As well as important information, this is a reminder that Australia is fortunate to have a service such as The Therapeutic Goods Administration.
We can have confidence in the health products and medicines available in Australia.
The TGA is just one part of a system constructed to make Australia a modern, first world country.
We do not have to endure prescription medicines being advertised directly to consumers, unlike in the USA. Direct advertising to consumers is banned. I am sure that is frustrating for some drug companies.
In the USA, advertisements along the lines of, ′Do you have a headache, and a itchy toe? See your doctor and check out XYZ disease. XXXXX drug treats XYZ with good results.′
You can imagine the resulting scenario in the doctor′s office, as fearful patients demand XYZ medicine and doctors fearing malpractice suits deal with the demands. We don’t have to put up with this pressure.
Australia has many progressive policies, systems and entities to give the 25 million of us the best chance of a decent life. However, Coalition attacks on these things has seen much suffering, misery, financial ruin and deaths. ROBODEBT is a case in point. The Coalition of the Liberal and National parties committed the worst act of bastardry in 100 years against thousands of vulnerable powerless citizens from the poorest class: social security recipients.
So we must protect the progressive, the fair, the humane, and the compassion of our society and its systems, and strive to strengthen these attributes.
Note: This recall information came fom a Disabilty Care agency.
See below from TGA:
Following a safety investigation by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), 55 products containing pholcodine are being cancelled from the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods and those currently on pharmacy shelves are being recalled from pharmacies.
The cancellation and recall actions are being taken because of a link between pholcodine-containing medicines and an increased risk of anaphylactic reactions (a sudden, severe, and life-threatening allergic reaction) to certain medicines used as muscle relaxants during general anaesthesia (called neuromuscular blocking agents).
Pholcodine has been used in a wide range of over-the-counter pharmacy medicines to treat non-productive (dry) cough, particularly in syrups and lozenges. It is also used in combination with other medicines in products that treat the symptoms of cold and flu.
Below is the list of medications being recalled:
What products are covered by the recall?
Here is the full list of recalled products, as supplied to the ABC by the Therapeutic Goods Administration:
- APOHEALTH DRY TICKLY COUGH RELIEF pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle (new formulation)
- APOHEALTH DRY TICKLY COUGH RELIEF FORTE pholcodine 4mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- APOHEALTH DRY TICKLY COUGH RELIEF pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- CHEMISTS’ OWN DRY TICKLY COUGH FORTE pholcodine 4mg/mL oral liquid bottle (new formulation)
- CHEMISTS’ OWN DRY COUGH FORTE pholcodine 3mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- CHEMISTS’ OWN DRY COUGH REGULAR pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- CHEMISTS’ OWN DRY COUGH pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- APOHEALTH DRY COUGH RELIEF PE & NASAL DECONGESTANT oral liquid bottle
- BLOOMS THE CHEMIST DRY COUGH RELIEF & NASAL DECONGESTANT PE oral liquid bottle
- CHEMISTS’ OWN KIDDICOL FOR CHILDREN COUGH & COLD oral liquid bottle
- CHEMISTS’ OWN DRY COUGH PLUS NASAL DECONGESTANT PE oral liquid bottle
- CHEMISTS’ OWN KIDDICOL CHILDREN’S COUGH MIXTURE oral liquid bottle
- LOGICIN DRY COUGH pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- DURO-TUSS DRY COUGH LIQUID FORTE pholcodine 3mg/mL oral liquid bottle (new formulation)
- DURO-TUSS DRY COUGH LIQUID 6 YEARS+ pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle (New Formula)
- DURO-TUSS DRY COUGH LOZENGES lemon flavour blister pack
- DIFFLAM PLUS DRY COUGH + ANTIBACTERIAL + ANTI-INFLAMMATORY pineapple lime flavour lozenge blister pack
- DIFFLAM PLUS DRY COUGH + ANTIBACTERIAL + ANTI-INFLAMMATORY honey lemon ginger flavour lozenge blister pack
- DURO-TUSS DRY COUGH LIQUID PLUS NASAL DECONGESTANT oral liquid bottle
- DURO-TUSS DRY COUGH LOZENGES orange flavour blister pack
- DURO-TUSS COUGH LIQUID EXPECTORANT oral liquid bottle
- DURO-TUSS PE DRY COUGH LIQUID + NASAL DECONGESTANT oral liquid bottle
- DIFFLAM PLUS DRY COUGH + ANTIBACTERIAL + ANTI-INFLAMMATORY blackcurrant flavour lozenge blister pack
- BENADRYL DRY, TICKLY COUGH FORTE pholcodine 4mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- CODRAL DRY COUGH FORTE STRENGTH pholcodine 4mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- PRICELINE PHARMACY DRY COUGH RELIEF pholcodine 5mg/5mL oral liquid bottle
- PHARMACY HEALTH DRY COUGH RELIEF pholcodine 5mg/5mL oral liquid bottle
- TERRYWHITE CHEMMART DRY COUGH RELIEF pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- TERRYWHITE CHEMMART DRY COUGH FORTE pholcodine 4mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- PHARMACY CHOICE PHOLCODINE DRY FORTE 4mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- PRICELINE PHARMACY DRY TICKLY COUGH MIXTURE pholcodine 1mg/mL bottle
- PHARMACY HEALTH DRY TICKLY COUGH MIXTURE pholcodine 1mg/mL bottle
- SOUL PATTINSON DRY TICKLY COUGH MEDICINE pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- PHARMACY CHOICE DRY COUGH RELIEF FORTE pholcodine 20mg/5mL oral liquid bottle
- PHARMACY CHOICE DRY COUGH RELIEF pholcodine 5mg/5 mL oral liquid bottle
- TERRYWHITE CHEMMART DRY COUGH RELIEF FORTE pholcodine 20mg/5mL oral liquid bottle
- NOUMED DRY COUGH LIQUID FORTE pholcodine 4mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- NOUMED DRY COUGH LIQUID pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- PHARMACY CHOICE DRY TICKLY COUGH MEDICINE pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- TERRYWHITE CHEMMART DRY COUGH RELIEF pholcodine 5mg/5mL oral liquid bottle
- AMCAL DRY COUGH FORTE pholcodine 4mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- AMCAL DRY COUGH MIXTURE pholcodine 1mg/mL oral liquid bottle
- PHARMACY HEALTH DRY COUGH RELIEF FORTE pholcodine 4mg/mL oral liquid bottle
Now let ponder on how fortunate we in Australiaare in a chaotic and unfair world, and remember that the biggest threat we have is corruption.
