Welcome to the 46th Parliament.

leonetwo Uncategorized

Meet the new parliament.

Same as the old parliament.

Same lack of policy

Same dearth of ideas.

Same corruption (except much worse now FauxMo has surrounded himself with happy-clapper mates.)

Same demonisation of anyone FauxMo doesn’t like – which is everyone earning less than $200,000 a year.

Same plan to make the rich richer and kick the disadvantaged to the kerb.

What on earth will FauxMo find to do once his tax legislation has been passed? There’s precious little on the agenda. 

What will the media find to talk about when they are no longer able to make up crap about how Labor will vote?

 

 

1,491 thoughts on “Welcome to the 46th Parliament.”

  2. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Shane Wright reports that as Labor calls on the government to do more for those parts of Australia where the jobless rate is above 20 per cent, exclusive analysis by Ernst & Young suggests a key part the RBA’s plan to lift wages may fail without a major change in government policy.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/low-rates-won-t-boost-wages-rba-and-government-warned-20190721-p5298e.html
    And Ross Gittins says that the RBA knows the economy needs more stimulus.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/despite-the-photo-op-the-rba-knows-the-economy-needs-more-stimulus-20190720-p5292k.html
    Jenifer Hewett says that the Treasurer needs to sell a positive message about the economy despite the gloomy growth figures to come.
    https://outline.com/KzARX3
    Kenneth Hayne has added to the concern at Wayne Byres’ attitude, smacked of a tin ear to some of the criticisms made about the regulator in Graeme Samuel’s capability review, writes Adele Ferguson.
    https://outline.com/KmBRL2
    David Crowe reports that Morrison has spurned offers to negotiate on a $3.9 billion drought fund in a hard-line approach to the resumption of Parliament this week, piling pressure on Labor to accept his plan without change. Isn’t it a deal to raid the infrastructure fund that he’s proposing?
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/there-ll-be-no-deals-on-drought-relief-bill-says-scott-morrison-20190721-p529at.html
    Amy Remeikis explains how Dutton has set up a showdown over his foreign fighters bill amid fears of overreach.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/22/peter-dutton-sets-up-showdown-over-foreign-fighters-bill-amid-fears-of-overreach
    Mark Kenny tells us what we can expect as government business starts again.
    https://theconversation.com/bills-banks-and-promises-heres-what-you-can-expect-as-government-business-starts-again-120589
    The Parrot has told Liberal troops to go for fear campaigns. Yes, that will do WOMDERS for the country!
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/cbd-sydney-alan-jones-tells-the-liberal-troops-to-go-for-fear-campaigns-20190721-p5299k.html
    The Senate voting reforms of 2016 has reduced the crossbench numbers and weakened democracy, writes Andrew Vincent.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-senate-voting-reforms-have-fractured-democracy,12924
    Lawyer Ian Bailey writes that developers cutting corners for profit would be a crime elsewhere. This is quite a damning indictment of certain players in the industry aided by a lack of commonwealth legislation regarding corporations.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/developers-cutting-corners-for-profit-would-be-a-crime-elsewhere-20190721-p5297w.html
    Meanwhile a missing piece from Australia’s longest-running corporate bribery jigsaw has fallen into place, with a guilty plea in a London court proving what the Australian Federal Police have not – that Australian construction giant Leighton Holdings bribed its way to a billion-dollar contract in Iraq.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/guilty-plea-in-london-exposes-australian-company-for-alleged-corruption-20190721-p52972.html
    Nicole Hasham explains how over the past year, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have uncovered a troubling culture inside the border protection agency overseen by Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Bullying and harassment have been rife, and officers suffering mental illness often go without adequate help. This is quite disturbing to read.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6284740/pure-torturous-hell-the-harrowing-story-of-a-broken-border-force-officer-and-his-desperate-wife/?cs=14350
    A reasonable contribution here from Amanda Vanstone.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/there-s-more-than-one-way-to-mislead-the-public-20190719-p528yn.html
    Latika Bourke tells us that in a speech in London former Nationals leader John Anderson has urged voters to punish poorly behaving MPs instead of rewarding them as he warned Australia was heading for its own Brexit or Trump moment.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/former-nationals-leader-urges-voters-to-get-tough-with-badly-behaving-mps-20190717-p527v0.html
    Alistair Campbell writes on mental health and how Morrison has a chance to show the way.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/how-scott-morrison-can-show-boris-johnson-what-leadership-means-20190719-p528yq.html
    Entirely dominated by old white Anglo-Irish men, the club poker machine industry fails basic corporate governance standards. Michael West reports the latest investigation of NSW clubs.
    https://www.michaelwest.com.au/old-fashioned-club-pokies-profits-soar-standards-stagnate/
    Why disability advocates want the NDIS to cover sexual services.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/22/we-are-sexual-beings-why-disability-advocates-want-the-ndis-to-cover-sexual-services
    In a foretaste of the fresh turbulence about to grip British politics, chancellor Philip Hammond said on Sunday that he would resign if, as expected, Boris Johnson becomes prime minister this week. It’s going to be a hell of a ride over the next three months. And beyond.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/philip-hammond-uk-finance-chief-will-quit-rather-than-serve-boris-20190722-p529cx.html
    Tony Walker seems to agree with me in saying that from an Australian perspective, yielding to an Anglosphere led by a preening Donald Trump and a cavorting Boris Johnson would not seem to be a wonderful idea.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/here-comes-boris-johnson-what-comes-next-20190719-p528wn.html
    The famed impartiality of Britain’s civil servants has been under attack by Brexit-backing politicians. Now they wait for the arrival of Boris Johnson at Number 10 with some trepidation, writes James Blitz.
    https://outline.com/7rvFr5
    And the UK Guardian opines that Boris Johnson’s braggadocio will soon come back to haunt him at Number 10.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/21/when-campaign-poses-clash-with-reallity-boris-johnson-will-be-short-of-friends
    Boris Johnson lacks character, competence and credibility, say UK leadership experts.
    https://theconversation.com/boris-johnson-lacks-character-competence-and-credibility-say-leadership-experts-120548
    The House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler says that Mueller has evidence of Trump high crimes and misdemeanours that should be revealed at his hearing on Wednesday.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/21/mueller-report-trump-nadler-impeachment
    White supremacy “could be the lurking issue that ends this country”, Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has said, adding: “The entire American experiment is at stake.”
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/21/pete-buttigieg-trump-racist-comments-white-supremacy
    “Of course Donald Trump is a racist – and his Wall Street enablers know it”, Writes Robert Reich.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/21/donald-trump-racist-wall-street-republicans
    Martin Hirst writes about the recently-sparked contest between Trump and his followers, and a new brand of strong congresswomen of colour.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/trump-versus-the-democratic-squad-a-battle-for-americas-soul,12921

