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, fair, humane, and compassionate of our society and its systems, and strive to strengthen these attributes.
Note: This recall information came from 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.
…
Now let’s ponder on how fortunate we in Australia are in a chaotic and unfair world, and remember that the biggest threat we have is corruption, and a right-wing government!
THE PUB 
Bill Maher – (new rules 46:45)
Brian Tyler Cohen –
Lawrence O’Donnell –
Conspiracy theorists – most of them – do not vote, so WTF are they doing harassing people going about their business and voting? Are they setting up a US-style “stolen election” thing? If so they are in for a big surprise.
Something I’ve noticed is that the only paper in NSW to make an official endorsement has been from the SMH (for the Coalition, of course).
Murdoch’s rags and the AFR have not made any endorsements as far as I can tell. That’s somewhat interesting. Especially since a glance at Sky After Dark coverage has pretty much been venomously anti-Matt Kean and pro-One Nation.
A ‘feature’ of the Rupertasaurus Sauron species is that it supports ‘winners’ and the political colour of those does nae matter so much. The lack of Rah! Rah ! for Dominus Domine Dominum Perrottet suggests that Sauron does not think he will win.
@kaffeeklatscher
If that’s the case, that makes it much more interesting. Murdoch’s rags gave the Coalition full throated support in the 2011, 2015 and 2019 NSW elections. And also in the 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022 Victorian elections. Not to mention the 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022 Federal elections.
That they wouldn’t even endorse them for the 2023 NSW election speaks significantly.
The weird thing for me, as a Sandgroper observing from afar, is that Dominus Domine Dominum Perrottet seems ,at heart, quite decent. Much better than the usual Blue and Red Rum Corp squad leaders despite his ‘Cilice’ bent. 🙂 Not that I’d vote for the peasant.
Come to think of it even Minns seems not too bad. But then what counts for both of them is the bent ‘party machine’ behind them.
Whatever the case after decades of ‘observing from afar’ NSW politics is ‘same same’ , a combo of.
NSW, Rum corps then and now.
I guess the average NSWaler needs to either ignore it or go mad with frustration.
I went to school in Temora NSW, from grade 5. I transferred from Victoria. To me, those NSW kids were a strange lot.
It was some centennial of some sort and there was as lot of dressing up as convicts, soldiers, blue white and red clothes. There was a parade and the high school boys built a replica wooden ship captains deck with a sail, and a big paper maiche of Captain with his arm doing a salute when someone pulled a string. No doubt the parents helped out with the trailer and stuff.
They were really into all that (white) Australia origin story. Not a word about Aboriginal people and I knew of none in the town. Being from Victoria, I hardly knew anything other than Captain Cook, and assumed Bateman’s Bay was Sydney Harbour. I could not see what all the fuss was about.
This was a time when the main tourist attraction in Sydney regarding first white settlement was mock floggings of ‘convic
ts’, played by actors of course.
If there was a weird mob, they were it.
Puffy.
Billie, I like it!.
Puffy.
oops, Captain Cook with his arm saluting. I do not think Naval officers saluted back then but I could be wrong. I think it was because it identified officers from a distance putting them at risk of sniper fire from enemy ships. Didn’t they used to just take off their hats and come to attention?
OMG LOLs from this Kiwi ad from 1970 aimed at attracting Australians .
Ah memories. From the year of my birth a clip from NZ and a memories overload. @10:40 the haircut of my yoof…………….. back when I had hair 🙂 @11:00 features my high school. One stand out is how ‘nothing has changed’ re populations and the problems of housing. It sounds exactly the same as now. @15:00 min. Australians of a similar vintage to me will probably have a lot of bells rung when it comes to how it was.
The swinging has started https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nsw/2023/results?filter=changing&sort=latest
The Rupertarium does nae have much hope for the Blue Squad. Headline on Sky is
No Coalition Majority Possible
The ribbon on Sky currently reporting that no Coalition majority is possible.
L/NP lost 5 seats so far.
I smell toast
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2023/mar/25/nsw-election-australia-news-live-updates-premier-dominic-perrottet-2023-new-south-wales-polls-votes-labor-chris-minns-results-winner-latest-news#maincontent
They are comin’ for you, Dom
Sky News calls it for Labor. Chris Minns to be the next NSW Premier.
Dom behind to Labor in Epping. 51.1% counted.
was … 😦
Farewell, Premier Stick Insect. Looking forward to his defeat speech.
Eh bien, it will just give him more time for producing more larvae.
M R-D.
Our Senate may be made up of unelected swill. What does that make the House of Lords!
NSW makes it a clean sweep of the mainland for Labor.
What on earth is wrong with Tasmanians?
Tasmanian Labor has been pretty garbage since 2010. They’ve looked over talented members like former Senator Lisa Singh in favour of union hacks for a while now. And Jacqui Lambie’s party has effectively filled in the gap since Singh lost out in 2019.
However, the next election due by 2025 will probably shake things up a bit because they’re modifying their voting system so that their Hare-Clarke voting system will elect 35 MP’s instead of 25. And that may increase the chance of a change of government, even if it’s probably going to be a minority one.
