HAPPY EOSTRAE
It is the time of the major Christian festival, Easter. Its name is said to come from Eostre, or Eostrae, the Anglo-Saxon Goddess of spring and fertility. This was a time in the ancient Britannic world when the new season was welcomed. After the dark Winter, people enjoyed festivals to mark the new life of Spring. This also explains the giving of eggs for Easter, to signify the new lives to come and the celebrations of hope, joy, and fun. The bunny celebrated fertility.
Are there themes that the non-religious or those from other faiths, take from the Christian Easter? What can voters in the next Australian Federal election take from Easter?
The Christian festival is wrapped up in the story of Jesus rising from death, to proclaim new life for all people. Most cultures and religions have a festival to celebrate the shedding of the old and welcoming the new. We are now in Ramadam, the period of fasting and giving in the Moslem faith, which is followed by the family celebrations when it is finished and a new cycle of faith begins.
We can go back to the pagan ceremonies, taken over by the Christians for convenience, which looked forward to a new spring, new plants, fruits, new wildlife, and new humans being conceived. It was a time when there would be plenty to eat, the weather was nice and the daily grind of survival was easier than during the dark and cold, often frozen Winter. Old straw mattresses were tossed out and new, fresh beds made up.
https://theconversation.com/the-very-strange-history-of-the-easter-bunny-56690
/https://www.thedailymeal.com/sites/default/files/images/3_eastereggs_shutterstock_129998759.jpg)
Easter also says it is never too late to take a better path or live a different life. The despair of Easter Friday is lifted on a joyous Easter Sunday. Although from then on, the next day or week may still be difficult, and the next month and the next year, and even the next decade hard, that bright day when the Ancients hoped for nothing more than another good season, can be our inspiration as well.
Sometimes to survive until your time comes is enough.
In the Southern hemisphere, we go into Winter after Easter but we can always look to the Spring beyond. Those who plant our Autumn bulbs know that the plants are absorbing energy and growing, quietly, out of sight. They bloom gloriously when our side of the Earth reaches the part of our orbit around the Sun which gives the flowers their time in the sun.
And so the world turns.
We also may think our lives will never see the sun, that we are in a perpetual Winter. I am certain the grief-stricken victims of the wars in the world think that, too, with very good reason. We can only hope they get a time when they can safely sit in the sun with memories that comfort them.
This is also a time when those who bring Winter into the lives of others can step back, and just stop doing it. They can count the cost to themselves as well as others, and realise that at the end of it all, it just is not worth it. All the energy, resources, and time spent to make others unhappy is a lost opportunity to gain their own happiness. Does the dictator sleep well without guards, locks, and alarms? Does their power bring them anything but their own self-imposed prison? Can he or she just sit in the sun, with their memories, without dragging Winter into the seat next to them?
Can a President or Prime Minister, or any leader who lets only some select few sit by the fire in Winter while leaving others outside to bear the cold as best as they can, expect his or her Springs to last forever?
The Story of Easter says not, unless they cast aside their destructive ways forever and make good, and atone for their past behaviour and the consequences of their actions.
During this festival of giving eggs and chocolate and celebrating happiness, we can look at ourselves and see if our choices are bringing Spring to others and ourselves.
In Australia, we do that every time we vote, for we are fortunate that we do not have to do it with weapons. The vote we make is critical, so I say, vote to bring in Australia’s Spring, the new life we need. Wave off our long Winter, and those who brought it to us. Bring in new talent, new ideas, and new hope.
How does Easter help voters?
In my opinion, in Australia the current government has given us a nine-year social and economic Winter. I see the most vulnerable left out in the cold, and also many others kicked out into the cold with them, judged worthless.
If we want a new Spring in Australia we have to make sure the political world turns towards the sun, and new life is breathed into our Parliament. Change the government.
Give our people their Spring.
POSTSCRIPT.
Our best wishes go out to Moderator Leone2, who is in hospital with a broken hip. Her son Steve kindly informed The Pub. I must say to be thinking of other Pubsters at such a traumatic time is going beyond expectations. We will organise a Gold Echidna With Bar for Leone2 and her son Steve to thank them and recognise Leone2’s valued contribution to The Pub.
Puff, the Magic Dragon.
THE PUB 
All this kafuffle 5 weeks out from the lection signifies nothing, as Willie would have said.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. 77 today – but I hardly feel a day older than 76!
Albanese is learning mistakes can prove fatal, whatever Morrison does, writes Niki Savva. There’s an interesting sting in the tail of this contribution, bearing in mind the sources Savva seems to have.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-is-learning-mistakes-can-prove-fatal-whatever-morrison-does-20220420-p5aeo2.html
A pissed-off Peter Hartcher says our leaders (since Turnbull) should hang their heads in shame over the Solomons-China deal.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/leaders-should-hang-their-heads-in-shame-over-solomons-china-deal-20220420-p5aewq.html
The signing of the China-Solomon Islands security treaty is a very bad day for Australia, one of the worst days for our national security since the end of the Vietnam War, declares Greg Sheridan.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/solomon-islands-security-treaty-an-epic-fail-in-australian-policy/news-story/f2dfda9d24dbc44b9de07a8f83e16dcc
Anthony Galloway says that Labor’s Penny Wong was correct when she accused the government of the “worst failure of Australian foreign policy in the Pacific” in almost 80 years, after the Solomon Islands signed a security pact with China.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-china-solomon-islands-security-deal-is-a-failure-that-goes-back-years-20220420-p5aeqr.html
David Crowe reckons the leaders played it safe as the first debate ended in a nil-all draw.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/leaders-play-it-safe-as-first-debate-ends-in-a-nil-all-draw-20220420-p5aex4.html
Here’s Katherine Murphy’s take on the debate.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/20/amid-sharp-questions-in-leaders-debate-morrison-stayed-relentlessly-on-message-while-albanese-showed-he-was-listening
The debate was the highlight of the campaign so far – a pity more couldn’t have watched, laments Dom Knight.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-albanese-debate-highlight-of-campaign-so-far-20220420-p5aeyc.html
Michelle Grattan tells us Andrew Wilkie has invited independent candidates to call him for a chat about approaching a hung parliament.
