The final ceasefire of World War One, the war to end all war except it didn’t.
Let these images help us remember the animals who served. Let us also remember the farm animals, pets and wildlife who were the innocent victims of human stupidity, stubbornness and sense of superiority. We had a choice. They did not. Lest We Forget.
Only one horse was taken back to Australia at the end of WWW. Some were transferred to the British Army in India, some went to the abattiors to become meat for the troops. A lot were shot by their own riders to give them a quick and humane end. It is understandable but tragic that these horses were fated not just by the logistics of returning., but our animal diseases quarantine laws.
Of course WW1, in my opinion, was just the royal houses of Europe and Britain, all related, squabbling over territory. A family feud played out with the lives of millions. Then the end of WW1 was the beginning of World War Two, followed by the cold war, and the crazy era of nuclear Mutually Assured Destruction.
(I will load citations later).
THE PUB 
Toni Holt Kramer is on Twitter – one of these loons who fill their posts with photos of themselves.
She is addicted to bad plastic surgery and types all her posts in capital letters, possibly because she too dumb to understand she is yelling at her followers.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Rachel Clun reports that Australia’s unemployment rate has returned to almost 50-year lows, all but guaranteeing a pre-Christmas interest rate rise, as Workplace Minister Tony Burke says the tight labour market has not got wages moving fast enough.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/lower-jobless-rate-rubber-stamps-pre-christmas-rate-rise-20221117-p5bz40.html
David Crowe examines the lies and misconceptions behind the frigid China/Australia relationship.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-s-china-syndrome-one-big-lie-distorts-our-expectations-20221116-p5bypb.html
A lot may be changing in China-Australia relations, but a lot is staying the same, writes Michelle Grattan.
https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-a-lot-may-be-changing-in-china-australia-relations-but-a-lot-is-staying-the-same-194817
After the meeting between Xi and Albanese, we will need patient diplomacy well away from the megaphone and from vested interests in defence industries. China is here to stay and love it or hate it we must learn to live with it. The present government is looking more like it understands this, writes Cavan Hogue.
https://johnmenadue.com/xi-is-no-longer-dr-fu-manchu/
Mile Foley and Tom Rabe tell us that federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt has said that new laws are urgently needed to stop houses being built in high-risk floodplains or bushfire zones as he warned current planning systems are not fit for purpose in the face of escalating natural disasters driven by climate change.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/new-laws-needed-to-stop-building-houses-in-flood-bushfire-zones-federal-minister-20221117-p5bz4y.html
Julia Banks lauds the Albanese government’s Respect at Work which she says law will change our culture.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/opinion/2022/11/18/espect-at-work-roadblocks-removed/
The AFR’s editorial uses the Pfitzer dispute to declare that pay rises without productivity improvements are a taste of things to come under the government’s IR bill.
https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/tug-dispute-a-taste-of-burke-s-workplace-law-20221115-p5byhf
Teal Independents have added amendments to reduce the impact of Labor’s planned industrial relations law, potentially jeopardising its intent to boost wages, writes Lee Duffield.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/fair-work-changes-a-teal-deal-breaker,16972
The ACT government is pushing for urgent reforms to remove a loophole that prevents the use of video recordings of rape complainants’ evidence in retrials if, like Brittany Higgins, they initially gave evidence in the courtroom.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/17/bruce-lehrmann-retrial-act-government-seeking-to-urgently-reform-video-evidence-loophole
Australian companies don’t value keeping our data safe because they have little to lose. Our laws need to change that, says George Newhouse and Duncan Fine.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/17/australian-companies-dont-value-keeping-our-data-safe-because-they-have-little-to-lose-our-laws-need-to-change-that
Political attacks on the energy sector risk killing investment, driving prices higher and undermining national security and the economies of Asian neighbours, a gas and oil industry leader has warned. Simon Benson writes that, with the Albanese government poised to intervene in the gas market over skyrocketing prices, Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association chairman Ian Davies warned that market intervention risked destroying energy security as a foundation of Australia’s national security for the past 50 years.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/gas-attacks-risk-power-price-hikes-australian-petroleum-production-and-exploration-association-chairman-ian-davies/news-story/d6dba26db898ab7c08bb82115883169f
A blow-by-blow account of one of the country’s biggest corporate scandals has been played in court, providing a picture of the inner workings of one of Australia’s largest financial institutions, explains Simone Fox Koob.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/we-need-to-take-this-extremely-seriously-class-action-reopens-ugly-wounds-of-cba-scandal-20221117-p5bz1r.html
The FTX horror show might have a silver lining for the crypto industry, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz who hopes that the collapse means regulation that can bring more sunlight to bear on crypto markets and impose some core investor protections will be brought forward.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/the-ftx-horror-show-might-have-a-silver-lining-for-the-crypto-industry-20221117-p5bz05.html
In place of sound policies and leadership, Matthew Guy’s Liberals, their cooker friends and accompanying media protection racket have run a cheap anti-Dan Andrews election campaign in Victoria, but will it make a difference, asks Michelle Pini.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/matthew-guy-the-cookers-and-the-bloody-uproar-against-dan-andrews,16980
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy will go to next week’s state election with the prospect of an anti-corruption investigation into alleged illegality hanging over his head after a Liberal donor scandal was referred to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, write Rachel Eddie and Paul Sakkal.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/vec-refers-guy-catlin-investigation-to-ibac-20221117-p5bz1p.html
Annika Smethurst writes about the way things might roll for teal and independent candidates in the NSW and Victorian elections.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/teals-temper-their-city-seat-hopes-but-independents-on-rural-rise-20221116-p5bype.html
When consumers make significant purchases, they’re often protected by a cooling-off period. A cashless gaming card could limit a gambler’s losses on any given day, argues Mark Dickerson.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/cashless-card-makes-my-old-solution-for-problem-gamblers-possible-20221116-p5bywo.html
A trial of a four-day working week at Melbourne software company Our Community led to a 36.5 per cent reduction in sick days. It’s now been made permanent.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/workplace/less-is-more-staff-all-for-making-four-day-working-week-permanent-at-melbourne-firm-20221116-p5byol.html
Human rights and anti-racism activist, former Socceroo Craig Foster AM, has been elected to lead the Australian Republic Movement after Peter FitzSimons resigned, writes Glenn Davies.
https://independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/craig-foster-succeeds-peter-fitzsimons-as-republic-movement-head,16977
Jeremy Hunt has sought to portray the government as a victim of global events as he unveiled a series of tax rises and spending curbs, amid new official forecasts showing that a steep recession will effectively wipe out eight years of growth for Britons.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/nov/17/autumn-statement-jeremy-hunt-confirms-uk-already-in-recession-as-he-unveils-tax-rises-and-spending-curbs
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – the first female speaker in Congress and one of the country’s most powerful politicians – has stood down from her position amid a new era of divided government in America.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/pelosi-wont-seek-leadership-role-plans-to-stay-in-congress-20221118-p5bzb5.html
Waleed Aly writes on why even a Trump win might signal the end of Trumpism.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/why-even-a-trump-win-might-signal-the-end-of-trumpism-20221116-p5bypa.html
Farrah Tomazin reports that Donald Trump has been dealt a blow after announcing his candidacy for the 2024 election, with key donors abandoning the twice-impeached president and leading Republicans distancing themselves from his launch.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/mega-donors-daughter-ivanka-abandon-trump-at-the-starting-blocks-20221117-p5bz15.html
Only once has a defeated President gone on to win re-election four years after his first term. Grover Cleveland, who won in 1884 and again in 1892 is generally ranked by historians in the middle rung of American Presidents. Beside Donald Trump he is a paragon of Presidential dignity, writes Dennis Altman who concludes his contribution with, “Most Australians watch him with a mixture of disbelief and horror, although I’m sure there are some would-be Trumpettes out there in One Nation land. It would be folly to assume he cannot return as President in 2024, and one hopes that DFAT are preparing contingency plans if this were to happen.”