THE PUB 
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/12/no-clunkers-australia-buying-highest-quality-secondhand-submarines-from-us-congressman-says
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
The SMH editorial lauds Bill Shorten who it says “went about establishing himself as one of the Albanese government’s most effective ministers. In the 10 months since the defeat of the Morrison government, Shorten has worked hard to tackle fraud and cost blowouts in the National Disability Insurance Scheme through his important but less-than-glamorous role as minister for the NDIS and minister for government services.” It goes on to say that perhaps his most important contribution to date has been his push for a royal commission into the disastrous and deadly robo-debt scheme designed and enforced by the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments. I wonders, “Will anyone be held accountable for the robo-debt disgrace?”
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/will-anyone-be-held-accountable-for-the-robo-debt-disgrace-20230312-p5crce.html
Referring to the UK’s “Stop the Boats” action, Sean Kelly says our nation often boasts that it punches above its weight, but the ideas it pioneers are not always worthy of national pride.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/stop-the-gloats-the-exports-that-should-shame-australia-20230310-p5cr36.html
According to Peter Dean, the AUKUS submarine plan brings high risk but plenty of potential reward.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/aukus-submarine-plan-brings-high-risk-but-plenty-of-potential-reward-20230312-p5crd5.html
The AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines will hugely enhance our national power and sovereignty. Nothing could be more ridiculous than the idea that if there are some Americans on an Australian boat this compromises our sovereignty, declares Greg Sheridan.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/subs-deal-will-strengthen-our-historic-alliances/news-story/70eb555d7804cd6e65a0d3fca9e6a9d8?amp
David Crowe writes that Australia will need 20,000 more workers to build a new submarine fleet and transform the nation’s defence over the next three decades.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/navy-starts-recruitment-drive-to-service-aukus-submarines-deal-20230312-p5cren.html
Our prime minister declares firmly that Australian sovereignty will be maintained in the new defence arrangements. He must be asked to state clearly and publicly that should the USA go to war with China Australia will not necessarily follow but could remain neutral. If this is not the case, we do not have sovereignty, says Cavan Hogue.
https://johnmenadue.com/albanese-must-state-clearly-what-he-means-by-sovereignty/
Diligently, obediently and with a degree of dangerous imbecility, several Australian media outlets are manufacturing a consensus for war with a country that has never been a natural, historical enemy nor sought to be, argues Binoy Kampmark.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/media-peddling-red-alert-rubbish-slammed,17310
Mary Ward writes about how the pricing structure of Sydney public transport is keeping workers from the city. It is nearly impossible to travel there off-peak.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/for-sydney-commuters-it-s-nearly-impossible-to-travel-off-peak-20230309-p5cqpi.html
The New South Wales government’s cornerstone election policy, which aims to help the next generation pay for housing and education, has been criticised by social advocates who claim the scheme will further entrench inequality, reports Tamsin Rose.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/13/perrottets-future-fund-for-children-risks-increasing-poverty-divide-social-advocates-say
In a very interesting contribution, Nick Bryant warns that anyone who thinks Australia is immune from the forces that led to the January 6 insurrection in Washington, or its Brazilian copycat attack on January 8 this year, has not been paying attention.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-australian-democracy-20230308-p5cqgc.html
Harriett Alexander reports that gaming machine manufacturers are shouting club managers “educational tours” to Las Vegas that feature cocktails, limousines, five-star hotels, basketball tickets and slap-up seafood feasts in exchange for buying a minimum number of poker machines. Corruption? Surely not!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-junket-jackpot-club-bosses-score-vegas-trips-from-pokie-makers-20230308-p5cqbh.html
Australia’s mutual obligation system for welfare risks “subjecting disadvantaged participants to unreasonably onerous and punitive conditions”, the commonwealth ombudsman has warned. Paul Karp tells us that the ombudsman made the submission to a Senate inquiry, which has already recommended a major overhaul of the controversial ParentsNext program, and revealed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants were fined at almost double their rate of participation.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/13/australias-welfare-system-puts-disadvantaged-at-risk-inquiry-told
Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt has donated $1 million to the campaign for an Indigenous Voice to parliament, as both sides seek to build war chests to pay for advertisements across television, print and online.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/anthony-pratt-donates-1-million-to-the-yes-campaign-for-the-voice-20230309-p5cqnv.html
Paul Sakkal reckons Josh Frydenberg is stalking Kooyong after seeing a chink in Monique Ryan’s armour.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/frydenberg-stalks-kooyong-after-seeing-chink-in-monique-ryan-s-armour-20230312-p5crcu.html
According to the AFR, Treasury and the Tax Office flagged they will overhaul procedures around confidential consultations with the private sector in the wake of the PwC tax leak scandal.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/firms-must-curb-misconduct-to-win-commonwealth-contracts-treasury-20230312-p5creq
James Massola reports that Hillsong Church will launch an independent review of its financial structure and systems to ensure the organisation can carry out its religious mission in the wake of allegations of fraud and extravagant spending. Fear of the Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission coming down on them is a more likely motive than conscience.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/jesus-loves-you-mr-wilkie-hillsong-pastor-announces-review-after-parliament-allegations-20230312-p5crfm.html
Science and secrecy are two words that rarely go well together. Yet remarkably, our peak scientific institution, the Australian Academy of Science is deliberately engaging in secrecy, aided and abetted by the Australian National University. Transparency Warrior Rex Patrick tells the story.