https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-andrew-wilkie-invites-independent-candidates-to-call-him-for-a-chat-about-approaching-a-hung-parliament-181604
In an election short on excitement, Morrison and Albanese are relying on scare campaigns, argues Hugh Riminton.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/20/in-an-election-short-on-excitement-morrison-and-albanese-are-relying-on-scare-campaigns
PEFO tells us Morrison has abandoned some secret promises, but his books are in order, writes Stephen Bartos.
https://theconversation.com/pefo-tells-us-morrison-has-abandoned-some-secret-promises-but-his-books-are-in-order-181538
This election is a vacuum of ideas – and that’s bad news for Labor, opines Osman Faruqi.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/this-election-is-a-vacuum-of-ideas-that-s-bad-news-for-labor-20220419-p5aem3.html
Right wing media no longer wield power as they once did. So why is Labor letting them set the election agenda, wonders Jeff Crowe.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/20/rightwing-media-no-longer-wields-power-like-it-once-did-so-why-is-labor-letting-it-set-the-election-agenda
The Coalition-News Corp attack on Labor’s energy policy is all too familiar, writes Adam Morton.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2022/apr/20/coalition-news-corp-attack-on-labor-energy-policy-is-all-too-familiar
Jennifer Wilson begins thiis contribution with, “The mainstream media is shaping the narrative of the 2022 election into a battle between two leaders. Perhaps one of the more remarkable journalistic observations last week came from ABC’s political editor Andrew Probyn, when he declared on Insiders on Sunday that “Only certain political messages get through”. Probyn appears to be entirely unaware of, or unwilling to admit, the role of his profession in determining which of those messages will “get through”.”
https://theaimn.com/political-journalists-are-framing-the-election/
Our corporate media will not acknowledge that Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison did not stop the boats. Despite clear evidence, the Canberra Press Gallery fell for the spin. With a tame media and cooperation by the military, the big lie was repeated time and time again and became accepted as fact. This was all before Donald Trump and his big lies, writes John Menadue in his article about the repeated lie that Morrison stopped the boats.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-repeated-lie-that-morrison-stopped-the-boats-a-repost-from-march-112021/
More than $100 million in community grants has been awarded to projects in marginal seats crucial to winning the election, Treasury documents reveal. Payment updates within the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook show 15 projects have been awarded Community Development Grants since the March budget, with eight grants allocated to marginal electorates. The total amount allocated across the additional projects since the budget sits at $116.6 million. They are still at it!
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7706536/economic-update-reveals-further-coalition-grants-rorting/?cs=14329
The Morrison government’s promise to spend $7.4bn building a series of new dams is probably “the biggest pork barrel in history,” says the author of new research that claims other investment would deliver significantly better economic outcomes and more jobs.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/21/morrison-governments-74bn-in-dam-commitments-could-be-biggest-pork-barrel-in-history
Australia has suffered one of the largest budget deteriorations in the developed world and one of the biggest increases in debt, and the International Monetary Fund is warning budget repair has to start soon, explain Sanne Wight and Rachel Clun.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/budget-bleeds-red-ink-as-imf-says-now-is-time-to-start-fiscal-repair-20220420-p5aep5.html
The National party’s candidate for the marginal northern New South Wales seat of Richmond told worshippers at a Pentecostal church that her “ultimate goal” in politics was to “bring God’s kingdom to the political arena”. Just what we need – more of Pentecostalism!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/21/nsw-nationals-candidate-tells-congregation-of-her-aim-to-bring-gods-kingdom-to-politics
More than two thirds of directors support a federal anti-corruption body, says a new survey, which has also identified government integrity and trustworthiness as key election concerns, reports Clancy Yates.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/it-s-about-accountability-directors-back-federal-anti-corruption-watchdog-20220420-p5aeqh.html
According to James Massola and Alexandra Smith, NSW Liberals say they’re resigned to embattled Katherine Deves remaining the party’s Warringah candidate, as Prime Minister Scott Morrison dug in to support her and declared Australians were “fed up with having to walk on eggshells”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dominic-perrottet-tells-colleagues-he-did-not-katherine-deves-text-to-scott-morrison-20220420-p5aenv.html
Habitual bipartisanship is toxic to good defence policy, says Mike Scrafton.
https://johnmenadue.com/habitual-bipartisanship-is-toxic-to-good-defence-policy/
Big business is on a collision course with whoever wins government over pandemic-era workplace reforms that would allow cuts to employee pay or entitlements during wage negotiations, writes Angus Thompson.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/business-still-want-changes-to-boot-as-the-workplace-reform-causes-political-stoush-20220420-p5aeuv.html
Thousands of truckies may find themselves covered by Labor’s policy to set minimum pay and conditions for “employee-like” workers, businesses fear. The AFR tells us that business groups are concerned Labor’s gig worker policy could extend to other independent contractors such as owner drivers, raising the spectre of a controversial road safety body that set pay for truck drivers but was later abolished after a backlash.
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/labor-gig-worker-policy-could-extend-to-truckies-business-warns-20220420-p5aese
The SMH editorial says that COVID-19 isolation rules had outlived their use-by date.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/covid-19-isolation-rules-had-outlived-their-use-by-date-20220420-p5aevk.html
The easing of Covid restrictions in Victoria and New South Wales has been welcomed by industry groups, despite concerns from some epidemiologists that it sends the wrong message at a time daily infections remain high.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/21/epidemiologists-split-over-easing-of-covid-restrictions-in-nsw-and-victoria
The federal government should mandate emissions reduction targets on $300 billion worth of infrastructure projects in the pipeline, as well as tighten emissions standards on vehicles, according to a new report from Infrastructure Partnerships Australia.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/call-for-carbon-reduction-targets-on-projects-20220420-p5aerg
The aged care sector has questioned the Coalition’s claims that the home care workforce has increased by almost 15% in a matter of months, saying the figures appear at odds with the “severe staffing challenges” it is experiencing.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/21/aged-care-sector-questions-coalition-claim-home-care-workforce-has-grown-by-almost-15
Tom Rabe reveals that all but one NSW Coalition MP has been awarded a parliamentary promotion to boost their base salary, with Premier Dominic Perrottet also appointing a record number of ministers to his cabinet.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/everyone-gets-a-prize-almost-all-coalition-mps-earning-well-above-base-salary-20220420-p5aev3.html
Property prices have stopped rising in Sydney and Melbourne but first-home hopefuls keen to get into the market are being warned to watch out for a trap, explains Elizabeth Redman.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/the-looming-risk-that-could-leave-first-home-buyers-20-000-out-of-pocket-20220420-p5aevg.html
Jewel Topsfield outlines three things Australia could do to help fix the mental health crisis.