https://johnmenadue.com/donald-trump-is-running-again-in-2024-heres-what-his-second-term-in-the-white-house-could-look-like-abc-news/
https://johnmenadue.com/donald-trump-is-running-again-in-2024-heres-what-his-second-term-in-the-white-house-could-look-like-abc-news/
Georgina Mitchell gives us today’s nomination for “Arsehole of the Week”. It goes to the man accused of attacking two women in Sydney’s inner west, hitting one with a samurai sword, had been awake for seven days straight and had a “binge” of alcohol and cocaine, consuming up to five grams of the drug per day.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/man-accused-of-samurai-sword-attack-had-week-long-alcohol-and-cocaine-binge-court-told-20221117-p5bz8m.html
Cartoon Corner
Alan Moir
David Rowe
Peter Broelman
Matt Golding
Andrew Dyson
Jim Pavlidis
John Shakespeare
Simon Letch
Fiona Katauskas
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
You need to read this – special mention to ON and the ACL.
Far-Right Hate and Extremist Groups
Australia
https://globalextremism.org/australia/
A long and detailed thread by Ronni Salt.
The GG should resign – immediately. Why Albo hasn’t demanded his resignation is one of those unanswered questions.
TGA didn’t like me posting that link.
It’s good stuff.
Classic case of “boys will be boys” – male lyrebirds are famous for being excellent mimics.
A lyrebird at Taronga Park has been amusing itself by doing a very good alarm sound ever since those lions escaped. Or maybe not – some zoo staff say this bird has been doing the “get the hell out of here NOW” signal for years.
A lyrebird at Taronga Zoo has been mimicking the “evacuate now” alarm since the lions escaped their enclosure
Just really rub the salt in, mate
https://www.timeout.com/sydney/news/a-lyrebird-at-taronga-zoo-has-been-mimicking-the-evacuate-now-alarm-since-the-lions-escaped-their-enclosure-111522
Here’s a video –
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Chris Hayes –
Lawrence O’Donnell –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Also see the way this government treats the unemployed, those on DSP, and those trying to live in poverty. This government is as punitive as the last government. Why? Labor went to an election promising “No one held back, no one left behind” then they broke that promise immediately and reinforced the breaking of an election promise in their first budget..
My message to people on twitter (my links here may soon be just direct links, no tweets).
John Crace on the Brits latest budget
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/nov/17/no-jokes-jeremy-hunt-cant-bridge-gap-between-tory-fantasy-and-reality#comments
Labor have been on the ‘bash the dole bludger’ band wagon for years. It plays well out in the ‘burbs.They just put some sugar and lipgloss on the pig’s lips. It was quite jarring hearing some ‘2GB’ views expressed by Labor people during the Rudd-Gillard years.
Not that I was surprised , just surprised they were so open. Not surprised as I’d spent a number of years in the construction industry and have largely liked in working class areas. When it came to immigrants, single mothers, dole bludgers I heard very very little ‘PC’ opinions on those issues. It was one of the reasons I felt pretty sure Howard would win in 1996. The buttons he was pushing reflected exactly what I heard on building site after building site. All of which always, always had shoutback radio blaring.
Apologies to any people of the English persuasion but one thing that struck me in the building game was that pommy tradies were by far the worst , or at least most willing to speak it out loud, when it came to bashing immigrants (brown ones) and those on welfare. There were shitloads of those ‘Maggie’s refugees’ around town back in the late 80s early 90s. Maggie exported boatloads of Alf Garnett’s here 🙂
Ever wondered what Rob Oakeshott is doing now?
I knew about his medical plans – he is following family tradition.
Take a bow Rob Oakeshott
My haven’t things changed since ………….1807. Nod along with agreement as you read the full quote….
So back then newspapers were infamous for telling lies. Nothing has changed in over 200 years. Make that millennia – newspapers in ancient Babylon probably lied to the few who could read clay tablets.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
The ingredients for a once-in-a-generation upset are seemingly in place. Daniel Andrews is asking for a third term as premier at the same point in the cycle, and with the same combination of electoral buffer and personal baggage, as Jeff Kennett took to the Victorian people in 1999, writes George Megalogenis who says, “There will be lessons in this state election. They may well be about the city seats left wanting.”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/why-the-nation-s-politicians-will-be-watching-the-vote-in-victoria-20221117-p5bz4a.html
Nick McKenzie and Charlotte Grieve tell us that Victorian Liberal candidate Renee Heath is a lifelong senior member of an ultra-conservative church that has been secretly directed by its global leader to infiltrate Coalition politics, is opposed to gay, trans and reproductive rights and has left some former members traumatised. They explain how an investigation by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes has unearthed fresh evidence of disturbing conduct within City Builders and closely affiliated churches in Victoria that are part of a global network of Pentecostal churches. Enough is enough!!!
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/liberal-candidate-agent-for-ultra-conservative-church-family-says-20221118-p5bzca.html
Karen Middleton reveals that Scott Morrison never told his deputy prime minister Michael McCormack that to overrule a NSW gas project, he had himself appointed to the Resources portfolio.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2022/11/19/exclusive-mccormack-reveals-what-he-knew-morrison-ministries
Victoria’s state election campaign has become hideously ugly. What happened to the battle of ideas, asks an exasperated Benita Kolovos.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/18/victorias-state-election-campaign-has-become-hideously-ugly-what-happened-to-the-battle-of-ideas
The Coalition’s biggest challenge in Victoria is to appear to be a credible party of government. Some of its latest claims undermine that effort, writes Paul Sakkal.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/coalition-needs-to-watch-its-language-as-integrity-campaign-comes-to-a-head-20221118-p5bzi9.html
And Sumeyya Ilanbey reports that the Victorian Liberal Party has accused the Victorian Electoral Commission of compromising its independence in an unprecedented attack on the commission.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/liberals-accuse-electoral-commission-of-interfering-in-victorian-election-20221118-p5bzgp.html
Peter Hartcher writes that a senior US diplomat has praised Australia for refusing to buckle to China, whose deep freeze on Canberra has “by any measure” failed.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-reaps-reward-for-standing-ground-on-china-20221118-p5bzhg.html
Hartcher, in a long dissertation, looks at the Jinping/Albanese meeting and what it might mean . . . or not.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/jinping-and-albanese-shared-a-joke-beware-the-punchline-20221117-p5bz48.html
“Anthony Albanese’s handshake with Xi Jinping was more than a reset in relations between Australia and China; it was confirmation that the dynamics of domestic politics here have changed. The spectre of the “yellow peril”, particularly dog-whistled over the past three years, has lost its potency. The crude wielding of racist stereotypes by a desperate Morrison Coalition and its rejection at the election had no keener observer than the Chinese president himself”, writes Paul Bongiorno.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2022/11/19/the-xi-jinping-handshake
It’s a new dawn, but the Chinese dragon remains the same, declares Greg Sheridan.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/its-a-new-dawn-but-the-chinese-dragon-remains-the-same/news-story/7e0bb712c3b166cd6862c7510eda351a
John Lord writes about China-Australia relations and a leader for the times.
https://theaimn.com/china-australia-relations-and-a-leader-for-the-times/
With dialogue re-established, the Albanese government has a chance to reset the China relationship, writes Laura Tingle in a detailed review of foreign affairs policy and delivery.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-19/albanese-xi-g20-china-australia-relationship-sean-turnell/101672642
Australia’s China threat industry led by Sydney Morning Herald has taken a hit, says Geoff Raby.
