At what point do we stop pretending that extreme right-wing ideology does not lead to death?
The killers of the Queensland police officers and the helpful in recent hours shocked us all. But even more shocking is to watch the media try to shift the blame.
From job dissatisfaction to a love triangle to drug consumption to mental illness, all have been canvassed as a reason for the murders.
Reports of the perpetrator being a member of numerous extremist rightwing online groups, involved in conspiracy theories of the kind perpetuated by extremist right-wing commentators in the mainstream media and held as normal even by some politicians, seem to be ignored in the plethora of excuses. We are being led to believe this was a good citizen reacting violently to social pressures while suffering mental illness.
People with mental illness, in my opinion, have a right to be outraged by this media assumption.
In fact, those most at risk of harm from people with mental health issues are THEMSELVES!!!! They are more likely to self-harm or kill themselves than hurt other people. Read that sentence again and imbed it into your mind. Recall it every damned time some media person or other lowlife tries to use mental illness as an out for white domestic terrorists.
We ask for fair and accurate reporting, We are not getting that.
I also ask; When will we accept the inevitable conclusion to years of broadcasting and sharing hate, social division, white self-pity and demonisation of social progress and to perpetrating the extreme rightwing ideology which justifies and gives permission for murder? When will these issues be seriously discussed by our media? When was the last time you turned on your media device to see the MSM tackling this issue.
What politicians, whom we cannot name because Australia’s libel laws protect them, trade division for votes? Who goes on tv sitting next to white extremists, or coddles hate-merchants or offers comfort to racist, sexist bigots? They have the ‘freedom of speech’ to do it, after all. But eventually, someone with a social gripe enters a mosque and kills worshippers, they go to a school and kill children, They spree kill people at a concert, they storm a political building to overthrow an election result, they go to an island where the leftwing Labour Party is having a youth camp where they hunt down and shoot teenagers, and they ambush cops.
We have a lesson to learn and a society to repair.
Merry Christmas, but not for some.
Links c/o Pubsters. For any suitable articles on this topic, in the comments, I will link here.
THE PUB 
I agree totally with everything you say.
There’s no hindsight involved either because, as you point out, we are all well aware of massacres occurring in other countries.
We might never know how many threats have been already been thwarted by security agencies but, with all layers of the internet apparently easily accessible and searchable for those who know how, I hope we’ll never have another Port Arthur or Wieambilla.
Helen
No wonder Harry and Meghan left.
The sea of burgundy at Westminster Abbey was a not-so-subtle rebuke to Meghan
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/16/burgundy-royal-carol-service-meghan-clothes
And how to save lives…
https://www.statnews.com/2022/12/13/covid-vaccines-prevented-3-million-deaths/?utm_source=STAT+Newsletters&utm_campaign=43c570afd8-Daily_Recap&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8cab1d7961-43c570afd8-149651649
I first looked into sovereign citizens over 10 years ago, after being asked by one of my son’s friends to do some research for him. This friend thought declaring himself a sov cit would allow him to avoid paying taxes. As it turned out the ATO does not allow Australians suffering from this delusion to get away with anything – if they try they find themselves in court and always end up losing. I was aware of their existence before then, but I was horrified by what I found out.
Even back then they were killing people in the US and had an odd connection to fringe churches and racism.
To think the AFP and ASIO didn’t think they were a threat is horrifying. It took a fatal execution of two members of a state police force to do that, and those deaths could have been avoided if only those in charge had bothered to do the necessary work.
Like most such movements this one has been imported from the US. Australian followers are too dumb to realise that Australians do not tolerate groups like this.
Read this for a full description of what these loons believe –
https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/sovereign-citizens-movement
The UK’s Covid policy is beyond stupid All this means is that thousands will get Covid for Christmas.
The UK government is getting nothing right. Nothing.
What morons!
What morons! They must want to kill off the oldies to save.money.
That was my reaction on seeing this.
I’d be happy to see many more masks & to remove them in care homes is disastrous. Unfortunately, & as others have noted, I think society as a whole is over Covid & as a group is prepared to take its chances. What this means for the elderly & exposed? Well, they can take their chances too…
I’m staying home as much as possible – easy when you are old and live alone. I go out only for medical appointments and to visit family.
No one takes Covid seriously any more, as you say the masses are over it. The media are no help – they continually push the message that “Covid is over”.
It is a deadly disease, the long-term consequences are barely understood. The more we learn the more terrified we should be, but here we are in the middle of a new wave and our governments, state and federal, carry on ignoring Covid.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers.
The SMH editorial is a perspective on a year laden with obstacles.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/perspectives-on-a-year-laden-with-obstacles-20221216-p5c723.html
Albanese and Wong haven’t put a foot wrong on China, but the big tests come next year, says Anthony Galloway.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-and-wong-haven-t-put-a-foot-wrong-on-china-but-the-big-tests-come-next-year-20221216-p5c6yl.html
Power bill shocks will remain a threat unless Australia weans itself off coal and gas reliance, says the head of the east-coast electricity grid, reports Josh Gordon.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/australia-vulnerable-to-power-bill-shocks-until-we-break-gas-habit-20221212-p5c5pb.html
Angus Thompson goes to the very heart of the robodebt issue referring to a former top public servant saying in late 2019, “Senior public servants have had to really draw on their reserves of courage in order to give frank and fearless advice.”