https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/three-things-australia-could-do-to-help-fix-the-mental-health-crisis-20220419-p5aecc.html
NSW reported its lowest number of new HIV infections on record last year with the goal of elimination of the virus in the state now “well within reach by 2025”. The achievement would make NSW one of the first places in the world to eliminate HIV before the global target of 2030, public health experts say.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/unique-on-a-global-scale-nsw-nears-elimination-of-hiv-as-cases-fall-to-record-lows-20220407-p5abld.html
Questions sent to the ABC by Christian Porter’s lawyers during his high-profile defamation case appeared to correlate to “confidential” information told to his barrister by the friend of a woman who accused him of sexual assault, a court has heard. Georgina Mitchel tells us what happened there.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/questions-sent-to-abc-by-porter-s-lawyers-seemed-to-correlate-to-confidential-information-court-told-20220420-p5aes7.html
Jackson Graham reports that two of Victoria’s biggest coal-fired power stations have been hit with faults, knocking out a chunk of the state’s power supply.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/victoria-s-biggest-coal-fired-power-plant-hit-by-second-outage-in-three-years-20220420-p5aery.html
Russia has test-launched an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to evade defences, with Putin saying it should cause anyone threatening Russia to “think twice” as it continued its assaults in Ukraine’s east.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/russia-test-fires-unique-missile-as-its-forces-tighten-noose-in-mariupol-20220421-p5aeyt.html
Donald Trump attempted a coup on 6 January 2021 as he tried to salvage his doomed presidency, and that will be a central focus of forthcoming public hearings of the special House panel investigating events surrounding the insurrection at the US Capitol, the congressman Jamie Raskin has said.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/19/donald-trump-jamie-raskin-january-6-committee-capitol-attack
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
Megan Herbert
John Shakespeare
Dione Gain
Fiona Katauskas
Mark David
Leak just can’t help himself!
From the US
Many happy happies, BK, hope you have a great day.
BK – have a very happy birthday.
BK
I don’t know why but this song is running through my head this morning –
Meanwhile out in The Cave . Not the sort of headline I was expecting to see in The West Australian. Video,paywalled.
https://thewest.com.au/news/up-late/up-late-with-ben-harvey-the-absurd-pledges-scott-morrison-has-made-while-in-wa–c-6499092
The final skit
Situation normal
Giving two shadow ministers ninety minutes each on national TV is like bowling slow full tosses.
The alternative must be much worse …
The 2 ministers held a joint press conference to explain why they were not attending .
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Rachel Maddow –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Tasty!
Yes, the Covid pandemic is really over
Luke Henriques-Gomes continuing his good work
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/21/having-to-grapple-with-the-ndis-is-no-blessing-its-a-matter-of-government-policy
Julian Hill –
Happy Birthday, BK, from all at The Pub.
You may have to click on the gif to open it.. A birtthday surprise.
Doesn’t work for me. May be my browser settings. Opening in a new private window works for me.
I just heard on abc 720 perth that Albo has covid and will be in isolation for ???? how long.
Oh no!
The MSM will beat this up as “Albo fakes illness” although when Scovid (allegedy) had Covid the timing was highly suspicious and they did not say a word.
The standard seven days
7 days, is usually when you turn from positive to negative.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
According to The Age, Anthony Albanese will intensify media appearances in a bid to keep the Labor campaign in the national spotlight through radio, television and online interviews from home, with close aides saying he remains in good health.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-tests-positive-to-covid-election-campaign-plans-on-hold-20220421-p5af8u.html
Morrison’s defence for failing to stop Solomons deal is not good enough, declares David Crowe.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-s-defence-for-failing-to-stop-solomons-deal-is-not-good-enough-20220421-p5af0m.html
Australia knew about a secret draft security pact between China and Solomon Islands weeks before it mysteriously surfaced on the internet, with several government sources claiming the nation’s intelligence agencies played a role in orchestrating the leak.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-knew-about-china-solomons-security-deal-before-it-was-leaked-20220421-p5af6c.html
A decade of Solomons blunders rolled out the red carpet for Xi Jinping, writes Kevin Rudd who says Morrison has made Australia less secure, not more secure. Continuing his policies will ensure the Solomons won’t be the last island state to sign a security agreement with Beijing, but merely the first.
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/a-decade-of-solomons-blunders-rolled-out-the-red-carpet-for-xi-jinping-20220419-p5aebh
The SMH editorial calls for better diplomacy to be employed to curb China’s Pacific push.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/better-diplomacy-is-needed-to-curb-china-s-pacific-push-20220421-p5af70.html
Election policies are being released every day, but there is no overarching vision to tie them together, writes Waleed Aly who is concerned at where politics has ended up.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/phantom-campaigning-will-make-a-ghost-out-of-democracy-20220421-p5af33.html
Unless major parties change, independents are here to stay, predicts Peter Beattie.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/unless-major-parties-change-independents-are-here-to-stay-20220420-p5aey2.html
The Climate 200 candidates running in rich Liberal seats are new. But in terms of appeal, they are a reheated version of the now-defunct Australian Democrats, writes Phil Coorey.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/teal-independents-pick-up-where-the-democrats-left-off-20220420-p5aex5
The Coalition and Labor don’t want to discuss the rising cost of the National Disability Insurance Scheme because it’s too politically sensitive, says Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/everyone-blesses-the-ndis-20220421-p5af6h
Frank Bongiorno tells us that history shows Australians have nothing to fear from a hung parliament.
https://theconversation.com/could-the-2022-election-result-in-a-hung-parliament-history-shows-australians-have-nothing-to-fear-from-it-181484
With the mainstream media more compliant than ever, there is a need for credibility from our journalists during the election campaigns, writes Paul Begley.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/now-is-a-crucial-time-for-journalists-we-can-trust,16282
Scott Morrison’s cabinet considered legislative changes made to South Australia’s peak corruption agency in the context of its own proposed Commonwealth Integrity Commission, which, if adopted, would further weaken the federal government’s proposed integrity watchdog, reveals the AFR’s Michael Roddan.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/morrison-cabinet-weighed-up-weaker-watchdog-model-20220421-p5af5i
The proposed federal anti-corruption commission wouldn’t catch pork-barrelling, or even an MP apparently doing a favour for someone with whom they may have been in a relationship. Or finding someone a cushy job, explains Michael Pelly.