https://johnmenadue.com/albanese-sees-of-australias-china-threat-industry-pic-see-stand-lead-saturday/
Anthony Albanese’s first summit season as Australian prime minister took place in dangerous times, but it began and ended with hopeful signs. Katharine Murphy was with him for crucial meetings at ASEAN and the G20
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/19/anthony-albanese-diplomacy-asean-g20-xi-jinping-joe-biden-asia-ukraine-war-hope
Prime seating arrangements at summits and significant guest speaker spots are all signals that Australia is back punching above its weight on the diplomatic stage, writes Phil Coorey.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/we-re-back-around-the-table-albanese-s-successful-week-abroad-20221115-p5byes
The Liberal leader’s biggest challenge is positioning his party as a viable alternative government to the largest swathe of voters: those in metropolitan areas. That means taking on the teals, says Peter van Onselen. He says, “We know from history that the Coalition relationship in opposition gets tested. The only reason history might not repeat itself on that front is because the metropolitan Liberals have lost authority, leaving the Nationals more satisfied with policy outcomes they collude on with regional and rural Liberals.”
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/hex-and-the-city-urban-curse-preys-on-peter-dutton/news-story/ac8074b402f4769b14a55eba91bade29
Poor old Gerard Henderson is beside himself over the state of the Liberal Party and its prospects around the nation.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/energy-conflict-is-indicative-of-dark-times-for-liberals/news-story/b182a8a65fb707e7d3ac6d65eb68ce2e
The federal government will have to deliver an extra $60 billion in tax relief, focused on low and middle-income earners, if it is to fully offset the impact of bracket creep over the next decade, explain Shane Wright and Rachel Clun. The PBO analysis confirmed that without further tax cuts or broad tax reform, ordinary workers will have to do all the heavy lifting to repair the budget.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/an-extra-60b-in-tax-cuts-needed-for-low-and-middle-income-earners-20221118-p5bzee.html
Michael Pascoe says, “Once more for the dummies – we need higher wages”.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/11/18/michael-pascoe-higher-wages/
Low wage growth has held the Australian economy back. Contrary to the employer’s scare campaign, the Government’s proposal to facilitate multi-employer bargaining offers the prospect of some improvement, especially for those employees whose bargaining position is weakest, writes Michael Keating.
https://johnmenadue.com/employers-cry-wolf-once-again/
Superannuation tax concessions are back in the firing line. Speaking at The Australian Financial Review Super & Wealth Summit last week, Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones revealed Labor was gearing up for a debate on concessions once it had defined the purpose of super in legislation.
https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/the-super-tax-breaks-in-the-firing-line-20221114-p5bxyo
Reflecting on a recent study showing that more than one in eight people live below the poverty line in Australia, John Hewson says that we can afford to fight poverty.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/opinion/topic/2022/11/19/we-can-afford-fight-poverty
Clancy Yeates writes about the suspicion that the high level of market concentration in Australia could be making our inflation problem worse. He tells us that Andrew Leigh is making the case for giving competition a shot in the arm in a country where oligopolies have long been the norm.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/why-a-dose-of-competition-could-be-just-what-the-doctor-ordered-for-australia-s-economy-20221117-p5bz4h.html
A clash in the Senate is threatening to halt a federal Labor plan to pass new workplace laws by Christmas after the Greens aired their concerns about changes that are meant to lift wages when inflation is eroding household incomes, writes David Crowe.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-wants-ir-laws-for-christmas-but-it-s-running-out-of-time-to-sway-the-crossbench-20221118-p5bzh9.html
Nick Toscano tells us how the winds of change are gathering pace for the biggest carbon-emitters.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/winds-of-change-gather-pace-for-biggest-carbon-emitters-20221116-p5bywy.html
Li Yuan explains how the tacit agreement that Chinese entrepreneurs had come to count on is dissolving in front of their eyes. China’s leader, Xi Jinping, used an important Communist Party congress last month to establish near-absolute power and make it clear that security would trump the economy as the nation’s priority.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/terrifying-china-s-business-elite-are-losing-hope-as-xi-tightens-grip-20221108-p5bwbz.html
As the French president redoubled his criticism of the AUKUS deal, Anthony Albanese dismissed the idea of buying French submarines while waiting for nuclear-powered vessels, says Matthew Knott.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/nuclear-confrontation-macron-hits-out-at-morrison-over-submarines-20221118-p5bzb1.html
Paul Kelly writes that John Howard has said it would be “unwise” and a political mistake for the Liberal and National parties to offer their MPs a free vote or conscience stance on the Albanese government’s proposed constitutional referendum on the voice to parliament.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/john-howards-sway-the-former-pm-speaks-out-on-the-voice/news-story/158cfa50dc66392b61c73d0e4225e122
When Mike Cannon-Brookes’s takeover of AGL failed, he opted for a mutiny, and it’s dragging one of Australia’s oldest companies – and our largest polluter – into a renewable energy future, explains Mike Seccombe who tells us AGL has lost about 75 per cent of its value over the past five years, simply because the company failed to foresee the impact the shift to renewable energy would have on companies that generate electricity through the burning of fossil fuels.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/economy/2022/11/19/inside-mike-cannon-brookess-agl-coup
The NSW government will stop future development in high-risk flood zones, but Dominic Perrottet says planning “sins of the past” cannot be changed and promised to rebuild devastated towns in the state’s Central West.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/perrottet-reveals-state-s-flood-rebuilding-strategy-20221118-p5bzhz.html
The latest resurgence in Covid-19 is being met with a notable lack of urgency by state officials, who are trying out more ‘hopeful’ messaging, despite signs that the population isn’t keeping up to date with vaccinations, says Royce Kurmelovs.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/health/2022/11/19/whats-new-the-latest-covid-wave
“Definitive” warnings over years that a major government policy was illegal were ignored, not passed on, or were caught up by lack of communication and silos between federal government departments, according to extraordinary evidence laid bare in a royal commission in recent weeks into the failed robodebt scheme. Angus Thompson provides his view of the two weeks of public hearings of the royal commission.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/robo-debt-legal-problems-were-black-and-white-in-2014-20221115-p5bylz.html
Insiders say hackers exploited a basic flaw in Medibank’s security. It’s part of a dramatic surge in attacks that’s forcing authorities to step up the hunt for cybercriminals offshore, writes Rick Morton who explains how the Medibank hack came via a single login.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2022/11/19/how-it-happened-medibank-hack-came-via-single-login
Nick Mc Kenzie reports that the federal government has established a new multi-agency taskforce to target criminals exploiting Australia’s migration system after revelations of widespread visa rorting linked to sex trafficking, foreign worker exploitation and drug crime.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/immigration-taskforce-to-hit-visa-criminals-after-trafficking-investigation-20221118-p5bzgr.html
All hail the demise of Deliveroo – now bring on the end of delivery culture, urges Michael Koziol.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/all-hail-the-demise-of-deliveroo-now-bring-on-the-end-of-delivery-culture-20221118-p5bzfp.html
Construction workers at Sydney landmark, the AMP building have been exposed to asbestos. But those responsible aren’t talking, this Michael West Media report by Callum Foote tells us.
https://michaelwest.com.au/dust-cloud-over-worker-safety-asbestos-alarm-at-sydneys-first-skyscraper-the-amp-rebuild/
Kate McClymont tells us that a whistleblower from Christian Dior has alerted authorities to hundreds of thousands of dollars stolen by missing fraudster Melissa Caddick that have been held for the past two years at the fashion house’s Sydney office.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/christian-dior-has-held-caddick-funds-for-years-whistleblower-tells-authorities-20221118-p5bzj5.html
Courtney Act uses this op-ed to vigorously respond to Alex Antic’s performance in Senate Estimates.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/grow-up-senator-kids-reading-about-a-girl-in-pants-is-not-grooming-20221117-p5bz4g.html
Here’s Amanda Meade’s weekly media round-up.