    Cartoon Corner

    On the moon with Alan Moir.

    Disturbing imagery from David Rowe.

    Pat Campbell and advances in telecommunications.

    Matt Golding and the MasterWagesThief.

    More from Golding.

    A great little gif from Glen Le Lievre.

    From the US



  4. After a look at just the headlines and summaries today it’s obvious all those who said FauxMo would run the country as a dictator are spot on.

    All the legislation planned to go before both houses over the next two weeks is divisive, all of it takes things away from us, all of it gives more power to this rotten government, all of it is rushed, faulty and will be rammed through in record time – if Dictator FauxMo gets his way.

    It’s easy to see how things will go – he puts up a nasty bill, it sails through the Reps because the government has the numbers and at least four of the six crossbenchers will support anything this government proposes, then it will go to the Senate.

    During the Senate debates the media will focus on “What will Labor do?” because that’s all they ever do, despite the bleeding obvious – the success or failure of any government bill depends on how two CA senators vote.

    Then, no matter how Labor senators eventually vote, FauxMo will start his usual wedge campaign, accusing Labor of not wanting to support rural communities, or being soft on border protection, or whatever other tripe he can manufacture.

    The real test, the one the media will miss. is whether Labor decides to stick with their principles and vote against things Dictator FauxMo wants., or rolls over and supports these bills to avoid criticism

    Things like like robbing infrastructure and education funds to finance a dumb scheme to ultimately give more money and more precious water to big multinational farming companies, especially ones that grow cotton. Things like denying refugees still stuck on Manus Island and Nauru medical transfers to Australia. Things like giving Dutton even more powers than he already has. Things like attacking and deregistering unions because Dictator FauxMo hates them and cannot bear to see workers having rights or getting decent wages.Things like passing a deliberately divisive act designed to allow phoney Christianists to spruik hatred and lies whenever they want.

    The only bill likely to be defeated in the Senate is the repeal of the medivac legislation, and only if CA stick to their declared intention to vote against it.

    Will Labor have the guts to vote against any of these bills if they know their votes won’t count? Will Albo have the guts to stand up to Dictator FauxMo’s inevitable spewings of “Labor doesn’t want to help farmers/stop terrorists/stand up to corrupt unions” blather?

    I know what I fear will happen.

  5. The PMO and Martin Parkinson have investigated claims Julie Bishop and Christopher Pyne breached ministerial standards by snatching up positions as soon as they left the parliament. Positions offered because of their experience in parliament.

    Well, surprise, surprise!

    Parkie found no rules had been broken.

    As Mandy Rice Davies said “Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?”.

    Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop’s new jobs do not breach ministerial standards, investigation finds
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-22/christopher-pyne-julie-bishop-new-jobs-do-not-breach-standards/11330262

    Rex Patrick is going to ask for a Senate inquiry. It might get up – Labor, the Greens and CA look like voting for it and Cory Bernardi is also on board. So it all comes down to Jacqui Lambie – again.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/jul/22/national-security-coalition-labor-parliament-politics-live

    • Excellent comment on a Facebook report of that story.

