PANTS ON FIRE!
Tony Burke’s 5 and 5.
The 5 Best and 5 Worst of the week in Australian politics, written by Hon Tony Burke MP. Member for Watson NSW, Manager of Opposition Business for the Australian Labor Party in the Federal House of Representatives.
We need to talk about Scott.
Usually when someone makes a terrible mistake you can see the embarrassment on their face. But Scott seemed happy. He felt invincible, like a genius. After one of the worst weeks I’ve ever seen a government have.
So as you read this week’s #5and5 just remember this: Scott thought he did really well.
BEST
- The Muppet Show Sequel
- Morrison’s character
- Cost of living
- Same job, same pay
- Tony Smith’s farewell
WORST
- Hawaii lie
- Civil disobedience
- Corruption
- “Made up issue”
- Christian Porter
The Best:
1. Chaos. Everywhere. And Anthony Albanese summed it up beautifully in a speech at the end of the week. He recalled when Mr Morrison described his own side as a Muppet show: “Well he is now the Muppet-In-Chief. And the theme song to The Muppet Show goes like this: it’s like a kind of torture to have to watch the show.”
2. Every day this week we zeroed in on Mr Morrison’s character. The challenge when we were organising question time each day was choosing among the long list of Morrison lies.
Why did he and his office repeatedly lie about going to Hawaii while the country burned?
Why did he lie about electric vehicles?
Why did he lie about battery power?
Why did he lie about vaccine mandates?
Why did he lie about inviting his friend Brian Houston to the White House?
In response Mr Morrison just ducked and dissembled – and even bowled up some brand new lies. As Richard Marles asked on Thursday: “If the Prime Minister has no regard for what he said in the past why should Australians have regard for what he’s saying now?”
3. While the government was focused on itself we focused on the economy and the cost of living – things that matter to everyday Australians. Anthony, Amanda Rishworth, Kristy McBain and Susan Templeman asked why under this government petrol prices were surging by $900 a year for an average family – but real wages have fallen by $700. Josh Frydenberg tried to pivot to the government’s economic record, so Jim Chalmers asked: “Can the current Treasurer name any other Treasurer in the last 100 years that has a worse record than him on waste, rorts, debt, deficits, annual growth and real wages?” Frydenberg could not.
4. On Monday Anthony and Labor’s Meryl Swanson introduced a “same job, same pay” Private Members’ Bill to crack down on dodgy labour hire firms that are undercutting wages and conditions in mining and across the economy. Throughout the week we presented real life examples of labour hire workers getting ripped off to the tune of hundreds of dollars a week. We need to stop permanent jobs being replaced with lower paid casual jobs.
5. Monday was Tony Smith’s last day as Speaker. He’s from the other side of politics of course but few would dispute that Smith brought order, fairness, dignity and integrity back to the chair after the Bronwyn Bishop days. He belongs in the “best” column even though we’re sorry to see him go.
The Worst:
1. Mr Morrison’s character was on full display on Monday. Labor’s Fiona Phillips asked: “When my electorate was burning the Prime Minister’s office told journalists he was not on holiday in Hawaii. Why did the Prime Minister’s office say that when it wasn’t true?” Mr Morrison responded by trying to blame Labor – claiming he’d told Anthony Albanese ahead of time where he was going. If that was true it would be irrelevant. But it wasn’t true at all. Mr Morrison was trying to wriggle out of his lies by telling more lies. He had to have two goes at correcting the record because he’s pathologically incapable of admitting fault or taking responsibility.
2. The LNP’s George Christensen stood up in the House on Wednesday and likened state premiers to “Stalin, Mao, Hitler and Pol Pot” – and then openly encouraged “civil disobedience” against their pandemic health orders. A few minutes later we asked Mr Morrison about these inflammatory and dangerous comments and he refused to even condemn Mr Christensen by name. Watch here.
3. On Thursday things went from bad to worse for the government. Supported by Labor, independent MP Helen Haines moved a motion to suspend standing orders to debate her bill for a federal anti-corruption body. In a totally unprecedented move a Liberal MP, Bridget Archer, seconded the motion and crossed the floor to support it. That means we had the numbers on the floor. After the vote the new Speaker Andrew Wallace declared that we’d won – but then saying we needed to vote again. That led to complete chaos on the floor as the government tried to get its act together and figure out what to do next. There was around ten minutes where we all sat in the chamber and nothing happened. No one spoke. Just. Nothing. Eventually the vote happened again and this time the requirement to have an absolute majority of 76 votes was invoked which mean even though we had more votes, we didn’t win. There’s one simple take out from all this, the only way to have an anti-corruption commission is to change the government.
https://www.tonyburke.com.au/view5and5
4. We asked the government about the Same Job Same Pay legislation that Anthony Albanese had introduced on Monday. What was the government’s response? Paul Fletcher – who represents the Invisible Industrial Relations Minister Michaelia Cash in the lower house – just arrogantly dismissed the labour hire rorts as a “made up issue”. I bet it doesn’t feel “made up” to the workers getting paid less every day or the families struggling to pay the bills. It only feels “made up” to a Government that is completely out of touch with the concerns of workers.
5. A few weeks ago the government took the completely unprecedented step of voting against a parliamentary inquiry into Christian Porter’s anonymous donations even though Tony Smith supported a referral. With a new Speaker in the chair I gave it another go. Mr Wallace rejected our request. So we are left with a situation where MPs can take large anonymous cash donations to pay for private bills. It’s beyond belief.
