It seems trite to start with anything like “We are all Ukrainians now”. However, in so many ways, we are. We are all little people, doing our best to get on with our lives, looking after those dear to us.
Then life as we’ve known it explodes, and we are shattered into devastating uncertainties – precisely what’s happening to everyone in Ukraine.
To backtrack 60 years, my parents were remarkably open with me from my earliest days about social issues, e.g., cancer and smoking, sexuality, religion, racism, politics – local and world – and everything in between. I knew about the Holocaust, I knew about Anne Frank and so many other victims, I knew about the nuclear bombing of Japan, Yet I don’t recall ANYTHING about the Cuban Missile Crisis.
I do wonder – and now wish I’d asked them – if they’d decided to adopt media silence as far as I was concerned (I was only 6 years old but was already aware of the dangers of cigarettes and often cried myself to sleep thinking about mum’s smoking.
I was well-aware of the Malaysian/Indonesian war. I knew about the Korean war. I most certainly knew about the Vietnam war. And – unbeknownst to them – I had listened to a dramatisation of the Nuremberg Trials.
The only reason I can imagine is that, for them, it was an existential crisis, and they didn’t want me to know about it until it might have affected Australia.
And I weep for all Ukrainians, all of whom have been children, and for all and every Ukrainian child.
THE PUB 
The UK ‘establishment’ newspaper The Times’ headline bells one of Morrison’s cats.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/australian-election-2022-scott-morrison-xmpf0f09d
Amy’s back and she’s in fine form
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/apr/11/australia-politics-live-updates-election-2022-scott-morrison-anthony-albanese-campaign-nsw-tasmania-victoria-qld-coronavirus-covid-weather
USA 60 Minutes interview. When I see his leadership and compare him to Morrison, I want to weep. How did we end up with such dross, such utter crap of a leader.
All we have seen from Their ABC and the rest of the MSM today is headlines about Albo’s alleged mistake. No-one mentioned what else he had to say today.
Why won’t they ask Scovid some real questions – like this one. Asking him who is paying this would also be good.
The “press” does petty really well.
Starring: Laura Tingle!
https://iview.abc.net.au/video/NC2201H057S00
Michael West –
Another great achievement of the Liberals. Too many political appointments means
.
.
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s status as a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) has been reviewed by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) – the international standards body.
This review, conducted every five years, considers whether the Commission continues to meet the UN Principles on National Institutions (commonly known as the Paris Principles), which establish whether national human rights commissions operate with the necessary level of institutional independence to ensure the effective promotion and protection of human rights.
The Commission faced three possible outcomes through this review: reaccreditation as an A-status institution; downgrade to a B-status institution; or deferral of reaccreditation for a period of time in order for serious matters of compliance to be addressed.
The Australian Human Rights Commission was not reaccredited as an A-status national human rights institution. Its reaccreditation was deferred.
The key concern of the Committee that led to the deferral was the selection and appointment process for Commissioners. This latest report of 29 March 2022 reflects feedback from the Committee over a 10-year period about Australia’s appointment processes, with three appointments in this timeframe that did not meet the accreditation requirements.
Click to read the accreditation statement from GANHRI
The Australian Government now has approximately 15 months to address this matter before a final decision on the Commission’s status is taken by the Committee in October 2023. The Committee has indicated that the Commission is at risk of being downgraded to a B-status NHRI if this issue is not sufficiently addressed within this timeframe.
https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/statement-international-accreditation-australian-human-rights-commission
I am not at all surprised.
Read this thread – it sums up the current members of the press gallery perfectly.
They’ve lost their collective minds over the road about Albo’s “gaffe”. Unbelievable.
I’m guessing Albo has not kissed Rupert’s ring.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
David Crowe reckons Albanese could pay a staggering cost for a stupid mistake. Well, he might, if the media keep focussing on trivia instead of critically examining policies, etc.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-could-pay-a-staggering-cost-for-a-stupid-mistake-20220411-p5acpc.html
The Australian is all over Albanese’s gaffe. Simon Benson, for example, says Anthony Albanese’s spectacular economic own goal is serious and won’t be easily erased.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/two-easy-numbers-for-albo-to-recall-1nil-thats-the-score/news-story/81f66fd01c68b3c7454b9f299e0c4034
They are madly tut-tutting today, the Coalition’s typing pool. “It was a horror,” lamented Phil Coorey in the AFR. “Unfit to be PM,” shrieked Rupert Murdoch’s most ingratiating windbag Terry McCrann in the Australian, flanked by Judith Sloan who conflated Albanese’s gaffe with the entire “Party’s complete misunderstanding of the jobs figures”. Michael West reports on Albo’s howler and hogwash masquerading as journalism.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/horror-story-from-fantasy-land-albos-howler-a-gift-for-marketing-maestro-morrison/
Paul Bongiorno is all over they way Morrison is handling the Tudge payout issue.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2022/04/12/paul-bongiorno-scott-morrison-election/
Albanese’s epic memory fail was painful but not terminal, says Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/albanese-s-epic-memory-fail-was-painful-but-not-terminal-20220411-p5acoj
Labor maintained its strong overall lead through the overture to the election campaign beginning this week, but a fall in its primary vote suggests a rising chance of a hung parliament, an exclusive Roy Morgan Poll released yesterday has found.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/federal-election-2022/2022/04/11/poll-labors-lead-unchanged/
Alexandra Smith tells us that the internal war within the NSW division of the Liberals over preselections has led to a mass exodus of members, with more deserting the troubled party this year than the previous two years combined.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/record-number-of-nsw-liberal-members-quit-amid-war-over-preselections-20220410-p5achd.html
According to David Crowe, Social Services Minister Anne Ruston is tipped to be named to the health portfolio this weekend in a government move designed to assure voters there will be a smooth transition in the key policy field when Health Minister Greg Hunt leaves the post at the election. Not one that exudes much empathy,
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-to-name-new-health-minister-while-tudge-in-limbo-20220411-p5acpm.html
Shanw Wright and Katina Curtis says that Morrison will ramp up his economic attack on Anthony Albanese with a promise of 1.3 million jobs over the next five years, seizing on the Opposition Leader’s embarrassing campaign stumble where he could not remember Australia’s unemployment rate and official interest rate.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-promises-1-3m-jobs-in-five-years-to-attack-albanese-on-the-economy-20220411-p5acoe.html
Labor has pledged a restart of bulk-billed telehealth services for mental health to undo a change made by the Morrison government as part of a winding back of special COVID-19 pandemic services. Follow updates here.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/labor-promises-31m-regional-mental-health-boost-20220412-p5acs3
Claims by Labor that workforce casualisation has increased have been exposed, as official figures show the share of people in such work has drifted lower, writes John Kehoe.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/albanese-s-casual-jobs-claim-is-wrong-according-to-abs-data-20220411-p5acjp
Researchers Tom Akhurst and Josh Steinert are concerned that a generational betrayal confronts the next government, and they explain that’s why we need to raise the GST.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-generational-betrayal-confronts-the-next-government-and-that-s-why-we-need-to-raise-the-gst-20220211-p59vqs.html
Advertising entrepreneur, Siimon Reynolds, gives the advertising gong to the Liberals on Day 1 of the campaign.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/that-s-why-i-love-australia-liberals-pip-labor-with-rousing-tv-ad-20220411-p5aclm.html
Benjamin Moffitt tells us about populism and the federal election and what we can expect from Hanson, Palmer, Lambie and Katter.
