Where on earth is Lampedusa?


Australians are unfortunately used to headlines that another ‘boatload of asylum seekers’ has called for help near Christmas Island. All too frequently the Australian Navy is called upon to rescue people from boats that were not seaworthy enough to make the journey from a port in Indonesia, Sri Lanka or another location to the north of Christmas Island.

Enough printer’s ink to fill Sydney Harbour, and hundreds of millions of electrons, have been used in the past twenty years to ‘explain’ (read justify) positions in relation to asylum seekers. If you want to discover the actual and legal position on ‘irregular arrivals into any country’, you could begin with the Refugee Council of Australia’s website. The Refugee Council of Australia offers the following definition of a refugee – from the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees – to which Australia is a signatory:

Any person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his/her nationality and is unable, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country.

Like a lot of Australians I was saddened but not surprised at the loss of human life when the media reported during October this year that another boatload carrying asylum seekers had sunk – and it was estimated that 345 of the passengers on the ship had drowned. What I wasn’t expecting was the mention of the location of the incident – Lampedusa. I have a reasonable knowledge of Australian geography and my first question was ‘Where on earth is Lampedusa?’, given that the narrative widely promoted within Australia for a number of years described asylum seeker boats as a purely Australian/South-East Asian problem. I was curious when I found out that Lampedusa is, in fact, in Italy – and the asylum seekers were from northern Africa.

It was reported widely in Australia, as in Guardian Australia on the 10th October, that those that drowned at Lampedusa were to be given a state funeral by the Italian Government. When the Italian Government later determined that those who lost their lives would receive a memorial service rather than the state funeral promised by the Italian Prime Minister, criticism came from a number of influential parties, including the Mayor of Lampedusa.

Guardian Australia also reported that:

This year more than 30,000 migrants have sailed to Italy, of whom 7,500 were Syrians fleeing their civil war, 7,500 Eritreans escaping a brutal regime and 3,000 avoiding violence in Somalia.

By contrast, Operation Sovereign Borders Acting Commander, Air Marshal Mark Binskin announced the same week:

For the October 4-11 reporting period, a total of 111 people were transferred to the offshore processing centres on Nauru.

Since the new government's Operation Sovereign Borders began three weeks ago, a total of 215 arrivals have been transferred to the centres, including Papua New Guinea's Manus Island.

As of Friday, there were 1059 detainees on Manus, 800 on Nauru and 2176 on Christmas Island.

Let’s compare those numbers. Up to 345 people died at Lampedusa while 111 people in total arrived in Australia in the same week. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) gives a detailed listing of asylum seeker numbers, globally, in an Excel spreadsheet.

Australians have often been described as living in a land where ‘everyone is equal’ and ‘where Jack is as good as his master’ and in a society ‘where anyone will help out a mate’. There is some evidence to support this mantra; for example:

  • In the immediate aftermath of the 2011 flooding throughout Queensland, a number of cities and towns were overwhelmed with volunteers willing to help those less well-off get back on their feet. Brisbane City Council provided a fleet of buses to transport the ‘mud army’, consisting of thousands of people, across the city to areas of need.
  • Every SES person on the ground from Byron Bay to Port Headland is a volunteer, as are those members of service clubs such as Apex or Lions. They all make a magnificent effort to help out a mate who needs it, in some form or other, every year.
Australia is supposed to be a Christian country. Our current Prime Minister is a self-confessed practising Roman Catholic – and commenced training to be a Jesuit priest. His immediate predecessor was frequently shown on the Sunday news bulletins leaving an Anglican church. There is a paragraph in the bible that can be paraphrased as ‘do unto others as they do to you’. There are similar sentiments in the holy book of Islam, The Koran, and in Buddhism.

Despite this tenet of faith, and the claims of being a ‘Christian’ country, Australians frequently make the following statements:

1. People who arrive here and claim refugee status are taking our jobs.

The evidence would suggest not, as the unemployment rate in Australia has been sitting at under 10% since the days when Bob Hawke was Prime Minister. In fact, the entire argument for the resettlement of refugees from Europe, post World War II, was to expand the country and its economy.

In Italy, for example, towns are welcoming the chance to be revitalised by the settlement of asylum seekers seeking refugee status.

2. People who arrive here and claim refugee status can claim more benefits than ‘ordinary Aussies’.

The Refugee Council of Australia states:

A refugee who has permanent residency in Australia receives exactly the same social security benefits as any Australian resident in the same circumstances. Refugees apply for social security through Centrelink like everyone else and are assessed for the different payment options in the same way as everyone else. There are no separate Centrelink allowances that one can receive simply by virtue of being a refugee.

3. Asylum seekers are queue jumpers or ‘illegal immigrants’.

Under the UN Convention, you cannot apply for refugee status from your own country. Refugee camps also work on a needs basis – rather than a formal queue.

Illegal immigrants are those that enter legally and overstay their Visa – there were in excess of 60,000 people in this group in the end of 2011, according to the Herald Sun, and the report suggests the number is climbing. By contrast, at the beginning of October 2013, slightly over 4,000 people are in asylum seeker camps established by the Australian Government.

Australians raise these kinds of questions regarding refugees. Italians criticise their government for not providing state funerals, although attempting to provide assistance and support to those that survive. Why is there such a difference in attitude between the Italians and the Australians?

According to UNHCR, Italy had 17,352 people request asylum in 2012; Australia had 15,996. Remembering that you do not have to claim asylum in the first country you come to, the EU had 358,285 people claim asylum in 2012; our region (Australia and New Zealand) had 16,320. Italy offers state funerals to a large number of victims of a ship sinking – Australia makes pregnant asylum seekers give birth in sub-standard conditions, something criticised by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Various Australian politicians have suggested ‘tough’ asylum seeker policies will stop people getting on unsafe boats and subsequently dying at sea. In Europe, they are asking why people get onto unsafe boats.

You may be surprised to know that even the ultra-conservative Fox News in the US reports European asylum seeker boats that sink sympathetically and apparently has done so for some time; until recently, our media hasn’t.

While the Europeans are discussing ways to ensure people don’t have to get onto unseaworthy boats, we are not. Australian politicians, and sadly a significant proportion of the Australian public, seem to believe that being ‘tough’ on asylum seekers who arrive here will help people accept what may be draconian living conditions in their home country – which is clearly a fallacy. This is treating the symptom rather than the root cause. It could be compared with attempting to turn off a dripping tap with greater force (symptom) rather than replacing the washer (root cause).

The previous and current Australian Governments both claim to take the high moral ground on a number of issues with self-confessed practising Christians as the last two respective Prime Ministers. When the Italians who receive a higher number of asylum seekers per annum than we do are so upset about the unnecessary death of over 300 people – as they should be – what is this country’s excuse for using asylum seekers as a ‘tough on crime’ issue in a similar way to how various state governments are using ‘outlaw’ motor bike groups?

What happened to ‘do unto others’?

How does our treatment of asylum seekers in the 21st century demonstrate the fabled ‘help a mate’ attitude of Australians?

Why are immigrants to Australia victimised when we are all descended from immigrants?

Why are asylum seekers a domestic political issue?


Probably the saddest thing about this issue is that so-called Christian politicians, who claim to value human life, are so blinded by the domestic political opportunity they forget a fundamental belief they claim to live their lives by – ‘do unto others as you wish them to do to you’ – and have convinced a significant proportion of the population of the merits of the case.

What do you think?

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TPS Team

3/11/2013 Now becoming a regular contributor, this week we welcome back 2353 with another thought provoking piece on the continuing saga of asylum seekers. The title question, ‘Where on earth is Lampedusa?’ implies how egocentric Australians are becoming regarding refugee arrivals by boat. It comes as a surprise that Lamepdusa is not somewhere on the west coast of Australia but in the Mediterranean Sea. And the refugees who drowned there weren’t even heading for Australia! The asylum seeker issue is one that is not going away any time soon. The policy approach taken by our current and immediate past Prime Ministers runs counter to their own professed Christian beliefs and 2353 asks what has happened to Christian and Australian values in our treatment of refugees. It is a good question. What is your answer? We look forward to your comments.

