IMPORTANT UPDATE: ALP WINS! The Honourable Anthony Albanese is sworn in as Australia’s 31st Prime Minister.
Get your Democracy Sausage!
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The most important day of 2022 for Australia is almost here.
Tomorrow, Saturday 21st May 2022 is the day Australians decide how they are going to live in the next three years, and the decades influenced by that time.
We vote in the 2022 Federal Election.
It is a stark and clear choice. We either continue to live the same or worse lives under a nefarious, disingenuous Right Wing government driven by religious and political zealotry, partisanship and questionable ethics or we can choose the only other major party who can change the course of the nation towards a better future.
We can choose the incumbent Liberal Party Prime Minister who mixes his politics with his religion and who claims a divine message from an eagle in a painting inspired his ascent to the top job of leading this nation. Otherwise, we can choose Labor, the party whose leader will become the Prime Minister and whose solid experience includes living and working amongst some of the most disadvantaged in Australia, with the residents and workers in working-class suburbs.
The Labor Party has an extensive team of talented experienced and enthusiastic candidates. The Liberal Party and National Party have a team that appears to be dead-scared of a FICAC, going by the Prime Minister’s refusal to keep his election promise to set up a Federal Independent Commission Against Corruption.
I am hoping that Labor and good Independents win their seats tomorrow so we can escape this nightmare of a government at last and see off our inhumane, international embarrassment of a Prime Minister.
It is the people’s turn to have their say.
For all volunteers from all parties and independents who have and will be helping in this and every election, thank you for your commitment to our democracy.
A big thank you from a grateful nation goes to some of the most under-rated, hardworking, and dedicated people whom Australia has the privilege of employing; the staff of the Australian Electoral Commission. If anyone wants to dispute that Australia’s democracy stands on their shoulders and that the AEC should be the envy of the democratic world, just look over the street at elections in the USA.
There is even an AEC site where you can practise voting.
https://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/How_to_vote/practice/
Hopefully, AEC staff hand-counting every vote will see more thankyou messages scribbled in the margins of ballot papers than the usual drawings of penises and testicles, or the universal message to our politicians to Eff Off. I like to leave a kind message, in the margins away from the candidate’s boxes on my completed ballot. I feel very proud after I vote. It is both a right and a privilege in our uncertain world.
Please enjoy your Democracy Sausage!
A contrast between the two major parties:
Here is an interesting article that uses a different style of map that shows the distribution of federal electorates held by the major parties.
The Australian election map has been lying to you
By Colin Gourlay, Georgina Piper, Tim Leslie, Cristen Tilley and Matt Lidd
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-20/federal-election-map-lying/101076016
THE PUB 
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
David Crowe writes that our weeks in and, going slow and careful, there are no major hitches for Albanese.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/slow-and-careful-four-weeks-in-and-no-major-hitches-for-albanese-20220619-p5auua.html
Nicholas Stuart has quite a bit to say in this forthright contribution. For instance, “A few otherwise intelligent people seem to be having difficulty understanding what’s happening, so let’s repeat the news: Labor won the election”, and “This government has already shown its determination to shift the goalposts as necessary. Anyone who thought things would stay the same needs to get a grip. That world has already disappeared.”
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7785894/dont-bother-fighting-the-last-war-its-over/?cs=14264
Middle-aged and highly-educated voters deserting the Coalition en masse were the major demographic drivers of the Morrison government’s defeat, according to the first major independent analysis of the May 21 election result. Andrew Tillett reports.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/middle-aged-and-educated-the-voters-who-cost-scott-morrison-power-20220619-p5autz
Alan Finkel reckons this energy revolution is hard – really hard – but it’s doable. Interesting.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/this-energy-revolution-is-hard-really-hard-but-it-s-doable-20220619-p5aut4.html
States will gain the right to decide whether coal and gas will be part of a national scheme to reward power generators who can meet the urgent need for new electricity supplies, with the peak energy regulator saying Australia must build 50 times the capacity of the original Snowy Hydro scheme by 2050.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/coal-gas-to-smooth-transition-to-clean-power-top-energy-officials-20220618-p5aus0.html
All existing electricity generators – including coal and gas – should be paid to be on standby to avoid blackouts and bolster the stability of the east coast power grid, the Energy Security Board says in its response to the energy crisis.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/tension-over-energy-crisis-plan-as-esb-backs-coal-and-gas-20220619-p5ausx
Peter Hannam goes into detail on the ESG report.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/20/stakes-never-higher-energy-board-releases-capacity-market-blueprint
Coal is a dud. Gas is a pretend solution spruiked by vested interests. Renewable energy resources are the cheapest form of new power generation, so where are they? David Ritter reports.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/coalition-backed-broken-down-coal-burners-fuel-energy-crisis,16474
The Coalition came to power in 2013 with the promise to wreck things and they didn’t disappoint, writes Kaye lee in this article in which she contrasts builders and wreckers.
https://theaimn.com/builders-or-wreckers-the-contrast-is-stark/
A critical challenge facing the new Labor Government is its response to the upsurge in inflation and the threat to living standards. In Part 1 today this article from Michael Keating discusses the dimensions of this challenge. Parts 2 and 3, tomorrow and the next day, will consider possible government responses.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-outlook-for-living-standards-part-1/
Ronald Mizen tells us that Josh Frydenberg’s years-long campaign to rein in class action lawsuits paid for by litigation funders is being dismantled.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/labor-to-scrap-class-action-funding-regulations-20220618-p5aur6
Head of Victoria’s anti-corruption commission says integrity agencies such as his must be given strong powers to investigate pork barrelling and other wrongdoing as the risk of graft increases.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/risk-of-graft-increasing-anti-corruption-commissioner-calls-out-pork-barrelling-20220617-p5auh2.html
Lewis Baird reports that the new Communications Minister Michelle Rowland is keen to get much more aggressive with the big tech firms and is open to drafting laws that designate Google, Facebook and others under the media bargaining code, should their behaviour warrant it.