With Robson rotation, I hope.
ABC election analyst Antony Green has said he is now “confident” of a Labor majority government.
… and the losers can please themselves
A decent speech by Dom: “Chris Minns will make a fine Premier …”
Dominic Perrottet has announced that he’s resigned as Liberal leader.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
After yesterday saying that Labor would stumble over the line, Alexandra Smith headlines with, “Minns to be next NSW premier after voters savage Liberals”.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/minns-to-be-next-nsw-premier-after-voters-savage-liberals-20230324-p5cuvx.html
Anthony Galloway deduces that the NSW election result is great for Labor, but it’s not all good for Albanese. He does, however, say that the result is yet another sign that the Liberals are growing out of touch with voters across the country.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/tonight-s-result-is-great-for-labor-but-it-s-not-all-good-for-albanese-20230324-p5cux5.html
Recriminations within the Liberal Party have begun following Saturday’s horror election loss, with outgoing senior ministers insisting the party’s organisational wing bears responsibility for the thumping loss, writes Lucy Cormack.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/shell-shocked-liberals-prepare-for-new-look-party-room-as-losses-roll-in-20230324-p5cv0w.html
Alexandra Smith wonders who will lead the Liberals now that Perrottet lost the election.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/who-will-lead-the-liberals-if-perrottet-loses-the-election-20230323-p5cujn.html
David Crowe and Nick McKenzie tell us that federal officials spent $374 million in taxpayer funds on contracts tainted by concerns over conflicts of interest, poor value for money and inadequate records, according to an internal review that examined deals linked to a Canberra consultant and friend of former cabinet minister Stuart Robert. A bad egg, that one!
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/contracts-linked-to-consultant-and-liberal-mp-warrant-investigation-review-finds-20230324-p5cv1p.html
Organisers of an anti-abortion rally on Sunday have called for calm amid fears it will become another flashpoint after a violent protest outside a Sydney church on Tuesday. Hundreds of Catholics will march from St Mary’s Cathedral to NSW Parliament for a “Day of the Unborn Child” rally, gathering just 25 metres from a Macquarie Street abortion clinic. These people are not being forced to have abortions, are they? On the other hand, they ARE, in many cases being forced not to.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/calls-for-calm-ahead-of-mass-sydney-anti-abortion-rally-20230324-p5cuz8.html
A strident Jacqui Maley writes that anti-trans activists don’t give a damn about our rights. She tears into the US Republicans and those, like Mark Latham, who set out to emulate them.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/let-women-speak-anti-trans-activists-don-t-give-a-damn-about-our-rights-20230324-p5cv1h.html
Jon Faine reckons the scam watchdogs are playing pass the parcel as Australians get ripped off.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/scam-watchdogs-play-pass-the-parcel-as-australians-get-ripped-off-20230324-p5cuyk.html
The SMH editorial says that, with our increasingly ageing population, public services need to be repurposed to meet our changing needs.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/public-services-need-to-be-repurposed-to-meet-our-changing-needs-20230324-p5cuzm.html
By cleverly pushing payments out of one column and into another, federal governments have bamboozled citizens into thinking they are paying less tax, but we’re effectively paying more, writes Tom Orren.
https://independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/government-clever-at-making-us-believe-were-paying-less-tax,17360
Dwindling attendance has seen a drop in the number of operational churches in regional Australia, and ministers say the church has to change to survive. The Uniting Church here has just folded up its tent.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/26/i-want-it-to-have-a-future-churches-in-rural-australia-are-struggling-to-keep-the-lights-on
Why was Boris Johnson cast into the wilderness this week? It’s because a populist without a tribe is nothing, says Jonathan Freedland.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/24/boris-johnson-populist-enablers-trump-netanyahu
The fixer who once idolised Donald Trump now poised to face him in court, explains the New York Times.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/the-fixer-who-once-idolised-donald-trump-now-poised-to-face-him-in-court-20230323-p5cukm.html
In Florida, parents are always right – even when they think a Michelangelo is porn, writes Arwa Mahdawi.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/25/florida-school-principal-fired-michelangelo-porn-desantis-law
Cartoon Corner
Peter Broelman
Matt Davidson
Reg Lynch
Matt Golding
A gif from Glen Le Lievre
From the US
Now for the exciting wait to see if NSW Labor’s ‘Obeids, Tripodis, Arbibs’ etc are ‘dead buried and cremated’ or just waiting in suspended animation.
Here’s the 5&5:
This was a week where the events happening in meetings outside of the Parliamentary chambers were as important as what happened in the House of Reps and the Senate. A series of meetings with the First Nations Referendum Working Group with the PM, Linda Burney, Patrick Dodson, Malarndirri McCarthy and Mark Dreyfus came to a really important conclusion by Thursday.
