Why has Gladys allowed the cricket to have spectators? Was she pushed into that decision by Tony Shepherd and the other old white men of the SCG Trust?
Another thing about the cricket – the media and every politician in NSW keeps blathering on about 24,000 people, half the normal 48,000 capacity of the SCG. That’s just for one day. The 3rd test goes for five days with the last day being the main fundraiser for the McGrath Foundation. Not everyone wants to or can afford to attend every day of a test .Do the maths. Work out the potential audience. It could well be a huge super-spreader event. No wonder Gladys has taken the week off.
That’s not all. There are two BBL series at the SCG and the Showground Stadium scheduled for January 13- 26. It has not yet been decided if spectators will be allowed.
This is a yet another flagrant example of Gladeyes’ preferencing her own political career over the well-being of New South Wales AND the rest of Australia.
Despicable doesn’t even begin to describe her behaviour.
THE PUB 
“Australia risks skating past difficult questions of right-wing extremism in favour of a haphazard fight over who can say what on the internet, writes Ariel Bogle”
Spot on! (And I say that fully aware Ms Bogle is a member of ASPI.)
We are now having a debate, urged on by our mostly right-wing media, about who can say what on social media when we should be looking at the rise of right-wing extremism in Australia. It’s almost as if the MSM doesn’t want us to talk about weak PMs or idiots in the government who are allowed free reign to spread ridiculous conspiracy theories. Surely they wouldn’t do that deliberately? Well, yes they would.
It would be easy for Australian right-wing groups to try the same tactics as those in America. It is accepted theory to say our electoral system protects us, but does it really? When you look at the MSM pile-on in 2019 against Bill Shorten and Labor you realise we are already most of the way there. Yes, it is possible to steal an election in Australia if you have the media on your side. There is a good case for arguing the last election was stolen by the CrimeMinister and his one man band, no policies at all campaign because the MSM, dominated by right-wing owners, chose to support him.
Chris Hayes –
Rachel Maddow –
friendlyjordies –
Sub –
R M sub –
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Yet Toyota has paid back $18 million in Jobkeeper payments after having strong sales.
https://www.caradvice.com.au/915084/toyota-to-pay-back-18-million-in-jobkeeper-subsidies-report/
Yeah. Nah
Being idiots helps
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/jan/13/donald-trump-impeachment-nancy-pelosi-joe-biden-mike-pence-congress-covid-coronavirus-live-updates
Honestly,
representatives who avoid the metal detectors should be ejected from the building – so they can’t vote
Or refuse to count their vote
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
John Hewson writes that the weaknesses of the federation have been compounded by the Morrison government abrogating its clear national responsibility for both quarantine and aged care, leaving both to each of the states to respond in their own terms. As usual, Hewson makes many valid points.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-nation-divided-border-problems-bring-home-our-states-of-disarray-20210113-p56ts8.html
David Crowe tells us that at least the CMO chose to discredit the BS coming from Craig Kelly.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/chief-medical-officer-slaps-down-craig-kelly-s-covid-19-theories-20210113-p56tuq.html
And Josh Butler reports that government health officials have rubbished federal MP Craig Kelly for using “low quality” research with “significant methodological concerns”, in his maverick quest to champion a debunked COVID treatment first promoted by Donald Trump.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2021/01/14/craig-kelly-covid-hydroxychloroquine-coronavirus/
Anne Davies writes that residents in Craig Kelly’s Sydney electorate of Hughes have reacted angrily to their MP accusing Facebook of censorship, saying he regularly blocks constituents from his page when they disagree with his climate change denialism and advocacy of unproven treatments for Covid-19.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/14/craig-kelly-decries-censorship-but-blocks-dissenting-voices-from-his-facebook-page-constituents-say
Samantha Dick examines the dog whistling and the hypocrisy behind George Christensen’s free speech crusade.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2021/01/14/dog-whistling-free-speech-trump/
Corporate America is frantically distancing itself from Donald Trump in the dying days of his presidency after spending four years financing him, enjoying his tax giveaways, his attacks on workers and gutting of regulations to fatten corporate profits. Elizabeth Minter reports on the rank hypocrisy, even extending to Scott Morrison’s top adviser on Covid-19 economic recovery.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/donald-trump-deserted-by-corporate-funders-now-regulations-are-gutted-and-tax-breaks-banked/
The government is racing to secure more vaccines but staring down its AstraZeneca critics.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/government-races-to-secure-more-vaccines-but-stares-down-astrazeneca-critics-20210113-p56tv8.html
