Thank you to Billie for excellent advice to our new Federal government:
Next thread starter . . . .
With the start of a new Parliament under a Labor government, here is a Wishlist
- Change foreign policy to treat China as a major trading partner, not a potential enemy to invade at USA behest
- Stop buying USA defence materiel that is unsuitable for Australian conditions and non-operable without US approval
- Tax coal miners and gas producers
- Implement gas reservation policy on east coast
- Stop subsidising miners and gas producers
- Abolish stage 3 tax cuts for incomes over $150,000
- Abolish tax concessions for self funded retirees
- Increase income support payments, abolish INDUE card, abolish Mutual Obligation, Workforce Australia
- ⬆️Access to fee-free TAFE for in-demand courses like aged-care, childcare
- Reverse drift to casualised workforce
- Federal ICAC
and thanks to Tony Burke, for his always insightful 5&5:
| Tony Burke tony@tonyburke.com.au via email.actionnetwork.org | 12:49 (5 hours ago) |  | |
| to me |
 Well, I’ve decided I like this job better. We’re back in Parliament and, as you know, the Prime Minister is Anthony Albanese. I always used to give you an update as Manager of Opposition Business. But I’m a lot happier now giving you an update at the end of the Parliamentary week as Leader of the House. So once again, here’s the 5&5:BESTGovernment benchesThe Prime Minister’s first answerUluru Statement from the heartWelcome to countryFirst SpeechesWORST Having to clean up a decade of messPeter Dutton’s scare campaignPaul Fletcher hit with neuralyzerPauline Hanson walk-outMorrison no-show  1. We didn’t waste a minute. We introduced legislation to take real action on climate change; reform the broken aged care system; abolish the cashless debit card; and set up Jobs and Skills Australia to tackle our skills shortages. I also had the incredible privilege of introducing legislation to give 11 million Australians access to paid family and domestic violence leave. These are all things that should have been done years ago – but it’s taken a Labor Government to start getting it done.  2. “I thank very much the Leader of the Opposition for the question, and I congratulate him on his election as Leader of the Liberal Party. I wish him well as Leader of the Opposition and I hope he stays there for a very, very long time!” That’s how Anthony Albanese began his first answer as Prime Minister to Peter Dutton’s first question as Liberal leader. Generous. Or at least generous-ish. 3. “Mr Speaker, my question is to the Minister for Indigenous Australians: How is the Australian Government delivering the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and in particular, progressing an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the Constitution?” With that question Marion Scrymgour became the first ever First Nations backbencher to ask a question of a First Nations minister.  4. “Respect is taking responsibility for the now, the past, the present and the future”. The Welcome to Country before the opening of parliament, introduced by Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and delivered by her son Paul Girrawah House, was incredibly moving. His words outlining the struggle of First Nations people for rights and respect was a reminder of how far we’ve come but how far we still have to go. He ended with a passionate call to implement the Uluru Statement of the Heart and begin the process for a referendum to enshrine a First Peoples Voice to Parliament in the Constitution. We intend to do both! 5. One of the best parts of any new Parliament – particularly when you win government – is hearing from new colleagues for the first time. And what an incredible series of first speeches from Labor members this week! Sally Sitou … Zaneta Mascarenhas … Louise-Miller Frost … Marion Scrymgour … Tracey Roberts … and Tania Lawrence in the House, as well as Jana Stewart in the Senate. I’m so happy to be a part of a government that looks and sounds more like Australia.  1. The Government has been left with a huge mess to clean up after the wilful neglect of the previous decade. The economic challenges are particularly acute – and that was reinforced this week with the inflation figures and an economic statement to Parliament by Treasurer Jim Chalmers. It was a powerful speech that was brutally honest with the Australian people: things are going to get worse before they get better. We didn’t make this mess – but we are taking responsibility for cleaning it up. 2. So surely the economy was Peter Dutton’s focus in his first Question Time as Opposition Leader right? Nope. Instead he fell back on a weak, tired old anti-union scare campaign. Seriously? He’s had two months to prepare for this and that’s all he’s got? This does not bode well for the next three years. 3. I think over the years you’ve worked out that I really like the Parliament. You may also have a sneaking suspicion that the Libs and the Nats wish it wasn’t there. Who needs democracy when you think you’re born to rule? So it was pretty funny watching the antics of the new Manager of Opposition Business Paul Fletcher this week. First he tried to blame us for the fact Parliament isn’t sitting very much this year – conveniently forgetting that’s because his government only scheduled 10 sitting days in the first half of the year. Then when I made changes to Standing Orders to allow more debate on urgent bills he attacked us for shutting down debate. Ummm. I think Agent J from Men in Black has hit Mr Fletcher with his neuralyzer – because he seems to have forgotten the last decade ever happened. 4. Pauline Hanson has sat through dozens of Acknowledgements of Country during her time in the Senate because it’s a routine thing that’s been happening for more than a decade. This week she decided to storm out and make a scene as if it was a new thing. Pointless, divisive culture wars are still a thing then.  5. I bet you wish you’d heard the last of this guy  But I can’t let this through to the keeper without comment. Scott Morrison was a no-show in Parliament this week because he was in Japan getting paid to make a speech. If he’s off being paid to do another job – why does he expect taxpayers to keep paying him to do this one?But let me finish with the first thing that happened after we were sworn in. My friend Milton Dick was dragged to the Speaker’s chair. It was a real highlight in an incredible week. I know that he’ll bring fairness and decency to the role.Parliament’s back again next week and I’ll write to you straight after that.‘til then,Tony.PS. After 20 years Joni Mitchell finally performed again this week and I’ve been wanting to find an excuse to have ‘Both Sides Now’ as song of the week. When there’s a change of government the song means something slightly different to every one of us. But I’m pretty happy with the side of the room where we’ve landed. Here is Dave Le’aupepe – yes I know, lead singer of Gang of Youths – singing Joni’s ‘Both Sides Now’.Authorised by T. Burke MP, Australian Labor Party, Shop 29, 1 Broadway Punchbowl, NSW 2196Sent via ActionNetwork.org. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Tony Burke, please click here. |
THE PUB 
The Coalition seem to be trying to delay the vote on the abolition of the CDC.
They are wasting time with every member of the Opposition determined to speak. Thank heavens their number are depleted.
They are all telling the same porkies – the CDC was a raging success (it was not, it failed), domestic violence decreased in trial sites (it actually increased) and the aims of cutting drug use and alcoholism worked (they did not, the CDC had no effect at all).
At this rate the “debate” will drag on and on until the Reps closes for the night.
Never mind “in a few centuries.”
Sunak and Truss are both mad
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2022/aug/02/tory-leadership-race-liz-truss-whitehall-waste-rishi-sunak-uk-politics-live#maincontent
Truss must be insane. Her latest promise is to cut public sector pay in the less populated areas of the UK.
Someone on her team realized it wasn’t such a good idea after all.
It’s only Week 2 and already Katharine has the bit between her teeth. Lots more to come from her, I’m guessing
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2022/aug/02/peter-dutton-has-reached-into-the-weeds-of-the-climate-wars-and-pulled-out-nuclear-energy-its-beyond-ludicrous
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
The Reserve Bank’s unprecedented succession of interest rate hikes is expected to dramatically slow the economy and drive up unemployment as it concedes that higher inflation and increased borrowing costs are putting pressure on household budgets and slashing home values, says the SMH.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/reserve-bank-lifts-rates-for-historic-fourth-consecutive-month-20220802-p5b6gm.html
The Reserve Bank has to navigate a path away from inflation, but the economic signals are months old, explains Peter Hannam.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/03/the-reserve-bank-has-to-navigate-a-path-away-from-inflation-but-the-economic-signals-are-months-old
Why does the RBA keep hiking interest rates? It’s scared it can’t contain inflation, explains Peter Martin.
https://theconversation.com/why-does-the-rba-keep-hiking-interest-rates-its-scared-it-cant-contain-inflation-188011
Peter Dutton’s proposal to extend the cut in the fuel excise is economically irresponsible and it sends a worrying signal about his leadership style, declares the SMH in calling for the planned discontinuation of the fuel excise reduction to stand.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/cut-in-fuel-excise-should-not-be-extended-20220802-p5b6om.html
Phil Coorey writes that Jim Chalmers has stared down calls by the Coalition to extend the fuel excise reduction, calling the move a poll-driven exercise that would cost the budget $3 billion.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/chalmers-holds-firm-against-fuel-excise-extension-20220802-p5b6g1
Peter Dutton has reached into the weeds of the climate wars and pulled out nuclear energy. It’s beyond ludicrous, trumpets Katherine Murphy in a scathing contribution.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2022/aug/02/peter-dutton-has-reached-into-the-weeds-of-the-climate-wars-and-pulled-out-nuclear-energy-its-beyond-ludicrous
Greens leader Adam Bandt has been forced to convene an urgent meeting to decide the party’s stance on Labor’s climate change bill in a last-minute sign of division over whether to vote down its 43 per cent emissions reduction target because it does not go far enough, writes Mike Foley. Here we go again, the left/right squeeze on climate action progress. Apparently we will have to tune in to Bandt’s NPC appearance today to find out what’s going on.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/greens-in-heated-debate-over-position-on-climate-change-bill-20220802-p5b6o8.html
Adam Morton, Katharine Murphy and Paul Karp tell us that the Albanese government is under pressure from the Greens to clarify the status of up to $2bn in funding for the gas industry and other Coalition fossil fuel developments.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/03/greens-in-powerful-position-on-climate-as-labor-faces-scrutiny-over-coalitions-gas-fired-recovery-projects
The federal government failed to shift the dial on the most important metric to long-term living standards despite being handed a blueprint for growth by the Productivity Commission five years ago, explains Ronald Mizen. Thanks for nothing!
