Political Self-interest Couldn’t Give a Flying Fiddle

Fiona Uncategorized

From our formidable Lioness:

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.

455 thoughts on “Political Self-interest Couldn’t Give a Flying Fiddle”

  1. Have I looked at the Leak cartoon wrongly? It appears he is putting the onus on our idiot pm for the tennis stuff? Have to give him a gold star if he has finally got something right.

  2. OMG !! Johannes Leak does a cartoon skewering Scrott. Scotty in trouble with Mordor Media or an ‘accident’ ? 🙂

  3. The Murdoch media has been anti-Morrison for a while now, so you have to wonder why and ask who has Rupert chosen to replace him. You can bet it’s no-one from Labor.

  5. Where does this leave our Trump worshipping, climate change denying government?

    President Biden signed an order returning the United States to the Paris climate accord within hours of taking office. Biden in his inaugural address said the need for climate action couldn't be “any more desperate or any more clear.” https://t.co/1aLw0u5iov— The Associated Press (@AP) January 21, 2021

  7. Now, there’s irony!

    The home affairs minister, Peter Dutton, says the 50 men transferred to Australia under medevac legislation, who were being detained in hotels for the past 18 months were allowed onto bridging visas because it is “cheaper” to keep them in the community.

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/jan/21/coronavirus-tennis-dead-students-hecs-covid-19-nsw-queensland-australian-open-victoria#comment-146861900

    and a lot of bastardy.

  9. Today the CrimeMinister blathered on about the First Fleet and as usual he got it all wrong.

    He said “When those twelve ships turned up in Sydney……”
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-21/big-bash-league-indigenous-strips-australia-day/13077082

    Er – CrimeMinister – there were eleven ships. Here, count them.
    Two naval escorts -Sirius and Supply.
    Three merchant ships carrying supplies and equipment – Borrowdale, Golden Grove, Fishburn.
    Six merchant ships carrying convicts and marines – Alexander, Friendship, Charlotte, Lady Penrhyn, Prince of Wales and Scarborough.

    A mistake illustrating once again the CrimeMinister’s complete lack of knowledge about Australian history. Add it to his claim Cook circumnavigated Australia, which he corrected after a lot of mocking. These are things I learned at age 8, in primary school.

    The media have so far failed to catch this mistake. The CrimeMinister loves to rave on about Australian history but reveals every time he opens that ugly mouth how little he actually knows and how little he cares.

    • But “Australia Day” is wonderful

      Prime Minister Scott Morrison has criticised Cricket Australia (CA) for its decision to avoid using the term “Australia Day” in Big Bash League promotions.

      Three Big Bash clubs will wear Indigenous jerseys and Cricket Australia decided to drop the term in a bid to normalise conversations over the date’s history.

      The move to abandon references to “Australia Day” prompted a rebuke from Mr Morrison, who is touring a refinery in Queensland on Thursday.

      “I think a bit more focus on cricket, and a bit less focus on politics would be my message to Cricket Australia,” he told radio station 4RO.

      “I think that’s pretty ordinary but that’s what they’re putting on their press releases.”

      He said Cricket Australia should listen to any backlash from fans opposed to the decision and reverse it.

      And, for good measure, Dutton and Gladys, shove their oars in too.

  13. Just watched 7.5. It was excellent.

    Laura interviewed James Comey

    (James Comey said it would be difficult to change the minds of people “who have been lied to for so long”

    Mr Comey said the “Republican Party has to be burned to the ground” and rebuilt

    He believed trust in institutions could be restored if the new President picked the right leaders to run them

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-21/trump-was-a-demagogue-president-and-sociopath-says-comey/13079186)

    Then part of Amanda Gorman’s speech

    (https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/55745795)

    It is right up there with “I have a dream.”

  15. I’ll admit that today has been a day in politics that I’ve felt has been the best since Obama was inaugurated in 2009. The past 12 years really has been the dumps. The only time I felt good about it was the period between the defeat of John Howard in 2007 and Kevin Rudd backing down on climate change after Copenhagen in late 2009.

    The best part of it is that the universally malicious entity of Trump is no longer relevant to my life. He’s no longer on social media, he no longer has any power, he’s just gone. While this effect has yet to effect Australian politics because we still have an openly corrupt government that wants the worst for everyone except themselves with little effective opposition led by a smug lying prick that still enjoys the approval of most of Australia, I’m hoping that this will be a turning point.

  17. The SMH chose an excellent frame as the still for their video of Wee Hunt’s presser today..

  18. TLBD

    If it was for votes Scotty would be shouting from the roof tops to all and sundry what a fantastic guy he was for doing it.On the other hand he’d also want to keep it quiet so as to not upset the Hanson/2GB demographic. I wonder how much of the aid is indirect and delivered via contracted maaaates ?