https://theconversation.com/populism-and-the-federal-election-what-can-we-expect-from-hanson-palmer-lambie-and-katter-179567
The rental crisis is just beginning, warns Karen Maley.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/the-rental-crisis-is-just-beginning-20220411-p5acj5
Renters spend 10 times as much on housing as petrol. “Where’s their cost-of-living relief?”, asks the Grattan Institute.
https://theconversation.com/renters-spend-10-times-as-much-on-housing-as-petrol-wheres-their-cost-of-living-relief-180702
Liberal moderates have expressed concern that Scott Morrison has flagged committing during the election campaign to a ban on transgender women playing women’s sport.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/12/liberal-moderates-concerned-by-morrison-raising-trans-women-sport-ban-during-election-campaign
One week since prayer room allegations and barely a peep from the mainstream media. It has been a week since the contents of the Sparke Helmore investigation into allegations of misconduct by federal Liberal Party ministers in the Australian Parliament House Prayer Room by YouTube channel FriendlyJordies. Not to mention AFP raids on the whistleblower who helped with the investigation, writes Callum Foote.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/mainstream-media-quiet-on-prayer-room/
Sydney is often touted as a global city, but the transport turmoil over the past two months is not consistent with that lofty claim, says the editorial in the SMH.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/sydney-is-a-global-city-it-must-have-reliable-public-transport-to-match-20220411-p5acow.html
Almost a third of students expelled from state government schools during the first year of the pandemic had a disability, and youth disability advocates warn the trend could worsen.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/devastating-impact-rise-in-proportion-of-disabled-students-expelled-during-pandemic-20220403-p5aad3.html
The Coalition has dodged questions about a $500,000 payout made to Alan Tudge’s former staffer Rachelle Miller, with senior ministers and the finance department refusing to comment amid controversy over the education minister’s ongoing role in federal cabinet. Will journos keep asking about this at Morrison’s pressers?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/11/government-wont-comment-on-500000-payout-to-rachelle-miller
Jack Waterford says Labor is scared of the shadow of a Murdoch paper tiger.
https://johnmenadue.com/labor-scared-of-the-shadow-of-a-murdoch-paper-tiger/
For the second successive election, billionaire Clive Palmer is using his wealth to try to determine or at least significantly influence who will govern the country for the next three years. As was the case in 2019, Mr Palmer is spending at least $70 million on advertising, more than all the major parties combined, writes David Solomon who looks at the price of democracy.
https://johnmenadue.com/what-price-democracy-2/
People with disability are packing boxes, cleaning and gardening for legal pay rates as low as $2.27 an hour, a royal commission has heard.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/11/people-with-disability-working-for-legal-pay-as-low-as-227-an-hour-inquiry-hears
In France, Hungary and Serbia, political candidates have paid no price for their close ties to the Russian president since his brutal invasion of Ukraine, writes Peter Hartcher who says the West should start to worry.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/putin-fan-club-ascendant-in-three-european-elections-why-the-west-should-worry-20220411-p5acn3.html
Mary Ward reports that people with O negative blood are being urged to donate over the next fortnight, as the nation’s supply of emergency blood drops to 1.5 days. (We give our blood free but it is a real pain in the neck to get to the few collection places. Make it easier – pop-ups in shopping centres perhaps – for people to do it).
https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/plea-for-donors-as-universal-blood-type-supply-dwindles-20220408-p5abz1.html
Michaela Whitbourn tells us that yesterday a former elite soldier told the Federal Court he felt threatened into co-operating with three newspapers being sued for defamation by war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith because the media outlets’ lawyers had told him they believed he was involved himself in an unlawful killing in Afghanistan.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/ex-sas-soldier-felt-threatened-into-giving-evidence-court-hears-20220411-p5ackh.html
Mike Foley writes that Australia’s energy generators are warning households and businesses face higher electricity bills within months after coal prices jumped due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and floods in Australia.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/power-companies-say-expect-higher-electricity-bills-within-months-20220411-p5acn8.html
Eryk Bagshaw writes about the terrible situation on Shanghai and its huge Covid lockdown.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/asia/why-people-are-screaming-from-their-apartments-in-shanghai-20220411-p5acli.html
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
Alan Moir
David Rowe
Megan Herbert
Matt Golding
John Shakespeare
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
Questions I’d like to see the media ask….
Roy Morgan poll, for what its worth (I don’t take it as seriously as other polls, and don’t trust respondant allocated prefs without any mention of pref by last election). Polling for was between 4-10 April (so no reflection on anything that happaned yesterday.)
https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8931-roy-morgan-poll-on-federal-voting-intention-early-april-2022-202204110842
ALP holds a significant advantage as PM Scott Morrison calls the election for May 21: ALP 57% cf. L-NP 43%
A Roy Morgan Poll conducted over the last week shows the ALP maintaining its strong two-party preferred lead over the L-NP in the week Prime Minister Scott Morrison called this year’s Federal Election for Saturday May 21, 2022 in just under six weeks’ time.