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/five-years-of-failure-revealed-in-national-productivity-update-20220802-p5b6hn
“The first Question Time of the 47th Parliament this time last week was revealing for several reasons. Firstly, it demonstrated the enormous gap in experience between the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader. Secondly, it showed the considerable gulf in intellect between the two”, writes John Lord.
https://theaimn.com/question-time-a-referendum-boats-more-corruption-and-other-matters/
According to Alexandra Smith and Lucy Cormack, NSW Liberal ministers have decided that Trade Minister Stuart Ayres’s position as deputy leader will be politically untenable unless the independent review into the John Barilaro trade saga explicitly exonerates him.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/stuart-ayres-political-future-depends-on-independent-review-say-liberal-ministers-20220802-p5b6ox.html
The opposition’s plan to attack Labor on integrity could have been effective, but the resignation of Matthew Guy’s chief of staff has derailed that strategy, says Smethurst.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/the-four-day-war-how-the-opposition-started-and-lost-the-integrity-battle-20220802-p5b6o7.html
Paul Sakkal and Annika Smethurst report that the Andrews government has asked the state’s corruption watchdog to investigate whether Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and his former chief of staff may have committed a crime by conspiring to engage in potentially corrupt conduct.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/minister-s-letter-reveals-details-of-allegations-against-opposition-leader-20220802-p5b6op.html
The Newspoll results would have been grim reading for the habitually grim Peter Dutton, whose face resembles an Easter Island monolith ─ except for when he attempts one of his roughly biannual smiles and he becomes entirely terrifying, writes Dave Donovan.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/duttons-dire-straits,16620
David Crowe tells us that Defence Minister Richard Marles will call in two external experts, Angus Houston and Stephen Smith, to conduct a snap review while the government considers pivotal decisions on nuclear submarines, a fleet of guided-missile destroyers and plans to build a bigger army.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/urgent-review-of-australia-s-defence-ordered-as-security-threats-grow-20220802-p5b6pn.html
Some planned defence acquisitions could be axed, new projects given funding and troops shifted across the country under the sweeping review, says Andrew Tillett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/projects-could-be-cut-under-sweeping-defence-review-20220802-p5b6ou
Mike Foley describes an independent report has found the $1.8 billion fund to restore the health of Australia’s biggest river system is failing due to rule changes championed by the Nationals in 2018 to block farmers from selling their irrigation rights. Bastards!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/1-8-billion-plan-to-help-save-murray-darling-river-system-set-to-fail-20220802-p5b6ld.html
The corruption watchdog has delivered a shot across the bow to politicians by making it clear that pork-barrelling may constitute corrupt conduct, experts say, and it is a step towards changing the political culture. Michaela Whitbourn writes that the Independent Commission Against Corruption found pork-barrelling, defined as allocating public funds and resources to targeted electors for partisan political purposes, may in some cases amount to corrupt conduct. This included the criminal offence of misconduct.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/icac-pork-barrelling-report-first-step-to-changing-political-culture-experts-20220802-p5b6ir.html
The head of Australia’s largest plastics manufacturer has raised alarm at fresh warnings of an east-coast gas shortfall next year and has called on governments and gas exporters to find a solution that keeps the fuel flowing and affordable for the domestic market, reports Nick Toscano.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/manufacturers-demand-strong-action-as-gas-shortfall-looms-20220802-p5b6l2.html
As regulator ACCC warns the gas lobby is sending companies to the wall, the political architect of the Gas Trigger, former senator Rex Patrick, writes Australia’s gas crisis is more a crisis of transparency than a shortage of gas.
https://michaelwest.com.au/rex-patrick-on-gas-crisis-accc-gas-trigger/
Economists are paid to worry about the economy, which they usually define fairly narrowly and, like all specialists, they tend to overemphasise what they know so much about and underrate everything else, writes Ross Gittins who says that a wounded environment leads to an unliveable economy. Think about it.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/a-wounded-environment-leads-to-an-unlivable-economy-20220802-p5b6jn.html
Michael Koziol tells us about the high-powered stoush going on between Peter V’landys and Dominic Perrottet of stadium for the NRL.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-s-most-powerful-men-in-high-stakes-game-of-bluff-and-bluster-20220802-p5b6kw.html
‘The siren has sounded’: Scientists pinpoint COVID’s origin. Writes Liam Mannix.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-siren-has-sounded-scientists-pinpoint-covid-s-origin-20220802-p5b6gb.html
So much for the soft landing for house prices – it’s now a painful thud, says Elizabeth Knight.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/so-much-for-the-soft-landing-for-house-prices-it-s-now-a-painful-thud-20220802-p5b6mk.html
More than $200,000 has been wiped from property prices in some sought-after areas in three months, and experts say the full impact of rate hikes is yet to be felt, writes Kate Burke.
https://www.theage.com.au/property/news/neighbourhoods-where-house-prices-have-fallen-by-six-figures-as-interest-rates-rise-20220802-p5b6lv.html
The Albanese government should consider allowing “virtual” nurses to help meet a new 24/7 staff mandate for aged care homes, a leading health executive says. (We manage on nights by having locally living RNs available on call).
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/03/virtual-nurses-may-be-needed-to-meet-247-aged-care-staff-mandate-top-health-executive-says
Anthony Albanese has done the nation a service by outlining his proposal to enshrine a voice in the Australian Constitution – revealing a draft referendum question and, critically, the proposed three sentences to be inserted into the Constitution, writes Paul Kelly who reminds the PM of what happened to other PMs who failed to get referendum propositions up.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/conviction-not-enough-for-pm-on-the-voice/news-story/46431a2cecd2eb58440168588c85a1ca
George Brandis argues that only transparency can save Indigenous recognition.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/only-transparency-can-save-indigenous-recognition-20220727-p5b549.html
Tory Shepherd and Katherine Murphy write that a new article, published in the journal Reproductive Health, says the 15% of people seeking pregnancy counselling after unplanned pregnancies were subjected to either “pregnancy preventing” or “pregnancy promoting” behaviour. The article defines RCA as “behaviour that interferes with a person’s decision to become pregnant or to continue the pregnancy”.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/03/australians-seeking-pregnancy-counselling-report-coercive-pressure-as-poll-shows-support-for-abortion-care
In one of his last interviews before retiring as Telstra’s CEO, Andy Penn, has welcomed the sea change in the regulation of the government-owned wholesale broadband provider, NBN Co. Penn said there had been too much focus on the economics of the NBN Co instead of the stated goal of making Australia a world-leading digital economy by 2030.
https://www.afr.com/companies/telecommunications/telstra-backs-profound-nbn-reset-20220802-p5b6mo
James Guthrie and Adam Lucas argue that it’s time for a Royal Commission into the governance of Australia’s public universities.
https://johnmenadue.com/james-guthrie-its-time-for-a-royal-commission-into-the-governance-of-australias-public-universities/
Once upon a time Qantas had a peerless reputation. “How did things go so wrong?”, asks Van Badham.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/02/once-upon-a-time-qantas-had-a-peerless-reputation-how-did-things-go-so-wrong
The excesses of the so-called Unification Church, born in Korea but which quickly became firmly established in Japan and the United States, led to recent assassination of Japan’s former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, by the son of a woman fleeced by the Church. This is the sort of mob that Morrison has been cosying up to, writes Gregory Clark.
https://johnmenadue.com/morrison-and-japans-new-rightist-religions/
Federal police warned the Coalition government in writing that then-Nationals MP George Christensen had “engaged in activities” in Southeast Asia that placed him at risk of being compromised by foreign interests. We can only surmise on what the “activities” might have been.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/afp-warned-george-christensen-s-philippines-activities-put-him-at-risk-of-compromise-20220802-p5b6kv.html
Indonesia’s nuclear subs protest shows Australian relations will be no easy ride, opines Chris Barratt.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/indonesia-s-nuclear-subs-protest-shows-australian-relations-will-be-no-easy-ride-20220802-p5b6nn.html
The man vying to replace Boris Johnson as British prime minister says the free trade deal his leadership rival Liz Truss signed with Australia was bad for British farmers, but he would not renege on it, writes Latika Bourke.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/one-sided-sunak-says-australia-s-free-trade-deal-was-bad-for-british-farmers-20220802-p5b6fu.html
The AFR explains why Pelosi’s Taiwan visit is ‘playing with fire’. (She landed overnight after using a complicated flight plan).
