Thank you to Pubster CKWatt who put this excellent comedy sketch from England in the comments.
Pubsters, please indulge me.
British comedian Tom Walker created the satirical character, Jonathon Pie. Jonathon Pie is a television news presenter who broadcasts live from outside locations. The sketches show Mr Pie between takes, saying what he really thinks about his subject.
I really like Mr Walker’s work, as the frustrated and angry Jonathon Pie. I particularly like his political satire. Jonathon Pie says it in a way I can never equal.
The Jonathon Pie advertised tour of Australian theatres has some changes, due to this Plague.
I would love to see his live show.
This comedy sketch is about Mr Pie’s’ opinion of the priorities of the UK government, led by The Esteemed PM Boris Johnson, in the area of Social Care.
Language Warning.
In this sketch Mr Pie swears. A lot. A very lot. It’s kind of swearing I am sure most of us felt like shouting at the TV screen at times when listening to politicians and various commentators.
Let Jonathon Pie do it for you. Just keep the kiddies out of the room.
Now, this is a satire about British politics. There is no resemblance to any Australian politician, or persons or groups or any other entity. Any appearances of such are purely coincidental, misinterpretation or karma, and does not reflect, imply or otherwise anything about anyone by anyone for anyone, against anyone, to anyone or anyone’s anyone or their pet, or garden gnome.
You are free to draw your own conclusions, of course.
This is a bit of laughter to ease the minds of locked-down Aussies.
No animals, plants, or microphones were hurt in this production . . . as far as we can tell.
In what ways our once-strong culture of political satire will be impacted by recent developments here in Australia remains to be seen.
Can you name others? Elephant Stamps are up for grabs!
So enjoy what can still be produced and broadcast on social media, in the Now Brexited Olde Blighty.
‘The News Is Mad’ (T. Walker, 2020.)
Tom Walker is very interesting in this CNN interview from June 2020 which is posted on YouTube. Tom discusses the creation of Jonathon Pie, and the differences between the himself and his creation, along with his observations of our current poltical and social ⁷scene.
The interviewer, Bianca Noble, is excellent.
Tom Walker has a sharp political sense, and using humour, exposes the contradictions, the hypocrisy, and the mendacious stupidity of our modern democratic leaders.
Jonathan Pie has us laughing through the dawning realisation that our only other choices are to howl at the darkness, or cry. Or both.
Australia on Fire.
Our Prime Minister Scott Morrison does not escape his dose of Mr Pie’s satirical medicine.
Please post your comments. Remember, stay respectful in your comments, and think about The Pub’s mods, and community guidelines.
THE PUB 
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. It’s quite a heavy collection today.
Peter Hartcher is in good form here as he examines AUKUS and what it means. There is a considerable amount of cynicism in this contribution.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/morrison-the-third-amigo-speaks-loudly-to-xi-20210916-p58sfk.html
Bevan Shields reports that France will take the extraordinary step of recalling its ambassadors from Australia and the United States, as the fallout grows from a new defence pact that has infuriated French President Emmanuel Macron.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/france-recalls-its-ambassadors-to-australia-and-united-states-amid-submarine-fury-20210918-p58srt.html
Kevin Rudd posits that Morrison’s China ‘strategy’ makes us less, not more, secure. In this very interesting article he says that we should get ready for a two-pronged Coalition election strategy. First, despite its quarantine and vaccine failures being responsible for lockdowns, wait for Morrison to declare “freedom day” against more cautious states that will be depicted as the enemy within.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/morrison-s-china-strategy-makes-us-less-not-more-secure-20210916-p58sfm.html
In the wake of the AUKUS alliance, two things are abundantly clear … Scott Morrison has changed Australia’s future direction, and China has changed the world in ways it did not envisage, writes Paul Kelly.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/aukus-alliance-the-biggest-strategy-shift-of-our-lifetime/news-story/8fb7b7fb05389f42257ef9c3c3e9d2a8
Greg Sheridan is concerned that the nuclear-powered subs will arrive much too late to help us in conflict.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/aukus-alliance-nuclearpowered-subs-will-arrive-too-late-to-help-us-in-conflict/news-story/8e7e2160542136db9cdadf05362a548d
That Fella Down Under! Scott Morrison’s AUKUS deal designed to win election, not make Australia safe, writes Michael West.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/that-fella-down-under-scott-morrisons-aukus-deal-designed-to-win-election-not-make-australia-safe/
