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.”

  3. TPP: ALP 55 (0) L/NP 45 (0)
    Primaries: ALP 39 (+1) L/NP 35 (0) GRN 11 (0) ON 6 (0) OTH 8 (-1)

    Preferred PM: Albanese 59 (+5) Dutton 24 (-3)
    Albanese: Approve 62 (+3) Disapprove 29 (-4)
    Dutton: Approve 36 (-3) Disapprove 45 (-1)

    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/anthony-albanese-on-a-high-after-year-of-success-newspoll/news-story/62b116c4ad5c0cb60cf04457eb79f618

    Anthony Albanese on a high after year of success: Newspoll
    By SIMON BENSON
    8:30PM DECEMBER 4, 2022

    Anthony Albanese will end the year in a commanding electoral position, posting his highest voter approval since becoming Prime Minister after declaring to have delivered on Labor’s core election commitments in the first six months of office.

    The Labor leader has also ­enjoyed a surge in support as the preferred prime minister despite pressure mounting to act on ­energy prices.

    An exclusive Newspoll commissioned by The Australian shows popular support for Labor also lifting after delivering controversial industrial relations ­reforms and following a week of partisan political battle over the censure motion against former prime minister Scott Morrison.

    But support for minor parties and independents fell to the ­lowest level since the May ­election.

    • Well, that was wonderful news to wake up to, thanks Leroy, and thank for all the other news you have all alerted to us all years.

      Looking forward to the sooking that will commence with BK’s morning round up.

  4. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    Simon Benson does his best on the latest Newspoll figures.
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/anthony-albanese-on-a-high-after-year-of-success-newspoll/news-story/62b116c4ad5c0cb60cf04457eb79f618
    Shane Wright tells us that the teal wave that wiped the Liberal Party from inner-city electorates was driven by tactical Labor and Green voters, a major university study of the 2022 election has found while revealing Anthony Albanese was viewed by voters as far more trustworthy and honest than Scott Morrison. A very interesting analysis.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/tactical-teal-voters-dislodged-liberals-with-no-trust-for-morrison-20221202-p5c342.html
    When Sean Kelly found himself feeling sorry for Scott Morrison, alarm bells sounded.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/when-i-found-myself-feeling-sorry-for-scott-morrison-alarm-bells-sounded-20221201-p5c2st.html
    After a year of failure, Liberals need to understand that managerialism is terribly uninspiring compared with fighting for individual freedom and responsibility against the progressive left, urges Alexander Downer.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/liberal-party-must-unashamedly-articulate-its-timeless-values-20221204-p5c3g5
    Josh Frydenberg’s “world-first” Media Code is a world-first joke lapped up by a sycophantic media enjoying secret cash payments from Google and Facebook. Michael West reports on the hype and the shameless Treasury review which endorses it.
    https://michaelwest.com.au/google-giggle-josh-frydenbergs-world-first-media-reform-a-hand-out-to-billionaire-mates/
    The previous Coalition Government under the Minister for Communication Malcolm Turnbull promised: ’a cheaper, good quality NBN, faster delivered’. It failed on all counts. However,, writes Paul Budde, since it became clear that his government was unable to deliver on this promise, I knew that eventually something had to give. Instead of costing $25 billion as Mr Turnbull promised, the costs are now rapidly moving towards $60 billion. Under government policy, all of these costs had to be absorbed by the NBN company in the prices it charged to its retail customers.
    https://johnmenadue.com/nbn-write-down-confirms-its-national-importance/
    Primary health care in Australia is funded by a broken model which, a new report says, discourages general practices from providing the care people with chronic illness need to keep them out of hospital. Chip Le Grand writes that a report by the Grattan Institute, which has been presented to the federal government’s Medicare taskforce, calls for a wholesale overhaul of Medicare and shift away from its current, fee-for-service arrangements to a blended funding model. The proposed new model would enable GPs to lead multidisciplinary teams of clinicians and prioritise the most complex cases.
    https://www.smh.com.au/healthcare/medicare-overhaul-needed-to-fix-broken-health-funding-report-urges-20221204-p5c3gx.html
    Lawyers for former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins have given notice that they will sue former Liberal ministers Linda Reynolds and Michaelia Cash as well as the Commonwealth for about $3 million. In documents sent to the two former ministers and the Commonwealth, Higgins’ lawyers have set out an intention to sue for sexual harassment, sex discrimination, disability discrimination, negligence, and victimisation.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/brittany-higgins-seeking-3-million-in-compensation-claim-20221204-p5c3jc.html
    Attacks on Higgins outside court were something new. Inside it, not so much, writes legal academic Julia Quilter.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/attacks-on-higgins-outside-court-were-something-new-inside-it-not-so-much-20221202-p5c3a1.html
    The federal budget bottom line has improved by $70 billion in the six weeks since Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down his first fiscal blueprint as inflation and soaring commodity prices deliver a tax windfall. So large is the surge in revenue, seasoned budget watcher Chris Richardson said the budget could end up balanced for the calendar year 2022 before expected spending in areas such as social services and defence again drive the nation’s finances into the red.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/budget-already-doing-70-billion-better-as-commodity-prices-remain-high-20221202-p5c34j.html
    ‘Freedom Christmas’ has people spending, but the hangover is coming next year, say Shane Wright and Emma Koehn.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/freedom-christmas-has-people-spending-but-the-hangover-is-coming-next-year-20221202-p5c349.html
    A looming pallet shortage that could threaten the delivery of food, groceries and medicines to retailers has prompted the nation’s peak representative for food and grocery suppliers to sound the alarm with competition tsar Gina Cass-Gottlieb and the Albanese government. I can’t understand it. CHEP has the market sewn up and once a pallet is put into circulation under these circumstances SOMEONE will be paying on a daily basis. It’s a licence to print money.
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/retail/food-and-grocery-suppliers-warn-of-looming-pallets-shortage/news-story/78134c182ca6c22bf3ccbd14ca6efa2a
    An overhaul to the way students are taught grammar, punctuation and sentence structure is coming after a decade-long decline in writing standards that has left teenagers without vital literacy skills. Lucy Carroll reports that the changes to the NSW English syllabus for years 3 to 10 will be released on Monday, and grammar will become a core focus to help students express complex ideas, write clear sentences and lift academic results. Fair enough!
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/grammar-is-back-sweeping-overhaul-of-english-syllabus-for-years-3-10-20221201-p5c2xp.html
    Matt O’Sullivan reports that the extent of defects plaguing three new Manly passenger ferries has been revealed in internal government data that shows they have suffered at least a dozen steering failures over the past year.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/high-number-of-steering-failures-involving-new-manly-ferries-revealed-20221202-p5c35r.html
    Homelessness in regional Victoria is rising as rents spike, vacancy rates plummet and people find themselves unable to afford a home.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-worst-i-ve-seen-country-towns-recording-rises-in-homelessness-20221201-p5c2qh.html
    Setting the rules for any contest can be difficult, let alone for a referendum. It is especially hard when the rules must be agreed on the eve of an upcoming vote. Every item is open to debate about whether one side will be unfairly advantaged. George Williams writes that Labor sought to meet this challenge last week by introducing rules into parliament for the voice referendum. While they are largely cautious and conservative, the welcome proposal to suspend the Yes/No case pamphlet will no doubt attract heated debate.
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/referendum-rules-benefit-education-and-transparency/news-story/24170c1b965834c894e14dabed153170
    Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson is planning another attempt to force the ABC to disclose the salaries of its top-paid executives after two motions were voted down by the Senate late last week. Zoe Samios reports that Henderson has signalled she will be relentless in her efforts to have the wages disclosed in a more transparent way, claiming it was “untenable” that information is kept secret from taxpayers. Henderson is a bitter and twisted senator.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/senator-pursues-details-of-abc-s-top-exec-salaries-despite-failure-20221202-p5c35v.html
    We should ask for a refund on the F-35 fighter planes, not buy more, argues Brian Toohey who says Labor should never have supported John Howard’s 2002 commitment to buy a fighter plane that lacks legs.
    https://johnmenadue.com/we-should-ask-for-a-refund-on-the-f-35-fighter-planes-not-buy-more/
    Cameron Myles explains how construction on the world’s biggest radio telescope, which will span two continents, peer deep into space and time and is expected to capture the “entire observable universe”, will officially begin on Monday. The Square Kilometre Array will be split between remote observatories in Western Australia’s Mid West and South Africa’s Karoo region, combining to produce a telescope with a collecting area of about one square kilometre.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/the-outback-telescope-that-could-see-across-the-universe-perhaps-even-aliens-20221202-p5c37s.html
    Armed Americans, often pushing a right-wing agenda, are increasingly using open-carry laws to intimidate opponents and shut down debate, writes Mike McIntire.
    https://johnmenadue.com/at-protests-across-america-guns-are-doing-the-talking/