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/why-pelosi-s-proposed-taiwan-visit-is-playing-with-fire-20220801-p5b6dt
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Cathy Wilcox
Glen Le Lievre – with a gif
Matt Golding
John Shakespeare
Simon Letch
Peter Broelman
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/8WgcxeQ6swJGymJT6BMGEL/3ce7cc97-7720-4168-bddd-992ee7661c0d.jpg/r0_0_2362_1533_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg/jpg
Andrew Dyson
Fiona Katauskas
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
Stuart Ayres has resigned as NSW Deputy Premier and as Minister for Trade – but he has not resigned from NSW parliament after misleading NSW Parliament and the public about his involvement in the John Barilaro business.
Monty Python’s Black Knight comes to mind.
Voting with the opposition was Dai Le – a so-called “independent” and former Liberal candidate. Once a Liberal, always a Liberal seems to apply to her.. Another so-called “independent who did not show up for the final vote and who voted “No” to Tony Burke’s motion to have the bill declared urgent was Allegra Spender. CA’ member Rebekha Sharkie also failed to show up despite voting against yesterday’s motion.
Too many to list, but for starters hospitals, the CES/Jobsearch, airports, ports, childcare, disability services, home care and education (all levels).
The first two on my lists are the National Party and the Liberal Party.
Any natural monopoly starting with
Water grids & resources
Greetings to all Pubsters from long-dormant GD!
Excellent lead story from Billie for a very achievable Wish List with the new parliament.
Labor has made a good start, but will have to be brave if it wants to avoid the economic booby traps, with inflation and high interest rates. Still needs priorities with the little people for maximum effectiveness.
I tuned into ABC24 and ran into the NSW Upper House enquiry into the Bara appointment. Stuart Ayres has taken an inevitable fall. They had a senior bureaucrat Ms Brown giving her latest version of what happened. It was clearly politically directed. You don’t get many senior bureaucrats accepting personal responsibility. What was very sad was her going along with the line that Ms West was not after all a suitable appointment. It’s not what she was told.
It reminded me a little of how Bushfire Bill’s Her Indoors was so shabbily treated, and justice was an immensely draining experience for her and BB. It reminded me that the bureaucratic part of govt can be just as brutal as the political part when decisions or decision reversals threaten one of their own. It’s right that the politicians should bare the blame for this cock-up. They were ruthless and reckless, and contemptuous of public spending involved in this exercise. But judging by what Ms Brown said, they are not the only ones doing quite a lot of arse-covering, and smearing others that were victims.
I have been watching the Barilaro appointment unfold
Evidently Ms West was invited to a 7am Poser walk along Balmoral Beach with Ms Brown who told her she no longer had the job
Ms Brown upset that her friend Ms West took contemporaneous notes and engaged lawyers when told “position is a gift for someone else”
Insult to injury disciplinary proceedings were instigated against Ms West, take away her job and her reputation
I am very impatient for Labor to undo LNP toxicity and I hope the LNP sinks
I am so glad to see you posting again GD. I always enjoy reading your writing, particularly about your days working for the Commonwealth Employment Service. As you know I also had a very interesting and rewarding time working for the CES.
It is a pity such a service, which paid for itself many times over by saving government spending on dealing with the trauma to people from long term unemployment.
Damn interpretative text
Poser should read Power
Although not a bad substitute
Bandt
Might have got some backlash from their supporters. Hopefully their supporters will also put the pressure on them to back the vote yes campaign without all their stunts.
This is the first time I have ever heard of any words said in the house by Pat Conaghan, MP for Cowper, my electorate and now officially marginal. Maybe we will get rid of the most useless Nats ever come the next election.
Honestly, Conaghan does so little here I wouldn’t know him if I walked into him on the street. He really is the most lazy local MP ever.
A bit of a tough ask but it looks like they successfully managed to find a down grade for a Hartsuyker
Definitely.
This chap used to be a cop, then a lawyer. Now he’s a Nats backbencher. What a career move!
Hey gorgeousdunny….
Thanks Angrybee. I missed that one.
I’ll followup up direct with Gareth onTwitter. Who knows? Might still get some of my stories published. Am exploring that possibility at the moment, since the ten stories in my Memoirs series or more or less complete, and might provide me with an ‘in’ for publishing what I’m currently working on.
An historical novel on a maternal ancestor of mine Bridget O’Brien, my maternal grandmother’s maternal grandmother. It’s a ripping yarns type of thing very loosely overlapping real life events. In the manner of Macdonald Fraser’s Flashman series, but a long way short of that quality. But I’m still a few months away from finishing it. I thought if I could get some publishing credit for my earlier stories, my longer work might be easier to find an audience, even if I have to self-publish.
It’s something to do as I enter the 80s.
Warm regards …
GD
Hello gd1 long time no see –
Sorry for late posting I have been busy fixing storm/wind damage most of the day
Michael West –
Stephen Colbert –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
The territory rights bill passed the House 99 votes to 37.
Here’s how each MP cast their vote.
37 MPs voted against
Colin Boyce – LNP
Russell Broadbent – Liberal
Scott Buchholz – LNP
Tony Burke – Labor
Pat Conaghan – National
Mark Coulton – National
Cassandra Fernando – Labor
David Gillespie – National
Garth Hamilton – LNP
Andrew Hastie – Liberal
Alex Hawke – Liberal
Kevin Hogan – National
Luke Howarth – Liberal
Barnaby Joyce – National
Bob Katter – Independent
Matt Keogh – Labor
Julian Leeser – Liberal
Emma McBride – Labor
Michael McCormack – National
Scott Morrison – Liberal
Daniel Mulino – Labor
Ted O’Brien – LNP
Tony Pasin – Liberal
Henry Pike – LNP
Keith Pitt – National
Rowan Ramsey – Liberal
Stuart Robert – Liberal
Michael Sukkar – Liberal
Angus Taylor – Liberal
Dan Tehan – Liberal
Alan Tudge – Liberal
Bert van Manen – Liberal
Andrew Wallace – LNP
Anne Webster – National
Andrew Willcox – LNP
Keith Wolahan – Liberal
Terry Young – LNP
99 MPs voting in favour
Anthony Albanese – Labor
Dr Anne Aly – Labor
Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah – Labor
Bridget Archer – Liberal
Adam Bandt – Greens
Stephen Bates – Greens
Angie Bell – LNP
Sam Birrell – National
Chris Bowen – Labor
Matt Burnell – Labor
Linda Burney – Labor
Josh Burns – Labor
Mark Butler – Labor
Alison Byrnes – Labor
Dr Jim Chalmers – Labor
Dr Andrew Charlton – Labor
Darren Chester – National
Lisa Chesters – Labor
Jason Clare – Labor
Sharon Claydon – Labor
Libby Coker – Labor
Julie Collins – Labor
Pat Conroy – Labor
Zoe Daniel – Independent
Mark Dreyfus – Labor
Peter Dutton – LNP
Justine Elliot – Labor
Warren Entsch – LNP
Paul Fletcher – Liberal
Dr Mike Freelander – Labor
Dr Carina Garland – Labor
Andrew Gee – National
Steve Georganas – Labor
Andrew Giles – Labor
Ian Goodenough – Liberal
Pat Gorman – Labor
Luke Gosling – Labor
Julian Hill – Labor
Ed Husic – Labor
Stephen Jones – Labor
Ged Kearney – Labor
Peter Khalil – Labor
Catherine King – Labor
Madeleine King – Labor
Tania Lawrence – Labor
Jerome Laxale – Labor
Dr Andrew Leigh – Labor
Sussan Ley – Liberal
Sam Lim – Labor
David Littleproud – National
Kristy McBain – Labor
Zoe McKenzie – Liberal
Nola Marino – Liberal
Richard Marles – Labor
Zaneta Mascarenhas – Labor
Louise Miller-Frost – Labor
Brian Mitchell – Labor
Rob Mitchell – Labor
Peta Murphy – Labor
Shayne Neumann – Labor
Llew O’Brien – LNP
Brendan O’Connor – Labor
Clare O’Neil – Labor
Alicia Payne – Labor
Gaven Pearce – Liberal
Graham Perrett – Labor
Fiona Phillips – Labor
Tanya Plibersek – Labor
Melissa Price – Liberal
Sam Rae – Labor
Dr Gordon Reid – Labor
Dan Repacholi – Labor
Amanda Rishworth – Labor
Tracey Roberts – Labor
Joanne Ryan – Labor
Dr Monique Ryan – Independent
Dr Sophie Scamps – Independent
Marion Scrymgour – Labor
Rebekha Sharkie – Centre Alliance
Bill Shorten – Labor
Sally Sitou – Labor
David Smith – Labor
Allegra Spender – Independent
Anne Stanley – Labor
Zali Steggall – Independent
Jason Stevens – Liberal
Meryl Swanson – Labor
Susan Templeman – Labor
Matt Thistlethwaite – Labor
Kate Thwaites – Labor
Kylea Tink – Independent
Jenny Ware – Liberal
Elizabeth Watson-Brown – Greens
Tim Watts – Labor
Anika Wells – Labor
Andrew Wilkie – Independent
Josh Wilson – Labor
Jason Wood – Liberal
Tony Zappia – Labor
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7845440/the-mps-who-voted-against-territory-rights/
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
“Can Albanese do a Hawke and lead us out of these tough times?”, asks Shaun Carney.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/can-albanese-do-a-hawke-and-lead-us-out-of-these-tough-times-20220802-p5b6ph.html
Chris Wallace writes that Julia Gillard committed a terrible wrong in shifting 85,000 single parent families from the single parent benefit onto the inadequate unemployment benefit. It’s time for Albanese to right it, she says.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/julia-gillard-committed-a-terrible-wrong-it-s-time-for-albanese-to-right-it-20220802-p5b6pj.html
Greg Sheridan begins this laudatory contribution with, “Smith and Houston have a historic opportunity they must grasp. The ADF is not fit for purpose. The old ways are no good, a few new ships for the navy, an eye-glazingly slow expansion for the air force, some compensating kit for the army, all under the assumption we fold our small but perfectly formed forces forever under the wing of American power.”