https://www.afr.com/companies/media-and-marketing/rowland-ready-to-intervene-in-media-fight-with-big-tech-20220617-p5aul8
It’s becoming increasingly clear to backers that global share markets will feel the chill winds from the “cryptocurrency winter”, explains Karen Maley.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/why-all-investors-will-feel-the-pain-from-the-crypto-carnage-20220619-p5aut8
The challenge for a Labor federal government is to support expansive labour migration in a way that does not produce a race to the bottom in labour standards, warns Joanna Howe.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/labor-has-a-difficult-tightrope-to-walk-in-tackling-migration-20220614-p5atmw.html
New South Wales police have defended their raid on a group of climate protesters in north-west Sydney yesterday, alleging that the group was planning “extreme forms” of protest and acted aggressively towards officers.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/19/nsw-police-feared-for-their-lives-during-raid-on-climate-protesters-says-assistant-commissioner
These researchers have found that transporting food across and between countries generates almost one fifth of greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector – and affluent countries make a disproportionately large contribution to the problem.
https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-affluent-must-start-eating-local-food-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis-new-research-shows-185251
The Tories’ Brexit obsession has no future in a changing Britain. They just won’t admit it, writes John Harris.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/19/tories-brexit-britain-voter-demographics-leave-eu
The SMH editorial says that the January 6 inquiry shines a light on the perilous state of US democracy. And it adds that the US should take a look at the Australian Electoral Commission as an example of how to safeguard this most basic machinery of democracy.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/january-6-inquiry-shines-a-light-on-the-perilous-state-of-us-democracy-20220619-p5auvz.html
Jokes and theatre aside, the prosecution of Donald Trump has already begun, writes Bill Wyman.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/jokes-and-theatre-aside-the-prosecution-of-donald-trump-has-already-begun-20220619-p5auvm.html
“Arsehole of the Week” nomination goes to this delightful piece of work who has again fallen foul of ASIC.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/rebrand-for-companies-linked-to-asic-banned-dominique-grubisa-20220615-p5atw0
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Peter Broelman
Jim Pavlidis
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
That explains a lot
Hard to dispute the results. Maybe the US of A …
“These researchers have found that transporting food across and between countries generates almost one fifth of greenhouse gas emissions from the food sector – and affluent countries make a disproportionately large contribution to the problem.”
This piece4 was taken down before I got to it, but my reaction was “Well – derrr!
We eat far too much imported food in Australia, despite knowing for years about the emissions it causes..
My particular gripe is with imported butter from Europe on the grounds it is superior. Talk about a cultural cringe!
I also have a problem with navel oranges from California – they are truly vile, gassed to a bright, deep orange and stale, so the stench of rotting oranges hangs over displays of these abominations in supermarkets. They are not worth buying, but try buying Valencias when they are in season and you might have to search because supermarkets have decided everyone wants imported navels instead. Another gripe is with imported cherries in winter, dearly loved by (mostly elderly) fans of that awful, fake Christmas in July rubbish. Why do we need cherries in winter? They mean summer to me.
If Australians would only get over their love of imported food, based I’m sure on the false assumption “if it’s imported it must be better” how much could we cut emissions?
Other unnecessary imported foods include include biscuits from the UK and Europe, dried fruit, cheeses, wine and canned goods. Why do we need to import tinned tomatoes from Italy or jam from Hungary for example, when local growers and producers do it better?
Here’s what The Conversation said in their email this morning.
The moral of this sad tale is to buy only Australian food and drink, and buy only what is in season.
And there is always good seasonal stuff.
Apparently, oranges and grapes from the US are must have. I can do without either for six months.
How about getting the message out with less ‘academic’ research and verbiage? Slogans like ‘Fresh is Best!’ and ‘Buy Local!’ – even ‘Grow Your Own!’ all have a familiar and convincing ring to them.
Two messages despammed from 4 days ago.
leonetwo
The Californian oranges we get sold are indeed crap. Which is a pity as when I was in California one of the great treats was buying a glass of freshly squeezed, as in on the spot, chilled California orange juice. Inexpensive and tasted ‘delish’.
Re
“but try buying Valencias when they are in season and you might have to search because supermarkets have decided everyone wants imported navels instead.
Perhaps the fruit drink/soft drink companies have a bit of a lock on them and we just get the left overs. Back in the day when I worked for Schweppes all orange ‘juice’ was made from Valencia orange concentrate. Ah the days when I could recite the legal definitions of juice, drink and flavor LOL.
My greengrocer sells whatever oranges are in season – no imported muck for them or their customers. They are decent Valencias, too, when in season. As we don’t grow many oranges around here they source them from Griffith, where all my kids were born.
Senate done and dusted
Re the ‘In season’ . It amazes me every time i see wails about how high this or that vege/fruit is. Current ‘star’ being lettuce.Heaven forbid seasonal products reflect seasonality. How hard is it to buy what is in season ? FFS, buying a lettuce is not compulsory .
As it happens lettuce becoming stupidly expensive for a few weeks was an annual event when I was up Darwin $7-8-9.00 a pop in Coles Darwin. I sent many an OMG! photo of the price tags to people down South 🙂 I found the solution to the high priced lettuce was simple, don’t bloody buy one !
Who needs lettuce in winter anyway. There are alternatives – like Cos lettuce, which is much better for you, because it has better nutrition, coleslaw or even (gag, yuck, gag) kale if you must have raw green stuff on your plate.
I’ve been eating lots of coleslaw lately, long before iceberg prices went crazy.
Wombok (Chinese cabbage) is good. It has a texture between lettuce and cabbage and can substitute for either.
Years ago I bought a hydroponic cos lettuce, complete with roots, when it went a bit manky I planted it in the garden, it went straight to seed, seed spread everywhere, we haven’t bought a lettuce since, they just grow wild in the gardens and paths.