https://michaelwest.com.au/academy-of-science-anu-compromised-by-government-secrecy-over-damning-emissions-report/
Nick Toscano tells us that Australian investors are bracing for the risk of deeper fallout from the second-biggest bank failure in US history. These scares ALWAYS start in America!
https://www.smh.com.au/business/companies/sudden-us-bank-collapse-spooks-australian-sharemarket-20230312-p5crf5.html
Pete Schroeder and Nupur Anand explain why Silicon Valley Bank’s lightning collapse stunned banking industry.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/why-silicon-valley-bank-s-lightning-collapse-stunned-banking-industry-20230312-p5crev.html
Jim Chalmers says he is closely monitoring any local fallout from the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in the United States, which is expected to put pressure on American regional banks and result in further losses on world share markets.
https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/bank-runs-expected-as-svb-collapse-upends-rate-forecasts-20230312-p5crbu
Something was always destined to blow up in financial markets as part of the painful adjustment to the end of the ultra-cheap money era. At this stage, Silicon Valley Bank’s $US175 billion collapse does not appear to have exposed global financial crisis-style systemic problems in the American banking system. The editorial in the AFRS says that rather, the biggest bank failure since 2008 seems to be a cautionary tale about extreme monetary policy amid the return of high inflation, higher interest rates and the correction that has triggered across the global technology sector.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/svb-collapse-offers-a-salutary-monetary-policy-lesson-20230309-p5cqmj
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said she was working with regulators to respond to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank but ruled out a bailout, as fears of a broader fallout across the banking sector deepened.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/us-treasury-secretary-janet-yellen-rules-out-bailout-for-collapsed-silicon-valley-bank-20230313-p5cri2.html
Rupert Murdoch may be running out of political clout and financial luck, opines Noel Turnbull.
https://johnmenadue.com/is-rupert-running-out-of-political-clout-and-financial-luck/
Mike Pence has offered his most forceful rebuke to date of his one-time boss Donald Trump on Saturday, saying history will hold him accountable for his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/history-will-hold-donald-trump-accountable-for-capitol-riots-says-pence-20230312-p5crg9.html
Lauren Boebert will be a grandmother at 36. This is what conservatives want for us, says Arwa Mahdawi.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/11/lauren-boebert-grandmother-conservatives-the-week-in-patriarchy
It’s taken a brave football star to inject morality into our shaming debate on migrants, writes Will Hutton after the furore from the BBC silencing Gary Lineker.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/12/its-taken-brave-football-star-to-inject-morality-into-our-shaming-debate-on-migrants
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Matt Golding
Peter Broelman
Badiucao
Glen Le Lievre
Joe Benke
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US
They wouldn’t be prepping for a bit of ‘leadershit’ down the track would they ?
Looks very much like they are.
“Lauren Boebert will be a grandmother at 36. This is what conservatives want for us, says Arwa Mahdawi.”
Big deal! When I was in hospital recovering from the birth of my third child some unknown male in the corridor was making a big deal of the fact he had just become a grandfather at 34. I had a good chuckle at that – I had just given birth to a child at the same age.
These days it is common for women to have their first child in their late thirties or their forties.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/13/robodebt-inquiry-commissioner-praises-committed-coverage-by-guardian-australia
Exactly.
Meanwhile, the MSM tried to ignore the robodebt RC unless a former minister was appearing., and even then they gave them the easiest possible comment. The absence of comment applies especially to the Murdoch media who said not one word about the RC, probably because it played disastrously for the Libs.
Journos find it easy to ignore Robodebt because ‘their people’ are not involved. The victims were from the ‘lower classes’ and so easy to ignore. Now if Robodebt had of involved negative gearing, share franking or investment properties then the press pack would have been a pack of baying hounds that have caught the scent. It would after all then involve their ‘class’ .
Too true.
Straya off
to meet
and
I wish we had a PM who was not in thrall to the US. A PM who was game to stand up to both the US and the Poms and tell them loud and clear to Frack Off!