https://www.afr.com/politics/pork-won-t-fly-why-morrison-likes-the-sa-model-of-an-icac-20220419-p5aelf
The survival of democracy depends on checks and balances, the possibility of corruption being exposed through an Independent Commission Against Corruption which will provide a vital check on rorting of the environment, argues David Shearman.
https://johnmenadue.com/david-shearman-a-federal-icac-is-needed-to-protect-the-environment-and-climate-change-laws/
Morrison says he’s sorry for comments about autistic children – maybe he is just relieved he doesn’t have to rely on a system that’s failing those who need it most, writes Luke Henriques-Gomes.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/21/having-to-grapple-with-the-ndis-is-no-blessing-its-a-matter-of-government-policy
Graham Richarson reckons Albo has got his mojo back.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/no-debate-about-it-albo-gets-his-mojo-back/news-story/4d3ba9e71a2065a189efc97c3ac347e7
The NSW Coalition’s shaky grasp on government is under threat as a key independent warns he will no longer guarantee supply and confidence if Premier Dominic Perrottet continues to make damaging statements about transgender children and sport, says the SMH.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/perrottet-s-minority-under-threat-key-independent-threatens-to-pull-support-over-transgender-comments-20220421-p5af4r.html
Michelle Grattan writes, “Now, in the controversy over Katherine Deves, the Liberal candidate for Warringah who Morrison refused to dump despite a string of offensive social media posts, we have seen the prime minister fail a significant character test. Ignoring the public and private calls by Liberals – not all of them moderates – for Deves to be disendorsed, Morrison said on Thursday, the day nominations closed, “I’ve been in contact with Katherine again today, encouraging her”.”
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-scott-morrison-fails-the-character-test-posed-by-his-warringah-candidate-181715
Greg Jericho is concerned that our major political parties – and the media – seem to have forgotten we’re heading for a cliff when it comes to temperature rises.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2022/apr/21/in-australias-election-campaign-the-silence-on-climate-is-deafening
Guide Dogs Victoria appears to have broken federal law and could have its charity status disqualified with its CEO appearing in election advertisements heavily advocating Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, writes Anthony Klan.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/josh-frydenbergs-dog-act,16283
And now Rachel Dexter reports that photos of Josh Frydenberg posing with young Scouts will be removed from promotional material in the highly contested seat of Kooyong in Melbourne’s inner east after complaints about children’s images being used for political purposes. Josh has had his share of problems during this campaign!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/frydenberg-to-remove-scouts-from-campaign-material-20220421-p5af2a.html
Australia must fix the design of employer sponsored visas to make them easier, faster and cheaper to use while increasing penalties for employers who misuse these visas, explains Abul Rizvi.
https://johnmenadue.com/immigration-of-nurses-and-doctors/
Michael Keating explains the stagnating living standards under Morrison’s watch.
https://johnmenadue.com/stagnating-living-standards-under-morrison/
Michaela Whitbourn reports that a friend and former comrade of war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith has admitted that a group of soldiers led by the pair in Afghanistan face a total of five murder allegations, including three first aired publicly yesterday. It looks worse by the day.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/ben-roberts-smith-s-friend-warned-him-of-defence-force-witch-hunt-court-told-20220421-p5af3a.html
Channel Seven was billed almost $170,000 for the legal costs of three witnesses testifying on behalf of Ben Roberts-Smith in his defamation fight against war crimes allegations, including more than $65,000 over two years to pay for lawyers acting for his former patrol commander, a close friend. This is an interesting development.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/channel-seven-billed-170-000-for-legal-costs-of-ben-roberts-smith-s-witnesses-20220421-p5af4g.html
In his recent addresses about China, especially in his National Press Club address in November last year and Nine newspaper in February 2022, Defence Minister Peter Dutton’s tough talk would not go down well with Chinese voters. It could cost the LNP votes in the marginal seats where Chinese votes make a difference, explains Teow Loon Ti.
https://johnmenadue.com/teow-loon-ti-why-intemperate-views-on-china-will-cost-chinese-votes/
Katherine Bennett tells us that the latest Covid rules changes are significant because they represent a move away from a rules-based approach to managing this pandemic and a shift towards the public health strategies usually used to combat infectious diseases: providing people with information they can use to mitigate a health risk, backed by diagnostic tools and treatment to manage disease.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/new-covid-19-rules-mark-a-shift-in-how-we-manage-pandemic-20220420-p5aetd.html
Lucy Carroll writes that dozens of the country’s top doctors have backed calls for a crackdown on the scandal-tainted cosmetic surgery industry, with hundreds of submissions to the national medical watchdog as part of a landmark enquiry into patient safety. Well done 4 Corners for highlighting this blight.
https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/top-doctors-back-calls-for-crackdown-on-cosmetic-surgery-cowboys-20220421-p5af1f.html
Pay-as-you-feel restaurant Lentil as Anything may have traded while insolvent for three years – a potential criminal offence. What a performance!
https://www.theage.com.au/national/lentil-as-anything-out-of-business-owing-staff-almost-400-000-administrators-reveal-20220420-p5aesr.html
Almost eight weeks after Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine, with military losses mounting and Russia facing unprecedented international isolation, a small but growing number of senior Kremlin insiders are quietly questioning his decision to go to war.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/kremlin-insiders-alarmed-over-growing-toll-of-putins-war-in-ukraine-20220421-p5af47.html
We’re running out of time to hold Donald Trump accountable, writes Robert Reich who says the midterms will be a battle between his acolytes and supporters of fair elections
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/21/trump-republican-party-midterm-elections-democracy
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Fiona Katauskas
Simon Letch
Jim Pavlidis
John Shakespeare
Peter Broelman
Glen Le Lievre
Mark David
Spooner
From the US
I have no emotional energy left for people too stupid to stay alive.