I am one of those people who can taste a chemical in raw cabbage and their rellies. It gives it an ‘orrible bitter taste.Even the mild wombok is too much for me when it is raw.
Curses on not discovering until after a childhood of fighting against coleslaw etc etc that this genetic variation is a thing rather than me ‘being difficult’ 😆 .Cooking it solves the ‘problem’. Things like radishes are beyond the pale though in the ‘bitter’ dept.
This taste thing is not rare so it would be nice if all parents were made aware of it. It would make for millions of more peaceful meals per annum.
https://www.bicycling.com/news/a29777805/bitter-sensitivity-genes-vegetable-consumption-study/
Genetic variations fascinate me.
I have the genetic issue that makes coriander taste like soap. I grew some once in the hope home-grown stuff would not have that taste, but it did. I was not aware of the genetic thing back then.
https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2012.11398
So, 77 seats in the house and a workable Senate. Good news for Labor.
While this is only the 2nd time in my lifetime I’ve seen a federal Labor government win from opposition, this feels different to Rudd’s first term in a lot of ways. For a start, the media has been viciously against them in the first place, so there’s not the threat from them of pulling out the rug from their feet. Plus people now seem to be using their own judgement about the government rather than from the prism of the media. They’re less relevant.
Also the behaviour of the opposition is different. As unpopular as he was, I believe the Coalition under Brendan Nelson after 2007 showed enough humility to be forgiven by a lot of voters for how arrogant they acted in 2004-07. There’s no such humility from Dutton’s leadership. And that could be fatal for them these days. Matthew Guy strutted around from 2014-18 as though Dan Andrews was elected by mistake and paid for that big time. Same with Liza Harvey and Zak Kirkup in Western Australia in their leadership, with the added sting that both of them lost their seats in 2021.
So, long may they hold this attitude of “How dare you, electorate?!” Not to be too cocky, but, keeping it up may lose them another 5 seats in Victoria alone in 2025.
Nothing to see here eh Bruz ?
.
NSW Inquiry to probe John Barilaro’s appointment to $500,000-a-year trade role he created while in government
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/20/inquiry-to-probe-john-barilaros-appointment-to-500000-a-year-trade-role-he-created-while-in-government
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/20/someone-has-to-hold-the-government-accountable-unless-it-is-too-soon-introducing-albo-watch
Not too strenuous for the poor petals in opposition?
And right on cue the Opposition have a little sook –
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/jun/20/australia-news-live-update-energy-crisis-health-economy-anthony-albanese-peter-dutton-labor-coalition-coronavirus-climate#top-of-blog
Criticism from the mob who were the laziest federal government ever.
The new sitting calendar contains exactly the same number of sitting weeks for the last six months of the year as the old Scovid calendar. They are just arranged differently.
https://www.crikey.com.au/2021/11/30/parliament-10-sitting-days-before-election/
leontwo
I have heard about that Coriander thing but you are the first person ‘I’ve met’ who has the ‘soapy coriander’ gene. So it is real after all 🙂
One thing parents may like to keep from their children is that their love of sweet things is as nature ‘intended’. It’s a survival thing. Most poisonous compounds in plants are bitter, most sweet things are relatively safe.
That would explain kale.
One of my sisters has that problem too.
Best thing to do with kale (or any other end-of-season green in the garden) is to dehydrate and powder it. Can’t taste the bitter when adding a spoonful of the “green powder” to all sorts of soups/stews/sauces that might need the boost *grins*
I tried kale once. That was one time too many.
friendlyjordies –
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Alexandra Smith details the proposed stamp duty changes for hosing proposed by the NSW government.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/first-home-buyers-given-land-tax-option-in-perrottet-s-stamp-duty-overhaul-20220620-p5av5u.html
The Property Council’s Luke Achterstraat describes the existing stamp duty as a ‘big blunt tax not fit for purpose’ and says time to bring stamp duty into the 21st century.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/big-blunt-tax-not-fit-for-purpose-time-to-bring-stamp-duty-into-the-21st-century-20220615-p5atwz.html
But new modelling shows that swapping stamp duty for land tax would push down house prices but push up apartment prices.
https://theconversation.com/swapping-stamp-duty-for-land-tax-would-push-down-house-prices-but-push-up-apartment-prices-new-modelling-finds-184381
Perrottet is proving an interesting premier, but the mistakes must stop, says the SMH editorial which points to the appointment of John Barilaro to a plum job.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/perrottet-is-proving-an-interesting-premier-but-the-mistakes-must-stop-20220620-p5av6n.html
From groceries to energy, there’s not enough competition in Australia, argues the former chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Rod Sims.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/21/from-groceries-to-energy-theres-not-enough-competition-in-australia
Jack Waterford wonders if Albanese can maintain the honeymoon mood.
https://johnmenadue.com/can-albanese-maintain-the-honeymoon-mood/
Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke has called on the Australian Building and Construction Commission to fully disclose its dealings with the Master Builders in the lead-up to the federal election, intensifying pressure on the Coalition-appointed regulator.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/tony-burke-calls-on-abcc-to-fully-disclose-dealings-with-builders/news-story/407701ddd3fe3a75942877505ddfa682
Energy companies face a consumer watchdog probe into any price gouging and anti-competitive conduct during the rolling national power crisis, with a report into the electricity market to be handed to energy ministers next month after a five-fold increase in wholesale electricity prices.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/australian-competition-consumer-commission-investigation-into-price-gouging/news-story/6bf7f1b7687cdd78784c1cb71c1af442
The capacity mechanism must be pragmatic and cleaner solution, writes Tony Wood who says there are cost risks in centralised buying of reserve generation power, but they are likely to be worth taking.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/capacity-mechanism-must-be-pragmatic-and-cleaner-solution-20220619-p5autx
Craig Emerson is pleased that, finally, an energy plan is tackling the storage challenge.