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  5. Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi . Well maybe not in Italy ! (use Google Translate)

    Influenza, the Australian has arrived: peak in Italy at the beginning of the year. Here are the symptoms and how to treat it »
    by Margherita De Bac

    Interview with the epidemiologist Giovanni Rezza: «The epidemic we are facing is ‘Australian’: these viruses have not been circulating for two years. The vaccine is very useful: priority for the elderly and frail”

    What flu viruses are circulating in the 2022-23 season?

    «The A H3 N2 strain, identified in Australia, the Darwin, should prevail over the others. If so, we should call it an Australian epidemic, given that every year we rename the waves based on the country where the first isolation took place”

    https://www.corriere.it/salute/22_dicembre_04/influenza-italia-australiana-sintomi-cure-685a0aba-7357-11ed-b14d-1643ca78068e.shtml

  6. I am very satisfied wth the Socceroos’ performance at the World Cup. On a population basis, plus world football not being a dominate code in Australia, being knocked out in the Round of 16 by a goal from one of the nest football players in the world, Messi, playing for previous World Cup winner Argentina (1978, 1986) is no humiliation. We came so close to an equaliser in the last minutes with the brilliant young player Garang Kuol who from Sudan with his Sudanese parents.
    It broke my heart that he did not get that so-close World Cup goal to his name.
    If nothing else watch the last two minutes of the game to see what I mean,

  7. “We should ask for a refund on the F-35 fighter planes, not buy more, argues Brian Toohey who says Labor should never have supported John Howard’s 2002 commitment to buy a fighter plane that lacks legs.”

    Too right! Australian defence officials should never have decided on the “flying lemons”. They were doubtless bamboozled by US hype yet the damn things still can’t fly in wet weather. Now we learn that their control systems are in constant communication with the manufacturers all the way across the Pacific in the US, leaving the aircraft vulnerable to hacking and possible destruction.

    Australia should not only demand a refund but also demand a stop to orders still outstanding but we should not order any more of these useless aircraft and demand compensation for the lemons we already have..

  8. Robert Reich on US voting

  13. I’ve been noticing debate bouncing around about dropping the minimum voting age from 18 to 16, particularly with the Greens introducing a bill to do so.

    I reckon it could be a reasonable thing, 16 and 17 year olds would likely be politically aware, and responsible enough to have Learner Permits allowing them to drive cars under supervision, so if they want to vote, they can do so. Just as long as it’s kept optional until they turn 18 when it becomes part of Australian civic duty as an adult.

  14. Today someone who formerly worked at Channel 10 said that all News was presented through the lens of what the journalists thought the proprietors and advertisers wanted to hear.

    Well educated voters can see the bias and will not do as they are told by people whose interests are diametrically opposed to their own interests, refer Victorian election coverage versus results

    • It would be very interesting if someone put the question to the journalists – “Well, if you were tasked by your bosses to deliver news to be beneficial to the Liberal Party, and since you clearly failed 3 times this year to move voters in their chosen direction in the SA, Federal and Victorian elections, why are you still employed? Surely three from three marks you as a failure, if not in the task of journalism, but what your bosses wanted you to do?”

  17. Even Scotty would be hard pressed to top this effort. No surprise to read The comments triggered widespread ridicule.

    Nurses must drop pay demands to ‘send clear message to Putin’, cabinet minister says

    ‘This is a time to come together and to send a very clear message to Mr Putin that we’re not going to be divided in this way,’ says Nadhim Zahawi
    Nurses and ambulance drivers are helping Vladimir Putin in his assault on Ukraine by demanding big pay rises, a cabinet minister has said.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nurses-strikes-inflation-zahawi-putin-b2238518.html