  20. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    David Crowe tosses around the arguments surrounding the opening up of our international borders.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/bordering-on-self-harm-a-closed-australia-has-proctected-us-but-our-door-must-open-sooner-or-later-20210121-p56vxi.html
    Another excellent contribution from John Hewson here in which he explains how the growing abuse of political labels is a real problem.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7094489/growing-abuse-of-political-labels-is-a-real-problem/?cs=14329
    Paul Kelly begins this article with, “The repudiation of Donald Trump is dramatic. Biden seeks a restoration of American virtue where Trump’s inaugural pledge was to fight American carnage. Where Trump left the nation mired in chaos and outrage, Biden seeks to resurrect dignity and respect among the citizenry.”
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/biden-inauguration-new-leaders-bid-to-restore-americas-soul/news-story/a0e37c43a8ce80a8de1edbf2add59706
    With a nod to John F Kennedy’s famous inauguration speech, Joe Biden yesterday gave voice to an enduring American mission, writes Troy Bramston.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/biden-inauguration-sincerity-and-truth-in-a-speech-for-the-ages/news-story/be7d1aefa84d8c8ad945452e2c6d769f
    The Biden Presidency is expected to undo much of the damage caused by Trump’s time in office and will hopefully inspire our own government, says Professor John Quiggin.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-biden-presidency-will-usher-in-a-time-for-change-and-australia-should-follow,14722
    The AFR tells us that Jane Hume is casting doubt on boosting super to 12pc.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/hume-casts-doubt-on-boosting-super-to-12pc-20210121-p56vt8
    While this Coalition Government is at the helm, debts and deficits are no longer regarded as disasters, and money seems not an issue — as long as you know how to play the game, explains Michelle Pini who gives us seven ways to make millions with the Morrison Government.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/7-ways-to-make-millions-with-the-morrison-government,14720
    Liam Mannix reports that safety experts have called for an overhaul of Australia’s “trust-based” mask regulations after hundreds of masks had their registration pulled.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/national-stockpile-masks-deemed-defective-by-medical-watchdog-20210121-p56vri.html
    Media companies and tech giants Google and Facebook will front a Senate inquiry today into proposed laws to force the tech giants to pay for news content. They will say that their organisations are running out of time.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/time-is-running-out-nine-news-lead-push-for-parliament-to-make-tech-giants-pay-20210121-p56vua.html
    Is Government intervention viable, or just a favour for Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and Peter Costello’s Nine Entertainment? Opposition is growing both locally and globally to media laws introduced by the Coalition Government requiring tech giants Google and Facebook to pay for displaying news content. Kim Wingerei delves into the numbers.
    https://www.michaelwest.com.au/internets-founder-us-officials-slap-down-news-and-nines-crusade-on-google/
    Morrison has been lambasted for saying January 26 “wasn’t a particularly flash day” for British convicts either as they arrived on the First Fleet to colonise Australia. And so he should have been!
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/wasn-t-a-particularly-flash-day-pm-lashed-over-australia-day-convicts-comment-20210121-p56vx7.html
    All Australians, but especially Scott Morrison, must tell the truth about our violent history trumpets Lidia Thorpe.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/21/all-australians-but-especially-scott-morrison-must-tell-the-truth-about-our-violent-history
    Trumpism wreaked destruction in the US – and made its way into Australian political culture warns Tim Soutphommasane in a pointed contribution.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/21/trumpism-wreaked-destruction-in-the-us-and-made-its-way-into-australian-political-culture
    “Is Scott Morrison guilty of cloning Donald Trump?”, asks John Lord.
    https://theaimn.com/is-scott-morrison-guilty-of-cloning-donald-trump/
    Michael Pascoe offers a simple change to heal our deepest wound – the January 26th Australia Day celebration.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2021/01/22/fourth-monday-of-january-michael-pascoe/
    A former Queensland crown prosecutor who has boasted of a client list that included senior Papua New Guinea government figures has been arrested in Port Moresby on fraud charges.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-lawyer-greg-sheppard-arrested-in-png-over-mining-fund-20210121-p56vy9.html