https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/finally-an-energy-plan-is-tackling-the-storage-challenge-20220619-p5autw
Prepare to subsidise fossil fuel plants indefinitely. That is the message this morning as, in the wake of Coalition dithering, the new government grooms Australian energy customers for more of the same energy policy. It’s the Richard Wilkins solution. Callum Foote and Michael West report.
https://michaelwest.com.au/ransom-notes-pay-us-to-keep-our-old-power-plants-running-or-else-say-fossil-fuel-majors/
Here is the second of Michael Keating’s evaluation of the outlook for living standards in which he considers what the new Labor Government can do to lift the rate of wage growth relative to prices
https://johnmenadue.com/the-outlook-for-living-standards-part-2/
Tanya Plibersek says a damning national environmental report card received by the former Coalition government last year but not released, tells an “alarming story” of decline, native species extinction and cultural heritage loss. She wil release the report when she speaks tp the NPC on 19 July.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/21/environment-report-coalition-didnt-release-paints-damning-story-of-neglect-tanya-plibersek-says
Adam Carey writes that government school families are being warned that a decline in voluntary payments from parents this year could force schools to cut curricular programs such as food technology and visual art, leading to “stale and beige” education for Victorian children.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/parents-warned-state-school-programs-face-chop-as-voluntary-payments-plunge-20220620-p5auzr.html
Paul Garvey tells us that Adam Bandt’s refusal to stand in front of the Australian flag as Greens leader has been labelled divisive and “childish virtue-signalling” by Indigenous community leaders, who say it is contrary to the spirit of reconciliation.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/greens-leader-adam-bandt-refuses-to-stand-with-australian-flag/news-story/697aac352edbe781d45dba2e54206be6
Alan Kohler declares that, sentient or not, AI needs regulating.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2022/06/20/alan-kohler-ai-needs-regulating/
Gladys Liu is trying to get a guernsey in the Victorian upper house, but local branches apparently are lukewarm on the idea.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/gladys-liu-eyes-seat-in-victorian-parliament-20220620-p5av45.html
Ben Butler reports that the head of Australia’s financial intelligence agency, AUSTRAC, has warned that law enforcement agencies need to conduct more money laundering prosecutions if the country is to avoid being whacked by international regulators.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/20/money-laundering-more-australian-prosecutions-needed-financial-intelligence-agency-warns
Lithuania’s implementation of EU sanctions will block some rail shipments to Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. The Kremlin is threatening retaliation.
https://www.afr.com/world/europe/russia-trains-its-sights-on-lithuania-20220621-p5av8r
Israel’s weakened coalition government has announced it intends to dissolve the Knesset, setting the stage for the country’s fifth election in three years and a potential return to office for longtime prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jun/20/israel-set-for-general-election-after-pm-announces-coalition-will-disband
The UN special Human Rights investigation into Palestine/Israel which found Israel to be primarily responsible for ongoing unrest and violence received a strong rebuke from the US, which in turn sought support from its allies to sign its statement. Australia declined to do so, issuing its own statement, writes George Browning.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-gandhi-doctrine-the-un-human-rights-report-on-israel-and-australias-welcome-statement/
The Fed didn’t just raise US interest rates with its biggest hike since 1994. It also made another move that is set to put vulnerable markets under more stress, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz who explains quantitative tightening.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/great-unknown-markets-brace-for-more-turmoil-as-the-fed-ends-its-14-year-experiment-20220620-p5auz9.html
Mike Pence’s actions on Jan. 6 were wholly unremarkable – until they saved the nation, explains this expert on US presidential history.
https://theconversation.com/mike-pences-actions-on-jan-6-were-wholly-unremarkable-until-they-saved-the-nation-185325
The AFR’s editorial says that the Congressional hearings into the January 6 storming of the US Capitol will go down in history as testimony to Donald Trump’s Caligula-like political madness.
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/us-democracy-survives-the-madness-of-trump-20220619-p5autv
Meanwhile, the Republican party in Texas has officially adopted a series of extreme-right positions that includes claims Joe Biden was not legitimately elected and homosexuality is “abnormal”. There is no hope!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jun/20/texas-republican-party-adopts-far-right-positions
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Fiona Katauskas
Matt Golding
Peter Broelman
Pat Hudson
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
Dutton tries to revive his dead case against Shane Bazzi.
What a bastard! If he finds it impossible to accept a loss in a court case how must he be coping with losing an election?
Peter Dutton asks high court for permission to appeal against defamation case loss to Shane Bazzi
Liberal leader says refugee advocate’s May win in full federal court was a ‘miscarriage of justice’ and applies for special leave to appeal
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/20/peter-dutton-asks-high-court-for-permission-to-appeal-defamation-case-loss-to-shane-bazzi
Herr Reichspud consulted his lawyers and they persuaded him that…………………..
kk – I do like that.
Labor and the Libs seem to be in lockstep when it comes to treating those on social security like dog poo on your shoe.
being charitable:
1. Services Australia are winding down their contracts on July 1, for casual workers at Centrelink
==> can’t reverse that situation in 10 days, dept is too large, too many casuals
2. ALP want to hire workers directly, rather than thru labour hire
3. not enough manpower to run manual system on July 4
As this is a Morrison government special it is guaranteed to be punitive with no ability to get redress
Also really unhappy about resurrection of Robodebt Mark2 or 3
There aren’t enough employees to provide manual oversight or answer enquiries from victims
Senate Estimates that Centrelink was not behaving like a model litigant, with their manpower shortage they still will not be a model litigant
Clean out Centrelink, Malisa Golightly must go. [Actually I googled her, she died Dec 2021]
Rebecca Skinner and Ray Griggs ought to have their positions reviewed
Back in the Rudd-Gillard governments there were voices in Labor re ‘welfare recipients’ that at times would not be out of place on 2GB.
KK – Any direct quotes or links to these ‘voices in Labor’ you mention here? Or is this just another rumor, getting the old ‘under-mining’ machine on the go again?