In a long dissertation, David Crowe looks at what the submarine deal means for Morrison’s future.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-the-submarine-deal-means-for-morrison-s-future-20210917-p58sjo.html
Hugh White headlines his examination of the announcement with, “From the submarine to the ridiculous”. A very interesting read.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2021/09/18/the-submarine-the-ridiculous/163188720012499
Laura Tingle explains how Australia’s nuclear submarine deal fundamentally changes our relationship with the world.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-18/australia-nuclear-submarine-deal-aukus-change-relationship-world/100471990
“Will Morrison’s new AUKUS friends pressure him on the real threat of climate crisis?”, asks Katherine Murphy. The last few paragraphs are doozies!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/17/will-morrisons-new-aukus-friends-pressure-him-on-the-real-threat-of-climate-crisis
David Crowe says that the submarines have been a costly debacle, and he tells us why Morrison has little argument from Labor.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/submarines-a-costly-debacle-but-here-s-why-morrison-has-little-argument-from-labor-20210916-p58s8c.html
Australia’s plan to arm itself with a fleet of nuclear-propelled submarines to combat the rising threat of China has been met with alarm by Indonesia, writes Chris Barrett.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/deeply-concerned-indonesia-uneasy-about-australian-nuclear-subs-20210917-p58skz.html
Scott Morrison’s plan to stop off in Jakarta on the way back from Washington next week was cancelled after President Joko Widodo opted to instead visit provinces outside the capital, while Indonesia reacts with alarm to Australia’s plan to arm itself with nuclear-propelled submarines.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-and-jokowi-meeting-called-off-before-australian-submarines-announcement-20210917-p58slj.html
Stephen Charles, from the Centre for Public Integrity, comprehensively argues that we need a federal watchdog with teeth, now more than ever. He declares that the Coalition’s exposure draft for a CIC is a fraud and a sham. He’s not wrong!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-need-a-federal-watchdog-with-teeth-now-more-than-ever-20210909-p58qav.html
If Christian Porter wants to save his position in cabinet, he could return the money or ask his benefactors to help him out by identifying themselves, suggests the SMH’s editorial,
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/blind-trust-gift-to-porter-undermines-faith-in-democracy-20210917-p58sn6.html
Michelle Grattan argues that Christian Porter’s blind trust represents an integrity test for Scott Morrison.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/christian-porter-s-blind-trust-legal-fees-is-an-integrity-test-for-scott-morrison-20210917-p58sh4.html
While ever Christian Porter keeps the anonymous money deposited to cover his legal fees, his position as a minister is untenable. That the Prime Minister needs someone else to check if accepting this anonymous gift of cash breaches ministerial standards is a laughable pantomime of integrity, even for this government, writes Ebony Bennett.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7435087/scott-morrison-is-allowing-ministerial-standards-to-slip/?cs=14258
Jacqui Maley introduces us to the Liberal Party’s latest problem – a climate-driven independent who is set to take on Trent Zimmerman.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/meet-the-liberal-party-s-latest-problem-a-climate-driven-independent-20210917-p58sjz.html
Malcolm Knox reckons Kristina Keneally’s relentless ambition could cost Labor dearly.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/kristina-keneally-s-relentless-ambition-could-cost-labor-dearly-20210916-p58s4y.html
Hidden behind the ugly preselection fight in the seat of Fowler is a factional battle over the Labor Party’s future leadership, says Karen Middleton.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/09/18/inside-kristina-keneallys-preselection-battle/163188720012494
Brian Houston has stepped aside from all of Hillsong Church’s boards but will remain a global senior pastor. Latika Bourke tells us that documents submitted to the corporate regulator ASIC show that Mr Houston quit his governance roles 12 days after he was charged by NSW Police for allegedly concealing child sexual abuse by his late father, Frank Houston.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw/brian-houston-quits-hillsong-boards-will-remain-global-pastor-ahead-of-court-hearing-20210917-p58srl.html
Credibility is everything for a political leader. Lose it and the game is over. There are real fears within his parliamentary ranks that Scott Morrison has done just that – or is close to it, says Paul Bongiorno in this review of the government’s handling of the pandemic. Porter gets a mention, too.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2021/09/18/scott-morrisons-credibility-deficit/163188720012502
Aaron Patrick explains why 90pc could be the new 80pc double-dose target for NSW.