Bevan Shields reports that AUSTRAC has issued a grovelling apology after accidentally telling Parliament that the Vatican transferred $2.3 billion to Australia over seven years when the actual amount was less than $10 million.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/austrac-claimed-the-vatican-wired-2-3-billion-to-australia-the-true-figure-was-9-5-million-20210113-p56txc.html
Osman Faruqi is concerned about the way Australia is going, as exemplified by the comments from senior government ministers on recent events in the US.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/comments-reveal-dark-underbelly-of-australian-politics-20210113-p56tt6.html
In a long argumentation, Wayne Swan says our democracy is fragile, and the Liberal Party’s embrace of Trumpism puts Australia in danger.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2021/01/14/democracy-trump-morrison-australia/
Chloe Booker tells us that industrial lawyers are saying that Victorian workers who want to shun the office and keep working from home have little in the way of legal recourse to refuse such a direction from their employer.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/people-will-need-to-comply-no-right-to-refuse-return-to-office-call-lawyers-say-20210112-p56tjh.html
John Kehoe writes that the stockpiling of more than $200 billion has given the government confidence there is plenty of firepower to drive the economic recovery as stimulus spending winds down.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/the-200b-savings-war-chest-to-drive-economic-recovery-20210113-p56tul
Australia has huge growth in job vacancies, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to find one explains Greg Jericho.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2021/jan/14/australia-has-huge-growth-in-job-vacancies-but-that-doesnt-mean-its-easy-to-find-one
Jennifer Duke reports that Paul Keating has hit out at a federal government proposal to allow workers to put some of their superannuation into their take-home pay, lashing the idea as “ideological” and driven by “zealot” backbenchers. Quite understandable.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/paul-keating-lashes-federal-government-for-considering-opt-in-superannuation-20210113-p56tpv.html
“Is Scott Morrison a Donald Trump lite?”, asks The AIMN’s Rosemary J36.
https://theaimn.com/is-scott-morrison-a-donald-trump-lite/
Victoria, Queensland and NSW are managing Covid outbreaks in their own ways. All are world-standard, writes Hassan Vally for The Conversation.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/13/victoria-queensland-and-nsw-are-managing-covid-outbreaks-in-their-own-ways-all-are-world-standard
According to The Australian, Beijing has instructed the owners of more than $1bn of banned Australian coal to find new buyers outside China, as President Xi Jinping’s administration scuttles the $14bn export trade and ramps up pressure on the Morrison government.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/we-wont-take-your-coal-says-beijing/news-story/9b212639f492e53cc79da67d9475cf88
Patrick Durkin reports that Rod Sims is vowing to launch a regulatory war against tech giants Google, Apple and Facebook this year, warning they pose a danger to consumers and the competition landscape.
https://www.afr.com/technology/accc-goes-into-battle-against-facebook-apple-and-google-20201221-p56pe6
JobKeeper can’t be forever but is needed a little longer, urges Jess Irvine.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/jobkeeper-can-t-be-forever-but-is-needed-a-little-longer-20210113-p56tsh.html
The Small Business Ombudsman says a proposal to offer HECS-style loans to struggling small businesses after JobKeeper ends will be presented to the government.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/small-business-groups-want-hecs-style-loans-after-jobkeeper-ends-20210113-p56ttb.html
Daniel Grollo’s multimillion-dollar penthouse apartment in the Eureka tower in Melbourne may be on the auction block as the true extent of the property development mogul’s financial woes emerged in a Grocon creditor’s meeting yesterday.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/creditors-target-daniel-grollos-luxury-apartment-as-grocons-woes-grow/news-story/b250c95848e7300187c85d08f319dd2a
Patrick Hatch writes that Alan Joyce says Australia only has room for two major airlines and it is unlikely both Virgin and new rival Rex will survive a post-pandemic dogfight.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/qantas-boss-alan-joyce-predicts-virgin-and-rex-won-t-both-survive-post-pandemic-battle-20210113-p56tvh.html
Epidemiologist, Professor Greg Dore, says we cannot delay the vaccine rollout and risk major illness in winter.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-cannot-delay-vaccine-rollout-and-risk-major-illness-in-winter-20210113-p56tqz.html
Internet search giant Google has admitted that it has been intermittently blocking some Australian news sites from search users.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/google-admits-to-removing-local-news-content-in-experiment-20210113-p56tux.html
The Conversation tells us how China is controlling the COVID origins narrative, silencing critics and locking up dissenters.