We’re back next week for the final sitting week of the year.
‘til then,
Tony
PS Song of the week goes to one of the early punk albums. It includes the perfect line “broke a confidence just to please your ego”. The song is called Liar. And while I never thought I’d say this: in honour of Scott Morrison, here’s the Sex Pistols
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY7EPE9biO0.
https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=D
From Tony Burke’s Weekly Email., thank you Mr Burke.
Courtesy CK Watt who found this. In this political week
CK Watt, Tony Burke’s ‘5 and 5’ is too good to leave buried in the comments!
THE PUB 
Ah, good ol’ Mr Day Late Dollar Short. Too late again. Nice to see he also had another swipe at WA.Those silly Sandgropers are missing out on all the Domicron fun .
Dr Dan Suan’s Omicron warning is 19 minutes long
Omicron
1. much more contagious
2. infects anyone not healthy & triple vaccinated
3. unknown disease severity
==> huge outbreak will lead large # people needing hospitalisation
==> health care workers will get sick
4. early observations are Omicron hospitalises more kids
recommends 5 actions for this week
1. wear mask indoors
2. reconsider events this week to stay away
3. any symptoms, must get tested & isolate, if test positive tell your contacts – NSW
4. get booster
5. talk about Xmas which family members unvaxxed or vulnerable
celebrate outside
do a rapid antigen test before go to Xmas functions
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=daskJMeud8A
All the lies are in this thread –
Listening to RN this afternoon on the way home this little snippet provoked an interesting thought. The guest mentioned some famous historian/writer (didn’t catch name) who said that the reason Rome fell was because they defeated Carthage. It meant they were left without an enemy to keep them up to the mark . Could that be what we are witnessing with the US after the fall of the Soviet Union ?
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/20/a-lot-of-the-worlds-problems-could-be-solved-if-somebody-asked-the-penguins
Here’s hoping it’s a trend
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/19/leftist-gabriel-boric-elected-as-chiles-president
Germany did it.
C’mon Aussie c’mon!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/20/who-is-gabriel-boric-the-radical-student-leader-who-will-be-chiles-next-president
Love it!
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
FWIW, Katherine Murphy discusses the results of the latest essential poll.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/21/morrisons-approval-dives-over-vaccine-rollout-grants-and-brittany-higgins-fallout-poll-suggests
In advice to national cabinet, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee warned Omicron could “strain health system capacity” even if the variant caused milder illness.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/atagi-to-consider-three-dose-vaccine-schedule-as-states-push-for-earlier-boosters-20211220-p59j2l.html
Epidemiology Professor David Hunter tell us that Omicron demands difficult public health decisions, sooner or later.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/omicron-demands-difficult-public-health-decisions-sooner-or-later-20211218-p59ip7.html
There’s been a narrative that Omicron may be milder than previous strains. But scientists say they don’t actually know this yet. And even if it is, we could still be facing a big problem for the health system, writes Aisha Dow.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/we-still-don-t-know-the-most-important-thing-about-omicron-20211220-p59ix6.html
Surging demand at Covid testing clinics across Australia has led to waiting times of up to five days for results, with travellers now worried they won’t get a negative result in time to travel across state borders for Christmas.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/20/covid-test-result-waiting-times-blow-out-to-five-days-threatening-interstate-christmas-reunions
In Adelaide, patient motorists at Victoria Park reported waiting up to eight hours for a Covid test overnight. It comes as the opposition slams the state government for delays in updating exposure sites. Surely this is an indication of a collapsed system.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/motorists-at-victoria-park-report-waiting-eight-hours-for-covid-test/news-story/209a6e9c07f959b6733bea098d78e8ef
Michael Pascoe despairs in writing, “Here is the COVID policy disconnect: While it’s “let it rip”, “personal responsibility”, “everyone’s going to be exposed so take your vaccinated chances” for most people, there are thousands of little old ladies and men being locked up to avoid political embarrassment.” He’s talking about our aged care facilities.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/12/21/michael-pascoe-covid-disconnect-aged-care/
Kerryn Phelps is concerned that as Perrottet congratulates NSW he is condemning it to COVID chaos.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/kerryn-phelps-perrottet-congratulates-nsw–condemns-to-covid-chaos,15873
Restoration of the indoor mask mandate and temporary caps on large indoor gatherings could help prevent the need for harsher restrictions that would cause greater damage to the NSW economy, urges the editorial in the SMH.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/a-temporary-return-to-masks-and-lower-density-gatherings-is-needed-20211219-p59iv2.html
Worryingly, the AFR tells us that more than one in two people eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot have not come forward for their third dose, contradicting statements from Greg Hunt and Scott Morrison that up to 80 per cent of eligible Australians have received a booster.