The ALP is now on 57% (unchanged from a week ago) compared to the L-NP 43% (unchanged) on a two-party preferred basis.
If a Federal Election had been held on the weekend the ALP would have won a clear majority.
Analysis by State shows the ALP now leads in all six States on a two-party preferred basis and gained support in WA last week while the L-NP support increased slightly in Victoria, SA and Tasmania.
This Roy Morgan Poll on Federal voting intention and Government Confidence was conducted via telephone and online interviewing of 1,384 Australian electors aged 18+ from Monday April 4-10, 2022. There were 6.5% of electors (down 0.5% points) who wouldn’t say who they support.
Support for the ALP and L-NP drops, but is up for minor parties: Greens and One Nation
Primary support for the ALP dropped 3.5% points to 36% in the week the election was called and now lead the L-NP by 3.5% points on primary support as L-NP support was down 0.5% points at 32.5%.
The loss of support for the major parties meant an increase in support for the minor parties with Greens support up 1.5% points to 12.5%. Support for One Nation also increased, up 1.5% points to 5% while support for Clive Palmer’s United Australia Party was up 0.5% points to 1.5%.
Support for Other Parties was up 1% point to 4% while support for Independents was down 0.5% points to 8.5%.
Now a total of 31.5% (up 4% points) of Australians say they will vote for either a minor party or an independent and 6.2% points higher than the 2019 Federal Election.
This will warm the cockles of Leone’s heart
“Liberal moderates have expressed concern that Scott Morrison has flagged committing during the election campaign to a ban on transgender women playing women’s sport.”
Why on earth does Scovid want to make a big issue of trans women in women’s sport? Doesn’t he have anything else he is willing to talk about? If he is going to go down that road what about transgender men? Should they be playing in male sports? Or is he once again focusing only on women in a very misguided attempt to win over the tiny number of women who actually care about this?
Focus on climate change, you dickhead! Stop trying to appeal to female voters – unless they are rusted-on they loathe you.
Didn’t he notice Penny Wong is the most trusted politician in Australia?
http://www.roymorgan.com/findings/8933-political-trust-distrust-australian-leaders-march-2022-202203220543
Tim Dunlop on yesterdays media pilon because albo made a mistake.
https://tdunlop.substack.com/p/the-reset-landed-with-a-thud?s=r
I don’t know the daily cash rate either.
Scovid can’t grasp maths.
Where is the instant media pile-on?
“Labor has not committed to an additional increase to the jobseeker payment and has dropped plans for a review into the rate, the shadow assistant minister for the treasury, Andrew Leigh, has confirmed.”
Labor’s failure to improve the lot of people living below the poverty line is a mistake
As domestic consumption contributes 60% of GDP increasing income support payments was shown to improve peoples lives substantially during times of Covid supplementary payments
Personally I want to see the management of people relying on income support overhauled, getting rid of Job Network Providers, Mutual Obligation, as this is systemic nastiness and humiliation which actively hinders people from getting work. Its based on the myth of the surfing 20 year old when the truth is its 50 year old women living dignified lives of quiet desperation.
NDIS needs to be taken out of hands of rorting private providers – they all rort
However the war in Ukraine signals famine in the world starting in Q3 2022 as Ukraine grain harvest lost and Russia unable to ship grain. We have seen signs of this with shortages of fertilizer and AdBlue
Stephen Colbert –
Rachel Maddow – (a welcome return)
Chris Hayes –
Aren’t they suffering enough?
Zed will show the Solomon Islanders how to deal with those Chinese. Show them the Coalition way. Sell them the port while Zed gets an $800k pa job with the new owners.
Gasp ! Some actual SMH ‘balance’ .
https://www.smh.com.au/national/election-2022-live-updates-scott-morrison-anthony-albanese-continue-campaigns-across-the-nation-liberal-seats-under-threat-from-independents-20220411-p5acox.html
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/12/we-have-schrodingers-minister-with-alan-tudge-both-in-and-out-of-morrisons-cabinet
Rogue former Queensland LNP MP George Christensen has abandoned his plan to retire from parliament at the May 21 election and will run instead as a One Nation candidate.
Pauline Hanson’s spokesman, James Ashby, said on Tuesday night Mr Christensen’s decision to join One Nation would be announced at a press conference in Brisbane on Wednesday.
Although it was not certain whether Mr Christensen would contest his former seat of Dawson or try to win a different electorate, his popularity in north Queensland would give him a chance of securing a lower-house seat for Senator Hanson’s party.
One Nation has a candidate for Dawson in Julie Hill, so she would have to stand aside if he were to seek re-election there.
Mr Christensen told the Courier-Mail on Tuesday that he should have joined One Nation “a long time ago” after realising his beliefs matched those of Senator Hanson’s party.
He had resigned from the LNP last week, declaring it had betrayed its conservative roots. He opposed the Morrison government’s position on vaccine mandates and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.
Mr Christensen announced last year he would resign from parliament at the next election but said he had changed his mind on retirement after an “enormous amount” of lobbying from people over the past two months.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Katina Curtis writes that the six-figure settlement the government is expected to reach with a former staffer of minister Alan Tudge suggests her complaint has been recognised as a “major claim” with “a meaningful prospect of liability” under the bureaucracy’s rules. (So big that Morrison still insists he has no knowledge of it).