https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/why-90pc-could-be-the-new-80pc-for-nsw-20210916-p58s78
Rapidly vaccinating under-40s is crucial if Australia is to open up with limited COVID-19 deaths and an intact health system, one of the nation’s leading epidemiologists has warned.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2021/09/18/australia-covid-national-cabinet/
The federal government believes state and territory hospital systems will cope with an increase in COVID-19 cases as the economy reopens, but at least one leader, the ACT’s Andrew Barr, has expressed concern, saying the predictions were worse than he thought, reports Phil Coorey.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/modelling-is-worse-than-thought-but-hospitals-can-cope-20210917-p58shx
Katherine Murphy reports that new Doherty Institute modelling presented to national cabinet warns that maintaining “medium” public health and social measures would be “prudent” until Australia reaches 80% vaccination if caseloads are high – with “medium” measures previously defined as including stay-at-home orders except for work, study and other essential purposes.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/17/new-doherty-modelling-advises-medium-covid-restrictions-until-australia-reaches-80-vaccination
Elizabeth Farrelly begins this rant with, “Concern? I recently moved (yes yes, again) into what quickly became an LGA of concern. And wow. The suburbs are normally placid but here, now, people are angry. Some of this anger is exaggerated but much is reasonable, driven by how COVID, and the government’s “public health” responses to it, have emphasised existing injustices, and deepened them.” She’s not enamoured with Brad Hazzard.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/so-fresh-air-is-good-for-seaside-residents-but-not-lgas-of-concern-spare-me-your-concern-mr-hazzard-20210916-p58seq.html
“Don’t believe the Covid coping spin, those on the road know the health system is in meltdown”, explains this anonymous paramedic.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/17/dont-believe-the-covid-coping-spin-those-on-the-road-know-the-health-system-is-in-meltdown
Adam Morton dives deeper into the crisis within the NSW and Victorian health systems as they tries to cope with thus wave of Covid.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/09/18/exclusive-ambulances-beyond-crisis-point/163188720012493
Business leaders say dismantling the Council of Australian Governments to create national cabinet has proved to be “one of the great mistakes” of the pandemic, which will come at “great cost to the country”, writes The Australian’s Max Maddison.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/covid19-national-cabinet-great-mistake-says-business/news-story/611df0730cc7c7226435a76221b62f48
Death is the price of freedom in the UK – and they’re OK with it, writes the AFR’s Hans van Leeuwen.
https://www.afr.com/world/europe/death-is-the-price-of-freedom-in-the-uk-and-they-re-ok-with-it-20210917-p58sfv
Random government inspections have found three in four Victorian construction sites breaking coronavirus safety rules, as tensions between the state government and building industry threaten to boil over.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-tradies-take-smoko-on-main-roads-in-protest-over-tearoom-ban-20210917-p58sn9.html
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was part way through a meeting of cabinet’s national security committee when he issued a direction to abort the takeoff of the last Australian evacuation flight from Afghanistan on August 26. Karen Middleton tells us that , despite the Defence community’s doubts about reports of a personal, prime ministerial intervention, The Saturday Paper has established Morrison did, indeed, delay the final plane.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/09/18/scott-morrisons-intervention-afghanistan-evacuation/163188720012498
As Western Australia posts a budget surplus of $5 billion, figures show more than one person a week is dying on the streets of Perth, reports Giovanni Torre.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/economy/2021/09/18/homeless-deaths-australias-richest-state/163188720012496
In her weekly media wrap up, Amanda Meade says that Sky News Australia rolls out the red carpet for Piers Morgan, who vows to take on ‘woke world’.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/commentisfree/2021/sep/17/sky-news-australia-rolls-out-the-red-carpet-for-piers-morgan-who-vows-to-take-on-woke-world
The bitter and twisted Gerard Henderson is still at it haranguing the ABC, this time over Porter’s latest worries.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/were-illserved-when-only-the-rich-can-take-on-aunty/news-story/a4b2a9f86f5570f2185c5dd171b2ab9f
Viva Energy collected $100 million in government handouts from JobKeeper and other corporate welfare programs, then handed $140 million to shareholders, reveals John Durie.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2021/09/18/viva-energy-and-corporate-welfare/163188720012500
