My father served in the RAAF during the second world war. He was – officially – ground staff: aircraft crew – servicing the planes etc.. But from the little he disclosed to me towards the end of his life, he not only did that incredibly important job, but sometimes was – illicitly – up in planes, navigating them, sometimes even flying them. This post is a tribute to him, and all of the brave women and men who risked and lost their lives.
In honour of your grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, mothers, brothers, sons, daughters, children – this is for you (and thank you to Pearls and Irritations and – especially – Henry Reynolds – for these words:
This Anzac Day we should question the relentless militarisation of our history and the cult of the digger. These ideals make it easier for Australian governments to commit to wars overseas and more difficult for critics to engage in serious debate.
In 2008, a few months before he suffered the onslaught of a fatal disease the Anglo-American scholar Tony Judt contributed an essay to the New York Review of Books entitled What Have We Learned, If Anything? His concern was that after 1989 the lessons of the past had been cast aside. What then, he wondered is it that we have misplaced in our haste to put the past behind us? In the U.S. at least, we have forgotten the meaning of war.
There is a reason for this. In much of continental Europe, Asia and Africa the twentieth century was experienced as a cycle of wars. War in the last century signified invasion, occupation, displacement, deprivation, destruction, and mass murder.
The United States avoided almost all the horrors. It was not invaded. It did not lose vast numbers of citizens or huge swathes of territory and it was civilian casualties that ‘leave the most enduring mark on national memory.’ Most Americans have been fortunate to live in blissful ignorance of war’s true significance. As a consequence, the United States was, he believed, the only advanced democracy where public figures glorify and exalt the military, a sentiment familiar in Europe before 1945 but quite unknown today. For many American commentators and policymakers, the message of the C20th is that war works.
How is this relevant to Australia and to Anzac Day? That depends on what feature of Anzac day we consider. The national lament for all the young lives lost in war, the familial grief, the continuing impact on the wounded and scarred should make us all join hands in collective gratitude and regret regardless of the nature of particular wars.
But there is much more to Anzac Day than a paean to lives lost in war. The centenary in 2015 entrenched ideas which have been with us for a long time and which have been endlessly fortified by association with heroic sacrifice. The rhetoric is familiar given its ubiquity. The Anzac landing, generations of children have been told, made Australia a nation. The shores of Gallipoli were where the nation was born. The spirit displayed there has been an inspiration, a touchstone, ever since. The message is so relentlessly repeated by national leaders that, to many people, it seems disloyal to subject it to sceptical examination.
But it is an extraordinary proposition! And where did it come from? The idea that nations are born in war was common among Europeans and Americans in the late 19th century and early 20th century. It slipped easily from the tongues of a generation which had little experience of the real thing. Australia’s coming of age was proclaimed during innumerable speeches made while sending the colonial detachments off to the Boer War and then welcoming them home again. But it was an idea that belonged to an era that was coming to an end. By the end of 1915, it was sinking into the blood-soaked mud of the Western Front. It lived on in Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy but had become totally discredited by 1945.
However on earth did such a dangerous, atavistic idea survive and flourish in Australia? Is it an idea we would promote more widely? Proclaim that we came to national maturity by invading the Ottoman Empire at the behest of the British? That we needed to engage in a carnival of killing to be able to stand tall in the world? Apart from anything else, it is a profoundly irresponsible idea to preserve and propagate in the 21st century.
But of equal concern is the way in which the Anzac legend distorts our understanding of our own history. If the nation was truly born in April 1915 what came before is diminished. And it frequently appears that those who proclaim the idea know little about the history of colonial and early federation Australia. Otherwise, how could they cleave to such a proposition which falls apart under even elementary exegesis?
Whatever was it that the new federation lacked at the start of 1914 that was provided by the young men who stormed ashore at Gallipoli? Australia and New Zealand were the most democratic societies in the world and the most prosperous with wealth more evenly shared than was the case elsewhere. It was all the result of more than two generations of nation-building accomplished by thousands of men and women from all walks of life. How can a failed military campaign possibly compare with these diverse, demonstrable, achievements?
And what is even more pertinent is that Australasian political reform and social achievements of the period were known and admired in many parts of the world as the work of Marilyn Lake has established. In the first decade of the 20th century, Australians saw themselves as ‘a confident, independent, global pioneer in creating an advanced democracy that drew the eyes of the world to the new Commonwealth.’ But when the war was over Australia was deeply divided and the spirit of social and political innovation has been crushed. In an earlier contribution to Pearls and Irritations (23/4/14) Lake observed that ‘ during World War 1 Australia lost its way. Its enmeshment in the imperial European War fractured the nation’s soul.’
Not that we heard much in that vein during our carnival of commemoration between 2014 and 2018. What stood out was the fact that Australia spent so much and indeed far more than any other country. It all culminated in the extreme folly—the $100 million devoted to a museum in northern France commemorating the achievements of the Australian divisions.
Quite apart from the diversion of money from Australia’s cash strapped institutions it helps create the illusion that Australia was more important in the war than her small contribution of five out of over 250 allied divisions in 1918 could possibly have achieved even if they did ’punch above their weight.’ But there was in Australia’s commemoration a decided note of triumphalism which might have been understandable in 1919 or 1920 but was odd to the point of aberration a hundred years later when we can see what a catastrophe the war was or as Niall Ferguson observed some years ago ‘the greatest error in modern history.’ Should our contribution to that terrible and avoidable disaster have been commemorated at all? Shame and remorse might have been more appropriate responses.
But there is purpose motivating the relentless militarisation of our history and the cult of the digger. They have contemporary relevance; they have real political power in the here and now. They make it easier for Australian governments to commit to wars overseas and more difficult for critics to engage in serious debate. The heroic image of the digger inhibits any assessment of the costs and benefits of war. Questions about the wisdom of engagements are seen as diminishing the sacrifice and suffering of participants. Without serious debate about our involvement in overseas conflicts, we appear to be shadowing our American allies, who as Judt observed, were convinced that war works.
THE PUB 
FM –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/13/conspiracy-theories-used-to-be-fun-now-everyone-is-freaking-out-about-everything-all-at-once
There’s nothing like a by-election to get things moving.
If Mike Kelly had not resigned the people of Eden-Monaro would still be waiting for federal help a yearfrom now.
Stephen Colbert –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
TGA is the main pursuer of the CrimeMinister’s Sports Rorts
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/13/sports-rorts-morrison-says-he-sought-authority-on-grant-announcements-not-funding-decisions
You may have to prove “corrupt” in a court of law. Perhaps we could have a look at how corrupt your government is?
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. This is a patrol of record length!