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/prospective-payout-to-tudge-s-former-staffer-recognises-major-claim-20220412-p5acvi.html
We have Schrödinger’s minister with Alan Tudge both in and out of Morrison’s cabinet, declares Katherine Murphy.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/12/we-have-schrodingers-minister-with-alan-tudge-both-in-and-out-of-morrisons-cabinet
According to Rachel Clun and Angus Thompson, experts are saying the only way to meet Morrison’s pledge to create 1.3 million jobs is to bring in significant numbers of foreign workers to fill them.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/hollow-promise-foreign-workers-needed-to-meet-pm-s-jobs-target-20220412-p5actb.html
Sarah Martin writes that Anthony Albanese is set to announce Labor’s first major health commitment of the election campaign: $135m to trial 50 new urgent care clinics meant to ease pressure on hospitals.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/13/labor-to-commit-135m-to-trial-50-urgent-care-clinics-intended-to-ease-pressure-on-hospitals
Ross Gittins wants us to use this election to raise the quality of the politics we get. It’s quite a good read.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/let-s-use-this-election-to-raise-the-quality-of-the-politics-we-get-20220412-p5acul.html
Low wage growth in Australia didn’t happen by accident – it’s the system working as intended, argues Richard Denniss. In the article he says, “Just as Scott Morrison wants to see more women get into parliament (but not at the expense of men) and wants to see housing affordability improve (without house prices actually falling) the prime minister is all in favour of stronger wage growth – but not at the expense of higher profits. Unfortunately for Australians struggling with the rising cost of living, they can’t feed magic pudding to their kids.”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/12/low-wage-growth-in-australia-didnt-happen-by-accident-its-the-system-working-as-intended
David Crowe says that Labor will avoid a fight with the Coalition on the JobSeeker rate, dropping plans for a review of the payment.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-drops-plans-to-review-jobseeker-rate-20220412-p5acz8.html
Paul Kelly reckons the gaffe indicates that Albanese’s mind is not on the economy and it has left him exposed.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/election-2022-economic-mindset-vital-for-labors-success/news-story/4cac28356074f9bcb19ac78480601b89
Julie Szego contrasts the first video advertising efforts from Labor and Liberal parties. She looks at the subliminal messages therein.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/these-are-the-subliminal-messages-in-each-frame-of-morrison-and-albanese-s-election-ads-20220412-p5acxx.html
Phil Coorey says that Anthony Albanese and his team are contemplating urgent changes to the Labor leader’s campaign style after a disastrous start that has shaken morale and boosted the government’s confidence.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/labor-changes-poll-tack-as-albanese-urged-to-sharpen-up-20220412-p5acsi
Forget the election gaffes: Australia’s unemployment rate of 4% is good news – and set to get even better by polling day, writes Peter Martin.
https://theconversation.com/forget-the-election-gaffes-australias-unemployment-rate-of-4-is-good-news-and-set-to-get-even-better-by-polling-day-181141
“If Anthony Albanese has no grip on the key economic numbers, how much grip does he really have on the prospective job of prime minister?”, asks the AFR’s editorial.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/is-the-real-albo-up-to-managing-the-economy-20220411-p5acqd
For the first time, there is a genuine contest for the blue ribbon Liberal seat of Goldstein. Royce Millar tells us how the battle lines are drawn.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-chill-winds-of-change-and-the-battle-for-goldstein-s-golden-mile-20220407-p5absh.html
Frank Bongiorno writes that there’s a great tale Labor could tell about how it would govern, but it just needs to start telling it.
https://theconversation.com/the-story-of-us-theres-a-great-tale-labor-could-tell-about-how-it-would-govern-it-just-needs-to-start-telling-it-181147
The Morrison Government has been accused of stacking AHRC top jobs, resulting in the Commission potentially losing its top-tier status, writes Binoy Kampmark.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/human-rights-commission-facing-downgrade-over-morrison-appointments,16254
Labor will never appease Murdoch, and should stop trying, says Jack Waterford.
https://johnmenadue.com/labor-will-never-appease-murdoch-and-should-stop-trying/
Scott Morrison has failed to commit to implementing religious discrimination laws if he is re-elected, undermining his push to gain ground in culturally diverse electorates in western Sydney, writes The Australian’s Greg Brown.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/election-2022-scott-morrison-refuses-to-commit-to-religious-freedom-laws/news-story/0ce760a82a877410ef5b08c918b8d520
Michael Springer writes about Scott Morrison’s lies, character and incompetence.
https://theaimn.com/scott-morrisons-lies-character-and-incompetence/
Rogue former Queensland LNP MP George Christensen has abandoned his plan to retire from parliament at the May 21 election and will run instead as a One Nation candidate. As usual, the crap finds its way to the bottom!
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/election-2022-rogue-lnp-mp-george-christensen-to-run-for-one-nation/news-story/93d9fa167f1b40a1ebce334df6d90148
Christian lobby groups are pressing both major parties to recommit to the unamended religious discrimination bill as Labor guarantees to extend the chaplaincy program with a secular choice for schools, writes Paul Karp.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/13/christian-lobby-groups-push-major-parties-to-support-unamended-religious-discrimination-bill
Did the Morrison government really prevent 40,000 COVID deaths? A health economist checks the claims against the facts.
https://theconversation.com/did-the-morrison-government-really-prevent-40-000-covid-deaths-a-health-economist-checks-claims-against-facts-181052
NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres has conceded that hellish queues at Sydney Airport as people head off on long-awaited travel is “intensely disappointing” and warned the delays would continue.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/intensely-disappointing-but-nsw-tourism-minister-says-airport-queues-will-continue-20220412-p5ad0u.html
And Elizabeth Knight tells us that Qantas has sent out an urgent plea to unrostered pilots to fly three international flights and a number of domestic flights scheduled for today due to “critically short uncrewed flying on it”.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/long-way-from-match-fit-qantas-scrambles-to-tackle-pilot-shortage-20220412-p5acun.html
Meanwhile, a consumer advocacy group has lodged a formal complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over Qantas’ credit redemption rules. Choice lashed the airline’s flight credit scheme as “unfair” and “unworkable”, saying consumers faced numerous obstacles when trying to use flight credits they were given in place of refunds.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/consumer/2022/04/12/accc-qantas-flight-credits/
The time has come for a powerful government Climate Department to allow strong action on legislating, regulating, and coordinating mitigation, adaptation, and transition, urges Mike Scrafton.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-need-for-a-department-of-climate-change-is-now-self-evident/
Frustrated GPs are preparing to ramp up their federal election campaign for higher Medicare rebates by encouraging patients to use their votes to demand funding for longer consultations, including after hours. Dana Daniel tells us that the Australian Medical Association will today give the nation’s 45,840 general practitioners election posters to hang in their practices and template letters for patients to send to their local MPs over the next 5½ weeks.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/army-of-gps-to-target-patients-in-campaign-for-medicare-reform-20220411-p5acia.html
Labor’s claim of an increase in insecure work is more fiction than fact, says Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/labor-claim-of-an-increase-in-insecure-work-is-more-fiction-than-fact-20220412-p5acwh
Sarah Danckert reports that ASIC was forced to dump its longstanding security contractor after learning the Australian Federal Police was investigating the company for suspected links to an outlaw motorcycle gang, illegal phoenixing, fraud offences and money laundering. That’s a touch embarrassing!