The Operation Ironside police sting has brought one of SA’s worst bikie gangs, the Comancheros, to its knees, and it’s already having unprecedented effects on Adelaide’s underbelly, writes Nigel Hunt.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/rivals-circle-crippled-comancheros-as-operation-ironside-sting-puts-gang-behind-bars/news-story/0919c46c80f161c054a3329b3e6d6a08
A new report shows the world is on a “catastrophic pathway” toward a hotter future unless governments make more ambitious pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the head of the United Nations says.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/climate-pledges-put-world-on-catastrophic-pathway-to-hotter-future-un-says-20210918-p58srp.html
Rather than accept the inevitability of the transition to EVs, to prepare for it and to be smart enough to facilitate it, as many other countries are doing, we are ignoring the future manufacturing possibilities and opportunities and squandering billions of dollars of investment and thousands of jobs, laments John Hewson who puts the case for electric vehicles.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2021/09/18/the-case-electric-vehicles/163188720012503
Thousands of Haitian migrants who have crossed the Rio Grande since Tuesday are sleeping outdoors under a border bridge in South Texas, creating a humanitarian emergency and a logistical challenge US agents describe as unprecedented.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/thousands-of-haitians-mass-under-bridge-in-texas-in-new-migrant-emergency-20210917-p58sls.html
As elite sporting competitions such as the AFL grapple with how to reduce head trauma, exclusive data shows that head knocks in community football have soared. In particular hospitalisations of teenagers suffering concussions in community footy are growing at a concerning rate and experts are calling for urgent action, The Age tells us.
https://www.theage.com.au/interactive/2021/sports-injuries/index.html
Cartoon Corner
Alan Moir
David Rowe
Jim Pavlidis
Jon Kudelka
Matt Golding
Mark David
Mark Knight
John Shakespeare
A telling gif from Glen Le Lievre
Peter Broelman
Richard Giliberto
Simon Letch
Michael Leunig
Leak
From the US
2001 – war-mongering Howard
2021 – war-mongering Morrison
Yep. If going to war would stop the virus, many people would be happy, but I can’t see how buying subs will stop the virus, which is at the forefront of most peoples minds. I also can’t see how this will help scovid, he hasn’t been around long enough to build any blind trust that coward had.
France recalls ambassadors to US and Australia after Aukus pact
First time France has recalled a US ambassador in alliance dating back to American revolution
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/17/france-recalls-ambassadors-to-us-and-australia-after-aukus-pact
France has every right to be furious.
The deal was for France to supply subs based on their Barracuda-class NUCLEAR subs, with diesel engines substituted for nuclear because that is what our defence “experts” wanted. The option always existed for the diesels to be removed and replaced with nuclear at any point in the future.
According to Dutton, who would not know a nuclear submarine from a dinghy, the US technology is superior. The Guardian Australia says the French subs use non-weapons grade uranium which must be replaced every ten years (with associated radioactive waste) whereas the US offers sealed reactors which use weapons-grade uranium which means they last the life of the sub – around 33 years.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/17/australia-considered-buying-nuclear-submarines-from-france-before-ditching-deal-peter-dutton-says
Who is to say that by the time the French subs were built French technology would not have developed to the same extent or surpassed it?
So now our hapless, hopeless government has created a diplomatic uproar and for what? Australia has so far “invested” (Scovid’s word) $2.4 billion at least in this aborted project, plus millions in cancellation fees still to be calculated.
This farce of a government has opted for subs that are not yet planned, have no definite costing, will cost far more than the French one and have no delivery date. The Libs also “invested” billions in the F35 project which still has not resulted in planes that are fit for use. All we have is a “trust us” from Biden. Trust the US? Are you kidding!
Michael West –
Bill Maher (new rules 45:35)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQDxkEgsqqM
Rachel Maddow –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhPbVsz1Dhs
Chris Hayes –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMT3vS5z0rQ
Great video from Michael West.
Loved this line especially – “It was a good thing the French, of course, weren’t involved in the deal, in the AUKUS because if the French had been involved in AUKUS we’d be calling it FAUKUS”.
Brilliant!