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/nov/18/walkley-awards-crikey-moment-as-speculation-surrounds-chris-dores-news-corp-exit
The crypto crash has been fascinating to watch and bears the hallmarks of a standard non-bank financial crisis that inevitably arises every time there is a liquidity shock. Unfortunately, it is likely to get worse, warns Christopher Joye.
https://www.afr.com/wealth/personal-finance/crypto-crash-has-further-to-go-20221115-p5bykr
Twitter’s future may hinge on whether Musk can get out of the way, opines Tim Biggs.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/twitter-s-future-may-hinge-on-whether-musk-can-get-out-of-the-way-20221114-p5by1i.html
Behind the recent string of climate protests in art galleries and museums – here and overseas – is a network of organisations with backing from oil heiress Aileen Getty.
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/environment/2022/11/19/the-money-behind-direct-action-climate-protests
The British people “just got a lot poorer” after a series of “economic own goals” that have made a recovery much harder than it might have been, a leading thinktank has said. In his verdict on the chancellor’s autumn statement, Paul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies said the government was “reaping the costs of a long-term failure to grow the economy”, along with an ageing population and high levels of historic borrowing.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/nov/18/british-people-poorer-ifs-uk-autumn-statement
Donald Trump is now the biggest elephant in the Republican room. Only a coherent policy alternative can make him go away, declares the AFR’s editorial that says US Republicans need an antidote to all populists.
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/us-republicans-need-an-antidote-to-all-populists-20221117-p5bz2u
The editorial in The Saturday Paper begins with, “Donald Trump is running again. He made the announcement in the ballroom of Mar-a-Lago, in a building raided by federal authorities only three months ago, in a lurching speech that dragged on for more than an hour, full of vainglory and rictus self-delusion. Gina Rinehart was in the room, seated behind the former president’s son.” It’s a cracker!
https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2022/11/19/trump-card
The US president turns 80 this weekend. He’s had an early present with control of the US Senate, but chaos awaits him, says Farrah Tomazin.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/newly-divided-congress-presents-fresh-battles-for-birthday-biden-20221118-p5bzbu.html
A couple of hours ago, US attorney general Merrick Garland has announced the appointment of a special counsel tasked with the job of determining whether Donald Trump will face charges as part of any Department of Justice investigations. The politically explosive move just comes just days after the former US president announced he was running for the White House yet again, despite a disappointing Republican performance in the midterm elections, especially among candidates backed by Trump.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/18/trump-special-counsel-justice-department-merrick-garland
Republicans are about to take their revenge on Joe Biden, writes Moira Donegan who predicts a slew of investigations into everything from the Afghanistan withdrawal to immigration at the southern border.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/17/republicans-unleash-revenge-joe-biden-democrats
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Alan Moir
David Pope
Jim Pavlidis
Peter Broelman
Michael Leunig
Matt Golding
Simon Letch
Jon Kudelka
Joe Benke
Dionne Gain
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
Bill Maher – (new rules 45:40)
Overtime –
Chris Hayes –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Lawrence O’Donnell –
This makes me so cranky. I always had my doubts about Marles, I thought him incredibly stupid. Now my worst fears have been realised.
From Brian Toohey, writing for Pearls and Irritations.
Marles pushes ‘China threat’, advocates ability to attack Chinese territory
https://johnmenadue.com/marles-pushes-china-threat-advocates-ability-to-attack-chinese-territory/
Marles is on my shit list. Earned a permanent spot on it for what the arsehole got up to during the Rudd-Gillard years. Learning of his background , father headmaster Trinity Grammar and his going to Geelong Grammar explained a lot. A life growing up with andamong the privileged. Just the sort of enculturation an aspiring Labor pollie needs eh.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Matt Wade looks at Australia’s increasing relations with India, the world’s fifth largest economy.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/as-china-tensions-linger-australia-s-ties-with-world-s-fifth-largest-economy-are-flying-high-20221116-p5bypz.html
Kevin Rudd lays out the five core principles for dealing with China under Xi after first telling us about what led to the situation the Labor government inherited.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/the-five-core-principles-for-dealing-with-china-under-xi-20221117-p5bz4x.html
Charlotte Grieve reveals that at least nine senior Liberal Party members wrote to Opposition Leader Matthew Guy and other party leaders weeks ago to sound the alarm about the political risks of candidate Renee Heath’s controversial religious views but were dismissed or received no response.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/liberal-leader-matthew-guy-ignored-warnings-about-renee-heath-s-religious-views-20221119-p5bzme.html
Police are investigating Victorian upper house MP Catherine Cumming for inciteful behaviour after she told a crowd of protesters that Premier Daniel Andrews should be turned into “red mist”.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/police-investigate-victorian-mp-over-daniel-andrews-red-mist-comments-at-freedom-rally-20221119-p5bzmx.html
And the Liberal Party’s candidate for Narre Warren North says Australia should not recognise First Nations people because “we won this land fair and square”, that waste from nuclear energy should be dumped in Alice Springs, and that he would vote to ban abortion. Where do the Liberals get these types from? More to the point, why?
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/bloody-aboriginal-liberal-candidate-rails-against-indigenous-people-abortion-and-climate-change-20221119-p5bzm6.html
Here are the head-to-head contributions on the Victorian election from Neil Mitchell and Jon Faine. Mitchell essentially puts a pox on both parties while Faine says voters don’t trust Victoria’s alternative government enough to change tack
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/whoever-wins-on-saturday-will-need-to-fix-this-state-of-despair-20221118-p5bzgb.html
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/voters-don-t-trust-victoria-s-alternative-government-enough-to-change-tack-20221118-p5bzgs.html
Jacqui Maley writes about Dan Andrews’ announcement to provide free women’s sanitary items as a clever political play – it stole headlines, created a useful backlash which reinforced the government’s progressivism, and was impossible for the Liberal Opposition to criticise without looking elitist.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dan-andrews-is-worried-about-the-female-vote-period-20221118-p5bzfn.html
Mary Ward writes that NSW environment minister James Griffin is the first target of the Climate 200 group for the March state election, after teal candidates swept to victory throughout the country in this year’s federal poll.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/teals-set-sights-on-nsw-cabinet-minister-20221117-p5bz2v.html
While Charles has been cleaning up after his relatives, his own scandalous past has been laid bare to a new generation thanks to The Crown, explains Rob Harris.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/the-king-has-enough-challenges-without-having-to-wrestle-with-his-past-20221116-p5byqi.html
Noel Towell has written a piece on how the Grattan Institute’s chief economist Danielle Wood has risen to prominence.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/different-class-how-this-economist-s-starring-role-began-at-16-20221101-p5bult.html
Nick Bryant tells us how Australia’s cultural clout has replaced its cultural cringe.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/australia-s-cultural-clout-has-replaced-its-cultural-cringe-20221117-p5bz4q.html
With the collapse of REDcycle, Australia’s largest plastic bag recycling program, concerns have emerged on how to prevent plastics ending up in landfill, writes Aatif Syed who reckons plastics in landfill may be worth millions — if we switch to a circular economy.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/plastics-in-landfill-may-be-worth-millions–if-we-switch-to-a-circular-economy-,16988
Greg Baum writes that the difference between Qatar as host of the 2022 World Cup and Australia as a participant is that Australia submitted to, and narrowly survived, a rigorous and transparent process to qualify.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/the-best-world-cup-that-money-can-buy-but-at-what-cost-20221119-p5bzks.html
Cartoon Corner
Matt Golding
Peter Broelman
Simon Letch
Reg Lynch
Mark Knight
From the US
Timothy Dragan, Liberal candidate for Narre Warren North, claims to be “indigenous” because he was born here. Yeah, sure, but to parents who had migrated from Romania, bringing their nasty right-wing views, racism and even nastier views on women with them. He makes a big deal of his Romanian heritage.
https://vic.liberal.org.au/team/timothy-dragan
His parents must be very proud of their son because they have raised a real RWNJ of the worst kind. Heaven knows what his four siblings are like! Australia can do without. immigrants like this.
