11th Hour, 11th Day, 11th Month, 1918. Lest We Forget.

Puff, The Magic Dragon Uncategorized

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).

499 thoughts on “11th Hour, 11th Day, 11th Month, 1918. Lest We Forget.”

  2. ckwatt

    Cooker, in this context, is a uniquely Australian slang word! On Twitter and YouTube there are a few anti fascists and the sort of left leaning people who have debunk weirdo anti vaxxers and the like who started using the term cookers and cooked in relation to the big upsurge of nutters, sovereign citizens, local Qanon and related people.

    They use it about people who have really erratic systems of belief they’ve picked up off the internet or who have long standing reality defying beliefs, whereas more coherant but vile people like actual Nazis (for example) are still just called Nazis or whatever. This use of the word cooker is only a couple of years old.

    https://cookerpedia.org/wiki/Cooker

    • Thanks Leroy. As I mentioned to Kirsdarke the label doesn’t really describe the ratbaggedness of the actual group.

  3. Well done Victoria!

    This result shows all Australia that Trumpian campaigning is not welcome here. Also Murdoch is not wanted – the only ones taking any notice of him are cookers and rusted-on Lib voters.

  4. I’m pretty happy with the results in my area. My own electorate, Wendouree got a swing to Labor of 2.5%, Labor won the regional seat of Ripon from the odious Louise Staley, and also Labor managed to hold the tide with Eureka, which was something of a difficult regional seat to retain, what with the large amount of area to switch over.

  5. I think originally ‘cooker’ referred to those ‘cooking’ up methamphetamines.

    People typically cook Meth in pots on the stove or in microwaves. Methods known as the “shake and bake method” allows individuals to shake bottles made of ingredients to make Meth. As a result, they create highly damaging effects that can be fatal to the user and other people in the vicinity.

  6. I’m watching the Sky News coverage of this election, picking up that the analyst boy refers to numbers for the Liberal party as “us”. Hope the nasty bile in this lickspittle grows more bitter through the night.

  7. The best part of the result is remembering the headlines and articles today and yesterday in the Rupert Rags.

  8. Biggest surprise for me: Polwarth!

    Southwest Victoria rural area, covering south of Ballarat, west of Geelong and east of Warrnambool, turns out sitting Liberal MP Richard Riordan was so crap that he lost that seat.

    And this roughly covers the area of Henry Bolte’s old seat of Hampden back in the 1950’s-1970’s.

  9. Matthew Guy has made his concession speech half an hour ago.

    Dan Andrews is making his victory speech now.

  10. Good morning Dawn Patrollers. A rather pathetic compilation today, I’m afraid.

    Want a laugh? Then have a look at the Herald Sun’s Opinion page. Talk about sore losers!
    https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion
    Annika Smethurst didn’t get her hung parliament. Here she sums up Dan Andrews’ thumping victory.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/labor-confident-of-third-term-liberals-still-hoping-for-surprise-result-20221122-p5c0be.html
    Labor easily wins Victorian election, but the Greens could win eight lower house seats, says Adrian Beaumont.
    https://theconversation.com/labor-easily-wins-victorian-election-but-greens-could-win-eight-lower-house-seats-195108
    Paul Sakkal wonders where now for the Victorian Liberal Party.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/struggles-to-gain-ground-in-east-and-south-of-city-make-life-tough-for-liberals-20221122-p5c0bx.html
    The Australian’s John Ferguson writes, “The fracturing of the Liberal vote in Victoria is an enormous issue for the party across Australia. It is hard to see how the Liberals will be able to win in 2026 after such a poor result. There will – and should be – bloodletting in the Liberal Party. The Liberals are on their knees.”
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/victorian-election-2022-crushing-win-for-labor-as-daniel-andrews-brings-liberals-to-their-knees/news-story/45dd231b5b65bf86b1ad16d3f86e97f0
    According to Chip Le Grand, Victoria blocked out the noise and stuck with Labor.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victoria-blocks-out-the-noise-and-sticks-with-labor-20221126-p5c1i6.html
    “The only defence that we, the people, have against an arrogant leader who is thumbing his nose at our democratic arrangements is by shining a light into dark corners and ensuring that our democracy has the ability to assert the power of those democratic fundamentals”, writes Terrence Mills about the Virginia Bell report on Morrison’s ministry antics.
    https://theaimn.com/democracy-tested/
    Qantas profit estimates just jumped again this week when Alan Joyce threatened to axe regional routes, ramping up pressure on politicians to stop the looming industrial relations reforms. Michael Sainsbury reports.
    https://michaelwest.com.au/qantas-profits-soar-but-little-room-for-better-pay-for-staff/
    Human rights advocates have blasted Australia’s response to Iran’s brutal crackdown on protesters as embarrassing and morally reprehensible.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/puzzled-and-pissed-off-australia-urged-to-do-more-to-punish-iran-20221125-p5c1dy.html
    Piety and prayer loom large in the Exclusive Brethren community, but for the church’s leading family property also makes a big impression. Luxury property at that, judging by the $9.5 million paid this week for a resort-style estate in Dural by Gareth Hales, the son of the church’s global leader Bruce D. Hales. And we financially support these bastards!
    https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/exclusive-brethren-family-pay-9-5-million-for-dural-weekender-20221124-p5c13h.html
    John Bolton, former national security adviser to Donald Trump, has described the former US president’s act as “old and tired” and said the Republican party is ready to move on to a “fresh face”.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/nov/26/donald-trump-old-and-tired-john-bolton