BEST
1. The wording of the referendum question
2. Linda Burney explained the importance of the Voice
3. 100 days until cheaper early childhood education and more flexible paid parental leave
4. Julie Collins brought the House to complete silence
5. First piece of Revive legislation through Parliament
WORST
1. Sussan Ley’s Dorothy Dixer to the PM
2. Once again Fletch happened 🤦♂️
3. ‘Stop trying to make Fletch happen’
4. Peter Dutton being MIA during the NSW election campaign
5. The opposition trying to gag debate once again
1. This week the Prime Minister announced the wording of the referendum question that will recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by establishing a Voice to Parliament. The referendum is about two things: recognition and consultation. The PM captured the significance of the moment during his press conference: “If not now, when? This is an opportunity that doesn’t belong to the [politicians], it belongs to every Australian equally … All of us can own an equal share of what I believe will be an inspiring and unifying Australian moment.”
2. Linda Burney explained the importance of the Voice during Question Time on Thursday. “The Australian people can be confident that the work has been done to ensure a Voice that works. A Voice that makes practical difference, a Voice that is not another layer of bureaucracy, but a Voice that will hold bureaucracy to account. A Voice that will move Australia forward for everyone.”
3. On the 1st of July Australian families will have access to cheaper early childhood education and more flexible paid parental leave. During Thursday’s Question Time – exactly 100 days before both of these important Government reforms kick in – Early Childhood Education Minister Anne Aly, Education Minister Jason Clare and Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth answered back-to-back Dixers reinforcing the difference these reforms will make to Australian families. As Anne Aly told Parliament: “This is an investment not just in the future of our country, not just in our economy, but in the future of Australian children, something I know that every member in this House is committed to.”
4. On one of the rowdiest days in the chamber this week, Julie Collins brought the House to complete silence during Question Time as she explained the importance of our Housing Australia Future Fund. “I say seriously to members in this place that I know our housing reform agenda is ambitious. It’s ambitious because it needs to be. We all need to do more. All of us in this place have a responsibility to make sure that more Australians have a safe, affordable place to call home.”
5. This week the Parliament passed the first piece of our legislation implementing Revive, Australia’s new National Cultural Policy. There’s more to come. Watch this space.
The worst
1. It’s pretty unusual to receive a Dorothy Dixer from the Opposition during Question Time. But that’s exactly what Deputy Liberal Leader Sussan Ley did on Monday. She began her question to the PM by announcing “Tomorrow marks 10 months since the 2022 election.” The Prime Minister was more than happy to fill Sussan in on all the Government’s achievements since May 21.
2. Once again Fletch happened. The Manager of Opposition Business, Paul Fletcher, is expected to organise the Opposition to put forward a Matter of Public Importance, that gets debated straight after Question Time. On Tuesday the 21st of March he struggled with that job, proposing the debate go ahead on … Thursday the 9th of March. The Parliament’s capable of a lot of things, sadly time travel isn’t one of them.
3. Poor Fletch. It wasn’t his week. During Wednesday’s Question Time the Manager of Opposition Business jumped on a point of order just as the PM finished an answer and took his seat. The Speaker always checks that that’s the end of the answer. Very generously the PM was happy to allow it, telling the Speaker, “I want to hear what he has to say”. And then Jim chimed in “That’s the first time he’s heard those words!” You could almost hear the Coalition backbench saying “Stop trying to make Fletch happen!”
4. The New South Wales election is this weekend, but as Member for Parramatta, Andrew Charlton, pointed out – there’s been one notable absence during the campaign … Peter Dutton. As Andrew put it: “The Leader of the Opposition has been so conspicuously absent from Sydney that New South Wales tourism is thinking of hiring Lara Bingle to ask, ‘Where the bloody hell are you?’” The whole speech is well worth a read.
5. During the life of the last Government 60 hours was spent voting on motions that the member be no further heard, or that the question be put. I was pretty happy that there had been no divisions on either of those resolutions since we won office. Although that came to an end this week. What I hadn’t anticipated was after spending nine years gagging debate, now in opposition they wanted to keep doing it. Although they didn’t quite know what to do when, after we’d voted against the member being no further heard, I then successfully moved that the members be given an extension of time.
Parliament’s back next week. That’ll be the last sitting before the Budget in May.
Tony
Not happy, Dutton?
SA leads again.
I hope the SA Voice breaks the ice for a National Voice. The fact one is up and running may help the national YES vote.
Sound familiar?
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/mar/26/labour-vows-to-secure-bbcs-independence-after-lineker-row
I’ve been mulling over the NSW election results since yesterday, and I think that the best thing to come out of it is that Labor’s majority is likely to be small. That’s how it’s been in that state, good long term Labor governments start off small to make their first term seemingly probationary (like Neville Wran’s 1976-1978 term and Bob Carr’s 1995-1999 term), then they build trust and flourish.
Of course things went awry in the end, I assume something went wrong with Wran in the mid-1980’s, and then there’s the whole Obeid and company saga in the mid-2000’s that ruined Labor for a decade afterward.
I admit that I didn’t like Chris Minns at the start, particularly after how Jodi McKay was treated, but, I hope to see good things from his government. Especially on the environmental front, with taking a sharp look at landclearing and water policies for a start.
On current trend it is the bare 47
https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/nsw/2023/results?filter=indoubt&sort=latest
If that turns out to be the case then it would be almost poetic in history.
Both Wran and Carr came to power with the bare majority of 50 of 99 seats, and if that number turns out to be the result, then Minns does the same with the bare majority of 47 of 93 seats.