  18. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    Labor is being urged to shift its campaign tactics at the next election to win more voters in outer-suburban and regional electorates in order to seize a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to hold federal power for the long term. David Crowe writes that an internal review warns Anthony Albanese and his colleagues to learn the lessons of the last campaign to avoid repeating setbacks such as big swings against Labor in target seats, especially in Melbourne.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-election-review-finds-vulnerabilities-and-once-in-a-generation-opportunity-20221205-p5c3ux.html
    A meeting between federal and state leaders to strike a deal on power prices has been delayed after Anthony Albanese came down with COVID late on Monday, dragging out talks when NSW and Queensland are warning against any hit to at least $9 billion in combined annual coal royalties.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/pm-s-covid-diagnosis-delays-national-cabinet-s-energy-crisis-talks-20221205-p5c3q9.html
    There is violent agreement between all Australian governments about the need to curb runaway energy prices. But the debate around who foots the bill is less simple, explains Elizabeth Knight.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/why-energy-price-caps-have-set-off-another-squabble-between-the-states-canberra-and-producers-20221205-p5c3s3.html
    Whatever Anthony Albanese achieves when national cabinet next meets, it is unlikely to result in lower energy prices for families, writes Nick O’Malley.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/power-price-hikes-to-be-extremely-awful-or-horrifying-20221205-p5c3ni.html
    David Crowe reports that almost 80 per cent of voters support energy price caps to tackle soaring bills, polling has found, despite warnings from state premiers about the impact on their budgets. Hardly surprising.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australians-strongly-support-price-caps-on-energy-as-pm-negotiates-with-states-20221205-p5c3ql.html
    Central banks need to start thinking seriously about raising inflation targets because of climate change. Alan Kohler argues that lobal warming is inherently, inescapably, inflationary, so when the countries that have 2 per cent inflation as their formal target get inflation down to 3 per cent, will they cause a global recession for the last 1 per cent, when it’s not caused by excess demand but by climate change?
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/12/05/inflation-climate-alan-kohler/
    The Albanese Labor Government has had a very good first six months, however the challenges that lie ahead will be much more demanding. The Government needs to articulate its vision of how our social cohesion depends upon creating an Australian society that is caring and with reasonable equality of opportunity as the foundation for why public expenditure and additional tax revenue is necessary, writes Michael Keating.
    https://johnmenadue.com/economic-challenges-ahead/
    Amy Remeikis reveals that Stuart Robert told a lobbyist and potential donor not to donate to colleague Angus Taylor’s fundraising group as it would need to be declared and “it will hurt you”. Sage advice on THAT occasion!
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/06/stuart-robert-told-lobbyist-not-to-donate-to-angus-taylor-fundraising-group-as-it-will-be-declared-and-it-will-hurt-you
    The Department of Defence is refusing to confirm how many American troops are stationed in Australia, who pays for it, or even why. The rising deployment of troops and B-52 bombers however, and Pine Gap, make Australia a target in event of war between China and the US. Callum Foote reports.
    https://michaelwest.com.au/b-52s-in-australia-unknown-american-troops/
    Sarah Basford Canales reports that damning census results which expose the shocking culture inside Parliament House have finally seen the light of day after a four-year battle involving the information watchdog and peak public service body. The Parliament House’s 2018 and 2019 workplace surveys, released last month after being “buried” from public release for years, reveal a troubled workplace with low staff morale and a lack of confidence in its leadership.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8007002/buried-parliaments-secret-survey-results-unearthed-after-foi-battle/?cs=14329
    Angus Thompson reports on yesterday’s robodebt royal commission hearing in which a senior public servant boasted of his (successful) efforts to influence the report on the discredited system by the Ombudsman. I watched most of it and concluded that the ombudsman’s draft report was pretty much correct, but the government insinuated different language and conclusions that were subsequently used by it to defend the indefensible for a number of years.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/bureaucrat-boasted-he-shaped-watchdog-s-report-on-robo-debt-20221205-p5c3sd.html
    And Luke Henriques-Gomes tells us that the royal commission may be unable to fully scrutinise the commonwealth ombudsman’s crucial role in the robodebt saga unless the watchdog voluntarily agrees to cooperate.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/06/federal-watchdog-refuses-to-say-if-it-will-cooperate-with-robodebt-royal-commission
    And here’s his take on yesterday’s hearing.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/05/officials-given-chance-to-effectively-co-write-report-into-departments-handling-of-robodebt-inquiry-told
    The solution to Australia’s rental crisis is more regulation and fewer landlords, argues Matt Lloyd-Cape.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/05/the-solution-to-australias-rental-crisis-is-more-regulation-and-fewer-landlords
    The mainstream media’s desperate bid to disgrace Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has revealed the absolute lunatic depths to which News Corp will sink, writes Dr Victoria Fielding.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/murdochs-power-eroded-by-victorian-election-cooker-conspiracies,17038
    “We thank doctors for their COVID response. Why do we bash Philip Lowe?”, asks Jess Irvine.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/we-thank-doctors-for-their-covid-response-why-do-we-bash-philip-lowe-20221205-p5c3tc.html
    The editorial in the SMH gets behind the Grattan Institute’s recommendations into health care and GPs.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/gps-must-change-their-business-model-to-treat-chronic-disease-20221205-p5c3ul.html
    Victorians are being told to avoid visiting the Royal Children’s Hospital’s emergency department where possible as the service experiences unprecedented demand. Aisha Dow reports that an alert issued by the hospital yesterday afternoon said an extremely high number of presentations of extremely ill children meant those with less serious conditions could expect to wait up to 12 hours for care. The hospital has been seeing an unseasonable number of viral infections
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/royal-children-s-hospital-advises-patients-to-go-elsewhere-20221205-p5c3v7.html
    Barrister Steve Boland tells why we shouldn’t judge the legal system for the sorry saga of the Lehrmann trial.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/don-t-judge-the-legal-system-for-sorry-saga-of-the-lehrmann-trial-20221205-p5c3pf.html
    Michaela Whitbourn tells us that the judge leading a world-first inquiry into suspected hate crimes targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community has reacted furiously to a suggestion by NSW Police that the inquiry is diverting resources from 12 unsolved homicides. It’s all a bit charged up.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/row-erupts-between-police-and-head-of-lgbtiq-hate-crimes-inquiry-20221205-p5c3qd.html
    Australian farmers are on track to export $72 billion in agricultural products in 2022-23 despite flood losses and waterlogging that has destroyed and stripped value.
    https://www.afr.com/companies/agriculture/farmers-produce-record-wheat-crop-for-world-worried-about-food-20221206-p5c3x7
    Australia needs to work towards a more democratic culture within workplaces in order to increase union membership and higher levels of productivity, writes Dr Klaas Woldring.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/workplace-democracy-encourages-higher-wages-and-productivity,17037
    Georgina Mitchell reports that a court was told yesterday that ClubsNSW launched a “defamatory campaign” against its former counter-terrorism and money laundering compliance auditor Troy Stolz shortly after he quit and began working for a different company.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/clubsnsw-launched-defamatory-campaign-against-troy-stolz-court-told-20221205-p5c3pq.html
    In Iran and China, regime concessions appear to have worked, but the people have found their voices and felt their power, writes Peter Hartcher.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/what-happens-when-a-dictator-s-red-line-meets-the-people-s-red-line-20221204-p5c3id.html
    Xi Jinping has lost control over Covid but don’t expect a revolution, opines Greg Sheridan.
    https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/xi-jinping-has-lost-control-over-covid-but-dont-expect-a-revolution/news-story/e1d1f133333c841ae436b1c54bfae931
    Ambrose Evans-Pritchard reckons China is blowing its chance to be the king of the world. A very good read.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/china-is-blowing-its-chance-to-be-the-king-of-the-world-20221205-p5c3kw.html
    Putin’s oil crisis threatens to unravel the world order, warns the London Telegraph’s Liam Halligan.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/putin-s-oil-crisis-threatens-to-unravel-the-world-order-20221205-p5c3kv.html
    Hillsong church founder Pastor Brian Houston allegedly told a man who had been repeatedly raped as a child by Houston’s father “you know this is all your fault, you tempted my father,” Sydney’s Downing Centre local court heard yesterday. Enough to earn nomination for “Arsehole of the Week”.
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/05/hillsong-founder-pastor-brian-houston-sydney-court-trial

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    From the US






  19. “The Department of Defence is refusing to confirm how many American troops are stationed in Australia, who pays for it, or even why. The rising deployment of troops and B-52 bombers however, and Pine Gap, make Australia a target in event of war between China and the US. Callum Foote reports.”