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/mystery-at-the-heart-of-robo-debt-welfare-crackdown-20221215-p5c6hz.html
And the entertaining John Lord has his say about the royal commission and where Trump stands.
https://theaimn.com/it-was-a-week-before-christmas-and-these-things-caught-my-eye/
Jon Faine writes, “Start listening, stop pretending: Indigenous disadvantage is a stain on our humanity”.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/start-listening-stop-pretending-indigenous-disadvantage-is-a-stain-on-our-humanity-20221216-p5c6yh.html
What IS it about soccer supporters?
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/melbourne-derby-stopped-as-fan-protest-turns-violent-20221215-p5c6mu.html
The minister for local government has been urged to investigate an allegation of “jobs for the boys” after the appointment of a former Liberal MP, John Ajaka, to a lucrative job as chief executive at Liverpool City Council. Controversial Liberal mayor Ned Mannoun, who has previously appointed staff with Liberal links, last week announced Ajaka’s appointment as CEO on a five-year contract with an annual salary of $537,000.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/stitch-up-from-the-start-calls-to-review-ex-liberal-mp-s-lucrative-537-000-job-20221216-p5c6vw.html
A record upswing in votes at the Federal Election in May for minor parties or Independents shows voters are abandoning the two-party system and the negatives that go with it, writes Dr Klaas Woldring.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/putting-the-fork-to-pork-barrelling-and-branch-stacking,17082
It is now a year since the Jenkins Report on parliamentary standards was published. With the release last week of the Final Report of the Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards with its proposed codes of conduct, and the Review of the MOP(S) Act by PM&C reporting earlier in November, we now have the wherewithal to implement all the Jenkins recommendations, writes Andrew Podger who says there has been good progress on behaviour, but more is needed on institutional issues.
https://johnmenadue.com/action-on-the-jenkins-report-good-progress-on-behaviour-but-more-needed-on-institutional-issues/
New artificial intelligence program ChatGPT can answer almost any question. It can compare philosophers and explain how to get peanut butter out of your VCR. It may soon be coming for your job, warns Stephen Brook. Interesting.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/this-month-the-world-changed-and-you-barely-noticed-20221214-p5c6en.html
Indonesia’s capital Jakarta is sinking. Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo plans to build a new capital on Borneo. Despite best intentions and offers of tax incentives and other perks, financing of the $33 billion project remains uncertain, reports Duncan Graham.
https://michaelwest.com.au/tale-of-two-cities-jakarta-is-sinking-while-funding-for-new-capital-yet-to-surface/
If you read this and don’t seethe with anger, there’s something wrong with you. How can a modern society tolerate stuff like this?
https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/growing-up-in-a-cult-we-kept-our-pain-silent-20221214-p5c6be.html
Cartoon Corner
Peter Broelman
Mark David
Megan Herbert
Mark Knight
From the US
This Pollyanna “Head in the Sand” attitude to Covid is very worrying.
We are sickening the population, there are already 35,000 Australians out of workforce with long covid, school children are getting multiple covid infections and are more susceptible to other infections.
Western prosperity was built on nurturing a well fed, well educated, healthy population post 1945. Our attitudes and social systems assume everyone is healthy and the disabled and chronically ill are shunted to one side.
Worked OKish when sidelining 5% – 15% of the population – the sort of environment that allowed Robodebt to be conceived and executed. But if 30% of population is too ill to work what does society look like
Robodebt could only occur when the field staff were in the states and policy makers were in Canberra. The Canberra policy makers had never worked in the field or last worked in the field decades ago
“If you read this and don’t seethe with anger, there’s something wrong with you. How can a modern society tolerate stuff like this?”
Well, I’m seething, and also sickened. How can the Christian religion, based on love, tolerance and kindness if you read the words of Jesus, be so warped?
My answer has to be toxic masculinity – all these faux “Christian” cults have one thing in common – a desire to control and repress women. Even St Paul was inclined that way with his insistence women were to remain silent in church. He would not even allow women to cut their hair. Rats to that! No wonder he seems to have never married – no sane woman would have him.
referring to
https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/growing-up-in-a-cult-we-kept-our-pain-silent-20221214-p5c6be.html
Ending Dutton’s daft mantra about “What do we do when the sun isn’t shining”.
Eight batteries to be built around Australia to increase renewable energy storage capacity
Energy minister Chris Bowen says the batteries – shared between four states – will increase capacity tenfold to help stabilise the grid
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/17/eight-batteries-to-be-built-around-australia-to-increase-renewable-energy-storage-capacity
I do not condone the pitch invasion nor the violence of those soccer fans.
There are better ways to express anger, more productive ways. They could go on a fan-strike and not attend games or buy merchandis or stage silent protests with placards at matches.
However the reasons for football fan’s (soccer) anger are understandable.
Since the national competition began, the teams to top the competition played at their home state venues. Exactly how they decided which side plays at home I have not researched. But if your team got in the finals you had a chance to see them play at home.
Football Australia, being $$$ greedy pigs, signed a deal to play the finals in Sydney for a number of years. They are disregarding and disrespecting the ground level fans who actually keep the game alive.