https://theconversation.com/how-china-is-controlling-the-covid-origins-narrative-silencing-critics-and-locking-up-dissenters-152751
There is a lot of focus on the contribution social media has made to America’s current political crisis, writes Paul Budde.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/social-media-fueled-the-capitol-insurrection–but-it-wasnt-the-sole-cause,14689
Trump Is blowing apart the Republican Party. God bless him, says Thomas Friedman.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-is-blowing-apart-the-republican-party-god-bless-him-20210113-p56twr.html
The Washington Post explains why it thinks the Republicans are close to losing Georgia for good.
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/republicans-are-close-to-losing-georgia-for-good-20210114-p56txj
Political unrest within the White House led to a domestic terrorism event some in the media have compared to the attack on Pearl Harbour, writes Dr Lee Duffield.
Political unrest within the White House led to a domestic terrorism event some in the media have compared to the attack on Pearl Harbour, writes Dr Lee Duffield.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/6-january-2021-americas-new-day-of-infamy,14690
New York City will terminate business contracts with Donald Trump after last week’s insurrection at the US Capitol, adding to the list of companies that are extricating themselves from him and his organisation.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/new-york-city-to-terminate-trump-contracts-after-capitol-insurrection-20210114-p56txi.html
Cartoon Corner
Peter Broelman
Cathy Wilcox
David Rowe
Alan Moir
Matt Golding
Andrew Dyson
Johannes Leak
From the US
Trump has been impeached for a second time.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/jan/13/donald-trump-impeachment-nancy-pelosi-joe-biden-mike-pence-congress-covid-coronavirus-live-updates
Utterly delusional.
The abc news 24 strapline is
TRUMP IMPEACHED OVER RIOTS
should read
TRUMP IMPEACHED FOR SEDITION
Went walking with the Malvern ladies who think Scomo is doing a good job and Dictator Dan is horrible so I was really annoyed listening to the Dan Andrews press conference on Facebook ( I h8 Facebook) to catch his response to a question about why does Victoria continue to use hotel quarantine when its risky
Federal government will not allow ADF barracks be used for quarantine
except in Northern Territory where Howard Springs is an ADF facility
at 44 minutes
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=503015470850287&ref=search
Chris Hayes (first half hour or so) –
Anderson Cooper (first half hour or so) –
Seth Meyers –
Rachel Maddow –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Jonathan Pie
Stephen Colbert –
For fans of The West Wing – a very long thread.
Well worth reading.
Funny thing though – I’ve had weird urges to watch the entire series lately. Not hard to do – No 1 Son and I bought the whole DVD set ages ago. I suppose a fictional America seems a lot better than the dire reality we now have to face.
Both later reversed. Maley is a twit.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jan/14/abc-reverses-editorial-decisions-on-capitol-breach-and-craig-kelly-covid-posts
That sort of “correctness” reminds me of
Ronni Salt did a very good thread on Mark Maley earlier today.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Australians are being promised a two-stage strategy to protect the population from COVID-19 under a federal commitment to pursue herd immunity while making vaccines available as soon as possible. Another announcement?
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pursuing-herd-immunity-australia-s-two-stage-strategy-to-protect-community-20210114-p56u6a.html
The editorial in the SMH says that the real confusion about vaccines comes from the Morrison government’s own ranks. Too right it does!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-real-confusion-about-vaccines-comes-from-the-morrison-government-s-own-ranks-20210114-p56u6n.html
And the AAP reports that voters in controversial Morrison government MP Craig Kelly’s NSW electorate are brewing plans to run an independent candidate against the backbencher at the next federal poll.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7086229/nsw-group-plots-plan-to-oust-craig-kelly/?cs=14329
Vaccine deniers are a minority in Australia, but a successful rollout hinges on facts and honesty, writes Tom Aechtner.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/14/vaccine-deniers-are-a-minority-in-australia-but-a-successful-rollout-hinges-on-facts-and-honesty
Record daily German COVID-19 death tolls have sparked Angela Merkel’s ‘mega-lockdown plan’.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/record-daily-german-covid-19-death-toll-sparks-merkel-mega-lockdown-plan-20210115-p56u94.html
Cait Kelly reports that a leading health expert has said that the federal government must step in and take over management of hotel quarantine or risk further coronavirus lockdowns. Good luck with that!