    About time someone said this. In 1972, ahead of that year’s election, I campaigned against Pine Gap. Back then part of the reasoning for the campaign was having US bases in Australia was a dangerous “first strike” target for any country wishing to scare the bejesus out of the US. That issue has never gone away.

    Pine Gap has been expanded many times since then and yet we Australians still have NFI what goes on there. We are lied to and treated like mushrooms with the willing consent of whatever US-adoring party is in government.

  20. I’m so sick of being told by every political commentator that the older we get the more conservative we become.

    Not true!

    I grew up with Liberal-voting parents. Although they did vote for Gough in 1972 they quickly returned to their Liberal roots.

    The older I have become the further to the left I go. Many others say the same thing. Voting Labor is NOT just a millennial thing, despite what the MSM would have us believe. They all chant the mantra after every election – “Old people vote Liberal”. Bullshit!

    • Yes indeed, as the years have rolled by I am yet to feel any ,let alone more, desire to vote for the party of Bullshitman and Barnyard . In fact since the days of Fraser the likelihood of voting for the peasants has been falling. This despite Labor becoming increasingly unattractive to this voter.

  23. Seth Meyers –

    Stephen Colbert –

    Chris Hayes –

    Rachel Maddow –

    Lawrence O’Donnell –

    Brian Tyler Cohen –

    JImmy Kimmel –

  25. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    Labor will only ever get one Scott Morrison, so what’s its next trick, asks Shaun Carney.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-will-only-ever-get-one-scott-morrison-so-what-s-its-next-trick-20221206-p5c3z0.html
    The Morrison government lost the 2022 election on policy, leadership and socio-demographic grounds that, taken together, constitute an existential crisis for the Coalition and the Liberal Party that will not be solved merely by the normal cycle of political change. The grim reality for the Liberal Party is its double loss – it lost on the core issues of the election, and it lost on the structural trends changing Australian society and politics. The Coalition’s future is in doubt, warns Paul Kelly.
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/changing-nation-leaves-coalition-behind/news-story/5724247f5456fb467ce1cf1cad4fc750
    Paul Bongiorno writes that Albanese is heading in the right direction- but the same can’t be said of Dutton.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/12/06/albanese-dutton-paul-bongiorno/
    “Please don’t ask the LNP about their future until they come out of denialism first”, writes the entertaining John Lord.
    https://theaimn.com/please-dont-ask-the-lnp-about-their-future-until-they-come-out-of-denialism-first/
    Chris Bowen is seeking urgent briefings from his department as the government seeks to limit the fallout from the collapse of engineering contractor Clough, amid a threat to almost $10 billion of projects critical to Australia’s energy transition. The AFR says that the failure of Clough has added another level of urgency to discussions among energy ministers due to take place in Brisbane on Thursday, regarding reforms to spur investment in infrastructure needed to keep the lights on during the shift to low-carbon energy.
    https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/clough-collapse-threatens-10b-of-energy-transition-projects-20221206-p5c41s
    Ross Gittins lays into the various employer groups who made overblown scaremongering claims about this government’s first IR legislation.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/scaremongering-and-the-prize-for-the-biggest-storm-in-a-teacup-this-year-goes-to-20221206-p5c3yd.html
    Profit margins of dominant businesses have climbed, particularly among industries that are concentrated and technologically advanced, says assistant minister for competition, Andrew Leigh.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/price-mark-ups-expose-competition-problems-minister-20221205-p5c3ll
    With six charts, Rachel Clun why the Reserve Bank has lifted rates to 3.1 per cent and what it means for mortgage holders.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-this-year-s-rate-rises-mean-in-six-charts-20221206-p5c40w.html
    Michael Pascoe opines that the RBA is on the precipice of its second big mistake.
    https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2022/12/07/michael-pascoe-rba-mistake/
    Philip Lowe and the rest of the Reserve Bank board face a seven-week, white-knuckled ride to see how much more interest rate pain has to be inflicted on Australians before inflation comes to heel, says Shane Wright.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/summer-is-uneasy-as-lowe-waits-to-see-if-eight-rate-rises-is-enough-20221206-p5c3yo.html
    Rachel Lane explains the new Home Care Package changes that come into effect on 1 January 2023. Capping and removing some of the fees that providers can charge will mean more money can be spent on care. It will also make it easier to compare providers. However, while some fees and charges are being capped, hourly rates are unregulated, which may tempt some providers into increasing these costs. The spivs will still have a great time!
    https://www.smh.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/new-caps-on-aged-care-fees-could-save-you-thousands-each-year-20221206-p5c44f.html
    Scott Morrison is fighting to use secret cabinet documents to firm up his defence before he fronts the robodebt royal commission on Wednesday next week. Angus Thompson tells us that a closed hearing has been scheduled for Thursday after Morrison’s lawyer said his client’s “reputation is on the line” if he was unable to refer to the confidential papers to answer questions about the scheme.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-bid-to-use-secret-cabinet-documents-in-robo-debt-defence-20221206-p5c3yr.html
    Lawyers for Scott Morrison have said his reputation is “on the line” as they argued the former prime minister should be able to refer to secret cabinet documents when he gives evidence at the robodebt royal commission. Luke Henriques-Gomes reports that the inquiry was shown damning evidence yesterday that government lawyers warned officials in March 2019 that the robodebt scheme may have to be wound up – eight months before it was finally shut down.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/06/scott-morrisons-lawyers-say-his-reputation-is-on-the-line-over-robodebt-royal-commission-testimony
    While we worry about social media misinformation we overlook that one of the main sources of misinformation about politics is mainstream media, writes Noel Turnbull after it has been revealed that 55% of Teal voters were Labor and Green supporters
    https://johnmenadue.com/55-of-teal-voters-supported-labor-or-the-greens-in-2019/
    Dixon Advisory clients will get 4c in the dollar back from their savings if they accept PwC’s deed at the creditors’ meeting today. A classic case of hubris, greed, hard-selling and poor management, Kim Wingerei and Michael West report on the Dixon wash-up.
    https://michaelwest.com.au/dixon-advisory-creditors-gets-little-the-lawyers-and-accountants-do/
    Rick Feneley takes issue with the NSW police force and its “barefaced cheek” in suggesting to the judge heading the inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes this week that his demands on its time had compelled it to suspend investigations into 12 unsolved homicides.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/police-had-gall-to-tell-gay-hate-inquiry-to-lay-off-its-report-20221206-p5c40z.html