      “Each step was so small, so inconsequential, so well explained or, on occasion, ‘regretted,’ that unless one understood what the whole thing was in principle, what all these ‘little measures’… must some day lead to, one no more saw it developing from day to day than a farmer in his field sees the corn growing – each act is worse than the last, but only a little worse. You wait for the next and the next. You wait for one great shocking occasion, thinking that others, when such a shock comes, will join you in resisting somehow.

      You don’t want to act, or even talk, alone; you don’t want to ‘go out of your way to make trouble.’ But the one great shocking occasion, when tens or hundreds or thousands will join with you, never comes. That’s the difficulty. The forms are all there, all untouched, all reassuring, the houses, the shops, the jobs, the mealtimes, the visits, the concerts, the cinema, the holidays. But the spirit, which you never noticed because you made the lifelong mistake of identifying it with the forms, is changed. Now you live in a world of hate and fear, and the people who hate and fear do not even know it themselves, when everyone is transformed, no one is transformed. You have accepted things you would not have accepted five years ago, a year ago, things your father could never have imagined.”
      From Milton Mayer, They Thought They Were Free, The Germans, 1938-45 (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1955)

      https://www.facebook.com/SBSAustralia/

      Neatly sums up what this government has been doing for the past six years.

  8. So much for freedom of the press – Australia is now arresting foreign journalists for filming an anti-Adani protest.

    The Queensland government certainly seems to have a very special relationship with Adani.

    Adani protest: French journalists arrested while filming anti-coal activities
    Journalists charged with trespassing after filming Frontline Action on Coal activists include Hugo Clement

    Four journalists working for the public television network France 2 have been charged with trespassing for filming a protest near the Abbot Point coal terminal, in North Queensland, targeting the operations of the Adani group.

    The group of journalists includes Hugo Clément, a reporter well known in France for his documentaries about climate change and environmental issues.

    Clement and a crew were arrested while filming anti-coal activists from the group Frontline Action on Coal, which early on Monday morning set up a blockade outside the Abbot Point port. About 20 members of the environmental group gathered outside the port entrance from 7am. Two locked themselves to a concrete barrel on the roadway.

    In a statement, Frontline Action on Coal said Clement and others were told by police they were “obstructing the railway” while filming the protests.

    “Without warning, all four Frenchmen were immediately placed in handcuffs and put into police vehicles,” the statement said

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jul/22/adani-protest-french-journalists-arrested-while-filming-anti-coal-activities

    • Your IR policies, your vicious war on unions and on workers’ rights to organise; their right to expect a fair wage, fair dealing and safe conditions – has been nothing short of an indictment of your corrupted government and its capture by captains of mining, commerce and banking at the expense of those whom you were elected to represent and protect. Urgent reform is needed before the decline is irretrievable.

      Won’t happen.