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/asic-sacked-security-contractor-over-suspected-links-to-bikies-20220411-p5aco4.html
More on this story from Ben Butler.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/12/legal-action-launched-against-australian-companies-accused-of-overcharging-the-vulnerable-for-electronics-and-whitegoods
Mortgage holders need to start thinking now about how they are going to find the money to service higher repayments, warns John Collett.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/sydney-melbourne-mortgage-repayments-to-rise-by-thousands-a-year-20220408-p5ac2q.html
Collett says the “bank of mum and dad” is the ninth biggest lender and parents are gifting or lending a record average.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/planning-and-budgeting/parents-cough-up-record-100-000-to-help-children-buy-first-home-20220408-p5abza.html
Residential rents rising as fast as property prices are attracting investors seeking higher yields, a hedge against inflation and generous depreciation and tax breaks. This looks like a perfect storm!
https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/investors-return-as-rents-soar-up-to-20pc-20220412-p5acxo
Around 940 of the nation’s super rich are the target of deep-dive audits into their finances by the Australian Taxation Office due to suspected tax avoidance or non-compliance. Bring it on!
https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/ato-warns-super-rich-of-unprecedented-powers-to-scrutinise-wealth-20220410-p5acce
Charlotte Grieve writes that ASIC says predatory lending in Australia is endemic and changes to traditional banking, combined with the rise of buy-now-pay-later services, have created rising risks for financially disadvantaged people. Yesterday it launched legal action against two companies, Rent4Keeps and Layaway Depot, for allegedly disguising loans as lease contracts for white goods. I hope they go in hard!
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/asic-deputy-chair-warns-predatory-lending-endemic-in-australia-20220412-p5acuq.html
The corporate watchdog is also becoming increasingly concerned about online financial influencers who dispense dodgy financial advice.
https://www.smh.com.au/money/investing/financial-planners-welcome-asic-s-crackdown-on-finfluencers-20220411-p5acl3.html
Trucking companies will be left “devastated” by the government’s recent cut to the fuel excise, the industry has warned. South Australian Road Transport Association chief executive Steve Shearer says freight companies will lose out on $700m across the country after the government cut a vital diesel rebate in last month’s federal budget. The Fuel Tax Credit, a rebate which offered freight companies around 18 cents per litre cashback on diesel, was reduced to zero when the government halved the fuel excise. Despite calls for support, Mr Shearer said the government had failed to acknowledge the problem.
https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business/fuel-excise-cut-to-cost-truckies-700m-over-six-months/news-story/e4dd121c3654bbcfed1741b2f1544ceb?amp
New South Wales Liberal senator Hollie Hughes justified claiming a taxpayer-funded travel allowance for Melbourne Cup day by saying the alcohol company that gave her a spot in its marquee had employees in her home state, making her attendance parliamentary business. Nice try, Hollie!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/13/nsw-liberal-senator-billed-taxpayers-for-travel-allowance-on-day-of-melbourne-cup-marquee-event
And on top of that we see Matt Canavan billing taxpayers thousands of dollars to fly with his family for a three-night trip to Brisbane, during which he headlined Christmas drinks for a controversial conservative group that planned to donate part of the night’s proceeds to him.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/12/matt-canavan-billed-taxpayers-for-trip-with-family-to-brisbane-where-he-spoke-at-cpac-dinner
Michaela Whitbourn reports that a top lawyer at The Star Entertainment group has been grilled about why a damning audit report identifying money laundering risks at its casinos was described as legally privileged, in a move that shielded it from being handed over to a regulator.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-star-lawyer-grilled-over-whether-damning-kpmg-audit-was-hidden-from-regulator-20220412-p5acum.html
Australian gas projects face a raft of challenges beyond this decade while LNG exports could plummet to 20 per cent of current levels by 2050 under climate change scenarios, the Investor Group on Climate Change has warned.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/gas-industry-faces-dramatic-dropoff-investors/news-story/0672c5869755d8cc81b5182fa65d8ba2
The SMH editorial looks at China’s difficulties in maintaining its Covid zero tolerance policy.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/shanghai-surprise-as-omicron-beats-zero-tolerance-policy-20220412-p5ad0w.html
Elon Musk’s vision for the internet is dangerous nonsense, says Robert Reich.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/12/elon-musk-internet-twitter
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
John Shakespeare
Peter Broelman
Badiucao
Mark Knight
Spooner returns to Murdoch form here
From the US
Here in The Cave’s our daily shit sheet’s deadwood front page shows how it handles Bullshit Man’s popularity here. Scotty ? Who’s he ? Never heard of him. Here have The Rodent.
FMD.
Top of the online page The Cave’s daily ‘The Worst Australian’ newspaper we have
Note the cute “private event’ label. That is the only headline mentioning Bullshit Man.
So downwards and onwards to the rest of The Worst Australian ‘front page;. Hurrah ! The Rodent is still PM of Australia……………………….apparently..
The headlines.
FEDERAL ELECTION 2022
John Howard changes tune on Albo’s embarrassing gaffe
.
Howard has it right on popularity and leadership
.
HOWARD’S WAY
John Howard speaks out on China,
.
Albo under attack again over economic credentials
.
Albo to make health promises to ease hospital pressure
.