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2021/01/15/hotel-quarantine-australia-coronavirus/
Australians have just had a reminder that they are in a global queue for the best vaccines to shield them from COVID-19, and there is no easy way to jump to the front, writes David Crowe.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-we-needed-more-shots-in-the-quest-for-a-vaccine-20210114-p56tzx.html
Immunisation expert Peter McIntyre argues that scientists are wrong to claim the AstraZeneca vaccine is a “second-best option” and its rollout should be paused.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/comparing-vaccines-is-tricky-especially-at-warp-speed-20210114-p56tzn.html
An unimpressed Liam Mannix says that the government’s refusal to answer simple questions leaves a vaccine vacuum.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/government-s-refusal-to-answer-simple-questions-leaves-vaccine-vacuum-20210114-p56u26.html
NSW cases of the highly transmissible coronavirus variant have doubled within a week but Health Minister Brad Hazzard is confident the state’s current quarantine system can handle the more contagious strain, reports Mary Ward.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-s-mutant-coronavirus-strain-cases-double-in-a-week-20210114-p56u4s.html
IOOF are never far away from troubles.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/senior-ioof-executive-accused-of-inappropriate-touching-in-unfair-dismissal-claim-20210114-p56u0h.html
With insolvency protections being wound back and JobKeeper ending in just two months, accountants are being prepared to deal with a wave of traumatised small business owners who have to wind up, writes Emilia Terzon for The New Daily.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/small-business/2021/01/14/insolvencies-covid-australia/
Josh Frydenberg has warned Google it should be paying Australian news websites, not banning them from search results, after the company admitted to intermittently blocking some content.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pay-for-content-don-t-block-it-frydenberg-warns-google-over-news-results-20210114-p56u48.html
Drumroll … trumpets, red carpet: we are rolling out Australia’s Top 40 Tax Dodgers for 2021. Michael West unveils the villains and the heroes of the tax scene, including new gongs this year for Lifetime Achievement Award and UnAustralian of the Year.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/revealed-australias-top-40-tax-dodgers-for-2021/
Nick Toscano reports that the Chinese government has rejected pleas from its own steel industry to lift bans on Australian coal cargoes, keeping dozens of ships holding 8 million tonnes of the commodity stranded offshore.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/beijing-rebuffed-pleas-from-chinese-steelmakers-to-lift-ban-on-australian-coal-20210114-p56u0c.html
Recent Australian government attempts to seek retribution against China’s trade bans and restrictions are looking increasingly like own goals, suggests Elizabeth Knight who reckons our diplomatic divorce with China is getting more expensive.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/australia-s-diplomatic-divorce-with-china-is-getting-more-expensive-20210114-p56u5n.html
Requests for information and documents from the environment department and related agencies are becoming increasingly delayed, redacted, refused and more costly, a new analysis has shown. The opacity of this government is beyond a joke!
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7085970/environment-information-requests-stifled-conservationists-say/?cs=14350
More on this from The Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/15/australias-freedom-of-information-regime-labelled-dysfunctional-in-scathing-audit
The AFR’s Tom Richardson writes that the acceleration of the structural shift away from credit to debit card usage could spell a “bloodbath” for credit cards as buy now, pay later companies snatch market share from traditional payment heavyweights.
https://www.afr.com/markets/equity-markets/buy-now-pay-later-growth-heralds-credit-card-bloodbath-20210112-p56tfm
Staff at the Australian offices of the big four consultancies face the same “brutal” work hours as those described in a viral email leaked from EY’s Hong Kong office last week, according to past and present employees.
https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/borderline-slavery-staff-lambast-brutal-hours-at-big-four-consultancies-20210114-p56tz9
Luke Henriques-Gomes reports that the mother of a child with special needs has won a two-year battle against Services Australia after the agency demanded she pay back more than $27,000 in carer’s payments. The AAT had a bit to say about Centrelink’s treatment of the lady.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/15/woman-wins-two-year-battle-with-centrelink-after-it-demanded-she-pay-back-27000
As Josh Frydenberg ponders the corporate regulator’s future leadership personnel and structure, a big question hanging over the Treasurer is whether a lawyer or an economist should lead the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, writes John Kehoe.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/should-a-black-letter-lawyer-or-light-touch-economist-lead-asic-20210106-p56s1f
The global pandemic has helped increase the wealth of some of the world’s richest billionaires who used philanthropy for political gain, writes Professor Carl Rhodes.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/pandemic-profiteers-go-woke-to-grab-political-power,14693
The AIMN’s “Grumpy Geezer” tells us how the Trumpists are thriving in Oz.