Ad astra reply

3/11/20132353 Thank you for providing us with a thoughtful piece on this vexed subject. The case you present that we Australians ought to take a more accommodating position is convincing. Why is it then that so many voters support the punitive approach that our political leaders have taken. Is it because those seeking asylum have been demonized by terms such as 'illegals', by being categorized as 'invaders', taking our jobs and sponging on our welfare system? Is it a leftover from the Tampa era, from John Howard's defence of our fortress with 'we will decide who come to this country.....'. Whatever it is, it has negated our 'fair go' attitude, and the 'do unto others...' dictum. It is an ugly example of how powerful demonization is, how potent promoting self interest over the common good can be. Goebbels knew all about this; sadly our opportunistic leaders have followed his pernicious example, all in the pursuit of political advantage. This era will forever stain our national psyche.

Bacchus

3/11/2013Topically, Compass on ABC TV now is about ordinary people, via charities, helping asylum seekers... "[quote]3 November 6:30pm [b]Helping Hands[/b] As Australia continues to grapple with boat arrivals, Compass looks at who is helping asylum seekers already here and why ... While the impact of the government’s latest crackdown on boat arrivals is yet to be determined, there remain thousands of asylum seekers in Australian detention centres. Charities are at the forefront of providing assistance to those who are gradually being released into the community. Meantime, on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast a scheme that offers asylum seekers a place to live and the chance to be part of a family has just paired its first host family and asylum seeker..[/quote]" Compass is a religious show on Sunday night before the news. This episode should be available on iView and for download in the next couple of days, if anyone is interested.

Bacchus

3/11/2013"The Australian Homestay Network's placement scheme for asylum seekers has been suspended for now." http://homestaynetwork.org/cpn "[quote]A decision has recently been made by the Australian Homestay Network (AHN) to temporarily suspend both the Community Placement Network (CPN) and the Homestay Helping Hand (HHH) programs, [b]due to the ongoing instability of the programs based on current policies[/b] which make it unviable for the Australian Homestay Network and their Hosts to participate. We believe the success of these programs has proven the model for asylum seeker settlement and AHN will be ready to start these valuable programs back up [b]when the political situation in Australia allows[/b][/quote]" Instability? Political situation? They're being too kind... [b]bold[/b] mine