  13. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    Paul Bongiorno says that Morrison’s first priority is to blame everything on Labor. He wonders how long he will be able to get away with blaming Labor for his failure to have an agenda that is any more than political wedges and stunts
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2019/07/22/morrison-blames-labor/
    Neil McMahon takes us through what was a pretty good Q and A last night.
    https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/i-m-disgusted-q-and-a-guest-silences-panel-with-powerful-story-20190723-p529p4.html
    A lower underemployment rate is good news but just how wonky the figure is becomes clear when you break it down by states says Greg Jericho.
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2019/jul/23/lets-not-get-too-excited-the-drop-in-underemployment-is-just-a-statistical-flub
    Michelle Grattan sort of describes Martin Parkinson’s review of Pyne’s and Bishop’s adherence to Morrison’s code of ministerial standards as a bit of a whitewash.
    https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-senate-decides-pyne-and-bishop-have-a-few-more-parliamentary-questions-to-answer-120761
    Phil Coorey tells us that up close, wedge politics is a transparent and clumsy exercise. Out in the real world, it has proven effective among those who have a passing interest at best in politics. Morrison’s quiet Australians.
    https://outline.com/HCNCqU
    Jennifer Hewett says Albo has been outmanoeuvred by Setka.
    https://outline.com/yvDGVt
    The AMA is promoting a guide that includes an itemised checklist for patients to work out how much they will be charged for each element of their treatment, from X-rays to medicines, anaesthetists and hospital fees, which come on top of the surgeon’s fee.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/doctors-unveil-new-approach-to-tackling-medical-bill-shock-20190722-p529fk.html
    The head of one of Australia’s biggest health insurers has called on the government to abolish Medicare and let the private sector pay for healthcare. What could possibly go wrong?
    https://outline.com/kv32Zb
    The Grattan Institute fears the private health insurance industry (PHI) is in a death spiral. An urgent review is called for whether or to what extent taxpayers should continue to fork out large subsidies to the industry. Professor John Dwyer from the Australian Healthcare Reform Alliance reports.
    https://www.michaelwest.com.au/private-health-insurance-crisis-symptomatic-of-failing-public-health-system/
    The New South Wales government funded a $16m education project closely associated with the spouse of a state minister despite a cost-benefit analysis showing the project would be unlikely to deliver a positive benefit to the state. Hmmm.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/23/nsw-funded-16m-project-run-by-mp-bronwyn-taylors-husband
    Megan Gorrey reports that Clover Moore and other mayors have lashed the NSW state government’s regulation of the building industry as “breathtakingly irresponsible”, saying a lack of independent certification has paved the way for buildings that were “unfit for occupation”.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/breathtakingly-irresponsible-sydney-mayors-lash-building-controls-20190722-p529fx.html
    It’s not just the building cracks or cladding – sometimes uncertainty does even more harm writes Will Ritkin.
    https://theconversation.com/its-not-just-the-building-cracks-or-cladding-sometimes-uncertainty-does-even-more-harm-120662
    Pressure is building within the government over the inadequacy of the Newstart payment after a majority of the Nationals backed an increase, while Liberal Senator Dean Smith also broke ranks.
    https://outline.com/tyTHDL
    And The Guardian reveals how Newstart compares to unemployment payments in the rest of the world. (Spoiler: Not well).
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/23/one-of-the-worst-how-newstart-compares-to-unemployment-payments-in-rest-of-the-world
    Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary Martin Parkinson could find themselves called before a Senate committee examining the post-politics jobs of former ministers Christopher Pyne and Julie Bishop reports Sally Whyte in the Canberra Times.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6285541/pyne-bishop-to-face-inquiry-despite-departmental-all-clear/?cs=14350
    The Department of Defence has failed to provide proof of its approvals of up to 21 per cent of credit card transactions examined during an audit into staff use of expense accounts. This is unbelievable!
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6286097/audit-highlights-defence-failures-on-credit-card-use/?cs=14350
    Noel Towell reports that Victoria’s big-money building program could be steering the state towards fiscal strife, according to a sharp warning by a leading financial ratings agency on spending and borrowing.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-warned-over-states-230-billion-debt-binge-20190722-p529mr.html
    A rare public intervention from banking royal commissioner Kenneth Hayne could be aimed at ensuring his recommendations are not watered down by financial sector lobbying, former watchdog Allan Fels says.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/very-unusual-hayne-intervention-adds-to-pressure-on-apra-20190722-p529jd.html
    Stephen Koukoulas writes that the RBA admits it stuffed things up – sort of.
    https://thekouk.com/item/684-the-rba-admits-it-stuffed-things-up-sort-of.html
    While the official CPI has gone up 57 per cent, the prices of secondary education, healthcare, childcare, housing and most utilities have increased significantly more than the CPI. No wonder people are feeling the pinch writes Elizabeth Knight.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/why-we-re-feeling-poor-prices-for-schools-health-and-other-needs-up-about-200pc-in-20-years-20190722-p529in.html
    And Clancy Yeates explains how consumer confidence has ebbed to its lowest point for two years.
    https://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/consumer-gloom-a-worrying-sign-for-all-of-us-20190717-p52878.html
    The PSA’s Stewart Little says that the only thing surprising about yesterday’s riot at the Baxter correctional centre is that it didn’t happen sooner.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/juvie-justice-officers-are-not-faint-hearted-but-they-re-terrified-of-going-to-work-20190722-p529i4.html
    Is organised resistance to political falsehoods emerging and could this become an effective movement? Alan Austin reports.
    https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/combatting-fake-news,12923
    Peter Hartcher tells us that China’s Xi Jinping is not a god and the backlash against him is building.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-s-xi-jinping-is-not-a-god-and-the-backlash-against-him-is-building-20190722-p529h3.html
    Nick Miller tells us that Boris Johnson has narrowly avoided a move by a former close colleague that could have put his expected prime ministership in jeopardy before it even began. But it marks another signal that Johnson will face stiff opposition from elements of his own party against his more radical plans such as embracing the option of a no-deal Brexit.
    https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/as-boris-coronation-nears-pooper-scooper-minister-already-plots-his-end-20190723-p529p7.html
    Trump is getting a bit snaky over Mueller’s upcoming congressional appearance.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-says-mueller-shouldn-t-get-another-bite-at-the-apple-20190723-p529p3.html
    Damning and explosive testimony from Mueller is expected before Congress.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jul/22/robert-mueller-damning-and-explosive-testimony-anticipated-before-congress
    America’s red scare is back. And it’s racially tinged writes Kate Aronoff.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jul/22/republicans-progressives-red-baiting-socialism

    Cartoon Corner

    A good juxtaposition here by David Rowe.

    Cathy Wilcox continues her good run.

    From Matt Golding.



    Mark David serves up some new ones for us.



    Zanetti looks back over 50 years.

    Jon Kudelka explains the ministerial pub test.
    https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/7b8f0bb116f6605e2e12bc506c26d93f?width=1024

    From the US






  15. Whatever dimwit in the Queensland government ordered the arrest of French journalists yesterday has achieved a huge own goal.