    A summary of the inquiry report on the shredding of key documents in Berejiklian’s office is “it was OK – but don’t do it again”.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-premier-s-office-cleared-of-breach-after-shredding-documents-20210121-p56vzt.html
    The government has inked a deal with LNG exporters to offer gas to the domestic market first, but manufacturers say it won’t deliver the cheap gas needed. Writes Mike Foley
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/more-needs-to-be-done-morrison-s-gas-deal-fails-to-ignite-manufacturers-support-20210121-p56vvm.html
    A NSW mayor is concerned that the arm of government closest to the people is powerless to act for them. He points squarely at Berejiklian’s stewardship of the Local Government Act and says the government has gone about systematically removing the power of communities to influence how councils operate.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/our-enfeebled-councils-the-arm-of-government-closest-to-the-people-is-powerless-to-act-for-them-20210121-p56vzb.html
    Jennifer Duke writes that economists and social services groups are warning the end of government supports like JobKeeper will challenge the nation’s revival.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/nine-out-of-10-jobs-lost-during-the-pandemic-recovered-by-christmas-abs-20210121-p56vrt.html
    Sally Whyte reports that the legal firm Gordon Legal is set to get $16 million of the $112 million government payout to victims of Centrelink’s robodebt program, as more details have been revealed about how the money will be divided among victims.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7095427/how-will-the-robodebt-payout-be-divided/?cs=14350
    The government is approaching the last exit ramp for the troubled $90 billion Future Submarines project, but will it take it asks Andrew Tillett.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/morrison-left-to-utter-sacre-bleu-amid-french-subs-snafu-20210121-p56vq9
    Sarah Danckert tells us how Qantas has forged ahead with signing contracts to outsource 2000 baggage handling and cleaning jobs despite facing a union court challenge over the redundancies.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/appalling-qantas-steels-for-union-fight-after-outsourcing-2-000-jobs-20210121-p56vyo.html
    Bushfires caused by climate change had a significant impact on the survival of koalas while the Government continues to ignore warnings, writes Sue Arnold.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/governments-continue-to-ignore-climate-change-as-a-cause-of-koala-extinction,14717
    The Conversation tells us how wetlands have saved Australia $27 billion in storm damage over the past five decades.
    https://theconversation.com/wetlands-have-saved-australia-27-billion-in-storm-damage-over-the-past-five-decades-153638
    Cat Woods opines that when it comes to creating fearless TV dramas that probe the dark heart of corruption, Australia needs to take a leaf out of Scandinavia’s book. She’s not wrong!
    https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/australian-tv-needs-a-dose-of-nordic-courage-20210121-p56vtx.html
    The London Telegraph’s Oliver Brown asks, “What is the point of a half-baked Olympics?”
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/what-is-the-point-of-a-half-baked-olympics-20210121-p56vt2.html
    Britain suffered its worst day in the pandemic, with more than 1800 deaths recorded in 24 hours, as Boris Johnson’s Chief Scientific Adviser warned some hospitals now look “like a war zone.”
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/like-a-war-zone-britain-suffers-deadliest-day-of-pandemic-20210121-p56vps.html
    The London School of Economics’ Andrew Hammond explains why he thinks populism may grow, despite Trump’s departure.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-populism-may-grow-despite-trump-s-departure-20210121-p56vrr.html
    Biden’s economic centrism isn’t exciting, but right for these divisive times, explains Richard Holden.
    https://theconversation.com/bidens-economic-centrism-isnt-exciting-but-right-for-these-divisive-times-153647
    Joe Biden has made the pandemic his top priority on his first day in office, launching a COVID action plan as American infections reached 24.5 million.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/us-news/2021/01/22/joe-biden-pandemic-plan/
    In a very good contribution, Alan Kohler says we should pray for America as the radical Christian right vies for power.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/us-news/2021/01/21/alan-kohler-inauguration-christian-right/
    Matthew Knott explains how Biden is moving to sweep away Trump’s policy legacy.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/biden-moves-to-sweep-away-trump-s-policy-legacy-20210121-p56vsl.html
    Richard Wolffe says Trump has finally shuffled off the world stage, and it’s Good riddance!
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/21/biden-president-trump-good-riddance