Where do the Liberals find these nutters? Dragan would be more suited to ON. After all Hanson also claims to be “indigenous” because she was born here.
Fat lot of good this will do –
This woman is a sitting member of the Victorian parliament, she has close contact with Dan Andrews and has made a credible threat of violence. She should be removed from office immediately. Australia does not need nutters copying the Trump-inspired violence in the US.
Does anyone else around here feel like we have reached the end times?
With this type of violent rhetoric and actual violence increasing around the world and devastating weather events causing death and destruction the world over.
I don’t know wether to feel angry or sad and depressed at the direction the world is taking. Like a lot of people on this site I grew up in a time when inclusion was becoming more acceptable no matter who or what you were and free love abounded.
Now it seems the world is in a death spiral and it won’t be long before we reach the point of no return.
Some may conclude that it is a good thing and time to reboot the planet, download some new apps and start again.
I believe that we will live out our normal life span but following gernerations, I’m not so sure.
End of mild rant.
I do agree ckwatt, it’s not too difficult to imagine that things, in general, could turn to custard for future generations – I think it’s already at that point for various places on the planet eg where people are suffering because of rising sea levels.
Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring, the terrible vulnerability of pollinator insects, degradation and over-use of irrigation water, massive contamination of oceans and fresh water by plastics and chemicals that are now part of the food chain, increasing weather extremes – all known about for a very long time but ignored by “leaders” around the world and, apparently, to hell with anyone who isn’t a shareholder or a mate.
“It can’t happen to (them)”, except that it is. It’s happening to all of us.
End of my Sunday rant.
For many years I have thought we were heading back to a new Barbarian Age, so stupid have the masses become. As an example look at the number of “cookers” who believe everything they are told except the truth.
Now it has become violent as well and I’m more than a bit worried.
I blame the MSM, especially Murdoch – they have done their best to promote these loons and have gleefully portrayed them as some sort of heroes.
ckwatt, have you got a link to the after life and been talking to Razz? That is the sort of thing we talk about often, especially when a new great grandchild has entered our world. We often talked about what sort of world they would be living their lives in.
Good idea
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/nov/19/keir-starmer-i-will-abolish-house-of-lords-to-restore-trust-in-politics
That is a brilliant move. Having lived under the British system I can say from experience that it is the most useless unrepresentative house of any parliament in any democracy anywhere period (as our mercan friends like to say).
LOL, restore trust in politics. The HoL maybe a useless anachronism but such uselessness is a saving grace. The real ‘trust busters’ live in t’other house, all the BoJos,Daves,Truss’,Blairs etc etc. Those people really can and do bust trust in politics.
It’s the Greg Sheridan ‘look’
It certainly is!
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
David Crowe says that Labor is staring down an industry revolt over its workplace changes in a bid to gain victory for its agenda within two weeks, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese flatly declaring his critics are “wrong every time” in their complaints about the reform.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-stares-down-industry-revolt-as-it-races-the-clock-to-pass-swathe-of-laws-20221120-p5bzr2.html
Anthony Albanese has accused opponents of the government’s controversial industrial relations changes of harbouring “an ingrained ideological objection to workers being paid fairly” as he looks to bring renewed energy to attempts to pass the bill before the year ends, reports Tom McIlroy.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/battle-looms-over-rushed-labor-ir-bill-20221120-p5bzrs
The right to strike is enshrined in international law and moral theory and practice, but Australia has consistently ignored that and effectively outlawed them. Sally McManus is right that unless they can go on strike, workers effectively have no bargaining power, writes Alan Kohler.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/11/21/workplace-laws-strike-kohler/
Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen return to Australia confident of the government’s momentum. Now for the harder part: dealing with domestic energy prices, says Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/labor-leverages-international-momentum-to-domestic-effect-20221120-p5bzof
Adele Ferguson reports that NSW Treasury has raised serious concerns about the financial sustainability of scandal-ridden workers compensation scheme icare, warning premiums paid by 333,000 businesses would need to be 33 per cent higher in 2025 than they were in 2021 to cover the shortfall. Looks like it has been a pinnacle of mismanagement.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-businesses-face-1-billion-hike-in-workers-comp-fees-20221119-p5bzmz.html
Mike Foley writes that Australian coal exporters have been falsifying data to suggest their coal is cleaner than it is in order to increase its export price in a scam involving two testing laboratories, major accountancy firms and an investment bank, federal MP Andrew Wilkie is expected to tell parliament on Monday.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-s-cleaner-coal-is-a-systematic-export-scam-wilkie-to-tell-parliament-20221120-p5bzog.html
Something of epochal importance happened in Egypt last week – the most significant event since Cheops shoved up his triangular monument, four thousand odd-years ago at the dawn of ‘civilisation’. But the world media, true to form, missed it almost completely, writes Julian Cribb.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-world-votes-for-climate-hell/
Annika Smethurst writes about the legacy of Dan Andrews and what is driving him as he seeks another term as premier.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/i-don-t-just-want-this-for-the-win-what-s-really-motivating-daniel-andrews-20221116-p5byvk.html
The Age’s editorial says that the Victorian government needs to urgently enact policies that make deep cuts to greenhouse pollution, reduce emissions and restore the natural world. It declares that of the major parties, Labor provides most realistic path to clean energy
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/of-the-major-parties-labor-provides-most-realistic-path-to-clean-energy-20221120-p5bzs0.html
Daniel Andrews says Victorians deserve “better than violent extremism” and US-style politics after upper house MP, Catherine Cumming, told a crowd of protesters yesterday that he should be turned into “red mist”.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/20/daniel-andrews-rejects-americanisation-of-politics-after-mps-controversial-speech
Retiring NSW government minister Brad Hazzard has described the independents vying to win seats from Liberals in northern Sydney electorates as “a front for the Labor Party”, as he downplayed the threat of a teal wave at next year’s state poll. Bye bye Brad!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/front-for-the-labor-party-hazzard-gets-fired-up-over-teal-threat-20221120-p5bzr7.html
The SMH editorial declares that in a little over four months, NSW will make a choice at the most consequential state election since the 2011 wipe out of Labor. It says the state deserves an election campaign of substance, plus a guarantee of stability.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-deserves-an-election-campaign-of-substance-plus-a-guarantee-of-stability-20221120-p5bzq4.html
Yet again opinion polls show that health is shaping up as a critical issue in the Victorian election and ranks second behind cost of living in a poll conducted earlier this month. Stephen Duckett tells us about the empty promises of more hospital beds from both major parties.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/victoria/more-and-more-hospital-beds-health-promises-lack-vision-20221120-p5bzoz.html
Buy now pay later services could face the same oversight as credit cards or loan products in a recommendation being considered by the federal government as it looks to toughen regulation in the burgeoning industry, explains Rachel Clun.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/oversight-coming-for-booming-buy-now-pay-later-industry-20221120-p5bzqa.html
Our media is failing us. At a moment when one side of politics has abandoned the bases of democracy as an impediment to their grasp on power, we need journalists holding them to account rather than gaslighting the public, normalising the rot, writes an exasperated Lucy Hamilton.