(BTW The FA got $A20million in prizemoney for Australia getting into the Round of 16vof the 2022 World Cup.)
I predict more discontent. I hope it does not escalate ro violence but rather extensive peaceful protests by fans over this sell-out of football’s base.
AFL may always play their finals on Melbourne at the MCG by soccer fans expect better from Football Australia.
P.S. This violent action was completely predictable. As well as the thugs involved in the violence, the wankers in the FA administration who took this deal should be kicked out of the game.
https://www.sportingnews.com/au/soccer/news/world-cup-winners-prize-money-purse-teams-players-qatar-2022/uw8fhhfqczen1nxsuicczreu
A newly elected Labor member of federal Parliament said that don’t need to confront Murdoch because Newscorpse has lost its influence as seen in the state and federal election results.
I think the current breed of Liberals is patently unelectable but I also think media ownership laws need strengthening and penalties should apply for publishing lies as in New Zealand and Canada.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
The Albanese government is consolidating power and is preferred by voters to manage all 14 major policy areas of concern, except defence and national security, writes Phil Coorey after a new poll.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/voters-want-price-caps-and-more-gas-extracted-new-poll-20221218-p5c796
Sean Kelly examines Albanese’s style of prime ministership.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/say-less-do-more-is-this-albanese-s-most-radical-change-to-australian-politics-20221216-p5c6xv.html
‘He played his ukulele as the ship went down’: Frank Bongiorno on the political year that was.
https://theconversation.com/he-played-his-ukulele-as-the-ship-went-down-frank-bongiorno-on-the-political-year-that-was-194063
The nation’s leading bosses have heaped praise on Labor’s first year in office, but want more action on migration, skills, energy and housing. Here quite a few CEOs have their say about the last seven months os a new government.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/australia-s-top-ceos-rate-the-albanese-government-20221216-p5c6zw
David Crowe writes about the government’s indications that subs will be preferred over armoured land equipment.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-need-to-be-prepared-to-invest-albanese-highlights-need-for-subs-not-tanks-20221214-p5c6ah.html
The AFR’s editorial says, “The hopes that business may have held in May are now receding as Labor’s true spots emerge in the critical areas of workplace regulation and Australia’s net zero carbon transition.”
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/labor-in-office-proves-not-so-business-friendly-20221216-p5c70r
Many business leaders are becoming worried the Albanese government is more interventionist than expected. But Canberra is confident it has the public onside, says Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/trust-frays-as-ceos-become-wary-of-canberra-20221217-p5c74u
The Australian’s Chris Mitchell goes off on what he describes as reporting bias over the government’s action on energy. The very gall of the man!
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/reporting-flaws-and-bias-exposed-by-the-politics-of-power/news-story/f9f0e2e06f8fb67a551fd9efbaedcc16
“Sorry, but Reserve Bank governor Dr Philip Lowe’s call for ordinary Australians to make further sacrifice next year in his unfinished fight against “the scourge of inflation” doesn’t hold water. His crusade to save us all from a wage-price spiral is like Don Quixote tilting at windmills only he can see”, says Ross Gittins who alludes to the RBA being stuck in the 70s.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/hey-rba-boomer-things-have-changed-a-lot-since-the-1970s-20221218-p5c78m.html
And Ronald Mizen muses over the cascading shocks that could come from ‘one rate rise too many’.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/the-cascading-shocks-that-could-come-from-one-rate-rise-too-many-20221212-p5c5je
With international borders re-opening at the end of 2021, the biggest labour shortage since World War II and a new government accelerating visa processing, 2022 will prove a unique year for immigration, predicts Abul Rizvi.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/population-and-immigration-in-2022-what-we-know-so-far,17083
The SMH editorial says that the royally unhappy family could pave the way for our nation’s progress.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/royally-unhappy-family-could-pave-way-for-our-nation-s-progress-20221218-p5c79r.html
Dominic Perrottet has brushed off the Liberals’ unresolved preselection of election candidates as an “inside baseball” distraction, while the party’s state director said the fall-out from a branch-stacking operation may have damaged the party’s prospects at the March poll, writes Lucy Cormack.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/inside-baseball-perrottet-brushes-off-liberal-party-preselection-woes-20221218-p5c798.html
In the wake of the Coalition’s humiliating Victorian state election defeat, newly elected Opposition Leader John Pesutto has opted for youth over experience as he tries to rebuild the shattered Liberal Party over the next four years, writes Annika Smethurst.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/victorian-opposition-unveils-new-frontbench-after-election-loss-20221218-p5c782.html
Looking at News Corp, Terrence Mills goes to the classics and says the Augean stables are in need of a flush.
https://theaimn.com/the-augean-stables-in-need-of-a-flush/
RSLs in Victoria made more than $163m from gambling in the last financial year, but provided just $8.4m in donations, gifts and sponsorship, according to their own statements to the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, reports Josh Nicholas. What a sham!
https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2022/dec/19/victorias-rsls-made-163m-from-gambling-but-gave-only-84m-in-direct-community-funding
Retailers’ treatment of food and grocery suppliers has improved since a code of conduct was introduced in 2015, but bad behaviour persists, writes Sue Mitchell.