    Cartoon Corner

    Alan Moir

    David Rowe

    Peter Broelman

    Cathy Wilcox

    Mark David

    Matt Golding




    Johannes Leak returns to type

    From the US











    • Short term money market of senders bank or payers bank?

      I thought Osko payments were deposited immediately

    • The interbank money transfer system, SWIFT, which has been around since the 1980s demanded interbank transfers were completed in 6 days.

      All my transfers use OSKO for Westpac

    • Why? Why has January become a month for debating whether or not a bigot should get an award? Last year it was Bettina Arndt, this year it’s Margaret Court.

      I know a council is allegedly responsible for choosing awards recipients, but we know the PM has a say – just look at Abbott’s ridiculous dames and knights decision, or the number of sportspeople given awards under Howard for proof.

      It can’t be a coincidence that Court is a pastor at a Pentecostal church and Arndt “found God” while she was living in the US, abandoned her previous feminism and open-mindedness and morphed into exactly the same sort of fake Christian bigot as the CrimeMinister. We know he likes to surround himself with members of his shonky cult and other faux “Christians” so no wonder he likes handing out honours to cult members and those who share similar non-Christian beliefs.

    • Abbott & Morrison have turned Australia Day into a bigot’s circus when we all just want to BBQ and ogle at the strange costumes of new migrants and eat their food

  26. All done to keep Rupert and Nine happy. Good one, CrimeMinister. What will you wreck next?

    Google threatens to shut down search in Australia if digital news code goes ahead
    Google and Facebook are fighting legislation which would force them to enter into negotiations with news media companies for payment for content
    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/jan/22/google-threatens-to-shut-down-search-in-australia-if-digital-news-code-goes-ahead

    Last September Labor, the Greens and Centre Alliance said they would support this legislation if the ABC and SBS also get payments. Let’s hope common sense has changed their minds.
    https://www.theguardian.com/media/2020/sep/14/abc-and-sbs-should-also-receive-fees-from-facebook-and-google-labor-says

  27. The Tasmanian and Victorian governments have brokered a quarantine-swap deal in an effort to address a shortage of farm workers and bring home more stranded Tasmanians.

    Tasmania has agreed to quarantine farm labourers heading for the Victorian harvest, while Victoria will provide quarantine facilities for Tasmanians wanting to return from overseas.

    An initial 1500 workers from the Pacific Islands will undergo quarantine in Tasmania before taking up harvest work across Victoria.

    Tasmania has committed to the program for the first half of 2021, with the cost of the farm worker quarantine shared by the Victorian government and the farm industry.
    . . . . . . . .
    But the states still need the federal government to sign off on the deal.

    The Feds issue the visas

    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/state/vic/2021/01/22/victoria-tasmania-agree-quarantine-swap-deal/

  32. Not getting much attention, deliberately overshadowed by the Margaret Court alleged leak – the CrimeMinister’s announcement that vaccines will not be rolled out as quickly as he initially told us.

    Surely he didn’t lie to us! All I can say is “Do koalas eat eucalyptus leaves” – and there’s your answer.

    Has his farce of a government even ordered vaccines yet?

    Supply delays could threaten start of Australia’s Covid vaccine rollout
    States and territories have not been told how many doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be sent to Australia by mid-February
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/22/supply-delays-could-threaten-start-of-australias-covid-vaccine-rollout

    Despite what we have repeatedly been told aged care workers and residents will not be given priority.

    COVID-19 vaccines not mandatory for aged care workers, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announces after National Cabinet

    Residents and workers in aged care facilities will not be required to get a COVID-19 vaccination in order to remain living or working there, Prime Minister Scott Morrison says.

    However, the PM did not rule out making a COVID-19 vaccine compulsory for aged care workers “in the future”

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-22/covid-19-vaccines-not-mandatory-for-aged-care-workers,-pm-says/13082760

    Just how far “in the future” will that be, CrimeMinister? Months? A year? Two years? More?

    • That countries are experiencing shortages has been in the news for a couple of weeks. So it was obvious that we were going to get experience the same. The Flim Flam Man of course carried on with the bullshit. Pfizer even announced a week or so back they have cut back production to rejig their production system.

  34. Very interesting thread – of course the CrimeMinister’s church, Horizon, is up to its elbows in grifting government funding.

  35. It’s take out the garbage day (which is why the Court thingy was leaked)

    It also found no policy existed to support Ms Holgate’s statements that the purchase and gifting of the watches to the recipients was within Australia Post’s policy.

    But no indication of “dishonesty, fraud, corruption or intentional misuse” of taxpayer funds was uncovered.

    The report, released after 4pm on Friday afternoon, found the then-Australia Post board did not consider or approve the purchase of the watches.

    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/more-corporate-credit-card-spending-at-australia-post-but-no-fraud-report-20210122-p56w8d.html

    Giving four luxury watches to Australia Post executives was inconsistent with the proper use of public money, a previously secret report has found.

    Former Australia Post chief executive Christine Holgate resigned in November last year after Federal Government criticism of her.

    The report, released late today by the Federal Government, finds no evidence of fraud or corruption in relation to the purchase and gifting of the watches, which combined were worth almost $20,000.

    But it says the Australia Post board did not have any policies which would support rewarding executives with items like Cartier watches.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-22/federal-government-report-on-australia-post-ceo-cartier-watches/13084058

  37. We know that Republicans in Congress had been complaining about having to go through metal detectors on their way to work, Matt Fuller at the Huffington Post reports on at least one reason why:

    Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, who has repeatedly flouted the magnetometers that were installed near the House chamber after the 6 January attack on the US Capitol, set off the metal detectors while trying to enter. When an officer with a metal detector wand scanned him, a firearm was detected on Harris’s side, concealed by his suit coat. Police refused to let Harris in, and the officer signaled a security agent that Harris had a gun on him by motioning toward his own firearm.

    HuffPost witnessed the interaction and later confirmed with a Capitol official that Harris was carrying a gun. HuffPost watched Harris try to get another member to take the gun from him so he could go vote. The member, Rep. John Katko, told Harris he didn’t have “a license” and refused to hold the weapon for him.

    HuffPost also heard Harris complain to some fellow members that he had asked his staff to remind him about the screenings and they hadn’t.