https://theaimn.com/the-trumpists-are-thriving-in-oz/
Lisa Cox reveals that Chevron’s Western Australia LNG plant is facing calls to shut down until its faulty carbon capture system is fixed.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/15/western-australia-lng-plant-faces-calls-to-shut-down-until-faulty-carbon-capture-system-is-fixed
Matthew Kean has written an op-ed in which he tells us why Twitter was right in banning Trump. Kean has a lot going for him – a potential leader of the NSW Liberal Party perhaps?
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/twitter-was-right-to-ban-donald-trump-20210113-p56twa.html
As the ugliness that is the United States insurgence continues to unfold, many Australians remain secure in their complacency that it could never happen here, warns Michelle Pini.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/morrison-crew-backs-capitol-coup,14696
The Associated Press tells us that, enduring his second impeachment, Trump stands largely silent and alone. A fitting end.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/enduring-second-impeachment-trump-stands-largely-silent-and-alone-20210115-p56u91.html
And Mitch McConnell’s openness to convicting Donald Trump in a US Senate impeachment trial is a seismic signal to his caucus that could prod other Republicans to break with the President in the coming days and weeks. An even more fitting end perhaps.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/mcconnell-s-signal-to-republicans-could-open-floodgates-against-trump-20210114-p56u2l.html
Matthew Knott says his double impeachment a permanent stain, but Trump still gets off lightly.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/double-impeachment-a-permanent-stain-but-trump-still-gets-off-lightly-20210114-p56u0v.html
Graham Richardson sums up Trump by writing, “Donald Trump was never up to the task. He was a wealthy bogan with no knowledge of economics outside the construction industry. He was not well read, knew only how to shoot from the hip, and had no sense of occasion. He let America down.”
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/trumps-brand-of-politics-needed-division-to-thrive/news-story/72aa890a76c8f6ed89284ce7fc6fda4e
The Washington Post’s Karen Tumulty writes that Trump’s stench will cling to Republicans long after he’s gone.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trumps-stench-will-cling-to-republicans-long-after-hes-gone-20210114-p56u4c.html
By staying above the fray, the next president of the United States is exhibiting the deliberate approach to politics that became the trademark of his march to the White House.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/biden-tries-to-stay-above-the-fray-as-trump-is-impeached-over-riot-20210114-p56u3u.html
A second impeachment is just the start of Trump’s legal woes, explains Professor Thomas Klassen.
https://theconversation.com/a-second-impeachment-is-just-the-start-of-trumps-legal-woes-153036
Cartoon Corner
Peter Broelman
Simon Letch
Cathy Wilcox
David Rowe
Matt Golding
Andrew Dyson
Glen Le Lievre
Johannes Leak
From the US
Good stuff from Jenna Price
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7086396/the-greater-your-voice-the-greater-your-responsibility-not-to-harm/
Not good, however you look at it
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/jan/14/donald-trump-impeachment-congress-senate-joe-biden-mitch-mcconnell-coronavirus-covid-live-updates
Good on the Refugee Council of Australia!
Is Pete planning to become a senator?
We already have more than enough loons and nutters in the Senate.
Someone is telling porkies.
Yesterday Nine ran a story telling us CSL was interested in manufacturing the Novavax vaccine but could not do it until it had finished making the AstraZeneca vaccine, probably at the end of the year.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/we-do-not-have-capacity-to-make-the-novavax-vaccine-says-csl-20210114-p56u1a.html
That article contained a little gem of information, a quote from a spokeswoman for CSL –
So the first doeses of that vaccine will not be available until April at the earliest.
Today David Crowe and Liam Mannix told us this –
That is not what Grunt has been telling us. He insists all Australians will be immunised by October with those who get the Pfizer vaccine immunised by the end of March.