Re Carr and Wran, they started that way but look at how it ended. NSW should limit their governments to 2 terms , outski before the endemic ‘Rum Corp Rot ‘ sets in.
Have some Philomena Cunk…………..
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
Eating a bit of humble pie, Alexandra Smith tells us how Chris Minns and Labor won the election.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/from-enigma-to-premier-how-chris-minns-and-labor-won-the-election-20230326-p5cvc2.html
Michael Koziol writes about how the Liberal campaign went from bad to worse. He says that humbled members of the Liberal Party’s moderate faction have met at a Sydney restaurant to discuss where it all went wrong.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/doomed-from-the-start-how-the-liberal-campaign-went-from-bad-to-worse-20230326-p5cvc7.html
The SMH editorial puts it to us that the result of the NSW election was the electorate’s clear cry for help on the cost of living.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/nsw-voters-worried-about-costs-checked-the-use-by-date-20230326-p5cvb8.html
If anyone was expecting overt displays of euphoria from Labor’s premier-elect Chris Minns on Sunday morning, they would have been disappointed, writes Deborah Snow.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/despite-his-trademark-even-handedness-the-magnitude-of-minns-success-can-t-be-downplayed-20230326-p5cvcq.html
Chris Minns’ laid-back style, his civility and his prosecution of an upbeat, positive message has struck a chord that will define his premiership, says Troy Bramston.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/courteous-upbeat-campaign-sets-tone-for-chris-minns-premiership/news-story/bc7bb306d6e79a16b51c412a6db7e2b0?amp
David Crowe reckons Labor’s victory in NSW shows the risk for the Liberals in the Aston byelection next weekend.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/labor-s-victory-in-nsw-shows-risk-for-liberals-in-aston-byelection-20230326-p5cvce.html
Michelle Grattan writes about Dutton saddling up for the Aston race amid Victorian Liberal infighting.
https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-dutton-saddles-up-for-aston-race-amid-victorian-liberal-infighting-202600
Liberal Party hero John Howard has warned against the Coalition descending into a “woe is us” mentality, declaring that Labor’s victory in the NSW election and new coast-to-coast dominance were not the result of “a coherent nationwide policy movement” against the conservatives.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/politics/labors-dominance-is-brittle-despite-nsw-election-john-howard-tells-liberals/news-story/4b7421d5fafd87c7caa06206b07a4dd5?amp
The Liberal party cannot afford to “go into the margins” of political debate or rely on division in society, a key federal senator has warned, after the New South Wales election left the Coalition on the opposition benches in every mainland parliament. But, writes Josh Butler, other federal members of the opposition are urging the Coalition to further embrace conservative values and focus less on climate change, highlighting the challenge facing Peter Dutton as the Liberal and National parties continue searching for answers after election losses across the nation
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/26/liberals-warned-against-going-into-the-margins-as-coalition-loses-power-across-mainland
Michael McGowan reports that the incoming Labor premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns, will face immediate pressure from union leaders to come good on his promise to lift public sector wages and overhaul working conditions.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/27/golden-opportunity-nsw-labor-under-pressure-to-deliver-promised-public-sector-wage-rises
The situation facing the Liberal Party is more dire than November 2007, when every government, state and federal, was Labor, writes Phillip Coorey.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/for-the-liberals-this-is-worse-than-2007-20230326-p5cva6
Margot Saville examines the new breed of politician too busy to play politics.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-new-breed-of-politician-too-busy-to-play-politics-20230324-p5cv04.html
Jacqui Maley wonders if the teals need Scott Morrison in order to succeed.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/do-the-teals-need-scott-morrison-to-succeed-20230326-p5cvci.html
In another excellent contribution, this time on political courage, Mark Kenny writes, “An Australian equivalent of Profiles in Courage would certainly include Archer. It might also include Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto, who is fighting to expel a Liberal MP Moira Deeming over an anti-trans rally she attended along with neo-Nazi fanatics. The moderate Pesutto has put his leadership on the line to get Deeming out, while conservative lickspittles from Dutton’s federal party room back Deeming.” He also contrasts the efforts of Albanese and Dutton on the Voice.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8135172/political-courage-stands-out-from-simple-pandering/?cs=14258
John Pesutto is on track for a victory in Monday morning’s vote to expel Moira Deeming from the Liberal party room, despite the numbers narrowing over the weekend. The Age report says Liberal MPs say the ballot determining the controversial MP’s future, to be held at 10am, is an early test for Pesutto despite Deeming claiming she would back the current leadership team if the vote fails.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/deeming-expulsion-vote-looks-set-to-pass-in-key-test-for-pesutto-20230326-p5cva8.html
Alan Kohler tells us how Australia’s biotech sector has suddenly got much bigger.
https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/the-innovators/2023/03/27/alan-kohler-innovators-27-march/
Australia is now almost entirely held by Labor – but that doesn’t necessarily make life easier for leaders, opines Frank Bongiorno.