What timing Puffy re ‘stupidity’. I had just finished watching this video “Bonhoeffer‘s Theory of Stupidity” clicked on The Pub and first up saw a reference to ‘stupidity’.
kk Thanks for the video, I thoroughly enjoyed and larned from it. The part at 4:30 abouth his death was really difficult to take and is an example of stupidity and violence in action.
Again ta muchly.
friendlyjordies –
Seth Meyers –
Rachel Maddow –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Auspicious
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7709603/labor-independents-draw-key-top-spots/?cs=14264
As if I did not have enough problems – I have COVID.
Caught it in Port hospital – there can be no doubt about that.
I AM NOT HAPPY with NSW health and with the filthy infected idiot who thought it was OK to take their infection into a hospital and share it.
I feel OK, apart from a cough and a sore throat. I’ve had a chest X-ray which was clear. It really does feel like a cold.
I woke up yesterday with a sore throat, reported it and was immediately given a RAT, whisked into isolation and given a PCR test. The RAT was negative. I had to wait until this morning for the PCR result.
Worst thing – my rehab at Wauchope had not even started. Now I’m back at Port hospital and rehab (at Wauchope) is postponed until I get the all clear.
Best thing – I get a room to myself.n
Good to see it’s not a bad dose of the lurgy.
Second best thing, Leone, you will avoid Redneck Rube for a few days!
Fiona – true
All the best Leone, hope you get well soon. I’ve been through the hip replacement thingo and it ain’t too bad, just do lots of walking asap.
Bugger. You have worked so hard to avoid it. I guess you’re in the right place at the moment and not home alone. We are sending our best, and hope you recover well.
BLIMEY, Leone!
They say things usually come in threes! I hope that’s number three for you and you only have a mild version of it without the Long Covid after effects.
We’re getting quite a influx of infections here now. It was pretty well zero here, with just the odd infected person bringing it back with them from down south but without infecting anyone else here for almost two years.
But now we’ve quickly leapt up to over 5,000 total infections just since the start of this year. I really miss our previous Chief Health Officer because I don’t believe she would have allowed Queensland to open up like NSW, Victoria and SA did.
I know there was a lot of pressure put on the Qld Govt from down south and the Feds but the new CHO seems to be a bit of a “Herd Immunity” fan worse luck. My son’s partner refuses to get vaccinated (I don’t know why) but he and her two kids have had two doses.
They wanted to come up here for a visit in June but I wouldn’t allow them to stay here with her not vaccinated as they live in a part of Brisbane with quite a lot of it.
Anyway,I was getting quite a bit of leaning on to change my mind but I’m glad now I did. For, guess what? The young girl brought a school friend home on a Friday afternoon and promptly got Covid from her. A day after she tested positive the others had RAT tests and thought they missed it as they tested negative. I told my son that the cheaper tests only pick up the virus when you are at the peak of infection and can miss it in the early stages and the later ones.
The day after she tested positive the brother started to have a cough and a sore throat but my son thought it was probably just a cold for as I mentioned earlier the other three tested negative negative. I recommended they get the PCR test to make sure as they were all living in the same house.
Yeah! So guess what again? The other three all had it too! If they brought it up here, I would be gone in a few days as I’m like you, over 70 and also have COPD from Pneumonia a number of years ago. Now I find out My sister and B in L brought it back home with them following spending Easter in Melbourne with their daughters. They both visit my Mum regularly so it’s lucky they found out before dropping in to see her after their trip.
Mum’s 92 so she would probably be lucky to last a couple of days after catching it.
I’m starting to wonder how long I can hold out without catching it as it’s all around me now, and it’s possible to catch it virtually anywhere now!!
Same here in our little town of about 700. Our post office closed down and the take away shop closed down. They are open again now. We wear our masks if we got to the shop, and definitely if we go into B’dale. Razz doesn’t go into any of the shops, (she uses a mobility scooter) in town, and doesn’t get out of the car in B’dale except to go the doctors or nurses or physio.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. Have fun with this lot!
Morrison is a failure in fields he claims to have mastered but the jury is still out on Labor, declares Peter Hartcher. He says that when Morrison and Frydenberg claim that Labor “can’t manage money”, they are being shamelessly hypocritical.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/morrison-a-failure-in-fields-he-claims-to-have-mastered-jury-still-out-on-labor-20220422-p5afie.html
George Megalogenis writes that whoever forms the next government will be confronted with a structural deficit that cannot be willed away with incantations about Australia’s world-beating recovery. He predicts that there will have to be a horror budget dropped to confront the structural deficit that we have. He laments that It’s a pity neither side has the confidence to start this conversation before polling day.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/horror-budget-on-the-cards-for-whoever-forms-next-government-20220421-p5af3t.html
John Hewson writes that Scott Morrison is being economical with the truth and he says the Australian voter deserves better than a demeaning and trivialising gotcha campaign, driven mostly by the agendas and biases of the media and ignoring the principal policy issues that will confront and dominate the next government.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2022/04/23/scott-morrison-being-economical-with-the-truth/165063600013750
Paul Kelly writes that the hurdle Scott Morrison faces in this election is a looming structural loss in the Coalition primary vote – the result of an identity crisis on the conservative side of politics that is compounded by government weakness in promoting a plan for the future. A pretty good read.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/when-politics-kills-the-policy-debate/news-story/fedd0413ebf8f4498bbc3f947582c720
At the end of week two of the campaign we are confronting the prospect of neither major party being able to govern in their own right, which says everything about how underwhelming voters see the choice on offer. For that, Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have only themselves to blame, says Paul Bongiorno.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2022/04/23/just-so-nasty-and-dirty-and-people-hate-it/165063600013749
Dennis Atkins reckons spending a week out of the spotlight might not be such a bad thing for Albanese.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/federal-election-2022/2022/04/22/dennis-atkins-anthony-albanese-covid/?breaking_live_scroll=1
Laura Tingle describes the election campaign as a game of spot the difference – and without ideas, dog whistles take over.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-23/election-looms-difference-major-parties-policies-ideas-substance/101009390
Michelle Grattan headlines this contribution with, “PM’s ‘Deve-ious’ tactics produce another failed character test”. She’s not wrong! She says that in his defence of Deves, Morrison is framing the issue in a misleading way on several fronts. It is not a case of critics wanting to “cancel” her. It is a question of whether she is a suitable candidate for the Liberals. She also says Morrison tried to frame Deves’ tweets as “insensitive”. They went way beyond “insensitive” – they were downright offensive. “Blessed” gets a run, too.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pm-s-deve-ious-tactics-produce-another-failed-character-test-20220421-p5af8f.html
Phil Coorey writes that senior shadow ministers will fan out across the country over the next week to cover for Anthony Albanese as Labor scrambles to keep its campaign on track.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/team-albo-steps-up-as-leader-vows-i-ll-be-back-20220422-p5afb9
Liberal MPs in at-risk “teal” seats are being left with little financial support from the Coalition in the lead-up to the election, at the same time as they are being outspent on advertising by their independent challengers, explain Sarah Martin and Nick Evershed.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/23/coalition-scrimps-on-mps-as-climate-200-backed-independents-outspend-them-in-key-seats
As speculation mounts that Clive Palmer will seek a preference deal w ith the Coalition, his advertising spending in some markets is more than 200 times that of his rivals, writes Rick Morton who looks at Palmer trying to buy the balance of power.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2022/04/23/clive-palmer-and-how-buy-the-balance-power/165063600013754
The son of former Victorian Liberal Premier Ted Baillieu says the party has abandoned its small-l liberal values and that independents offer a vision for the future, not the past. Here’s his op-ed.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/my-father-was-liberal-premier-but-i-can-t-support-his-party-20220422-p5afh3.html
Tony Windsor writes about rorters, rooters and the country’s lost decade and says that Integrity and climate change will be the key issues at this election, with integrity being the key to a flourishing democracy.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2022/04/23/rorters-rooters-and-the-countrys-lost-decade/165063600013751
John Lord opines that while Albanese looks to the future, Morrison just talks about the past.