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/doorstop-interview-on-12-january-2021
So who is lying to us? Who is telling us we will all receive a vaccine by October when clearly that is not going to be possible? And who has left ordering vaccines until far too late, meaning Australia is stuck with a possibly inferior variety? Looks very much as if all who get the AstraZeneca vaccine (around 20 million of us) will need to be re-immunised next year when a better vaccine becomes available.
I would prefer to wait.
Surely the CrimeMinister realises this – or you’d think he would.
Maybe he assumed his BFF Trump would be there to protect him.
Seth Meyers –
Chris Hayes –
friendlyjordies –
Anderson Cooper –
Nanna Power – The Story of the Gloucester Knitting Nannas.
OMG! I used to work with a knitting nanna
Rachel Maddow –
Lenore writes well; as usuall
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2021/jan/15/indulging-craig-kelly-misinformation-is-a-threat-to-australias-health-politically-as-well-as-literally
Jimmy Kimmel –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Watching BTC vid I was reminded of this song –
Stephen Colbert –
So that’s where he has been lurking.
Scott Morrison pays a visit to the Shoalhaven Heads Hotel
https://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/7087401/holidaying-pm-drops-into-the-shoalhaven-heads-hotel/?cs=203
Leone,
Does he have an addiction to “dropping in” to hotels?
He definitely has an addiction to beer.
Leone,
As the beer belly, and the occasional *leakage*, attest.
The “dropping in” is more an addiction to photo shoots, I think. I wonder if the Love Machine enjoys sharing her family holiday with her husband’s photographer?
Are there any orders for love machines at Kirrabilly?
’twas ever thus
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2021/jan/15/coronavirus-live-news-hospitals-in-brazilian-state-at-breaking-point-amid-oxygen-shortage-global-deaths-near-2m
And here are we, OH and I, in the “Canberra bubble”, and totally from the pestilences. It won’t last, I know.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
David Crowe looks at how the conservative side of Australian politics is reassessing its adoration of Trump and his populist movement.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/trump-and-his-legacy-diminished-among-australian-conservatives-20210115-p56ufg.html
The national cabinet’s decision to slash international arrival caps has forced Emirates to axe all flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/devastation-doesn-t-begin-to-describe-it-emirates-suspends-vital-australian-routes-after-cap-cut-20210115-p56ujy.html
And Patrick Hatch explains how state border closures and the realisation vaccines won’t be a ticket to overseas travel has set back Qantas’ long recovery from COVID-19.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/grounded-qantas-stuck-on-the-tarmac-in-pandemic-recovery-journey-20210114-p56u4x.html
Deborah Snow writes that life for many Australians trapped abroad by caps on international arrivals has become a Kafkaesque nightmare.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/stranded-australians-desperate-to-come-home-as-political-buck-passing-continues-20210115-p56ubm.html
The editorial in the SMH says that the Australian Open should go ahead but it will be hard to enjoy if more is not done to bring stranded Aussies home.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/vip-treatment-for-tennis-highlights-plight-of-stranded-australians-20210115-p56uh8.html
The Victorian government is preparing a February 15 “V-Day” launch for the most potent COVID vaccine, with its newly formed local public health units to play a critical role in delivering the life-saving jab.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria-to-get-powerful-pfizer-vaccine-for-vulnerable-workers-in-weeks-20210115-p56uil.html
Just how ‘normal’ 2021 will be hinges on Australia’s Covid vaccination uptake, explains Greg Dore.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/15/just-how-normal-2021-will-be-hinges-on-australias-covid-vaccination-uptake
Indulging Craig Kelly’s misinformation is a threat to Australia’s health, politically as well as literally, declares Lenore Taylor.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2021/jan/15/indulging-craig-kelly-misinformation-is-a-threat-to-australias-health-politically-as-well-as-literally
“How many lies are too many lies?”, asks Jennifer Wilson.
https://theaimn.com/how-many-lies-are-too-many-lies/
Dennis Atkins tells us what Morrison’s cowardly response to the Capitol riots reveals. It’s not a flattering assessment.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2021/01/16/atkins-scott-morrison-unmasked/
Mike Foley reports that Victoria is copping criticism from farmers and the federal government over a lack of plans to fill the shortage in farm labourers, despite its commitments to bring overseas tennis players to the Australian Open and to accommodate international students. (Is it the problem that the pandemic has exposed the shit conditions and wages that have sustained the industry for years?)