https://theaimn.com/our-media-is-failing-us/
Lisa Visentin tells us that the Greens have sought the buy-in of state premiers to back their push for a windfall tax on coal and gas giants to lower power bills, as the federal government eyes regulatory intervention.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/greens-appeal-to-states-to-back-a-windfall-tax-to-freeze-power-bills-20221119-p5bzlf.html
This so-called ‘implementation’ climate conference felt like anything but, complains Nicki Hutley.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/this-so-called-implementation-climate-conference-felt-like-anything-but-20221117-p5bz9i.html
Russian cybercriminals have released a fifth tranche of stolen data from the private health insurer Medibank, including the details of treatment for mental health. The company’s chief executive, David Koczkar, on Sunday confirmed the hackers, who obtained the records of millions of current and former customers in a ransomware attack last month, had released the details on the dark web.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/20/medibank-hackers-release-1500-more-patient-records-on-dark-web-including-mental-health-data
This is interesting. Some wireless headphones work as well as hearing aids.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/life/tech/2022/11/19/earbuds-as-hearing-aids-verdict-study/
TV presenter Lisa Wilkinson will leave Network 10’s current affairs program The Project effective immediately, telling viewers the targeted “toxicity” by parts of the media had taken its toll on her and her family, writes Zoe Samios.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/lisa-wilkinson-leaves-the-project-blames-media-for-targeted-toxicity-20221120-p5bzsd.html
And Samios reports that the editor-in-chief of News Corp’s national masthead The Australian left his position at the company after making lewd comments towards a woman at an event in California last month. So, he’ll be spending more time hiding from his family?
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/top-news-corp-editor-departed-after-lewd-comments-towards-woman-20221117-p5bz7a.html
As the Indonesian Government welcomed world leaders to the G20 in Bali last week, thousands of retirees who have made Indonesia – and in particular Bali – their home, are getting their welcome mats withdrawn. Indonesian-based journalist Duncan Graham reports.
https://michaelwest.com.au/digital-nomads-preferred-australian-retirees-in-bali-being-told-to-pay-up-or-move-out/
Elon Musk’s reinstating Donald Trump will not save Twitter, argues Parmy Olson.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/elon-musk-s-reinstating-donald-trump-will-not-save-twitter-20221121-p5bztl.html
Donald Trump’s last term saw public institutions struggle to maintain their integrity and independence. It is not clear they can succeed again, writes George Williams.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/trump-white-house-run-highlights-danger-of-democratic-recession/news-story/69edacf96a91decef8be9aa71546c64e
Troublemaker Trump doesn’t care about a second term – or America. What he craves is attention, opines Simon Tisdall.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/20/trump-second-term-america-2024-ego-country
Ukraine’s hospitals are filling with civilians as Russia attempts to take control of the town that is now the focal point of the war. Anthony Galloway and Kate Geraghty are on the ground in the bloody battle for Bakhmut.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/this-is-hell-they-torture-us-the-town-vladimir-putin-desperately-wants-20221117-p5bz7f.html
Predictions of Ukraine’s victory over Russia are premature as winter descends upon the region, says George Brandis.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/war-fatigue-arrives-with-winter-20221118-p5bzcd.html
Police have achieved an astonishing breakthrough in the hunt for one of Sydney’s most prolific sex offenders, known for years as “The Bondi Beast”, bringing a decades-long cold case to a close. Sylvia Jefferey writes that that by using advanced technology investigators had closed in on one man whose DNA is a perfect match to 12 semen samples provided by victims. He’s obviously a candidate for “Arsehole of the Week”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/bondi-beast-breakthrough-dna-links-eastern-suburbs-rape-terror-to-sydney-grandfather-20221120-p5bzrt.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Jim Pavlidis
Badiucao
A gif from Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US’
There is a lot of hoo ha about how many people Musk is sacking and it showing what a bastard he his. What is not so well ‘advertised’ is how much of a sacking spree is occurring across the tech industry. When it comes to bigly lay offs Musk ain’t Robinson Crusoe .
.
It’s the end of the boom times in tech, as layoffs keep mounting
https://www.npr.org/2022/11/14/1136659617/tech-layoffs-amazon-meta-twitter#:~:text=More%20than%2035%2C000%20tech%20workers,grappling%20with%20its%20own%20challenges.
.
These tech companies have imposed major layoffs in 2022
Recession fears and rising interest rates have bludgeoned the industry.Meta: Cut about 11,000 employees
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/tech-companies-imposed-major-layoffs-2022/story?id=93330330
friendlyjordies –
I wonder what reception such marchers would receive from modern UK and Australian Labor/Labour parties ?
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/unemployed-marchers-demands-jhzk5d3q0
Had this chap been a Labor candidate the RW media would never have shut up about this, but he was a Nat, so had to be protected.
More about the candidate for Narre Warren North – Timothy Dragan.
It seems he is a member of a “Christian” church, probably Pentecostal, and an incel, judging by his loopy views on women, abortions and preschool.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11448147/Victorian-election-Liberal-Narre-Warren-North-candidate-Timothy-Dragan-right-wing-views-recorded.html
https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/victoria/controversial-picks-mar-guy-s-campaign-as-andrews-pounces-on-comments-20221120-p5bzr6.html
Why do people vote for these loons?
Because a large % of people vote for the party come hell or high water so the candidate so parties take the peasant voters for granted. Out here in The Cave we had the likes of catholic fanatic and Abbott mate @%*$!!! Joe Bullock getting elected to represent Labor. A bad sign though for the Vic. Libs if there are a number if such candidates/MPs. That would point to them following in the footsteps of their WA brethren. How tragic (insert fake tears)
Under electoral law, the fact that a candidate died after the close of nominations and before 6pm on election day means that there will not be a lower house vote for the seat of Narracan on 26 November, and a supplementary election will be held on a later date. However, the polling booths will still be open since there’ll still be an Upper House vote in Narracan on election day for the Eastern Victoria Region.
The last time this happened in Victoria was the famous Frankston East supplementary election in 1999, where Labor won the seat it needed to defeat Jeff Kennett’s coalition after the sitting Independent Liberal member died on election day before the close of polls.
F.M – back after a short hiatus
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/21/surely-not-all-recycling-is-a-scam-here-are-some-handy-tips-to-reduce-reuse-and-recycle
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
An exclusive survey conducted by Resolve Strategic for The Age shows that, as the campaign enters its final days, the gap between the parties has dwindled. Labor’s primary vote has fallen by 7 percentage points since the last election to 36 per cent – making it level with the Coalition.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/labor-coalition-neck-and-neck-as-gap-narrows-between-andrews-and-guy-20221121-p5bzxv.html
The Coalition’s strategy to make this election a referendum on Premier Daniel Andrews, and not necessarily offering itself as a viable alternative government, seems to be working, writes Annika Smethurst.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/playing-the-dan-could-work-for-libs-with-andrews-focus-showing-signs-of-success-20221121-p5c031.html
Victorian Liberals are embarrassed by extremists within and Mark Kenny looks at how this keeps happening.