https://www.afr.com/politics/not-on-track-just-45pc-of-eligible-adults-have-got-a-booster-shot-20211220-p59izq
Crispin Hull writes that the Coalition’s shameful grants must be exposed for what they are. He says the fact that Scott Morrison defended the spending makes it worse, and indicates that he would again gladly indulge in this corrupting conduct in the lead up to the next election.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7558496/the-coalitions-shameful-grants-must-be-exposed-for-what-they-are/?cs=14264
Katina Curtis reports that part-time members at the AAT, the tribunal that reviews government decisions, will now have to track their hours using timesheets after the Auditor-General raised questions about how much some had been paid.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/tribunal-takes-legal-advice-shifts-to-timesheets-after-audit-of-part-time-pay-20211220-p59j04.html
In this op-ed, Zoe Daniel explains that she is running as an independent because the cost of inaction is too high. She says, “I am no radical. I hold the same beliefs as so many in my electorate. Smart, economically-focused climate policy is not radical. Transparent use of taxpayers’ money is not radical. Nor are genuine equality and safety for women. An integrity commission to hold politicians accountable is not radical. Accountability is not negotiable.”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/i-m-running-as-an-independent-because-the-cost-of-inaction-is-too-high-20211219-p59is4.html
The push to elect independent — mainly female — candidates in Coalition seats in 2022 will partly rely on co-operation from “the other side”, explains Noel Turnbull who says that Labor supporters can tip balance towards independents through tactical voting.
https://johnmenadue.com/tactical-voting-labor-supporters-can-tip-balance-towards-independents/
Lawyers for Shane Bazzi, who was found to have defamed the Defence Minister in a six-word tweet, have filed a notice of appeal in the Federal Court.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/refugee-advocate-files-appeal-over-peter-dutton-s-35-000-defamation-win-20211220-p59j1y.html
Well-being and security for all or wealth and privilege for a few – Labor and the LNP are far from the same, writes Kaye Lee.
https://theaimn.com/well-being-and-security-for-all-or-wealth-and-privilege-for-a-few-labor-and-the-lnp-are-far-from-the-same/
Coking coal is headed the way of thermal coal, despite the present frenzy in exports and coal company profits. Diplomatic tension between China and Australia, pressure to act on climate, and the rise in scrap steel recycling, mean banks are running out of excuses to finance “methane super-emitters”. Energy finance analysts Simon Nicholas and Soroush Basirat on the findings of a special investigation into recycling.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/twilight-of-the-coal-boom-as-banks-run-out-of-excuses-to-fund-coking-coal/
Under an agreement with the federal government, Incitec Pivot, a $6 billion ASX-listed manufacturer of fertilisers and explosives, said it would conduct trials and seek to scale up manufacturing of significant quantities of refined urea to produce the diesel exhaust fluid AdBlue at Brisbane’s Gibson Island plant.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/australian-fertiliser-giant-working-around-the-clock-to-help-prevent-adblue-shortage-20211220-p59j1e.html
A parliamentary committee on human rights will hold its first hearing today as the federal government says it remains committed to legislating protections for Australians with religious beliefs. The eight-and-a-half hour hearing is due to be fronted by organisations including the Australian Discrimination Law Experts Group, Australian Christian Lobby, Australian Federation of Islamic Councils, Equality Australia and the Human Rights Law Alliance.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7559581/religious-freedom-laws-go-under-microscope/?cs=14329
The Diversity Council of Australia, made up of big companies and faith-based organisations, says Scott Morrison’s religious freedom laws are ‘bad for business’. They believe that the “statement of belief” provision contained in the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 could be used as a smokescreen for harassment, homophobia and sexism.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/religious-freedom-bill-is-bad-for-business-20211220-p59iyq
The “really incredible” deal Trump signed with his “very, very good friend” Xi Jinping has turned out to be rather one-sided and, for the US, self-destructive, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz as the deal is set to expire.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/biden-boxed-in-as-trump-s-big-beautiful-monster-of-a-trade-deal-with-china-expires-20211220-p59iwe.html
It’s not good enough to blame Joe Manchin for failures when Biden isn’t using the full scope of presidential powers to help ordinary Americans. Explains Ross Barkan.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/20/joe-biden-must-use-his-presidential-powers-to-deliver-on-his-promises
Donald Trump revealed he received a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, drawing boos from a crowd in Dallas. What a buggered-up nation!
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-tells-audience-he-got-covid-19-booster-shot-crowd-boos-him-20211221-p59j5f.html
Why are US rightwingers so angry? It’s because they know social change is coming, writes Rebecca Solnit.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/20/rightwingers-us-social-change-coming
Donald Trump is increasingly agitated by the House select committee investigating the Capitol attack, according to sources familiar with the matter, and appears anxious he might be implicated in the sprawling inquiry into the insurrection even as he protests his innocence.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/20/capitol-attack-investigation-closes-in-trump
Now Trump is suing New York Attorney-General Letitia James, seeking to stop her civil fraud investigation into his company.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/trump-sues-new-york-attorney-general-to-block-probe-of-his-businesses-20211221-p59j5a.html
Cartoon Corner
Peter Broelman
John Shakespeare
Joe Benke
Matt Golding
David Rowe
Cathy Wilcox
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
John Spooner
From the US
Omicron may (allegedly) ne less severe in adults but not for children.
Also from Dr Feigl-Ding, a long and detailed thread, with links and diagrams, on the potential of Omicron. It’s alarming and contains a lot of information.
Eric Feigl-Ding(@DrEricDing) is well worth following if you use Twitter.
Dr Norman Swan is absolutely correct. It’s about time someone prominent said this.
OMG
Which translated into English reads
,
…..a letter written by Mr Morrison to state and territory leaders which insists it is imperative for Australians to not think he has any responsibility for their health system . #9News
They have an excellent track record, barely a day goes by without them setting a new track record. Just today they set another record. Yay for Premier Domicrom Cilice
.
NSW has recorded 3057 new COVID-19 cases, an increase from 2501 on Monday,
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-records-3057-covid-cases-as-leaders-push-faster-booster-shots-20211221-p59j6m.html
True!