    The arrests made the Carmichael mine, the Galilee Basin and Australia’s treatment of journalists, both domestic and overseas, international news.

    Clément – a high-profile journalist who has reported on environmental issues across the globe and hosts a television show on French public broadcaster France 2 – is in Australia filming a documentary about oceans. Before the Adani protest he had been in Port Douglas filming about coral bleaching.

    He said despite the controversy surrounding the Carmichael coalmine in Australia it is not well-known in Europe.

    “No, no nobody knows … nobody knows the Adani topic. That’s why we are doing it, because nobody knew before,” he said. “But I think since the last two hours [following his arrest] everybody knows. That’s why the arrest was stupid because they have just brought all this attention.”

    Clément is now subject to strict bail conditions banning him from being within 20km of Adani’s Carmichael mine site or less than 100 metres from any other Adani site. He and the other French nationals are due to face Bowen magistrates court on 3 September.

    Queensland police confirmed the charges and said in a statement that it “supports lawful and peaceful protest and is committed to working with groups to plan and facilitate lawful activities”

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jul/23/adani-protest-french-journalists-charges-should-be-dropped-media-union-says

    The current Queensland police minister is Mark Ryan..

  16. BREAKING NEWS!!

    Peter Costello’s hammock found in Anthony Albanese parliamentary office.
    (Reupholstery costs have unanimous backing of Expenditure Review Committee!)

    Joe Hockey’s Eleventy Calculator used by Jim Chalmers comprehensive in-depth review
    of New Start.
    (The Eleventy Calculator now massively upgraded by the latest coal powered battery technology
    will carry out the extremely complex calculations required at quantum speed. Review results to
    be available in early 2023!)

  17. Michael McCormack says people on Newstart should move to get a job.

    How much dumber can he get?

    His reasoning –

    “You go into Dubbo and it is almost full employment in Dubbo and you go up the main streets of some regional towns, indeed, regional capitals, and there are notes in the windows that say ‘job available, apply within’ and there are so many jobs, and people have to have the wherewithal to go to those places and have the capacity and indeed have the innovative spirit to actually move out of their home town where they have lived all their life and go to a town where there are jobs available.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2019/jul/23/national-security-labor-coalition-politics-live

    He was in Dubbo last week, for the Rural Summit. Did he really find time to wander around town peering into windows? Nope. He’s making that up. Who sticks “position vacant” signs in shop windows these days? Anyone who does is offering part-time or casual work and is probably a rip-off artist who refuses to pay penalty rates and specialises in wage theft.

    In case McCormack didn’t notice, Dubbo is about to run out of water. That’s going to mean businesses will be closing or sacking staff. No water means no tourism, no tourism means no jobs in hospitality. Retail businesses will struggle to survive.

    It takes money to move, money you do not have if you are on Newstart. There is no guarantee you will find work if you do manage that move. Most regional towns have no work available, the only people who move to those towns for work are those transferred.

  18. As the SS Irrelevant steams into the sunset its ALP passengers rest comfortably in their deck chairs.
    .
    .
    Paul Karp
    (@Paul_Karp)
    Labor supports the temporary exclusion orders bill. Will try to refer back to PJCIS and then if that doesn’t work it will move amendments. But if govt pushes through, Labor will pass. #auspol #auslaw @AmyRemeikis

    July 23, 2019

    • Labor is going to keep on with this daft tactic. What should happen is a vote against any government bill that is harmful. If Labor doesn’t have the numbers to amend these bills or vote them down then what’s the point of agreeing to pass them?

      If Labor tacticians think this is dodging criticism then they can think again.

      What’s worse? Dodging criticism and name-calling from the government (will happen anyway, no matter what Labor does) or avoiding upsetting their base and losing voter support?

  20. TLBD

    The Trophy has been modified for Albo, “I stopped being Opposition Leader” which is in clear view
    whilst reclining on the hammock in his office.

  22. Robert Fisk looking at the situation in the Straits of Hormuz sums up Trump,Pompeo,Bolton and Boris well.

    An American president who is a racist, misogynist, dishonest and psychologically disturbed man – assisted by two vicious and equally dishonourable and delusional advisers – is threatening to go to war with Iran while a kipper-waving and equally serial-lying buffoon, who is probably the future British prime minister, prefers to concentrate on the self-destruction of his country rather than the hijacking of his ships.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/iran-tanker-crisis-trump-boris-johnson-hunt-strait-of-hormuz-war-a9015396.html

  23. Some wisdom 🙂

    It’s only when you look at an ant through a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames

  25. FFS!

    This is appalling. Labor decides to support a government review and an increase in Newstart but refuses to name an amount, saying that will be decided closer to the next election..

    NOT GOOD ENOUGH!

    Newstart needs to be increased now, and it needs to be increased by at least $75 a week. An undetermined amount in a few years is nowhere good enough.

    Will it take people on Newstart starving to death before Labor finally comes up with a real policy instead of a rehashed, inadequate one they took to the last election?

