud.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/12/national-crisis-pointless-tory-feud-brexit
Eryk Bagshaw reports that Dutton has ordered the Australian Border Force to maintain its current level of ocean patrols despite the leak of an internal directive that some ships should stay in port due to a fuel cost-blow out.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/peter-dutton-intervenes-on-sea-patrols-after-border-force-cost-blow-out-20181212-p50lpy.html
Shane Wright explains that there is fresh pressure on the Morrison government to deal with spiralling energy prices as new figures show Australians are spending a record high proportion of their income to keep the lights and air conditioning on. An update by the Australian Bureau of Statistics of the consumer price index shows a spike in the past 12 months in how much of an average Australian’s weekly spending is going towards electricity expenses.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/yes-you-are-spending-more-on-your-power-bill-20181212-p50lqm.html
David Wroe reports that the Morrison government has been advised by key bureaucrats and retired “wise elders” against moving its Israel embassy to Jerusalem or making other significant changes to Australia’s stance on the status of the city central to the Middle East peace process. Will Morrison ignore this advice?
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/federal/top-officials-and-wise-elders-warn-against-israel-embassy-move-20181212-p50lrz.html
Victorian Liberal Party treasurer David Mond has sensationally quit his post just eight months into the job, alleging in a public spray that “a culture of intimidation and belittling” exists in the party.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/more-liberal-pain-as-treasurer-quits-over-culture-of-intimidation-20181212-p50lu8.html
John Warhurst writes about the trust deficit for the system and political parties.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/trust-deficit-for-the-system-and-political-parties-20181211-p50llw.html
Jess Irvine tells Australians why they should check their mortgage rates.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/why-your-mortgage-should-have-a-3-in-front-20181212-p50lu6.html
The AFR explains why APRA had no choice but to take IOOF to court.
https://outline.com/ArujvN
John McDuling writes that the social media behemoth Facebook has broken its silence to hit back at the Australian competition regulator’s tough new proposals.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/unworkable-unnecessary-unprecedented-facebook-hits-back-at-accc-20181212-p50lvk.html
The Australian reports that Morrison will take a religious discrimination act to the next election, in a major change to commonwealth discrimination laws that will introduce, for the first time, stand-alone legal protections for Australians of faith. This could end up being quite interesting.
https://outline.com/jmsH7f
And this rabidly religious LNP senator will ensure it.
https://outline.com/ke5sSV
Sally Whyte reports that almost 32,000 non-public service employees were given government security clearances by the Defence department in the past two years, pointing to an explosion of high-level outsourced work at the department.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/politics/federal/defence-contractor-numbers-explode-31-925-given-security-clearances-20181207-p50kug.html
Historian Robin Harris contends that Theresa May is the least competent prime minister ever to represent Britain.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/may-is-the-least-competent-prime-minister-ever-to-represent-britain-20181212-p50ls0.html
Matt O’Sullivan says that the case for building light rail lines in NSW has taken another hit after an audit found Newcastle’s 2.7-kilometre light rail has failed to justify its $368 million cost.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/case-for-light-rail-lines-in-nsw-takes-a-battering-once-again-20181212-p50lqn.html
David Wroe examines the progress of the fraught negotiations between Defence and the French submarine contractor. Is there still life in Collins?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/submarine-program-on-track-pyne-says-as-retired-admirals-call-for-a-plan-b-20181212-p50ls4.html
Noely Neate explores whether or not the Labor Party is offering a genuine, inspiring alternative to the current mess of a Government.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/does-the-labor-party-deserve-our-vote,12196
Sam Maiden tells us that Labor will campaign for “free”, safe and accessible abortion in public hospitals and clinics if Bill Shorten is elected Prime Minister.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2018/12/12/abortion-access-australia-labor/
Sarah Danckert reports on a tough day for Cash Converts at a Senate inquiry yesterday. Bloody leeches!