Today’s record is a stunner, in the worst possible way – 3,057 new cases, more than double Victoria’s case number.
For days now NSW has beaten Victoria on setting records. How good is that!
Apparently it’s “Gravy Day” today, the reason for Mark Knight’s cartoon.
I’d never heard of “How To Make Gravy” until two years ago, me not being a Paul Kelly fan at all, so I listened. It was the most boring song I’d heard in a long time, I couldn’t bear listening to all of it.
If I had to choose a sentimental Australian Christmas song (sentimental songs are not my thing at all) it would be “White Wine in the Sun” by Tim Minchin.
Not only that – adding to the appeal is this note on Tim’s YouTube channel –
So here you go – an antidote to “How To Make Gravy” –
Lovely photo, and that bub looks so comfortable.
If that were Scovid the kid would be bawling.
Babies know when they are safe. In the interests of fairness (a concept totally unknown to Scovid) I tried to find a photo of Scovid with a baby who seemed happy to be cuddled – I couldn’t find one.
The picture of Albo reminded me of this recent article from NZ. The look of curiosity (?) on the baby looking at hi great grandfather seems to say so much. Some of the reminiscences may remind people of Xmases long gone. My granddad was an Alf and probably felt like this Alf 🙂
https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/latest/126683421/christmas-with-my-grandad-a-man-who-just-wanted-it-over-and-done-with
Gosh that Mordor Media crew are ‘subtle’ @ The Australian. Top left headline…
Right next to this picture.
A trip down memory lane. Back to when we were younger and covid was ‘fresh and new’
.
.
Coronavirus pandemic inevitable says Scott Morrison
Friday, 28 February 2020 6:30 AM AEDT
“There is no need for us to be moving to having mass gatherings of people stop,” he said.“You can still go to the football and the cricket and ……………
.
The US may have just recorded the first case of ‘community spread’ coronavirus.”
https://7news.com.au/travel/coronavirus/coronavirus-pandemic-inevitable-says-scott-morrison-c-719483
https://www.crikey.com.au/2021/12/21/democracy-lost-bridget-mckenzie/
Rachel Maddow – (geddit while it’s hot)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pGm-LQj9wk
Chris Hayes –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAN2dkuETXg
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Our CHO is on the job and our government is taking notice of her, as it has all the way through. Kerryn Coleman rocks.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7560329/
Die Hard is on my list of best Christmas movies, along with Gremlins.
I’m happy to admit to having weird taste.
You are not the only one whose family considers Die Hard a Christmas movie. So are the others in that franchise, Also almost anything from the Marvel universe movies. Star Trek or Lord of the Rings/ Hobbit are Boxing Day movies
Nice to know some police have good taste for Christmas #wry_grin
Good to know I’m not the only one here.
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 A man who so assiduously avoids “responsibility’ must have more front than Myers to turn around and tell Australia this with a straight face ………
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/coronavirus/national-medical-expert-panel-pushes-for-compulsory-face-coverings-in-most-indoor-areas/news-story/1c6b6c88e4f65104f5a655b0f2e32121
Another Liberal nut case
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/liberals-select-christian-porter-replacement-for-wa-seat-of-pearce-20211221-p59j8u.html
A little humour
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2021/dec/20/an-ashes-whitewash-looked-far-fetched-two-weeks-ago-but-england-are-in-mess-australia-cricket
Yankees start trying to destroy his presidency in 5,4,3,2…….
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Left-Wing Millennial Gabriel Boric, 35, Is Voted Chile’s Youngest President And Vows To Tax The ‘Super Rich’
A left-wing millennial who rose to prominence during anti-government protests was elected Chile’s next president on Sunday, after a bruising campaign against a free-market firebrand likened to former US president Donald Trump.
With 56 per cent of the votes, Gabriel Boric, 35, handily defeated by more than 10 points opponent Jose Antonio Kast, 55, who tried unsuccessfully to scare voters that his young, inexperienced opponent would upend Chile’s vaunted record as Latin America’s most stable, advanced economy.
In a model of democratic civility that broke from the polarising rhetoric of the campaign, Mr Kast immediately recognised defeat, tweeting a photo of himself on the phone with his opponent congratulating him on his ‘grand triumph’.
http://www.womensystems.com/2021/12/left-wing-millennial-gabriel-boric-35.html
Ordinarily I enjoy their content, but I’ve been deeply bothered by TheJuiceMedia’s latest campaign for a hung parliament, declaring Labor as a whole being the Shit-lite party.
I don’t disagree with what they want as policy outcomes – yes I want a better carbon reduction target, but they’re ignoring the other outcomes of such a result in the 2022 election.
If they get what they want – a minority government propped up by the teal independents, yes, that might result in good climate change and anti-corruption results. But it would also be a repeat of the 2010-2013 Gillard minority government being ripped to shreds both inside and outside with brinkmanship actions that would outrage the average swing voter into the same conclusion that they came to at the 2013 election – “Vote this mob out.”
As Albanese tries his best to keep everyone supporting his minority government satisfied, every mainstream news report would begin with either the words “It’s been a disastrous day for the Labor Government…” or “Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says…” while Allegra Spender and Zoe Daniels get the same attention as Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott get for a little while, then when they’re both ejected in the 2025 landslide back to a majority Coalition government led by Peter Dutton that probably won’t be removed until 2034 (with probably Frydenberg replacing him once the electorate realize they’re disgusted by the spud), they’ll be irrelevant and Australia will be even worse off than it is now. And they’ll just undo or sabotage everything the 2022-2025 government achieved with a 2026 horror budget or something.