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/defence/cometh-the-hour-historic-opportunity-must-be-grasped/news-story/caa8964c5605f5020e494e35b424d0fe
Former military chief Angus Houston says the deteriorating strategic environment facing Australia is the worst he has seen in his lifetime as he embarks on a sweeping review of the Defence Force to prepare it for the potential of conflict with China within the next decade. Sir Angus, who was chief of the Defence Force between 2005 and 2011, offered a grim assessment as “circumstances have changed dramatically over the recent past”, writes Andrew Tillett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/worst-strategic-circumstances-prompt-review-20220803-p5b6vz
Mick Ryan writes that Australia needs a national security strategy right now. He says that, while this week’s announcement by the government of a defence review is necessary and welcome, it only addresses part of the national security dilemma facing Australia.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-needs-a-national-security-strategy-now-20220802-p5b6ih.html
Anthony Albanese has nullified the radical Greens’ agenda, but a bigger fight is ahead, says Dennis Shanahan.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albanese-nullifies-radical-greens-agenda-but-a-bigger-fight-is-ahead/news-story/f1ddf8e189fb2c0790c393c5577ab559
After more than a decade of darkness in Australia’s parliament, today was a good day for the climate, wrote Katherine Murphy last night after the passing of legislation that she says tethers the nation to the fact that moral people have to do what we can to avert the collapse of the planet’s climate.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/03/after-more-than-a-decade-of-darkness-in-australias-parliament-today-was-a-good-day-for-the-climate
David Crowe tells us that Paul Keating has savaged Greens leader Adam Bandt for branding Labor a “neoliberal” party in a row over the environment after Labor secured the numbers to legislate its 43 per cent cut to greenhouse gas emissions.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/bandt-is-a-bounder-keating-fires-up-in-climate-wars-as-greens-back-albanese-bill-20220803-p5b6y1.html
John Howard’s climate doubts reveal more about conservative identity politics than anything else, argues Graham Readfearn.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/04/john-howards-climate-doubts-reveal-more-about-conservative-identity-politics-than-anything-else
A strident Alan Kohler argues that Labor must abandon the Stage 3 tax cuts and fund big government.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2022/08/04/government-tax-cuts-alan-kohler/
Michael Pascoe is upset with how the professional classes make billion-dollar tax rorts possible.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/08/03/tax-rort-professions-michael-pascoe/
In hindsight, the RBA and Treasury’s timely, targeted, response to the pandemic should have been able to be tweaked as the crisis unfolded, mulls John Kehoe.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/what-we-learnt-from-overdoing-the-stimulus-20220802-p5b6lc
Medium-term productivity assumptions underpinning budget forecasts have been lowered, potentially adding about $50 billion to government debt by 2033, report Phil Coorey and John Kehoe.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/chalmers-downgrades-productivity-assumptions-adds-billions-to-deficit-20220803-p5b6ss
Alex Vickery-Howe writes about the trouble the Coalition in is trying to understand and rebuild itself.
https://johnmenadue.com/author/dr-alex-vickery-howe/
Federal parliament will hammer out key details of what an Indigenous Voice to parliament will look like and when a national vote is held, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says, in a shift from his position that much of the detail would happen after a referendum. James Massola reports.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-shifts-and-says-parliament-will-debate-voice-details-before-referendum-20220803-p5b6y2.html
Dutton’s Liberals must have guts to speak out against Indigenous voice, urges Peta Credlin.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/duttons-liberals-must-have-guts-to-speak-out-against-indigenous-voice/news-story/78bf8c6cc5988605ec3b10bc838696b3
Has swearing-in outworn its purpose? “Bloody oath!”, declares law professor Helen Irving.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/has-swearing-in-outworn-its-purpose-bloody-oath-20220803-p5b6u0.html
The editorial in the SMH is pleased that Perrottet has finally shows some nerve and taken decisive action.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/perrottet-finally-shows-some-nerve-and-takes-decisive-action-20220803-p5b6zt.html
Perrottet has behaved more like a hapless bystander at every turn of events in this saga, and in others that preceded it, and, writes The Australian’s Stephen Rice, cabinet colleagues are exasperated by his long, often fumbled press conferences and a perceived preference for instigating inquiries rather than making decisions.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/heads-up-for-premier-dominic-perrottet-as-rivals-keep-theirs-down/news-story/4d0d16304ad93f738c93a0b92f873a2d
Alexandra Smith doesn’t think Ayres’ resignation will bring an end to scandal within the NSW government.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/hell-hath-no-fury-like-a-minister-scorned-ayres-resignation-won-t-bring-end-to-scandal-20220803-p5b6zm.html
And now the jobs scandal paralysing the NSW government has widened beyond the John Barilaro appointment, with the newly revived agent-general role in London under the spotlight.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/jobs-scandal-goes-beyond-barilaro-as-inquiry-probes-second-appointment-20220803-p5b716.html
The protracted Barilaro affair is another shocking example of continuing misjudgements by Liberal leaders and parties, opines Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/abject-failure-of-liberals-on-display-around-the-country-20220803-p5b6yz
The four-day war – Annika Smethurst tells us how the opposition started and lost the integrity battle.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/the-four-day-war-how-the-opposition-started-and-lost-the-integrity-battle-20220802-p5b6o7.html
Voters have shown that they care about integrity. It cannot be treated by political leaders simply as window dressing and then weaponised for use against opponents. Matthew Guy must open up, says the Age’s editorial.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/matthew-guy-must-open-up-on-adviser-scandal-20220803-p5b6te.html
Integrity matters in public life, for without it there is little if any trust between the people and those a priority for many MPs and political parties, asks Dr Colleen Lewis, an Honorary Professor at the Australian Studies Institute, ANU. Matthew Guy gets a big mention.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/matthew-guy-s-integrity-scandal-has-echoes-of-his-last-election-campaign-20220803-p5b6zh.html
Amid the rapid spread of more transmissible strains of coronavirus, such as delta and omicron, it’s becoming apparent there is no stopping this plague, writes Professor Peter Collignon.