    Cartoon Corner

    Peter Broelman

    Matt Golding

    From the US








  12. The Hun sounds defeated but fear not, battling on is Andrew “Hiroo Onoda” Bolt…..

    OPINION Andrew Bolt
    Wounded Andrews should quit

  13. John Bolton, former national security adviser to Donald Trump, has described the former US president’s act as “old and tired” and said the Republican party is ready to move on to a “fresh face”.

    John Bolton is a war mongering nut job, has been for decades. His only real problem re Trump is that Trump thought the US should not be heading off to so many wars. That is burning at the stake heresy for the likes of Bolton. The real problems re Trump are no wuckas for Bolton.

  14. Some sample headlines re the toxic walrus.
    .
    John Bolton on: bombing Iran, North Korea, Russia and the Iraq War
    .
    .
    JOHN BOLTON TRIED HIS BEST TO DRAW THE U.S. INTO A WAR. LUCKILY, HE FAILED.
    Bolton’s most lasting impact may be the fallout from his open contempt for international institutions.
    .
    .
    John Bolton left because Trump wouldn’t let him start a war

    There was always going to be a conflict between Trump’s “America First” and Bolton’s “America Everywhere.”
    .
    .

    Elizabeth Warren
    @SenWarren
    John Bolton has never met a war he didn’t like. He never should have been National Security Adviser in the first place.

  15. Anyone else think the real losers of last night’s election are The Age and the Herald Sun?

    Victorians ignored their hate-filled articles and instead found their news online. The only people who buy newspapers now are oldies who cannot give up having their paper delivered every morning and punters who want to study form guides. As an example one of my sisters still has the Daily Smelly delivered every morning – she will turn 74 next week. No wonder she religiously votes L:iberal

    The days of dead-tree newspapers are almost over, they are useful now only for packing boxes. lining the cages of birds and in a dire emergency as toilet paper. Although what wiping your arse with the Herald Sun would do to one’s nether regions is too horrible to think about because its pages are so filled with bile and lies.

    • I think Victorians turned off ABC as well. The bile emanating from the Sydney newsroom was out of touch, incendiary, juvenile and just plain wrong

      SBS has been the beneficiary

    • Definitely. Like Michael Rowland’s rubbish about Victorians wanting to take to Dan with baseball bats, or everything Lisa Millar says.

      No wonder I refuse to watch News Breakfast.

  17. I am thrilled that Labor has been returned. I can’t get excited like I used to, but I’m sure Razz would be.

    Had a friend call in on Friday afternoon. Her son died under very sad circumstances. I was so pleased the words “passed away” was not uttered. I thought I was the only person who says died, as did she. It made our conversation easier to me.