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-about-farm-workers-victoria-s-tennis-tournament-smashed-by-farmers-minister-20210115-p56ufd.html
Liam Mannix describes the great vaccination debate where protection vs immunity is the choice.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/protection-versus-immunity-the-great-vaccination-debate-20210115-p56ud7.html
According to The Australian, some Liberal MPs are falling seriously short of fundraising targets ahead of a possible federal election this year — including a number who have failed to transfer any money to the head office account in more than 18 months.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/liberal-partys-fundraising-hole-as-poll-looms/news-story/7439661e334b621fc8011290c4b10a75
Peter van Onselen says that Morrison will win a 2022 election with the pandemic hiding the plethora of failures of his government.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/scott-morrison-manages-to-sidestep-failures-on-waltz-to-election/news-story/bfea6c61cf0a3533b1ff5f5d115b053f
Jenna Price reckons the argument over free speech has now extended into the farcical, and says that the greater in one’s voice, the greater is one’s responsibility not to harm.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7086396/the-greater-your-voice-the-greater-your-responsibility-not-to-harm/?cs=14258
Daniel Hurst says that, as stand-in leader, McCormack failed to take a stand in defence of truth and trust.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/16/as-stand-in-leader-mccormack-failed-to-take-a-stand-in-defence-of-truth-and-trust
Michael McGowan explains how Australia’s anti-terror regime has failed to rein in far-right extremists. Hmmm.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/16/how-australias-anti-terror-regime-has-failed-to-rein-in-far-right-extremists
Sean Kelly examines Morrison’s tiptoeing on indigenous affairs and wonders if they interest him at all.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/scott-morrison-tiptoes-forward-on-indigenous-issues-20210115-p56ubb.html
Daniel Hurst tells us that the Morrison government is considering launching an advertising campaign to sell its changes to workplace relations laws, after signing a new $200,000 contract for market research.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/16/coalition-lays-groundwork-for-advertising-campaign-to-spruik-workplace-relations-overhaul
Shadow industrial relations minister Tony Burke has warned that Australian workers may lose their penalty rates by the end of January 2022 – not via targeted cuts, but through knock-on effects previously outlined in Attorney-General Christian Porter’s industrial relations reform bills, writes William Olson.
https://theaimn.com/porters-bills-may-sink-boot-into-penalty-rates-warns-burke/
In an open letter, Greg Chappell urges the Australian captain to keep leading with courage and humour – and let the bat and ball do the talking. Fair enough, too!
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/dear-tim-i-learnt-from-my-mistakes-as-captain-and-i-have-no-doubt-you-will-too-20210115-p56uet.html
Sarah Danckert follows on from yesterday’s story saying that one of the nation’s most powerful investor groups is calling on corporate Australia to strengthen policies against misconduct following allegations of sexual harassment at wealth manager IOOF.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/significant-damage-powerful-investor-group-lashes-corporate-australia-amid-ioof-harassment-claims-20210115-p56uej.html
The Morrison government’s attitude to Chinese investment in Australia is confusing and will exacerbate the growing tensions over trade, China experts have warned.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2021/01/15/morrison-government-china-confusion/
The AFR’s William McInnes predicts the industries set to outperform in 2021.
https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/the-industries-set-to-outperform-in-2021-20210114-p56tzy
Jennifer Duke writes that lending for new home building hit a record high in November, buoyed by historic low interest rates, the $25,000 HomeBuilder grant and an improving national economy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/new-home-lending-hit-record-24-billion-in-november-20210115-p56uf5.html
More from Jennifer as she warns people that with superannuation choice there will be retirement consequences.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/with-superannuation-choice-there-will-be-retirement-consequences-20210112-p56tdr.html
Michael Pascoe believes we are in an ‘epic’ financial bubble, and it will inevitably pop.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/01/15/michael-pascoe-stockmarket-bubble/
The Australian’s resident angry old ideologue Gerard Henderson writes that in the wake of Trump’s January 6th efforts, the left has been selective in showing contempt and outrage.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/left-selective-in-showing-contempt-outrage/news-story/2dddf20dfd86840c71c3acdf21051252
As President Donald Trump exits the White House, Australians face a decision. We can choose to keep following America or we can choose to learn from its mistakes, says Parnell Palme McGuinness (who seems to have found her way into the Nine Media pages).