https://theconversation.com/australia-is-now-almost-entirely-held-by-labor-but-that-doesnt-necessarily-make-life-easier-for-leaders-202049
Ross Gittins writes that Labor is just pretending to be tough on climate change and says it wants to be in bed both with those who want real action on climate change and the fossil fuel industries.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/labor-is-just-pretending-to-be-tough-on-climate-change-20230326-p5cvc1.html
New research shows 116 new government-approved fossil fuel projects due to start before 2030 will emit 4.8 billion tonnes of emissions by then. That amount is vastly more than proposed reduction in emissions; ‘clearly, Australia’s climate policies are not working’, says Su-Lin Tan.
https://johnmenadue.com/australias-climate-targets-could-go-up-in-smoke-amid-planned-increase-in-coal-gas-use-report/
The secretive Future Fund’s chairman Peter Costello might not like it, but Freedom of Information requests are peeling back the lid on the Fund’s weighty overseas investments. Philip Dorling and Rex Patrick report the more controversial ones.
https://michaelwest.com.au/big-tech-weapons-tax-havens-even-rupert-murdoch-secrets-from-the-future-fund-investment-vault/
Phil Coorey writes that the Albanese government is inching towards a deal with the Senate on its climate change safeguard mechanism, but its separate $10 billion housing fund is in jeopardy, as the Greens say there is next to no prospect of a deal before the May budget.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/safeguard-deal-likely-but-10b-housing-fund-in-jeopardy-20230326-p5cva7
Nick McKenzie and David Crowe aren’t going to let go their story on the hundreds of millions of dollars of contracts questionably entered into during Stuart Robert’s ministership. Between this and robodebt, Bill Shorten is having a field day.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/services-australia-official-oversaw-decision-to-award-contract-to-friend-s-company-synergy-360-20230326-p5cvdm.html
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas says he hopes other states and territories will follow SA’s lead after it became the first jurisdiction to put in place a legislated Indigenous Voice to parliament. SA’s version of the Voice gives 12 Indigenous people chosen from six regions the ability to address either the lower or upper house of state parliament on any bill of concern.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/sa-hails-momentous-day-as-state-voice-approved-20230326-p5cvan
Natissia Chrysanthos reports that the RACGP has suggested doubling the number of medicines a person can collect with each prescription from one to two months’ supply could save patients up to $180 a year and reduce the government’s payments to pharmacists for dispensing scripts, while freeing up doctors’ time in a stressed health system. Makes sense for patients with chronic conditions.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/double-pharmacy-scripts-to-60-days-supply-to-save-medicare-millions-doctors-20230316-p5csrs.html
The criticisms of the AUKUS arrangements announced by the government are entirely warranted, as is the outrage that has accompanied them, but, strangely, they miss a point which should have preceded them. And that has to do with the political complexion of the United States itself; in brief, it faces the world as a troubled and corrupt actor, neither united as a nation, nor even as a state, writes Judy Hemming.
https://johnmenadue.com/a-prior-question-to-the-aukus-arrangements/
Christopher Knaus tells us why clergy abuse survivors and their families are outraged by legal stays that thwart their cases.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/27/its-gutless-clergy-abuse-survivors-and-their-families-outraged-by-legal-stays-that-thwart-cases
John Longhurst explains how the pokies have destroyed Australia’s live music scene.
https://independentaustralia.net/life/life-display/pokies-have-destroyed-australias-live-music-scene,17363
Nicole Bando explains how manipulative baby formula companies are getting rich undermining breastfeeding.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/manipulative-baby-formula-companies-get-rich-undermining-breastfeeding-20230322-p5cubg.html
The latest plunge in European bank stocks has highlighted the European Union’s failure to establish robust mechanisms to contain the fallout from bank failures, explains Karen Maley.
https://www.afr.com/companies/financial-services/why-european-banks-are-now-in-the-eye-of-the-storm-20230326-p5cv9y
Yesterday the thuggish Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant after he said the government should delay moving forward with a highly-contested plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/netanyahu-sacks-israel-s-defence-minister-who-opposed-controversial-judicial-overhaul-20230327-p5cvfy.html
“Welcoming Benjamin Netanyahu to No 10 is an insult to British Palestinians like me”, says Sara Husseini.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/26/benjamin-netanyahu-british-palestinians-rishi-sunak
Ahead of Obama’s visit to Australia, Nick Bryant looks at the decline of the USA as a society.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/obama-brought-false-hope-but-america-was-in-big-trouble-before-trump-20230324-p5cuzh.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Glen Le Lievre. Ouch!
Peter Broelman
Badiucao
Joe Benke
Jim Pavlidis
Mark Knight
Leak
From the US
Joke of the day – John Howard has told the Australian newspaper that Labor’s hold on power is “brittle” and won’t last long.
Two-time loser predicts the downfall of Labor. What would this shrivelled old man know? What he knows about holding on to power could be written on a gnawed fingernail.
At one stage during the ‘Rodent Era’ Quinceland’s CanJo as mayor of Brisvegas was the Liberal’s highest elected official. It did not help Labor at the Federal level. Just ask Kevin-07
Update for my local seat of Port Macquarie –
The Libs look like holding the seat. The Nats candidate – the local mayor and a climate change denier – could not unseat her. That is a real blow for the Nats. Leslie Williams was once a Nat but became so fed up with Barilaro’s shonky and shifty leadership of her party, especially his handling of the koala issue (koalas are very important in this area) she abandoned ship and joined the Libs. Why she did not have the guts to turn independent is an excellent question.