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/twenty-loans-to-one-client-in-a-year-cash-converters-hit-with-new-claims-20181212-p50lvc.html
The AFR tell us that Australia’s electricity challenges have now been laid bare by three regulators but the federal government continues to fight a problem that doesn’t exist.
https://outline.com/LvcDPH
Meanwhile the Morrison government has sent a clear signal that it is prepared to provide taxpayer support for both new and existing coal plants, opening registrations of interest in its controversial new power generation underwriting program.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/13/coalition-signals-it-will-provide-taxpayer-support-for-new-and-existing-coal-plants
Elizabeth Knight tells us how shareholders are hell-bent on punishing and it’s making boards nervous.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/shareholders-are-hell-bent-on-punishing-and-it-s-making-boards-nervous-20181212-p50lte.html
For the second time in a week the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has given observers reason to think it can be a tough regulator with the release of a package of new and enhanced requirements for superannuation funds.
https://outline.com/EjHpnN
The hapless New South Wales Greens are on the verge of “an irrevocable split”, with two MPs threatening to quit the party unless it holds a recount of its preselection ballot and formally bans a section of the party’s hard-left faction.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/12/nsw-greens-on-brink-of-irrevocable-split-two-right-faction-mps-warn
A “zombie cyclone” that is reviving into a powerful storm, thunderstorms threatening Sydney and the east coast and another scorching start to a Test match will be among the highlights of wild early summer weather. The next few days will be an “extreme weather week”.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/weather/cyclone-humidity-and-a-scorching-test-all-part-of-an-extreme-weather-week-20181212-p50lr8.html
An Associated Press investigation has found US President Donald Trump’s daughter and son-in law stand to benefit from a program they pushed that offers massive tax breaks to developers who invest in downtrodden American areas.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/opportunity-zone-investigation-points-to-ivanka-trump-conflict-20181212-p50lqc.html
And in breaking news Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen has been sentenced to three years in prison for a string of offences, including campaign law violations he said he committed at Trump’s direction.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-s-former-fixer-cohen-sentenced-to-prison-for-smorgasbord-of-fraud-20181213-p50lwo.html
John Haley writes that the full effects of climate change are nearly upon us. We can’t afford to keep arguing about it. The battle for climate change mitigation is euphemistically referred to as a “debate” among ideologically-restrained political advocates that still think there are legitimate reasons to deny the existence of global warming.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/climate-change-is-not-up-for-debate,12192
Time Magazine has just announced its “Person of the Year” for 2018, and for once, it isn’t one person. This time it is four people and a newspaper in recognition of the global assault on journalism.
https://theconversation.com/four-journalists-one-newspaper-time-magazines-person-of-the-year-recognises-the-global-assault-on-journalism-108669
The demise of another local building company has prompted the Master Builders Association of SA to say there is a crisis in the industry and push for an inquiry into the factors driving up the cost of builds.
https://outline.com/bvHa7T
The UK Guardian opines that Jacinda Ardern’s heartfelt apology spoke volumes about compassion. It says nobody demanded that the New Zealand leader say sorry for Grace Millane’s murder and it can’t imagine British leaders showing such humanity.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/12/jacinda-ardern-apology-new-zealand-murder-grace-millane
The SMH editorial gets behind Clover Moore’s Cloud arch.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/mayor-must-not-compromise-on-cloud-arch-20181212-p50ls5.html
The government is investing in oyster farms and Wagyu beef start-ups. Having privatised things which made a lot of money, like electricity assets and the Land Titles office, our leaders in NSW are now investing taxpayers’ money, alongside a posse of ex-Macquarie bankers, in a WA beef project and a South Coast oyster caper. Michael West reports.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/surf-n-turf-state-sells-electricity-ports-roads-buys-wagyu-and-oysters/
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe and Brexit in Berlin.















Cathy Wilcox goes pill testing, NSW government style.
David Pope launches our new space agency.
Quite a few from Matt Golding.
Andrew Dyson with the UK’s Theresa Maypole.
Fiona Katauskas with a Coalition Christmas.
Zanetti’s at it again!