And that’s not even involving the other house that they fail to mention – the Senate. In order to even pass progressive legislation, Labor would need to gain 3-4 seats, and that won’t happen with a mediocre result that would result in them failing to gain a majority in the lower house.
Kirsdarke – I agree with you. I have voted indie in federal elections since 2008, when Rob Oakeshott contested a by-election caused by Mark Vaile’s resignation. But this time I’m voting Labor.
Why?
Because a change of government to a real Labor government is essential. Australia does not need a hung parliament where those controlling the government are mostly disgruntled Liberals who may well rejoin that party once they have managed to get their one reason for running passed. They will, I strongly suspect, tend to vote with the Coalition on everything but climate change and a federal ICAC.
No-one ever mentions the Senate, which is a shame. The Reps can do what they like, but it is the Senate which ultimately decides which bills will pass. The Senate also has the power to make regulations, something the current government is very good at doing.
Kirsdarke
Labor worked hard to get that title and deserve it. Such has their keenness to reduce differences between them and the barbarians. Smart politics being ‘slightly less shit than the other lot’ ……………………..apparently. Minority governments can work. NZ had one from the 90s until the last election. Did they go to hell in a handbasket ? Apparently not. I hope there are lots of independents. It might get the slack arses in the majors to stop taking their voters for granted. Make them actually give a voter a reason to vote for them.
Yes, I know Labor hasn’t exactly showered itself in glory lately, but it’s the policy outcomes that I want more than their success.
Look at the USA. The Democrats barely scraped across the line. Yes they’re in power, but not enough to get their promised policies legislated, now most people frigging hate them and seem set to vote for outright fascism as a response.
I entered my introduction into politics all starry eyed when my first vote helped Labor win the 2007 election and life in general got better, but now it’s all gone to shit with the Coalition getting more and more corrupt, yet they win again and again.
Yes, a minority Labor government could get a lot of good done if propped up by climate concerned teal independents, but what happens next after 3 years of hysterical opposition from the Coalition and Murdoch? Labor can’t do anything about it, they wouldn’t get the numbers in the senate to overcome the LNP and One Nation if they fail to win 4 or more seats than they do now. It’ll be a repeat of the 2013 election, Dutton or Frydenberg would come to power and they’ll enthusiastically undo or sabotage everything achieved by Labor in 2022-2025.
That’s also something we have that New Zealand doesn’t – the Senate, and that makes it a whole lot more difficult for an Australian Labor prime minister to achieve what Jacinda Adern has.
Kirsdarke at 8:10 PM
I have sfa trust in the US Dems after Bubba Clinton. Best Republican president eva ! Good ‘ol Joe, for decades, was the guy guiding their ‘cunning plan’ to out flank the Repugs on the right. Especially in the areas of crime, welfare and drugs. Guess what communities paid for those frolics ? Did I mention his vital work in enabling the bullshit WMD lie in Iraq and its enabling Dubya’s Iraq war disaster ? His record is a shocker. Yaaay he’s not as shit as Trump. Now there’s a low bar.
Yeah I know Biden is pretty much garbage as a progressive president, but the point I was trying to make is that what other option do people like us, who want progressive political outcomes have? Pine for the fjords?
I can see what’s coming if we don’t grit our teeth and hold up what we can against the fash. What good did all the protest votes do in the end in the final years of the Weimar German government? It ended with Hitler being made Chancellor, followed by the enabling act, followed by the night of the long knives, followed by the Nuremberg laws, followed by Kristallnacht followed by World War 2 and the holocaust.
Sure all those purist voters of 1932 got something of what they wanted in the end, but only after 17 years including the total destruction of their country, persecution, exile and execution of most of those politically aligned with them with millions of other innocents, and only after 4 years further when they were even allowed to hold elections again.
I see that kind of energy in the world right now. They stand up at their far right rallies and ask “When do we get to start killing our political opponents?!” and that question is responded with cheering. What am I meant to make of that? Am I supposed to spit at Anthony Albanese for not being pure enough?
Kirsdarke at 9:19 PM
Biden doesn’t bother me because I’m still standing by my prediction that the re-election of Dubya was an inflection point that signalled the start of the irreversible slide of the US Empire. It might have been the first one but in re electing him they doomed themselves. Now to work on living another 200 years to see how far off the mark I was 😆
Well, whatever happens in the USA will most likely happen here. I’ve been watching those cultists waving their Trump flags and their death threats against Labor politicians in Melbourne without effective backlash for months now, in fact they’ve been mostly encouraged by much of the media, and I’m frankly horrified.