Casablanca

4/11/2013 CASABLANCA'S CACHE. Monday, 4 November 2013: 33 items HYPOCRISY 1. The Daily Telegraph wins a News Award for our freedom of the press campaign BYLINE DAILY Telegraph editor Paul Whittaker has won a coveted News Award for the newspaper's campaign to protect the freedom of the press...The gong was one of several picked up by The Daily and Sunday Telegraph at a ceremony in Brisbane last night attended by News Corp executive chairman Rupert Murdoch. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/the-daily-telegraph-wins-a-news-award-for-our-freedom-of-the-press-campaign/story-fni0cx12-1226751648491 POLITICS 2. Abbott's first days: Everything but the boats has been turned back Clint Howitt Despite all the pre-election rhetoric and promises, Tony Abbott's first few weeks in power have been a chaotic schemozzle. Just weeks after the election, it’s crunch time and the Coalition’s performance is already looking decidedly shabby. Every week, we see reversals, retractions and retreats from the former positions of the Coalition. http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/abbotts-first-days-everything-but-the-boats-has-been-turned-back,5853 3. Rupert, Clive and Campbell in the Arkansas of the world Guy Rundle So, on a Thursday night in Australia, the proprietor of the country’s largest media outlet gives a lecture auspiced by a think tank set up by the country’s largest shopping mall magnate, which is then broadcast live and in full on ABC News 24, and breathlessly reported the next morning in all the papers. http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/11/01/rundle-rupert-clive-and-campbell-in-the-arkansas-of-the-world/ 4. Barnaby Joyce's Pilliga pillage John Rainford Did Barnaby Joyce buy two barren blocks of land in NSW between 2006 and 2008 because of the massive CSG deposits now known to be lying beneath. http://www.independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/barnaby-joyces-pilliga-pillage,5796 5. Brand was right, we need a revolution Stuart Munckton Comedian, Hollywood star and former host of MTV and Big Brother's Big Mouth Russell Brand took on veteran BBC broadcaster Jeremy Paxman in a Newsnight interview subsequently viewed millions of times on YouTube..There is very real economic pain felt by ordinary people across Britain (and the world), and deep-seated disillusionment and anger towards a corrupt political system that allows rich bankers to destroy the global economy then makes the ordinary people pay. https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55277 6. Has the United Kingdom sold their student debt? Coral Dow On a recent Q&A program Education Minister Christopher Pyne, in response to a question about selling HECS debt, stated: ‘Britain have sold their HECS debt as an asset and we should investigate whether that is a sensible move for us to do so.’ This Flag Post looks at the UK experience of selling some of their student loan; of a 2007 proposal to sell more that did not proceed and of recent proposals to again sell part of their student debt asset. http://parliamentflagpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/has-united-kingdom-sold-their-student.html 7. Warren Truss puts Hockey on notice over takeover bid for GrainCorp Michelle Grattan When Deputy PM Warren Truss..drew a line in the sand against the takeover bid for the agri-giant GrainCorp, it was a big reminder that the government has serious internal differences which will test Tony Abbott leadership skills. http://theconversation.com/warren-truss-puts-hockey-on-notice-over-takeover-bid-for-graincorp-18637 ELECTORAL ISSUES 8. What's Going On With The WA Senate Count Antony Green The last few days have been eventful in politics with the revelation of ballot papers missing in the WA Senate Count. The news broke on Thursday on the first day on an electoral law conference I was attending in Brisbane. I was one of several attendees who spent parts of Thursday and Friday on the phone trying to explain what was happening... http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2013/11/whats-going-on-with-the-wa-senate-counct.html#more 9. Re-election will open floodgates in WA Peter Martin ''Every micro party and their dog would want a go. We have 52 registered parties, and there's no limit to the number of independents,'' Professor Orr said...Such an election would become a virtual referendum on the first six months of the Abbott government, attracting an unusually large number of candidates...The West Australian governor has to give 33 days' notice before the poll and it typically takes the Electoral Commission four weeks to declare a result, meaning the re-election would need to be called by April for the winners to take their place alongside the rest of the new Senate from July. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/reelection-will-open-floodgates-in-wa-20131103-2wuv2.html PUBLIC POLICY 10. When experts conflict Luke Buckmaster Making decisions about complex public policy issues inevitably involves the assistance of experts. On occasion, however, experts in a given area disagree in their judgements. In such cases, how can non-experts go about deciding which experts to believe? http://parliamentflagpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/when-experts-conflict_6963.html 11. Expertise and public policy: a conceptual guide Matthew Thomas and Luke Buckmaster http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1314/PublicPolicy LABOR 12. Murdoch and Fairfax use Labor to destroy Labor Alan Austin JUST THIS MONTH, media characterisations of the Labor governments from members of Parliament, past and present, include “bastardry”, “backstabbing”, “dysfunction” and “idiocy”...Well, of course, we would expect Coalition MPs to spread those condemnations of Labor. But here’s the thing — they are from Australian Labor Party members. http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/murdoch-and-fairfax-use-labor-to-destroy-labor,5847 13. And The Shortening Begins prestontowers Shortening. (n) The process undertaken by Australian media outlets and political opponents whereby they seek to undermine and discredit the Federal Leader of the Opposition, William Richard “Bill” Shorten. http://ausopinion.com/2013/11/03/theshorteningbegins/ 14. The Coalition are not guaranteed victory in 2016 Simon Copeland “The Coalition’s massive victory”. “A loss that will see the ALP in opposition for potentially a decade”. “A massive win for Tony Abbott that will guarantee him the next election.” http://ausopinion.com/2013/10/29/the-coalition-are-not-guaranteed-victory-in-2016/ 15. Rudd should stay, says ALP overseer Cameron Atfield The man tasked with performing a post-mortem on the Labor Party's failed federal election campaign has backed former prime minister Kevin Rudd to remain in Parliament. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/rudd-should-stay-says-alp-overseer-20131102-2wtpb.html 16. Unions take election funds fight to court Sean Nicholls Unions fear conservative state governments are pushing to ''silence'' them nationally after Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia joined NSW in defending its political donations laws against a landmark High Court challenge. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/unions-take-election-funds-fight-to-court-20131103-2wuw4.html RELIGION & ETHICS 17. Everyday Catholics to have say on church views on same-sex marriage Tess Livingstone CATHOLICS will be surveyed about their opinions on church teachings on contraception, same-sex marriage and adoption, divorce and young people living together before marriage. The worldwide poll, distributed from the Vatican to national bishops' conferences, will be conducted in the lead-up to a synod announced by Pope Francis on pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelisation. The synod will be held in October next year. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/everyday-catholics-to-have-say-on-church-views-on-same-sex-marriage/story-e6frg6nf-1226752387920?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheAustralianNewsNDM+%28The+Australian+%7C+News+%7C%29#sthash.bAVh8yq1.dpuf 18. Vatican canvasses faithful Barney Zwartz Catholics around the world are being asked their opinion of church teachings on divorce, same-sex marriage and contraception for a Vatican synod on the family next October. It is designed to help bishops strengthen families in the face of concerns ''unheard of until a few years ago'', such as couples living unmarried, gay couples adopting children, single-parent families, ''forms of feminism hostile to the church'' and the ''culture of non-commitment''. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/vatican-canvasses-faithful-20131103-2wuxs.html#ixzz2japaTEfG 19. Turnbull calls for free vote on same-sex marriage Mark Kenny and Anna Patty The call, which accentuates the distance between the moderate Mr Turnbull and his boss, Prime Minister Tony Abbott, came as the Greens prepare for the re-introduction of a previously unsuccessful private members' bill. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/turnbull-calls-for-free-vote-on-samesex-marriage-20131103-2wuuu.html GOVERNMENT & MEDIA 20. Media, power and decadence: some disquieting trends Giovanni Navarria & John Keane A poet once remarked that the times, they are a-changin’. They are, but potentially for the worse. With varying degrees of sophistication and success, many governments, across the political spectrum, now routinely use crafty methods to control journalists, media firms and information flows, sometimes to the point where so-called democracies look remarkably like authoritarian regimes. http://theconversation.com/media-power-and-decadence-some-disquieting-trends-19761 21. Silence echoes across Canberra as the Coalition clams up Bianca Hall "We will be a no-surprises, no-excuses government, because you are sick of nasty surprises and lame excuses from people that you have trusted with your future," Abbott vowed at his campaign launch in August. But two months since the election, it's increasingly becoming apparent that a "no-surprises" government is coming at the cost of open government. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/silence-echoes-across-canberra-as-the-coalition-clams-up-20131102-2wt5k.html ECONOMY + BUSINESS 22. Tilting the scales towards the aged: Part II Matt Cowgill Changes in the ABS survey mean that it isn’t possible to conclusively measure the extent to which the age bias in the system has changed, but we can be reasonably confident that the level of age bias measured in recent years is accurate. http://mattcowgill.wordpress.com/2013/10/29/tilting-the-scales-towards-the-aged-part-ii/ 23. Raising the stupidity ceiling billablog When Treasurer Joe Hockey announced that Australia’s debt limit would be raised by $200 billion, one of the justifications he offered was that it was to prevent the possibility of the kind of crisis that the US government went through last month. This reasoning has since been duly repeated by many reporters and commentators. I will leave it to smarter people than me to argue whether raising the debt limit is good, bad or unremarkable either way. What I do know is that nobody needs to worry about US-style crisis happening here for one simple reason: It couldn’t. http://ausopinion.com/2013/11/02/raising-the-stupidity-ceiling/ 24. Markets fall on Murdoch musings Rex Ringschott The apparent sycophancy of Treasurer Joe Hockey was noted, with questions also being asked about whether Mr. Murdoch had the necessary subtlety in his old age to continue to force the Australian government to bend to his will without making his interventions embarrassingly obvious, and hence undermine his controlling stake. http://clubtroppo.com.au/ NBN 25. Conflict Of Interest & Substandard Deployments Sortius With recent news that Malcolm Turnbull has appointed his old chum JB Rousselot, ex-Telstra AND ex-Ozemail executive, to head up the strategic review, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that conflicts of interest are being ignored by Turnbull. If this was done in the corporate world there’d be ACCC investigations & the like, but unfortunately, the way Turnbull is orchestrating the end of the NBN, this will not happen. http://www.sortius-is-a-geek.com/conflict-interest-substandard-deployments/ 26. Turnbull in tussle over NBN contracts AAP Labor has seized on revelations the Coalition has booted 500,000 households off the National Broadband Network roll-out map. Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull claims those affected are actually the victims of Labor's "lies and spin". http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/turnbull-in-tussle-over-nbn-contracts-20131103-2wui6.html ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 27. Stronger targets proposed in Climate Change Authority draft report Anita Talberg The draft report proposes two sets of caps; each set of caps defines a different emissions trajectory between now and 2020, and then to 2030. The CCA is calling for stakeholder input until 29 November 2013. http://parliamentflagpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/stronger-targets-proposed-in-climate.html 28. It all adds up: port development on the Great Barrier Reef Alana Grech & Bob Pressey Indirect impacts from port developments, such as marine rubbish and increases in shipping traffic and CO2, are rarely considered in EISs. These statements also don’t consider how the impacts of ports combine with all the other past, present, and future port and non-port impacts, such as fishing, runoff, climate change and extreme weather such as cyclones. http://theconversation.com/it-all-adds-up-port-development-on-the-great-barrier-reef-19708 29. Germany Hits 59 Percent Renewable Peak, Grid Does Not Explode Eric Wesoff The electrical grid appears intact but electricity prices took a tumble. According to an analysis by Bernard Chabot of BCCONSULT, low demand from large conventional power plants drove the electricity price index covering Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland to 2.75 cents per kilowatt hour at 2:00 pm. http://theenergycollective.com/stephenlacey/294991/germany-hits-59-renewable-peak-grid-does-not-explode 30. Cause vs Contribution Ed Butler It seems our politics are incapable of the kind of accuracy that is required to talk about important scientific issues. In among the toing and froing around whether or not discussing climate change and bushfires is ‘politicising’ the issue lies a crucial linguistic loggerhead. http://ausopinion.com/2013/10/25/cause-vs-contribution-2/ 31. How 'non-delivery' haunts Greg Hunt Tristan Edis A key challenge facing those poor bureaucrats tasked with trying to make something half workable out of the government's Direct Action policy is how to deal with winning bidders failing to deliver promised amounts of abatement. The thing is that an emissions abatement auction scheme will have to determine in advance, often many years in advance, who it should pay to provide abatement and how much it should pay them. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/10/22/policy-politics/how-non-delivery-haunts-greg-hunt 32. Now is the time to talk about climate change Paul Gilding While we'd like to think of climate change as a long-term global risk we can emotionally detach from, the bushfires currently raging in New South Wales bring the threat uncomfortably close to home. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-22/gilding-now-is-the-time-to-talk-about-climate-change/5038006 ASYLUM SEEKERS 33. Pataphysics hit the right note on refugees Mat Ward Multi-lingual multi-instrumentalist Pat Marks fronts the multi-faceted Melbourne band Pataphysics. ... I work with an organisation called RISE - the only organisation governed and run by refugees and ex-detainees. I support them in the work they do with whatever they require. At the moment I am helping out with the recording studio and Cypher Hip Hop project. For more info you can check www.riserefugee.org. What have been your main observations and conclusions that you have come to in working with refugees? They’re people like us. The sooner the media and governments stop demonising them, the better. https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/55258 TODAY’S MAIN NEWS Refugee Boat Arrivals The updates that the Morrison Military Machine want to hide. http://archiearchive.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/refugee-boat-timeline-updated-to-october-21st/ Ashbygate on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/585444634841472/ The Finnigans' Home of the BISONs The Beautiful Inspiring Set of Numbers http://www.thefinnigans.blogspot.com.au/ • ROULE REPORT — Issues of Today http://paper.li/RouleReport/1334728962 • AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGES www.thepaperboy.com/australia/front-pages.cfm • NEWS HEADLINES 4 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/

Casablanca

4/11/2013 I'm back! CASABLANCA'S CACHE: Monday, 4 November 2013 - returning to deal another blow to political illiteracy at: http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/page/CASABLANCAS-CACHE-2013-11-04-%28Current%29.aspx

Casablanca

4/11/2013 2353 Another good piece, thank you. BTW Abbott did not commence training to become a Jesuit. He entered St Patrick's Seminary in Manly to study for the diocesan priesthood ie, the common garden variety who run suburban parishes in Australia. He did however, attend Jesuit schools from early Primary to Matriculation. I note that it is Abbott's 56 birthday today. He was born in London, 4 November, 1957.