    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2021/jan/22/joe-biden-covid-coronavirus-strategy-donald-trump-impeachment-kamala-harris-live

    • Maryland Rep. Andy Harris, who has repeatedly flouted the magnetometers that were installed near the House chamber after the 6 January attack on the US Capitol, set off the metal detectors while trying to enter. When an officer with a metal detector wand scanned him, a firearm was detected on Harris’s side, concealed by his suit coat. Police refused to let Harris in, and the officer signaled a security agent that Harris had a gun on him by motioning toward his own firearm.

      Diddums, sookumz

  38. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    A third of American adults still believe he won the election, and he remains a threat to US stability, but Australia needs to embrace a new era anchored in reality, writes Peter Hartcher who says that the Trumpist fantasy still captivates the odd Australian politician
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/trumpist-fantasy-still-captivates-the-odd-australian-politician-20210122-p56w8x.html
    Tom Rabe tells us how the report into Berejiklian’s office’s shredding of key $250m grants information has been received. Not well, it seems.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/premier-s-office-shredding-breached-state-record-laws-report-20210122-p56w8a.html
    The SMH editorial says that Berejiklian has survived but she cannot coast for the next three years.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/premier-has-survived-but-she-cannot-coast-for-the-next-three-years-20210122-p56w7c.html
    Jacqui Maley and Nigel Gladstone have looked deeply at the Order of Australia Awards and concluded that it pays to be rich, powerful and male.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/want-an-order-of-australia-it-helps-to-be-rich-powerful-and-male-20201123-p56h13.html
    Part-indigenous cricketer Dan Christian has slammed Morrison over the Margaret Court issue, telling him to “read the room”.
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/blood-was-spilled-anthony-mundine-applauds-cricket-s-australia-day-move-20210122-p56w5u.html
    Rob Harris writes that Morrison has moved to quell the condemnation of his comments about the conditions faced by Australia’s European settlers, saying there were never meant to be a “competing” narrative with the hardship encountered by Indigenous Australians.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/all-stories-should-be-respected-morrison-moves-to-calm-backlash-20210122-p56w5q.html
    Scott Morrison has made a mini-industry out of a do-it-yourself Australian history. He’s had James Cook circumnavigating the continent. Now the Prime Minister’s rounded up the number of ships in the First Fleet from 11 to an even dozen, writes Frank Bongiorno.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/not-a-particularly-flash-moment-how-the-pm-misread-our-history-20210122-p56w7g.html
    Paul Karp says Scott Morrison’s attempt at distance from Trump was as tepid as it was late. Karp reckons Morrison’s personal affinity with the former president is a setback to future Australia-US relations
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/23/scott-morrisons-attempt-at-distance-from-trump-was-as-tepid-as-it-was-late
    Laura Tingle asks, “Can Biden’s calls for unity spark a tone shift in Australia’s ‘pretty ordinary’ politics?”
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-23/bidens-inauguration-australias-political-leaders-morrison-effect/13083584