This deal, of course, was just another announcement. Heaven knows how Scovid got two world leaders to appear at such a fortuitous time – for him anyway – right when he was in all sorts of strife. But somehow he managed. What price did Australia have to pay for his machinations?
I do not think this is the election winner he and his media fluffers hope it will be.
Ah yes, Scott Trump………….
He would have been the Defence Minister when the deal was signed.
No surprise
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/18/coalition-plans-to-scrap-recovery-plans-for-200-endangered-species-and-habitats
After all, Ducky, given we are headed into End Times, why should we give a tinker’s damn for Tasmanian Devils?
Has anyone really listened to the man above this post, jonathan pie? Judging by comments above, are even we ‘tragics’ also preferring to continue studying our ‘navels’ and worry about submarines, rather than the existential threat which jonathon has drawn our attention to, since we don’t seemed to have noticed that either! Thank you, jonathon, I hope your on the ground meetings with Australians are getting the kind of attention you are urging on us. Are you coming to WA? I must seek you out somehow if you do!
I’m paying attention to Jonathan, but the only way to handle climate change is to change the government. Even then, if we succeed, Labor will still support coal mines and gas drilling, despite the dreadful environmental destruction they cause and despite the contribution of these obsolete industries to increasing emissions.
Labor needs to grow a collective spine, Albo could use some balls to replace the ones he lost years ago and Australian voters need to wake up to the damage we are doing to the planet.
I agree 110%.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Tony Wright looks at the consequences of the submarine announcement and the repair work to be done with France.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/do-not-forget-australia-morrison-must-hope-an-old-friendship-holds-20210918-p58str.html
Anthony Galloway shares his opinion that Australia’s foreign policy is getting clumsy and arrogant.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-s-foreign-policy-is-getting-clumsy-and-arrogant-20210918-p58ssr.html
Parliament is full of people who think it their destiny to be prime minister. Christian Porter, a product of the cliquey Perth elite, is a classic example, writes John Faine who tells us all about the man’s troubles. Faine says that it’s not only the blind trust that will end his career, it’s a long list of other failures.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-problems-with-porter-20210917-p58sk1.html
The deputy sheriff rides again with AUKUS, says Cavin Hogue.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-deputy-sheriff-rides-again-with-aukus/
The McGowan government will use its control of Western Australia’s Parliament to adopt a New South Wales-style one-vote, one-value electoral system in the biggest reform to the state’s upper house in its 132-year history.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/western-australia/wa-labor-s-120-year-dream-comes-true-with-one-vote-one-value-reforms-20210915-p58rw4.html
A group of ministers, including Education Minister James Merlino, have been pushing for an early October return to school coinciding with the start of Term Four, but CHO Brett Sutton has resisted.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/sutton-senior-victorian-ministers-disagree-over-school-return-ahead-of-road-map-release-20210918-p58stl.html
Isabelle Lane writes on what Professor Peter Doherty is saying about Australia’s road out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/national/2021/09/19/peter-doherty-covid-interview/
Last year the typical coronavirus patient was older and might have come from a nursing home. This year they are much younger. And this is posing new challenges, explains The Age’s Aisha Dow.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-face-of-the-covid-pandemic-has-fundamentally-changed-in-victoria-20210918-p58ssw.html
Julia Baird wonders if people are slowly burning out as the lockdowns drag on.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/are-we-slowly-burning-out-in-lockdown-20210916-p58sfh.html
If there was a time when journalists had great credibility with audiences, it’s less so today. In this speech delivered to a university media seminar, The Sydney Morning Herald‘s economics editor Ross Gittins explored why.