Janet (j4gypsy)

4/11/2013Thank you 2353 for challenging us again. On the previous thread Ad Astra spoke of the need now for protest. We have organised protest on the 17th November in all major cities and towns in Australia to demand appropriate climate change policy. It is also time for organised protest right across the country on the vicious absurdity of asylum seeker policy in this country. Welcome back Casablanca! You were so missed :-). Just a couple more readings one couldn't resist from blogsters often gracing our Links or Cache list: [b]Clive Palmer media hysteria is an insult to Fairfax voters[/b] [i]YaThink?[/i] I am getting really fed up with reading all the ridiculous hyperbole in regard to Clive Palmer, finally, being named as MP for Fairfax. This is my backyard and I have had enough. I am not personally a fan of Clive’s, I think he is a cunning bugger & I have no idea what his ‘real’ end game is, so that makes me uncomfortable, but I am a fan of democracy! http://yathink.com.au/article-display/clive-palmer-media-hysteria-is-an-insult-to-voters-in-fairfax,96 [b]Liberal leader lies about Labor’s CT plans[/b] [i]Barry Tucker[/i] In his latest email newsletter, released at 5.20 pm, 1 November, 2013, federal Liberal director Brian Loughnane lies about Labor’s intentions regarding the future of its Carbon Tax (carbon price). Labor leader Bill Shorten has said Labor will oppose the federal Liberal government’s campaign promise to abolish the tax unless it is replaced by an emissions trading scheme. Loughnane claims this means Labor wants to retain and REINTRODUCE the tax if it regains government. http://thesnipertakesaim.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/liberal-leader-lies-about-labors-ct-plans/

jaycee

4/11/2013This fear of the refugee thingo goes back a long way in Aust'...I make note that the war memorial in the town near where I live, has strange listings from the first world war to the second. A point not noticed or remarked upon by even the local citizenry. The list of names of persons who served in the first WW., keeping in mind the animosity directed toward "Kaiser Bill" and all persons and locations bearing a Germanic name in those days...the list engraved in stone are ALL except ONE of Anglo / Celtic origin. In the intervening years, approx one generation, between the wars, there must have been either forgiving or forgetting, because THAT list for the second WW. contains ALL BUT TWO of Germanic names! So in the space of 25 or so yrs. something strange happened and a complete turnaround in both attitude or gratitude opened the doors of the most revered institution in Aust' society ; The Aust' Defence forces , to those once seen as a reviled enemy! Perhaps there is hope yet!?

Ad astra reply

4/11/2013Casablanca A big welcome back. What a marvellous collection of links you have gifted us to start the week. I shall enjoy them during the morning.

Ken

4/11/20132353 and jaycee Yes, the politicians have been playing the refugee card for all its worth but as jaycee says acceptance of the different groups seems to occur over a generation or two. If you look at Australian history we have always had groups that were reviled for a time, starting with the Chinese on the gold fields. One that many people forget is that even the Irish were considered a problem for a large part of the 1800s. Then there were the "wogs", mainly Italian and Greek, then the Vietnamese. In each case they have become generally accepted into the community over time. And one thing I always find striking is that they usually pick up the Australian accent. So that now we have Vietnamese young people speaking "strine" with the best of us, and we no longer take any notice of Greeks and Italians speaking "fluent Australian". That does not overcome the current problems but, as jaycee says, does give hope for the future.

jaycee

4/11/2013The added irony is that the children of those immigrants now join in the suspicion of these current refugees!....talk about lost-memory! But the supreme irony is that some of those original "Germanic immigrants" were refugees within refugees!...; Slavs or Polish or other ethnic groups forced to change their names, language and religion to Germanic, with the federation of Germanic states at the turn of the nineteenth century. It just gets curiouser and curiouser!

Ken

4/11/2013jaycee yes the children of the immigrants tend to join the cry against new immigrants. In western Sydney when the Greeks and Italians were there in large numbers there was a "game" called "spot the Aussie". Then when the Vietnamese arrived in numbers in Cabramatta, the Greek and Italian children turned that to "spot the wog".

KHTAGH

4/11/20132353 This subject is one that brings out both the best & worst of our society, & our politicians, as I have stated before I don't know what the answer is. All I can say is if we think we have a problem now, just wait till the environmental migration starts due to climate change. Nice to see you back & fighting fit Casablanca. To change the subject slightly, have others noticed Abbott face when he is concentrating on something, a classic case was last week when the news showed him pulling hoses his gaping mouth looked like the trawl net from the Able Tasman, his mannerisms are just not right. We know he is a Fascist Psychopath, but is he on anti psychotic drugs? is he suffering from [i]Tardive dyskinesia[/i] Tardive dyskinesia is a disorder that involves involuntary movements, especially of the lower face. Tardive means "delayed" and dyskinesia means "abnormal movement." Causes Tardive dyskinesia is a serious side effect that occurs when you take medications called neuroleptics. Most often, it occurs when you take the medication for many months or years, but in some cases it can occur after you take them for as little as 6 weeks. The drugs that most commonly cause this disorder are older antipsychotic drugs, including: Chlorpromazine Fluphenazine Haloperidol Trifluoperazine Other drugs, similar to these antipsychotic drugs, that can cause tardive dyskinesia include: Flunarizine (Sibelium) Metoclopramide Prochlorperazine Newer antipsychotic drugs seem less likely to cause tardive dyskinesia, but they are not entirely without risk. Symptoms Facial grimacing Finger movement Jaw swinging Repetitive chewing Tongue thrusting [b][u]remind you of Abbott?[/u][/b] Outlook (Prognosis) If diagnosed early, the condition may be reversed by stopping the drug that caused the symptoms. Even if the antipsychotic drugs are stopped, the involuntary movements may become permanent and in some cases may become significantly worse. [b]Now the big question what journalist will ask him ?[/b]

TalkTurkey

4/11/20132353 The noun "Christian" like the noun "Liberal" (in Australia) is to my way of thinking ultimately hypocritical - exactly the reverse of what they are supposed to mean as uncapitalised adjectives. Many countries find themselves hosts willy-nilly to desperate people seeking asylum from repressive, often murderous regimes: Italy is only one, and far from the being the hardest-pressed at that. It seems to me that the poorer the nation, the more 'christian' the people are likely to be - especially if the majority does not profess its own charitable virtues, as Australians often do. Ours is a rich nation, arguably the most desirable place, all-up, to spend one's life; this has been used as an excuse to force people [i]not[/i] to find asylum here, it's called 'the sugar on the table' by such Christians as Greg Hunt and that Morriscum obscenity. I wouldn't like to be an African refugee in Israel, even a Jewish one, as many are: Jews are about as christian as Christians. Not all Christians are unchristian of course, there are christian Christians too, but if I were a refugee given a choice of landing in a religious or alternatively an atheist country I need hardly say which I'd choose. Atheists never persecute religiomanes, it's always the other way around, with Christians in particular always claiming the high moral ground: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you", "turn the other cheek", "if a man have 2 coats let him give one"... Oh yeah. It seems to me that Religion is almost always at the core of the anti-refugee hatreds in every country, and the more religious, the more children per household - that of course being the real driver of the problem, overcrowding of the countries concerned. I had hoped in the Hippie era that we might be able largely to dereligionate the world in favour of rational humanitarian attitudes, but plainly as in the State maxim in Orwell's [i]Nineteen Eighty-Four,[/i] "Ignorance is Strength" and we never had a fighting chance. Your article very clearly puts the problem 2353, I especially like your Parable of the Leaking Tap, but what to do about it, I have said here before, I know not. Because Christians bar the way. ‘do unto others as they do to you’.