Now is not the time to show national leadership
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Morrison has indicated mass vaccination hubs will be key to getting booster shots to millions of Australians under a recalibration of the program as state and federal governments weigh up modelling showing thousands could be hospitalised daily at the peak of the Omicron wave. NSW and Victoria are at odds over calls to reintroduce mask mandates but support a faster booster rollout.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/booster-program-shifts-focus-to-state-clinics-in-light-of-omicron-wave-20211221-p59jag.html
In this stylish contribution on the latest Covid development, Julie Szego writes, “In Australia, our COVID record is admirable, our leaders less erratic. Scott Morrison squawks impotently about freedom, while the most ardent flag-bearer for freedom of the British kind – the dystopian American kind has no place in any civilised discussion – is the fresh-faced NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet.”
https://www.smh.com.au/national/new-strain-old-arguments-and-a-familiar-sinking-feeling-20211221-p59j7d.html
Finn McHugh writes that Omicron an inconvenient truth as Scott Morrison spruiks ‘common sense’.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7560558/omicron-an-inconvenient-truth-for-pms-common-sense-drive/?cs=14264
The SMH editorial says that NSW is facing some tough choices before boosters are on track.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/tough-choices-before-boosters-are-on-track-20211221-p59je5.html
As we face Omicron with soul-deep weariness, that sense of uncertainty rises again, laments Lenore Taylor.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/commentisfree/2021/dec/21/as-we-face-omicron-with-soul-deep-weariness-that-sense-of-uncertainty-rises-again
Tory Shepperd tells us that Families could be barred from aged care visits in Australia due to lack of clear Covid guidelines.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/22/families-could-be-barred-from-visiting-aged-care-homes-due-to-lack-of-clear-covid-guidelines-advocates-say
Lisa Visentin reports that at yesterday’s Senate inquiry two Christian education groups say the ability to discipline a teacher who becomes divorced, is unfaithful to their partner, or enters a same-sex relationship is an example of how faith schools could exercise their right to employ staff who reflect their religious values. And they want US to pay for that “privilege!”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/christian-schools-defend-right-to-discipline-divorced-or-gay-staff-20211221-p59j6d.html
At the heart of Senator Rex Patrick’s attack on a senior public servant was that the public service needs to be more independent and impartial, writes Andrew Podger who says that PM&C is damaging the integrity and reputation of the public service.
https://johnmenadue.com/pmc-is-damaging-the-integrity-and-reputation-of-the-public-service/
“No, there is no wages growth over the next four years”, writes Michael Pascoe.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2021/12/22/michael-pascoe-no-wages-growth-next-four-years/
Looking forward to a break, Ross Gittins tells us that by September, the total annual leave owing to Australian employees had reached a record 185 million days, up almost a quarter on a year earlier.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/have-a-good-break-this-time-you-ve-more-than-earned-it-20211221-p59j5h.html
The Australian’s Paul Garvey reports that lobbyists who commit a serious breach of the industry’s code of practice will be barred from offering their services for up to three months under what some in the lobbying industry have described as “the Julie Bishop rule”.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/julie-bishop-rule-to-keep-lobbyists-in-line/news-story/1a601c233d2d236d0b7b133d8a5d8a47
Australia’s election watchdog is taking legal action against Liberal National MP Andrew Laming for five social media posts in the lead-up to the last election that did not declare they were authorised by the Queensland politician.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/i-apologise-aec-finds-andrew-laming-s-facebook-posts-breached-electoral-laws-20211220-p59j18.html
Two years ago, on 16 December, MP Michael McCormack, the then Deputy Prime Minister, was appointed Acting Prime Minister whilst the country burned. Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s whereabouts were unknown and despite predictable and growing outrage over a number of days, his office refused to confirm his where he was. Rumours swirled that he was holidaying in Hawaii. His office denied them.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/abscondment-day-a-reminder-of-morrisons-uselessness,15877
Companies voluntarily buying up carbon offsets amid a flurry of pledges to hit net zero emissions by 2050 have pushed up Australia’s official carbon price by 180 per cent over the past year, explains Elouise Fowler.
https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/australian-de-facto-carbon-price-surges-180-per-cent-20211221-p59jal
Scott Morrison is still expecting Australians to vote Liberal despite poor performance at COP26 and no climate policy, writes Geoff Dyer.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/scott-morrisons-let-them-eat-coal-party,15876
Next year’s election will not only decide who leads the nation, it will also decide who is the next chief justice of the High Court, writes Michael Pelly.
https://www.afr.com/politics/election-will-decide-next-high-court-chief-justice-20211215-p59hli
David Estcourt reports that the AFP is predicting a rise in human trafficking as eased border restrictions drive a surge in international travellers in and out of the country.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/police-warn-of-human-trafficking-surge-as-border-restrictions-ease-20211221-p59jc0.html
Daniel Hurst has a scoop where he reports that Australia’s defence department wrote to France’s Naval Group a week before the submarine contract was sensationally cancelled, acknowledging the successful completion of one requirement for moving to the next stage of the project.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/22/australia-wrote-to-naval-group-noting-progress-on-submarines-a-week-before-contract-was-cancelled
The Senate’s legal affairs committee is now holding a special inquiry into the performance and integrity of the administrative appeals system, including the selection process for AAT members and the importance of transparency and parliamentary accountability. It is due to report by the end of March. The AAT’s administrative head is leaving the job three months early.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/administrative-appeals-tribunal-head-to-leave-job-early-20211221-p59jas.html
Stephen Bartholomeusz says that US financial regulators are so concerned about the perceived threat to financial stability and investors of stablecoins that they are warning they will act unilaterally if Congress doesn’t legislate.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/us-regulators-display-a-degree-of-paranoia-towards-crypto-assets-20211221-p59j6p.html
The images of devastated emergency personnel at the scene of the fatal accident at a primary school has highlighted the gruelling work faced by first responders, explains Fortem Australia’s John Bale.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/it-s-important-we-see-first-responders-as-the-humans-they-are-20211221-p59j7f.html
Scott Perry, a Pennsylvania Republican and the first sitting member of Congress to be requested to provide documents and sit for an interview with the committee investigating the Capitol riot, said yesterday he would not comply with the panel.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/21/donald-trump-press-conference-capitol-attack-mar-a-lago
Cartoon Corner
Peter Broelman
David Rowe
Simon Letch
John Shakespeare
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
John Spooner
From the US
He is still blathering on about sunscreen – what is with his fixation?