    Crispin Hull gives McCormack and the National a hell of a serve here!
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7095529/how-serious-are-the-nationals-about-road-safety-really/?cs=14258
    According to Rachel Klun, the government is closely monitoring reports of Pfizer vaccine shortages overseas and Scott Morrison has acknowledged the planned February rollout could be delayed by production issues.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pfizer-vaccine-could-be-delayed-as-government-monitors-shortages-overseas-20210122-p56w55.html
    And Rick Morton ponders over the open question, “Did Australia put its money on the wrong vaccines?”
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/01/23/did-australia-put-its-money-the-wrong-vaccines/161132040010952
    How the Prime Minister’s language has changed during the coronavirus pandemic.
    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-23/how-scott-morrison-language-changed-coronavirus-pandemic-year-on/13075506
    What’s in it for me? That’s our ‘purely transactional’ PM’s one and only guiding principle says Dennis Atkins in a contribution well worth reading.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/2021/01/23/atkins-morrison-transactional-politics/
    The Andrews government is recruiting hotels in addition to the 11 already operating with the number of Australians allowed to land in Melbourne set to climb next month.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-recruits-more-hotels-for-quarantine-ahead-of-expected-boost-to-arrivals-cap-20210122-p56w72.html
    Scott Morrison says the political debate about reaching a carbon-neutral future is over but he will not take a new 2030 or 2035 emissions reduction target to a key UN climate conference in Glasgow this year, writes The Australian’s Greg Brown.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/politics-of-carbon-has-ended-scott-morrison-declares/news-story/fa662d7b2af40426f852b9f1c18946b8
    In an interesting article Peter van Onselen concludes that as the world emerges from the effects of COVID, a realignment in the global order is inevitable. With Trump out of the picture America has a chance to reposition itself, but it won’t be easy.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/joe-biden-faces-bigger-tests-than-cleaning-up-donald-trumps-mess/news-story/a24873420e51e9f587f3b708bb9be3ed
    Jason Wilson declares that we shouldn’t forget which Australian commentators carried water for Trump. He gives Joe Hockey and Greg Sheridan particular attention.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/23/we-shouldnt-forget-which-australian-commentators-carried-water-for-trump
    Despite a near record total of export goods to China last year, there are fears rocky relations between the two countries have yet to hit bottom, writes Daniel Hurst who wonders if it might be too late for the Morrison government to rebuild the bridges.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/jan/23/press-reset-can-the-morrison-government-rebuild-bridges-with-china-or-is-it-too-late
    The Age calls for the release the rest of the detained refugees.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/release-the-rest-of-the-detained-refugees-20210122-p56w8r.html
    William Olsen looks underneath the recent employment figures and sees it isn’t all rosy.
    https://theaimn.com/unemployment-down-but-recovery-still-way-off-actu/
    Ross Gittins gives us his view on why economists get so many of their predictions wrong.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/why-economists-get-so-many-of-their-predictions-wrong-20210121-p56vyr.html
    The Liberal Party has benefited from its relationship to the mining sector, but at great cost to the Australian people, writes Richard Gillies.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/coalitions-dependence-on-mining-sector-causing-a-decline-in-economic-growth,14719
    The fossil fuel industry’s outsized influence on Australian politics is confirmed by a new report, which tracks the millions of dollars spent by the sector in political donations over the past two decades, explains The Saturday Paper’s Royce Kurmelovs.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/01/23/political-donations-and-the-resources-sectors-influence/161132040010970
    Elizabeth Farrelly talks of her love affair with Sydney and her fears for its slow strangulation.
    https://www.theage.com.au/culture/books/my-love-affair-with-sydney-and-my-fears-for-its-slow-strangulation-20210115-p56uhd.html
    The sad fact is that bullies tend to get away with it most of the time, and the higher the office they occupy, the more likely they are to be excused, writes Professor Jim Bright who says Trump’s defeat will not signal the end of bullying’s embrace.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/trump-s-defeat-won-t-put-an-end-to-the-embrace-of-bullying-20210120-p56vig.html
    Google’s threat to cut off search to Australian users and walk away from $4 billion in revenue has sparked warnings the digital giants are not bluffing over laws designed to force them to pay for news.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/google-threatens-to-disable-search-in-australia-if-media-code-becomes-law-20210122-p56w2h.html
    Ben Oquist asks, “Why do our PMs treat the seat of democracy with scorn?” He makes several good points.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7096152/why-do-our-pms-treat-canberra-with-scorn/?cs=14350
    India is producing not white-ball and red-ball cricketers, simply excellent cricketers. So, what are the lessons for Australia, asks Malcolm Knox.
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/bold-india-caught-australia-and-vanquished-must-heed-the-warning-20210122-p56w4z.html
    The AFR’s Jacob Greber writes “Joe Biden and his team have worked hard to put America’s diversity on display. These aren’t woke decisions – there are hard-headed political calculations at play.”
    https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/joe-biden-s-new-deal-20210122-p56w4n
    On the cult of Trump, Tony Wright wonders if the days of this false prophet are really over. A good read.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/the-cult-of-trump-are-the-days-of-this-false-prophet-really-over-20210121-p56vvg.html
    Jonathan Freedland believes that Joe Biden has only one shot to stop Trumpism returning in 2024.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/22/joe-biden-trumpism-2024-america-democratic-government
    With his inauguration this week, America’s 46th president has vowed to heal the US. But Joe Biden inherits a country more paranoid and polarised than ever, opines Mike Seccombe. It’s quite a long essay with the conclusion that says at least someone decent is again in charge.
    https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/01/23/the-biden-era-begins-the-shadow-trump-remains/161132040010964
    Donald Trump has had a rough first 24 hours as an ex-president: He’s been publicly snubbed by his wife, and mocked by some of his most ardent supporters, writes Zona Black.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/world/us-news/trump-news/2021/01/22/trump-melania-proud-boys/
    A lawyers’ group has filed an ethics complaint against Rudy Giuliani with New York’s courts, calling for him to be investigated and his law licence suspended over his work promoting former president Donald Trump’s false allegations over the 2020 election.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/prominent-us-lawyers-group-wants-giuliani-s-licence-suspended-20210122-p56w6j.html
    Kate McClymont reports that a Sydney dentist and a young construction worker, both linked to the notorious Ibrahim family, have been ordered to repay almost $16 million they received in “spotters’ fees” from a well-known developer. Take your pick for “Arsehole of the Week” nomination.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/ibrahim-s-dentist-to-repay-millions-after-death-bed-deal-rejected-20210122-p56w4q.html

    Cartoon Corner

    John Shakespeare

    Peter Broelman

    Jon Kudelka

    Matt Golding




    David Rowe

    Andrew Dyson

    Cathy Wilcox

    Mark David


    Bloody Johannes Leak

    From the US












  41. Funny how these examples of government skulduggery only seem to surface on weekends and holidays, isn’t it.

    Coalition quietly adds fossil fuel industry leaders to emissions reduction panel
    Critics ask if some appointees to the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee have a potential conflict of interest

    The new chair of the committee is David Byers, a former senior executive at the Minerals Council of Australia, BHP and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, who now runs CO2CRC, an industry and government-funded CCS research body. He replaced Prof Andrew Macintosh, an environmental law and policy scholar at the Australian National University, who resigned last year.