TalkTurkey

4/11/2013H'mmm that last quote in my piece above, ‘do unto others as they do to you’ was a bit I picked up from early in your article 2353, that I was going to have a bit of fun with, but then I saw the correct version in your last paragraph and forgot to delete my quote. Of course variations on that quote often end up with [i]But do it before they do it to you[/i]. A truly Christian attitude! In happier vein, When I started my reply earlier this morning there as just 1 comment - by the time I posted it there were 15! Best of all, Casablanca's back! Now you listen here, My Girl: DON'T YOU DARE overwork yourself, please just cruise a little, we need you for the Phar Lap, not Just A Dash, and the rest of us are starting to put up more links now, as we bloody should too. Thanks Casablanca, but you already have your Above and Beyond Medal, you have nothing to prove, just keep coming, that's all. Mr Grasshopper you are a minefield of info, always I love your posts. Hope your bees are finding some good flowers. Can't answer everyone, but must say, what I like about TPS is, there is no better place (well I thinkit's the BEST place) to find articles and comments with real gravitas. A legacy of Dr Guess Who. And our Gypsy says: [i]Thank you 2353 for challenging us again. On the previous thread Ad Astra spoke of the need now for protest. [i]We have organised protest on the 17th November in all major cities and towns in Australia to demand appropriate climate change policy. It is also time for organised protest right across the country on the vicious absurdity of asylum seeker policy in this country. That's very interesting, because it is also planned as a day of protest against the defrauding of NBN. So Folks BE THERE on that day eh, we should ALL be there for that protest. I'll be in Mildura that day, hope the Milduranians are all as bigoted RWers as the bloke whose 80th J**** and I are summoned, reluctantly in my case, to attend the day before. Quote from him (another Kevin!) re Abborrrrtt: "He's a very fit man!" Urggghhh.

Bacchus

4/11/2013If any are interested in the Compass episode, '[i]Helping Hands[/i]' from last night, it's now available to watch or download at http://www.abc.net.au/compass/s3867285.htm or on iview at http://www.abc.net.au/iview/#/view/76461517

jaycee

4/11/2013" His gaping mouth looked like a trawl net from the "Abel Tasman".....that's good!...that's real good!! But you know...I reckon you're correct...he sometimes doesn't look well...he sometimes looks like he is struggling...like a chimp trying to peel a wax banana!..(your's is better ..Khtagh!)

Pappinbarra Fox

4/11/2013Australia used to be the country of the FAIR GO (well fairer go). It no longer is. And it can no longer claim to be, even if it never was really a place for a fair go for everyone. I can pinpoint the moment that Australia lost its right to claim we are the nation of the Fair Go. Actually I believe that there are two moments. One when John Howard decided that a tough approach to asylumn seekers was politically advantageous. The second when John Howard declared war, for the first time in our history, on a country that was neither threatening Australia directly nor had it invaded one of our allies. The very character of Australian society changed with those two decisions and the perturbations that they unleashed. The ramifications of those decisions are still being worked out in our society but Austrlia has become a less safe place to live in, a place when we only help our neighbours in times of extreme peril (bushfires and floods) - not a particularly Australian response to catastrophe but a human one. So what was unique about Australian society and what have we lost? The fair go was not unique but it was embraced, it was also egalitarian in its pervasiveness. We have lost that. We have lost basic human decency. Now it is quite OK - indeed sponsored by conservative governments - to not help those in need, to abuse the less well off, to look down on those from different cultures, to abuse the disadvantaged and downtrodden. We will decide who comes to this country and we will change the fundamental nature of our society in doing so - and not for the better. We will decide who to declare war on, oh no we wont - we will let our great and powerful ally decide who we declare war on and destroy our integrity in doing so.

jaycee

4/11/2013But isn't it amazing how Rupert is doing all the policy talking for the LNP.!?....They've bought a real headache with that mogul..he now thinks he owns them..which in his mind he does and it hasn't dawned on the LNP. that he( Murdoch)has already worked out HIS strategy for using them to his end. Brookes and Coulson over in the UK. are learning what "cut-adrift" means....and these dumbies in OZ who have too eagerly embraced the lifestyle of "Club-Murde" will be stunned when they "come home and find the locks changed" and, like the above two, "please explain" notice in their email tray!

Ad astra reply

4/11/2013Casablanca What an enjoyable and informative collection you left us in the early hours of the morning. I enjoyed particularly the group on climate change, each item of which underscored the need to act on this existential threat NOW. Yet we have a government that seems to be denial of the urgency of action, indeed the need for action at all. The refusal of Abbott to acknowledge the link between global warming and bushfires is dangerously consistent with his earlier utterances and attitudes, although one of his statements that was supposed to reassure us that bushfires are 'normal', gave the game away. He named the years of disastrous fires as the 1850s, 1939, 1968, 1983, 1994, 2003, 2009 and now. Ed Butler comments: "Ignoring, for a moment that none of those other fires were in October, take a look at the gaps between those events. 80 years, 29 years, 14 years, 11 years, nine years, six years, and four years. Mr Abbott may have thought he was talking about Australia’s proclivity for catching alight, but in fact he was reinforcing the point that these fires are getting much, much more frequent." Abbott has shot himself in the foot, but why is it left to the Fifth Estate to point this out? Where are all our journalists? Hiding lest Murdoch admonish them?

jaycee

4/11/2013"...but why is it left to the Fifth Estate to point this out? Where are all our journalists? Hiding lest Murdoch admonish them?" Where are the MSM. journos'?...I'll tell you where!...Cringing behind their front doors...while the rest of society are out working in various trades, professions, volunteering, carers, health workers, builders and battlers, all trying to make an honest living by earning enough to pay their way...the journalists are cringing behind their pay-packets..too scared to do a half-decent job..too cowardly to "buck the boss"...while being paid at least three times the average wage of a hospital cleaner they show themselves at least FIVE TIMES more gutless to speak their mind! They will go on to write yards of drivel come Rememberence Day, searching high and low for the "bon mot" to fill their columns of diatribe all the while, those brave souls, the subject of their insincerities, would if they could , spring from their graves and horse-whip the bastards for their cringing, cowardly, gutless, slinking miserable, crawling deeds! That's where they are....quivering and trembling in their dark, tiny, snivelling little hideaways!.."...yes sir! no sir!..three bags full sir?" THE BASTARDS!!!

2353

4/11/2013AA - thanks for the supportive comments. It seems to me when ideologues can market themselves well, they bring out the worst in the community. This is demonstrated by your example as well as the subject of this conversation. Bacchus - if the Australian Homestay Network feel it is better to temporarily close up shop than fight with the Government - we have a problem. Casablanca - wonderful to see you back - and I take your point on Abbott's priesthood training. Janet - Climate change also feeds into the mix here. At the very worst, if the advice of science is followed explicitly and they are completely wrong, the result is an extension of the estimated end date for fossil based fuel. A carbon price is a wonderful insurance policy. As Abbott and his Government is currently arguing that the election was a rebuttal of a carbon pricing scheme, he is probably subject his and my decedents to a lifestyle potently significantly worse than his and mine. Again, it is greed over the greater good. Ken & Jaycee - yes refugees and "new Australians" have been the butt of hatred and FUD campaigns for generations. Some of the worst offenders are the children or grandchildren of immigrants. Those that forget history are bound to repeat it. KNTAGH - you're correct that environmental refugees will pose a problem for the world in the not too distant future. Unfortunately they will ale one subject to the same denigration as the current political refugees. TT - when I first started working in the field I am currently employed, a very wise person told me to always took for the root cause rather than the symptom. Not only has he been proved correct during the past 20 odd years at work, he is also correct in life. The root cause here is greed and it is easy to design a campaign to fan the flames of that greed.