Victoria and Queensland have warned the federal government to be more diplomatic in pursuit of a coronavirus inquiry, fearing that Australia’s escalating trade dispute with China will harm already fragile state economies.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dangerous-damaging-china-trade-dispute-triggers-national-division-20200513-p54skv.html
Shane Wright explains how the real story of unemployment is about to be made public. The numbers won’t look good – but the reality is far worse he says.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/unemployment-figures-will-be-bad-here-s-why-the-reality-is-worse-20200513-p54shw.html
Niki Savva thinks Josh Frydenberg was bananas to ignore the Keating playbook yesterday.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/josh-frydenberg-was-bananas-to-ignore-the-keating-playbook/news-story/419ee5419b715e35c183bf3b0e460d44
Major banks say house prices could collapse by up to 30 per cent in the next three years in a prolonged economic slump as CBD rentals are drained of tenants.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/banks-warn-house-prices-could-fall-up-to-30-per-cent-as-rental-vacancies-surge-20200513-p54sgy.html
The nation’s industry superannuation funds are ready to deploy more than $28bn to worthy infrastructure and property projects as the economy starts to emerge from COVID-19 lockdown reports Richard Gluyas.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/super-funds-to-splurge-28bn-on-infrastructure/news-story/0f7cd359bd1f4015e0262980c6b98372
Adam Morton says that Australia should seize the moment and build a green economy from the Covid-19 wreckage.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/14/seizing-the-moment-how-australia-can-build-a-green-economy-from-the-covid-19-wreckage
Jess Irvine explores potential changes from post-pandemic taxation reforms and their effects.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/post-pandemic-tax-reform-is-on-the-agenda-how-could-it-affect-you-20200511-p54rse.html
The SMH editorial agrees, saying that free trade will be more important than ever after the pandemic.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/free-trade-more-important-than-ever-after-the-pandemic-20200513-p54snj.html
Liam Mannix tells us that almost two million government-approved antibody tests imported into Australia and sold to GPs, hospitals and aged care clinics are so inaccurate they should not be used to diagnose COVID-19. A bit of a cockup really.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/flipping-a-coin-covid-19-antibody-tests-should-not-be-used-20200513-p54smf.html
Leading Sydney barrister Bret Walker, SC, has described the funding model for the state’s corruption watchdog as unlawful and says it risks undermining the organisation’s independence.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/icac-funding-unlawful-and-puts-independence-at-risk-legal-advice-20200513-p54sk7.html
COVID-19 has forever changed the way doctors will work. An advocate for digital health writes that the transformation needs scrutiny. He makes his point very clearly.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/telemedicine-has-its-hurdles-a-doctor-for-troubled-kids-reports-from-the-covid-sidelines-20200510-p54rlk.html
Kate Aubusson reports that the majority of Australians with fevers and coughs are not getting tested for coronavirus despite repeated pleas from state and federal leaders for everyone even with the mildest symptoms to come forward.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/more-than-half-of-australians-with-symptoms-not-tested-for-covid-19-20200513-p54sic.html
This is a brilliant article from Bloomberg that looks at the lessons learned from the Y2K threat to computer systems and how they have generic application to things such as pandemics.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/remember-y2k-there-are-five-lessons-that-resonate-in-this-pandemic-20200513-p54sfk.html
Virginia Haussegger reflects on the rise of women leaders. Quite a good read.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6755402/when-it-comes-to-women-in-leadership-its-easy-to-think-weve-got-it-licked/?cs=14264&utm_source=website&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews
Steve Evans tells us that quietly, behind the scenes, politicians and public servants are making a big calculation, namely how much a life is worth.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6754141/how-much-is-a-life-worth-the-brutal-calculation-governments-ftce/?cs=14225
Adrian Rollins reports that The Auditor-General is planning to investigate the use of a $1.1 billion fund to procure personal protective equipment and other medical supplies as part of a broader review of the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6754621/auditor-general-to-probe-governments-coronavirus-response/?cs=14225
Josh Frydenberg has surrendered to the recession says Michael Pascoe.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2020/05/13/frydenberg-surrenders-to-recession/
Australian business can’t lead us out of this recession – the government must step up explains Richard Denniss.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/13/australian-business-cant-lead-us-out-of-this-recession-the-government-must-step-up
John Warhurst expounds on how the Eden-Monaro byelection highlights the phenomenon of celebrity circus versus local politics.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6754272/eden-monaro-highlights-the-celebrity-circus-versus-local-politics/?cs=14264&utm_source=website&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews
Chris Savage begins this contribution with, “Of all the things we know to be true, we know that we are going to die. What we do not know for certain is when. We also do not know precisely how human genius will counter the damage done by COVID-19 – although the fact that Australian governments, of all stripes, have been guided by experts should give us confidence.”
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6753020/how-we-imagine-the-future-will-shape-how-we-recover-from-covid-19/?cs=14258
More than 5000 new jobs would be created by construction of scores of new or updated recycling centres across Victoria, as a targeted way out of the coronavirus pandemic’s economic slump, the state’s infrastructure advisor says.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/thousands-of-jobs-could-come-from-scores-of-new-recycling-centres-20200513-p54slw.html
David Crowe writes that Morrison has denied being the “authority” for more than $100 million in sports grants after Labor challenged him in Parliament over an audit into the controversial scheme. Plenty of weasel words uttered in parliament yesterday.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/pm-says-he-only-had-authority-over-announcements-of-100m-sports-grants-20200513-p54smn.html
And Paul Karp reveals that Sport Australia has failed to identify an independent source of Bridget McKenzie’s authority to make $141m in sports grants, suggesting instead the minister piggybacked off its powers to do so.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/14/sport-australia-fails-to-identify-bridget-mckenzies-legal-authority-to-issue-grants
Michelle Grattan writes that the pandemic has dented Australians’ views of both China and the United States.
https://theconversation.com/pandemic-dents-australians-views-of-both-china-and-the-united-states-138529
Anthony Galloway explains how the government is making a second attempt to give Border Force police-like powers.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/government-making-second-attempt-to-give-border-force-police-like-powers-20200513-p54sih.html
And Greg Barns describes Dutton’s new ASIO law as one more step towards a totalitarian state. This is serious shit!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/new-asio-law-one-more-step-towards-a-totalitarian-state-20200513-p54smi.html
Greg Sheridan writes that Beijing may well have more trade punishment in store for Australia. Next week will be crucial, with the EU resolution calling for an inquiry into the origins and spread of the coronavirus going to the World Health Assembly.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/china-relations-friends-dont-try-to-control-others-every-move/news-story/e5ded22b09912bed2d151727f5cc10cf
Peter FitzSimons wonders if these dark days could lead to a return of the golden age in sport. I sincerely hope so.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/dark-days-could-lead-to-return-of-golden-age-in-sport-20200513-p54so1.html
BHP fears the chance of a V-shaped global recovery from coronavirus is slim, while Rio Tinto is bracing for a rise in trade tensions and nationalism writes Nick Toscano.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/top-miners-warn-of-rocky-road-to-global-economic-recovery-20200513-p54sjm.html
Coronavirus has destroyed wage rise predictions, but it has also given the government an easy excuse opines Greg Jericho.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2020/may/14/coronavirus-has-destroyed-wage-rise-predictions-but-it-has-also-given-the-government-an-easy-excuse
John Quiggin writes that we need to plan for life after JobKeeper now and make it portable.
https://theconversation.com/we-need-to-plan-for-life-after-jobkeeper-now-we-need-to-make-it-portable-138416
The state-owned China Mobile is looking to buy the biggest phone carrier in the Pacific Islands, Digicel, in a deal that has raised concerns in Canberra and opened a new front in Beijing’s battle for influence in the region.
https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/concern-as-china-targets-pacific-mobile-networks-20200513-p54sls
Dana McCauley reports that Macquarie University Hospital has launched a hunt for a whistleblower who called attention to orthopaedic surgery performed during the elective surgery ban, demanding clinicians in the hospital’s orthopaedic department front a panel of external investigators.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/hospital-launches-investigation-into-elective-surgery-whistleblower-20200512-p54s66.html
Sarah Danckert tells us that thef ormer AFL boss Andrew Demetriou is facing court action over his involvement in the collapse of major vocational education group Acquire Learning & Careers.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/liquidators-chase-former-afl-boss-andrew-demetriou-over-payments-20200513-p54shl.html
The largest capital markets transaction in Australia has put an end to fears the $214 billion COVID-19 support package could not be funded.
https://www.afr.com/markets/debt-markets/we-got-this-covered-pm-buoyed-by-record-19b-bond-sale-20200513-p54sip
Oil has rebounded from last month’s lows amid cautious optimism that heavy production cuts have put a floor under the price. But it’s the demand that’s the problem explains Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/optimism-returns-to-the-oil-market-but-the-worst-isn-t-over-20200513-p54sig.html
Despite the devastation of last summer’s bushfires, Australia remains captive to the coal mining industry, writes Greenpeace Australia Pacific CEO David Ritter.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/the-fossil-fuel-industry-has-corrupted-our-democracy,13889
The Government is quietly blowing away years of environmental protections under cover of Covid. Its Covid Commission (NCCC) is stacked with executives from the gas and mining lobbies in what is turning out to be a bonanza for multinationals and yet another destructive blow to Australia’s efforts to curb global warming. Sandi Keane investigates.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/covert-19-government-stacks-covid-commission-with-oil-and-gas-mates-cosy-deals-follow/
Meanwhile Norway’s gigantic sovereign wealth fund has dumped its stake in the Australian energy company AGL, which owns coal-fired power stations including the carbon-intensive Liddell plant in New South Wales, after tightening up its rules on fossil fuels.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/14/norways-giant-oil-fund-ditches-stake-in-australias-agl-over-fossil-fuel-concerns
The Queensland government has entered the race for control of Virgin Australia, declaring plans to take a direct equity stake in the collapsed airline or offer other financial incentives in an attempt to ensure it remains headquartered in Brisbane.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/serious-contender-queensland-government-to-bid-for-virgin-australia-as-race-tightens-20200513-p54slf.html
Jess Irvine warns us that now is no time to turn our backs on globalisation.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/now-is-no-time-to-turn-our-backs-on-globalisation-20200513-p54snc.html
Facebook and Google should pay 10 per cent of Australian-earned revenues for the advantages they get from Australian news and content, says Nine chairman Peter Costello.