A Vote for an Independent is a bit too racy for the retirees up your way
Amen!
😆 Fallopians 13:13 😆
Toddlers would make excellent politicians. Here are six reasons why
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/27/toddlers-would-make-excellent-politicians-here-are-six-reasons-why
After today’s events in the Victorian Liberal Party, I don’t think John Pesutto will last much longer as leader.
His authority has been diminished, and it’ll only be a matter of time before he’ll be officially challenged and outed.
In fact the first poll since the election in November has them going backwards. They’re a right mess at the moment.
If they fall just short of a majority, the new NSW govt will be OK for confidence and supply.
I am heading off to Adelaide airport and then Broome, shortly.
I extending atn invitation (or plea) for someone to submit a thread-starter please. It can be short and have links and images. Topics could include the recent ALP win in NSW, the Voice to Parliament including Labor SA’s Voice legislation passing last Sunday or another topic of your choice, even non-political.
Cheers
Puffy.
Editing will be supplied so do not worry about your writing skills.
Safe travels, Puffy, and enjoy yourself!
I have a little something in the works, which will – with luck – burst upon The Pub’s world later today.
Good morning Dawn Patrollers
The SMH editorial says that Labor’s victory on Saturday brings with it the possibility that Premier-elect Chris Minns will move to end the almost casual corruption that attends politicians staying in power too long. It adds that blatant pork-barrelling has bedevilled state and federal politics and is a hallmark of a government soured by the arrogance of power.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/the-people-of-nsw-expect-new-government-to-stop-casual-corruption-20230327-p5cvj7.html
Michael McGowan writes that NSW Labor is sweating on the possibility of minority government as the jostle for Liberal leadership begins.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/28/nsw-labor-sweats-on-possibility-of-minority-government-as-jostle-for-liberal-leadership-begins
Mike Foley explains what the safeguard mechanism deal means for climate action. He says that, with the federal opposition committed to rejecting the safeguard mechanism the Greens have reversed their previous approach to climate policy, which will no doubt disappoint some policy purists, but banked a win that was a decade in the making.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/what-does-the-safeguard-mechanism-mean-for-climate-action-20230327-p5cvmw.html
It’s not perfect, but the Labor-Greens climate deal should limit emissions and fossil fuels. That matters, declares Adam Morton.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/27/its-not-perfect-but-the-labor-greens-climate-deal-should-limit-emissions-and-fossil-fuels-that-matters
Almost $60 billion in gas investments face having to spend billions on offsets and carbon capture technology under a landmark Labor deal with the Greens, says Jacob Greber.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/labor-wins-greens-support-for-landmark-emissions-plan-20230327-p5cvj6
Greens will back Labor’s safeguard mechanism without a ban on new coal and gas. That’s a good outcome, declares the Grattan Institute’s Tony Wood.
https://theconversation.com/greens-will-back-labors-safeguard-mechanism-without-a-ban-on-new-coal-and-gas-thats-a-good-outcome-202444
The AFR’s editorial berates the Coalition for allowing climate policy to veer to the green-left.
https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/coalition-allows-climate-policy-to-veer-to-the-green-left-20230326-p5cve3
And Phil Coorey joins in, saying the Coalition’s tin ear has left Labor, Greens to claim the safeguard spoils.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/coalition-s-tin-ear-leaves-labor-greens-to-claim-safeguard-spoils-20230327-p5cvo7
The Labor-Greens deal on the safeguard mechanism gives each party a win, says Paul Karp.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/27/the-labor-greens-deal-on-the-safeguard-mechanism-gives-each-party-a-win
In reality, many gas projects were never going to go ahead anyway, opines Jennifer Hewett.
https://www.afr.com/policy/energy-and-climate/in-reality-many-gas-projects-were-never-going-to-go-ahead-anyway-20230327-p5cvld
Meanwhile, Origin Energy has signed a $18.7bn takeover deal with suitors Brookfield Asset Management and MidOcean Energy after months of talks and pledged to build a giant 14 gigawatts of new renewable and storage generation in Australia over the next decade.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/companies/origin-signs-18bn-takeover-deal/news-story/64d5ca6221bc25a21b70bf77ad6cec37?amp
Describing the narrow path to productivity reform that still remains, Craig Emerson says, “The Liberals are dealing themselves out as a party of reform. More important is the relationship between the BCA and the ACTU.”