A recent obituary that has gone a bit ‘viral’ . A sample
.
………………………….. This was not good news to Renay Mandel Corren’s many surviving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many of whom she even knew and, in her own way, loved. There will be much mourning in the many glamorous locales she went bankrupt in: McKeesport, PA, Renay’s birthplace and where she first fell in love with ham, and atheism; Fayetteville and …………….
https://www.fayobserver.com/obituaries/m0028451
NSW is not going to survive Domicron.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/22/how-the-hell-are-we-supposed-to-manage-this-gps-in-nsw-left-scrambling-after-new-covid-order
There is much more about this deeply flawed decision in the article.
Rachel Maddow –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmSF-HmAm74
Chris Hayes –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWM7elkNpXE
Jim Acosta –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Geezus! Morrison’s waffle worse than ever.
The way he’s addressing this media mob is exactly the same that you would expect at the average Hill Song
meeting. Scomid the preacher speaking.
He does indeed frequently slip into bullshit preacherman from the local Happy Clapper
churchmoney extraction center. He also sounds as convincing and believable as those ‘Pa$tor$. Sadly there are plenty of eejits who lap up such drivel dressed up as ‘profound’ .NYT,paywalled but ‘Google trick’ works.
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Facts Alone Aren’t Going to Win Over the Unvaccinated. This Might.
In a study published on Dec. 13, we examined data from about 750,000 children who were eligible to receive the human papilloma virus vaccine to prevent cervical cancer………………What we found surprised us: The girls and boys whose mothers had cervical cancer were no more likely to be vaccinated against HPV compared with children whose mothers had no history of cervical disease.
What interventions might work? Behavioral science research suggests that one of the best ways to motivate behavior is through incentives, either positive or negative.
Jordan made us wait for this –
Bonus – the Kangaroo Court video –
Yeesh, Barnaby and then Barilaro. What is it with these National party leaders cheating on their wives with mistresses half their age?
I also note that both of them only have daughters from their initial marriages. Do they see themselves as modern day Henry VIII’s that require a male heir and fall for the nearest Anne Boleyn they can get their hands on?
What I will never understand is how any woman could bear to be in the same room as Barnaby or Bruz without throwing up, let alone get into bed with either of them. Ugh!. They are two of the most repellant creatures in Australia.
I’ve read some of the opinions of Vikki Campion and can understand why she for one would fall for Barnaby. About as vile as Daily Telegraph opinionistas can get. It probably fills her with pride to bear a brood of fascist princes.
Did someone say First World Problems ? 😆
‘We froze’: What was this 1.3-metre missile doing at an Aboriginal heritage site?
EXCLUSIVE: An unexploded high-tech missile was discovered at a culturally significant Aboriginal heritage site in remote South Australia. Neither the company that is believed to have made it – nor the Department of Defence – have explained how it got there.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/we-froze-what-was-this-1-3-metre-missile-doing-at-an-aboriginal-heritage-site/3c67ce10-15ed-442c-b735-cea3673e5caa
Whoever was responsible has just left the missile there, it still sits there.
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/22/its-time-for-christmas-drinks-in-the-offices-of-the-minister-for-other-people-taking-personal-responsibility
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Pandemic Scott wants to shapeshift into Post Pandemic Personal Responsibility Scott – because that’s where the PM thinks the zeitgeist is, writes Katherine Murphy who complains that while he lectures Australians about personal responsibility he’s opting out of his duty, as leader, to back health advisers on mask mandates
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/22/pandemic-scott-wants-to-shapeshift-into-post-pandemic-personal-responsibility-scott-because-thats-where-the-pm-thinks-the-zeitgeist-is
Liberal stalwart Michael Yabsley has another whinge at the rise of the Teal independents and that they have the temerity to be receiving some sizeable campaign donations.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/christmas-is-coming-early-to-self-appointed-political-angels-who-are-raking-in-the-big-bucks-20211221-p59j6k.html
QR code check-ins will be reintroduced in retail and hospitality venues as the Omicron variant sweeps NSW, while the state government is working to secure a mass order of rapid antigen tests to be made freely available. However, the state is resisting mask mandates despite the country’s chief health officer on Wednesday again saying they should be used indoors.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/qr-code-check-ins-back-as-state-works-to-secure-free-rapid-antigen-tests-20211222-p59jo3.html
And the Victorian government is considering expanding its mask mandate to a wider range of indoor settings in response to expert medical advice to national cabinet.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victoria-weighs-tougher-indoor-mask-mandates-20211222-p59jo0.html
In a helpful contribution, Melissa Cunningham and Timna Jacks tell us about the scary numbers and worst-case scenarios we have been seeing and why modelling is not a forecast.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/scary-numbers-and-worst-case-scenarios-why-modelling-is-not-a-forecast-20211222-p59jm4.html
The country’s federalism was fractured by two years of COVID-19. Repair is under way, but relationships remain fragile, writes Phillip Coorey.