Unfortunately Labor is controlled by THE RIGHT who when it comes to the US of Effing A are on a unity ticket with the Coalition barbarians. From Sir Charles Marles on it is ASPI and Wolverines all the way down. It doesn’t matter a frack what Albo thinks. If he got uppity on the issue then 10,9,8,7……. boom! would go his PMship.
Dom is really desperate now.
Who will benefit most from Perrottet’s ‘kids future fund’ election pitch?
https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/who-will-benefit-most-from-perrottets-kids-future-fund-election-pitch/
Simple answer – the well-off. What low income family has any money to spare on this dreadful brain fart? What family on social security can afford to bank even $1 a week?
I especially liked this –
Been there, done that. I can vouch for the truth of living fortnight to fortnight on social security payments. And a minor quibble – what family on social security gets “cheques” any more? Cheques went out decades ago, it’s all done direct to your bank account now. Doesn’t whoever wrote this realise that single mums usually don’t have regular, stable, full-time work?
A bit of a lol. just read a blah blah blah about China , ‘aggression’ , ‘expansion’ and all the usual as it brought to mind this map showing US bases. Norty aggressive, expansive , threatening China.
Sarah Henderson interviewing Peter Dutton on 7.5. In Dog’s name, why?
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/13/the-international-institute-of-the-bleeding-obvious-has-its-verdict-on-the-four-day-work-week
Good morning Dawn Patrollers. This is posted just before the AUKUS announcement in San Diego.
A key measure of the fateful importance of the AUKUS alliance is that an idea devised by a conservative government is about to be made an irreversible reality by a Labor leader and his cabinet. Anthony Albanese inherited the pact from his predecessor, Scott Morrison, but is taking full ownership after months of work to transform Australian naval power, says David Crowe.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/missiles-and-people-why-australia-is-scaling-up-aukus-pact-20230313-p5crll.html
Paul Bongiorno declares that the AUKUS submarine project should torpedo Stage 3 tax cuts and other myths.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2023/03/14/paul-bongiorno-aukus-submarine-tax-cuts/
Among the countries this week raising their voices against Australia’s plan for nuclear-propelled submarines, you will not hear India, the world’s most populous nation and fastest-growing major economy, writes Peter Hartcher who says that a “sweet spot” of mutual fear of China is driving the Australia-India partnership.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/sweet-spot-mutual-fear-of-china-drives-australia-india-partnership-20230310-p5cr3j.html
Jim Chalmers has launched a review into the impact of the Morrison government’s controversial 2018 GST revenue deal. Chalmers has asked the Commonwealth Grants Commission, which oversees the allocation of more than $80 billion of GST revenue among the states and territories, to assess how the tax take should be shared in 2025-26, which is when a transitional arrangement included in the Morrison agreement ends. Fair enough, too.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8118088/govt-wants-to-establish-cost-of-24-billion-gst-deal/?cs=14329
Matt O’Sullivan reports that senior transport officials warned a year ago that parts of a critical digital system that failed last Wednesday, shutting down the entire Sydney rail network, were obsolete and needed urgent attention. Nicely done, fellas!
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/equipment-that-crippled-sydney-train-network-obsolete-for-more-than-a-year-20230313-p5crm8.html
The daughter of a former Tax Office deputy commissioner has been found guilty of involvement in a conspiracy to siphon $105 million from a payroll business after her ringleader brother and two others were convicted last week.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/lauren-cranston-found-guilty-over-105-million-plutus-payroll-scheme-20230308-p5cqaq.html
The mainstream media has failed to hold the Liberal Party to account for inciting the Robodebt scheme that ruined the lives of thousands, says Victoria Fielding. She’s not wrong!
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/mainstream-media-fails-to-address-the-robodebt-elephant-in-the-room,17320
James Massola tells us that the federal Greens will not repay more than $75,000 in donations made over 20 years by a pair of wealthy investors with significant fossil fuel holdings, despite the NSW Greens handing back a $7000 donation from the pair last week because it violated the state party’s policy.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/federal-greens-will-keep-76-501-in-donations-from-fossil-fuel-investors-20230313-p5crkn.html
“Why are economists’ forecasts so often wrong, and why do they so often fail to see the freight train heading our way? Short answer: because economists don’t know as much about how the economy works as they like to think they do – and as they like us to think they do”., says Ross Gittins in another swipe at that profession that he says keeps ignoring the social side of things.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/why-economists-keep-getting-it-wrong-but-never-stop-doing-their-sums-20230312-p5crdi.html
Mike Foley explains how the carbon market is bracing for a surge in demand following the Albanese government’s new legally binding climate target and laws to force the nation’s biggest emitters to cut their pollution, many of which will buy credits to meet their obligations.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/carbon-farming-bracing-for-a-bumper-harvest-20230310-p5cqyo.html
Chris Bowen has ruled out bowing to Greens demands to ban new fossil fuel projects under Labor’s cornerstone heavy emissions policy, declaring there will be a vital need for additional gas in coming years. As coal-fired power stations leave the grid in coming years and the share of renewables sources shifts towards the government’s 82 per cent target by 2030, the remaining 18 per cent of power “will increasingly be focused on gas”, he said.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/bowen-defends-need-for-future-gas-supply-as-labor-pushes-greens-20230313-p5cro4
The world’s biggest offshore wind power developer has ambitions to develop up to 5 gigawatts of generation capacity off Victoria’s coast as part of aggressive entry plans into the nascent sector in Australia and may also consider buying a stake in the country’s most advanced offshore venture, reports Angela Macdonald-Smith.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/orsted-targets-5gw-of-offshore-wind-off-vic-20230310-p5cr4k
Four Corners has once again highlighted that Lobbyists are most prolific in Canberra. Lobby firms infest Barton and Kingston. It is easy walking distance to Parliament House, the National Press Club and the major departments. A real LobbyLand with the Minerals Council of Australia, the Australian Medical Association, Lockheed Martin, the Australian Pharmacy Guild, the Business Council of Australia and many more, writes John Menadue who says lobbyists are undermining public trust in our political institutions.