https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/tech-giants-should-pay-media-600m-costello-20200513-p54sgs
Jennifer Hewett tells us that CBA’s CEO Matt Comyn is can’t be sure exactly what lies ahead for the bank in a COVID-19 world but he’s confident it will manage things well.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/matt-comyn-steers-into-uncharted-territory-20200513-p54sne
Pru Goward has written a pretty good article on leadership here.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-model-for-fearless-leadership-in-a-crisis-hint-he-steers-two-major-sports-20200513-p54sho.html
Tom Burton writes that an estimated 70 per cent of public servants are now working remotely and early analysis is showing strong support to make remote working an accepted practice, rather than the exception.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/public-servants-may-stay-home-permanently-20200513-p54sjg
The AFL will be forced to relocate Adelaide and Port Adelaide to an interstate hub to save the 2020 season after the South Australian government refused to waive its 14-day coronavirus quarantine rules for players.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/rejected-afl-forced-back-to-hub-plan/news-story/b51ac16f21a52a09499020588beb7e71
A frustrated John Lord just wants politicians to say things as they really are.
https://theaimn.com/please-wont-you-just-say-it-as-it-is/
Global health experts say last month’s $133 million writedown on the World Bank’s pandemic bonds is “too little too late” squandering public health resources on paying investors.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/pandemic-bonds-squander-global-health-funds-for-covid-19,13890
Montreal, a city touted by tourist guides as “North America’s Europe” for its rich culture and joie de vivre, is Canada’s centre for Covid-19. Of the entire country’s 70,000 cases and 5,000 deaths, the city of 2 million people has 20,000 cases and more than 2,000 deaths, or about 64% of the entire province’s death toll. Why is this so?
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/13/coronavirus-montreal-canada-hit-hard
Australian federal police chose not to launch investigation after reviewing ‘thorough and detailed’ NSW police evidence writes Anne Davies. Yet another indication of why we need a decent federal ICAC.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/13/afp-formed-no-concluded-view-about-who-altered-documents-angus-taylor-used-to-attack-clover-moore
The arsehole accused of berating a dying Victoria Police officer holds with his wife a property portfolio estimated to be worth at least $12m. He will know today whether or not he will be granted bail.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/horrorcrash-porsche-driver-richard-pusey-holds-12m-property-portfolio/news-story/0643c662b4fc21acfb3756c4ce569e9a
Plans to reopen Indonesia in early June have been delayed but an extended lockdown risks famine writes James Massola from Jakarta.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/plague-or-famine-indonesia-grapples-with-economic-risks-and-infection-rates-20200513-p54sjj.html
Sweden has resisted a lockdown. But that doesn’t make it a bastion of liberty writes Pauling Neuding in Quillette.
https://quillette.com/2020/05/12/sweden-has-resisted-a-lockdown-but-that-doesnt-make-it-a-bastion-of-liberty/
Child abusers have created and shared an online grooming manual describing ways to manipulate and exploit the increased number of children at home and online during Covid-19, Australia’s e-safety commissioner has said. Bloody hell, some people are sick!
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/14/child-abuse-predator-handbook-lists-ways-to-target-children-during-coronavirus-lockdown
The risk of an uneven economic recovery from the coronavirus crisis poses an “existential threat” to the European Union, one of its most senior economic policymakers has said.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/13/eu-faces-existential-threat-if-coronavirus-recovery-uneven-paolo-gentiloni
Effects of the Trump presidency, mired in controversies and bad decisions, can be felt beyond the borders of the USA, writes Sue Arnold. She concludes that one way or another, America and the rest of the world will pay a terrible price for the Trump presidency.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-trump-presidency-has-brought-on-the-self-destruction-of-western-civilisation,13886
Boris Johnson looks increasingly like the prime minister of England alone writes Martin Kettle who says that there have been cracks in the United Kingdom for many years. Coronavirus has prised them wide open.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/13/boris-johnson-prime-minister-england-coronavirus
The European Union is pushing for a safe reopening of borders, while insisting on protective measures such as masks on planes, to try to salvage the ravaged tourism sector for the lucrative summer season as coronavirus infections recede. Surely this is playing with fire!
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/05/13/coronavirus-eu-summer-holidays/
New coronavirus hotspots are emerging in Republican heartland communities across multiple states, contradicting Donald Trump’s claims that infection rates are declining across the nation. Ignorance rules!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/13/new-us-coronavirus-hotspots-republican-heartland-areas
Jared Kushner, the US President’s son-in-law and a senior White House adviser, refused on Tuesday to rule out postponing the presidential election in November, a comment that fed directly into Democratic concerns that President Donald Trump might use the coronavirus crisis to delay or delegitimise the contest and one that contradicted Trump himself.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/jared-kushner-would-not-rule-out-delaying-us-election-20200513-p54so2.html
More Americans have grown critical of Trump over the past month as the death toll mounts from the coronavirus pandemic. He now trails Democratic challenger Joe Biden by 8 percentage points among registered voters, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-approval-dips-amid-virus-death-toll-20200513-p54sgz.html
Hollywood acting great Robert De Niro has reignited his quarrel with Donald Trump, saying the US President “doesn’t care” how many people die from coronavirus.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/us-news/trump-news/2020/05/13/de-niro-trump-coronavirus/
Trump’s obsession with Obama is an attempt to distract from his failures declares Richard Wolffe.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/13/trump-obsession-obama-attempt-distract-failures
A “church” that promoted a solution containing bleach as a cure for COVID-19 has been fined more than $150,000 by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Enough to earn nomination for “Arseholes of the Week”.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2020/05/13/church-fined-bleach-coronavirus-cure/
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Alan Moir
Andrew Dyson
Cathy Wilcox
John Shakespeare
Matt Golding
Peter Broelman
Glen Le Lievre
Johannes Leak
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/9e5f5a9fab301887772ca78f780b8f11?width=1024
From the US
Sweden a bit of a covid19 poster child for the Right in the US, How did they go ?
Sweden- pop-5 million dead -3,300 ,
Australia pop.25 million dead-98 .
Whoops ! Sweden 10 million
About the so-called Genesis II Church of Health and Healing (Australian Chapter) –
This organisation is not a church or a religious organisation. It’s a business set up to flog substances. It has adopted the title “church” to suck in the gullible. It was founded in the US (where else) by a con artist known as Jim Humble. This is him –
https://jimhumble.co/
He is very careful to say MMS will not cure diseases, it will simply destroy pathogens and poisons, eliminating them from the body so healing can take place. As Trump said when he advocated injecting bleach – “a cleaning”.
Here’s the “church” website –
https://genesis2church.ch/our-church
Take a look at their “sacraments – listed under “About our ….”. It’s just a list of substances they flog to the faithful. Top of the list is sodium chlorite 22.4% – in other words, BLEACH.
“Sodium chlorite (NaClO2) is typically found in an industrial setting as a bleach and a disinfectant.”
https://www.healthline.com/health/sodium-chlorite
Second on the sacraments list is hydrochloric acid, allegedly an MMS “activator”.
Healthy stuff indeed.
Here’s the Australian page for this business –
http://www.mmsaustralia.com.au/
I thought the use of “church” in the name was a tax dodge, but official Australian sites like ASIC and the ACNC have never heard of it. Maybe the organisers of this scam have not yet got around to registering as a charity or a business. Maybe they just take money from their followers and forget about their obligation to pay tax. Perhaps a journalist might like to investigate further, maybe find out how legal this business is.
That said, it’s a wonder we don’t have more fake churches all peddling alleged miracle substances. I’m surprised Pete Evans hasn’t started calling himself “Pastor Pete”, formed a “Church of Wellness” with sacraments involving bone broth and set up HQ at his new “healing centre” at – where else – Byron Bay.
https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2020/05/09/controversial-chef-pete-evans-new-byron-bay-venutre/
As so many Australians thought, the app has nothing to do with easing restrictions. Marise Payne confirmed that yesterday in the Senate
I saw something about this yesterday, but could not find any proof.
Here it is, from yesterday’s Senate debate on the Privacy Amendment (Public Health Contact Information) Bill 2020
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/d1b94f32-61e9-47e8-ab31-cc37f40b5093/&sid=0000
And then Marise Payne said this in answer to another question, reinforcing the point the number of downloads has nothing to do with lifting or easing restrictions. –
So the decisions to ease restrictions are based on advice from the AHPCC, not on how many people have downloaded an app. And the states make their own decisions, they do not obey the CrimeMinister’s demands, no matter what he says.
So much for the CrimeMinister’s blathering and threats about it being essential to download the app if we want to go to the pub or the footy. He lied – again. When does he not lie?
So why insist on everyone downloading this pointless bit of battery-eating junk?