    And the SMH editorial says that NSW Police must help, not hinder, the hate crimes inquiry to rebuild trust.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-police-must-help-not-hinder-hate-crimes-inquiry-to-rebuild-trust-20221206-p5c47o.html
    Jenny Noyes reports on yesterday’s hearing in the case against Brian Houston, former Hillsong Church bigwig and close friend of Morrison.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sordid-mess-frank-houston-victim-s-mum-tried-to-stop-him-from-going-public-20221206-p5c408.html
    Kate Aubusson writes about a new report that shows the NSW health system is clawing its way back from another brutal winter, but treatment figures are still significantly short of pre-pandemic levels.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/it-s-heartbreaking-ambulances-hospitals-making-patients-wait-too-long-20221206-p5c454.html
    Midwives in Victoria say their work is “thrilling and amazing”, yet endless double shifts and burnout are causing such a shortage that new mothers risk missing out on the care they need.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/burnt-out-midwives-are-leaving-as-some-feel-birth-conditions-unsafe-20221206-p5c40s.html
    A power struggle over who will lead the Victorian Liberals is split along factional lines but may be influenced by newly minted MPs.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/it-s-tight-but-labor-finally-retains-northcote-by-just-184-votes-20221206-p5c43x.html
    The defeated Liberal candidate in Mulgrave, Michael Piastrino, has taken to TikTok for a little Donald Trump-style election denying and has challenged the premier to a rematch.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/we-wuz-robbed-says-andrews-liberal-challenger-in-mulgrave-20221206-p5c45v.html
    After watching how Brittany Higgins has suffered, how many women will be silenced, wonders Jennifer Robinson.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/06/after-watching-how-brittany-higgins-has-suffered-how-many-women-will-be-silenced
    The ACCC has accused Telstra of neglecting to notify 8897 customers of a reduction in NBN upload speeds and failing to lower their charges accordingly.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/accc-takes-telstra-to-federal-court-for-misleading-customers-20221206-p5c43g.html
    Rob Harris tells us that Britain’s opposition has pledged to abolish the “indefensible” House of Lords if it forms government at the next general election, arguing that political reform will address the concerns of Brexit voters and Scottish nationalists.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/indefensible-house-of-lords-to-be-replaced-with-elected-chamber-starmer-pledges-20221206-p5c3x9.html
    We can now count the Australian builders who lost their lives following Coalition calls to deregulate that dangerous industry, writes Alan Austin.
    https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/calculating-the-final-toll-of-preventable-coalition-construction-deaths,17041
    The cap on the price of Russian oil has come into effect. The multi-billion dollar question and the course of the war in Ukraine now hinge on how effective it will be, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz.
    https://www.smh.com.au/business/markets/the-west-has-taken-aim-at-putin-s-war-chest-now-it-s-a-waiting-game-20221206-p5c3yv.html
    Indonesia has just moved back many years in passing now laws including sex outside marriage can be penalised with up to 12 months behind bars even if it is not considered adultery. Cohabitation by an unmarried couple can lead to six months’ jail. Blasphemy gets a serve, too. Religion strikes again!
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/indonesia-ban-on-sex-outside-marriage-problematic-for-bali-tourists-20221206-p5c42a.html
    And again! Several siblings have been expelled from a faith-based school in St Kilda because their parents refused to sign a memorandum of understanding that limited who they could talk to about the alleged sexual abuse of their children.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/students-expelled-after-parents-refuse-to-keep-quiet-on-child-sex-abuse-claims-20221206-p5c46k.html
    The US supreme court is poised to strike another blow against gay rights, explains Moira Donegan.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/06/us-supreme-court-colorado-gay-rights
    The Georgia Senate runoff is a referendum on Trump’s zombie grasp on America, declares Robert Reich.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/06/georgia-senate-runoff-warnock-walker-robert-reich
    Rupert Murdoch will be deposed next week as part of Dominion Voting Systems’ $US1.6 billion ($2.4 billion) defamation suit against Fox News over the media company’s reports on a conspiracy theory about the 2020 presidential election.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/rupert-murdoch-to-appear-in-deposition-over-2020-us-election-conspiracy-theories-20221206-p5c42b.html
    The House January 6 select committee will make criminal referrals to the US justice department in connection with its investigation into the Capitol attack, the chairman of the panel said yesterday, heightening tensions ahead of the release of its final report expected to come later this month.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/06/january-6-panel-criminal-referrals-doj-capitol-attack
    A report published by the Washington Post claims that money from Donald Trump’s political action committee paid the legal bills of some witnesses involved in the US justice department’s criminal inquiry into the former president’s improper handling of classified documents.
    https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/06/trump-pac-reportedly-paid-legal-bills-mar-a-lago-witnesses

    Cartoon Corner

    David Pope

    David Rowe

    Fiona Katauskas

    Mark Knight

    Spooner????

    From the US
















  26. Excellent and very long (over an hour) by Professor Brendan Crabb on The Scientific Reality Of COVID-19 For All Australians. Professor Crabb.

    Professor Brendan Crabb AC, Director and CEO of the Burnet Institute, speaks directly and in-depth about the scientific reality of COVID-19 for everyone in Australia right now. Now in our fourth wave this year and with cases in the past week estimated at between 500,000 to 1 million (5 to 10 times the reported cases), what are the consequences of the unmitigated spread of COVID-19? What makes COVID truly exceptional? How do we stop transmission, and what are the risks of repeated infection?

    https://www.rrr.org.au/explore/podcasts/uncommon-sense/episodes/6333-professor-brendan-crabb-on-the-scientific-reality-of-covid-19-for-all-australians

    Also – if Albo had worn a mask instead of setting a bad example and going everywhere maskless maybe he would have avoided Covid for the second time. He would have been infectious when he cuddled this baby –

    Delightful to meet Mia today. Her parents told me she was born half an hour after the polls closed on May 21st, giving us both a reason to celebrate the day. pic.twitter.com/t00s8lGO3r— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) December 3, 2022

    He would also have been infectious when he met Sanna Marin earlier this week.

    He is setting an example of how to spread Covid.