https://johnmenadue.com/why-journalists-have-a-trust-problem/
Australians are working from home much more because of the pandemic – and it sucks, declares Greg Jericho.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/commentisfree/2021/sep/19/australians-are-working-from-home-much-more-because-of-the-pandemic-and-it-sucks
Andrew Taylor reports that more than 140 inmates at the privately-run Parklea Correctional Centre have contracted COVID-19, sparking concerns about a lack of transparency around the management of the virus in prisons.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/one-in-ten-parklea-prison-inmates-has-covid-19-unable-to-call-relatives-20210917-p58smk.html
Ten police have been injured, six taken to hospital and 235 demonstrators arrested after authorities used capsicum spray on groups of anti-lockdown protesters who broke through police lines near Richmond early on Saturday afternoon.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/travel-into-melbourne-blocked-as-police-prepare-for-anti-lockdown-protesters-20210918-p58srx.html
Peter FitzSimons outlines his interview with John Barilaro who told him that he thought most Nationals MPs would support the voluntary assisted dying bill. An interesting interaction! He also blasts General Angus Campbell for what he describes as a blatant political endorsement of the PM’s AUKUS action.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/john-barilaro-surprises-on-right-to-die-law-for-nsw-20210917-p58shf.html
The Australasian Catholic Coalition for Church Reform is very concerned at the confusing vaccination leadership from the Catholic Church in Australia.
https://johnmenadue.com/kim-chen-catholic-leaders-irresponsible-vaccine-statements-put-vulnerable-at-risk/
Australian immigration laws are excessively harsh and our Immigration Minister has near-unchecked power in detaining migrants, writes Lina Li.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-australian-immigration-prison-system,15526
Cartoon Corner
Alan Moir
Peter Broelman
Matt Golding
Mark Knight
Dionne Gain
From the US
https://johnmenadue.com/nuclear-powered-submarines-are-just-bad-defence-policy/
This is a very good point.
However – we know the Libs now believe a university education should only be for those wealthy enough to pay the full cost up front, and especially not for women. Menzies, who set up merit-based Commonwealth scholarships to address a need for more university graduates, would be disgusted.
Some reading –
https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1718/Chronology/StudentIncomeSupport
tlbd
Another cutest of cute pic for you.
We can thank Queensland for voting these loons into parliament.
My brain hurts. I just can’t keep up with these towering intellects.
Yes it is very unusual , normally they are kept secret from the public Simon ?
Or maybe not.
As sword-falling-on it’s not exactly seppuku.
No grace whatsoever.
Maybe Porter’s demotion is just Scovid clearing the embarrassments before an election, maybe not.
This government thinks voters have memories like goldfish so how long before Porter is restored to the front bench?
Bad news for another major regional Victorian city, looks like it’s spread to Bendigo.
https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/7436718/list-of-exposure-sites-added-in-bendigo/?cs=12
They’ll probably be in lockdown as well by tomorrow.
I feel so sorry for Victoria and Dan the man their major issue is it’s close porximity to NSW and the feds refusing to pay folks to stay off work and isolate.
My theory is that morriscum is enacting his policy of attaining herd immunity by allowing covid to run rampant by stealth. Sod the working poor, the aged and the immunocompromised, let them fall by the wayside and become collateral damage.
What a bloody sad state of affairs.
Flimflam man believes The End Times are imminent and that he has a ticket on the Rapture bus so he wouldn’t give a shit about the rest of us.
So sad that the career of Mr FIGJAM personified has …………
https://www.themandarin.com.au/150633-christian-porter-the-unshakeable-belief-of-a-white-man-born-to-rule/
I weep.
https://antonygreen.com.au/covid19-set-to-change-state-representation-after-2022-election/
https://fb.watch/86PlyKGzkK/
hmm did not come out exactly as I wanted.
Facebook Watch does not work on PCs, only on mobiles and smart TVs.
The best way to post a Facebook video here is to go to Facebook on your PC, find the relevant person and their video, watching it on full page, then copy and paste the address at The Pub.. This works for me.
Julian Hill, today –
Keenan’s comments –
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/former-government-minister-offers-explosive-character-assessment-of-scott-morrison-in-new-book-20190630-p522sy.html
While I’m a little downcast on Labor’s numbers going backwards in this poll, I still remain hopeful of a favourable result at the next election because it’s still 53-47, only a 1 point difference in a very chaotic period from the last polls, and that in itself looks like just maybe this is an electorate determined to throw out Scummo’s mob no matter the virtual Nuremberg Rallies that Murdoch provides them regularly through their Newscorp outlets.
In the next week though I’ll be paying attention to what happens in Canada on Tuesday and Germany next Monday, since they are significant elections happening in the next week.