https://johnmenadue.com/lobbyists-are-undermining-public-trust-in-our-political-institutions/
Constitutional conservatives raising doubts about the proposed wording of the referendum on an Indigenous voice to parliament have been accused of acting like “white saviours”, finding flaws with the proposal “just to stay in the spotlight”, according to a member of the government’s advisory group.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/14/white-saviours-accused-of-finding-flaws-in-voice-proposal-to-stay-in-spotlight-by-working-group-member
Nick Bonyhady writes that Australian start-up founders and investors are taking stock after a furious weekend of shepherding their companies through the collapse of the most technology-friendly big bank in the United States.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/peak-fear-how-australia-s-tech-sector-handled-a-bank-meltdown-20230313-p5crk0.html
Joe Biden has insisted that the nation’s banking system is safe, seeking to project calm after the collapse of two banks stirred fears of a broader upheaval and prompted regulators to offer emergency loans to banks to stave off additional failures.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/biden-insists-banking-system-is-safe-after-2-bank-collapses-20230314-p5crss.html
Elizabeth Knight tells us why the Silicon Valley Bank crisis didn’t turn into Armageddon.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/from-crisis-to-calm-in-four-days-why-silicon-valley-bank-didn-t-turn-into-armageddon-20230313-p5crox.html
Robert Reich poses the question, “There’s a deeper story to Silicon Valley Bank’s failure. What can we learn from it?” He makes some very pertinent points.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/13/svb-collapse-2008-financial-crisis
Michael Pascoe thinks the Silicon Valley Bank downfall will increase nerves in a precarious sector.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/03/14/silicon-valley-bank-michael-pascoe/
There will be no better opportunity than now for Anthony Albanese to ask US President Joe Biden for the release of Julian Assange. Michael West reports on the Belmarsh Tribunal and calls for the release of Australia’s number one political prisoner.
https://michaelwest.com.au/calls-rise-for-albo-to-ask-joe-biden-for-release-of-assange-in-tonights-aukus-talks/
A council in Melbourne’s inner-north has booked a windfall from fining residents for overdue animal registrations, despite widespread claims from pet owners that they were unfairly fined without notice. Robo-pet?
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/like-robo-debt-for-pets-council-nets-600-000-windfall-from-late-pet-fees-20230313-p5crl8.html
Britain’s BBC reinstated its highest-paid presenter Gary Lineker on Monday after a decision to take the sports host off air over his criticism of the government sparked a near mutiny at the public broadcaster. The corporation was forced to axe much of its sports coverage at the weekend after presenters, pundits and commentators refused to work in a show of solidarity with Lineker, who criticised the government’s immigration policy.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/bbc-backs-down-and-reinstates-presenter-gary-lineker-20230313-p5crsc.html
Craig Foster says that Gary Lineker’s red card from the BBC exposes a shameful contradiction.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/gary-lineker-s-red-card-from-the-bbc-exposes-a-shameful-contradiction-20230313-p5crjc.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
David Pope
Mark David
John Shakespeare
Cathy Wilcox
Andrew Dyson
Mark Knight
Dionne Gain
Spooner
From the US
Gosh what a surprise……………………. NOT. A few days ago I saw the bullshit subs were going to be costing us $100 billion, a couple of days ago I saw a quote of $200 Billion . Today I read it is $368 Billion . On the way to the half a $Trillion+ I thought it would end up after hearing the $100 Billion (It’s how these contracts always go). All for shit that is not to defend Australia but to fight for the US of Effing A. ,that is what nuclear subs are for. Non nuclear subs are perfectly capable of defending Australia and the region.
The LOL of the day is reading how one of the major reasons for going ‘nucular’ is the ability of the nuclear subs to protect shipping/trade routes. Yah mean those trade routes with our largest trading partner ? You know , China .
Ah well, at least Albo will get to enjoy 5 minutes of ‘Hail Caesar ! ‘ from the Rupertariat and all those US/UK arms manufacturer funded think tanks, fcuk ’em all.
Talk to the latest ex-PM about it. Albo really didn’t have much choice.
I agree. Morrison should never have broken the deal with France. Importantly, the French were going to build the subs with us and share technology and knowledge. They wanted a friend down in this area. We were going to be partners, not a vassal state to the USA. ==
And Morrison did it without consultation or asking our opinion. and certainly not the Opposition, who should be able to comment on the proposal.
No, he just flat-out lied to everyone and then announced his royal decree. Arskehole!
Albo has no choice now, but to smile and act happy about it. Behind closed doors, bet it was different. The Opposition and everyone else was left out of consultations.