https://theconversation.com/victorian-liberals-embarrassed-by-extremists-within-how-does-this-keep-happening-194984
Shaun Carney says that the Victorian election campaign has veered from uninspiring to disturbingly nasty.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/election-campaign-veers-from-uninspiring-to-disturbingly-nasty-20221121-p5bzvq.html
Simon Holmes à Court’s fundraising group, Climate 200, is considering supporting as many as 10 candidates in the New South Wales election in March, as the state’s treasurer, Matt Kean, calls on his party to do more to select female Liberal candidates.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/21/simon-holmes-a-court-considering-support-for-up-to-10-teals-to-shake-up-nsw-election
Peter Hartcher tells us why Xi bullied Trudeau but flattered Albanese.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/why-xi-bullied-trudeau-but-flattered-albanese-20221120-p5bzqu.html
China will be on a collision course within the next five years for war with the United States, and likely Australia, unless America and its allies can deter Beijing from launching a strike against Taiwan, Kevin Rudd says.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/only-five-years-left-to-prevent-war-with-china-kevin-rudd-20221121-p5c01y.html
More from Kevin Rudd who says that despite breaking the freeze with China, Australia still has formidable work ahead to mend relations.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/22/despite-breaking-the-freeze-with-china-australia-still-has-formidable-work-ahead-to-mend-relations
In national security and international affairs, the Albanese government has had a whirlwind first six months. But there will hardly be anything more important than the decisions it makes next March, writes Greg Sheridan who reckons the interim report of the Strategic Defence Review is recommending reduced investment in armour – tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and similar beasts – in order to focus on far more relevant and important priorities.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/defence-review-to-park-tanks-in-history/news-story/0967a017746fbb3886542e7ce3791ab3
In 2022, it is likely the net positive movement of people on visitor visas – that is arrivals minus departures – will exceed all previous years. But why is that happening and what does it mean, asks Abul Rizvi.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/net-movement-of-visitor-visa-holders-highlights-home-affairs-hitch,16992
Adele Ferguson lifts the lid on the NSW government knowing about an iCare underpayment scandal since February and trying to keep it quiet.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/compo-crisis-worsens-as-thousands-of-workers-underpaid-20221121-p5c02n.html
And the SMH editorial thinks that the Premier may have to answer for the workers’ compensation failure at the polls.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/premier-may-have-to-answer-for-workers-compensation-failure-at-polls-20221121-p5bzyd.html
Angus Thompson reports that David Pocock is staring down pressure from federal Labor to pass its landmark industrial relations bill as the key crossbencher negotiates the definition of the size of a small business.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/key-senate-crossbencher-holds-out-on-small-business-protections-in-ir-bill-20221121-p5bzua.html
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has assured employers that enterprise bargaining will continue to have precedence under the government’s proposed industrial relations regime, but the ACTU is demanding change that would remove that provision and rope more employers into multi-employer bargaining.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/chalmers-actu-at-odds-over-wage-bargaining-rules-20221121-p5bzus
Peter Dutton has been accused of sacrificing the Coalition’s international credibility as the Opposition throws everything at running down the clock in the final fortnight of Parliament for the year, writes James Robertson.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2022/11/21/dutton-credibility-aid-attack-pm/
The ‘Secure Work’ Bill is inching Australia into the 21st Century, argues David Peetz.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-secure-work-bill-inches-australia-into-the-21st-century/
Of course The Australian republished Andy Kessler’s ridiculous Wall Street Journal column, “The decline of work in a spoiled society.” Those News Corp bedfellows continue to miss that they are at the core of the problem, opines Lucy Hamilton.
https://johnmenadue.com/greed-and-a-spoiled-society-workers-are-not-the-problem/
Australia’s new approach was a rare positive at Cop27 – but now the need for action is all the more acute, urges Adam Morton.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/21/australia-cop27-climate-summit
The people of the Torres Strait Islands may soon be forced to leave their homelands if nothing is done to stop increasingly frequent catastrophic weather events and rising sea levels, writes James Fitzgerald Sice.
https://michaelwest.com.au/torres-strait-islanders-fight-for-their-home/
The BNPL party is over, writes Elizabeth Knight who says regulations are the least of its problems.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-bnpl-party-is-over-and-regulations-are-the-least-of-its-problems-20221121-p5c00s.html
Kathy Stevens tells us how Australia’s NDIS system tortured a family it was made to help.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/western-australia/how-australia-s-ndis-system-tortured-a-family-it-was-made-to-help-20221117-p5bz6m.html
The Albanese government should undertake not to fund projects that haven’t been properly reviewed by its infrastructure advisor, experts say, as concerns intensify over the multiplying cost of the nation’s groaning project pipeline and the political nature of many approvals.
https://www.afr.com/companies/infrastructure/albanese-urged-to-be-tougher-on-project-funding-20221121-p5bzzs
A “failure of leadership” has allowed a culture of sexism, racism, fear and silence to take hold unchecked within the Queensland police service a scathing inquiry report has found. Yesterday the premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, backed the beleaguered police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, to keep her job and oversee the implementation of 78 recommendations of the inquiry into QPS’s responses to domestic violence.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/21/queensland-police-failure-of-leadership-has-allowed-sexism-racism-and-fear-to-take-hold-inquiry-finds
Michael Idato writes that, with paid ads, streaming’s future is looking more like TV’s past.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/why-the-future-of-streaming-is-looking-unexpectedly-like-tv-s-past-20221121-p5c00d.html
Elon Musk went on a firing frenzy at Twitter. Now he’s paying for it, writes Robert Reich.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/21/elon-musk-went-on-a-firing-frenzy-at-twitter-now-hes-paying-for-it
Like a lot of privileged white men, Elon Musk appears to have no understanding that speech is not free, says Catharine Lumby.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/free-speech-could-cost-elon-musk-61-billion-20221120-p5bzra.html
The Republican Party’s weak U.S. midterm results aren’t a reason to drop our guard against the dangers of Trump’s faction, writes Davey Heller.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/celebrating-the-end-of-trumpism-after-the-midterms-is-a-deadly-mistake,16991
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Andrew Dyson
Megan Herbert
Alan Moir
Matt Golding
Dionne Gain
Fiona Katauskas
Glen Le Lievre
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
The latest Victorian election poll reported in The Age – Pfffft!!
Who would believer anything that rag says? It was barely credible before it was taken over by Nine, now it is as bad as or sometimes worse than Murdoch.
This is an attempt to try to swing the polls to the Libs, nothing more. Heaven help Victoria if Labor loses – it will become as bad as the worst states in the US.
I don’t want to believe it. Of course because I am biased. It is going to be hard watching it without Razz. I will watch it but keep an eye on here as well, so I won’t feel I am alone.
Stupid Hartcher. Did he even bother to read what Xi’s big beef was ? Not that it would have mattered. When it comes to China he gets all his opinions and view from Thinktankistan. So here’s a hint Hartcher, which of the leaders immediately leaked to the press all the details of a conversation between the two, part of which from Xi’s remarks were plainly meant to remain private ?
I have not read anything by Hartcher for ages because he churns out utter drivel. Plus he keeps working for Nine when anyone with any self respect would have left.
Well, of course they did. No question about whose side the Victoria police are on, is there.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/nov/22/australia-politics-live-news-updates-weather-winds-batter-eastern-states-climate-200-signals-nsw-teal-challenges-state-election#top-of-blog
Seth Meyers –
Stephen Colbert –
Chris Hayes –
Rachel Maddow –
Lawrence O’Donnell –
Jimmy Kimmel –
Michael West –
When I look at the media coverage of the Victorian election, I think Friendlyjordies’ latest video has a particularly cutting quote as to why they so viciously hate Dan Andrews.
They say at 20 you have the face God gave you, at 40 you have the face that life has molded, and at 60 you have the face you deserve. Is there anything in that ? Jeff Kennet , come on down.