    • Add my name to your list. The words ‘passed’ and ‘passed away’ are on my ‘do not ever use’ list.

  19. The Libs have no-one who can replace him.
    The Vic. Libs suffering from some lingering ‘Krogergenic’ ailments ?

  20. In my area, I’m glad to see the end of Louise Staley of the Liberals in Ripon. I haven’t met her, but I’m told she’s quite a nasty person.

    Labor seems to have won the seat, after getting a favourable redistribution (losing the conservative towns of Donald, Charlton and Stawell and gaining progressive-leaning satellite towns around Ballarat).

    In Ballarat itself, Wendouree got a small swing to Labor and Eureka got a small swing to the Liberals.

  22. I’m enjoying watching the Sky News ghouls frothing at the mouth about the election. They were screaming over each other on Outsiders that the Liberals lost because they were too woke, and that they need to be more conservative, and cite Ron DeSantis Republicanism as the way forward.

    Long may they think that. USA Conservatism never works in Australia because unlike them, as a population we are much more urbanised. Most voters live in big cities, so policies that favour urban and suburban voters win out in the end, not ones for the Barnaby voters.

  23. I don’t think it is the urban rural difference, Aus v US rural % are not too far apart.. However US political nut jobbery has a heapin’ helpin’ of cultural differences. What works there does not readily translate, if at all . Religiosity is one aspect, people like the Evangelical hucksters are bigly over there their ‘model’ wouldn’t really translate readily here. Ask SfM 🙂 . The Coalition’s fluck up is thinking the US ‘model’ can transfer directly to Straya.

  25. 😆 The Shovel

    Ruthless Dictator Dan wins yet another democratic election

    Tyrannical despot and leader of the Victorian Labor Party Daniel Andrews has romped home to an historic third state election win after he strong-armed citizens into taking part in a callous process that forces them to choose who they vote for.

  26. Several important differences between Australian and American elections:

    1. We have an independent and (I think) impartial Electoral Commission that independently sets within-State/Territory boundaries without skewing to one or other of the formerly major parties.
    2. That same independent and impartial AEC sets the rules for counting votes i.e., what is and is not a valid vote.
    3. Voting – or, at least, turning up – is mandatory.
    4. Votes are done manually, on paper, which then get scrutineered within an inch of their lives. (Guess what I was doing yesterday evening!)
    5. The rules regarding counting and scrutineering are also set by the AEC, and are strictly enforced.

    I’ve had a few friends complaining about paper ballots in the last couple of days. I reminded them of the Medibank hack, and asked them how they’d feel about an election hack.
    Dropped jaws.

  27. Just watched Spotlight on ch7 at 7pm on Albo and some with Jodie(?) by Mark Riley(?). If you like Albo, it is a good watch. They probably have it on whatever ch7 call their catch up thingy, like abc iview thing.

  28. Classic television on Sky featuring some old favourites . Bronhilda lurches on to Sky to tell us where the Libs went wRONg in the Vic. election and declares the Libs need to (drum roll)……………
    “get out from under the yoke of the soft Left” and “it is a form of Socialism which has permeated the Liberal Party….”.
    Icing on the cake is that she thinks the same applies at Fed. level.

    • If the Libs take that advice (and there is every sign that they are already doing that ) then they are finished.

      Dragging out Bronhilda and other aged commentators/failed politicians is not the way to go. Last night I came across this comment – the big mistake the Liberal Party made was targeting old people and cookers instead of millennials – or words to that effect. How very true. Fortunately for Labor the Libs are too dumb to realise that.