Some perspective from Alan Moir.
Cathy Wilcox with a history of Brexit.
Sean Leahy sees Theresa May in a particular light.

For May: 200
Against May: 117
37% of the party doesn’t support her. Probably about the same for ScumMo here.
“Now who could this possibly be referring to?
I know, saw it yesterday, but I won’t say, because I don’t want to get The Boss into trouble.
Easy to work out, easy to find on Twitter yesterday, still plenty of comments floating around there this morning. .
For anyone who hasn’t caught up with the news – no-one in politics, not Geoffrey Rush.
My advice? Google your suspect, see what you find.
A hint – Morrison’s Religious Discrimination Act being taken to the next election, just after the suppression order has been lifted and the final trial verdict announced, is not going to be a good look for the ATM government. Talk about bad timing!
Maybe this will help convince FauxMo that a March election is a damn good idea.
Probably the best assessment
There’s been a big increase in the number of suppression orders.
Not good for democracy, on balance.
One thing most of these suppression orders have in common is the links to the lnp.
Clover Moore’s Cloud Arch is an abomination and a waste of money. I’m usually very supportive of public art, but not this time. It’s hideous.
Anyone supporting it, like the anonymous writer of the SMH editorial, needs their head read. Anyone likening it to the Opera House, like the anonymous writer of the SMH editorial, is totally insane.
The thing is just a vastly over-priced piece of metal and in typical Australian style it has already been named “The Big Tapeworm”.
“The suppository of all Wisdom”.
Trump Is Preparing To Deport Vietnam War Refugees
https://hillreporter.com/trump-is-preparing-to-deport-vietnam-war-refugees-17717
I’m going out here on a limb but Cathy Wilcox struck a nerve today with her cartoon. I see the point, and its a good one but having seen my son on a slab last year the cartoon sails very close to the edge
Sorry to hear that. Sending hugs.
The Clayton’s Commission
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/13/morrison-government-announces-new-federal-anti-corruption-commission
Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Hitler?
Just heard this on news radio coming home from town, Bill was excellent, said it’s not worth doing, what they are proposing. At least they won’t have time to set it up before the next election. They’ve only got 8 working days, and you can’t pass something that big in that time, especially as they have to get a budget through.
My own thought, they are making all these announcement now, will hopefully call an election before parliament even returns. They are just so full of bullshit, it’s dripping out of their ears, nose and mouth.
Just weeks ago FauxMo dismissed a federal ICAC/integrity commission as just a fringe issue. I’m glad Amy Remeikis made that her first comment in her article.
Morrison government announces new federal anti-corruption commission
Scott Morrison announces new Commonwealth Integrity Commission in response to calls for a federal Icac
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/13/morrison-government-announces-new-federal-anti-corruption-commission
Another Labor policy stolen, with the government putting up a Mickey Mouse alternative. .
As always with anything this government proposes, this commission is flawed and unlikely to achieve anything.
Why would you trust this rabble of a government with an anti-corruption commission when they are responsible for so much corruption practice in the business sector and have given so many contracts and so much funding to cronies and party donors?
I think this is all about heading off another Labor or crossbench bill, not a genuine attempt to fix a huge issue. It’s FauxMo’s strategists trying to head off another damaging day in parliament. The government can refuse to allow debate on such a bill on the grounds they will be “doing something” after the election.
From 2 December –
No, Prime Minister, an integrity commission is not a ‘fringe issue’
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/no-prime-minister-an-integrity-commission-is-not-a-fringe-issue-20181130-p50jdw.html
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/13/coalition-to-unveil-new-laws-to-guard-religious-freedom-but-stalls-on-lgbt-students
Who do you think you are kidding, Mr Hitler?
“Scott Morrison’s Liberal Government” ?????
I’m sure the Nationals will be happy about that.