Apart from Ketan’s article, if you opebn the tweet you can see a thread of more info
I call bullshit on the unemployment numbers.
And so does everyone else.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/may/14/australia-coronavirus-live-updates-nsw-victoria-qld-lockdown-politics-latest-news-update#comments
They are still doing the usual “if you have worked one hour a week in a paid job you are seen as employed” lurk.
Proof –
https://www.rba.gov.au/education/resources/explainers/unemployment-its-measurement-and-types.html
Pauline puts the boot in again.
The vote was Ayes 29, Noes 30.
I suppose Labor will vote for this bill using the excuse “we need to keep Australians safe.” As they always do when it comes to taking away more of our civil liberties.
These idiots must be closely related to the Australians who still think daylight saving fades the curtains and upsets the cows.
US town rejects solar farm because it will ‘suck up all the sun’
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/us-town-rejects-solar-farm-because-it-will-suck-up-all-the-sun
In up to date high tech news…………..
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Trouble in the non-Labor, non-Greens left.
Socialist Alliance withdraws from Victorian Socialists
https://socialist-alliance.org/news/socialist-alliance-withdraws-victorian-socialists
The Victorian Socialists (commonly shortened to as Vic Socialists, VicSocs or VS) is a democratic socialist political party based in the Australian state of Victoria. Founded in February 2018, it is an electoral alliance of various socialist parties, organisations, community groups and trade unionists.
The party initially comprised members of Socialist Alternative, Socialist Alliance, as well as non-aligned socialists. However, Socialist Alliance withdrew from the grouping in May 2020, citing Socialist Alternative’s “preparedness to use its numbers to restrict the democratic participation of independents” and its inability to “move beyond electoral politics”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Socialists
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
David Crowe examines the path that Albanese is setting out for the Opposition.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-struggles-for-traction-as-pandemic-plays-out-20200514-p54szk.html
And John Kelly says that with an election not due until mid-2022, something Labor can count as a blessing, the Coalition will be hard pressed to explain to an impatient electorate as to why things are taking so long to improve.
https://theaimn.com/aussie-politics-in-2022/
Shane Wright reports that the jobs market is set to deteriorate even more despite a record drop in the number of people with a job as concern grows about the home construction sector.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australians-told-to-prepare-for-even-worse-as-job-numbers-crash-20200514-p54t10.html
A review of the $130 billion JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme next month will consider extending its September 27 cut-off date, tightening eligibility for some workers and targeting industries hit hardest by coronavirus restrictions.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/review-to-consider-extending-jobkeeper-beyond-september-20200514-p54t46.html
Liny Edwards writes that something has changed in the Liberal Party since John Howard was prime minister. She says key business lobbies now have such a grip they can frogmarch the government towards political suicide. It’s a bit of a worry!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/fend-for-yourself-people-a-tone-deaf-government-plays-dangerous-politics-20200514-p54sxg.html
International trade consultant Alistair Nicholas opines that the recent trade bans could be part of a strategy by China to diversify its sources of imports – something far more ominous for Canberra policymakers and our exporters. He says that we need to speak diplomatically until we have alternative markets to counter-balance China’s possible trade retaliation.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/put-down-the-megaphone-or-china-might-opt-for-other-imports-20200514-p54svj.html
Phil Coorey writes that Scott Morrison’s China strategy is to deal with the trade issue on its merits without escalating Beijing’s retaliation over the virus inquiry into a full-on stoush and without trading away Australia’s values.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/patient-pm-will-not-bite-back-at-china-s-payback-20200513-p54sp7
But Stephen Kirchner writes that Simon Birmingham should be wary of inviting Beijing to take Australia’s anti-dumping regime to the WTO. We are pushing the rules as it is he says.
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/birmingham-on-thin-ice-challenging-china-to-take-australia-to-the-wto-20200514-p54sso
Hundreds of thousands of low-paid workers could have wage rises delayed for up to six months after the Fair Work Commission revealed it was looking at deferring minimum wage increases for stressed companies operating under the JobKeeper scheme.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/wages-rises-for-lowpaid-face-delay-to-help-companies/news-story/06cdc706b5d2808f14bebdb1b150e644
Through Michaelia Cash’s gritted teeth the government has extended the lifting of mutual obligation requirements for 1.6 million JobSeekers after the unemployment rate hit 6.2 per cent.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/jobkeeper-jobseeker-to-adjust-after-record-jump-in-jobless-20200514-p54sxm
Jennifer Hewett explains how a lot of jobs won’t be there when JobKeeper ends.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/a-lot-of-jobs-won-t-be-there-when-jobkeeper-ends-20200514-p54t12
The huge drop in hours worked paints a more accurate picture of the devastation of the labour market than the official unemployment figures explains John Kehoe.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/1-8-million-workers-have-hours-cut-20200514-p54suh
The “wage scarring” effect of massive unemployment means workers could lose almost a year’s income in the long term if recovery is not speedy, an economist warns.
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/the-huge-jobless-rise-could-cost-everyone-a-year-s-pay-20200514-p54sy0
Michael Pascoe proclaims, “It’s official. The economy was weak before the COVID-19 crisis”.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2020/05/14/michael-pascoe-wages-coronavirus/
Rex Patrick has had enough of senior public servants evading or not answering reasonable questions.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6756966/accountability-is-being-eroded-by-public-servants-evading-answers-patrick/?cs=14350
New research by the Reserve Bank showing renewable energy investment fell sharply last year is fuelling calls for federal and state governments to back changes to help the industry rebound and drive a post-pandemic recovery.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/15/australias-reserve-bank-fuels-call-for-post-pandemic-renewables-push
Polling conducted on Tuesday in the marginal south eastern NSW seat sees Labor leading the Liberals 51.1 per cent to 48.8 per cent, based on preference flows from the 2019 federal election.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/labor-ahead-in-early-eden-monaro-poll-20200514-p54stb
Malcolm Turnbull and his publisher Sandy Grant are continuing to investigate the mystery of who exactly received a leaked version of the former prime minister’s biography A Bigger Picture. They seem to be having considerable success.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/turnbull-s-sleuths-unravel-the-links-of-canberra-cabals-20200514-p54t3e.html
NSW health authorities will look at the deaths of people who had earlier recovered from COVID-19 to determine if the virus was a contributing factor.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw-health-to-examine-deaths-of-people-deemed-to-have-recovered-from-covid-19-20200513-p54smw.html
Dana McCauley tells us that experts are warning the current mental health system is ill-equipped to respond to a forecast 30 per cent spike in mental illness in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, calling for a boost to services, similar to the response provided for COVID-19 patients.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dysfunctional-mental-health-system-needs-boost-in-wake-of-pandemic-experts-20200514-p54t2k.html
Michael Pascoe is unimpressed with Morrison’s penchant for jumping onto the Trump bandwagon.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2020/05/15/morrison-dutton-coronavirus/
Garry Linnell exposes a sneaky HR move designed for companies to cut costs.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/people-entertainment/2020/05/14/garry-linnell-hr-move/
ME Bank has a lot to answer for given the lack of dividends it has paid to shareholders, lack of transparency and poor treatment of customers says Adele Ferguson.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/me-bank-s-gobsmacking-botch-was-a-systemic-failure-20200514-p54t1j.html
Isabelle Lane writes that coronavirus restrictions are easing around Australia, but medical experts have warned against complacency, flagging the possibility of a second wave of infections if precautions are not maintained.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2020/05/14/coronavirus-complacency-as-restrictions-ease-around-australia-experts-warn-its-not-over/
More than 50,000 people have emptied their superannuation accounts under COVID-19 emergency measures, prompting concerns about the long-term financial impact on young people writes Adrian Rollins.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6757068/super-alarm-sounded-as-50000-empty-retirement-funds/?cs=14225
Household finances face a serious impact in the wake of the coronavirus shutdown, economists have warned, as loss of earnings, falling house prices and job insecurity combine to reshape the economy in a way not experienced by Australians for decades.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/15/australian-households-face-grim-financial-outlook-as-coronavirus-unemployment-rises
Each year, Michael West Media puts a call into the minister responsible for money-laundering, reports Michael West. Each year, we get the same answer. Besides, franking credits, negative gearing, the gig economy, IR and superannuation settings, and climate change, even Federal money-laundering policy has been skewed in favour of older, wealthier Australians vis-a-vis the younger and poorer. Being born wealthy is not opportunity, it is chance, yet this has become a greater determinant of personal prosperity than ever.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/opportunity-lost-how-successive-government-policies-disadvantaged-young-australians/
The formation and unwinding of partnerships pitching to buy Virgin from administration looks like a head-spinning speed dating exercise writes Elizabeth Knight.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/promiscuous-virgin-bidders-flirt-with-partnerships-20200514-p54t2c.html
Building a stronger infrastructure to handle further crises will be best left to experts in various fields with less political interference, writes Paul Budde.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/digital-infrastructure-in-post-pandemic-era-should-be-left-to-experts-not-politicians,13894
Pauline Wright is concerned that Australians’ personal freedoms could be under serious threat with the new ASIO bill.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/14/australians-personal-freedoms-could-be-under-serious-threat-with-the-new-asio-bill
Julia Gillard has backed calls for an investigation into the origins of the pandemic but says it should not be about pointing fingers. She has just been named the next chair of UK-based health foundation Wellcome Trust, one of the world’s largest investors in medical research including epidemics and the search for a COVID-19 vaccine.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2020/05/15/coronavirus-julia-gillard-china/
Yes, carbon emissions fell during COVID-19. But it’s the shift away from coal that really matters say these two energy experts.