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Rachel Maddow –
Chris Hayes –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Back in the 90s- early noughties the internet really whacked deadwood newspapers ,Mordor Media even had a near death experience. Back then I read The Australian every day.As part of the drastic cost cutting required Rupes let go a shit load of his reporters, especially the good old hands who would have been paid the best, not Pontificating Paul unfortunately. Any way, the main editorial pages of the Australian were no longer occupied with long detailed analyses of this or that. They were the main attraction of the paper. Instead they were filled with ideologue drones from , firstly, the effing CIS then joining them were the even more wretched IPA drones. Eventually the IPA seemed to gain ‘dominance’ . Articles from those two filled the editorial pages.
Jeebus they were boring. No matter what the topic you just had to look at whether it came from the CIS or IPA and you knew everything that was contained in the article. Rupes packed The Australian with their garbage and after a few months ended my ever buying another copy.
Meanwhile Angela Shanananahan ‘lightened’ things up by writing 4000 articles about the woes caused by ‘single parents’ aka ‘solo mums’ and divorced couples aka ‘broken homes’. I called her ‘My favorite mother of 7’ as barely a day went past without her mentioning her being a ‘mother of X children’.
If anyone wonders why I became a regular buyer of The Australian. Out in the Wild West ‘the world’, according to the local newspaper, ended at Rottnest to the West and , on a good day, Kalgoorlie in the East. The Australian covered world events.The Weekend Australian was particularly good.
At 7:14 (4 minutes) it will be solstice.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
David Crowe reports that Industry Minister Ed Husic has accused the country’s major gas producers of failing to deliver enough fuel to manufacturing companies that are desperate for affordable energy, saying the big exporters will face drastic federal action if they do not ease the winter energy crisis.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/minister-puts-gas-exporters-on-notice-20220621-p5avgn.html
Paul Bongiorno writes that Peter Dutton still fighting the last election suits Labor. He says the unequivocal message voters sent the Coalition at the election is completely lost on new Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, leading to confused and extremely negative performances in the media.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2022/06/21/paul-bongiorno-peter-dutton/
Ross Gittins explains why interest rates are going up, and won’t be coming down.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/why-interest-rates-are-going-up-and-won-t-be-coming-down-20220621-p5av9t.html
Reserve Bank of Australia governor Philip Lowe has sought to put a lid on wages growth of about 3.5 per cent and warned regular pay rises of 4 to 5 per cent risked entrenching higher inflation, writes Ronald Mizen.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/rba-puts-3-5pc-lid-on-wages-20220621-p5avg4
Alexandra Smith and Jordan Baker tell us all about the NSW budget presented yesterday.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-government-promises-27-billion-spending-spree-20220620-p5av6l.html
The SMH editorial is pleased that NSW has finally seen the light on female workforce participation.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-finally-sees-the-light-on-female-workforce-participation-20220621-p5avib.html
Jennifer Hewett writes that the NSW Liberals want to present a very different image to Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton. A big spending budget aimed at helping families is the down payment on the election next March, she says.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/nsw-liberals-determined-to-avoid-the-fate-of-their-federal-colleagues-20220621-p5avg5
Matt Wade believes that the budget sets NSW for a surge of economic growth, but the risks are ‘elevated’.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-set-for-surge-of-economic-growth-but-risks-are-elevated-20220621-p5avgt.html
Liberal supporter Adam Cass declares that Zed’s dead, and the hangers-on will only run the Canberra Liberals into the ground. It’s quite an impassioned spit!
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7788006/zeds-dead-hangers-on-will-only-run-the-canberra-liberals-into-the-ground/?cs=14329
A Coalition member was made to cut more than $430 million from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to offset money allocated in the budget, as the department struggled under a 50,000-strong compensation claims backlog. Lucy Ward reports that former veterans’ affairs minister Andrew Gee, who held the portfolio from July 2021 to May, told the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide that there was a clear link between the claims backlog and suicide rates within the defence community.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/veteran-affairs-lost-430m-after-former-minister-forced-to-make-cuts-20220621-p5ava2.html
NSW Labor will move to block former deputy premier John Barilaro taking up a plum New York trade posting until a parliamentary inquiry into his appointment is completed.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-labor-moves-to-block-barilaro-appointment-to-new-york-role-20220621-p5avja.html
Sarah Martin and Katherine Murphy writes that Liberal MPs are urging Peter Dutton to let the party room decide a new position on climate change policy in the wake of the Coalition’s devastating election loss, with calls for the conservatives to take more ambitious emission reduction targets to the next election.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/22/liberal-mps-say-peter-dutton-should-let-party-room-decide-new-climate-position
But Phil Coorey tells us that Peter Dutton has downplayed the concerns of moderate MPs in his ranks over climate change and reiterated that the Coalition does not support legislating emission reductions targets.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/dutton-downplays-internal-dissent-over-emission-targets-20220621-p5avez
Here goes the broken record Chris Uhlmann again. He says the energy spin can be powerful, but rhetoric won’t keep the lights on.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/energy-spin-can-be-powerful-but-rhetoric-won-t-keep-the-lights-on-20220621-p5av9w.html
The unprecedented shutdown of Australia’s east coast electricity market could be lifted by as early as tonight if the nation’s major power generators demonstrate they can offer enough supplies to avert shortfalls during a 24-hour monitoring regime.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/extraordinary-electricity-market-shutdown-may-be-lifted-by-wednesday-night-20220621-p5avgs.html
The national electricity market is a failed 1990s experiment. It’s time the grid returned to public hands, declares John Quiggin.
https://theconversation.com/the-national-electricity-market-is-a-failed-1990s-experiment-its-time-the-grid-returned-to-public-hands-185418
As Australians pay the price for decades of poor energy planning, the two single greatest beneficiaries of high electricity prices are Hong Kong billionaires Michael Kadoorie and Li Ka-Shing. Callum Foote reports on two of the big winners from Australia’s electricity crisis.