  27. Lehrmann trial identifies a few problems

    1. ACT demands unanimous Guilty verdict
    2. rape victim is on trial not the alleged rapist
    3. inability to mention other similar complaints about the defendant

  30. Kathryn Campbell is not doing well at the Robodebt RC.

    Robodebt royal commission probes why averaging debt calculation method used

    The former boss of the Department of Human Services has been grilled about why she didn’t do more to stop people receiving inaccurate debts under the failed robodebt program.

    Kathryn Campbell, who is appearing at a royal commission into the scheme, faced sustained questioning about why she wasn’t more focused on ensuring debts were calculated accurately.

    Campbell has previously accepted she kept a close eye on the scheme once it hit headlines from January 2017.

    Campbell sought to bat away questions from senior counsel assisting, Justin Greggery KC, by saying the Department of Social Services had obtained legal advice saying the “income averaging” method was legal.

    While this turned out to be wrong, Greggery pointed out that even if the scheme was lawful, the nature of the averaging debt calculation method meant people could still receive debts that “did not exist”.

    He said:
    “Didn’t it trouble you that using averaging might lead to the calculation of debts which did not exist in whole or in part, irrespective of the legal advice about their validity?”

    Campbell replied:
    “I was troubled that citizens weren’t able to engage with the system [by provided payslips to more accurate have their debts calculated].”

    Greggery said:
    “Why was that more important to you than the concern about the prospect that averaging might create debts that didn’t exist?”

    Campbell:
    “Because I didn’t want to use averaging.”

    Greggery:
    “Then why did you use it?”

    Campbell:
    “Because the legal advice … said averaging could be used as a last resort. As so we didn’t want to do that, which is why we worked hard to ensure that the recipients could engage with the system and work through it… And in fact I don’t think we used [averaging] from early 2017. until August or September of 2017.”

    Other legal advice provided by DSS in 2015 suggested the robodebt scheme would be unlawful. In early 2017, DSS provided new advice suggesting it was legal.

    Campbell’s evidence continues

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2022/dec/07/australia-news-live-richard-marles-and-penny-wong-in-washington-talks-ama-says-health-system-at-breaking-point#top-of-blog

    • Chris Rudge @chrisrudge

      #RobodebtRC To my mind there was a superimposition of the criminal process — the one that preceded robodebt (OCI) — over the robodebt civil process. People ‘accepting’ averaging/apportionment amounted to a guilty plea; allegations of a debt that were accepted became lawful . . .

      . . just as a guilty plea renders a person guilty, notwithstanding the evidence. This is the problem that has dogged welfare for 20 years in Australia. We went from mass prosecution in the 2000s to mass indebting. That’s the unspoken and unthought view beneath KC’s evidence.

      The position is expressed in many ways; yesterday it reached apothesosis when Mr Hutton insisted that what is lawful was, according to law, also factual. The problem is finding ways for witnesses to accept the converse; that, if not lawful, the debts were also non-factual.

      There is clearly a residuum of doubt among the witnesses that the debts did have a basis in fact, even if not in law. You can hear it in their reasons. And it was also a point raised in the class action.

      There might be some tiny truth in this. For instance, a person said to have owed 10k might, if you did the calculations properly using employment records, actually owe something — maybe 1k. I have no doubt this kind of thing is said behind closed doors all the time. But the . . .

      . . . reality is that, just as in a criminal trial, if the evidence was obtained unlawfully, it just cannot be relied on. It has to be fair and square.

    • Victims of Robodebt could not be part of the class action if they had repaid any part of their debt, even when it was garnisheed from tax return, which probably saved the government $6 billion as only repaid $1.7 billion

  34. Not much from the usual suspects they are all covering the Georgia Senate vote, which it appears has been won by Raphael Warnock for the Dems.

    Stephen Colbert –

    Brian Tyler Cohen –

    Jimmy Kimmel –

  37. John Crace

    Better late and all that. You’d have thought the Tories might have wanted to remove the whip from Michelle Mone. After all, they wouldn’t want everyone to think that every Conservative peer may be on the make. Or that phoning up Michael Gove and Lord Agnew “for a government contract” is standard practice. Even if it appears to be so.

    But apparently not. Instead, Lady Mone has decided to jump. To give her time to come up with some explanation of how a £203m contract went to a company, PPE Medpro, that specialised in manufacturing often unusable PPE – it’s an unusual USP – and £29m miraculously landed in one of her bank accounts.

    A nice coincidence if you can get it. I guess, Mone is just born lucky. For some, the pandemic was the gift that just kept giving. OK, so many thousands of people died. But why dwell on the bleak side? Let’s just remember those who were apparently able to cash in. The entrepreneurs with the golden access.

    Instead, our not so noble baroness has decided to take a leave of absence from the House of Lords. Though how you could tell the difference is anyone’s guess. Mone is almost as rare a sighting in Westminster as Lord Lebedev. By official counts she’s been spotted just nine times in the past year. And she hasn’t said a word for more than two and a half years. Why bother to open your mouth when you’re only paid £350 just for turning up? She is that rare oxymoron. A silent Mone.

    …

    https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/dec/06/tories-duck-for-cover-as-commons-probes-michelle-mones-covid-fortunes