https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/much-food-for-thought-in-grocery-code-of-conduct-report-card-20221215-p5c6pt
Former deputy Labor leader Jenny Macklin has been picked to head the Albanese government’s new independent advisory body into the welfare system, created after the industrial relations deal with independent ACT senator David Pocock.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8020783/former-deputy-labor-leader-to-chair-independent-jobseeker-committee/?cs=27845
Australia’s coal industry is primed to deliver a bigger-than-expected windfall this year, overtaking iron ore as the nation’s most valuable export, writes Nick Toscano.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/coal-exports-overtake-iron-ore-as-energy-crisis-ignites-prices-20221218-p5c77m.html
No, it’s catastrophic climate change, write John Blackburn and Ian Dunlop who say that avoiding that threat needs co-operation with countries like China, not conflict. Australia’s challenge is to get our priorities right and be a constructive player in addressing the existential climate threat that all nations face.
https://johnmenadue.com/is-china-our-red-hot-security-threat-no-its-climate-chaos-avoiding-it-needs-co-operation-not-conflict/
The question that should be dominating debate is how quickly Australia can replace gas with renewables, argues Adam Morton.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/2022/dec/19/the-question-that-should-be-dominating-debate-is-how-quickly-australia-can-replace-gas-with-renewables
“The AUKUS nuclear submarine project will bleed the Australian Defence Force white”, topping the billions in Defence spending waste each year. And there’s no one watching anymore, reports former serviceman and senator Rex Patrick.
https://michaelwest.com.au/dumb-ways-to-buy-defence-spending-shambles-former-submariner-and-senator-rex-patrick/
The rules that govern Australia’s $170bn franchise industry may be established next year via court rulings as franchisees try to protect the enterprises they developed. Robert Gottliebsen writes that the Federal Court will hand down its decision in the landmark Mercedes Benz case early next year. But even before that case is decided the franchise agreement that governs the giant G.J. Gardner Homes empire – the third-largest home builder in NSW – will come before the courts.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/business/this-court-case-could-change-franchising-forever/news-story/89f1f16e1b63da144dee962389934314
Anthony Bergin describes last week’s bipartisan Pacific tour as a master stroke that has dealt China quite a setback.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/bipartisan-pacific-tour-a-master-stroke/news-story/665d7a351eb0771d33028fe144d192a3
Nearly three years on from one of the most significant advertising market downturns, executives are nervous again. And they have every reason to be, explains Zoe Samios.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/media-sector-battens-down-the-hatches-as-ad-dollars-dry-up-20221218-p5c78c.html
Former Foxtel boss Richard Freudenstein has not been asked to recuse himself from his leading role in Cricket Australia broadcast rights talks despite still being a paid director of a News Corp company.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/cricket-australia-board-director-s-ties-to-news-corp-raise-eyebrows-20221218-p5c78f.html
A 15-storey timber tower in Collingwood is one of a handful of recent major timber developments that signals Australia could be catching onto the trend already established in the US and Europe.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/goodbye-concrete-and-steel-why-timber-towers-could-be-the-future-20221214-p5c6eh.html
Sir Keir Starmer, likely to be the next British prime minister, might be dreary but his proposal to abolish the House of Lords is radical, writes George Brandis.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/abolish-the-lords-britain-s-pm-in-waiting-should-be-careful-what-he-wishes-for-20221216-p5c6xw.html
The mask is being lifted from the face of Israel’s apartheid state, exposing a grinning death’s head that portends the obliteration of the few restraints against killing Palestinians, writes Chris Hedges about Israel and the rise of Jewish fascism.
https://johnmenadue.com/israel-and-the-rise-of-jewish-fascism/
Anthony Galloway and Hate Geraghty tell us how Putin will weaponise winter.
https://www.theage.com.au/interactive/2022/ukraine-winter/index.html
California congressman and member of the January 6 Committee, Adam Schiff, said yesterday that he believes there is “sufficient evidence” to criminally charge Donald Trump in relation to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/18/january-6-panel-schiff-evidence-criminally-charge-trump-efforts-overturn-2020-election
Is Trump finally politically dead? Sort of, says Robert Reich.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/18/trump-politically-dead-sort-of
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Peter Broelman
Cathy Wilcox
Jim Pavlidis
Leak
From the US
Excellent article from Rex Patrick for Michael West Media on our daft purchase of US subs,
If only Albo would read it and then change his mind on the need for nuclear subs! This “all the way with the USA” thinking needs to change immediately. Unfortunately Marles is not the only one drinking the US Kool-Aid – Albo has swallowed gallons of the stuff as well.
Sadly ‘Charles Marles’ is one of a large group of ‘USA! USA! USA! USA!’ bastards in Labor. 😦 😦 😦 Straya , proudly tugging its forelock to the hegemon de jour since forever.
Oh and a coincidence that so many of the bastards who white anted Rudd’s attempts to take action on climate change are also “Rah Rah USA” wallies ? I think not.
These Hillsong men certainly stick together!