Albo and the election race
.
On the election campaign trail with beleaguered Albanese
.
Did Albo’s howler betray his biggest weakness?
.
Albo to make health promises to ease hospital pressure
.
Albo pulls a Swifty as he ‘shakes off’ awkward blunder
.
Would Albo form an alliance with Greens to take Government?
Jonathan Pie –
Stephen Colbert –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Rachel Maddow –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
They seek him here they seek him there……..
.
4m ago 13:58
So that just leaves Scott Morrison as the only leader we haven’t heard from today.
“The Liberal campaign and Scott Morrison are in Victoria”
Victoria’s loss is the rest of Australia’s gain.
“It is very windy at this Victorian fuel refinery where Scott Morrison is holding this press conference, so he is having to yell.”
Well, that is his special subject.
A brilliant put down of the Karens
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/apr/13/australia-politics-live-update-election-campaign-scott-morrison-anthony-albanese-adam-bandt-coalition-labor-greens
I suspect Adam Bandt has done Albo and Labor a Yuge favor today. A presstitute asked Bandt the wage price index he replied with a phrase that was a bit if a ‘meme’ not long back. ‘Just Google it’ . Just the thing to remind people about in this period of ‘Albo Gaffe’ re not knowing a number off the cuff. Puts into perspective.
Adam Bandt tells Ronald Mizen to Google it, them makes his pitch for raising minimum wage, cancelled HECS debt, building affordable housing
Flummery from the Flummery Man
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/apr/13/australia-politics-live-update-election-campaign-scott-morrison-anthony-albanese-adam-bandt-coalition-labor-greens
Ducky,
From what I’ve seen of Zed (HOW appropriate just now …), those urgings would have gone down like a lead balloon.
There are times when a cliché is apt.
the dog knows
Katharine gets stuck in (20:20 tonight)
…
Scott Morrison has effectively abandoned his promise to establish a federal anti-corruption watchdog, confirming he would only proceed with legislation in the new parliament if Labor agreed to pass the Coalition’s heavily criticised proposal without amendments.
Morrison pledged before the 2019 election to legislate a federal integrity body in the parliamentary term that has just ended. The prime minister broke that promise, failing to introduce his own proposal before the 46th parliament was prorogued.
On the hustings on Wednesday, Morrison was asked – given his previous undertaking to create the body – whether he would promise to put his proposal to a vote in the next parliament in the event the Coalition won the 21 May election.
Morrison declined to make that promise. “Our position on this hasn’t changed,” the prime minister said. “Our view has been the same – when the Labor party is prepared to support that legislation in that form, then we will proceed with it.”
…
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/13/scott-morrison-effectively-ditches-his-promise-to-establish-a-federal-anti-corruption-commission?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Totally missing the issue: favours for favourable comment
<
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. Here’s a pre-Easter monster!
Albanese needs to perform for the cameras, but on his terms, writes David Crowe. He says Albanese’s performance yesterday showed that Albanese recognised the problem.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-needs-to-perform-for-the-cameras-but-on-his-terms-20220413-p5adbc.html
According to NineFax, the jobless rate is expected to slip below 4 per cent but data shows consumers are gloomier about cost of living pressures, just days into the election campaign.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/unemployment-set-for-50-year-low-but-australians-downbeat-about-inflation-20220413-p5ad7r.html
After his early blunder, the Labor leader must stop the waffle and quickly wrest control of the political narrative, opines Shaun Carney.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-needs-to-fix-more-than-gaffes-to-win-over-voters-20220413-p5ad48.html
Peta Credlin writes that the biggest risk for Albanese after his ‘shocker’ is loss of confidence.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/election-2022-biggest-risk-for-albanese-after-shocker-is-loss-of-confidence/news-story/b86899266fd56618c746e13eea0a6168
Greg Jericho rightfully points out that it’s more important to know the impact of your policies than to know economic figures off-hand. In his article there is a compelling chart that shows the very high proportion on non-full time jobs in the recovery.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/14/its-more-important-to-know-the-impact-of-your-policies-than-to-know-economic-figures-off-hand
Phil Coorey writes that focus group research conducted exclusively for The Australian Financial Review finds views of Morrison are largely, but not entirely negative, but Albanese is regarded as dull, disinterested, uninspiring and too negative.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/better-the-devil-you-know-undecided-voters-lean-towards-pm-20220413-p5ad3u
Anthony Albanese wanted to be kicking with the wind in the final quarter. But he may find himself defending an early lead for too long against a scrapper like Scott Morrison, says Coorey.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/this-election-is-going-to-be-a-sprint-to-the-finish-20220412-p5acsl
Katherinne Murphy writes that Scott Morrison has effectively abandoned his promise to establish a federal anti-corruption watchdog, confirming he would only proceed with legislation in the new parliament if Labor agreed to pass the Coalition’s heavily criticised proposal without amendments.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/13/scott-morrison-effectively-ditches-his-promise-to-establish-a-federal-anti-corruption-commission
Labor’s urgent care centres are a step in the right direction – but not a panacea, explains Stephen Duckett.