https://theconversation.com/yes-carbon-emissions-fell-during-covid-19-but-its-the-shift-away-from-coal-that-really-matters-138611
NBN Co chief executive Stephen Rue has dismissed suggestions that he will use the company’s recently announced $4.1 billion in private financing to accelerate upgrades to the National Broadband Network.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/nbn-co-in-no-rush-to-use-extra-funds-on-network-upgrades-20200514-p54t17.html
Australians forced to study and work from home are putting a record level of strain on the National Broadband Network, but experts warn the network needs urgent updating to keep up with demand says Cait Kelly.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/05/14/nbn-coronavirus/
Bob Carr writes that while the world looked the other way, corporate giants have abandoned coal.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/while-the-world-looked-the-other-way-corporate-giants-abandoned-coal-20200514-p54ssj.html
Paul De Barro is deeply worried that 92% of Australians don’t know the difference between viral and bacterial infections.
https://theconversation.com/deeply-worrying-92-of-australians-dont-know-the-difference-between-viral-and-bacterial-infections-138619
While the Government offered assistance to those in need during the COVID-19 crisis, it’s the banking sector that will really benefit, writes Kyle Mervin.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/morrison-governments-stimulus-banking-sector-will-reap-the-benefits,13891
George Pell’s friend Gerald Ridsdale had his time in prison increased yesterday after he was sentenced for more sexual abuse of boys in western Victoria.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/more-jail-time-means-gerald-ridsdale-is-likely-to-die-in-custody-20200514-p54sxy.html
Like the shock jocks it encourages and applauds, there is always one rule for the Morrison Government and its allies and another for everyone else, writes Michelle Pini.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/jones-and-morrison-doing-right-by-our-countrys-double-standards,13893
As the coronavirus crisis takes its toll of professional sport, there may be a ripple effect down to the grassroots explains Greg Baum.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/greg-baum-on-the-ripple-effect-down-to-the-grass-roots-half-back-to-the-future-20200514-p54t2j.html
To understand just how well Australia is doing with its prudent approach to the pandemic, consider Sweden, the poster child of shutdown sceptics. Australia’s economy is doing better, write three leading economists.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-sound-economics-behind-australia-s-health-first-covid-response-20200514-p54st7.html
The New York Times posits that the pandemic will change the car industry forever.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-pandemic-will-change-the-car-industry-forever-20200514-p54srb.html
The London Telegraph outlines how the handling of COVID-19 has led to a very British disaster. It’s not a very pretty picture.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/the-handling-of-covid-19-has-led-to-a-very-british-disaster-20200514-p54ssd.html
While Dr Anthony Fauci retains the faith of a strong majority of Americans, opposition from Republicans has crept up steadily over the past month or so. The idiots are putting their trust in Trump.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/republicans-increasingly-doubt-anthony-fauci-while-trusting-trump-20200514-p54ssc.html
Nearly 3 million laid-off workers applied for US unemployment benefits last week as the viral outbreak led more companies to slash jobs even though most states have begun to let some businesses reopen under certain restrictions. The wave of layoffs has heightened concerns that more government aid is needed to sustain the economy through the deep recession caused by the viral outbreak.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/thirty-six-million-have-sought-us-unemployment-aid-since-virus-hit-20200515-p54t6s.html
Stephen Bartholomeusz reports that the US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell has offered a chilling perspective on the outlook for the US economy in the coronavirus pandemic as he’s running out of tools to stop the downturn.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-fed-pleads-for-help-as-it-warns-of-long-term-us-recession-20200514-p54swb.html
Charles Grant identifies six negative trends that have been accelerated in Europe as a result of the pandemic.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/14/how-coronavirus-is-reshaping-europe-in-dangerous-ways
Americans should brace themselves for the risk that they will suffer their “darkest winter in modern history” due to the ongoing federal government failures in addressing the coronavirus pandemic, a recently ousted public health official turned whistleblower warned the US Congress.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/14/rick-bright-testimony-coronavirus-trump-ousted-whistleblower
Trump is ushering the US into failed state status as he applauds a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision striking down a coronavirus lockdown order, as hundreds of people gathered at the statehouse in neighbouring Michigan to protest the governor’s restrictions there.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-applauds-wisconsin-ruling-striking-down-lockdown-order-20200515-p54t6v.html
“Arseholes of the Week” nomination goes to the trucking company involved in Victoria’s Eastern Freeway accident that has racked up 35 fines after a police investigation uncovered 16 of its drivers were overworked and fatigued, and 19 trucks had defects.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/05/14/connect-logistics-safety-breaches/
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
David Pope
Cathy Wilcox
Jim Pavlidis
John Shakespeare
Matt Golding
Fiona Katauskas
Simon Letch
Glen Le Lievre
Johannes Leak
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/730feaf4fd54d4e4def058ac665f88d9?width=1024
From the US
“Phil Coorey writes that Scott Morrison’s China strategy ……….”
Who knew he even had a strategy!
The CrimeMinster’s only China strategy seems to be to do whatever Trump asks. He is utterly clueless when it comes to diplomacy.
I never thought I’d say this, but he really needs to listen to Julie Bishop. It would be better still if he spoke to Penny Wong and took her advice, but he would never do that.
The NSW government wants to reward nurses, police and teachers for their service during the current crisis by ……
freezing their wages!
Well, how else would a Coalition government show their appreciation of key workers.
Two days ago –
NSW Treasurer backs away from exempting nurses from public service pay freeze
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-treasurer-backs-away-from-exempting-nurses-from-public-service-pay-freeze-20200512-p54s9c.html
Today-
‘We have an agreement’: Teachers, nurses fire warning shot over wages
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/we-have-an-agreement-teachers-nurses-fire-warning-shot-over-wages-20200514-p54szf.html
Here’s NSW opposition leader Jodi McKay –
Meanwhile Dominic Perrottet, worst NSW treasurer ever, wants to flog off more of NSW’s assets (he calls it “asset recycling”) do away with stamp duty and replace it with an annual land tax and abolish payroll tax.
I’ve just read Adrienne LaFrance’s article on Q-Anon. It is highly recommended,
Leroy beat me to posting it.
Not unbelievable. Sadly.
I wonder where Scrott will hold his “coming out of the bubble” event ? Definitely not where Ardern chose.
,
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has used her first public appearance in eight weeks……………..Speaking to media after visiting a state housing worksite, Ardern said the walkabout and meet-and-greet with construction workers was her “first venture beyond what has been a very confined space”.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12332293
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Chris Hayes –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
I did the survey. Some of the questions are very ambiguous. Whoever created this survey obviously has an agenda.
Leonetwo,
I just did that survey too and I agree with you. I don’t take kindly to what I see as attempts to manipulate my responses.
The agenda seemed to become recklessly obvious as it rolled toward the end. With no conscious effort I found myself imagining (without judgment) the people who might be involved in this research.
With my limited knowledge of tertiary research methods, how in hell did that series of questions pass an ethical review? From memory, the first few questions allowed ‘unsure’ responses, but once they got into detailed questions there was no such option.
I noticed that it would in some cases be easy for a person to not pick up the shift in focus of the questions in a particular section. Four successive questions would be worded in a way that a person could select Strongly Disagree, the next question would be worded in such a way that a person might out of habit select Strongly Disagree when in fact Strongly Agree would have been their choice. It reminded me of, for example, someone testing responses to touch and including a ‘no touch’ as a control.
I would have liked an option to select ‘none of these options’ or ‘irrelevant’ or ‘not my business’ or ‘expect professional behaviour from medical professionals’.
A couple of times I didn’t select any of the options, but the survey continued, which really surprised me. But perhaps that omission has a meaning in research-land.