  30. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    Old, elite, out of touch, poorly organised, unpopular and devoid of fresh ideas. The criticisms of the Liberal Party after its election loss have just begun, and the harshest come from within the party itself, write Chip Le Grand and Paul Sakkal. Reading this, it is apparent the knives are out – but will they be used?
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/we-insult-people-s-intelligence-the-liberal-party-recriminations-begin-20221127-p5c1mg.html
    And now the Victorian Nationals are celebrating the gain of three additional lower house seats, but an internal fight has broken out over their Coalition agreement with the Liberal Party, which suffered an overwhelming defeat in Saturday’s election, explains Benjamin Preiss.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/nationals-win-big-but-squabble-over-coalition-deal-20221127-p5c1nl.html
    The electorate’s repudiation of the Liberal Party, the anti-Dan protest movement and the Murdoch media could not have been more thorough, declares The Age’s editorial.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/daniel-andrews-the-dominant-political-figure-of-his-generation-20221127-p5c1m9.html
    In this summing up of the events of the last week by Sean Kelly is, “The Liberal Party, stranded between what Sky and the Murdoch tabloids try to argue is its “base” and the concerns of most voters, has looked, mostly, a little beside the point.”
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/victoria/get-it-done-andrews-lesson-for-albanese-20221124-p5c14s.html
    Shaun Carney tells us how Dan Andrews pulled off one of the most remarkable victories in modern politics.
    https://theconversation.com/how-dan-andrews-pulled-off-one-of-the-most-remarkable-victories-in-modern-politics-194710
    Dennis Muller says that the media went for drama on the Victorian election – and missed the story.
    https://theconversation.com/media-go-for-drama-on-victorian-election-and-miss-the-story-195421
    Murdoch’s tabloids and Sky News opened seemingly never-ending culture wars about which the average Australian knows little and cares less, says Matthew Ricketson. And Victorians ignored it.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/28/victorias-voters-ignored-news-corps-anti-labor-campaign-but-the-controversy-let-dan-andrews-skate
    In an entertaining contribution, Alan Kohler explains why the Liberal Party lost – and could keep losing into oblivion.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/11/28/liberal-party-losing-alan-kohler/
    The Coalition must improve its offering to female voters and oppose electoral laws that entrench incumbent Labor governments, federal Liberals have suggested following their disappointing Victorian election defeat. But Anthony Albanese argued on Sunday the election also has lessons for the media, citing adverse commentary about Victorian premier Daniel Andrews as part of a “scare campaign” that had fallen flat, writes Paul Karp.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/28/federal-liberals-say-coalition-must-lure-back-women-after-victoria-state-election-rout
    Victoria’s Liberals need to define who they are before deciding who can lead them back from oblivion, posits Benita Kolovos.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/27/victorias-liberals-need-to-define-who-they-are-before-deciding-who-can-lead-them-back-from-oblivion
    Labor’s fresh triumphs reflect a party surging towards the end of the year. The Liberals are wandering in circles, consumed by their own failures, writes Jennifer Hewett.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/a-great-day-for-brand-labor-in-victoria-and-canberra-20221127-p5c1lp
    Former Liberal Party federal director Brian Loughnane and senator Jane Hume will deliver a verbal interim report on Monday to the party’s executive in Canberra on their review into the Coalition’s May election defeat. It won’t be pretty. While Scott Morrison, the implications of Covid and the policy settings of the former government will be central, the review is expected to deliver a scathing assessment of the dysfunction of the party’s state divisions. Victoria will be a case in point, says Simon Benson.
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/liberals-soulsearching-after-serious-losses-in-victorian-election/news-story/ddbba06b8aa6a46b27e8c3048ff32dc5