    Labor Has Finally Committed To Raising Newstart

    The opposition has formally decided to call on the government to review and increase the rate of Newstart, and will push for a Senate committee to examine the welfare payment.

    But the party still hasn’t nominated a set dollar amount it would like to see the payment increase by.

    Instead, it has resolved to land on a final figure closer to the next election, when it better understands the economic circumstances

    https://10daily.com.au/news/politics/a190723eovfj/labor-has-finally-committed-to-raising-newstart-20190723

  26. Penny Wong delivered this spray in the Senate last night, she was disgusted with the lack of any government agenda which meant there was nothing for senators to do on the first night of a sitting week
    .
    https://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sqv4pl

    Guess what? That Governor-General’s Opening Speech—Address-in-reply is back on the program for this evening.

  27. Could someone correct me if the following events are wrong.

    May 18, Liberal National Party Coalition won the Federal Election.

    They have a majority in the House of Representatives.

    They almost have a majority in the Senate with two or three Independent Senators that may either vote or against Legislation.

    I have something wrong, but I can’t work out what it is.

    • What’s wrong is easy enough to work out. This lot expected to lose that election, so they had no plans. All they have are a lot of budget booby traps they set for Labor, which are now going to blow up in their faces.

      They have scrambled around to find things to do and in typical style all they could think of is taking away things Labor has set up, union bashing and ramping up “protection” laws, which means taking away more freedoms.

      All FauxMo had was his tax cuts, now they have passed he has nothing to offer.

    • I can’t believe these idiots get paid so much for doing so little.

      I’ve never watched Masterchef, never been interested.

  29. FauxMo is a real-life body language text-book.

    This is him, today, in QT. The Guardian has similar photos.

    Arms tightly folded across the chest means this –

    Crossing the arms across the chest is a classic gesture of defensiveness. This defensiveness usually manifests as uneasiness, shyness or insecurity.

    When a person feels threatened by a situation, he crosses his arms over his chest creating a barrier that helps him protect his vital organs- the lungs and the heart.

    When a person finds himself in an undesirable situation, you’ll find him folding his arms and if the undesirability is intense, the arms-crossing may be accompanied by legs-crossing

    https://www.psychmechanics.com/2015/04/body-language-crossing-arms.html

    it’s very interesting that FauxMo adopted this defensive posture while Angus Taylor was answering a question.

    Clearly FauxMo was feeling very insecure under the barrage of Labor’s questions to Taylor.

  31. Leone

    Thank you.

    My confusion comes from the fact a lot of people are screaming about Labor not doing this that or the other.

    I was starting to think that maybe Labor had won the election and wasn’t doing anything.

    I see now that no matter who was elected, it will still be Labors fault.

    Glad I don’t give shit anymore.

  32. Up for debate in the Senate later tonight –

    Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Bill 2019

    The bill: provides a general recognition of veterans and their families; sets out the Australian Defence Force Covenant; provides statements that veterans’ affairs portfolio legislation will be interpreted with a beneficial intention and that the Commonwealth is committed to working cooperatively with veterans, their families and ex-service organisations to address issues facing veterans; and provides that the Commonwealth may issue pins, cards and other artefacts to veterans and their family members

    https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;page=0;query=BillId:s1206%20Recstruct:billhome

    This was introduced in the Senate on 4 July, it has not been near the Reps yet. It seems to have been flung together to give the Senate something to do.

    We had some talk about US-style recognition of veterans last year, after FauxMo became PM, and earlier this year.

    http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2018/oct/va109.htm

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-22/businesses-yet-to-sign-up-for-veterans-discount-card/10835078

    Now the government is going to try to have pandering to veterans made law.

    If anyone thinks I’m going to start saying “Thank you for your service” when i spot a veteran then they can think again. In Australia people go into the defence forces as a career choice, they are not conscripted or press-ganged. Not yet, anyway. They are well paid for their work and they continue to be looked after when they leave (unless their service has given them depression or PTSD, in which case they are abandoned and left to cope on their own.) Pins, badges and discount cards are not needed.

  33. The new Conservative leader will be announced at the QEII centre in London at around 11:45am with campaigners for a People’s Vote protesting outside the venue in Westminster.

    20:45 AEST.