Andrew Scipione’s devotion to Hillsong is well known.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Donald Trump has become the first former US president to face criminal referrals from a Congressional committee, after a damning probe into last year’s Capitol riot recommended prosecution for insurrection, conspiracy, false statements, and obstruction.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/dec/19/trump-criminal-charges-jan-6-panel-capitol-attack
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-referred-for-criminal-prosecution-over-us-capitol-attack-20221220-p5c7lo.html
Matthew Knott writes that Australia is coming in from the cold with Penny Wong’s Beijing winter mission.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-comes-in-from-the-cold-with-wong-s-beijing-winter-mission-20221219-p5c7gp.html
It’s good that Foreign Minister Penny Wong is going to China to meet her counterpart, Wang Yi. She must battle now, though, the danger of false and unrealistic expectations, writes Greg Sheridan who concludes his contribution with, “Partly because her style is calm and measured, Wong is temperamentally well suited to handle these paradoxes. But whatever happens this week, don’t think for a moment our troubles with China are ending any time soon.”
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/big-challenge-now-will-be-to-manage-expectations/news-story/8297c890156e353f19c17b5c1bf65495
In quite a good read, Nick Bryant wonders what are in the Australian tea leaves as we close out this intensely political year.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/australia-has-a-habit-of-sensing-global-political-shifts-so-what-s-coming-20221218-p5c7a9.html
Union-brawling Qantas chief Alan Joyce has capitulated to pay rises of up to 33% over five years in a deal struck with the Aircraft Engineers’ Association. Michael Sainsbury has the scoop.
https://michaelwest.com.au/alan-joyce-relents-to-more-than-double-pay-deal-in-its-fight-with-qantas-engineers-union/
In 2023, announcements from Canberra on foreign affairs, defence, and trade will come thick and fast. They can be expected to be regressive, in contrast to the Albanese government’s positive domestic agenda, writes Alison Brionowski who says we can expect some epiphanies on Australian defence policy this coming March.
https://johnmenadue.com/expect-epiphanies-in-march/
The bluffs of two of the most powerful industries in Australia have been called – one each by each side of politics. Federal Labor has taken on the fossils of the fossil fuel industry and the NSW Liberals have taken on the gaming industry. It is a significant power shift, writes Crispin Hull who says it’s now time to meet the military with political resistance.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8024660/when-the-going-gets-tough-call-their-bluff/?cs=14258
A bare six months after being elected, the Albanese government has surrendered almost all of the moral advantage it held over the public administration, and most of the moral advantage it held over the coalition, writes Jack Waterford who says, “Morrison’s abandonment of honest government made it imperative that he lose office. But Labor has yet to show any great reforming enthusiasm, or higher ideals of public stewardship.”
https://johnmenadue.com/labor-lets-its-moral-mandate-wither-away/
Anthony Albanese has the last laugh in a busy 2022, write Matthew Franklin.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/2022/12/19/albanese-last-laugh-in-busy-2022/
Researcher in clinical psychiatry, Ian Hickie, argues that halving the number of subsidised psych sessions is the right call.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/halving-the-number-of-subsided-psych-sessions-is-a-good-idea-20221218-p5c7ad.html
They’ve been waiting for a decade or more, but now many of the asylum seekers who arrived by boat in the Rudd/Gillard years will no longer be in limbo, reports NineFax about the more than 19,000 refugees set to qualify for permanent residency
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/i-can-see-my-family-again-more-than-19-000-refugees-to-qualify-for-permanent-residency-20221216-p5c6wr.html
Developer John Woodman will be given more time and information to respond to the state integrity watchdog’s draft findings against him over allegedly crooked land deals in Melbourne’s south-east, after the Supreme Court released its previously confidential judgment in his favour on Monday. Justice Tim Ginnane ordered the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC) provide Woodman with footnotes supporting adverse findings from Operation Sandon, a long-running investigation centred on development approvals by Casey Council.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/developer-wins-legal-battle-against-ibac-but-now-comes-the-war-20221213-p5c61c.html
Australia is failing to tap into a talented workforce already in the country, according to two analyses of the country’s immigration system, and increasing overseas migration will bring billions more in economic growth. Rachel Clun reports that KPMG found lifting net overseas migration by a total 265,000 over the next five years would boost the Australian economy by up to $35 billion. In its submission to the government’s immigration review, the firm also recommended creating better pathways to permanency for foreign students.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/calls-for-migration-system-refresh-as-australia-grapples-with-skills-crisis-20221219-p5c7ht.html
Brian Houston has told a court he now has “no doubt” that his father Frank was a “serial paedophile” – and that it’s possible he even moved the family to Australia in the 1970s to get away from what he had done to young boys in New Zealand. Lenny Noyes reports on yesterday’s trial proceedings.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/no-cover-up-what-brian-houston-knew-about-10-000-payment-20221219-p5c7co.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/19/frank-houston-committed-child-sexual-abuse-at-a-time-when-he-felt-emotionally-low-court-hears
Surveillance expert Ausma Bernot explains the many ways in which we are constantly being watched and our data is being used.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/big-data-how-we-are-being-watched–all-the-time,17087
There are signs that Elon Musk is trying to restructure the mountain of high-cost debt he took on to acquire Twitter, with his own actions post-acquisition further undermining the platform’s already-shaky finances, explains Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/the-foundations-of-elon-musk-s-digital-town-square-are-wobbling-20221219-p5c7c0.html
Election results over the year now ending offer grounds for hope for democracy, as Alan Austin reports.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/voters-everywhere-made-the-world-a-safer-place-in-2022,17085
Melissa Singer reports that hundreds of employees at The Iconic, one of the nation’s biggest online fashion and lifestyle retailers, were underpaid $1 million while some were forced to work in a warehouse so cold that models’ hands had to be edited in photos, so they were the same colour as the rest of their skin. Enough for the company to be nominated for “Arseholes of the Week”.
https://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/1m-missing-wages-and-blue-hands-the-ugly-side-of-working-for-the-iconic-20221219-p5c7cw.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
David Pope
Matt Golding
Cathy Wilcox
Dionne Gain
John Shakespeare
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
Oh, for fex sakes! There are thousand football {soccer) games played every week in Australia. One pitch invasion, as disgraceful as it was, and the media goes on as if there was an insurrection on the streets and every football fan needs to go around in sackcloth and ashes.