https://theaimn.com/while-albanese-looks-to-the-future-morrison-just-talks-about-the-past/
Saul Eslake takes us through the Morrison ‘dirty deal’ on GST revenue sharing that benefits WA.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-morrison-dirty-deal-on-gst-revenue-sharing/
Michael Koziol reports that voters and Liberal Party members were kept waiting more than 45 minutes to meet controversial candidate Katherine Deves last night as advisers schemed for her to avoid the media waiting at the Forestville RSL. Quite a shambles.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/this-is-a-joke-farcical-scenes-as-deves-ushered-into-pub-event-20220422-p5afix.html
Dominic Perrottet has stared down threats by a key independent MP to withdraw support for his government amid an intensifying debate over transgender people in sport, writes Tom Rabe.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/we-won-t-shut-down-debate-perrottet-stares-down-crossbench-threat-20220422-p5afh9.html
Alex Greenwich tells us why he delivered an ultimatum to Dominic Perrottet.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/why-i-delivered-an-ultimatum-to-dominic-perrottet-20220422-p5afe4.html
Michael McGowan explains why some conservatives see Katherine Deves’ candidates as a ‘godsend’.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/23/why-some-conservatives-see-katherine-deves-candidates-as-a-godsend
After a week dominated by the anti-trans views of Scott Morrison’s candidate for Warringah, it has emerged his proxies misled moderates about the captain’s pick, writes Karen Middleton who describes the Katherine Deves preselection as ‘another Hawke game’.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2022/04/23/katherine-deves-preselection-another-hawke-game/165063600013755
Trans rights are part of the culture war repertoire overseas, but will Australians become irritated by the fixation on an issue they regard as completely confected, wonders Katherine Murphy who examines the concept of the “red wall”.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/23/the-red-wall-and-what-it-means-for-australias-election-campaign
Malcolm Knox has penned an interesting, tongue-in-cheek article on the rise of women’s sport.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/forget-the-women-it-s-time-to-save-men-s-sport-20220422-p5afck.html
Meanwhile, Australian Christian Lobby flyers targeting moderate Liberals who crossed the floor to amend the religious discrimination bill to protect LGBTIQ+ people have prompted complaints to the charities regulator that argue the material breaches rules on political campaigning.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/23/australian-christian-lobby-faces-complaints-about-flyers-targeting-mps-who-opposed-religious-discrimination-laws
Ross Gittins explores the issue of job insecurity.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/job-insecurity-close-your-eyes-and-you-can-t-see-it-20220421-p5af8c.html
Katina Curtis tells us that the agency that runs the National Disability Insurance Scheme has lost up to 40 legal staff over recent months amid record numbers of appeals of its decisions. More than half of the appeals resulted in the agency’s decision being overturned or altered – the highest success rate for any area the AAT deals with.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/lawyers-leave-ndis-agency-in-droves-as-challenges-to-decisions-double-20220422-p5afew.html
The Coalition’s latest scare campaign over Labor’s climate policy highlights the real mess surrounding adequate planning for a shift towards renewables. Half of the experts cited say they were misquoted, says Mike Seccombe.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2022/04/23/energy-figures-misused-coalition-campaign/165063600013758
A friend of war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith has denied colluding with the decorated former soldier and three other former comrades about the evidence they would give in his defamation case, writes Michaela Whitbourn.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/roberts-smith-s-friend-denies-colluding-over-evidence-in-defamation-case-20220422-p5afd6.html
In this week’s media round-up, Amanda Meade points out the difference in treatment of political leaders is on full display in the Murdoch organs.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/commentisfree/2022/apr/22/soft-focus-news-corp-embraces-morrison-and-joyces-flattering-election-photos
In the wake of the China/Solomon Island agreement, former Australian High Commissioner to PNG, Ian Kemish, writes that Australia will need to draw on its diplomatic toolkit as it works to reduce the chances of the deal being executed in the way that our strategic experts fear.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/oceania/china-s-solomons-deal-is-a-clear-setback-for-australia-20220422-p5afe0.html
The Chinese military is coming to the South Pacific, and Australia is completely unprepared to deal with this sobering reality. Unprepared militarily. Unprepared diplomatically. We may be witnessing a revolution in our strategic outlook, writes a concerned Greg Sheridan who concludes with, “In this season of wake-up calls, the Solomon Islands agreement is surely the loudest of all. The government in its rhetoric demonstrates it understands the problem. But its actions bear no correspondence to the strategic need.”