Ken

4/11/2013Pappinbarra fox The ‘fair go’ has largely disappeared in what has become a much more individualistic and competitive society. One event I take it back to is ‘the dismissal’ in 1975. If even the Government of the nation can’t get a fair go what hope is there for the rest of us. Unfortunately, I also have to sheet some of the blame home to Hawke and Keating. While they tried to keep a social compact between government, labour and capital with The Accord, their economic reforms had the practical impact, over time, of breaking down social cohesion. If we are competitive in business that starts flowing over into society’s thinking. It certainly had benefits for the economy as a whole but was leaving more people behind. Of course, the Howard years accelerated the changes. Inequality was, and is, rising. Governments abandoned public services and utliities. Instead of merely worrying about improving their standard of living, people also had to worry how they would [u]pay[/u] for services previously provided by Government. And that is part of the explanation why people now feel insecure despite how well the economy is going. That also brings us back to the refugees. Overseas evidence strongly suggests that rising inequality and feelings of insecurity encourage the creation of scapegoats to explain what is happening. A group of ‘outsiders’ is ideal! Is it an accident that Howard an Abbott have used the refugees as an issue in this environment, or do their advisors know what I know and told them this will deflect disgruntled voters?

Catching Up

4/11/20132353 , one wonders about Abbott's stance and walk at times. Another symptom. Whatever the cause, he comes across as aggressive.