https://michaelwest.com.au/theyre-not-shivering-in-honkers-australians-electricity-pain-is-two-billionaires-gain/
In part 3 of his review of his outlook on living standards, Michael Keating discusses how best to respond to the two principal drivers of the increased cost of living – fuel and energy costs and housing costs.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-outlook-for-living-standards-part-3/
John Lord argues why it is only Labor that can implement the much-needed change we require.
https://theaimn.com/only-labor-can-implement-the-much-needed-change-we-need/
A scornful Michael Pascoe tells us all about the Ponzi scheme that is cryptocurrency.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/06/22/michael-pascoe-cryptocurrencies-government-failure/
China is desperately attempting to stimulate an economy weakened by its zero tolerance approach to outbreaks of COVID-19. But tumbling iron ore prices send a worrying signal, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/china-is-trying-to-revive-its-economy-we-just-got-a-sign-it-is-not-going-to-plan-20220621-p5avbz.html
A high court decision striking down the home affairs minister’s power to cancel citizenship of dual nationals suspected of terrorist activities could also call into question the legality of orders to ban citizens from re-entering Australia, explains Paul Karp.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/22/power-to-ban-citizens-from-re-entering-australia-questioned-after-high-court-decision-on-dual-nationals
The federal government’s pursuit of quiet diplomacy to halt the extradition of Julian Assange to the US has been backed by Australia’s former US ambassador, Joe Hockey.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/government-right-to-avoid-megaphone-diplomacy-on-assange-joe-hockey-says-20220621-p5avdk.html
Scott Morrison’s pandemic pledge to return Australians stranded overseas by Christmas 2020 caught officials off-guard, with an audit revealing the then prime minister announced the plan before it was discussed within government. Daniel Hurst tells us that a new report by the Australian National Audit Office paints a picture of how the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade attempted to respond to the rapidly unfolding pandemic crisis, but finds major gaps in its record-keeping.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/21/scott-morrisons-2020-home-by-christmas-pledge-to-stranded-australians-made-before-discussion-within-government-report-finds
Given current skill shortages and how gummed up the visa processing system has become, the new Government will need a focussed strategy on what needs to be fixed first, writes Abul Rizvi.
https://johnmenadue.com/tripartite-bargain-on-immigration-policy/
The chief executive of Australia’s largest grains company Graincorp has warned that global supply chain disruptions could linger for years.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/grains-boss-warns-ukraine-disruption-to-last-2-3-years-tips-bumper-crop-20220621-p5avfn.html
The Ukranians seem to like our Bushmasters very much.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/like-a-house-on-wheels-australia-s-bushmasters-prove-their-mettle-on-the-front-line-20220621-p5av96.html
Those in favour of a strong and effective integrity commission, including the retired judges who have done so much to outline the need, should be very suspicious of the central role being accorded the Attorney-General’s department, writes Jack Waterford who says the department has not been a recent friend of real law reform.
https://johnmenadue.com/attorney-generals-not-friend-of-real-law-reform/
Lisa Wilkinson was warned four days before the Logies she could set back the trial of the man accused of raping former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins by speaking at the TV awards night and generating extra publicity over the case, the ACT Supreme Court has heard.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/lisa-wilkinson-warned-over-brittany-higgins-speech-at-logies/news-story/9678f7aafaaf4ce1921b678967f295ee
The former Crown chairman never did return to Sydney to appear at the Bergin casino inquiry, but that hasn’t stopped him selling his Sydney home for $35 million., writes Lucy Macken.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/ex-crown-boss-rob-rankin-sells-woollahra-trophy-home-for-35-million-20220621-p5avbv.html
The King’s School has defended a controversial trip by its headmaster and his wife to the Royal Henley Regatta, saying it was standard practice among independent schools to fly principals overseas with their spouse and traditional for the King’s principal to travel business class. Oh, that’s alright then.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/kings-school-defends-regatta-trip-says-business-class-trips-with-spouses-are-standard-20220621-p5avev.html
A Texas Senate hearing was told yesterday by the Department of Public Safety Director that the law enforcement response to the Uvalde school shooting that killed 19 children and two teachers was “an abject failure” in which a commander put the lives of officers over those of the children.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/police-response-in-uvalde-shooting-was-abject-failure-official-tells-senate-hearing-20220622-p5avkl.html
Cartoon Corner – for two days now, there are no SMAge cartons available.
David Rowe
Matt Golding
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Peter Broelman
Fiona Katauskas
Spooner
From the US
For those of us who cannot access The Australian’s story on Lisa Wilkinson, Kangaroo Court has neatly summarised the facts.
Powerful prima facie case to charge journalist Lisa Wilkinson with contempt of court for interfering in the Bruce Lehrmann – Brittany Higgins trial
https://kangaroocourtofaustralia.com/2022/06/22/powerful-prima-facie-case-to-charge-journalist-lisa-wilkinson-with-contempt-of-court-for-interfering-in-the-bruce-lehrmann-brittany-higgins-trial/
Lisa was warned not to talk about the trial but just could not help herself. A simple “Thank you, I really can’t talk about this because it is before the courts” would have been acceptable, but she had to blab.
Her speech, so you can decide for yourself –
https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/exhausted-fierce-women-lisa-wilkinsons-logies-speech-sparks-application-to-delay-bruce-lehrmanns-trial/
Some have praised this speech. I believe she should not have said anything, especially as both she and her husband are witnesses in the court proceedings.
She would have known the shit it could/would cause but did it any way. I guess she didn’t think such trivia applied to msm ‘look at moi stars’ .