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/china-is-coming-to-honiara-and-we-are-singularly-illprepared/news-story/d241283aab23c41c49c6bc8d439dadf5
After years of drought, fire, flood and expert reports revealing the catastrophic costs of inaction, Australia’s major political parties are falling short on climate policy, argues Mike Foley.
https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/this-is-what-you-want-on-climate-action-what-you-get-runs-cold-20220421-p5af80.html
The huge increase in dwelling prices was made possible by ultra-low interest rates. Now the prospective rise in interest rates is likely to have a much bigger impact on many borrowers future living standards than previously experienced, and the demand for rental accommodation is also likely to increase faster than in the past, explains Michael Keating.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-deterioration-in-housing-affordability-and-its-impact-on-living-standards/
Melissa Marsden writes that last Sunday’s episode of ABC Insiders showed viewers exactly what media bias is all about and how, come election time, even some of the most respected journalists can fall into the trap of playing double standards.
https://theaimn.com/media-bias-and-the-public-agenda-gotcha-questions-examined/
According to Osman Faruqi, the ABC will announce who will replace Leigh Sales as the host of flagship current affairs program 7.30 imminently, with former Four Corners host Sarah Ferguson considered the most likely choice.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/sarah-ferguson-leads-the-pack-as-race-to-replace-leigh-sales-tightens-20220422-p5afg8.html
Of course, hardly a week can go by without dear old Gerard having a shot at the ABC.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/abc-hurts-its-own-case-for-hosting-leaders-debate/news-story/8e4c3222ad2a9c9369b112e7164ee893
Labor’s quiet move this week to exempt coal and gas projects from carbon emissions reduction rules has sparked condemnation from the Greens and left voters wondering if there is any significant difference between the major parties on climate action. Callum Foote reports on the latest favour for the coal sector and the policy differences between the Coalition and Labor.
https://michaelwest.com.au/labor-edges-closer-to-coalition-on-coal-in-bid-to-woo-hunter-valley-queensland-voters/
Melissa Cunningham has canvassed opinions for health experts on what lies ahead of us this winter as flu meets Covid.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/experts-brace-for-surge-in-illness-as-covid-meets-influenza-20220419-p5aee5.html
Two of the world’s biggest streaming companies are bidding for the first time to broadcast AFL games, at the same time as the league requires significantly higher broadcast revenues to pay for the salary claims of male players and a near doubling in pay for the AFLW. Sport has got out of hand IMHO.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/streaming-companies-want-to-broadcast-afl-as-players-seek-huge-pay-rises-20220419-p5aeip.html
Ben Butler reports that Westpac has been fined $40m for charging fees to more than 11,800 dead people, bringing the total the federal court has ordered the bank to pay in a string of misconduct cases brought by the corporate regulator to $130m. Top effort!
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/22/westpac-fined-40m-for-charging-fees-to-the-dead
Despite a 2016 royal commission, conditions in youth detention in the Northern Territory remain cruelly punitive, exacerbated by even harsher restrictions due to Covid-19, explains Esther Linder.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-crime/2022/04/23/children-isolated-and-fed-through-hatch-don-dale/165063600013757
A senior member of the Hillsong church has written an explosive letter to the church’s global board criticising the handling of complaints against its former head Brian Houston and his leadership style. A bad egg!
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/22/hillsong-scathing-internal-letter-denounces-church-response-to-brian-houstons-unhealthy-leadership
Jonathan Freedland says that every day Boris Johnson clings on, the UK’s democracy rots a little bit more.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/apr/22/boris-johnson-democracy-ministers-partygate-removal
For Joe Biden, the vote by Florida Republicans on Thursday to strip Disney of its self-governing powers was a step too far. “Christ, they’re going after Mickey Mouse,” the president exclaimed at a fundraiser in Oregon, in apparent disbelief that state governor Ron DeSantis’s culture wars had reached the gates of the Magic Kingdom.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/apr/22/biden-desantis-florida-republicans-disney
Russia’s war on Ukraine should push other countries to shift and diversify their food supply — to make it more secure and, at the same time, improve nutrition worldwide, suggests Professor Jessica Fanzo for Bloomberg.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/the-world-s-food-system-is-too-dependent-on-wheat-20220422-p5afa8.html
Nomination for “Arseholes of the Week” go to Trivago which has copped a fine of $44.7 million for lying about ‘best’ hotel deals. It was a stinking operation.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/trivago-fined-44-7-million-for-lying-about-best-hotel-deals-20220422-p5afez.html
Cartoon Corner
Mark David
Alan Moir
David Rowe
Peter Broelman
David Pope
Jon Kudelka
John Shakespeare
Matt Davidson
Jim Pavlidis
Fiona Katauskas
Simon Letch
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
As always, thank you for your sterling work, BK!
I particularly enjoyed Rob Baillieu’s opinion piece (disclosure: I am one of Mon Ryan’s volunteers and will be scrutineering).
[ A senior member of the Hillsong church has written an explosive letter to the church’s global board criticising the handling of complaints against its former head Brian Houston and his leadership style. A bad egg! ]
And to think that this cretin and his spouse just happen to be long-time besties with Scotty and HIS spouse.
Says a lot about the character of our PM and his other half…….
What’s that old saying about the company you keep?
Blimey, BK!
You’re sure going to keep me occupied trying to keep up with all that reading you have presented us with today !!!!!!!
Can’t quite work out what the cartoon with the tight rope walker over the chasm represents though ????
Bill Maher – (new rules 44:00)
Overtime –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
An easy choice . . .
Michael West with an excellent analysis of the Solomons issue –
The fat lady isn’t even on stage yet
“Australia has reported almost 42,000 new COVID-19 cases and 44 deaths as restrictions ease around the country.”
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. This is your meagre lot for today!