    The worry now is that Anthony Albanese, encouraged by this fresh ALP momentum, will seek to revive the old Labor faith in government intervention, whines the AFR’s editorial.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/will-andrews-thumping-win-embolden-federal-labor-20221123-p5c0rx
    Former Victorian Liberal leader Michael O’Brien has told colleagues that he will not run for leader of the battered party, paving the way for the progressive John Pesutto to seize the reins, should he close out victory in Hawthorn over his teal opponent. Pesutto should make a difference IMHO.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/pesutto-to-run-for-liberal-leadership-as-new-mps-key-to-renewal-20221127-p5c1li
    How does Peter Dutton fix the structural collapse of the party in Victoria when he is yet to work out how to show his face in the state, asks Lidija Ivanovski who points out that if winning Kew is a highlight for the Liberals, something is seriously wrong.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/when-libs-celebrate-holding-the-heartland-something-s-seriously-wrong-20221123-p5c0rz
    Scott Morrison is likely to be the first MP to be censured by parliament since 2018 as government backbenchers press for the former prime minister to be formally sanctioned for being secretly sworn in to administer additional portfolios, writes James Massola.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/scott-morrison-facing-censure-push-as-labor-backbenchers-speak-out-20221127-p5c1kp.html
    The AFR says that the most union-friendly workplace laws in decades, which extend controversial multi-employer bargaining laws to much of the economy, are set to pass the Senate this week after the Albanese government brokered a late-night deal with independent senator David Pocock.
    https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/albanese-wins-union-friendly-workplace-deal-20221127-p5c1kh
    Anthony Albanese is about to end the year with his industrial relations legislation through and parliament formally lambasting Scott Morrison, writes Michelle Grattan who says welfare recipients are potential winners from Pocock twisting Albanese’s arm.
    https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-welfare-recipients-are-potential-winners-from-pocock-twisting-albaneses-arm-195422
    As the Government begins the difficult task of repairing the Australian Public Service pay and classification system, it also needs to change the membership of the Remuneration Tribunal then ask it to review secretaries’ pay having greater regard for their public sector roles and responsibilities. For too long the Tribunal has relied upon private sector comparisons and practices, argues Andrew Podger.
    https://johnmenadue.com/matching-pay-and-responsibilities-are-secretaries-paid-too-much/
    Greg Mullins argues that we’re nowhere near prepared for the next climate disasters.
    https://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/we-re-nowhere-near-prepared-for-next-climate-disasters-20221127-p5c1k2.html
    The COP27 climate change conference has been and gone. The ambitions were modest and the outcomes even more so. The large number of fossil fuel lobbyists in attendance did little to buoy the mood of impending doom.
    https://michaelwest.com.au/cop27-nearly-foundered-as-fossil-fuel-lobbyists-greenwashing/
    The EU did wonders for the economy: that was why we joined. The UK’s departure from it is now all too obviously costing it that prosperity, writes William Keegan who says that Brexit has made Britain the sick man of Europe again.
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/nov/27/brexit-has-made-britain-the-sick-man-of-europe-again
    Crowds have chanted “down with the Communist Party” and “Xi Jinping, step down” in an extraordinary wave of protests across China sparked by anger at draconian Covid restrictions. Anti-government protests on a scale not seen since 1989’s Tiananmen massacre broke out on Saturday in cities including Xi’an, Nanjing and Shanghai, three of China’s most politically influential cities.
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/world/chinese-cry-for-freedom-in-biggest-antigovernment-protests-since-tiananmen/news-story/f5f3739211148eb903fc1276e9da185d
    China is stuck in the lockdown mentality because it initially worked. It’s now strangling the economy and beginning to trigger serious unrest, writes Richard McGregor who says Covid-sero represents China’s greatest threat.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/why-covid-zero-is-now-the-biggest-china-threat-20221127-p5c1ks