The Shovel –
REVEALED: Itemised costings for installing flag on Sydney Harbour Bridge
https://www.theshovel.com.au/2022/06/21/costings-for-installing-a-flag-on-sydney-harbour-bridge/
I’m having issues putting Rachel Maddow clips in the right order. Anyway this is what I got –
Thanks for posting Lisa Wilkinson’s speech. I had read about it but not seen the content before. I am no lawyer obviously, and if that is all she said, what part of it inferrs that the accused in guilty? She didn’t even say that Ms Higgins was raped. The facts that I got from those words was that poweful people saw the revelations as a political problem. Ms Wilkinson didn’t say so but we now know that those powerful people reacted politically and also tried to destroy evidence by steam cleaning the scene of the crime.
She has managed to get the trial delayed indefinitely and has implanted in minds the impression guilt has already been established, making a fair trial much more difficult to achieve. How Brittany Higgins might feel about this new delay never occurred to Ms Wilkinson.
I’m not a lawyer, but even so I understand what has happened. It would be a shame, to put it mildly, if this trial has to be aborted because of a thoughtless speech.
Ms Wilkinson and her husband are both to be witnesses in the trial which might now happen before the end of the year. Witnesses cannot comment on imminent court cases.
Here is what Chief Justice Lucy MacCallum said yesterday while announcing the delay –
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/21/lawyers-for-brittany-higgins-accused-ask-to-delay-trial-after-lisa-wilkinsons-comments
It is important to note Ms Wilkinson was repeatedly warned to stay silent. In March she and all those involved were warned to stay silent. Ms Wilkinson was warned again last week, as mentioned by The Guardian.
I like KK’s take on this – media stars seem to think they are above the law.
.
Stephen Colbert –
The latest Barilaro scandal would be a great Monty Python sketch, if it wasn’t for real.
They are taking us for gullible fools to do such things openly and without restraint.
When is Australia going to clean house?
Happy Birthday to ‘Sybil Fawlty’ . 90 ! candles on the cake today.
I know! I know!
That’s a biggie
“George Brandis endorses Labor’s call to move AFP to attorney general’s portfolio’
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/jun/22/australia-news-live-energy-economy-health-wages-albanese-dutton-labor-coalition-emissions-education#top-of-blog
Who?
OTOH, Duckie, it’s a GOOD IDEA and why the FnHell didn’t THEY come up with it when THEY were in power?
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/22/the-horribly-twee-adventures-of-commander-toto-space-cavoodle
I really hope the journalists leave Biloela before the RWNJs decide to descend on the town
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
The Liberal Party will be left politically adrift if it ignores the demand from voters for integrity in governance, writes Chris Wallace who says that the election shows that Australia is fed up with dirty politics. A good read.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/stop-playing-dirty-why-australian-politics-must-clean-up-its-act-20220622-p5avm6.html
There is currently a greater than usual contest going on within the Liberal Party for control of its identity, writes John Warhurst.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7790512/liberals-must-choose-between-competing-models-for-how-to-move-forward/?cs=14264
The Albanese government has accepted that workers might need to take a real wage cut to prevent higher inflation from getting entrenched, after Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe warned against common pay rises of 4 to 5 per cent.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/labor-bows-to-rba-real-wage-cut-20220622-p5avs1
Katherine Murphy reports that The Albanese government could sign up to Joe Biden’s push to limit global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by the end of the decade, as part of efforts to signal Australia has turned a corner on climate ambition.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/23/albanese-government-may-join-us-push-to-cut-global-methane-emissions-by-30
Eryk Bagshaw reports that, in India, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has said he expects a more powerful China to have a stronger say in international affairs, but it has a duty to reassure its neighbours that it is not a risk to their security.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/china-to-have-a-bigger-say-in-world-affairs-but-must-be-transparent-marles-20220622-p5avuo.html
A big, bold policy would be a flat tax of 25 per cent on personal capital income that would be simpler and more equitable than the current hotchpotch of tax breaks should be on Jim Chalmers’ to-do list, writes John Kehoe.
https://www.afr.com/policy/tax-and-super/dual-income-tax-should-be-on-chalmers-radar-20220622-p5avlo
Urgent clarity is needed over dozens of outstanding tax and superannuation measures announced but not enacted by the former Morrison government and Jim Chalmers has been urged to think big on reform plans now Labor is in power, explains Tom McIlroy.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/act-on-zombie-tax-and-super-measures-chalmers-urged-20220622-p5avs5
Now that the ALP has formed a government, we should ask what it can practically do to restore governance in Australia and convince the Australia public of the massive task it, and the public confront, in the face of so many festering problems. This task will not be easy, but a comprehensive narrative will have to be developed and communicated, laying down unequivocally the nation’s problems and their solutions, writes Greg Bailey.
https://johnmenadue.com/what-now-for-government-in-australia/
Alexandra Smith tells us about the growing outrage at the appointment of John Barilaro to that plum job in the US and how the Liberals are shivering.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/liberals-shiver-at-the-ghost-of-metherell-amid-anger-at-barilaro-appointment-20220622-p5avqc.html
Meanwhile, Dominic Perrottet has distanced himself from the scandal, shifting focus towards the senior public servant he said was ultimately responsible, Amy Brown. Under the bus she goes!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/perrottet-distances-himself-from-barilaro-s-appointment-to-new-york-role-20220622-p5avtr.html
Josh Gordon writes that businesses are struggling to find workers who can afford to live within commuting range – and the problem is only going to get worse, with some taking matters into their own hands. It’s not a pretty picture he paints.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/lack-of-affordable-housing-set-to-cost-australia-25b-a-year-20220621-p5avf2.html
Katina Curtis runs through the changes Albanese has made to the top level of the public service. Unsurprisingly, the unloved Kathryn Campbell has been booted.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/public-service-heads-shuffled-as-albanese-makes-mark-on-bureaucracy-20220622-p5avtn.html
Harley Dennett writes that experts are saying the new-look line-up at the top of the Australian Public Service points to an agenda of reforming the federal bureaucracy.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7791432/albaneses-new-look-public-service-leadership-bolsters-reformers/?cs=14329
Peta Credlin reckons that scorn for our country is Adam Bandt’s specialty.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/scorn-for-our-country-is-adam-bandts-specialty/news-story/52c627dca976a821e37ed1b567eeae19
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has released what his long-awaited transition away from stamp duty will look like. Will Perrottet’s land tax bolster a more dynamic housing sector in NSW or result in another boon to vendors before the upcoming election? Callum Foote reports.