https://theconversation.com/labors-urgent-care-centres-are-a-step-in-the-right-direction-but-not-a-panacea-181237
The forestry industry will be promised $219.5 million in federal funding to make more wood products in Australia and set up a major research hub in Launceston, as Scott Morrison heads to the Tasmanian city today to campaign in marginal seats.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-to-pledge-support-for-forestry-workers-in-tasmanian-campaign-stop-20220413-p5ad91.html
Warringah MP Zali Steggall has slammed her Liberal rival Katherine Deves for recruiting her ex-husband’s wife, high-profile Sydney barrister Bridie Nolan, as a key figure in her campaign to win the seat.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/new-low-steggall-slams-liberal-rival-for-recruiting-ex-husband-s-new-wife-20220413-p5ad52.html
Meanwhile, we see Katherine Deves, has described Wear it Purple Day – a day billed as celebrating diversity – as a “grooming tactic” promoting “extreme body modification” on a now-deleted website. The NSW Liberal party has gone to ground on the issue.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/14/nsw-liberal-candidate-described-campaign-supporting-lgbt-youth-as-grooming-tactic-used-by-gender-extremists
And following this, Morrison has backpedalled after flagging the Coalition might support a bill banning transgender women from playing women’s sport, following a backlash from Liberal moderates and independents.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/13/scott-morrison-abandons-support-for-trans-sport-ban-after-hand-picked-candidate-katherine-deves-apologises-for-tweets
Tony Wright writes scornfully about cheap journalism and “gaffes”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/google-it-mate-the-postmodern-answer-to-a-politician-s-nightmare-20220413-p5adbd.html
Katina Curtis says that Scott Morrison has been doing a tour of factories to spruik male-dominated jobs.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-does-the-tour-of-factories-to-spruik-male-dominated-jobs-20220413-p5ad9o.html
If optics are everything in an election campaign, it doesn’t get much worse than talking about creating local jobs inside a factory poised to cut local jobs, writes Gerald Cockburn who reckons Morrison in hot water over his visit to Rheem.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7699345/optics-all-wrong-on-marketing-mans-rheem-visit/?cs=14329
It would appear the $1.5 billion gas port that Barnaby Joyce wants to build in the Port of Darwin doesn’t stack up on any measure, potentially laying claim the title of least meritorious pork barrels of the election campaign, writes Callum Foote
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/a-darwinian-survival-story-our-northern-port-is-even-more-of-a-disaster-than-first-thought/
Adam Bandt’s speech to the National Press Club Wednesday makes it abundantly clear that the Greens are a grave threat to Australian national security, says Greg Sheridan.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/world/greens-leader-adam-bandts-vision-is-a-national-nightmare/news-story/f7d9a7accec04c2e694f2c5b053ec258
Bill Crews, the charity founder who has spent several Christmas Days dishing out lunch to vulnerable people alongside Anthony Albanese says he is disappointed Labor is not taking a plan to raise JobSeeker to the election.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-decision-to-shelve-possible-jobseeker-improvement-disappointing-20220413-p5ad44.html
“Why don’t politicians get that $46 a day isn’t enough to live on?”, asks ACOSS’s Cassandra Goldie.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/why-don-t-politicians-get-that-46-a-day-isn-t-enough-to-live-on-20220413-p5ad4d.html
The SMH editorial agrees that JobSeeker is still not enough to survive on.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/jobseeker-is-still-not-enough-to-survive-on-20220413-p5adaq.html
Retailers seeking zero to low growth in the minimum wage may struggle to attract and retain staff amid high vacancies and rising living costs, writes Sue Mitchell.
https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/retailers-face-wages-dilemma-as-job-vacancies-surge-20220412-p5ad0y
Morrison’s 1.3 million jobs promise depends on net migration, explains Abul Rizvi.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/morrisons-13-million-jobs-promise-depends-on-net-migration,16258
Callum Foote tells us that the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) popular Inflation Calculator has been taken down without explanation, just as the election race kicks off. The rising cost of living has placed inflation front and centre on every Australian’s mind, with some grocery bills doubling over the last year. The RBA is the primary institution in the country responsible for controlling inflation.
https://www.michaelwest.com.au/rba-inflation-calculator-taken-down/
Jenna Price writes about the education revolution that we’ll keep paying for. She chronicles the collapse of opportunities for those wanting to study beyond year 12.
https://www.smh.com.au/education/the-education-revolution-that-you-ll-keep-paying-for-20220411-p5acrc.html
Anthony Albanese and his colleagues could surely storm to victory if they enthusiastically acted on the arguments presented by climate experts. They would certainly attract the support of the millions of Australians who understandably fear the consequences of our current, disastrously inadequate approach to this topic, writes Bob Douglas.
https://johnmenadue.com/bob-douglas-this-should-be-a-climate-change-election/
Michelle Grattan explains how the new One Nation candidate George Christensen is set to win financially from losing.
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-new-one-nation-candidate-george-christensen-set-to-win-from-losing-181275
Australians are represented in federal parliament by 151 elected members to the House of Representatives and 76 senators: this is not enough. By increasing it, we can arrest the soaring trust deficit Australia has with our political class and increase the diversity of our parliament, argues Philip Citowicki.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-need-more-politicians-20220410-p5acbi.html
If Matt Kean is going to lecture business on women, he’d better measure up himself, writes Alexandra Smith who reckons Kean squibbed it when an opportunity arose.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/if-matt-kean-is-going-to-lecture-business-on-women-he-d-better-measure-up-himself-20220413-p5ad4s.html
Labor senator Kristina Keneally was allegedly threatened with serious harm and made to fear the threat would be carried out, court documents have revealed.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/kristina-keneally-threatened-with-serious-harm-court-documents-allege-20220413-p5ad6e.html
Six politics experts take us on a trip around Australia to give us a report on the state of the states with respect to the federal election.