    Cartoon Corner

    Matt Golding


    Glen Le Lievre


    Mark Knight

    Peter Broelman

    Megan Herbert

    Joe Benke

    Dionne Gain

    Leak

    From the US







  31. Ah the media and journos, so unchanging . I came a cross a book written in 1919 called The Brass Check which looks at journalism. I shall now feel freer to use the term ‘presstitutes’ when referring to the bustards as……

    Brass Check
    A brass check was the token purchased by a customer in a brothel and given to the woman of his choice. Sinclair implies that, in a similar fashion, the owners of the mass media purchase journalists’ services in supporting the owners’ political and financial interests.

  33. Damn ! The Plague finally got me , confirmed positive 😦 . Not all bad though. Got this week off and the symptoms have been very much at the mild end of the scale and now on the improve.

    • KK

      Where you not aware of the rule that you are not allowed to display a photo of Steptoe and Son without the theme music.

      It is a crime against humanity and I am posting this so we don’t have to witness you being hauled off to the Hague in chains.

      You can thank me whenever you are ready –

  36. The above Crikey article has no paywall.

  37. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    Katherine Murphy analyses the latest Essential poll that ends the year well for Albanese.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/29/guardian-essential-poll-anthony-albanese-heading-to-the-holidays-on-a-high-note
    Matthew Knott and Lames Massola tell us that one of Scott Morrison’s closest political allies, Ale Hawke, has launched an extraordinary broadside against the former prime minister, accusing him of becoming addicted to power and declaring he should have quit politics almost immediately after his election loss.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/addicted-to-power-scott-morrison-attacked-by-closest-ally-20221128-p5c1w4.html
    David Crowe reckons Dutton’s nightmare Morrison problem is also an opportunity.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dutton-s-nightmare-morrison-problem-is-also-an-opportunity-20221128-p5c1vn.html
    Morrison’s self-appointment to six portfolios says a lot about his contempt for the quality and integrity of decision making under his government. The response by PM&C officers, who were in the know, also raises questions about how adequately they exercised their responsibility for good government, says Michael Keating.
    https://johnmenadue.com/morrisons-self-appointment-to-administer-six-departmentshigh-court-judge-virginia-bell/
    Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus knows he has deliberately put in place a weaker commission than he and Albanese promised at the election. His dirty deal serves Labor’s long-term interests. An ongoing activist commission might prove over-powerful, out of control, and a problem for a Labor administration, says Jack Waterford.
    https://johnmenadue.com/will-the-dreyfus-dutton-nacc-blow-up-in-labors-face/
    The Greens and Coalition may unite to force a key change to the appointment of the national anti-corruption commissioner, in a move the attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, claims could derail the establishment of the body. On Monday, the Greens justice spokesperson, David Shoebridge, threatened to support the Liberal amendment requiring bipartisan support to appoint the national anti-corruption commissioner unless Labor agreed to put a non-government member in the chair of the NACC’s parliamentary oversight committee.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/28/greens-threaten-to-support-liberal-amendment-in-move-that-could-derail-passage-of-key-integrity-bill
    Crispin Hull argues that the underlying problem for the Liberal Party is its coalition with the Nationals. Once they were part of Coalition’s strength. But for nearly two decades the Liberals are paying dearly because the Nationals, in the joint party room, are dictating policies that are toxic to younger, more educated and socially progressive voters in the cities. He says the Liberals have their share of far-right nuts, but without the Nationals, those would be a minority in the party room and could be over-ridden.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7998824/the-coalitions-strength-is-now-its-weakness/?cs=14258
    One thing is very clear coming out of the weekend Victorian election and following on from the federal poll in May: Both major parties are losing traditional support, but the Liberals are more out of touch with mainstream voters, writes Paul Bongiorno who says that, as it turns out the Liberals’ best friends in the media proved to have been their worst enemies – leading them down a dead end of championing minority grievance.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/11/29/liberals-major-parties-bongiorno/
    For the best part of two weeks, Victorian voters were told by the media that the election on November 26 might result in either a hung parliament or a minority Labor government. Dennis Muller examines how that media coverage came to be so misleading.
    https://johnmenadue.com/media-go-for-drama-on-victorian-election-and-miss-the-storypic/
    All four of the candidates who have so far put up their hand to be the next Liberal Party leader say they would reverse Matthew Guy’s party room ban on Renee Heath, an ultra-conservative church member and newly elected upper house MP. Yes, it’s obvious they need more religious crazies in the party.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/pesutto-and-battin-face-off-for-liberal-leadership-as-labor-gets-back-on-rail-loop-track-20221128-p5c1rw.html
    Greg Sheridan seems to agree.
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/standing-up-for-values-the-only-way-to-win-voters/news-story/771d0085ad63863d2c44ba06486ead82
    “In my rugby locker I wrote DWYSYWD. In politics, I’m doing the same”, writes David Pocock in this op-ed in which he explains his negotiations on the IR legislation.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/in-my-rugby-locker-i-wrote-dwysywd-in-politics-i-m-doing-the-same-20221127-p5c1o7.html