I wonder how much Mr Kennet resembles his parents or grandparents at the same age … it is always interesting to see the similarities and differences subsequent generations have to their predecessors, and how much life experience/attitudes make changes to those matrices
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
News Ltd is going troppo trying to topple Dan Andrews. Browse through the articles in the Herald Sun opinion page to get an idea.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion
Any sense of ethics and sanity has disappeared from the mainstream media in its attempt to discredit Premier Dan Andrews prior to the Victorian State Election. David Donovan examines this lunacy.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/victorian-press-mad-about-dan-andrews–stark-raving-mad-that-is,16995
Interest rates will swing up and down more often to deal with increasingly erratic inflation over coming years, with Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe warning climate change, an ageing population, the breakdown of supply chains and the overhaul of the energy grid will all put upward pressure on prices.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/reserve-bank-forecasts-see-sawing-interest-rates-as-economy-worsens-20221122-p5c0ac.html
Using Morrison’s 2019 budget as an example, Danielle Wood tells us about the economic fictions that allow our political leaders to load up on election-friendly announcements while still claiming the mantle of economic responsibility.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/why-milk-and-honey-economics-should-be-taken-with-a-grain-of-salt-20221121-p5c03b.html
On Australia’s current position with China, Paul Kelly writes, “Albanese and Wong have found the right formula – saying we will co-operate “where we can” and disagree “where we must”. Their message: Australia will assert its interests and values just as China will. The most pathetic response came from sections of the right-wing media, trying to belittle the meeting by saying it only went for 32 minutes and didn’t involve China ditching its trade sanctions.”
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/for-labor-new-china-challenge-follows/news-story/570015ae6cc293a99e5dc4963ebbe03e
Australian defence minister Richard Marles and his Chinese counterpart, Wei Fenghe, are set to resume regular dialogues after years of tension, writes Matthew Cranston. These will be the first such meeting since 2019.
https://www.afr.com/world/asia/china-and-australia-on-verge-of-first-military-talks-since-2019-20221122-p5c0h0
Annika Smethurst says that the gloves stayed on in a genteel debate last night, but a masterful Andrews came out on top.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/gloves-stay-on-in-genteel-debate-but-masterful-andrews-comes-out-on-top-20221122-p5c076.html
Daniel Andrews’ party is posed for a third term of government despite a decade of poor economic performance in the nation’s second-largest state, says the AFR’s editorial.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/victorian-incomes-lag-under-labor-s-andrews-as-state-debt-balloons-20221121-p5bzzl
The Victorian election is a mess. This is the product of the destruction of our conservative forces by international right wing radicalism; for people in that sphere discrediting democracy is the desirable first step in dismantling the status quo. For the rest of us, it is a threat, posits Lucy Hamilton.
https://johnmenadue.com/victorian-election-update/
Josh Gordon reports that Victoria’s health workers have been resigning at the rate of more than 200 a week, potentially undermining state government efforts to recruit the tens of thousands of doctors, nurses and midwives needed to relieve stress on the overburdened system and staff new hospitals.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/health-worker-resignations-surge-by-almost-20-percent-fresh-data-shows-20221121-p5bzzw.html
Australia’s weather will become even more chaotic in coming years and decades, the State of the Climate report warns, piling pressure on the federal government to increase its climate targets. Mike Foley summarises the report.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/drier-hotter-wetter-csiro-bom-confirm-australia-s-weather-to-get-even-worse-20221122-p5c09x.html
Angus Thompson reports that the Labor-led inquiry into the government’s contentious industrial relations bill has recommended boosting by five people the threshold for small businesses to be roped in to multi-employer bargaining, after Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke said he was willing to negotiate on the number to get the bill passed before Christmas.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/how-much-should-i-charge-government-accused-of-googling-ir-research-after-referencing-spiritual-healer-site-20221121-p5c00f.html
Improving public transport is crucial for Sydney to fulfil its potential as a liveable city, but delays hurt the government’s chances of using it as a vote winner in the March election, says the SMH editorial.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/fumbles-tarnish-nsw-government-s-transport-achievements-20221122-p5c0ey.html
Extremism in the U.S. has seeped its way into Australia’s political sphere, fueled by a compliant mainstream media. Dr Victoria Fielding reports.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-rise-of-trumpist-australia-a-threat-to-democracy,16993
Jenna Price senses improvement in the respect for women in the journalism industry.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/the-job-i-ve-loved-for-40-years-is-changing-thank-god-20221121-p5c049.html
“If we can’t build on a floodplain, where can we build?”, asks Chas Keys.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/if-we-can-t-build-on-floodplains-where-will-we-20221120-p5bzrg.html
Russia’s oil clock is ticking down, and how Putin reacts will affect us all, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/russia-s-oil-clock-is-ticking-down-how-putin-reacts-will-affect-us-all-20221122-p5c08p.html
We expose five of the gas lobby’s big lies and the manipulation of governments and media which lends them licence to profiteer at the expense of every Australian. Michael West reports.
https://michaelwest.com.au/fossil-fibs-how-the-gas-lobby-gets-away-with-cooking-the-planet-rooking-its-customers/
Origin boss Frank Calabria says Australia’s move to sustainable energy is a staggering task that must be achieved with more urgency, or the costs to the nation will only get greater. He likened the scale of the transformation of the country’s energy sector over the next decade to a “wartime reconstruction effort” – an effort that could be stymied by consumer unrest over rising energy bills.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/wartime-effort-origin-fears-consumer-backlash-to-energy-transition-20221122-p5c0dv.html
If social trust is good for society, and for the economy overall, why is such a decline in trust occurring? The simple answer is because some businesses make money from distrust, explains Tony Ward.
https://johnmenadue.com/meet-a-major-threat-to-capitalism-capitalists/
Cockpits are full of alarms that sound when disaster is imminent. When I read of the push by some airlines for one-pilot cockpits, I was sure I could hear an alarm going off, writes David Evans.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/just-one-pilot-in-the-cockpit-the-swiss-cheese-model-says-no-20221122-p5c09k.html
A class action against car company Mercedes-Benz is seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages over the alleged use of “cheat devices” to manipulate diesel emissions. The action, filed in the Victorian supreme court yesterday covers thousands of vehicles sold in Australia over a 10-year period.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/22/mercedes-benz-sued-in-class-action-over-alleged-diesel-emission-devices
Incinerators can no longer keep up with the “mountain of cocaine” seized by Belgian customs at the port of Antwerp. The backlog of drugs waiting to be destroyed by the authorities is now so significant it has earned the nickname “cocaine-berg”. Law enforcement and justice officers have warned the pile-up of illicit substances, worth hundreds of millions of euros, could be stolen back by heavily armed criminal gangs.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/incinerators-can-t-keep-up-with-mountain-of-cocaine-in-belgium-20221122-p5c093.html
John Lord provides us with a view of Trump from Down Under.
https://theaimn.com/a-view-of-trump-from-down-under/
The US right is stoking anti-LGBT hate, and the shooting in Colorado was no surprise, declares Arwa Mahdawi.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/22/the-us-right-is-stoking-anti-lgbt-hate-this-shooting-was-no-surprise
Where was Ivanka when Donald launched his campaign? Doing what Trumps do and looking after number one, writes Moira Donegan.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/22/where-was-ivanka-when-donald-launched-his-campaign-looking-after-number-one
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
David Pope
Mark David
Matt Golding
Andrew Dyson
John Shakespeare
Fiona Katauskas
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
friendlyjordies –
Tom Tanuki gives us a run-down of some of the cookers running in the Victorian election. I really, really hope none of these weirdos get elected.
Anne Aly in QT: “Here they come – the league of unextraordinary men…”.