Casablanca

5/11/2013 [b]CASABLANCA'S CACHE. Tuesday, 5 November 2013: 34 items[/b] ENTITLEMENTS & FIDDLES 1. Senior MPs' VIP travel cost $2m Mark Hawthorne, Paddy Doulman and Jonathan Swan Senior figures in the Abbott government were among those who enjoyed regular travel on VIP military aircraft to fly to Canberra for parliamentary sitting weeks, amassing a bill of more than $2 million, according to Defence Department records. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/senior-mps-vip-travel-cost-2m-20131026-2w8pm.html 2. Comparison does not show Abbott in a good light Expenses paid by the Dept. Of Finance during a period when Julia Gillard was Prime Minister of Australia and Tony Abbott was Leader of the Opposition: http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/comparison-doesnt-show-tony-abbott-in.html POLITICS 3. Does anyone else feel sorry for Tony Abbott? Yosef Albric But I do feel sorry for him. Imagine the trauma of wanting to be Prime Minister so much that he was willing to sacrifice and destroy a good government, a good economy and a good country to get the job and then not know what to do. It is probably a little early to suggest that he needs to be led away by persons in white coats but if he does not show sentient signs soon it is a possibility. http://yosefalbric.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/does-anyone-else-feel-sorry-for-tony-abbott/ 4. Our political ignorance won't stay blissful forever Mungo MacCallum From climate change to asylum seekers, animal welfare to trade agreements, the Abbott Government thinks that what we don't know can't hurt us. The problem is, this just delays the pain. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-04/maccallum-our-ignorance-wont-stay-blissful-forever/5067688?WT.mc_id=newsmail 5. Carbon tax showdown: the rocky road ahead for Abbott Donna Green The Coalition will introduce its draft bill to repeal the Clean Energy Act into parliament next week. The bill would effectively remove the current carbon tax and its planned replacement, an emissions trading scheme. http://theconversation.com/carbon-tax-showdown-the-rocky-road-ahead-for-abbott-19290?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013+CID_d331b710dc449708073406d1cea118ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Carbon%20tax%20showdown%20the%20rocky%20road%20ahead%20for%20Abbott 6. A couple of lessons for the ALP on climate messaging Simon Copeland The ALP has now lined itself up to continue the climate fight that has dominated Australian politics for the past seven years. With their amendments unlikely to be accepted, the carbon pricing bills are heading for initial defeat. Unfortunately however, after years of being told, and recognising internally, that it had suffered a significant failure in climate communications, the party seems to have learnt nothing. Their messages were weak at best, and destructive at worst. Certainly not a good start to another year of a climate fight. http://ausopinion.com/2013/11/04/a-couple-of-lessons-for-the-alp-on-climate-messaging/ 7. Australian carbon emission politics explained. Paul Frijters The three straight lines at the end of the graph show Australia’s promises, and then in particular the -5% line that both parties have committed to. It's a beautifully informative graph, which I have used in lectures the last few years. It is of course meant to shock the audience into rising to the challenge, but it is also very useful as a guide to discussing the politics of greenhouse emissions: http://clubtroppo.com.au/2013/11/04/australian-carbon-emission-politics-explained/ 8. Labor digs in for fight on carbon - and gets flak from business Michelle Grattan In opting to vote against the repeal, Bill Shorten and his shadow cabinet have taken the best of the poor political options available to them. http://theconversation.com/labor-digs-in-for-fight-on-carbon-and-gets-flak-from-business-19781?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013+CID_d331b710dc449708073406d1cea118ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=In%20carbon%20Shorten%20has%20taken%20the%20best%20of%20the%20poor%20political%20options%20available 9. Labor’s commitment to carbon pricing Brian There had been some speculation in the press as to whether Labor would maintain its commitment to carbon pricing in the face of LNP plans to remove it. http://larvatusprodeo.net/archives/2013/11/labors-commitment-to-carbon-pricing/ 10. Liberal leader lies about Labor’s CT plans Barry Tucker In his latest email newsletter, released at 5.20 pm, 1 November, 2013, federal Liberal director Brian Loughnane lies about Labor’s intentions regarding the future of its Carbon Tax (carbon price). Labor leader Bill Shorten has said Labor will oppose the federal Liberal government’s campaign promise to abolish the tax unless it is replaced by an emissions trading scheme. Loughnane claims this means Labor wants to retain and REINTRODUCE the tax if it regains government. http://thesnipertakesaim.wordpress.com/2013/11/02/liberal-leader-lies-about-labors-ct-plans/ 11. What Howard and Thatcher can teach Shorten Rob Burgess The Labor caucus began to doubt what it was selling. Caught in a feedback loop of negative commentary over the carbon tax, the NBN, 'debt and deficit' and so on, weak-minded members of caucus began to doubt themselves. They began to ask: “What would you like us to be today... he he?”.. [Now]..The real action is in the Labor Party, where leader Bill Shorten has been handed unprecedented power to reform his party. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/10/30/politics/what-howard-and-thatcher-can-teach-shorten 12. I get it Victoria Rollison I feel that if progressive Australians are ever going to come to terms with what happened on September 7 2013, we’re going to have to come to terms with the fact that the Liberal National Coalition are the government that the people of Australia want. http://theaimn.com/2013/11/02/i-get-it/ ECONOMY + BUSINESS 13. The Commission of Audit's first job should be to kill itself off Ian McAuley. A supposition behind the Commonwealth’s Commission of Audit is that government has become “too large”. The inference from the preamble is that the Commission’s brief is to recommend spending cuts. It asks the Commission “to make recommendations to achieve savings sufficient to deliver a surplus of 1% of GDP prior to 2023-24”. http://theconversation.com/the-commission-of-audits-first-job-should-be-to-kill-itself-off-19619?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013+CID_d331b710dc449708073406d1cea118ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=The%20Commission%20of%20Audits%20first%20job%20should%20be%20to%20kill%20itself%20off NBN 14. What Business Case? Sortius So I decided to do some digging on FTTN deployments worldwide, mainly because it’s been weeks since I received a single alert email to FTTN articles going up (apart from some oil company whose stock ticker is FTTN). Which is odd since every few hours I get an FTTP related alert, & every day or two one on the UK’s FTTC (it’s the only FTTC deployment I can find actually). http://www.sortius-is-a-geek.com/what-business-case/ 15. The PM Doesn’t Know His Own Policy Sortius What ensued was dripping with misinformation, hypocrisy, & an inability to grasp even the basics of technology or infrastructure. I would have said this is embarrassing for Tony Abbott, but the man knows no shame, & has no qualms about telling porkies to the press. http://www.sortius-is-a-geek.com/pm-doesnt-know-policy/ 16. Questioning Turnbull's 'open and independent' NBN reviews Mark Gregory In an interview with The Washington Post Prime Minister Tony Abbott described the National Broadband Network (NBN) FTTP rollout as part of the “the wonderful, wacko world of the former government.”..But, it seems Abbott being equally as “wacky” if he expects Australian voters to believe that the “open and independent” NBN reviews are anything other than a front for a change management process. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/1/technology/questioning-turnbulls-open-and-independent-nbn-reviews 17. ‘Hybrid Teleworkers’ Produce Better Outcomes - Study Employees who work from home one to three days per week are more productive than those who trek into work everyday, a study has revealed. The study, undertaken by the Institute for a Broadband Enabled Society (IBES) at the University of Melbourne and University of Auckland in New Zealand, shows that “hybrid teleworkers”, people who work between one and two days from a location other than the workplace, felt “more in control” of their work. http://www.probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2013/11/%E2%80%98hybrid-teleworkers%E2%80%99-produce-better-outcomes-study?utm_source=Pro+Bono+Australia+-+email+updates&utm_campaign=ff9fe3cf07-Jobs_Bulletin_4_11_201311_4_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5ee68172fb-ff9fe3cf07-146833213#sthash.sVl9tLSG.dpuf ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 18. Climate denial tide is turning Neil Ormerod Many have seen the election of the Coalition Government as a blow to sensible policy on climate change in Australia. However marginally effective the carbon tax may be, it is a more effective mechanism for lowering carbon emissions than the direct action plan, proposed by Greg Hunt and Tony Abbott. http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=38452#.UncpF7eqpZY 19. Climate change foes need to adapt Fatima Measham In the middle of the last parliamentary brawl over pricing carbon emissions in Australia, a Liberal-voting friend pointed out to me that we should be paying more attention to adaptation. He was referring to strategies that address vulnerability to climate change, such as poverty reduction, education and building institutional capacity. Adaptation includes infrastructure such as sea-walls, drainage systems and early warning protocols. http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=38432#.UneSDLeqpZY 20. Time for you and me to have that birds and the bees talk A. Ghebranious Climate change is not about your electricity bill. Or your cost of living. It's about life. http://ashghebranious.wordpress.com/2013/11/03/time-for-you-and-me-to-have-that-birds-and-the-bees-talk/ 21. What do young people really know about climate change? Vaille Dawson, Curtin University and Katherine Carson, Curtin University The next generation will be the ones to feel the increasing effects of climate change. There is a lot of research which supports the idea that until a person understands the science behind climate change, they may not support political regulation or make personal decisions to help reduce greenhouse gas production. http://theconversation.com/what-do-young-people-really-know-about-climate-change-19754?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013+CID_d331b710dc449708073406d1cea118ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=What%20do%20young%20people%20really%20know%20about%20climate%20change 22. Why not let agriculture benefit from foreign investment? Anne Garnett, Murdoch University Why do we clamour to keep foreign-owned car makers here, paying them billions of dollars to stay, while being wary of foreign investment in farms? Around 0.1% of foreign investment last year was in agriculture… http://theconversation.com/why-not-let-agriculture-benefit-from-foreign-investment-19433?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013+CID_d331b710dc449708073406d1cea118ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Why%20not%20let%20agriculture%20benefit%20from%20foreign%20investment 23. Ten days: how we imagine climate change David Holmes This decade has been called the “critical decade” for action on climate change. Decisions that we make in the years up to 2020 will determine the severity of climate change, and the impact it will have… http://theconversation.com/ten-days-how-we-imagine-climate-change-18517?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013+CID_d331b710dc449708073406d1cea118ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Ten%20days%20how%20we%20imagine%20climate%20change 24. Big Australian media reject climate science Wendy Bacon We found that Australia’s concentrated newspaper ownership has a significant effect on how climate science is covered. One third of articles in Australia’s major newspapers do not accept the consensus position of climate science: that human beings are contributing to climate change. http://theconversation.com/big-australian-media-reject-climate-science-19727?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013+CID_d331b710dc449708073406d1cea118ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Big%20Australian%20media%20reject%20climate%20science 25. Sceptical Climate Part 2: Climate Science in Australian Newspapers Australian Centre for Independent Journalism The role of media in a democracy is to truthfully report contemporary events and issues to the public. This includes scientific evidence about the crucial issue of climate change. If people are confused or ignorant about potential threats, they cannot be expected to support action to confront them. This report looks at coverage of climate science in ten Australian newspapers between February and April in 2011 and 2012 and asks: What is the quality and nature of climate science reporting in Australia? What role are these publications playing in informing the public about climate science? http://sceptical-climate.investigate.org.au/part-2/ PHILOSOPHY 26. Broadband view out of whack with experts Damon Young ...the usual journalistic tally of tactical errors interests me less than the portrait Abbott paints of the world: one in which the Prime Minister and his party represent sanity, and the former government madness. It is an oddly Manichean vision... Either way, this picture is worrying. It does not suggest practical wisdom: a knack for responding to milieu and ambiguity. It suggests an evangelist or apparatchik, for whom the world is neatly divided into us and them, goodies and baddies, my common sense and their lunacy. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/broadband-view-out-of-whack-with-experts-20131103-2wul2.html 27. Tiptoeing through the taboos of vox pop democracy Nicholas Gruen Schumpeter’s two chapters on democracy in his great book Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy provide the best framework I know of articulating the things that trouble me about the current state of democracy. http://clubtroppo.com.au/ PUBLIC INTELLECTUAL 28. Why Germaine Greer's life in letters is one for the archives Katrina Dean, University of Melbourne Earlier this week, as you may have read, the University of Melbourne announced it had acquired the archives of a former student, feminist scholar and writer Germaine Greer. The Greer archive contains the complete works of the Australian academic and public intellectual over six decades. It’s an extraordinary record of the life and work of one of the most important Australian thinkers of the 20th century. http://theconversation.com/why-germaine-greers-life-in-letters-is-one-for-the-archives-19625?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013+CID_d331b710dc449708073406d1cea118ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Why%20Germaine%20Greers%20life%20in%20letters%20is%20one%20for%20the%20archives ASYLUM SEEKERS 29. Boys kept in isolation at Manus Island detention centre Lenore Taylor, Teenagers, one with mental health issues, have only a ping-pong table and videos to keep them occupied. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/03/boys-kept-in-isolation-at-manus-island-detention-centre FOREIGN AID 30. The lucky country? Try selfish and deluded, too John Watson Cutting $4.5b from our foreign aid budget suggests we're happy to live in a world of obscene disparities. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/the-lucky-country-try-selfish-and-deluded-too-20131103-2wula.html MEDIA 31. From London to Lowy - the Murdoch empire in the dock Brian McNair As Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson – former editors of the UK Sun and News of the World respectively – were taking their places in the dock of an English courtroom last week, Rupert Murdoch stood up to give the annual Lowy lecture. http://theconversation.com/from-london-to-lowy-the-murdoch-empire-in-the-dock-19800?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+4+November+2013+CID_d331b710dc449708073406d1cea118ff&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Timing%20and%20motivation%20aside%20a%20fascinating%20insight%20into%20the%20duality%20of%20Murdoch HEALTH + SCIENCE 32. Viewing Catalyst’s cholesterol programs through the sceptometer Justin Coleman .. the ABC’s Catalyst program set off a chain reaction of protest from sections of the medical community, aghast that the non-medical media would question the accepted wisdom that dietary saturated fats kill people and statins – medication to lower cholesterol – save lives. http://theconversation.com/viewing-catalysts-cholesterol-programs-through-the-sceptometer-19817 33. Death by caffeine really is a thing, if you’re susceptible Ian Musgrave I’ve written about death by caffeine before, but this particular tragedy involves a different aspect of one of the key themes of my blog and toxicology generally – the dose makes the poison. http://theconversation.com/death-by-caffeine-really-is-a-thing-if-youre-susceptible-19151 34. A Real-Time Map of Births and Deaths James Hamblin This simulation gives an eerily omniscient vantage on the world as it fills. In 1950, there were 2.5 billion humans. Today there are just over 7 billion. In another 30 years, according to U.S. Census Bureau projections, there will be more than 9 billion. http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/a-real-time-map-of-births-and-deaths/280609/ TODAY’S MAIN NEWS Refugee Boat Arrivals The updates that the Morrison Military Machine want to hide. http://archiearchive.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/refugee-boat-timeline-updated-to-october-21st/ Ashbygate on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/585444634841472/ The Finnigans' Home of the BISONs The Beautiful Inspiring Set of Numbers http://www.thefinnigans.blogspot.com.au/ • ROULE REPORT — Issues of Today http://paper.li/RouleReport/1334728962 • AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGES www.thepaperboy.com/australia/front-pages.cfm • NEWS HEADLINES 5 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/ #################################################################