Morrison and Albanese have both provided op-eds pitching for uncommitted voters.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/i-am-optimistic-about-our-future-scott-morrison-s-pitch-to-uncommitted-voters-20220423-p5afks.html
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-government-that-will-accept-responsibility-anthony-albanese-s-pitch-to-uncommitted-voters-20220423-p5afkr.html
Anthony Galloway and Lisa Visentin sum up yesterday’s efforts by saying that while Labor’s refashioned campaign rolled on without its leader, Scott Morrison went fishing for votes without subjecting himself to scrutiny on Saturday.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/rallies-roll-on-for-labor-as-morrison-fishes-for-votes-20220423-p5afli.html
Educators and parents have largely worked out the issue of inclusion among themselves. This is what is lost in the political debate, and what is so cynical about politicians who insist they are simply fighting for the rights of women and girls, writes Jacqui Maley who wonders why we are talking about trans people in sport during a federal election.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/why-are-we-talking-about-trans-people-in-sport-during-a-federal-election-20220422-p5aff5.html
Michelle Grattan writes that, in the controversy over Katherine Deves, the Liberal candidate for Warringah who Morrison refused to dump despite a string of offensive social media posts, we have seen the Prime Minister fail a significant character test.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7709522/scott-morrison-fails-the-character-test-posed-by-his-warringah-candidate/?cs=14329
Michael McGowan writes that for two weeks, moderates within the New South Wales Liberal party have been asking the same question, namely, “why did the prime minister pick lightning rod candidate Katherine Deves in Warringah?”
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/24/the-moderates-in-the-nsw-liberals-are-in-a-fight-they-never-wanted-over-katherine-deves
Trans participation in sport is happening now – not only is it a non-issue, it makes clubs better, argues Stephanie Convery.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/apr/24/trans-participation-in-sport-is-happening-now-not-only-is-it-a-non-issue-it-makes-clubs-better
Mark Kenny begins this assessment on the Solomon Island issue with, “Sometimes it is the words not spoken by ministers that offer the best guide to what they really know. Like when the media-reluctant Marise Payne was rolled out to defend the government’s apparently supine efforts to interrupt a growing amity between China and the Solomon Islands. In the hours after Beijing revealed that a security pact had been signed, the Morrison government, which lays claim to a uniquely hawkish China-preparedness, was in full damage control mode” and concludes with, “Just imagine the fuming contempt from Morrison and Dutton if Labor had presided over such a disaster.”
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7709769/morrison-government-asleep-in-the-pacific-despite-china-tub-thumping/?cs=14329
James Massola examines Marise Payne’s performance as Foreign Affairs minister and has her coming up short.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/marise-payne-s-solomons-response-questioned-but-she-s-not-going-anywhere-if-morrison-wins-20220422-p5afg0.html
We’ve treated our ‘Pacific family’ condescendingly, and they may delight in our discomfort, says Jack Waterford.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7708708/weve-treated-our-pacific-family-condescendingly-they-may-delight-in-our-discomfort/?cs=14258
Scott Morrison is yet to call his Solomon Islands counterpart over its China deal despite a top-level US delegation heading to the Pacific nation.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/coalition-defends-morrison-s-decision-not-to-call-solomon-islands-leader-20220423-p5afl1.html
Matthew Knott writes about John Howard savaging the high-profile “teal” independents running in once-safe Coalition seats as “anti-Liberal groupies”, urging traditional Liberal voters to stick with the party even if they feel disgruntled. Zali Steggall has hit back at Howard’s “appalling sexist language”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/anti-liberal-groupies-john-howard-blasts-teal-independents-20220423-p5afl5.html
The Australian government has missed a deadline to decide on compensation for victims of alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, potentially leaving the thorny issue to be sorted out after the election. Daniel Hurst tells us that Defence has blamed the delay on “legal, practical and logistical issues”, while Labor accused the Coalition of breaking a promise to keep parliament informed of progress on reforms sparked by the “damning” Brereton inquiry.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/24/australian-government-misses-compensation-deadline-for-victims-of-alleged-war-crimes
Rob Harris, who calls Le Pen “Madame Trump”, tells us why the French election is bigger than Brexit.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/german-spain-portugal-urge-french-voters-to-reject-extreme-right-le-pen-20220422-p5afdj.html
The AFR explains a new ‘groundbreaking” EU law that will force big tech companies to police themselves harder, make it easier for users to flag problems and empower regulators to punish noncompliance with billions in fines.
https://www.afr.com/world/europe/eu-targets-big-tech-with-groundbreaking-rules-20220423-p5afmi
Cartoon Corner
Dionne Gain
Reg Lynch
Badiucao
Mark Knight
From the US
The volunteers at Robertson
They look as happy as if they were going to Madame Guillotine.
You have to wonder how many left that room vowing to burn their Tshirts and never return
Everyone looks bored or disgusted , , , except Jenny, she is worth her weight in gold for her ability to keep that adoring rapturous look plastered on her face
Jen’s face is due to brainwashing. It is also her “church” face.
They have been taking lessons from Grumpy Cat.
Jacqui Maley wonders why we are talking about trans sport in an election campaign.
I wonder why only female sport is being discussed. Is It because of a biased assumption that trans males will not beat “normal” males and so are not worth bothering about?
Hope all is going well with you, Leone. Great to see you pop in when you can.
I’m OK. Still testing positive but at least the sore throat and cough have gone.
A dangerous loony
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/apr/24/australia-live-news-updates-federal-election-2022-scott-morrison-anthony-albanese-covid-coronavirus-labor-pledges-500-indigenous-health-staff-katherine-deves-trans-womens-sport#maincontent
The squawking about the Solomon Islands is a bit rich given how many times we’ve dismissed Russian concerns about security re Nato moving into Ukraine and how nations have a right to associate themselves with who they chose.. Russian-Ukraine distance 0km , Brisvegas-Honiara 2,000km.
Leigh Sales interviews Jay Rosen on Lateline in 2013, what a change
The media are worse now
Richard Aedy interviews Barrie Cassidy, Niki Savva and Greg Sheridan
https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/the-roundtable/the-roundtabe:-election-campaign-2022/13851778
The yanks will be pissed with Straya ‘losing’ the Solomon Islands. The Guadalcanal and Solomon Islands were iconic battles for them. Names like Nimitz, McArtur and Yamamoto were part of it.
Captain Albo is off the field with a hammy and on comes Penny Wong
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/apr/24/australia-live-news-updates-federal-election-2022-scott-morrison-anthony-albanese-covid-coronavirus-labor-pledges-500-indigenous-health-staff-katherine-deves-trans-womens-sport#comments
And Scovid is desperate in Alice.
Covid is so 2021, apparently.
OH and I wear n95s whenever we get out of the car in public.
No Covid yet, as far as we know.
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