They have chosen the most ignored media to favour. No-one except rusted-on aged conservatives go near Sky News, only old farts deliberately listen to 2GB, the circulation numbers for the Murdoch rags are now so low they give their publications away free in supermarkets and the strong paywalls mean casual online readers can’t see anything. What a great way to spread Liberal lies.
https://www.rt.com/business/446250-afghanistan-saffron-poppy-alternative/
In other little-mentioned news –
The Royal Commission into the aged care industry has suffered a couple of setbacks.
First, the date for the initial first directions hearing was been pushed back from 7 December to 18 January 2019. Hearings are not expected to get under way until February.
Second, one of the appointed commissioners, Justice Joseph McGrath, resigned and has been replaced by Richard Tracey, a very Liberal-friendly, union-hating retired judge, so Liberal-friendly that Howard, impressed by Tracey’s work at the Cole Commission (that should strike terror into your heart) wanted him on the High Court. Thank goodness Howard didn’t get his way that time. Tracey has also been the president of the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal and Judge Advocate General for the Australian Defence Force.
Do you expect someone with this record to be a reasonable commissioner? I don’t.
https://outline.com/KduSKq
Surprise announcement comes on top of delays for the aged care royal commission
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-13/aged-care-royal-commission/10611410
And –
https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/2018/12/11/noticeboard-replacement-aged-care-royal-commissioner-appointed/
This thread is a good read, fills in a few blanks. It was great to hear Bill and Mark going full throttle on the stupidity of this government.
Sorry about posting so much on this, but I’m just furious. They had a mock RC into the banks, and now they want to do the same for the anti corruption commission.
The ATM government – such as it is – is certainly acting like a government heading into an early election. We have had a lot of announcements from them this week, all things that could have been announced weeks or months ago. All of them seem to have been hastily concocted and pretty much useless, some are disastrous. All of them seem to be attempts to negate Labor policies, like more money for health (doesn’t go anywhere near Labor’s promises) and the ineffective “Claytons” RC. There’s the pointless religious discrimination brainfart. We still haven’t seen the actual Ruddock report it’s allegedly based on, we probably never will, unless someone leaks the whole thing to the media. Then there’s the “more money for coal power stations” nonsense. I see the grubby fingerprints of the incompetent Anus Taylor and the loopy RWNJs all over that one.
It’s only Thursday, heaven knows what lunacy will be announced tomorrow.
And then there’s the bombshell waiting to explode, the suppressed court case that no-one in Australia can talk about until some time in March.
We are governed by idiots, by a corrupt, rotting from the head walking dead government bereft of ideas and totally unable to solve the infighting in its own ranks, let alone solve major issues facing this country.
Read the thread
Australia’s carbon emissions highest on record, data shows
If emissions continue at current rate, Australia will miss Paris target by 1.1bn tonnes, Ndevr Environmental predicts
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/dec/13/australias-carbon-emissions-highest-on-record-data-shows
The ATM government wants to deal with this by renovating existing coal-fired power stations and by building new ones.
Is FauxMo’s anti-religious discrimination whatsit going to ban discrimination against ALL religions, or is it just for the Christianist ones like his own cargo cult?
If it’s across all faiths then he’s not going to be able to denigrate Muslims any more.
I wonder if he thought of that, or if he assumes the word “faith” only applies to Christianity.
ScoMo probably thinks the Uniting Church isn’t a religion, so Muslims are below his radar
Poor child!!
James O’Brien –
A caller with a view on the ramifications of Brexit for the Irish border –
https://www.nknews.org/2018/12/two-koreas-begin-verifying-removal-of-dmz-guard-posts-defense-ministry/?utm_source=samizdat&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=free
https://www.infowars.com/sundar-pichai-lies-to-congress-about-google-tracking-location-of-users/?utm_source=samizdat&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=free
https://www.mintpressnews.com/africom-is-more-about-natural-resources-than-fighting-terrorism/252737/
https://pbxmastragics.com/2018/12/13/letter-to-the-prime-minister/
https://fpif.org/the-ugliest-chapter-since-slavery-how-illicit-financial-flows-thwart-human-rights-in-africa/?utm_source=samizdat&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=free