😆 Porter ‘sacrifices’ himself for the donors. What a noble act 😆
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Shane Wright looks at the growing level of mortgage stress and the way the tax system in influencing. But no major party has the inclination to do anything about it.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/mortgage-stress-soars-as-rba-says-tax-system-pushes-up-house-prices-20210919-p58sw3.html
Nick Bonyhady and Shane Wright tell us about Christian Porter and his resignation from the ministry.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/christian-porter-resigns-from-front-bench-20210919-p58szq.html
Here’s what Amy Remeikis had to say about it.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/19/christian-porter-takes-appropriate-action-by-quitting-as-minister-scott-morrison-says
Josh Butler writes that Labor is still demanding to know where the money came from and how much Mr Porter received, claiming the situation was “absurd”.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/09/19/christian-porter-blind-trust-resignation/
Last week’s nuclear submarine pageant has made the state of Australia’s federation even clearer than it was: The federal government runs external affairs while domestically the nation is now a series of fiefdoms run by warlords (premiers), says Alan Kohler.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2021/09/20/state-premiers-morrison-alan-kohler/
The AUSUK security pact is another provocative alliance that can only end in blood and tears. And for no good reason other than a nostalgic addiction to imperial power, opines Joseph Camilleri.
https://johnmenadue.com/ausuk-security-pact-a-story-of-recklessness-and-delusion/
Michelle Grattan begins this article with, “Scott Morrison, whose COVID face masks have the Australian flag emblazoned on them, likes to talk about “the Australian way” of doing things and Australian values. But it is not “the Australian way” to secretly plan, over a very long time, to deceive a close friend of this country, and then to treat them in a most humiliating and disdainful manner. That does not align with “Australian values” of honesty and fair dealing.”
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/09/20/view-from-the-hill-for-morrison-aukus-is-all-about-the-deal-never-mind-the-niceties/
Michael Pascoe asks, “Who sold the nuclear submarines – and our sovereignty?”
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/09/20/nuclear-submarines-sovereignty-pascoe/
In what must be a massive frustration for federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese, another ALP factional fight has broken into civil war on the Left, distracting attention away from the clear failures of the Morrison government, writes Emma Dawson.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/left-s-identity-politics-crisis-a-progressive-problem-20210918-p58suc.html
The coronavirus pandemic is revealing just how deadly the NSW government’s attitude towards high-density apartment communities could be. It is a simple fact that strata living presents a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission than in freestanding homes, explains Jane Hearn.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/covid-secrecy-could-spell-disaster-for-apartment-residents-20210919-p58swc.html
Liam Mannix tells us that modelling conducted for the Victorian government predicts its road map out of lockdown has a better than one-in-two chance of exceeding the state’s hospital and ICU capacity and will lead to the deaths of between 1455 and 3152 people.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/hospitals-likely-overwhelmed-road-map-modelling-shows-20210919-p58sz8.html
The Doherty Institute’s Sharon Lewin tells us that Victoria’s roadmap to reopening will see its hard work pay off. It’s a good call to arms, this.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-s-roadmap-to-reopening-will-see-our-hard-work-pay-off-20210919-p58t0j.html
The New Daily reports that Victorian businesses have described the state’s roadmap out of lockdown as a “roadblock” and say it is too conservative compared to NSW’s path to freedom.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2021/09/20/coronavirus-victoria-roadblock-to-opening-up/
Jennifer Duke explains the economic consequences of working from home that no one is talking about.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-economic-consequences-of-working-from-home-that-no-one-is-talking-about-20210916-p58s4g.html
Some of Victoria’s most marginalised citizens are caught up in a dispute as rival disability accommodation and support businesses fight for the right to access their funding packages under the NDIS. Isn’t privatisation grand!
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/ugly-turf-war-as-service-providers-tussle-over-ndis-clients-with-disabilities-20210919-p58syy.html
Big pharma is fiercely opposing measures to scale up production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world. This corporate genocide must be named. David Legge says it’s time to stop protecting crooks.
https://johnmenadue.com/genocide-by-big-pharma-millions-will-die/
The federal government is preparing for the cost of its planned fleet of nuclear-powered submarines to easily surpass $100 billion, putting pressure on a budget already reeling from the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/subs-set-to-sail-past-100-billion-as-defence-call-on-budget-grows-20210917-p58sj4.html
Greg Sheridan gets right to the point in telling us that the French have no right to be aggrieved.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/aukus-alliance-french-submarine-fury-is-a-farce/news-story/556f5967656ef039a21d5389285b7065
Australia plans to lease and share existing nuclear-powered submarines years before acquisition, narrowing a risk the American or British subs arrive too late to counter China’s rapid military expansion in the Indo-Pacific.