Apparently, the excellent results of the Socceroos at the World Cup, being knocked out by the eventual winner, have all gone to sh!t and never happened because a meme about soccer violence can be run around the track again.
It is patently ridiculous. The perpetrators will be prosecuted. They will be banned from matches. If anyone thinks Aussie Rules is free of crowd violence, then they are dreaming. But that product which generates so much money for the media and sponsors will never have its flaws exposed to the light of day.
Here is the reason why. Look at the positions of Football/Soccer against Australian Football in this list of Participation Rates of sports for children.
Swimming (33%); Football/soccer (13.8%); Gymnastics (10.5%); Recreational dancing (8.9%); Basketball (7.3%); Australian football (6.5%); Tennis (6.1%); Netball (5.7%); Cricket (3.9%); Athletics/jogging/running (3.8%); Rugby league (3.5%); Karate (2.6%); Touch football (2.4%); DanceSport (2.2%); Rugby Union (2.1%).
https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/kb/sport-participation-in-australia/participation-statistics-and-trends
For adult sporting/ recreational participation. the top one is Recreational walking.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/879755/australia-sports-participants-by-type/
AFL is way down the list. AFL is a sport Australians watch, not one that they do. It is also a good money earner for gambling businesses.
And with apologies for using a ‘What-about-ism, there is this: the elephant in the room that no-one will look at. Domestic Violence peaks during major sporting events, such as in finals.
https://regnet.anu.edu.au/news-events/news/7190/whether-teams-win-or-lose-sporting-events-lead-spikes-violence-against-women
Report all the soccer violence that happens but report on the whole picture of violence in sport.
I am a long-time Football/soccer fan.
Australia lost to the two finalists.
Maybe they are the third best in the world …
They were ranked 11th of the 32 in the finals https://thewest.com.au/sport/soccer/socceroos-handed-best-world-cup-ranking-c-9208048
This is why I take no interest in professional sport of any kind – the gambling, the violence that often lurks just under the surface and the attitude of so many professional sports “stars” who seem to think they can do no wrong because they are so-called “celebrities”. That goes for women as well as men.
Being “good at sport” is not a cause for celebration. In my time as a teacher I knew that kids who excelled at cultural pursuits like music, drama, dance and art had their achievements ignored while those who excelled at sport were feted. The adoration of sports “stars”is instilled in our children from a very early age.
Religion used to be considered by Karl Marx as “the opiate of the masses” but now it has been replaced by professional sport.
I understand. I watched sport with my Mum, and the gambling really put me off of it. They have gambling advertising all through sport match telecasts and programs to the point it is ruined. The one thing I like about soccer, during each 45 minute half, no advertising is allowed. The USA, when they hosted the World Cup, wanted 1/4s instead of 1/2s to get more advertising. They were told where to go!
I get the impression that those young men went to the game to cause a riot
There were 134 police expecting trouble
In the UK well heeled middle class men go the soccer matches armed with stanley knives,
Plenty of kids play soccer in preference to rugby and Aussie rules but if soccer hooliganism isn’t curbed parents will find another team sport for their kids to participate in
In 1970 I went to a Hawthorn home game at Glenferrie Oval where men urinated into beer cans. Needless to say my generation encouraged their sons into soccer rather than Aussie rules.
Today Aussie rules has cleaned up its act and there is no hesitation taking kids to the game if you can afford seats
It would not surprise me if there was a group who pre-planned this trouble.
Rachel Maddow –
More to come
Continuing –
This makes me very, very cranky.
‘Shameful day for Australia’: Santos given green light to drill 850 gas wells in native forest
https://www.smh.com.au/national/shameful-day-for-australia-santos-given-green-light-to-drill-850-gas-wells-in-native-forest-20221012-p5bpai.html
great!
Those gas wells leak and burst into flame, just the thing a dry land forest like the Pilliga needs in the next drought.
We have all seen photos of gas flares on days of TOTAL FIRE BAN
The study and development of the sports crowd violence prevention is from the wish to stamp out football violence around the world. Crowd control, psychology, transportation, policing, developing values in youth, un-aligning clubs with political movements, finding and banning perpetrators, fining clubs whose spectators play-up, CCTV, etc etc all come from this. There are university courses in various schools devoted to this subject.
Anything that we know about keeping large crowds of humans safe and peaceful most probably comes from football-related research.
No other sport has done so much to address human behaviour, and every other sport or activity benefits from it.
Sport is our last bastion of tribalism, outside of war. Football is the biggest single sport in the world. ‘Clean it up′? It has been cleaning up since the major incidents, stadium disasters and hooliganism of the 20th Century.