https://www.afr.com/policy/health-and-education/forget-covid-zero-this-virus-is-here-to-stay-20220803-p5b6wd
Nick McKenzie goes into considerable detail on how neo-Nazis are establishing themselves among young Australian men.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/inside-australia-s-terrorgram-how-neo-nazism-spreads-in-our-cities-20220726-p5b4t5.html
Pulling the trigger on LNG export bans is just the first difficult decision needed to safeguard Australia’s energy security, writes Innes Willox who says a responsible agenda to get more gas will annoy almost everybody.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/a-responsible-agenda-to-get-more-gas-will-annoy-almost-everybody-20220802-p5b6hx
As Paul Budde mentioned before, the only way to stop the rot is for the Government to intervene and address the financial situation of the NBN. This should result in a structural change to the NBN business model that allows it to truly become a national asset for all Australians, not just those who can afford it. He looks at the Labor government’s posture on this.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/minister-asks-nbn-co-to-withdraw-its-proposal-for-price-increases,16623
Calm the farm: foot and mouth disease is a threat, but it shouldn’t be used as a political weapon, writes Gabrielle Chan.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/04/calm-the-farm-foot-and-mouth-disease-is-a-threat-but-it-shouldnt-be-used-as-a-political-weapon
The NSW government insists the cost of building a rail line to Sydney’s second airport is on budget despite confidential documents showing it is now expected to be $2 billion more than previously disclosed, reports Matt O’Sullivan.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/secret-documents-cast-doubt-over-cost-of-sydney-s-new-airport-rail-line-20220729-p5b5o5.html
Companies are upgrading to more luxurious office buildings to attract desperately needed staff, leaving owners of lesser quality buildings scrambling to improve their properties as overall vacancies increase, writes Rachel Dexter.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/workers-want-luxury-rising-office-vacancies-lead-to-arms-race-20220802-p5b6na.html
Elizabeth Knight explains why no bank wants to be the first to raise interest rates.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/first-mover-disadvantage-why-no-bank-wants-to-be-the-first-to-raise-interest-rates-20220803-p5b6y3.html
Peter V’landys and his acolytes can blather all they want – the NSW government has made the right call in directing funding to areas where it’s actually needed, declares Peter FitzSimons
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/praise-be-to-perrottet-for-seeing-the-light-on-stadium-madness-20220803-p5b6sd.html
Business is calling for urgent government intervention to address crippling shortages of Lamborghinis on the East Coast of Australia, according to an exclusive report in the Australian Financial Review. Michael West reports.
https://michaelwest.com.au/lamborghini-crisis-australia-crippled-by-critical-shortage-of-lamborghinis/
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Alan Moir
Cathy Wilcox
Matt Golding
John Shakespeare
Andrew Dyson
Fiona Katauskas
Peter Broelman
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
Proud Mum moment –
Most of you will have seen Steve’s post when I managed to break my hip. Now he has hit the ABC news with this story. Initially he thought it was just going to be a story for the local ABC station, but it has gone much further,
NSW man born without legs wants electric skateboards legalised as mobility aids for people with disabilities
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-03/electric-skateboard-mobility-aids-people-with-disability-nsw/101284060#:~:text=Born%20with%20no%20legs%20and,since%2C%22%20Mr%20Lyons%20said.
Leone, you are both brilliant and should be proud. I know you probably have, but get in touch with Shorten, and get the Feds to make it part of all legal aids that people need.
Excellent!
Golden Echidna with laurel wreath for Steve please.
Just for being him.
What an absolute legend and hero the man is!
Thanks for the replies, they mean a lot.
To Steve, a worthy cub of Leone, we at the Pub are so very proud of you and your Mum. You are hereby awarded with The Pub’s highest honour – the Golden Echidna with Wreath:
Excellent news. Now to put the heat on councils to keep their footpaths up to scratch. Checking out the situation in The Cave we saw the light at the beginning of 2021 re the electric skateboards etc.
I have to admit our local MP, Leslie Williams, has been wonderful on this issue., it’s just a shame she is a Liberal after deserting from the Nats over their koala-death thing. It’s a shame she didn’t choose to turn independent. Apparently the Nats are going to throw everything at her in a bid to hang on to what they see as “their” seat. I’d rather have her than another useless Nat. At least she knows how to look after her electorate.
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Mehdi Hasan – (chris hayes sub)
Sorry about the Mehdi Hasan vid, I only watched a few snippets before posting now I will have to do penance for the next week, so to the sack cloth and ashes cupboard for me folks 😀 👹
This one is slightly better but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find decent videos to post (my excuse and I’m sticking to it) –
Just now watching senate qt, our fella who is filling in for Penny is not very good. It is disappointing as we have some good performers in the Senate.
Hmmm – another fail for the embattled NSW government?
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Emissions bill was a win for the ALP, writes David Crowe, but he says the outlook remains politically inclement.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/emissions-bill-a-win-for-alp-but-outlook-remains-politically-inclement-20220804-p5b76c.html
Albanese has outflanked both the left and the right in a climate win, writes Phil Coorey who says that the Greens walked away with the political equivalent of beads and blankets.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/albanese-outflanks-both-left-and-right-in-climate-win-20220804-p5b75n
Michelle Grattan reckons the government win on climate legislation leaves opposition looking like a stranded asset on the climate issue, adrift from a pragmatic business community that wants to promote confidence.
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-government-win-on-climate-legislation-leaves-opposition-looking-like-a-stranded-asset-188231
Tony Wright contrasts the reactions of the governments after their legislation to scrap the “carbon tax” and to mandate a 43% emissions reduction by 2030.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/the-day-the-climate-changed-and-the-glee-club-went-missing-20220804-p5b7as.html
Labor can celebrate an important victory with the 43 per cent legislation. But that was the easy part. What comes next will test the government to its core, writes Jacob Greber.
https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/labor-s-diabolically-difficult-journey-to-43pc-only-just-started-20220804-p5b78e
Alexandra Smith tells us how it’s looking worse for Ayres after yesterday’s inquiry hearing.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/for-discussion-with-minister-new-email-further-links-ayres-to-barilaro-appointment-20220804-p5b7bu.html
Annika Smethurst writes on why recent scandals call into question Matthew Guy’s political judgment.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/scandals-call-into-question-guy-s-political-judgment-20220804-p5b76m.html
Resilience NSW boss Shane Fitzsimmons would be dumped and the disaster agency dramatically scaled down under a key recommendation of the state government’s long-awaited flood inquiry report, explain Lucy Cormack and Alexandra Smith.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/resilience-nsw-boss-to-be-dumped-agency-scaled-down-under-key-recommendation-of-flood-inquiry-report-20220804-p5b7bz.html
Australia’s economy is set to grow slower than it ever has outside of recession. This is bad news for our standard of living, explains Greg Jericho.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2022/aug/04/australias-economy-is-set-to-grow-slower-than-it-ever-has-outside-of-recession-this-is-bad-news-for-our-standard-of-living
Businesses and consumers are bearing the brunt of “obsolete” tariffs that will cost more to collect than they raise as Australia strikes new free trade deals, a review of the system has found. Shane Wright reports that Productivity Commission research that puts pressure on the federal government to consider axing all remaining tariffs found the broad economic cost of collecting $1 in tariffs is likely to climb from between 57¢ and $1.59 today to almost $5.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/tariffs-to-cost-more-to-collect-than-the-revenue-they-raise-productivity-commission-20220804-p5b78m.html
The SMH editorial says that nuclear subs must be included in the announced review of defence spending.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/nuclear-subs-must-be-included-in-review-of-defence-spending-20220804-p5b7dv.html
Jack the Insider in this contribution where he says the Greens will be the biggest threat to reconciliation, begins with, “What do senators Pauline Hanson and Lidia Thorpe have in common? Not a lot it would seem although both routinely engage in haughty displays, dog-and-pony shows in the Senate chamber. But there is one issue that unites them. They are both opposed to the constitutional recognition of First Australians.”
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/the-greens-are-the-biggest-threat-to-reconciliation/news-story/d0f0c31665c793da27274490ec8469c9
The striking evidence of politicisation of public services in Queensland, NSW and Victoria, after the evidence about the Commonwealth, demonstrates that the problem is pervasive across Australian jurisdictions and is not restricted to one side of politics, writes Andrew Podger about the politicisation in Australia – a problem that crosses jurisdictions and parties
https://johnmenadue.com/politicisation-in-australia-a-problem-that-crosses-jurisdictions-and-parties/
According to Rob Harris, Britain is facing a lengthy recession and the worst decline in living standards for a generation after the Bank of England raised interest rates sharply and forecast that inflation would hit 13 per cent by Christmas.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/hard-times-uk-faces-15-month-recession-and-biggest-drop-in-living-standards-in-60-years-20220805-p5b7g5.html
After CMO Paul Kelly recently likened COVID deaths to “reaping”, disabled woman Siobhan Simper says she feels let down and urges State and Federal Governments to reconsider their current approach to COVID.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/chief-medical-officers-covid-comment-leaves-the-vulnerable-gasping,16625
A Federal Police warning to the Coalition government over the conduct of one of its MPs was kept secret until it was too late for his constituents, writes Rex Patrick who says that, whatever Mr Christensen’s activities in South-East Asia were (and it’s probably best to steer clear of that topic), the battle over access to the AFP’s correspondence relating to the matter has been helpful in showing the public how moribund our FOI regime is.
https://michaelwest.com.au/a-reluctant-thank-you-mr-christensen-what-we-learnt-about-a-travelling-mp/
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy’s arrival as America’s ambassador in Canberra has thrilled Australians who think of her as American royalty. However, her appointment is small comfort for those Australians concerned about the future of the country’s alliance with the USA, writes Alan Patience.
https://johnmenadue.com/can-australia-become-a-confident-independent-country/
Lucy Carroll reports that the King’s School has been forced to explain planned spending on a plunge pool for the headmaster’s residence and business-class flights for senior staff to attend a prestigious British rowing regatta. But what can be done about it?