https://www.afr.com/politics/australia-s-pandemic-divisions-slowly-start-to-heal-20211215-p59hsq
But the Burnett Institute’s Mike Toole and Brendan Crabb lament that while a national response to COVID-19 is long overdue, it is yet to happen. They were very disappointed with the outcome of yesterday’s national cabinet meeting.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-national-response-to-covid-19-is-long-overdue-but-is-yet-to-happen-20211222-p59jjd.html
Leading epidemiologists agree there is a clear need for protective measures to slow the Omicron surge, but some say our leaders aren’t doing enough
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/dec/23/small-steps-or-an-irresponsible-lack-of-action-australian-experts-react-to-national-cabinets-announcement
Forcing thousands of travellers to get PCR tests before flying to Noosa or Hobart has put immense pressure on testing systems as they’re most needed, and taken resources away from the critically important booster program, argues Rachel Clun.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/gold-standard-testing-should-not-be-wasted-on-holidaymakers-20211222-p59jnp.html
Australia’s peak doctors body has criticised an “unethical” proposal to charge unvaccinated people for their medical care that is being considered by the New South Wales government. Brad Hazzard has confirmed the government was looking at forcing people who had not received the jab to pay for their medical bills if they required hospital treatment for Covid.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/23/unethical-doctors-condemn-nsw-government-for-considering-charging-unvaccinated-patients-for-covid-care
As the Omicron variant surges around the world, Japan’s overall coronavirus cases and deaths have been plummeting. And no one seems to know exactly why.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/while-omicron-explodes-around-the-world-covid-cases-in-japan-plummet-and-no-one-knows-why-20211223-p59jp7.html
Morrison is always scheming for political advantage, and he rode the wave of anti-vax and anti-lockdown rebellion cynically, until Omicron hit us, writes Mark Buckley who says ‘freedom from government’ has become a gamble with our lives.
https://johnmenadue.com/freedom-from-government-has-become-a-gamble-with-our-lives/
The Morrison government’s directives to the Australian Research Council are short-sighted and parochial, spelling disaster for Australian innovation, argues Nick Enfield.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/tying-research-goals-to-business-dollars-a-recipe-for-mediocrity-20211218-p59ipb.html
Kate Burke reports that Grattan Institute household finances program director Brendan Coates has said the politics of improving housing affordability was fraught because most voters already owned a house or investment and mistrust any change that might dent property prices.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/why-won-t-governments-fix-housing-affordability-20211222-p59jlb.html
The flood of black money into Australia proceeds apace, pushing up property prices, as the government dithers on its international pledge to enact money-laundering laws. Callum Foote and Michael West report.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/australia-fails-to-act-on-money-laundering-loopholes/
Alan Kohler reckons that history will show that 2021 will be remembered not for Covid but for cryptocurrency and electric vehicles.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2021/12/23/ethereum-evs-2021-alan-kohler/
The AIMN’s Grumpy Geezer looks at the good and the bad bits of 2021.
https://theaimn.com/2021-good-bits-and-bad-bits/
Any agreement between governments led by the UK’s Boris Johnson and Australia’s Scott Morrison must be treated with a healthy dose of suspicion, warns Binoy Kampmark.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/double-standards-the-uk-australian-free-trade-agreement,15882
Cara Waters reports that millions of dollars in federal government funding is being used by Jewish schools and community groups to fortify buildings, including the installation of blast-resistant walls, air-lock entrances, security cameras and safe rooms.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/grants-help-fortify-jewish-schools-community-sites-amid-attack-fears-20211220-p59ixa.html
The AFR explains how the storm that took down Lex Greensill isn’t over yet.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/the-storm-that-took-down-lex-greensill-isn-t-over-yet-20211206-p59f42
Stephen Bartholomeusz writes that a Y2K moment is imminent for the world’s funding and derivatives markets as the benchmark for global interest rates, LIBOR, is effectively and compulsorily retired from use on December 31.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/will-the-end-of-the-world-s-most-important-number-be-a-y2k-moment-20211222-p59jhb.html
The discovery of a fossilised dinosaur egg laid more than 66 million years ago and containing a complete tucked-in embryo has excited researchers and provided a link between dinosaurs and modern-day birds.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/most-beautiful-dinosaur-egg-complete-with-embryo-provides-bird-link-20211222-p59jjm.html
America has gone soft on eradicating right-wing extremism, resulting in a nation of gun violence and senseless death, writes Philip Farruggio.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/right-wing-role-models-and-guns-are-killing-america,15879
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Matt Golding
John Shakespeare
Cathy Wilcox
Peter Broelman
Mark Knight
John Spooner
From the US
In a bigly and refreshing change from the usual tales and wails from Petals and Karens telling us Covid quarantine is a ‘hell on earth’ experience …………….
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-delta-outbreak-christmas-in-quarantine-familys-plans-dashed-by-covid-but-grandma-says-theyre-lucky/ZS4PVJMYJ6QLSAM4DKAPENVMC4/
Ah Lib lickspittle on one of his fave hobby horses. The “fracture” he’s moaned about is basically that the States very wisely ignored Bullshitman about the handling of Covid, well all the States except ‘Gold Standard NSW’ of course. (Well he is THEIR PM .) That for Coorey has been a ‘tragedy’ for Federation . For those of us in States like WA who relegated the wishes of Bullshitman and Binchook to the septic tank we reckon the Federation worked perfectly. Without it the whole nation would have been condemned to having the UK or US experience.
I did like this bit of LOL. Bullshitman starting to crank up the drip to his fave hacks is called by Coorey a subtle change in communications strategy. Phil Forelocktugger probably even got that description from Scotty’s own flunkies.