  43. Good morning Dawn Patrollers.

    We have a new Guardian-Essential poll out this morning. Katharine Murphy examines the findings.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/24/scott-morrison-and-anthony-albaneses-approval-ratings-climb-essential-poll
    Rob Harris reveals that a bipartisan call to increase the Newstart allowance was removed from a parliamentary report at the direction of the Morrison government on the eve of the federal election. It’s not going to go away that easy.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/push-to-lift-newstart-erased-before-election-20190723-p52a19.html
    Ross Gittins looks closely at the Newstart issue.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/there-s-a-strange-logic-to-josh-frydenberg-s-stand-on-newstart-20190723-p529t8.html
    The Conversation’s Peter Whiteford answers the question, “Are most people on the Newstart unemployment benefit for a short or long time?”
    https://theconversation.com/are-most-people-on-the-newstart-unemployment-benefit-for-a-short-or-long-time-120826
    Michelle Grattan writes on how Morrison is trying to put the clamps on his MPs.
    https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-morrison-cracks-the-whip-120846
    The global economy is in a “precarious” position and likely to slow, the International Monetary Fund has warned amid signs Australian shoppers are reluctant to open their wallets despite falling interest rates and tax cuts.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sluggish-and-precarious-imf-cuts-global-growth-forecast-20190723-p529v1.html
    Where is this all going to end? Residents of an Alexandria apartment block are at a “public risk” after a private certifier illegally allowed them to move into a building that the City of Sydney was so concerned about it sought demolition orders.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/residents-at-risk-council-sought-demolition-orders-on-alexandria-block-20190723-p52a1t.html
    In an excellent contribution Professor Bill Randolph says that what’s needed is a wholesale revamp of the culture of the apartment development industry that puts the needs of the consumer first, not a distant last. The industry needs to embrace a culture of change or face a continued crisis of trust.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/those-left-to-pick-up-the-bill-shut-out-of-building-crisis-debate-20190723-p529up.html
    The Age editorial warms that Australia should be wary of following Trump on Iran.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/australia-should-be-wary-of-following-trump-on-iran-20190722-p529jf.html
    The SMH editorial says that the rioting at the youth gaol was a tragedy as well as a crime.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/rioting-at-a-youth-jail-is-a-tragedy-as-well-as-a-crime-20190723-p52a0l.html
    Labor mounted a sustained attack on Angus Taylor in QT yesterday.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/23/angus-taylor-pursued-by-labor-over-rising-emissions-and-grassland-meetings
    Nick Miller examines the differences between Trump and Johnson.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/is-boris-johnson-really-the-britain-trump-look-past-the-hair-20190724-p52a3u.html
    Caitlin Fitzsimmons says that it is human rights that need to be protected more than corporate interests.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/protect-human-rights-not-corporate-interests-20190723-p52a02.html
    Christopher Knaus reports that a confidential plagiarism investigation found a report co-written by Liberal senator James Paterson breached research integrity standards.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/24/plagarism-complaint-liberal-senator-james-paterson-breached-integrity-standards-ipa-report
    An additional $2 billion provision for remediation costs will eat into AMP profits and one analyst suggests the wealth manager will have no profit in the full year 2019 writes Elizabeth Knight.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/amp-has-another-potential-landmine-to-negotiate-a-zero-profit-in-2019-20190723-p529x5.html
    And Adele Ferguson reports that the peak financial regulator APRA has been criticised over a controversial decision to hire a senior lawyer from the ranks of troubled wealth manager AMP, which has been battling a series of scandals over the past year.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/revolving-door-apra-criticised-for-absolutely-inappropriate-amp-hire-20190723-p52a05.html
    The AFR reports that boards and investors are on a collision course over APRA’s pay plan foreshadowing they will reject the move to 50 per cent non-financial measures.
    https://outline.com/vRwf52
    Mungo MacCallum writes about the Coalition’s real-life ‘Mediscare’ on Medicare.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/mungo-maccallum-the-coalitions-real-life-mediscare-on-medicare,12928
    John Crace says of yesterday’s Johnson election “In one way, though, this had been a remarkable Johnson speech. It had been the first one he’d given for years which hadn’t contained any outright lies. Just the odd half-truth. Mainly because he hadn’t actually really said anything. Still there would be plenty of time to rectify that. The lying could restart tomorrow.”
    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/23/smug-needy-desperate-johnsons-coronation-is-a-shameless-tory-jobs-fair
    Rod Meyer says that there is no evidence that halting superannuation rises will boost wages.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/money/superannuation/2019/07/22/politicians-trying-to-stop-superannuation-guarantee/
    Authentic UPF Leader Blair Cottrell is no freedom of speech activist, he is an authoritarian who daydreams about bloody revolution and power, writes Tom Tanuki.
    https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/cottrell-is-no-freedom-of-speech-advocate-but-a-violent-fascist,12927
    Sarah Martin writes that Labor has joined the Greens in calling on the Coalition to stand down two commissioners appointed to the disability royal commission over concerns about their alleged conflict of interest.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/24/bill-shorten-joins-call-for-coalition-to-stand-down-two-disability-royal-commissioners
    It seems the NBN will not be acquired by Telstra for now, but it remains a political football, which can be kicked in any direction by the Morrison Government, writes Paul Budde.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/nbn-sale-ruled-out–taxpayers-to-pay-instead,12926
    Members appointed to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal should have legal qualifications, a former High Court justice has found, in a report recommending major changes to the tribunal. I’m sure this was front of mind of the government when it appointed all its mates to the AAT before the election.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6289726/appeals-tribunal-needs-overhaul-review-finds/?cs=14350
    Bernie Fraser has said he was dismayed that bankers were again commanding top dollar so soon after the Hayne royal commission established links between poorly designed incentives and misconduct.
    https://outline.com/3JH7Dc
    The UK Guardian looks at what’s ahead for PM Boris Johnson.
    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jul/23/ambition-fulfilled-for-boris-johnson-but-what-next-for-britain
    As does Professor Simon Torney in The Conversation.
    https://theconversation.com/boris-johnson-political-vegemite-becomes-the-uk-prime-minister-let-the-games-begin-119467
    Ah. Trump’s America!
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/police-officer-fired-for-suggesting-us-congresswoman-should-be-shot-20190724-p52a3r.html
    John Setka’s cashed-up CFMEU branch will seek to take advantage of Labor’s debt position post-election by taking it through costly court challenges, sources say.
    https://outline.com/PfacBr
    You have to laugh. NSW police have uncovered more than $200 million worth of the drug known as ice after a man allegedly driving a van with the drugs inside crashed into a police car.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6288487/van-with-alleged-200m-worth-of-drugs-crashes-into-police-car/?cs=14329
    Not a good day for these former “Arseholes of the Week” nominations.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/luxury-cars-and-property-of-alleged-ndis-fraudsters-frozen-by-court-20190722-p529iz.html