    Byers is joined by the economist Dr Brian Fisher, a former head of the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics who has authored reports warning of the economic impact of emissions reduction targets and been accused of overestimating the cost of combating climate change.

    Other recent appointees include Allison Hortle, a petroleum hydrogeologist and research group leader in CSIRO’s oil, gas and fuels program, and Margie Thomson, an agricultural economist and chief executive of the Cement Industry Federation.

    A spokesperson for the emissions reduction minister, Angus Taylor, said committee members were “chosen for their skills and experience as required by relevant legislation”

    https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/23/coalition-quietly-adds-fossil-fuel-industry-leaders-to-emissions-reduction-panel

  42. Caveats applu

    Bill Maher –

    New rules 46:25

    Rachel Maddow –

    Chris Hayes –

    Brian Tyler Cohen –

  45. Helen,

    There IS a change, but I shall give y’all a chance to work it out for the next 24 hours!

  46. Want Bernie Sanders sitting outside your home ? Well come on down.
    .
    .
    Created by software engineer Nick Sawhney, the new site allows you to enter an address and see Bernie sitting outside anywhere on Google Maps with his mittens on.
    http://bernie-sits.herokuapp.com/

  48. Good morning Dawn Patrollers. I’m sorry, but this is all I can garner today.

    The AFP has nabbed a Chinese mongrel who is believed to be responsible for 70% of all narcotics entering Australia. This is quite a story – and Crown casinos get several mentions.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/drug-deals-dirty-money-and-links-to-beijing-australian-police-bring-down-asia-s-mr-big-20210120-p56vk8.html
    The SMH editorial makes some good points about Australian citizenship.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-owe-a-duty-to-advance-australia-fair-20210122-p56w7u.html
    Andrew Wu writes that the PM has come under more fire for his views on how the game is marking January 26, as Indigenous former Test star Jason Gillespie threw his support behind Cricket Australia. Maybe Morrison IS reading the room, though.
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/indigenous-backlash-proud-gillespie-backs-ca-lalor-hits-out-at-morrison-s-australia-day-stance-20210123-p56wdg.html
    Ghassan Hage writes that by honouring those who are prejudiced, the Australia Day awards perpetuate bigotry.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jan/24/in-honouring-those-who-are-prejudiced-the-australia-day-awards-perpetuate-bigotry
    Mike Foley reports that Australian Nobel laureate scientist Brian Schmidt has told a summit of global leaders that Australia is duty bound to take a lead on climate action and called for an international effort to combat an anti-science agenda and climate change denial.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/australia-cannot-shirk-moral-obligation-to-tackle-climate-change-brian-schmidt-20210122-p56w5e.html
    The American Petroleum Institute (API), the leading oil and gas industry trade group, publicly pushed misleading information on climate change as early as 1980, explains The Independent Australia.
    https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/fossil-fuel-industrys-climate-denial-campaign-dates-back-four-decades,14728
    Kaye Lee writes, “When the world needs inspiration, courage, integrity and resolve, we are dished up leaders like Trump, Boris and ScoMo – a bunch of buffoons completely unworthy of the title ‘leader’”.
    https://theaimn.com/tin-pot-dictators-timid-sycophants-and-corporate-schills-is-that-the-best-we-can-do/
    Greg Jericho says the Australian government’s housing policy continues to ignore low-income earners.
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/commentisfree/2021/jan/24/australian-governments-housing-policy-continues-to-ignore-low-income-earners
    Royce Millar writes that the Andrews government has been provided two new scientific reports that show sea level rises well above those they are planning for, threatening its development-led recovery.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victoria-gets-trillion-dollar-bad-news-sea-level-rises-will-swamp-parts-of-the-state-20210122-p56w8h.html
    Peter FitzSimons’ weekly sporting column is worth a look. He lines up the likes of Pat Cash and other conspiracy theory nutters.
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/a-whinge-and-a-prayer-as-australian-open-complaints-take-flight-20210122-p56w6d.html
    British ministers are to discuss on Monday further tightening travel restrictions, the BBC reported on Saturday, adding that people arriving in the country could be required to quarantine in hotels.
    https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/britain-to-consider-tighter-travel-restrictions-similar-to-australia-20210123-p56we6.html
    The New York Times reveals the last-minute efforts by Trump to overturn the election results.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/23/trump-florida-white-house-washington-plot-report
    Kirstie Clements says we don’t need a geologist to read Melania’s stone-faced exit.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/entertainment/style/2021/01/23/melania-trump-farewell-gucci-caftan/

    Cartoon Corner

    Matt Golding


    Andrew Dyson

    Alan Moir


    Glen Le Lievre

    Chris Riddell

    From the US





  49. Biden reminded us that being a national leader has many facets, including being explainer-in-chief, conciliator-in-chief, truth-teller-in-chief.