As I said, my knowledge of tertiary research methodology is very limited – is there genuine academic value in having questions that provided limited choices, that sometimes seem worded to encourage a particular response? Would there be some mechanism to make sure that all survey results are taken into account? I wouldn’t like to think that my participation could be ‘disappeared’ by a mouse-click – ooops!
Well I have just completed that survey and it fails every principle of questionnaire design
starts with age, sex, location
then asks loaded questions
Would not have completed it except that I was warned ACL wants survey results that show most Australians agin abortion
F.M
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/15/the-coronavirus-is-terrible-and-its-good-we-are-all-in-this-together-except-for-everyone-who-isnt
Found a meme today that boosted my morale a little.
Haven’t heard much about the CovidRubbish app lately. Just a passing fad?
It was just the hook to bait everyone into feeling okay about opening everything up again, as you know. What good gains were made are now going to be blown to smithereens. Everyone for themselves now. Lucky Razz and I aren’t big on socialising, we’ll stick to staying at home.
Yep, just a fad, a fantasy in the CrimeMinister’s mind, a ploy to make it seem he was actually doing something apart from blathering at us every day. Also an opportunity for him to act like the control freak he is by telling us “You can’t go out to play if you don’t download the app.”.Now the government had admitted it was not part of their plan for easing restrictions it’s irrelevant.
Does it even work yet?
Sickest thing I’ve heard of for a long, long time – multi-millionaire media owners let off paying rent in Parliament House.
So they are all on welfare now!
What about all the small business owners forced to close because they have no customers and can”t pay their rent? Don’t they deserve a bit of help?
Now Murdoch is getting yet another government handout can we expect his rags, especially the Daily Smelly, to give up bashing those on social security? Fat chance of that happening.
Yet another problem with the doomed F35 fighters – this time it’sTrump.
Trump puts thousands of Australian jobs at risk with F-35 jet threat
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/trump-puts-thousands-of-australian-jobs-at-risk-with-f-35-jet-threat-20200515-p54tf0.html
Just watched Planet America.
It was hilarious. You may wish to google OBAMAGATE. You’ll be hearing it – a lot.
OUCH ! Cop this BoJo.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Piers Morgan
@piersmorgan
·
May 13
This is incredibly damning.
I wish we had a leader like
@jacindaardern
. 👇
This superb video has now clocked past 3 million views.
It’s a brutal 3-minute summary of New Zealand’s success vs the UK’s failure. Keep sharing it
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. Get your teeth into THIS monster!
Ross Gittins tells us why the economy is far mor important than the budget.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/there-s-a-lot-to-worry-about-in-the-economy-but-here-s-what-matters-most-20200515-p54t7o.html
Despite the government’s rhetoric, the political reality is that JobKeeper and JobSeeker will have to be extended to stop businesses and the jobless falling off an economic cliff predicts Laura Tingle.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/winding-up-virus-bridge-would-send-economy-off-the-edge-20200514-p54t5e
While the Morrison Government is optimistic about economic recovery after COVID-19, economists don’t share their positivity, writes Dr Binoy Kampmark.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/morrison-delusional-about-snapback-illusion,13897
Paul Bongiorno looks at all the opposing forces that are likely to thwart Morrison’s “snap back”.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2020/05/16/chokehold-the-economy/15895512009841
Peter Hartcher says that the PM has the country’s backing as the government stands up to China.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/china-can-t-bully-us-into-submission-the-pm-has-australians-backing-20200515-p54thb.html
Scott Morrison is not for turning on China. But few people in our political and security system doubt that China has embarked on a campaign of intimidation of unknown duration to test Australia’s resolution. The nation has crossed a more dangerous threshold with China writes Paul Kelly.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/scott-morrisons-delicate-dance-with-the-china-dragon/news-story/2a39350bfc1ebc08fe64ffc1b12b227c
The demise of the China-Australia relationship, framed by fights this week over beef, barley and steel, may appear rapid, but there were plenty of signposts along the way explains the AFR.
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/china-s-big-chill-sets-in-as-fear-and-greed-return-20200514-p54t4m
The editorial in the AFR says that strategists come up with a range of options for handling China but the reality is that Australia will need a mixed approach to managing the relationship with our increasingly assertive major trading partner.
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/no-single-answer-for-australia-s-china-dilemma-20200514-p54t5c
Meanwhile Darren Gray reports that the Morrison Government is bracing for intensifying threats from China against Australian exporters, as the diplomatic row between the nations continues.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/exporters-brace-for-more-threats-from-china-on-trade-20200514-p54t3y.html
Jim Chalmers says if the Morrison government is serious about kickstarting the economy after the coronavirus, it will seek bipartisan agreement with Labor on a new energy policy, and end the decade long climate wars. Katharine Murphy digs into what Chalmers had to say.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/16/labor-calls-for-end-to-decade-long-barney-on-climate-wars-in-post-pandemic-recovery
There will be no celebrations to mark the anniversary of Scott Morrison’s election victory as the government battles to stay on top of the virus and heal the economy writes Phil Coorey who thinks Morrison needs another divine intervention.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/morrison-needs-another-divine-intervention-20200515-p54t94
Amanda Hooton explains why one group of Australian scientists are feeling quite confident about developing a COVD-19 vaccine.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/one-shot-to-change-the-world-20200316-p54als.html
Peak oil may already have been reached – but from the demand side.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/peak-oil-risk-returns-but-with-a-twist-20200515-p54t8e.html
Australia has locked in a proposal for an independent review into the coronavirus after securing the support of the European Union’s top foreign affairs envoy.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/australia-secures-european-support-for-the-independent-pandemic-probe-20200515-p54t9q.html
Australia is not the only country asking questions about the origins of coronavirus, and China is not happy says Peter Jennings.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/15/australia-is-not-the-only-country-asking-questions-about-the-origins-of-coronavirus-and-china-is-not-happy
After his failures in the bushfire crisis, Australia’s PM has shown during Covid-19 that he can learn. But will the change be lasting wonders Katharine Murphy.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/16/a-year-after-his-miracle-win-this-is-what-weve-learned-about-scott-morrison
According to Clancy Yeates Westpac has admitted, via a monster mea culpa, that it failed to adequately monitor 12 customers who allegedly made suspicious transactions fitting the pattern of payments for child exploitation, as it also admitted to millions of anti-money laundering breaches.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/westpac-admits-to-insufficient-monitoring-of-12-customers-millions-of-breaches-20200515-p54te7.html
Benjamin Lee writes that Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, has revealed the worst job she ever had – and why anyone who wants to take her on should take great care.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-moment-that-helped-inform-sally-mcmanus-political-values-20200417-p54kxi.html
Some economists and experts have warned public sector wages should not be increased and the money should be spent getting young people into work and boosting the economy through infrastructure projects.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/experts-urge-spending-on-youth-jobs-ahead-of-public-wage-rises-20200515-p54teh.html
Karen Middleton tells us that even Coalition MPs are calling for increased scrutiny of legislation rushed through in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/05/16/parliament-bypassed-covid-19-legislation/15895512009842
Michelle Grattan wonders if Scott Morrison can keep this up as he descends the COVID-19 mountain.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6758654/can-scott-morrison-keep-this-up-as-he-descends-the-covid-19-mountain/?cs=14350&utm_source=website&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews
Nick Bonyhady reports that agreement over the fast food pay deal that sparked a spate of insults within the union movement has broken down between the union and employer group that negotiated it.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/agreement-breaks-down-over-contentious-fast-food-deal-20200515-p54tgf.html
Buying time — that is what the JobKeeper package has done, as evidenced by the various employment numbers released on Thursday. Hopefully it won’t merely have provided a stay of execution for millions of workers writes Peter van Onselen.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/voters-ignore-the-dark-arts-to-keep-calm-and-muddle-on/news-story/95eb0bc3c1669a98baddfd84c6f91601
Antony Loewenstein writes that the awarding of $57 million in coronavirus-related contracts to the for-profit healthcare provider Aspen Medical is raising questions about state and federal governments’ continued willingness to outsource what were once public-led health responses.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/05/16/aspen-medicals-covid-19-contracts/15895512009830
Jenna Price wonders why the government has waged war on the universities.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6757160/why-has-the-government-waged-war-on-our-universities/?cs=14258
As we recover from the coronavirus crisis, Australian university staff are being asked to take a pay cut as the sector is facing huge losses, writes Dr Martin Hirst.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/university-staff-pressuring-government-in-a-fight-for-their-jobs,13895
The relaxation of restrictions has caused the infection reproduction number to rise above the key target health officials have set to keep COVID-19 under control.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/reopening-sees-infection-leap-above-key-safety-target-20200515-p54tbc
Richard Ackland looks at the deafening silence form the Pell boosters after the release of the previously redacted sections of the Royal Commission report.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/diary/2020/05/16/gadfly-quiet-church-mouth/15895512009843
The big financial institutions are predicting a huge slump in residential property prices. But as the search for yield intensifies, gross rental returns on investment properties are attractive says Christopher Joyce.