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/a-narrow-path-to-productivity-reform-still-remains-20230322-p5cugs
The Liberal brand is tarnished. Some hard truths must be faced in the wake of another election loss, urges Trent Zimmermann who says that as Labor governments blanket the mainland, the Liberal party is left divided over the cause of its failures and a path back to government.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/27/the-liberal-brand-is-tarnished-some-hard-truths-must-be-faced-in-the-wake-of-another-election-loss
New forecasts show the rapidly expanding NDIS is poised to blow a $5.7 billion hole in Jim Chalmers’ second budget, with almost 200 Australians joining the program each day and participant numbers outstripping projections released only months ago, reports Michael Read.
https://www.afr.com/politics/ndis-on-track-for-5-7b-budget-blowout-20230322-p5cuaq
Sumeyya Ilanbey, Rachel Eddie and Annika Smethurst tell us how a deeply personal story from Moira Deeming that moved some in the Liberal party room to tears helped her avoid expulsion and forced Opposition Leader John Pesutto into an embarrassing backflip that has weakened his position. The deep fractures within the party in Victoria, though, are still exposed.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/moira-deeming-survives-ballot-to-expel-her-but-cops-nine-month-suspension-20230326-p5cvfg.html
Tony Wright issues a memo to John Pesutto, saying never ask a question without first knowing the answer.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/memo-john-pesutto-never-ask-a-question-without-first-knowing-the-answer-20230327-p5cvn4.html
John Pesutto’s failure to expel Moira Deeming could prove to be his undoing, writes Benita Kolovos.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/27/john-pesuttos-failure-to-expel-moira-deeming-could-prove-to-be-his-undoing
When anti-trans activist Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull visited Australia recently, most media outlets refused to give her hate speech a platform, writes Victoria Fielding who says hate should never be given a powerful platform.
https://independentaustralia.net/business/business-display/hate-should-never-be-given-a-powerful-platform,17365
Phil Coorey reckons Albanese is prepared to stare down the Greens over his $10b affordable housing fund.
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/albanese-to-stare-down-greens-over-10b-housing-fund-20230327-p5cvhl
In a classis spit over the Voice, Greg Sheridan says, “This awful referendum could well succeed because its advocates have intimidated people into not expressing reasonable opposition because all opposition is depicted as being motivated by malice and because the Yes case will be funded to tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars. And because the Liberals have been too timid to make a strategic choice, informed by elementary principles. Tactics without strategy – noise before defeat.”
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/libs-need-values-not-tactics-for-voice-clash/news-story/f6bf963645b1e0336c470723a9e3db7d?amp
An American company paid controversial consulting firm Synergy 360 to gain behind-the-scenes support from Liberal MP Stuart Robert to lobby a parliamentary committee that oversees a key anti-corruption agency in the hope it would back the US firm’s technology. Nick McKenzie and David Crowe report that leaked emails reveal that Unisys paid Synergy 360 – owned by Robert’s close friends David Milo and political fundraiser John Margerison – in return for Robert helping the US firm pitch its LineSight border security program to the federal MPs and senators.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/stuart-robert-faces-fresh-questions-over-parliamentary-committee-lobbying-20230327-p5cvhr.html
Anthony Albanese has demanded the opposition’s Indigenous Affairs spokesman show the moral courage to back his long-held support for a Voice to parliament. Paul Sakkal tells us that the prime minister, who has staked his political authority on the contentious referendum’s success, underscored the growing partisan gulf over the reconciliation push when he pointed at Coalition frontbencher Julian Leeser during question time and urged him to support the proposed Indigenous advisory body, as Leeser advised on the design of the Voice as a lawyer before entering parliament.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/have-the-courage-to-stand-up-voice-split-gets-personal-as-albanese-rebukes-leeser-20230327-p5cvni.html
Peter Hartcher writes about Samoa’s prime minister proposing that Australia and New Zealand work with Pacific islands nations to create a European Union-style bloc.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/the-big-idea-floated-by-a-tiny-nation-that-could-be-a-winner-all-round-20230326-p5cveo.html
Angus Thompson reports that a federal government backbencher has denied yelling “at least I have my own children” at a gay Liberal opponent during her speech about childcare in parliament yesterday. Victorian Labor MP Sam Rae said it was “absolutely not correct” that he yelled the remark at Queensland MP Angie Bell while she was arguing that the cost of early learning had increased under the government’s watch.
https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/gay-liberal-mp-lodges-complaint-about-alleged-slur-on-her-family-by-labor-mp-20230327-p5cvmv.html
While bank customers in Europe and America are facing a white-knuckle ride in recent weeks, there are good reasons why Australian banks are much safer than their overseas counterparts, explains Sarah Danckert in a very good read.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/australian-banks-are-as-safe-as-our-houses-ahem-20230327-p5cvhp.html
Deutsche Bank was once ‘the riskiest bank in the world’. But there are bigger dangers to worry about, writes Stephen Bartholomeusz.