There is much handwringing of that pitch invasion, but already investigations will be underway to see why this could happen.
Perhaps the perps should have been kicked out during the game, as soon as they showed belligerence. Or more security personnel called in during the second half, with the teams escorted from the ground immediately on the final whistle.
The FA must have known that fans woukd be furious over the decision to stage all finals in Sydney. We’re alerts for extra measures sent out?
Were trouble makers who were known to the clubs given special attention and warnings?
The media again only gets a 10th of the real story at best.
How about we acknowledge the hundreds of millions of football participants, not just players, who enjoy it every day without incident.
My sister says that her 1/2 Sri Lankan catholic educated son-in-law is the biggest racist
The boyfriend who went to Brighton Grammar was the biggest racist I ever went out with
Also, in Europe racist, sexist, fascist groups congregated in certain football clubs and used violence as a means of displaying their beliefs.
FIFA, although with a stream of crooks in their ranks, down through the national associations and clubs have been trying to break the hold of these scum and evict them.
The politics of world football is another research and policy field all of its own.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
George Brandis declares that Kevin Rudd is the right choice for US ambassador.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/why-kevin-rudd-is-the-right-choice-for-us-ambassador-20221220-p5c7q3.html
Tom Rabe reports that almost $8 billion will be spent on poles, wires and other critical infrastructure connecting renewable energy zones across NSW to the national grid as part of a major deal between the Albanese and Perrottet governments to supercharge electricity supply.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/multibillion-dollar-deal-to-supercharge-nsw-renewable-energy-20221220-p5c7sp.html
A landmark $8bn deal has been struck between the commonwealth and NSW to connect Snowy Hydro 2 and a bank of renewable energy zones into the national grid as part of a sweetheart deal to secure the Perrottet government’s agreement to impose a $125 coal price cap, writes Simon Benson.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/secret-8bn-sweetheart-energy-deal/news-story/babd747e0ed938df93d23098120fda65
The appointment of Kevin Rudd as US ambassador poses huge risks and equally substantial rewards for Anthony Albanese, opines James Massola. Another “test”, perhaps?
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/multibillion-dollar-deal-to-supercharge-nsw-renewable-energy-20221220-p5c7sp.html
Rudd is highly qualified for Washington, but might find the diplomatic corset constricting, says Michelle Grattan.
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-rudd-is-highly-qualified-for-washington-but-might-find-the-diplomatic-corset-constricting-196877
Of course, Rita Panahi says that Kevin Rudd’s new appointment is a big mistake for the Albanese government.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/rita-panahi/rita-panahi-kevin-rudds-new-appointment-a-big-mistake-for-albanese-government/news-story/13701a096d99d1e22bb6264af26b3fe2
The ex-PM is well qualified and equipped to be an effective ambassador to the US. Whether he will live up to that potential is entirely up to him, says Greg Sheridan.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/hotheaded-former-captain-kevin-rudd-as-a-team-player-its-up-to-him/news-story/6c6ccd667b4a5b555b620e201936f5ed
Standing out among his fellow contributors to The Australian, Cameron Milner declares that Rudd is exactly the right envoy for our times.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/rudd-is-exactly-the-right-envoy-for-our-times/news-story/ab45de70db39d3167ebf593c7fdc27dc
On Rudd’s appointment, the AFR editorial says that the new ambassador’s job now is to make the transition from partisan political figure to a diplomat operating behind the scenes to advance Australia’s national interest.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/what-kevin-rudd-must-do-in-washington-20221219-p5c7ix
The announcement that Kevin Rudd was going to be the next Australian ambassador to the US on the same day Penny Wong was about to fly to China for high level talks marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Canberra and Beijing is unlikely to be just a coincidence. The editorial in the AFR says that Rudd’s appointment sends a clear message to President Xi Jinping that while Australia welcomes the recent thaw in the relationship and wants to talk about trade sanctions, human rights and the fate of detained citizens, America remains our most important and valued friend and ally.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8027005/is-rudds-new-job-a-message-to-china/?cs=27763
Kevin Rudd’s appointment as the next ambassador to the United States will boost Australia’s diplomatic clout and access to powerbrokers in Washington, according to three of his predecessors and a former prime minister.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/kevin-rudd-appointed-as-us-ambassador-anthony-albanese-announces-20221220-p5c7o8.html
Penny Wong has touched down in Beijing for a high-stakes meeting with her Chinese counterpart, the first visit to China by an Australian minister in three years. Matthew Knott reports that Wong will use the lengthy meeting to urge Beijing to lift trade sanctions on Australian goods worth $20 billion and raise the case of two Australians detained in China, journalist Cheng Lei and writer Yang Hengjun.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/a-long-time-between-visits-penny-wong-arrives-in-beijing-for-high-stakes-meeting-20221221-p5c7ws.html
Penny Wong’s China visit should become a trip for Australia to find its original aspiration, says the Global Times editorial.
https://johnmenadue.com/penny-wongs-china-visit-should-become-a-trip-for-australia-to-find-its-original-aspiration-global-times-editorial/
In the past week the Albanese government introduced in the teeth of industry hostility a 12-month cap on gas and coal prices plus a longer-run price control system. If the similarities between the Albanese government’s intervention and those of past Labor governments are striking, then so are the differences. Albanese must decide what sort of relations he wants with the sector. The viability of Labor’s policy will hinge on its actual impact. Meanwhile, if Albanese is prudent, he will remember the history, writes Paul Kelly.