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/king-s-school-forced-to-explain-spending-on-plunge-pool-flights-to-british-regatta-20220804-p5b77b.html
The sudden closure of the Colmont School in Melbourne’s north sent a shockwave through the school’s community, but it likely won’t be the last private school on the chopping block as budgets tighten and funds redirect to a sector with higher returns, writes Adam Voigt.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/private-schools-under-pressure-as-luxuries-the-first-to-go-in-tough-times-20220804-p5b74q.html
The Age’s editorial says that the territories deserve a say on legalising voluntary euthanasia and it calls for the passing of the bill that would allow it.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/territories-deserve-say-on-legalising-voluntary-euthanasia-20220802-p5b6hy.html
More from Luke Henriques-Gomes on Workforce Australia. He tells us about a jobseeker who has questioned why her Workforce Australia provider made her complete an online personality test that asked how well she expressed love, whether she gives into temptation, and which judged if “spirituality” and “zest” were among her strengths.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/05/workforce-australia-provider-makes-jobseeker-complete-personality-tests-assessing-zest-and-spirituality
Elizabeth Knight tells us that one of the major investment banks has broken formation with the financial pack and questioned whether this year’s earnings bounce for Qantas will be as robust as investors are expecting while highlighting the airline’s poor record around on-time performance and flight cancellations.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/breaking-formation-why-one-major-investment-bank-thinks-qantas-can-t-outrun-poor-service-20220804-p5b79x.html
David Estcourt reports that lawyers of a father suing over the alleged abuse of his son say the church’s interpretation of legislation could extinguish legal entitlements of families if a victim dies.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/catholic-church-says-family-members-not-included-in-victim-laws-20220804-p5b768.html
Time is running out. The Department of Justice must indict and convict Trump, declare Laurence H Tribe and Dennis Aftergut.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/04/justice-department-must-indict-and-convict-trump
The legal team representing Infowars founder Alex Jones inadvertently sent the contents of his cellphone to a lawyer representing the parents of a child killed in the Sandy Hook mass shooting, the parents’ lawyer said in court Wednesday. The despicable Jones is squirming.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/you-know-what-perjury-is-right-alex-jones-attorneys-accidentally-send-sandy-hook-plaintiffs-his-phone-contents-20220804-p5b74z.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Andrew Dyson
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
John Shakespeare
Jim Pavlidis
Fiona Katauskas
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
A message from Steve – he thanks you for the Gold Echidna with laurel wreath, and for 2gravel’s excellent suggestion he needs to contact Bill Shorten. He knows that federal legislation over-rules state laws, so that would be the way to go.
I’ve just twigged about the avatar you use.
A suggestion:- don’t you think you should have at least two?
Scratch that suggestion, just realised there is only one lioness 😀
I suppose everyone will have made the same connection now I have outed my surname.
Actually the “Leone” part comes from the Italian for “lion”, although as I am female it should really be “leonessa”. I thought that was too much of a mouthful.
“Leona” in Spanish.
The ACT will mske abortions free from next year. If only the feds would make them free for all women.
Abortions can cost thousands of dollars. Soon, Canberrans will be able to get them for free
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/abortions-can-cost-thousands-of-dollars-soon-canberrans-will-be-able-to-get-them-for-free/wc4x3xp8b
leonetwo August 4, 2022
Leslie Williams looks like she has taken up a winning formula, being an MP FOR her electorate and those who live there. Something that tends to see the ‘power brokers’ in all political party’s crying out ‘It’s a witch burn it ! ” .
friendlyjordies –
Randy Rainbow –
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/05/let-us-sing-the-praises-of-this-magnificent-and-highly-opinionated-bird
This one either went through to the keeper or I wasn’t paying attention –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/03/big-smiles-everyone-today-we-will-be-undertaking-an-important-job-finding-course
I am ok everyone. Sorry for not posting, but I am having a break.
I am in a Community in the Kimberley, WA.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
The first sitting fortnight of the new federal parliament reveals that Australia’s three biggest political parties have all taken a step to the right. The Greens have become a bit browner, Labor has become a bit more Liberal, and the Liberals have become a bit more boutique. The passage of the climate bill through the House of Representatives showcased their repositioning, writes Peter Hartcher who says that Albanese has got off on the right foot. He also analyses the opposition’s problems.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-gets-off-on-the-right-foot-20220805-p5b7nr.html
It has been as good a start to Parliament as anyone can remember, writes Phil Coorey who says the past fortnight stood in stark contrast to previous years in which the Morrison government regarded Parliament as something to be endured rather than turned to its advantage.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/as-good-a-start-to-parliament-as-anyone-can-remember-20220805-p5b7h8
As Labor revels in achieving the support it needed to pass its emissions reduction legislation, the Liberal Party needs to engage seriously with why it lost seats to Labor, the Greens and teals, writes Peter van Onselen.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/ineffectiveness-of-liberal-moderates-led-to-rise-of-the-teals/news-story/21ac0c8b5056a4517a12694be9b908c6
James Robertson says that, on climate, the Coalition is looking for an each-way bet on a losing horse.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2022/08/04/climate-coalition-each-way-bet/
It still hasn’t dawned on the Liberal and National parties why they suffered such a stunning defeat at the May election. Maybe Labor’s slender majority masks the rejection of the Liberals in their heartland seats, which resulted in a near-record number of independents. So far, the Liberals seem to have no obvious strategy to win back support, says Paul Bongiorno.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2022/08/06/the-peter-dutton-schtick
After a watershed week on climate, Albanese is eyeing the Hawke playbook for his upcoming jobs summit, writes Katherine Murphy.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2022/aug/05/after-a-watershed-week-on-climate-albanese-is-eyeing-the-hawke-playbook-for-his-upcoming-jobs-summit
The AFR tells us that more than 60 per cent of businesses expect wages to rise more than 3 per cent in the coming year, while the 48-year low jobless rate prompted more than half to report labour shortages placing “severe” constraints on output.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/wages-forecast-to-grow-at-the-fastest-pace-in-a-decade-20220805-p5b7mo
In response to higher inflation since the beginning of May the Reserve Bank has aggressively increased interest rates, albeit from an exceptionally low level. From here on, however, a more cautious approach is needed., posits Michael Keating.