https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/why-the-housing-bears-are-wrong-20200514-p54t4i
Julia Baird says that nurses are crucial, and too often underestimated.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/crucial-professionals-too-often-underestimated-20200514-p54t6c.html
George Megalogenis writes that the wording was guarded, so it was easy to miss the implications when the announcement was made last Friday. But the Morrison government is quietly laying the groundwork to reopen the borders to international students even as it refuses to offer a lifeline to universities during the lockdown.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/foreign-students-show-morrison-at-his-most-flexible-and-stubborn-20200515-p54tfr.html
Enormous doses of stimulus spending are offering relief from coronavirus damage but their lifelong legacy of debt could seed future crises by hobbling economic growth and worsening poverty, especially in developing countries.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/who-is-going-to-pay-for-this-coronavirus-to-leave-a-legacy-of-unprecedented-global-debt-20200515-p54t7f.html
Rick Morton explores how Covid-19 has energised conspiracy theorists.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/media/2020/05/16/how-covid-19-energised-conspiracy-theorists/15895512009831
This is a bit concerning. Five US sailors on an aircraft carrier sidelined in Guam due to a COVID-19 outbreak have been diagnosed with the virus for the second time and have been taken off the ship.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/sailors-on-sidelined-aircraft-carrier-get-coronavirus-for-second-time-20200516-p54tj5.html
Mike Seccombe tells us how questions are being raised about the government’s National Covid-19 Coordination Commission – its appointees, purpose and ties to the fossil fuel industry – but the group’s chairman is offering no answers.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/05/16/national-covid-19-coordination-commission-scrutinised/15895512009844
Psychology professor John Malouff looks at what we have learned from this virus.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6756402/what-we-have-learned-from-this-virus/?cs=14258
It will be political suicide to start lecturing to Australians about “personal responsibility” as they try to recover from the economic disaster of the pandemic writes academic Lindy Edwards. She says corporate backers that have become too disconnected from the wider community have become a huge political liability for the Coalition.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/fend-for-yourself-people-a-tone-deaf-government-plays-dangerous-politics-20200514-p54sxg.html
The AMA’s Antonio Di Nio writes that people in the ACT are unbelievably fortunate to have choices as to how they exit the lockdown.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6757624/we-are-unbelievably-fortunate-to-have-choices-as-to-how-we-exit-lockdown/?cs=17318&utm_source=website&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews
The federal government wants to expand the surveillance, questioning and data access powers of the domestic spy agency, ASIO, putting two key pieces of legislation to a pared-down parliament during the Covid-19 crisis. Watchdog organisations are raising concerns about both bills, saying they are too broad and could contravene a range of rights writes Karen Middleton.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2020/05/16/dutton-pushing-new-asio-powers/15895512009840
Peter FitzSimons says that some of the adulation directed to Alan Jones has gone over the top.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/give-alan-jones-more-respect-put-a-sock-in-it-poido-20200515-p54teq.html
Killian Plastow reports that Australia’s Industry Super Funds have earmarked close to $30 billion for infrastructure projects as part of a plan to drive the nation’s economic recovery and grow members’ savings.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/superannuation/2020/05/15/super-funds-28-billion-recovery/
Anthony Galloway tells us that thousands of Australian defence manufacturing jobs have been thrown into doubt by Trump’s threat to end offshore manufacturing of parts of the Joint Strike Fighter. He says that our government are not too concerned. We shall see, I suppose.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/trump-puts-thousands-of-australian-jobs-at-risk-with-f-35-jet-threat-20200515-p54tf0.html
“It’s all the fault of the public servants!”, bleats Bridget McKenzie.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6758552/bridget-mckenzie-says-public-servants-dropped-the-ball-on-sports-grants/?cs=14350
The editorial in The Saturday Paper says, “Jones is the end of something. Media will not again invest so much power in one person. Nor will politicians. Audiences are too fragmented. Networks are too weak. The influence he had was illusory, held over from a time when his ratings meant more and the residents of what he called Struggle Street could help win elections.”
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/editorial/2020/05/16/radio-silenced/15895512009838
The Conversation explains the positives and negatives of mass testing for coronavirus.
https://theconversation.com/the-positives-and-negatives-of-mass-testing-for-coronavirus-137792
Far-reaching powers impinging on human rights that are enacted by governments in the name of responding to coronavirus will be difficult to wind back, world-leading lawyer, Amal Clooney, has warned.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6758123/coronavirus-related-powers-will-be-hard-to-roll-back-clooney/?cs=14350
Hospitals will be under pressure to clear a backlog of elective surgery that is likely to take as long as 18 months to clear, as the nation’s Chief Health Officer gave the green light for surgeons to resume all non-urgent operations.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/coronavirus-hospitals-facing-18month-backlog-of-elective-surgery/news-story/0a282dc332aca788bf6c432c7ce380a3
After weeks of relative optimism in financial markets about a re-opening of frozen economies, a gloom has descended once again writes Mike Dolan.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/increasingly-gloomier-dark-clouds-return-as-world-braces-for-longer-and-deeper-economic-hit-20200515-p54t7b.html
More than $11bn has been sapped from the country’s superannuation funds, as deteriorating economic conditions sparked by the coronavirus pandemic pushes more than a million Australians into financial hardship.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wealth/billions-lost-in-superannuation-as-coronavirus-crisis-hits-aussie-households/news-story/bac78bbd65ae7caae8ae7ef1464dd522
Elizabeth Farrelly rejoices the legacy of Jack Mundey.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/let-s-revive-the-larrikin-spirit-of-mundey-and-leplastrier-to-secure-our-future-20200514-p54sw1.html
Mirvac, an $8 billion property juggernaut, is claiming the JobKeeker subsidy. Michael West reports on large corporations rorting taxpayers by pocketing their employees’ PAYG tax while avoiding their obligation to pay entitlements to workers they have sacked.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/marvellous-mirvac-8-billion-property-developer-rorts-jobkeeper-scheme/
Adele Ferguson begins this contribution with, “Obfuscation, weasel words and a lot of unanswered questions. That sums up a Senate hearing into Alinta Energy over the “reckless” treatment of the personal information of its 1.1 million customers.”
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/alinta-still-to-meet-firb-conditions-as-privacy-investigation-underway-20200515-p54th7.html
The Federal Government’s $48 million spend on a pandemic mental health plan falls well short of what’s needed to prevent a looming mental health disaster, a leading expert says.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/wellbeing/2020/05/15/coronavirus-mental-health-plan/
70% of people surveyed said they’d download a coronavirus app. Only 44% did. Why the gap wonders this phalanx of academics.
https://theconversation.com/70-of-people-surveyed-said-theyd-download-a-coronavirus-app-only-44-did-why-the-gap-138427
Every dollar spent in rugby league is being clawed back, even the cents spent on referees. But one stakeholder is set up to do very nicely. It’s gambling, says Malcolm Knox.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/gambling-s-share-of-nrl-revenue-could-well-double-that-brings-power-20200515-p54tbg.html
The worthiness of the world’s billionaires has been tested by recent crises including responses to the coronavirus pandemic, writes Dr Lee Duffield.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/covid-19-pandemic-has-drawn-attention-to-the-billionaire-class,13896
Yet another NSW council behaving badly.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-minister-urged-by-colleague-to-investigate-untenable-situation-20200515-p54tf4.html
Brad Olsen writes that ty taking out a mortgage against the economy, the government is investing in jobs and our economic recovery.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/15/the-budget-has-given-new-zealand-an-opportunity-it-cant-afford-to-squander
How long until Johnson’s vote-winning optimism collides with reality asks Andy Beckett.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/15/boris-johnson-votewinning-optimism-reality-ronald-reagan-half-truths
The highly respected medical journal, The Lancet. decries Trump’s “inconsistent and incoherent national response” to the novel coronavirus pandemic and accused the administration of relegating the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to a “nominal” role.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/lancet-editorial-blasts-trumps-inconsistent-and-incoherent-coronavirus-response-20200516-p54tj4.html
Trump suffers covidiocy, but don’t write him off yet writes Greg Sheridan.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/trump-suffers-covidiocy-but-dont-write-him-off-yet/news-story/68b26483c71507606f00c4a24163428e
Matthew Knot reports that a top US health official turned whistleblower has painted a damning picture of the Trump administration’s early response to the coronavirus, telling Congress he believes hospital workers died because of a failure to procure enough surgical masks at the beginning of the pandemic.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/completely-decimated-sacked-whistleblower-recalls-ominous-email-20200515-p54t7g.html
Nomination for “Hypocrite of the Year” goes to our own Joe Hockey!