https://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/deutsche-bank-was-once-the-riskiest-bank-in-the-world-but-there-are-bigger-dangers-to-worry-about-20230327-p5cvgr.html
Richard Boyle revealed a heavy-handed tax office culture of debt recovery, even where taxpayers were at risk of suicide, or facing domestic violence. He may be jailed for it, writes Kieran Pender who argues Australians should not be punished for speaking the truth.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/he-blew-the-whistle-when-no-one-else-did-he-should-not-be-facing-jail-20230327-p5cvid.html
Patrick Hatch writes that a radical plan to overhaul the tax system for housing, open up Melbourne’s middle suburbs and stop rampant population growth on the city’s outer fringe has been proposed by Victoria’s peak infrastructure body which has called for fast-tracked planning approvals for townhouses, relaxed zoning to permit more low-rise apartments and the abolishment of stamp duty and first-home-buyers subsidies to increase housing options and affordability.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/there-s-a-lot-at-stake-push-to-open-melbourne-s-suburbs-up-to-townhouses-apartments-20230327-p5cvii.html
We shouldn’t have to go into the office simply for the sake of it. Smart, progressive employers will get the best out of their staff if they offer truly flexible working arrangements, says Erin O’Dwyer.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/let-me-work-from-home-or-i-won-t-work-for-you-it-s-that-simple-20230326-p5cvb0.html
The last few months, culminating in the announcement about the AUKUS agreement and the release of the 2023 IPCC Synthesis Report, have probably crystallised for many Australians a realisation that they are headed towards a future that is truly frightening, writes Bronwyn Kelly.
https://johnmenadue.com/australia-can-we-avoid-a-future-that-is-truly-frightening/
Dear old Gerard gives us a midweek moan on the bane of his life, the ABC.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/media-watch-dog-abc-in-panic-mode-as-ratings-plummet-refutes-its-claim-to-be-most-trusted-news-outlet/news-story/b1e3f5334bdc16c0a7eaaf298d2bd75f?amp
The Murdoch media drives resentment with propaganda as constant as drums of war. The pounding message for its audience is that every development is a zero-sum game, one that only defrauds this “conservative” base, writes Lucy Hamilton.
https://theaimn.com/murdochs-zero-sum-games-divisive-propaganda-meant-to-break-us/
The proprietors of Brindabella Christian College have racked up a $4.8 million debt to the Australian Tax Office, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal has been told. A delegate for the federal Education Minister decided in May 2021 that Brindabella Christian Education Limited, the charity that operates the school, was not fit and proper to receive Commonwealth funding. It imposed certain conditions on the charity, including that it have an independent professional examine its finances and that it review its governance structure.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8136919/school-owes-48-million-to-tax-office-tribunal-told/?cs=14329
Anna Patty exposes the funeral insurance scam which means the longer you live, the more over the eventual actual cost you pay.
https://www.theage.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/when-living-longer-means-getting-no-value-for-funeral-insurance-20230301-p5cooi.html
If there’s one thing she hopes Australia never imports from the US, it’s that country’s raging appetite for banning books. But there are signs the culture wars have reached our shores, writes Jane Sullivan.
https://www.smh.com.au/culture/books/it-s-one-of-america-s-most-challenged-books-but-we-shouldn-t-ban-gender-queer-20230327-p5cvk3.html
Brad Emery pulls apart the ridiculous stances being taken in education in Florida. The hypocrisy of the ignorant and pious is rampant there.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/michelangelo-a-genius-no-just-a-filthy-little-boy-20230326-p5cveq.html
A female shooter wielding two “assault-style” rifles and a pistol killed three students and three adults at a private Christian school in Nashville yesterday in the latest in a series of mass shootings in a country growing increasingly unnerved by bloodshed in schools. It will never end.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/i-thought-i-would-just-see-this-on-tv-children-killed-in-nashville-school-shooting-20230328-p5cvr3.html
“Britain, be warned: with ‘stop the boats’ policies you brutalise migrants – and damage yourselves”, says Ben Doherty.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/mar/27/britain-be-warned-with-stop-the-boats-policies-you-brutalise-migrants-and-damage-yourselves
Vladimir Putin has accused Australia of joining a new global “axis” with the United States and NATO that he said bears resemblance to the World War II alliance between Nazi Germany, fascist Italy and imperial Japan.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/europe/putin-accuses-australia-of-joining-a-military-axis-as-part-of-a-global-nato-20230327-p5cvk2.html
Foreign Minister, Penny Wong has asserted that Australia does not accept that Israel is an apartheid State. Freedom of information (FOI) documents have exposed that this position is not based on DFAT legal advice. The concerns of many Australians that their government, through trade and other dealings, or by even visiting Israel, might be making them an accomplice in a crime against humanity have been left unaddressed in order to protect Israel. Paul Heywood-Smith says that FOI has exposed Australia’s attempts to protect Israel on apartheid status.
https://johnmenadue.com/foi-exposes-australias-attempts-to-protect-israel-on-apartheid-reports/
Yesterday, Benjamin Netanyahu delayed a decision on bitterly contested plans for a judicial overhaul until April amid fears that Israel’s worst national crisis in years could fracture his coalition or escalate into violence. It was unclear how far the bill’s delay to the next parliamentary session, announced by far-right coalition partner Jewish Power, would satisfy either side or cool a crisis the army chief said made “this hour different to any before”.
https://www.theage.com.au/world/middle-east/israeli-government-delays-disputed-judiciary-bill-amid-mass-protests-20230328-p5cvr1.html
Cartoon Corner
David Rowe
Cathy Wilcox
Matt Golding
Andrew Dyson
Peter Broelman
John Shakespeare
Fiona Katauskas
Some Glen Le Lievre gifs
Mark Knight
Spooner
From the US