  38. Good morning Dawn Patrollers

    According to David Crowe, the federal government is scrambling to close a deal on the energy crisis after asking the states to cap the price of coal at $125 per tonne – less than half the market rate – in a move that has escalated claims for billions of dollars in compensation across the energy sector.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-asks-states-to-cut-coal-price-in-half-to-tackle-energy-crisis-20221207-p5c4i3.html
    But Queensland is digging in against any revenue shortfall caused by temporary caps on coal and gas designed to lower power prices and is insisting that the state be compensated as it unveils a $5.2 billion surplus built on coal royalties.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/qld-fights-to-keep-coal-windfall-20221207-p5c4aj
    National Cabinet is to consider capping the gas price at $12 when National Cabinet meets Friday. At that high price, the government is gifting super profits to the gas cartel at the expense of Australian customers and industry. A price of $7, new research shows, still leaves solid profits for gas producers. Is $12 the gas cartel number? Rex Patrick writes.
    https://michaelwest.com.au/its-a-trap-mooted-gas-cap-plays-into-the-hands-of-the-cartel-locks-in-high-energy-prices/
    Angus Thompson reports that Scott Morrison was warned at the outset of the illegal robodebt scheme that the program required a change in the law to go ahead. Yesterday the royal commission into the scheme heard that Department of Human Services executives sent an alert in early 2015 to Morrison, then-social services minister, saying the government needed to change policies and legislation surrounding debt recovery following advice from another agency.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/morrison-was-told-robo-debt-required-legal-change-at-outset-of-scheme-20221207-p5c4fm.html
    Here’s Luke Henriques-Gomes’ take on yesterday’s robodebt royal commission hearing.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/07/former-department-of-human-services-boss-questioned-over-her-role-advising-scott-morrison-on-robodebt
    The post-pandemic economic boom is plateauing as Australians brace for the full weight of interest rate rises to hit in the new year, writes John Kehoe who reckons this could be as good as the economy gets.
    https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/this-could-be-as-good-as-the-economy-gets-20221207-p5c4gu
    The United States must lift its game and step up its economic engagement with the Asia-Pacific if it wants to compete with China, Foreign Minister Penny Wong will tell Australia’s closest ally in a speech in Washington. Matthew Knott reports that, in a blunt warning to the Biden administration, Wong will say investing more in regional free trade agreements and foreign aid needs to become a “core alliance priority” for the US and Australia.
    https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/penny-wong-us-must-have-skin-in-the-game-to-compete-with-china-in-asia-pacific-20221207-p5c4jx.html
    Australians splashing cash on discretionary items has helped drive annual economic growth to 5.9 per cent – but the treasurer and analysts warn it won’t last, write Rachel Clun and Shane Wright.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dining-out-and-new-car-sales-fuel-economic-growth-20221207-p5c4b1.html
    The RBA has raised interest rates again. What does this mean for the economy in 2023? John Quiggin and Stephen H=Koukoulas have some answers.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/07/the-rba-has-raised-interest-rates-again-what-does-this-mean-for-the-economy-in-2023
    Rachel Clun uses five graphs to show what has been driving the growth and how the data suggests that growth will slow.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-s-economic-growth-in-five-graphs-20221207-p5c4ca.html
    The RBA keeps slamming on the brakes, but the economy has already very much slowed down, argues Greg Jericho.
    https://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2022/dec/08/the-rba-keeps-slamming-on-the-brakes-but-the-economy-has-already-very-much-slowed-down
    Crispin Hull tells us why Peter Dutton might be on a lose-lose if he opposes the Voice. He says the National Party’s hypocritical and evidence-lacking decision to oppose the Voice to Parliament exemplifies the political dilemma the Liberal Party has faced since 2007.
    https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8007090/why-dutton-might-be-on-a-lose-lose-if-he-opposes-the-voice/?cs=27845
    Tim Jones takes a good look at the Liberal Party’s electoral and demographical woes.
    https://theaimn.com/a-dying-breed-young-voters-and-the-lnp/
    Medicare reform must not just be about more money to do the same things the same way, declares John Menadue.
    https://johnmenadue.com/medicare-reform-must-not-just-be-about-more-money-to-do-the-same-things-the-same-way/
    Tom McIlroy writes that, sidelined because of its waning influence, Infrastructure Australia will slash its list of unwieldy priorities and offer a targeted pick of big projects to the federal government under a major shake-up in which the board will be disbanded.
    https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/infrastructure-australia-board-disbanded-over-waning-influence-20221207-p5c4en
    The Whitlam government fostered a great strengthening of the public service and its policy capacity. Sadly, much of that has been lost with the excessive political controls of more recent governments. Can the Albanese Government reverse some of the decline, wonders a hopeful Andrew Podger.
    https://johnmenadue.com/thoughts-on-the-whitlam-government-experience-speech-at-the-launch-of-the-whitlam-era/
    Peta Credlin is still banging on about the Voice.
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/recognition-doomed-by-overreach-onvoice/news-story/2cc3360ba317838ee003ca9cfaa3cb30
    From Noel Turnbull – Nationals and the Voice: How to derail policy you oppose but the public doesn’t?
    https://johnmenadue.com/how-to-derail-a-policy-you-oppose-but-the-public-doesnt/
    The differences between the NSW premier and his Liberal deputy are inescapable, and Alexandra Smith wonders if they can keep a lid on them before the March election.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/perrottet-must-face-off-with-a-frenemy-then-a-foe-20221207-p5c4cp.html
    Alexandra Smith says that Dominic Perrottet is on the right side of the debate over a cashless gaming card, whether the almighty clubs and pubs like it or not. Voters do not see Perrottet’s support for the card as moral crusading or an ill-considered thought bubble.
    https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/perrottet-has-made-the-right-call-on-backing-a-cashless-gaming-card-20221206-p5c43j.html
    “Wage theft has reached pandemic proportions, so why hasn’t the Albanese government criminalised it?”, asks Giuseppe Carabetta.
    https://theconversation.com/wage-theft-has-reached-pandemic-proportions-so-why-hasnt-the-albanese-government-criminalised-it-195804
    Reporting on yesterday’s court hearing, Jenny Noyes writes that Hillsong founder Brian Houston told a meeting of Pentecostal church leaders in 1999 he had received legal advice that his father, then a high-profile pastor, would “surely be incarcerated” if his alleged child abuse was dealt with through the courts.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/brian-houston-was-told-father-would-be-jailed-if-charged-over-child-abuse-court-20221207-p5c4d6.html
    More on this from Ben Doherty.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/07/brian-houston-was-told-father-would-surely-be-incarcerated-if-of-boy-went-to-court-trial-hears
    The Australian Medical Association has blasted “weak political leadership” in the current response to the coronavirus pandemic, saying governments should reconsider mask mandates to address a feared rise in long Covid cases. The peak doctor’s body has called for more funding into research and treatment of the long-term lingering symptoms of Covid, claiming the nation’s health system is not equipped to manage chronic conditions on a large scale. One expert warned 1 million Australians could experience long Covid by 2023.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/08/weak-political-leadership-putting-australians-at-risk-of-long-covid-unknowns-ama-says
    The ACCC expects market forces to reduce the extremely high cost of airline travel. Passengers facing exorbitant fares aren’t feeling so patient, writes Jennifer Hewett.
    https://www.afr.com/companies/transport/cost-of-airline-tickets-keeps-looking-up-20221207-p5c4km
    Aisha Dow reports that thousands of Victorians are unknowingly living with cancer after diagnoses of the disease fell far below expected levels during the first two years of the pandemic.
    https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/thousands-of-cancer-cases-in-victoria-going-undiagnosed-20221207-p5c4ii.html
    Brittany Higgins has spoken for the first time since the planned re-trial of Bruce Lehrmann was abandoned, stating she was prepared to testify as a witness in “any potential civil cases brought by Mr Lehrmann”.
    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/07/brittany-higgins-says-she-is-willing-to-testify-if-bruce-lehrmann-launches-defamation-cases
    The Universities of Adelaide and South Australia have taken a step closer to becoming a single institution that would be ranked among the world’s best.
    https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/education/two-sa-universities-look-to-merge-and-create-top-100-contender-20221207-p5c4lc
    Sure, tell us what the stars are earning, but the ABC has a bigger problem with inequality in its ranks – and we need transparency to fix it, argues Jenna Price.
    https://www.smh.com.au/national/a-liberal-senator-wants-to-know-what-leigh-sales-earns-me-too-20221206-p5c489.html
    David Warner’s angry decision to withdraw an application over his lifetime leadership ban highlights Cricket Australia’s ongoing failure of leadership, says Malcolm Conn.
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/warner-outrage-exposes-cricket-s-latest-leadership-failure-20221207-p5c4l0.html
    Can machines invent things without human help? These professors provide AI examples that show the answer is ‘yes’.
    https://theconversation.com/can-machines-invent-things-without-human-help-these-ai-examples-show-the-answer-is-yes-196036
    Winter is here, the Tories are out of control and Sunak is running out of options, opines Rafael Behr.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/07/britain-conservatives-rishi-sunak-prime-minister
    The defeat of Donald Trump’s hand-picked Republican candidate, Herschel Walker, for the Senate run-off in Georgia, and the triumph of Democrat Raphael Warnock, is another huge blow for the dystopian vision of the former president for his party, himself and the American nation, writes Greg Sheridan about a three-wat hammering for Trump. He concludes with, “Trump has fully earned the sobriquet he most loathes. Trump is a loser.”
    https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/threeway-hammering-proves-donald-trump-is-a-loser/news-story/a62845aa7203b2a4b5c2c0faeb526b9f
    Georgia’s runoff was a resounding rebuke of Trumpism. “Will Republicans hear it?”, asks Lloyd Green.
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/07/georgias-runoff-was-a-resounding-rebuke-of-trumpism-will-republicans-hear-it
    Last night, Germany detained 25 members and supporters of a far-right group that the prosecutor’s office said was preparing a violent overthrow of the state to install as national leader a prince who had sought backing from Russia. QAnon and conspiracy theories have played a part.
    https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/far-right-extremists-arrested-in-germany-on-suspicion-of-planning-armed-coup-20221207-p5c4lg.html
    Mick Ryan explains why Putin’s thugs target Ukraine’s energy resources.
    https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/why-putin-s-thugs-target-ukraine-s-energy-resources-20221130-p5c2je.html
    The Ukraine War is an extremely dangerous war between nuclear superpowers in a world desperately in need of peace and cooperation, writes Jeffrey Sachs who says that there is a new glimmer of hope for a quick negotiated end to the war.
    https://johnmenadue.com/a-mediators-guide-to-peace-in-ukraine/