Even worse3 – Dutton wants to cut spending on the NDIS to pay for these useless extravagances. Useless because whoever we fight against will have, by the time we get these, underwater drones that will be death to subs.
SfM’s ‘deal’ was not set in stone. This seems to go even further than Scrott’s ‘deal’ . Not that Albo had any choice. Labor’s ‘right’ are now a fully owned subsidiary of the “All The Way With The USA” corporation. It would not matter who was Labor leader, as a vassal state we ain’t got much choice.
E-mail from TGA. There are hyperlinks …
Seth Meyers
Stephen Colbert –
Rachel Maddow –
Lawrence O’Donnell –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Oh noes Napoleon died a couple of days ago. not that one this one.
Napoleon XIV (1938–2023)
Subs for Adelaide! Pity the Libs let the whole shebang run down so most of the skilled workforce, expertise, and knowledge have gone elsewhere.
Outrageous!
John Crace https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/mar/13/outrageous-slurs-have-been-made-about-suella-some-of-her-own-mps-said-shes-competent
One thing Rishi and Braverman have done is a sterling of breaking down barriers. They’ve shown how being cruel to ‘reffos’ is a game everyone can play, even ‘ethnics’ can now play the game of ‘bash the reffo’ at the highest levels. Hurrah for ‘diversity’ in the ‘being an arsehole’ business.
Watch a victory lap for Scovid. I don’t think so!
A streaming service would be better. For a start there are no ads. I don’t know what I would do without mine.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Australians are being urged to accept hard decisions to fund a decades-long plan to build nuclear-powered submarines after the potential $368 billion cost sparked a political furore over whether the nation could afford the mammoth outlay on a stronger defence force. Could there ever be a better time for a full-on attack on our Howard/Costello structural deficit and the may billions of exploited taxation loopholes.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/we-need-to-respond-mammoth-submarine-outlay-sparks-budget-battle-20230314-p5cs12.html
“This is a revolutionary moment in the history of the Australian Labor Party. At this point Labor assumes full implementation responsibility at the national level for turning Australia into a nuclear-powered submarine nation irrevocably tied to the US and Britain in a strategy of deterrence against China’s ambitions in the Indo-Pacific. This decision is driven by deep instincts of Australian identity and strategic belief. Labor under the judgment of Anthony Albanese and the determination of Defence Minister Richard Marles has become a party of conviction in AUKUS. Labor is always a party of beliefs and AUKUS is the new belief.”, writes Paul Kelly.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/aukus-compact-shows-labors-new-conviction/news-story/f4a5aaee6557eb5132b4f0d5066dc1de?amp
It comes with extraordinary cost, but our nuclear-powered subs will be arriving with astonishing speed, writes Matthew Knott.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/extraordinary-cost-of-submarine-program-reveals-a-confronting-truth-20230314-p5crt2.html
“Is this the real deal or merely the fourth edition of Australia’s traditional game of “Fantasy Subs”?”, asks Peter Hartcher.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/aukus-submarines-a-question-mark-for-adversaries-and-for-australians-20230314-p5cs36.html
Brian Touhey reckons Albanese is trashing the moral core of his party.
https://johnmenadue.com/scorpion-thresher/
Australia in recent years has specialised in grand announcements which come to nothing much at all. There is reason to think this time it might be different, says Greg Sheridan.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/aukus-submarine-deal-could-spur-australia-to-becoming-naval-power/news-story/f04f86a2638736249075d70130a7b929?amp
Albanese got the subs deal spectacularly right, and can thank Scott Morrison, says George Brandis. Interestingly, he points to the American political system presenting complexities and uncertainties, not least with the growing strength of isolationism on the American right.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/albanese-got-the-subs-deal-spectacularly-right-and-can-thank-scott-morrison-20230314-p5crz3.html
Could a Donald Trump-shaped torpedo sink Australia’s $368bn AUKUS submarine plans, asks Daniel Hurst.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/15/could-a-donald-trump-shaped-torpedo-sink-australias-368bn-aukus-submarine-plans
Making banks hand back to taxpayers some of the profits from the special treatment Canberra gives them would be the user-pays principle in action, writes Chris Richardson on how to help pay for the subs.
https://www.afr.com/policy/foreign-affairs/raise-bank-levy-to-foot-aukus-bill-20230313-p5crkc
Suggesting NDIS cuts to pay for expensive submarines is the latest attack on disabled people, complains El Gibbs.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/14/suggesting-ndis-cuts-to-pay-for-expensive-submarines-is-the-latest-attack-on-disabled-people
Australia has tied its colours to America’s increasingly hawkish mast as the superpower navigates the choppy waters of the Indo-Pacific, writes Farrah Tomazin.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/australia-signs-up-for-the-united-states-arms-race-with-china-20230314-p5cs3a.html
The major Australian media, SMH and The Age, are crying wolf again. Whether they will lose their credibility depends on whether Australians’ rationale prevails over their prejudices, says Teow Loon Ti.
https://johnmenadue.com/the-australian-media-cries-wolf/
The search for a site to store high-level radioactive waste will begin in the next year after the government confirmed details of its plan to acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS pact, reports Mike Foley.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/search-for-site-to-store-high-level-radioactive-waste-from-nuclear-subs-to-begin-in-next-year-20230314-p5cryp.html
In quite an interesting contribution. Peter Martin explains how Jim Chalmers is doing more than changing the way we tax super. He says working Australians pay tax in real-time – now the richest Australians making capital gains should do so too.