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/leased-submarines-to-fill-security-gap-20210919-p58syl
Peter Hannam reports that the NSW government sought to increase the amount of water permitted to be extracted from the Murray-Darling Basin, revealing in an email that the Commonwealth body in charge was “desperately afraid” of the media coverage when the plan was made public. What a racket!
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/sustainability/nsw-sought-to-beat-basin-plan-water-limits-20210919-p58szi.html
It’s not often a court case has a date set aside for an appeal before the first judge has made their decision. But a case heard in the Federal Court last week into business interruption insurance has done just that, writes Adele Ferguson about a Covid-19 business interruption insurance test case.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/insurers-set-for-covid-claims-appeal-20210919-p58sy4
Education Minister Alan Tudge should look closely at history before criticising expert’s proposed curriculum changes, suggesting school students challenge ideas about Anzac Day, writes Dechlan Brennan.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/tudge-sore-over-suggestion-we-question-anzac-day,15528
The government is putting another $150 million towards hydrogen industry hubs as it burnishes its environment credentials ahead of a UN conference.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/government-sinks-another-150-million-into-hydrogen-industry-20210919-p58sym.html
A small group of powerful men, and increasingly women, dominate the boards of Australia’s biggest companies. And some fear the group is too small, writes Anne Hyland.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/board-games-is-a-cosy-directors-club-a-risk-to-corporate-australia-20210906-p58p4z.html
Oh dear! Clarence House is facing fresh questions over further revelations in the royal “cash-for-honours” scandal involving middlemen who reportedly took cuts for setting up meetings between wealthy donors and the Prince of Wales.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/sep/19/prince-charles-cash-for-honours-scandal-grows-with-fresh-allegations
Cartoon Corner
Alan Moir
David Rowe
Peter Broelman
Jim Pavlidis
Matt Golding
Michael Leunig
Warren Brown
Lethebridge
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
Fans of Nirvana may not be pleased with this NZ cartoon. 🙂
Nice snark from Matilda
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2021/sep/20/australia-covid-updates-live-coronavirus-sydney-melbourne-nsw-victoria-gladys-berejiklian-scott-morrison#comments
It’s beyond me what triggers TGA to close comments.
“The government is putting another $150 million towards hydrogen industry hubs as it burnishes its environment credentials ahead of a UN conference.”
At first glance that sounds like a great idea, but as usual with the mob of shonks pretending to be the Australian government things are not what they seem.
There are three ways hydrogen can be made. The clean and most expensive way known as “green” hydrogen, the dirty kind, known as “grey” hydrogen and the allegedly cleaner version known as “blue” hydrogen. The green way uses water, splitting it with electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen. This process can and should use electricity from renewable sources so the process creates minimal emissions. The “grey” kind is made using natural gas and produces lots of carbon emissions, far more emissions than the amount of hydrogen produced. .The “blue” way also uses gas but relies on discredited (because no-one can make it work) carbon capture and storage and still creates high emissions.
Guess which method the shonks will pour money into?
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimmagill/2021/02/22/blue-vs-green-hydrogen-which-will-the-market-choose/?sh=697a8d443878
150 million shades of grey.
https://www.theshovel.com.au/2021/09/19/a-statement-about-our-donation-to-christian-porters-blind-trust/
Matilda was right
Well done, Scovid!
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-australia-trade-deal-runs-aground-over-submarine-furor/
It is not just the French who are annoyed.
Despite whatever Greg Sheridan says the French have every right to feel “aggrieved”, Our shonky government didn’t even have the manners to explain why they were pulling out of the deal. This is not the way to handle international diplomacy.
To make things worse it seems the secret negotiations between the US and Australia had been going on for 18 months.
https://www.politico.eu/article/france-ambassador-australia-jean-pierre-thebault-submarine-contract-strategic-partnership-treason/
If true (and why wouldn’t it be) that means negotiations began with the Trump administration, to be expected since Scovid was completely in thrall to Trump and would do whatever he asked.
Jonathan Pie –
friendlyjordies –
Brian Tyler Cohen –