https://amp.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/pm-needs-to-recall-sad-resources-saga/news-story/4a6e49f39dccd034a0c76fb74ca0a5b8
Proposals to reform how Medicare supports primary care need to take account of the changed ownership structure of general practice as well as changing health needs, writes Charles Maskell-Knight about the corporatisation of general practice.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-corporatisation-of-general-practice/
Historically low unemployment and more flexible working arrangements since the pandemic have spurred tens of thousands of older workers back into the workforce, explains Josh Gordon.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/the-great-unretirement-accelerates-as-jobless-rate-hits-historic-low-20221219-p5c7kc.html
In this article about the new rating system the tug-of-war between funding and staffing levels comes to the fore. There is a live link to the aged care database to see the ratings for every facility.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/two-thirds-of-aged-care-homes-don-t-provide-enough-care-for-residents-20221220-p5c7p5.html
Last week, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released its biennial trade union membership statistics. The results were dire for unions, but they also have implications for further reform of the Fair Work Act, explains David Peetz.
https://johnmenadue.com/dire-union-membership-rates-suppressing-wages-growth/
The Conversation tells us that the Morrison government spent a record amount on taxpayer-funded advertising.
https://theconversation.com/the-morrison-government-spent-a-record-amount-on-taxpayer-funded-advertising-new-data-reveal-196870
We can see everything we need to know about the Murdoch media in The Australian’s recent coverage of the Robodebt RC, writes Dr Victoria Fielding.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/morrisons-robodebt-grilling-nothing-to-see-here-at-the-australian,17091
In early December, the nation’s energy ministers met to drive the final nail into the coffin of Scott Morrison’s much-maligned “CoalKeeper” scheme, agreeing to a totally new scheme to support clean energy storage. Zacharias Szumer delves into the arcane world of energy transition.
https://michaelwest.com.au/coalkeeper-is-dead-will-chris-bowens-new-energy-scheme-be-as-secret-as-dan-andrews/
A political clash over native forest logging is looming for the federal government following its commitment to an international treaty to boost protections for nature, with key crossbench senators declaring Australia must now end the union-backed industry, explains Mike Foley.
https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/labor-facing-test-of-green-credentials-in-fight-over-native-logging-20221220-p5c7n8.html
Kate McClymont writes about another conviction for Ian Macdonald: a rorter for the ages.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/ian-macdonald-a-rorter-for-the-ages-20221220-p5c7vp.html
With some breaking news, Ross Gittins says that money DOES buy happiness (but terms and conditions apply).
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/breaking-news-money-does-buy-happiness-20221220-p5c7o0.html
China’s reopening after relaxing its draconian COVID policies isn’t going well. In fact, the early experience appears even worse than even the pessimists had predicted, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/china-s-reopening-from-covid-isn-t-going-well-20221220-p5c7ms.html
Thousands of nurses have gone on strike in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, as the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, insisted he would not back down in the face of Britain’s most significant wave of industrial action in a generation. From rail journeys to Christmas card deliveries and passport checks at airports, key services across Britain are being hit by industrial action, which has intensified in the run-up to Christmas, writes Heather Stewart.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/dec/20/nurses-action-part-of-biggest-wave-strikes-generation-uk
Coal from the Carmichael mine in Queensland was supposed to alleviate poverty in South Asia but instead, it’s further entrenching deep energy inequality and debt in Bangladesh, according to a new report.
https://independentaustralia.net/environment/environment-display/adanis-carmichael-mine-worsening-asian-energy-poverty-crisis,17089
Donald Trump certainly knows how to set a precedent, says Farrah Tomazin about the former president’s latest legal problems.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/donald-trump-certainly-knows-how-to-set-a-precedent-20221220-p5c7oy.html
What the criminal referral of Trump means – a constitutional law expert explains the January 6 committee action.
https://theconversation.com/what-the-criminal-referral-of-trump-means-a-constitutional-law-expert-explains-the-jan-6-committee-action-196841
Bruce Wolpe wonders if Trump could get a surprise bump from an indictment.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/could-trump-get-a-surprise-bump-from-an-indictment-20221219-p5c7jx.html
Trump might look done, but we shouldn’t count him – or those he inspired – out, warns Moira Donegan.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/commentisfree/2022/dec/20/trump-january-6-committee-republicans-trumpism
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
Matt Golding
A gif from Glen Le Lievre
Cathy Wilcox
John Shakespeare
Dionne Gain
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
This chap seems to have ‘nailed it’ .
.
“Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.” — Oscar Ameringer
There is hope. How it should be done, when a self-entitled barsterd tries to wreck a democracy. USA, take note!
Ros Atkins on China’s covid surge
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-asia-china-64042718
Just our luck – not even having a Liberal member of the NSW parliament will save us.
The commonwealth/NSW renewable power agreement will not come anywhere near the Mid-North Coast. I suppose that’s what we get for electing (only just) a National federal MP.
Renewable Energy Zone locations
https://www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/renewable-energy-zones/renewable-energy-zone-locations
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Thank you.