https://www.smh.com.au/national/don-t-want-an-australian-trump-now-s-the-time-to-choose-wisely-20210115-p56ubd.html
US history professor, Daniel Fleming, argues that, or the sake of American democracy, the United States Senate must find President Donald Trump guilty of “incitement of insurrection”.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7087962/the-us-senate-must-convict-donald-trump/?cs=14264&utm_source=website&utm_medium=home&utm_campaign=latestnews
Anne Summers writes that Joe Biden has recruited a battle-tested team to tackle the herculean tasks of rebuilding the economy, containing the pandemic while addressing the urgent issues of climate change and racial injustice.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/biden-s-new-cabinet-embraces-age-and-diversity-20210114-p56u7f.html
Jacob Greber outlines Biden’s plan to fix a broken America.
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/biden-s-plan-to-fix-a-broken-america-20210114-p56u63
The violent attack on the US Capitol has led to interest from wealthy Americans wanting to purchase property and move to the safety of Australia.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/as-the-us-capitol-was-attacked-wealthy-americans-eyed-sydney-real-estate-20210115-p56ufs.html
Impeachment or not, Trump’s grip on rank-and-file Republicans is strong and unlikely to slip, opines Smantha Dick.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/us-news/2021/01/15/impeachment-trump-republican-party/
Matthew Knott tells us that scholars are lining up to declare that Trump’s efforts to overturn his election defeat, as well as his response to COVID-19, have cemented his place as America’s worst president.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/is-donald-trump-the-worst-us-president-ever-historians-say-so-20210115-p56u9w.html
The Conversation explains why the alt-right believes another American Revolution is coming.
https://theconversation.com/why-the-alt-right-believes-another-american-revolution-is-coming-153093
An anti-tax group funded primarily by billionaires has emerged as one of the biggest backers of the Republican lawmakers who sought to overturn the US election results, according to an analysis by the Guardian.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/15/trump-republicans-election-defeat-club-for-growth
Trump climbed out of the ’80s trash can – and can do it again, writes Malcolm Knox.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-climbed-out-of-the-80s-trash-can-and-can-do-it-again-20210114-p56u6v.html
Documents lodged by federal prosecutors say the pro-Trump mob that stormed the US Capitol last week aimed to “capture and assassinate elected officials”.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/capitol-hill-mob-aimed-to-assassinate-elected-officials-prosecutors-say-20210116-p56uk5.html
The Dutch government has resigned amid an escalating scandal over child benefits in which more than 20,000 families were wrongly accused of fraud by the tax authority and has earned nomination for “Arseholes of the Week”.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/15/dutch-government-resigns-over-child-benefits-scandal
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Matt Golding
Andrew Dyson
Alan Moir
Mark David
Johannes leak
Joe Benke
Dionne Gain
Richard Gilberto
Simon Letch
From the US
Jair Bolsonaro says he “should be at the beach” after informing his people there is little he can do about The Plague and lying about when a vaccine will arrive.
Funny how that is so reminiscent of the behaviour of our own CrimeMinister, who really is at the beach, loafing and visiting pubs for photo ops while still refusing to accept responsibility for quarantine, still refusing to condemn the idiotic remarks from Kelly, Christensen, Rennick etc and still having his minions lie about the vaccine roll-out.
How nice to know Australia’s leader is on a par with the appalling Bolsonaro. Are they acting as role models for each other?
The sheer, utter stupidity of allowing the Australian Open to go ahead now becomes glaringly apparent.
Clearly someone allowed infected people onto that aircraft. Such are the risks of international travel now – everyone is at the mercy of humans who might not take all necessary precautions. An aircraft coming from Plague Central (the US) should never have been permitted to land here.
I know everyone needs to feel the world is returning to normal, even though it isn’t, but when our state and federal governments are prepared to put our health and Australia’s low infection rate at risk just so spoilt sports “stars” can parade around at the cricket or the tennis then we need to think again about whether or not we need to take such risks. Are sporting events, aka bread and circuses, really worth it?
. . . . or the infection bloomed during the flight
Caveats apply
Chris Hayes –
Rachel Maddow –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
He’s ba-ack –
New rules 46:05
Thanks CK
The panel discussion was excellent this week, Katie Couric always makes sense as did the radio announcer from Kentucky Both said that Republicans will need to reclaim the suburban women voter and think Nikki Haley will be their presidential nominee
Yet another announcement without any real plans?
So easy for the government to decide an area is not “priority” isn’t it.