    The editorial in The Age says that the Albanese IR reforms are complex but a bold step forward.
    https://www.theage.com.au/business/workplace/albanese-ir-reforms-are-complex-but-a-bold-step-forward-20221128-p5c1w3.html
    Air-conditioning manufacturers have immediately jumped on the Albanese government’s new multi-employer bargaining laws using them to drive up workplace standards and pay across the sector so they do not get undercut by cheaper competitors. This is very interesting.
    https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/workplace/manufacturers-move-on-sector-deal-amid-race-to-bolster-union-hurdles-20221128-p5c1u0
    Jess Irvine theorises what sort of outcomes we might expect from the new IR legislation.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/bigger-pay-rises-likely-from-labor-s-new-laws-but-don-t-spend-them-yet-20221128-p5c1w8.html
    Geoff Chambers says that Anthony Albanese is edging towards an inflation-fighting energy-relief package that would offset soaring electricity bills for some businesses and households, while avoiding drastic interventions that could have a negative impact on long-term contracts and damage Australia’s international reputation.
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/anthony-albaneses-fix-for-electricity-bills-direct-subsidies-for-homes-businesses/news-story/36e1cad0fe32bcbb6ecfa3bd3da4e099
    Labor may rue the day it mired the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in secrecy. Transparency warrior Rex Patrick reports on the “exceptional circumstances” provision which he says weakens the corruption watchdog.
    https://michaelwest.com.au/rex-patrick-exceptional-circumstances-choke-national-anti-corruption-commission/
    The Coalition’s inquiry into the impact of regional bank closures was a biased exercise, resulting in a slew of branch closures nationwide, writes Dale Webster.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/coalition-banking-inquiry-blamed-for-mass-branch-closures,17015
    Charlotte Grieve reports that as well as the prospect of up to 10 years in jail, this man is also facing more than $1 million in fines after being criminally charged for allegedly failing to pay staff properly, in the first case of wage theft being treated as a crime in Australia.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victorian-restaurant-first-to-be-criminally-charged-over-wage-theft-20221128-p5c1rx.html
    Tony Wright has a dig at Philip Lowe after his appearance in front of a Senate inquiry yesterday.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/no-really-dr-lowe-we-don-t-need-more-of-your-advice-just-now-20221128-p5c1y8.html
    Philip Lowe is the easy fall guy for our economic woes. But maybe we should have listened to him more closely, puts Peter Hannam.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2022/nov/28/philip-lowe-is-the-easy-fall-guy-for-our-economic-woes-but-maybe-we-should-have-listened-to-him-more-closely
    Shane Wright tells us about Lowe’s sorry excuse for an apology.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/i-m-sorry-if-people-listened-to-what-we-d-said-lowe-s-sorry-excuse-for-an-apology-20221128-p5c1um.html
    The Nationals will formally oppose an Indigenous Voice to parliament, in a significant blow to the referendum campaign that opens the door to the Liberal Party following suit.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/emotional-blackmail-nationals-oppose-voice-to-parliament-in-blow-to-referendum-20221128-p5c1v6.html
    Coalition members were so sure of an election win that advanced planning was underway for their first day in office, with some staff even told they would no longer be needed, writes the Herald Sun’s Shannon Deery who looks at how the Victorian Liberal Party was misled by their polling.
    https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/shannon-deery-coalition-mps-convinced-by-polls-to-expect-election-day-success/news-story/c8951f16d34033cdcb5597292dd4491c?amp
    Victoria’s public sector financial watchdog is investigating whether bias influenced the state government’s investment in a firm that collapsed after 16 months and burnt $20 million of public money.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/audit-probes-bias-in-failed-eloque-government-joint-venture-20221128-p5c1vj.html
    Nick Bryant rejoices that 2022 has been something of an annus horribilis for disrupters, rule-breakers and rogue players.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/are-we-finally-witnessing-the-return-of-rules-based-order-20221127-p5c1ma.html
    Christopher Knaus reports that abuse survivors are attempting to seize Catholic church properties, including a Catholic order’s Sydney headquarters, to cover legal costs after their bills went unpaid, despite a court order.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/nov/29/abuse-survivors-in-bid-to-seize-catholic-properties-after-church-fails-to-pay-court-costs-as-ordered
    There are three ways Xi could respond to the loudest wave of protests since 1989, writes Eryk Bagshaw.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/three-ways-xi-could-respond-to-the-biggest-wave-of-protests-since-1989-20221128-p5c1ql.html
    Stephen Bartholomeusz says that Xi Jinping has no one to blame but himself as China’s COVID hole gets deeper.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/china-is-running-out-of-options-as-its-covid-hole-gets-deeper-20221128-p5c1qm.html
    Protests erupting across China over the weekend are an unprecedented challenge to Xi Jinping’s power. However, there is no guarantee the uprising will bring change, opines Michael Smith.
    https://www.afr.com/world/asia/xi-s-covid-zero-has-china-at-breaking-point-20221128-p5c1vb
    Zero-Covid protests are spreading across China – but a violent crackdown will follow, predicts James McMurray.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/28/zero-covid-protests-china-crackdown-xinjiang-xi-jinping
    This funeral director has done enough, one would think, to qualify for nomination for “Arsehole of the Week”.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/funeral-director-accused-of-stealing-clothes-jewellery-from-corpse-20221128-p5c1wu.html