    Cartoon Corner

    Another beauty from Cathy Wilcox.

    A couple from David Rowe.


    Alan Moir and another effort on the MDB.

    John Shakespeare praises Matt Horton.

    From Matt Golding




    Zanetti really lashes out at Albanese.


    Jon Kudelka on MasterChef.
    https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/77f86ae015a3331826532be571fd2d95?width=1024

    From the US








  44. This is from The Shovel, but it is absolutely not satire. It’s just the truth.

    World Now Run Entirely By Idiots

    The world is run by absolute clowns, it has been confirmed.

    The news comes as Britain decided to follow in America’s footsteps and appoint a self-obsessed, incompetent, incoherent arsehat as its leader.

    Political analyst James Richardson said the attributes required for world leadership had changed over the years. “In the war years what was required was a steady hand. During the sixties and seventies we looked to leaders who could inspire us. Now we tend to assess the range of options available and go for the one with funny hair,” he said

    http://www.theshovel.com.au/2019/07/23/world-now-run-entirely-by-idiots/

  45. The world is rapidly moving away from thermal coal with more and more countries ditching coal power for renewables, but in Queensland they still believe coal powered electricity generation is the only way to go.

    Queensland mining royalties found to give ‘effective subsidies’ to thermal coal exporters
    Australia Institute report suggests public support for overhaul of royalty rates

    Queensland’s mining royalties regime gives “effective subsidies” to exporters of low-quality thermal coal, according to a new report by the Australia Institute that shows public support for an overhaul of the royalty rates.

    The Queensland government and opposition have both committed to freezing mining royalties at their current level.

    The new report details how the staggered system in Queensland, where low-value coal under $100 a tonne is taxed at a lower rate, acts to incentivise thermal coalmines such as Adani’s Carmichael project.

    At both current and long-term predicted coal prices, thermal coalminers will pay the lowest 7% royalties rate. Those producing metallurgical coal will pay royalties in the higher brackets – 12.5% and 15%.

    “What the staggered rate is supposed to do is mimic the mining tax and take more from coalmines when prices are high or when they’re mining particularly high-quality coal,” said Australia Institute research director Roderick Campbell.

    “The effect is, however, that the lowest-quality coalmines – thermal mines like Adani’s – pay the least, while high-quality coking coalmines pay more.

    “From an economic and climate perspective this is a pretty bad result, particularly without widespread carbon prices to reflect the damage costs of burning more low-quality coal.”

    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jul/24/queensland-mining-royalties-found-to-give-effective-subsidies-to-thermal-coal-exporters

    Among the companies being propped up is, of course, Adani. The Queensland government will do everything it can to make sure that company gets what it wants, even arresting foreign journalists who dare film anti-Adani protests.

    Adani’s Carmichael coal mine surviving on lifeline from Indian parent company
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-24/adani-carmichael-subsidiary-surviving-on-lifeline-from-parent/11338926

    • Interesting that George Calombaris has suddenly embraced the benefits of collective bargaining

      Well of course, he saw what happened to his workers 🙂

  50. Labor needs to drop this daft tactic of supporting government bills after making a few pretty speeches and token attempts at amendments they know won’t pass.

    Show some guts, you lily-livered cowards! So what if FauxMo hurls abuse? He will do that no matter how you vote, so if a bill is dodgy or just plain nasty vote against it.

    • Albo was quite upset today (I think) about the libs reneging on a deal he’d made.

      Has he not been paying attention, does he not know the modus operandi by now?

      I shakes me head in bewilderment at the lack of understanding of how these lyin’, cheatin’ con men work.

      I was about to say let’s hope he has finally learned but ——

      Even Manuel was capable of learning eventually –

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