    Which raises the question: how often does our Prime Minister — or over the holidays, the man who filled in for him, Michael McCormack — ask himself what it might feel like to stand in the shoes of any particular group in the community before he opens his mouth?

    In Queensland this week, Scott Morrison was putting himself in the shoes of locals in Gladstone who apparently aren’t happy with the Queensland Government’s idea of putting returned Australians into quarantine in mining camps in the area.

    But he seemed to have a bit more trouble putting himself in the shoes of Indigenous people who have a problem with Australia Day (not to mention his continuing loose grip on the basics of Australian history).

    He was asked whether he was “a bit concerned that students don’t know enough about Australian … history”.

    Morrison replied: “You know, on Australia Day, it’s all about acknowledging how far we’ve come. You know, when those 12 ships turned up in Sydney all those years ago, it wasn’t a particularly flash day for the people on those vessels either.”

    (Perhaps the 12 ships in the PM’s mind included the 11 in the First Fleet plus the Endeavour — while it was somehow still circumnavigating Australia? Or something.)

    “I think what that day to this demonstrates is how far we’ve come as a country,” he said.

    “And I think that’s why it’s important that we mark it in that way. It’s not about that day so much. It’s about how far we’ve come together since that day.

    “You know, you can’t just airbrush things that have happened in the past. I think one of the great things about Australia — and I think we’re respected for this — is we’re pretty upfront and honest about our past.

    “The national apologies that have been put in place shows that we’re prepared to deal with our past.”

    It was bordering on jibberish. And stood in stark contrast to his need to comment on Cricket Australia’s decision to remove references to Australia Day from the names of matches taking place on January 26, which he said was “pretty ordinary”.

    “Pretty ordinary”, unfortunately, has been the tone of too much of our politics for years.

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-23/bidens-inauguration-australias-political-leaders-morrison-effect/13083584

  50. WTF!

    This story is not getting a mention at all in the Australian media, except for a few Murdoch (of course) sites. where it is hidden under “World News”.
    https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/world/rupert-murdoch-samantha-kerr-among-among-those-honoured-in-uk-australia-day-awards/news-story/5ac1f8f900eb1b33cabd2502ec0a1924

    • This mob. My bold.

      The Australia Day Foundation UK Trust established in 2013 is a non-political, not-for-profit charity, governed by a board of trustees.

      The Trust is administered by the Australia Day Foundation Limited; a not-for-profit foundation established in 2003 to develop Australia Day celebrations and events in the UK and to promote the very best Australia has to offer. http://www.australiaday.co.uk

      Australia Day Foundation UK Trust Objectives:

      Australia Day is celebrated on the twenty-sixth day of January and marks the day in 1788 when Captain Arthur Phillip arrived in Botany Bay to found the colony of New South Wales. It is a day to celebrate our cultural diversity and to acknowledge the contribution of both indigenous Australians and those who have come from more than 150 countries to make Australia their home today.

      In the United Kingdom it is also a day to recognise the benefits we have gained from our British heritage and appreciate the close links that are retained between our two nations.

      The Australia Day Foundation UK Trust’s objectives are to promote the education, including the social and physical training, of young Australian citizens who are living or working in, or visiting the United Kingdom, in such ways as the charity trustees think fit, including by:

      (1) awarding to such persons financial assistance in the form of allowances and grants tenable at any university, college or institution of higher or further education;

      (2) advancing their education (including the study of the arts, culture, heritage or science), or assisting them to undertake travel in furtherance of that education or to prepare for entry to any occupation, business, trade or profession.

      https://www.theaustraliadayfoundationuktrust.co.uk/About

    • Not so much the Trust as the Australia Day Foundation itself, “Proud host of the UK’s leading Australia Day Celebration”.

      As a non-profit organisation, our purpose is to unite the leading figures of the Australian community here in the UK and bring them together once a year in celebration of our country’s official national day. Our Australia Day event reflects the diversity of contemporary Australian culture and society as well as our natural history and the remarkable achievements, creativity and talents of Australians in the UK

      https://australiaday.co.uk/about

      The Trust is just a part of the Australia Day Foundation.

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