https://theconversation.com/state-of-the-states-six-politics-experts-take-us-on-a-trip-around-australia-180861
Victoria could be a demographic ticking time bomb with the state’s fertility rate not only a record low for the state, it was the lowest rate in the nation, explains Josh Gordon.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/baby-bust-victoria-s-birth-rate-hovers-near-its-lowest-in-history-20220413-p5ad49.html
Adam Bandt has called for gender affirming surgery to be available through Medicare as he declared his party’s support for trans rights.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/greens-call-for-gender-surgery-to-go-on-medicare-20220413-p5ad8z.html
A dozen staff were furloughed and emergency cubicles were at capacity on the day a man died after waiting more than three hours in the emergency department of a hospital in East Gippsland. These sorts of stories are popping up everywhere.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/investigation-continues-after-man-dies-awaiting-hospital-admission-20220413-p5ad9d.html
The federal Attorney-General’s bid for an appeal to redact more parts of a judgment that ruled for an open trial of Bernard Collaery has been adjourned after three High Court judges questioned the application with one describing the case as being “fragmentation of a criminal proceedings at its worst”.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7698050/a-criminal-proceedings-at-its-worst-high-court-scrutinises-collaery-case/?cs=14329
House prices could fall by a similar amount to their last major correction if new Reserve Bank modelling comes to pass, but interest rate rises will hit households harder than in the past, economists have warned. Elizabeth Redman goes into the details.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/what-happened-last-time-house-prices-fell-and-is-this-time-different-20220412-p5acv3.html
More than one million Australian homeowners have never experienced an increase in the official cash rates. And most of these have never seen the price of their house go down. After two years of a supercharged property market, that’s set to be an uneasy feeling for a new breed of property owners and potentially a damaging time bomb to be handled carefully for whoever wins the May election, writes The Australian’s Eric Johnston.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/property/after-the-housing-boom-brace-for-the-fall/news-story/ac9e416d5fe230a78463865b1f0d67cb
Despite holding steady at a record median $600 for the March quarter, Domain’s latest Rent Report shows house rents in Greater Sydney were up 9.1 per cent for the year. They are rising at their greatest rate for six years.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/boxed-in-sydneysiders-hit-with-fastest-growing-house-rents-in-13-years-20220412-p5ad16.html
Elizabeth Knight says the rental crisis is another COVID hangover and it’s going to get worse.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/rental-crisis-is-another-covid-hangover-and-it-s-going-to-get-worse-20220413-p5ad9f.html
Harrowed aged-care and disability service providers have hailed a last-minute reprieve by the NSW government on a deadline for mandatory COVID booster shots over fears it would slash more staff in the already decimated sector.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/aged-care-disability-booster-mandates-delayed-in-nsw-due-to-staffing-crises-20220412-p5acsz.html
The NSW auditor-general has found that the government was slow to implement its own plan for identifying and rectifying buildings with potentially dangerous combustible cladding and even four years after announcing the plan, there was insufficient information to know whether all known affected buildings were safe or not.
https://www.afr.com/property/commercial/confusion-inconsistency-dog-nsw-cladding-fix-20220413-p5ad6l
AGL Energy will be able to charge and discharge a 70-megawatt battery without actually building or owning it as part of a first-of-a-kind deal with French renewables player Neoen that will help it manage its huge electricity load in NSW more efficiently, reports Angela Mcadonald-Smith.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/agl-inks-virtual-battery-deal-with-neoen-20220413-p5ad7d
She also tells us in a long contribution that high in NSW’s rugged Snowy Mountains, one of the world’s most ambitious engineering projects is battling an onslaught of cost pressures, supply chain delays and transmission challenges to realise its role as an enabler of Australia’s energy transition.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/the-battle-to-build-snowy-2-0-heats-up-20220303-p5a1i2
Nick Toscano tells us that Australia’s electric vehicle industry has seized on the Morrison government’s decision to funnel more taxpayer funds to the nation’s oil refineries and accused it of failing to design an adequate plan to drive uptake of electric cars.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/electric-car-sector-dismayed-at-mounting-oil-subsidies-20220413-p5ad80.html
For the first time the world is in a position to limit global heating to under 2C, according to the first in-depth analysis of the net zero pledges made by nations at the UN Cop26 climate summit last December.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/apr/13/historic-global-climate-plans-can-now-keep-heating-below-2c-study-shows
Investigators from the underpayment watchdog have launched surprise inspections on 15 stores of troubled bubble tea chain, Sharetea, after allegations that some staff members were being paid flat wages below legal minimums.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/bubble-trouble-wage-investigators-swoop-on-15-sharetea-stores-20220413-p5ad8y.html
Boris Johnson says he is sorry – although he doesn’t seem convinced he broke any law – but now a majority of voters (and a decent chunk of his colleagues) think he should resign, writes Rob Harris.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/partygate-war-in-ukraine-can-t-save-boris-johnson-from-ambush-by-cake-20220413-p5ad2p.html
“Lie, deny and move on – how much longer will the Johnson mantra plague British politics?”, asks Martin Kettle.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/13/boris-johnson-partygate-tory-party
According to Latika Bourke, the prime ministers of Sweden and Finland will decide within weeks whether to join NATO, saying they want protection from Russia following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/finland-and-sweden-could-apply-to-join-nato-within-weeks-20220414-p5add9.html
Russia said it had taken control of the port in Mariupol and that more than 1000 Ukrainian marines had surrendered in the devastated city.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/more-than-1000-ukrainian-marines-surrender-in-mariupol-russia-prepares-for-new-offensive-20220414-p5addj.html
Extremists like Marjorie Taylor Greene are the future of the Republican party, says Thomas Zimmer.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/13/extremists-like-marjorie-taylor-greene-are-the-future-of-the-republican-party
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
David Pope
John Shakespeare
Megan Herbert
Fiona Katauskas
Dionne Gain
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
Locals around Woodburn NSW say that the M1 acted as a levee damming flood waters
Yes, my sister in Port MacQ was telling me last night that a group from that area are considering suing the NSW govt. And the problem is not just Woodburn. The Floods last yr saw areas around Telegraph Point (15mins nth of Port) flooded that had never flooded before. Seems the fancy new highway and by-passes have insuffient drainage channels underneath, hence the ‘damming’ effect. Talk about incompetence.
LOL from The Grauniad. Bullshit Man asked (again)…………………….
The don’t mention the
WarPrime Minister campaign continues.I noticed a while back that the Rupertarium’s Daily Telegraph (online version) would ‘disappear’ Bullshit Man’s name from headlines when there was ‘a spot of bother’ . Today in the Telegraph , much like yesterday, Albo scores 6 headlines, Scotty scored 1 (hit by basketball).
The Rupertarium cesspit flagship The Australian scores even better. Middle of an election campaign and the front page of a national newspaper includes the PM’s name in…………………….ZERO headlines. A search for ‘Albanese’ sees him score 9 mentions in headlines.
Stephen Colbert –
Rachel Maddow –
Chris Hayes –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
The twitterverse is not impressed with “100 undecided voters.”
Looks like we have a somewhat unfortunate new thread…
From Leone’s son. “Just to let you know that Mum had a fall on Monday and as a result, broke her hip. Mum is fine, had a hip replacement yesterday and is in little pain and good spirits.”