https://michaelwest.com.au/perrottets-land-tax-how-does-it-work-and-what-will-it-do/
According to Nick Toscano and Mike Foley, Australia’s power generators will urge state and territory governments against splintering the east coast electricity market by adopting separate schemes to drive investments into projects that shore up the troubled grid.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/power-industry-fires-warning-as-states-splinter-on-landmark-reform-20220622-p5avsf.html
“Chris Bowen has announced reconfiguration of the energy generation system will not ‘commence until 2025’. Can Labor and Australia wait that long?”, asks Keith Mitchelson.
https://johnmenadue.com/keith-mitchelson-how-long-how-long-blues/
While Coalition reheats its climate mess, the Albanese government has locked in Australia’s 43% emissions cut, writes Graham Readfearn.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/23/while-coalition-reheats-its-climate-mess-albanese-government-locks-in-australias-43-emissions-cut
Lisa Wilkinson gas hired a top silk to represent her after the fallout from her Logies speech.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/logies-star-lisa-wilkinsons-breakfast-tv-critic-hired-as-her-lawyer-by-lunchtime/news-story/721bab3f1373c77706d4ac393cbcb740
Dana Daniel writes that Health Minister Mark Butler will introduce legislation to deliver the Albanese government’s aged care reforms as early as next month, delivering on its election promise to mandate 24/7 registered nurses by next July. I wish him luck – it ain’t that simple.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/butler-promises-priority-legislation-to-mandate-aged-care-nurses-20220622-p5avmh.html
The EPA is urging the Government to order an independent review of Forestry Corporation NSW, which is facing new allegations after having just been fined for wiping out significant koala habitat, writes James Tremain.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/fines-dont-faze-forestry-corps-lust-for-logging,16486
At his cutting best, John Crace describes a simply awful question time for Boris Johnson yesterday. Of Jacob Rees-Mogg, he says, “Then came the apotheosis of decay. Step forward, Jacob Rees-Mogg. There was a time when the skeleton in the dusty, double-breasted suit fancied his chances. Thought he was either king or king-maker. Now he’s washed up. On the way down. So crap, that he’s no use even to Boris.” It’s a VERY entertaining read!
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/jun/22/boris-johnson-produces-bubbles-of-nonsense-when-quizzed-about-carrie
Sri Lanka’s debt-laden economy has finally collapsed after months of food, fuel and power shortages – and the island nation can no longer buy oil.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/sri-lanka-s-economy-has-completely-collapsed-says-despairing-pm-20220622-p5avvj.html
Britain’s polio-free status could be at risk after routine sewage testing found the virus has returned and is spreading for the first time in nearly 40 years. Rob Harris reports that the UK Health Security Agency declared a national incident yesterday, announcing that several closely related viruses were found in samples taken in London between February and May, with the findings suggesting some spread between household or family members.
https://www.theage..au/world/europe/polio-virus-detected-in-london-sewage-national-incident-declared-20220623 com -p5avw2.html
Vladimir Putin’s appearance at his St Petersburg economic forum was intended to be a show of strength. Instead, it neatly laid out every problem his isolated economy is facing, explains Bloomberg’s Clara Ferreira Marques.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/the-weakness-of-putin-s-economic-show-of-force-20220621-p5av8w.html
Arwa Mahdawi is concerned that the Texas Republican party has unveiled a truly frightening official platform that rejects the result of the 2020 election, seeks to make racial discrimination legal and demonises LGBTQ+ people.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/jun/22/get-up-walk-the-dog-my-life-is-mundane-but-because-im-gay-texas-republicans-think-im-abnormal
Rupert Murdoch and actress Jerry Hall are getting a divorce, the New York Times reported, citing two people familiar with the matter.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/rupert-murdoch-and-jerry-hall-to-divorce-report-20220623-p5avwb.html
Cartoon Corner – and still there are none of the usual offerings in the SMAge
From ScoMo to Albo: how a new cast of characters poses a challenge for cartoonists.
https://theconversation.com/from-scomo-to-albo-how-a-new-cast-of-characters-poses-a-challenge-for-cartoonists-184545
David Rowe
Peter Broelman
Matt Golding
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
Best news of the day (actually yesterday) – the “unloved” Kathryn Campbell has been booted out of her job and sent to an un-named position with Aukus. I’m hoping she will never be heard of again.
I wonder if Julie Bishop being Chancellor of the ANU has anything to do with Bookshelves Brandis becoming a professor there.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/former-uk-high-commissioner-george-brandis-appointed-anu-national-security-professor-20220622-p5avkk.html
Piss off Albo and all the ‘economists’ who have been chewing your ear. Why the fuck should the workers be made to pay for inflation ? They sure as hell did not cause it. Wages have been flat lining or losing real value for years. Company profits have been going up and up. But yeah , it it the wage and salary workers ‘fault’ so they must be made to pay. After which ‘the 0.01%’ will raise a glass of Krug to Lowe for a job well done , their increase in the share of national wealth will be delivered, as intended.
But the politicians just voted themselves a pay rise, and it was a lot more than the lousy $40 a week the minimum pay workers were given.
Do you think this is why there is news about a Murdoch divorce?
https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-parent-company-dominion-defamation-lawsuit-rupert-lachlan-murdoch-2022-6
It is so good to sit quietly and, hearing nothing, remembering what that ‘silence’ signifies. NO MORRISON !
Sorry for the lateness of posting, I got sidetracked 😀
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Rachel Maddow –
Chris Hayes –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Would some kind Pubster consider writing a threadstarter echoing Simon & Garfunkel, but calling it “The Sounds of Hope”?