    Cartoon Corner

    David Pope

    Matt Golding





    Andrew Dyson

    John Shakespeare


    Cathy Wilcox

    Glen Le Lievre

    Fiona Katauskas

    Peter Broelman

    Dionne Gain

    Spooner (FFS!)

    From the US






  38. Matthew Knott and James Massola’s article –

    I really, really wish political journalists would stop referring to Morrison’s “Christian faith” and instead call it what it is. Morrison is a member of a prosperity cult, he is in no way a “Christian”. To me his cult membership, like his willingness to copy Trump and his friendship with Australia’s leading QAnon conspiracy theorist, tells how gullible he is, He will believe anything but the truth.

    Niki Savva’s book is quoted (again) –

    Savva explores the impact of Morrison’s Christian faith on his prime ministership in detail, writing his colleagues believe it “drove him, made him immoveable, more resistant to logical explanations”.

    “I have been mocked every day because of my faith because I am a Pentecostal,” she quotes Morrison telling colleagues after religious freedom laws failed to pass parliament in February.

    “I have surrendered this battle to God now. I have said, over to you.”

    Once again Morrison tried to absolved himself of all blame by this time handing over all future decisions to a god who has nothing to do with the true Christian faith.

    How typical of him! Nothing is ever his fault, the blame always lies with someone else, even apparently with his god.

  39. Being a total non fan of ‘economists’ and their various sects of the Dismal Science faith I liked this comment left re the RBA peasant and his non apology apology. Total nails how they operate.

    An economist is a professional who will tell you tomorrow why what he forecast yesterday didn’t happen today

  40. Opposition leader Peter Dutton has slammed the Albanese government today, after it was revealed they planned to censure not only the former prime minister, but also all of the other ministers that happened to be Scott Morrison.

    “It’s unprecedented really and well, a real reflection of this draconian Labor Government,” said Dutton in a press conference today. “First they want us to be responsible for our actions outside of work but now they’re saying you can’t lie to the public when you’re working, where will it end?’

    …

    https://chaser.com.au/national/outrage-as-labor-votes-to-censure-5-ministers-on-the-same-day/?fbclid=IwAR3EBHAZpyrMz7a1gJ8w7yE9IwhVZNUPUiFfoq6J1VG0l6fXOAHNDYUrgGs

  43. Looking around for a 2023 calendar I chanced upon this rather partisan one 🙂 Perhaps
    we should have an Antipodean version.

    • A review comment re the above 🙂
      5 out of 5 stars
      A lovely little calendar with Marks fantastic illustrations. Perhaps unsuitable as a vicar’s Christmas present but well suited in our sweary left wing household. Thanks Mark

    • Don’t you just love the way journalists always say “There is no suggestion that X was involved in any corrupt act …….” when we all know they were up to their eyebrows in it.

      This time the magic words are said about Gladys. Just another thing she didn’t want to hear about, I presume.

      Of course the magic words are deliberately included to ward off any defamation court action.

  45. Stephen Colbert –

    Chris Hayes –

    Rachel Maddow –

    Lawrence O’Donnell –

    Brian Tyler Cohen –

    Jimmy Kimmel –

Comments are closed.