    Cartoon Corner

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    John Shakespeare




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    From the US




















  39. Interesting thread –

    • No great mystery. After every disaster a high priority is the search for nice fat scapegoat(s) on whom all guilt/blame/responsibility is laid…………….. come on down Bullshitman.

  42. So this is how the ABC now treats sex predators and rapists – with utmost sympathy. Not a word about the woman who was raped, except a quote from the prosecutor – “Prosecutor Crystal Cusato submitted only an immediate jail term was appropriate, saying the offences had “shattered [the victim’s] entire life”.

    Not. Good. Enough.

    I mean, it's not as if he held up traffic in a climate protest 😡 https://t.co/MuABoLkh58— Paul Meek (@PaulMeekPerth) December 7, 2022

    • Australia has been a nuclear target for over 50 years now, thanks to the ever-increasing US bases here.

      The best thing our government could do would be to rip up the damned ANZUS Treaty because it is not worth the paper it is written on. But no Australian government will do that, they all cling to the myth of the US “saving” Australia if/when we are attacked.

  44. Sorry for the late posting, I’ve been busy with Telstra trying to fix my wifi issues.

    Seth Meyers –

    Stephen Colbert –

    Chris Hayes –

    Brian Tyler Cohen –

    I’m going to stop posting Jimmy Kimmel it is mostly bad comedy with little or no political commentry.

  45. Latest from the Victorian election, Labor have been confirmed to win Pakenham after a correction of votes in the recount and preference distribution.

    Labor: 19,587 votes, 50.4%
    Liberal: 19,280 votes, 49.6%

    Labor confirmed win by 307 votes.

    https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/results/2022-state-election-results/results-by-district/pakenham-district-results/pakenham-results–distribution

    A delightful result that I’ll take as revenge for Ripon in 2018 when Labor’s lead there was reversed.

    Last seats in doubt are Bass, which will be determined tomorrow (likely Labor win), and Narracan, whenever the supplementary election is held (likely Liberal win).

  47. The chief prosecutor in the trial of Bruce Lehrmann complained that police officers engaged in “a very clear campaign to pressure” him not to prosecute the alleged rape of Brittany Higgins, saying there was “inappropriate interference” and he felt investigators “clearly aligned with the successful defence of this matter” during the trial.

    …

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/08/bruce-lehrmann-trial-brittany-higgins-dpp-director-public-prosecution-shane-drumgold-act-police

    • Ducky,

      How completely and utterly unsurprising.

      After all, the Ruling Party should never be upset held to account.

  48. When are governments on both sides going to stop promoting this nasty woman? It is clear from her Robodebt RC evidence that she is incompetent, a liar, and forgetful, yet they keep giving her more appointments, and at a increasingly higher salary too.

    Senior public servant under scrutiny at robodebt inquiry appointed head of Aukus project office
    Former head of Department of Human Services Kathryn Campbell has come under extensive questioning at the royal commission into robodebt
    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/09/senior-public-servant-under-scrutiny-at-robodebt-inquiry-appointed-head-of-aukus-project-office

    • I agree she should be booted, personally I’d like to see her stripped of her superannuation pension, then covered in honey and dumped in an anthill! But thats never going to happen, same as scomo will never get his just deserts either.

      This is not a promotion for Campbell, she would be at least 1 and probably 2 levels under the Defence Secretary, which as a former Secretary of 2 large agencies is technically a demotion even if her salary is the same. Project Office is usually about managing contracts, resources and deadlines, boring admin and no sexy policy decisions. AUKUS makes it sound important. I suspect the responsibilies of her job will be ‘redefined’ over time until she is in the ‘SES exit lounge’ and quietly retires.
      Albo was right not to do a ‘night of the long knives’, even if many senior APS deserved it and we would have enjoyed seeing it. The media would have made a big deal of it and it would have distracted from the new govt’s more important policy agenda.
      Thats my 37.5 yrs in the APS take on the situation!

      Albo is very focused on delivering outcomes and doesn’t engage with distractions – and seems to have the whole ministry on the same track. I strongly recommend you read Murphy’s quarterly essay on Albo.

      Also, billion dollar stuff-ups are baked into Defence’s project methodology so KC will fit right in! (sarcastic lols)
      And Jane Halton would eat her for breakfast!

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