https://theconversation.com/working-australians-pay-tax-in-real-time-now-the-richest-australians-making-capital-gains-should-too-201665
As the month of March rolls on, so does Albo, writes John Lord.
https://theaimn.com/as-the-month-of-march-rolls-on-so-does-albo/
The Robodebt Royal Commission saw ministers and public servants play dumb and make a mockery of the justice sought by victims, writes Michael Galvin.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/robodebt-royal-commission-reveals-stupidity-as-best-defence,17324
Among the L-NP’s fraudulent Robodebt tactics was using the threat of Federal Police punishment as an intimidation method, says Dr Jennifer Wilson.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/coalition-intimidated-the-powerless-with-an-iron-fist,17322
Michael Pascoe says that it’s time for Baby Boomers to admit they had it much, much better than it is now.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/2023/03/15/baby-boomers-interest-rates-income/
The Albanese government will be asked to help fund Victoria’s resurrected State Electricity Commission under a plan to build a publicly controlled wind or solar energy farm as early as the next state election in 2026. The Age reports thar official tender documents reveal the government’s ambitious timetable to secure a “suitable co-investor” this year as part of a push to get an SEC-branded renewable energy project up and running within the next three to five years.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-to-ask-federal-government-to-fund-sec-as-state-sets-ambitious-target-for-first-project-20230311-p5cr9i.html
Ross Gittins looks at the effects of the full employment that we are currently experiencing and what sort of inflation reduction landing we might expect.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/don-t-miss-the-good-news-among-the-bad-we-ve-got-more-jobs-than-ever-20230314-p5cruf.html
The house price downturn has started to show signs of stabilising, but prices could start to drop again if a key threshold is reached, explains Jim Malo.
https://www.smh.com.au/property/news/when-the-property-market-could-reach-a-tipping-point-20230310-p5cr5x.html
The Australian Energy Regulator has approved double-digit electricity price increase for more than 600,000 customers in parts of Queensland, NSW and SA.
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/power-bills-to-rise-by-20-per-cent-from-july-1-20230314-p5crzg
The Commonwealth Bank is harvesting tracking data on its staff and ordering workers to apply for leave if their online activity, or physical activity, suggests they aren’t spending enough time being productive. Such surveillance measures are not exclusive to CBA, but The Australian understands the bank has taken the additional step of using the data to hound employees about putting in leave if they don’t seem to be clicking their mouse enough.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/margin-call/banks-employees-ordered-to-apply-for-leave-if-theyre-not-showing-up-at-their-desks-enough/news-story/2a64afd2499701272d3050ef33c95d3f?amp
The Fed’s response to the SVB meltdown creates many dilemmas – including what to do with interest rates. Australia and the rest of the world will be watching closely, explains Stephen Bartholomeusz who says the Fed has no one to blame but itself for the mess it is in.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/blind-spot-the-fed-has-no-one-to-blame-but-itself-for-the-mess-it-is-in-20230314-p5crud.html
We’re donating an average a day a week of unpaid overtime to our employers. But don’t worry, our parliamentarians have a plan to save us from ourselves, writes a cynical Jenna Price.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/a-four-day-week-with-the-right-to-disconnect-yes-that-works-a-treat-20230312-p5crhn.html
Matt O’Sullivan tells us why neither party wants to talk about Sydney’s road toll mess.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/why-neither-party-wants-to-talk-about-sydney-s-road-toll-mess-20230314-p5crxj.html
This is a very interesting way in which ChatGPT can be embraced by educators and used to assess the actual understanding of their students. I can see a similarity to open-book exams here.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/medical-science-students-were-told-to-use-chatgpt-this-is-what-it-wrote-20230309-p5cqs4.html
A Russian fighter jet has struck the propeller of a US surveillance drone over the Black Sea, causing American forces to bring down the unmanned aerial vehicle in international waters, the US military said, an incident that highlighted soaring US-Russian tensions over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/russian-fighter-jet-hits-american-drone-over-black-sea-20230315-p5cs58.html
The Iraq war started the post-truth era. And America is to blame, argues Moustafa Bayoumi.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/14/iraq-war-9-11-george-bush-post-truth
More than $3.9m has poured into the Wisconsin supreme court election from individuals and groups involved with promoting election disinformation and attempts to overturn the 2020 election, according to an analysis of campaign spending by the Guardian. What f****d-up place!
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/14/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-funding-donors-election-deniers
American conservatives are relying on fantastical ideas about wokeness to tie together a movement that has otherwise lost much of its reason for being, posits The New York Times’ Michelle Goldberg.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/the-right-wing-obsession-with-wokeness-is-actually-a-sign-of-weakness-20230314-p5crtg.html
Cartoon Corner
David Pope
David Rowe
Cathy Wilcox
Matt Golding
Alan Moir
Andrew Dyson
John Shakespeare
Simon Letch
Spooner
From the US
It sure is…..
Easily sorted, a couple of these and then feet up time. 🙂
So Australia is to buy “Puffing Billy” nuclear subs from the US, according to Brian Toohey. Isn’t that just great.