https://johnmenadue.com/monetary-policy-how-far-will-interest-rates-need-to-rise-and-how-fast/
John Hewson writes about “The recession Australia might have to have”. He says the policy challenge for the Albanese government is compounded by pressures left deliberately by the Morrison government, or attributable to its incompetence and neglect – in aggregate, record debt with budget deficits stretching as far as the eye can see.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2022/08/06/the-recession-australia-might-have-have
Labor takes the applause, but soon it will have to upset people, writes Jacob Greber.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/labor-takes-the-applause-but-soon-it-will-have-to-upset-people-20220805-p5b7nd
Chris Bowen has outlined the next phase of the federal government’s plan to shift the nation substantially onto renewable energy, a day after the lower house passed historic legislation locking in at least a 43 per cent cut to emissions by 2030. The federal government is planning to create a national network of zones where offshore wind power generation is allowed, naming six areas it will seek to declare “suitable” as Bowen said Australia had a lot of catching up to do in the sector, reports Katina Curtis.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-re-way-behind-the-game-bowen-takes-step-towards-offshore-wind-farm-approvals-20220805-p5b7hm.html
Success for the federal government’s 2030 climate goal hinges on two ambitious schemes to force big businesses to cut their carbon pollution, and the deadline looms large with just 89 months to go. Mike Foley tells us how it will do it.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-labor-will-hit-its-2030-climate-target-20220804-p5b7ay.html
Perhaps not since the marriage equality vote has the passage of a bill in the House of Representatives carried such a combination of substantive and symbolic import as the Albanese government’s climate legislation., writes Michelle Grattan who says the debate over the legislation has highlighted and exacerbated the bad place the Coalition is in. She adds that it is already clear the opposition is divided on the Voice. Finding its way to a common position on the Voice referendum will be even more difficult for the Coalition than forging a new climate policy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/climate-vote-turns-up-temperature-on-dutton-s-opposition-20220804-p5b7e7.html
The Australian Conservation Foundation’s Paul Sinclair declares that no one can afford further delays to meaningful climate action.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/no-one-can-afford-further-delays-to-meaningful-climate-action-20220804-p5b78v.html
The Age tells us that confronting “fundamental failings” in government in Victoria, the IBAC chief says his funding should be removed from the political cycle.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/give-me-independent-funding-says-anti-corruption-chief-robert-redlich-20220805-p5b7kc.html
Shane Wright and Rachel Clun write that unions and economists have urged the federal government to fast-track policies to deal with the cost-of-living crisis as the Reserve Bank admitted low-income households may have to cut spending.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/real-wages-to-continue-falling-as-high-inflation-and-interest-rates-hit-households-20220805-p5b7he.html
Some of Australia’s most eminent jurists have expressed concern at the roles of former attorneys-general, a magistrate, a judge and the court system overall in charging, convicting, sentencing and jailing a former intelligence officer in absolute secrecy, as details of the process are revealed for the first time, writes Karen Middleton about the secret trial of Witness J and how it damaged democracy.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2022/08/06/damaging-democracy-the-secret-trial-witness-j
Lucy Cormack reports that NSW’s public service commissioner says she would never have signed off on a final selection report for John Barilaro if she knew then what she knows now. And she’s not at all happy about it!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/female-candidate-was-ranked-highest-to-help-fulfil-mandate-to-appoint-a-woman-to-the-role-inquiry-hears-20220805-p5b7il.html
In a very long exposition, Deborah Snow and Alexandra Smith say that the Barilaro saga has landed Perrottet in purgatory. Barilaro will front the committee on Monday.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/barilaro-saga-lands-perrottet-in-purgatory-20220803-p5b6xq.html
Disabled students in public schools are missing out on $600 million a year, because of onerous and unfair funding arrangements, explains Rick Morton who says pressure is building on the new federal government to renegotiate agreements that will ensure almost 400,000 disabled students currently at a loss in the state system are given the money to which they are entitled.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2022/08/06/exclusive-private-schools-win-millions-disability-funding
Kevin Rudd has launched a scathing rebuke of the emerging conservative campaign against a referendum on an Indigenous Voice to parliament, attacking his longtime rival Tony Abbott for suggesting the body would change Australia’s system of government.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/rudd-rebukes-abbott-for-stoking-anxiety-and-fear-over-voice-to-parliament-20220805-p5b7hs.html
Rudd has written an op-ed in which he says the Voice debate reminds him of the controversy before he delivered the apology.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/voice-debate-reminds-me-of-controversy-before-i-delivered-the-apology-20220805-p5b7jd.html
“Economists and business people talk unceasingly about the crying need to improve the economy’s productivity, but most of what they say is self-serving and much of it’s just silly. Fortunately, this week’s five-yearly report on the subject from the Productivity Commission, The Key to Prosperity, is far from silly, and might just stand a chance of getting us somewhere”, writes Ross Gittins who explodes common misconceptions about what productivity is.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/if-working-smarter-comes-from-new-ideas-it-s-time-we-had-some-20220804-p5b7eh.html
On the state of the Victorian Liberal party, the Saturday Paper’s editorial says, “The kindest thing that could be said about Matthew Guy is that he looks like a cartoon shrimp. It is not just the spinelessness and the bottom feeding: there is also the perpetual sense of him being pulled up in a net.”
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2022/08/06/grifters-all-the-way-down
Chris Barrett writes that the ABF has transported 46 Sri Lankan men home on its largest patrol vessel – the first time people fleeing the bankrupt nation for Australia have been returned by sea and not air.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/sending-a-message-border-force-ship-docks-in-colombo-to-return-sri-lankans-20220805-p5b7px.html
From the day Resilience NSW was established, it was coordinating recovery from bushfires, a pandemic and multiple flooding events. But former emergency services chiefs say it wasn’t given the time to establish itself to deal with the mammoth work ahead.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/they-better-have-a-bloody-good-reason-why-resilience-nsw-was-doomed-from-the-start-20220805-p5b7i0.html
And the SMH editorial says NSW needs solutions, not scapegoats, for flood response mistakes.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-needs-solutions-not-scapegoats-for-flood-response-mistakes-20220805-p5b7og.html
Christopher Knaus points to internal documents from 2016 that reveal the Australian government used private security contractors to collect intelligence on asylum seekers on Nauru, singling out those who were speaking to journalists, lawyers and refugee advocates.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/06/coalition-used-private-contractor-to-collect-intelligence-on-nauru-asylum-seekers
“GPs: underpaid compared with specialist peers. Overloaded with admin. Stressed out by the pressures of COVID-19. No longer aspirational to med-school graduates. Diagnosis: a profession in need of urgent treatment.” A special report from Amanda Hooton on our growing GP crisis.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/i-m-totally-utterly-done-the-insider-take-on-our-growing-gp-crisis-20220628-p5axab.html
Luke Henriques-Gomes writes that the federal government will spend more than $11bn on the two main outsourced employment services programs over four years. The top companies – some of them multinationals – will rake in hundreds of millions of dollars. He says that in Australia’s welfare sector obligations are ‘mutual’, but profits flow only one way.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/06/mutual-obligations-the-money-go-round-of-unemployment-industry
As experts question the diplomatic, strategic and economic rationale behind Australia’s purchase of nuclear-powered submarines, the gaps in the country’s defensive fleet could be filled by conventional subs, argues Brian Toohey.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2022/08/06/does-australia-actually-need-nuclear-submarines
Chip Le Grand reports that a whistleblower from inside the former Kilmore International School wrote to Australia’s corporate regulator two years ago warning the school was at risk of financial collapse and that high fees were being paid to companies controlled by the school’s founder, Ray Wittmer.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/sucked-dry-how-a-private-school-fell-into-financial-ruin-20220804-p5b7bj.html
Dear old Gerard in his weekly whine says that the ABC is a conservative-free zone without one conservative presenter, producer or editor for any of its prominent television, radio or online outlets.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/no-debate-about-it-gabfests-are-conservativefree-zones/news-story/31a559242d819f9e729f31821887a243
Almost a year after the Taliban seized Kabul, Afghans who worked for Australia are being told to cross the border into Pakistan, some without documentation, without their families and at great risk, reports Karen Middleton.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2022/08/06/exclusive-dfat-told-afghans-travel-without-passports
The Tories are swerving wildly to the right as Truss and Sunak promise the impossible, writes Poly Toynbee.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/04/conservative-leadership-liz-truss-rishi-sunak-promise-the-impossible
An editorial in The Guardian says that this week’s vote in Kansas to defend women’s rights mirrors US opinion on the issue more generally and may shape the midterm elections.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/05/the-guardian-view-on-the-kansas-abortion-vote-voice-of-america
Cartoon Corner
Alan Moir
Matt Golding
Jim Pavlidis
John Shakespeare
Jon Kudelka
Matt Davidson
Andrew Dyson
Harry Bruce
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
Best played very loudly
Bill Maher – (new rules 45:45)
Overtime –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
It seems all that booze is affecting Barnabeer’s mind –
The Coalition’s spruiking of nuclear power is pretty much at the level of parody now.
https://www.theshovel.com.au/2022/08/03/dutton-sensible-debate-installing-rooftop-nuclear-reactors/
Beautiful Judith Durham, the voice of a generation.
Thank you for your wonderful songs, and for your insight into troubled peoples’ lives.
It’s lovely that the Biloela family have been granted permanent visas, but what about all the others?
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Jon Faine reckons it really can get worse for the Victorian Liberal party.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/can-it-get-any-worse-for-the-victorian-liberals-yes-it-can-20220805-p5b7jy.html
Victoria’s latest quarterly health performance data released shows hospitals are grappling with COVID, the flu and the impact of delayed care, write Aisha Dow and Rachel Eddy.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victorian-patients-languish-longer-in-emergency-departments-and-ambulance-queues-20220806-p5b7rp.html
Gaping loopholes, earnest advisers and an international reputation for stability have made Australia a place of choice for illicit funds. Despite a crackdown on the foreign ownership of established houses, there are still many ways for crooks to score a piece of the action, no matter which government is in power, writes Nathan Lynch in an extract from his book The Lucky Laundry – how the Aussie economy got hooked on the world’s dirtiest cash.
https://michaelwest.com.au/money-laundering-fuels-house-prices-aml-ctf/
Survivors of sex offences in Victoria will no longer be told ‘if they didn’t scream, they consented’, explains Kathleen Maltzham.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/survivors-of-sex-offences-will-no-longer-be-told-if-they-didn-t-scream-they-consented-20220805-p5b7jx.html
Here’s Amanda Meade’s weekly media roundup.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/aug/05/sydney-morning-herald-slips-up-on-shape-of-water-nonsense
Cartoon Corner
Mark David
Peter Broelman
Matt Davidson
Reg Lynch
Fiona Katauskas
Mark Knight
From the US
Good luck with designing and monitoring KPIs.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/aug/07/john-barilaro-dominic-perrottet-anthony-albanese-penny-wong-china-omicron-taiwan-judith-durham-defence#maincontent
Star ratings are pointless. Just look at the food ratings for proof.