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2020/05/15/joe-hockey-is-off-to-macquarie/
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Alan Moir
David Pope
Matt Golding
Sean Leahy
Jon Kudelka
Peter Broelman
John Shakespeare
Jim Pavlidis
Tim Beor
Simon Letch
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Jo Benke
Johannes Leak
https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/125dd470daf059324c9ffeb8af5e73c5?width=1024
From the US
FMD Trump has been watching Star Trek again. After his talking about ‘Super Duper missiles’ he has just announced ‘Operation Warp Speed’ . A push for a vaccine.
Kevin finally realises the ABC, especially the 7 pm news, has been hopelessly biased for years. Did he never notice the standard opening while Abbott was LOTO – “The Leader of the Opposition says ……”? Or was he too busy sulking about being dethroned?
Things we now know about the virus –
A town that has not had any cases for over a month can suddenly become the site of a cluster of infections, all coming from one person whp picked up the infection in Brisbane and took it home.
Rockhampton nurse with coronavirus in close contact with more than 30 people, nursing home in lockdown
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-15/coronavirus-queensland-rockhampton-case-nursing-home/12248336
People who have had the virus can get it again.
Sailors on sidelined aircraft carrier get coronavirus for second time
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/sailors-on-sidelined-aircraft-carrier-get-coronavirus-for-second-time-20200516-p54tj5.html
Two weeks of quarantine is not enough.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2020/may/15/coronavirus-australia-live-news-mental-health-pandemic-plan-scott-morrison-economic-nsw-qld-victoria-national-cabinet-latest-updates?page=with:block-5ebdf7338f08d99d46a1739f#liveblog-navigation
And despite all that people are rushing back to pubs and heading to cafes for breakfast with many failing to keep up their social distancing.
Now Dennis Atkins has escaped from NewsCorpse and gone freelance he can say what he really thinks.
This article is excellent, although he is just telling us what we already knew – every time the CrimeMinister opens his mouth he lies.
We’re off to our first social outing since February. Grandson’s 17th birthday dinner. Just across the road, but it feels like a huge event for us.
Going to a family party now really is a huge event.
My youngest grand-daughter’s 2nd birthday is next week, there will be some sort of celebration at No 1 Son’s place (minutes away in the car). I’m invited of course but they haven’t worked out the details yet. I have only left the house for medical appointments and two trips to the supermarket since February.
Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/may/16/coronavirus-live-news-us-deaths-headed-for-100000-by-june-brazil-health-minister-resigns
America, you’re standing in Dictatorshit.
Someone doesn’t do: “Don’t you know who I am?”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2020/may/16/coronavirus-live-news-us-deaths-headed-for-100000-by-june-brazil-health-minister-resigns
Says a lot about the person who turned them away.
It had a ‘happy’ ending, a LOL at the image of the staffer chasing after them
.
Joey 🧜🏻♂️
@reinvention
· 23h
Omg Jacinda Ardern just tried to come into Olive and was rejected cause it’s full. 💀
Clarke Gayford
@NZClarke
I have to take responsibility for this, I didn’t get organized and book anywhere. Was very nice of them to chase us down st when a spot freed up. A+ service.
1,385
11:29 AM – May 16, 2020
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12332448
The test mice are out
Dortmund get the ball rolling! God speed, everyone.
I see you like cryptic crosswords, tlbd. I’ll have to ponder your clue. 🙂
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
David Crowe assesses the Morrison government one year on.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/one-year-on-how-the-morrison-government-has-performed-20200515-p54tdn.html
Eryk Bagshaw goes to the questions an independent inquiry into the coronavirus must answer.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/the-questions-an-independent-inquiry-into-the-coronavirus-must-answer-20200514-p54t4e.html
The editorial in The Age says we have been left with a tableau of Australian life in the Year 2020. Frozen in time. And we have a rare opportunity to stand back and study exactly how we are constituted, before time restarts and it all changes again.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/a-chance-to-rethink-immigration-20200516-p54tlb.html
Hundreds of thousands of Sydneysiders will have to find other ways to get to work over the coming weeks as the government looks set to impose strict controls on the public transport network.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/carmageddon-thousands-of-sydneysiders-to-be-pushed-off-public-transport-20200515-p54tgi.html
Despite the horror of Australia’s unemployment numbers, we haven’t reached the bottom yet declares Greg Jericho.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/commentisfree/2020/may/17/despite-the-horror-of-australias-unemployment-numbers-we-havent-reached-the-bottom-yet
Daniel Hurst writes that Australia has been quietly making its influence felt at the World Health Organisation, even as political leaders call for major changes to its operations. He says Australia is serving a three-year term on the WHO’s executive board and has used the position to push for global action on cervical cancer and reducing preventable blindness.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/16/australia-making-its-presence-felt-at-who-while-backing-calls-for-major-reform
Katharine Murphy reports that Jim Chalmers has said that if the Morrison government is serious about kickstarting the economy after the coronavirus, it will seek bipartisan agreement with Labor on a new energy policy, and end the decade long climate wars.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/16/labor-calls-for-end-to-decade-long-barney-on-climate-wars-in-post-pandemic-recovery
The success of the National Cabinet’s operation during the pandemic could be a model for a better type of government, writes John Wren in his weekly roundup.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/wrens-week-national-cabinet-should-be-a-model-for-government-reform,13899
Adelaide Oval’s new hotel could be the catalyst to secure the entire Test series against India in a move that would open up trade, education and tourism opportunities.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/controversial-adelaide-oval-hotel-could-lure-india-test-series/news-story/0a106018a29d40738959df7ef6233366
Was Australia right to shut down to slow coronavirus? The economists’ verdict is that the lockdown wins handsomely.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/17/was-australia-right-to-shut-down-to-slow-coronavirus-the-economists-verdict
Cait Kelly writes that as states and territories begin the first stage of relaxing lockdown measures some Australians have chosen to flout the rules and head out to party.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2020/05/17/coronavirus-social-restrictions-australia/
Farmers have been plunged into uncertainty by China’s foreign investment strategy as its hunger for Australian food wanes reports Mike Foley.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/farmer-turmoil-as-china-s-hunger-for-australia-wanes-20200515-p54tiq.html
Dennis Atkins says that there too many inconvenient truths for Morrison to uncomfortably deny.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2020/05/16/coronavirus-sports-rorts/
Jess Irvine tells us how much we’ve saved by not eating out or having holidays.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/this-is-how-much-you-ve-saved-by-not-eating-out-or-having-holidays-20200515-p54tas.html
Peter FitzSimons has a lovely story in his weekend column. And he gives The Parrot another serve.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/farewell-to-a-good-friend-taken-by-coronavirus-20200515-p54tho.html
And John Lord sees off Alan Jones – a rat from the feral right.
https://theaimn.com/alan-jones-a-rat-from-the-feral-right/
Tim Richards has discovered some unexpected pleasures he has found during the lockdown. He intends to keep some going.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/wellbeing/2020/05/16/coronavirus-lockdown-life-lessons/
The departure of two public figures who have made comments involving violence against women could be viewed as a time for advocates to rejoice, but it’s not, laments Wendy Touhy.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/maybe-mocking-violence-against-women-isn-t-so-acceptable-after-all-20200515-p54tgq.html
Taxation expert Stephen Hamilton says that the scheme is flawed but JobKeeper promises need to be honoured. This quite an informative contribution,
https://www.smh.com.au/national/scheme-is-flawed-but-jobkeeper-promises-need-to-be-honoured-20200515-p54tcd.html
The US House of Representatives on Friday narrowly approved a $US3 trillion bill crafted by Democrats to provide more aid for battling the coronavirus and stimulating a faltering economy. But Trump doesn’t like it of course.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/coronavirus-pandemic-us-house-passes-3-trillion-heroes-act-aid-bill-opposed-by-trump-20200516-p54tki.html
Inspectors-General are an endangered species in Trump’s America – especially if they are doing their job!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/16/steve-linick-state-department-official-investigating-pompeo-is-fired
Cartoon Corner
Matt Golding
Reg Lynch
Jim Pavlidis
Matt Davidson
From the US