The more I learn about these toys for the boys the more I agree with Brian et al ,and with those daring to criticise this daft deal while the MSM gush over it. Strangely (or not) those pointing out the flaws are all members of the independent media.
The big question remains unanswered – how are we to pay for this pointless extravagance? The US expects Australia to join in their stupid wars but why has no politician ever counted the cost or even dared to mention it? Do we put these subs on the government’s Mastercard? Do we, as Dutton pushes, cut the NDIS to pay for them? Do we simply ignore the bill?
I’m with the Chinese on this – AUKUS arises from the “typical Cold War mentality which will only motivate an arms race, damage the international nuclear nonproliferation regime, and harm regional stability and peace.”
https://apnews.com/article/china-aukus-nuclear-submarines-f6ecf854646e2dbddd6ebeaa2f2e971d
We could start by cancelling the Stage 3 tax cuts, but with politicians set to benefit what hope do we have? Abolishing these tax cuts would save us an estimated $254 billion.
This headline from The Australian illustrates what the future will hold.
In the choice between bettering the lives of Australians and soothing those with extreme phallic compensation needs ‘the people ‘ have no show. Just wait until the next Coalition government hits town. At least Labor makes an effort to pretend and does put some lipstick on the pigs.
QI
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2023/mar/13/gary-linekers-treatment-exposes-fact-that-image-of-warm-fuzzy-bbc-was-always-a-lie
If you believe it stopped I have a noice bridge to sell you. The same shite happened in the US of A. It was exposed and of course the secret squirrels all said ‘fair cop’ and packed up and went home after the Church Committee’s report. Believe that and I have another bridge to sell you. We are as propagandized as any citizen in the ol’ USSR.
Fine chaps in MI5.
The MI5 chaps and chappesses have a head start, they went to the same public schools and Oxbridge halls as the meejia chaps and chappesses.
As someone used to say, a rickapoodie and a fandooglie.
The full Laura and Paul
The replies are good too, no one seems to be in favour of Albo’s subs.
I have voted independent since 2003, state and federal. I’m proud of that record. Never more proud than now because I can say I did not vote for those fracking submarines. What is Labor? Seems to be cloned with the Morrison government to me.
Think about it – no increases to any social security payments apart from CPI indexation which Labor tried to claim as an increase, just like Scovid, Turnbull and Abbott. No change in policy from Aukus, no extra funding for health, private schools still getting far too much money at a huge cost to state schools, no reversal of funding cuts to universities, no increase in public housing, no reining in of ASPI or defence spending, and on it goes, but those damned subs are going to eat huge holes in the budget for decades to come.
My indie support will be temporarily suspended until after the NSW election because for the first time in yonks we do not have an indie candidate. Who on earth am I going to vote for?
I’m lucky when it comes to Independents. Fremantle always has quite a selection of ‘interesting’ characters to put ahead of the Teeedle Dee Tweedle Dum parties. 🙂 Although the Labor candidates do tend to be more actual Labor than the current ‘usual suspects’ .
James O’Brien –
Stephen Colbert –
Chris Hayes –
Lawrence O’Donnell –
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Will Ms Coco sue the NSW police for perjuring themselves by presenting false evidence?
Dodgy police work in NSW ! As Capt. Captain Renault almost said “I’m shocked! Shocked to find that this is going on in NSW.”
V.good comment in tweets
In more ‘shocked, shocked I tells ya, news”, NSW shit sheet , Rupertarium inmate and Laura Norda fanboi The Daily Telegraph has exactly ZERO mentions of CoCo on their landing page. Shirley it will be in their “Police & Courts NSW” section ? ………….. NOPE.
The MSM won’t mention it, despite leaping on the original story when Ms Coco was gaoled. It’s yet another “them and us” story to them. Who cares if the right to protest is gone? Who cares if a protestor is punished? Only lefties and those who want the freedom of holding a peaceful protest,
For those who have not seen this excellent tweet from 2017 – here it is. Again.
Albanese Condemns Refugees Detained Offshore for a Decade to No Future
“When the wellbeing of vulnerable people is sacrificed to intellectual laziness or strategic furphies like ‘Stop the Boats’, you don’t have a democracy worth defending,” asserted Salmon. “This is crucifying refugees for the benefit of golden ticket immigrants who buy up investment properties.”
https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/albanese-condemns-refugees-detained-offshore-for-a-decade-to-no-future/
😆 😆 😆 😆 😆 Poor precious widdle ‘presstitutes’.
PJK may be uninformed (joke!) but he got them, and the rest, bang to rights, gov!
We can all bitch what has happened.
Time to leave that off and concentrate on how to cope with it; and bitch some more.
friendlyjordies –
F.M –
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/15/rambo-the-fox-wanted-dead-or-alive-preferably-dead
I read in the SMH that some Labor MP has blasted Keating. FMD when I saw who it was. This PoS best known for…..
Peter Khalil is a mere back bencher, first elected in 2016 but has failed to become a minister or a secretary.
He is currently serving on the Human Rights committee and – get this – is chair of the Intelligence and Security committee. Wonderful, is it not? A creature who has been blabbing secrets to the Yanks is chairing a security committee and has access to who knows what secrets.
Albo needs to change his committee heads ASAP.
This picture says a lot 🙂
A reflection of this reality. Our ‘wholly owned subsidiary’ status.
A message from BK –