Ingrid’s thread on Insiders
It was sad news re Judith Durham. Until a flick through YouTube I’d forgotten how much of their music was part of my life playing in the background when I was we wee ‘un . Unfortunately so in one case 🙂 At Primary School one teacher I had was very keen on getting the class to perform a fancy rendition of Morningtown Ride. You know the thing where different groups start at slightly different times. By god we were going to win the school comp come hell or high water LOL . It was hell and not a high water mark for me 🙂
So for Fergie fans, that’s the tractor not the bleeping ‘royal’, plus resident Crow Eaters. Not often………….. well ever do Fergies appear in pop music videos LOL. Judith Durham and the Seekers at Yaldara.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
“We changed our government. But do media and voters need to change too?”, wonders Sean Kelly in a worthwhile contribution. He says that expert coverage of issues and detailed investigations have given way, to a worrying extent, to general political commentary.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-changed-our-government-but-do-media-and-voters-need-to-change-too-20220806-p5b7sr.html
David Crowe tells us that Richard Marles has cleared the way for a fundamental shift in the $90 billion plan for a fleet of nuclear-propelled submarines by saying Australia’s strategic need must take priority over calls for local construction even if that means buying vessels made overseas.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/marles-to-prioritise-strategic-need-over-local-construction-in-boat-decisions-20220807-p5b7v7.html
Despite any impression you’ve gained, fixing inflation isn’t the end game. It’s getting the economy back to strong, non-inflationary growth, but Ross Gittins is not sure present policies will get us there.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/fixing-inflation-isn-t-hard-returning-to-healthy-growth-is-20220807-p5b7wn.html
Tony Burke has signalled Labor will legislate to stop employers slashing wages by getting pay deals axed, slamming the tactic as a “rort” that is against the national interest. In a significant speech today, he will declare he is disgusted employers are even attempting the “heavy-handed” approach and that “on face value, I cannot see how this tactic can possibly be justified”.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/labor-to-stop-employers-axing-pay-deals/news-story/b66c89d59545e36493f15a9b9e09f4be
Dominic Perrottet’s icare scandal proves slow to fix, writes Adele Ferguson who says the common thread is lack of transparency, a culture of deny, deny, deny and a breach of trust.
https://www.afr.com/politics/dominic-perrottet-s-icare-scandal-proves-slow-to-fix-20220807-p5b7wq
The Perrottet government is bracing for its most politically challenging week in power, with former deputy premier John Barilaro to appear at a parliamentary inquiry into his trade appointment today and a bitter internal spat erupting within the Liberals over the deputy leadership, says Alexandra Smith.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/parliamentary-probe-to-expand-as-liberals-brace-for-barilaro-s-evidence-20220807-p5b7xi.html
NSW Liberals have signed off on landmark changes to party rules that officials say will make it “bulletproof” against the factional feuds and preselection delays blamed for the party’s federal election wipeout. The changes have neutralised the power of a party role held most recently by Alex Hawke and were described as a “rebuke” of his and Scott Morrison’s centre-right faction for derailing critical preselections.
https://www.afr.com/politics/nsw-liberals-unite-in-rebuke-to-hawke-morrison-over-election-fiasco-20220807-p5b7w0
“I’ve seen what happens when Labor and the Liberals ignore integrity. I want to bring it back as premier”, writes Chris Minns.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/i-ve-seen-what-happens-when-labor-and-the-liberals-ignore-integrity-i-want-to-bring-it-back-as-premier-20220807-p5b7we.html
Today Amanda Rishworth will release the consultation report for the new Disability Employment Services model, which the previous Coalition government received earlier this year. It is one of the first papers to be released ahead of the September jobs summit, where disability employment and reducing barriers to employment will be a key topic.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/disability-employment-paper-to-be-released-ahead-of-jobs-summit-20220807-p5b7ye.html
A new clash over carbon emissions will decide a crucial Senate vote on the federal government’s climate change bill in an attempt by crossbench senators to strike down rules that offer financial rewards to schemes that claim to help the environment by planting trees. David Crowe explains.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/pocock-wants-forestry-carbon-credits-scrapped-in-support-for-climate-bill-20220807-p5b7xn.html
The past two weeks of debate in the federal parliament provided a glimpse of the spirit of co-operation that will be needed to deliver fundamental progress on climate change, says the SMH editorial.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/progressives-and-centrists-can-co-operate-on-climate-20220807-p5b7xo.html
Facts must rise above the gas if Australia is to deal with the climate crisis, urges Adam Morton.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/08/facts-must-rise-above-the-gas-if-australia-is-to-deal-with-the-climate-crisis
Ben Cubby reports that he car industry has launched a wide-ranging secret campaign that would delay Australia’s transition to electric vehicles and hamper a key part of the nation’s climate change plan
https://www.smh.com.au/national/revealed-car-industry-s-secret-emissions-plan-would-slow-electric-vehicle-uptake-20220805-p5b7pe.html
The working holiday maker program is a crucial part of Australia’s tourism industry. They not only spend significantly as tourists, they also provide the labour that enables many tourism operators to remain in business. Many go onto become permanent residents as part of the skill stream of the migration program, writes Abul Rizvi.
https://johnmenadue.com/working-holiday-makers-crucial-to-tourism-industry/
Dana Daniel tells us that former GP and independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps is pushing for the federal government to ban junk food advertising to children to address Australia’s obesity epidemic, warning the impacts were heaping pressure on the nation’s health system.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/gp-turned-mp-to-demand-action-on-junk-food-advertising-20220805-p5b7kh.html
Ivermectin, blood washing, ozone – Deborah Lupton tells us how long COVID survivors are being sold the next round of miracle cures.
https://theconversation.com/ivermectin-blood-washing-ozone-how-long-covid-survivors-are-being-sold-the-next-round-of-miracle-cures-186047
A Sydney high school has seen a dramatic decrease in behavioural issues and a boost in physical activity and students talking to each other just two months after it tightened restrictions on mobile phone usage.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/a-sydney-high-school-banned-mobile-phones-it-had-dramatic-results-20220803-p5b6zf.html
Brexit will make a bad recession even worse. But Sunak and Truss won’t question it, says William Keegan. He says they are ‘frolicking in the margins’ of economic policy when the Brexit they promote will undermine anything they try to do
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/aug/07/brexit-will-make-uk-recession-worse
Britain is entering a profound social emergency and Rob Harris asks why it is that nobody acting like it.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/07/britain-social-emergency-leaders-political-vacuum
While Democrats still face significant headwinds, a confluence of events in recent weeks has given both Joe Biden’s party and the Republicans pause for thought, writes Farrah Tomazin.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/democrats-face-tough-midterm-prospects-despite-kansas-abortion-backlash-20220805-p5b7lm.html
The fate of Alex Jones is a small battle won in the war against alternative facts, writes Tom Chatfield who opine that the Sandy Hook conspiracy peddler’s courtroom rout shows truth can triumph, but there is no guarantee it always will.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/07/fate-alex-jones-small-battle-war-against-alternative-fact-sandy-hook
Trump’s worst toadies hold degrees from Harvard and Yale. Robert Reich wonders is they learned anything at all.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/aug/07/trump-republicans-harvard-yale
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Peter Broelman
Jim Pavlidis
Megan Herbert
Matt Golding
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
Why would you believe him (or any of his coterie)?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/aug/08/australia-news-live-john-barilaro-coalition-labor-albanese-homelessness-housing-economy-politics
He lies as easily as Scovid did, anyone who believes him must be an absolutely rusted on Lib voter or mentally deficient – or both.
A neat trick with the price of energy going bigly up. That component of price is in everything. We could (should ?) be well insulated from that because of our natural advantage in having huge deposits of natural gas and the like. But of course the Lucky Country gave away such an advantage.
Having given that natural advantage away, fmd we even subsidise companies to take it away from us, we are left with the other basic input, ‘time’, aka the price we put on people’s time, aka wages. So tough luck peasants you are ,yet again, the ones picked to take the pain.
Bruz, as expected, is lying his arse off at the current inquiry. He seems determined to bring the
NSW government down with him – which would be a damned good thing.
Watch live here –
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-08/live-updates-john-barilaro-fronts-inquiry/101302280
Commentary here
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/aug/08/australia-news-live-john-barilaro-coalition-labor-albanese-homelessness-housing-economy-politics#top-of-blog
Sweating and talking fast …
With a memory like that he is the ideal trade commissioner.