2353

5/11/2013Back to Lampedusa for a minute, this article about the potential of female Cardinals in the Catholic Church (and it's about time too) suggests that the current Pope has also been to Lampedusa and met with refugees. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/australian-nun-makes-list-of-women-cardinal-candidates-20131104-2wx71.html

TalkTurkey

5/11/2013From Twitter: Stan Steam ‏@StanSteam2 3m Diplomat NOT, Julie Bishop fails to satisfy the Indonesian Foreign Minister http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesia-threatens-to-derail-information-sharing-with-australia-over-spying-allegations-20131104-2wx56.html … #auspol pic.twitter.com/X6X9GVcaSm

jaycee

5/11/2013When I dwell on the jerks that make-up the curent front-bench of the LNP. govt', about the only collective I could compare their ineptitude to is one of those ill-matched commitees that ran those "local hotel sports and social clubs"...I remember the one that "operated" in our local years ago....talk about "clunky, clumsy and inept"....AND CORRUPT! I remember one notorious AGM....The "Julie Bishop look alike" had just resigned because she was denied the win in the chook raffle because she wasn't in the front bar when it was drawn!...the manager had just a week before done a moonlight flit to Qld' with the pub's takings and the treasurer's books had gone "missing"... I remember the treasurer..who's ironic surname sadly reflected his usual state ; "Phistus", after blowing into and testing the mic' called for a little ; "...shoosh please...I'd like to announce that the account books have gone missing...they were last seen on the bar in the front-bar..and if'n any of youse find them could you please return them to myself or Col' there leaning on the cigarette machine....thank you...but I'd like to report that I had a friend of mine who works in a bank,look them over, and he says' they are more or less correct....(a wide-eyed silence followed this anouncement)...right..I'd like to call the meeting closed and the bar is now open for free drinks, just show your club badge!" I kid you not! The Aust' govt' in operation?

Catching Up

5/11/2013We have the Nationals in complete disagreement with the Liberals over the sale of GrainCorp. Open rebellion by Truss. Wonder what the headlines would be, if this was an disagreement between Gillard and the Greens, We would see headlines, telling us the sky was about to fall in. Yes, Hockey has a decision to make, one he cannot avoid.

Catching Up

5/11/2013Has one noticed, that every time Abbott is mentioned, he is always addressed as PM Abbott or as PM. Never Tony, never Abbott, but as the PM Abbott. Reminds one of the title, Chairman Mao. Said with the same reverence in their voices. It is like they have to remind themselves of who he is. I envisage Pyne, as leader of the house, jumping to his feet next week, demanding that Bronny orders that Abbott be addressed by his correct title. I expect next week will be one, that might raise a few eyebrows.

Catching Up

5/11/2013Has everyone picked their winners yet. No Abbott at the races this week. Has ensconce himself in his Sydney office, I believe. Good luck to all.

2353

5/11/2013CU - on the basis that the horse I pick automatically has no chance of finishing before 6.30 Queensland Time - I didn't place a bet. Horribly unAustralian of me I know but I didn't vote for Abbott either. Interesting point about using Abbott's title above too. It rarely was Prime Minister Gillard or "the Prime Minister said" (not that Abbott is saying much - that Cone of Silence is getting a work out!!!) I noticed the other day that instead of referring to Campbell Newman the electronic media here are now referring to Premier Newman. As to why - I have no idea but will believe it is a return to higher standards of reporting when Shorten is referred to as Opposition Leader, Bill Shorten or the same for the Queensland Opposition Leader.

Jason

5/11/20132353, Don't feel to bad about not placing a bet! Talk Turkey had an afternoon siesta and slept through it!

Casablanca

5/11/2013 Jason, I too slept through it all.

Catching Up

5/11/2013Watching Abbott's sister on the Drum. Doing as she and her sister have always done. Defending big brother. Love the way, she keeps saying, the PM this, PM that.

Casablanca

5/11/2013 In pictures: bogong moths invade Parliament House Bogong moths have stopped by in Canberra on their annual migration to cooler alpine areas, but this year they've arrived early and in huge numbers. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-05/bogong-moths-invade-parliament-house-canberra-storify/5071360

Catching Up

5/11/2013 [quote]"....................Last Monday at 12.30pm he met with Immigration Department officials at the detention centre. He pleaded his case. He asked that if they won’t let him live here then let him go to Switzerland with his wife and child. They shrugged their shoulders and said they could do nothing. He told them he couldn’t cope any more. He was losing his mind. They got up and left an hour later. He went immediately back to his room and picked up a rope he had hidden away. He went to a nearby area he had surveyed earlier. It had a cross-beam sturdy enough to do what he needed to do. When they cut him down, they tried to force him to take medication. He refused. He said he wants to die. It is the only way out. After years of daily persecution and terror in Sri Lanka, he came to a country he thought was rich, not so much with money but kindness. Now he knows he was wrong....... [/quote] https://newmatilda.com/2013/11/01/hanging-detention What type of people are we?

Catching Up

5/11/2013Yes, there is no other answer, than for Labor to go back to it's grass roots. After all, us oldies know, that one only survives and get ahead by standing together. United we stand. Disunity leads to failure. [quote]The rage seems all the stranger now it has been replaced by comparative quiet. Many voters, it seems, are comfortable with the new and slower pace of government, and with a much more controlled and less open style of communication. In a longer perspective, none of this is surprising. Australia has elected comparatively few Labor governments, and many of them have ended badly. Progressive government in Australia has seen plenty of nasty splits and crushing election defeats. It’s now up to the Australian Labor Party and for those campaigning for progressive causes to find new ways to engage their fellow-citizens. One thing’s for sure: the old politics of top down media management, as disastrously practised by false idols like Bruce Hawker, are failing. Different models will be required. These models need not be new: indeed, they may be time-honoured strategies of grass-roots organisation and public engagement, of the sort that labour unions and feminists engaged in long before the advent of social networks or crowd funding. But none of it will happen without renewed effort.[/quote] https://newmatilda.com//2013/11/05/politics-gets-change-tone

jaycee

5/11/2013Reflecting upon last night's Q&A. ( don't usually watch it but who can resist an appearence by Gers' ! ) where in a full-on moment, Greer accused Abbott of being (wtte) "a professional idiot"...to be immediately set-upon by an anguished Tony Jones, lurching across the other guest to finger-pointingly challenge Greer to deny the validity of Tabbot's popularity!...I have to admit the suddeness of Jones' tear-blinking defence caught me unawares...I wouldn't have thought the ABC's "Balanced Bias" philosophy needed such forceful intervention! But then, I reflect on the past performances of Auntie's "best and brightest" and memory detects an agressiveness directed toward Julia Gillard ; Prime Minister of Australia more in keeping with a "Judas kiss" than with unbiased reporting...H. Ewart, for instance...carping on endlessly to the PM. about carbon trading being a "tax, go on say it !...say it!...a tax, a tax, a tax!" or wtte. till , well the rest, as the saying goes... I often wonder if she and her hubby ;Bazz Cazz had a quiet bet-on-the-side that she could force the PM's hand that night....Well!...Did you , Heather?...was it worth that bottle of sauv' blanc ?...the "thirty pieces of silver"...the price of treason...for that is what it was...treason, when the journalist becomes protagonist, they take sides and that side that was determined to bring down the govt'....and that position was adopted by many in the National Broadcaster...From the above "gotcha!" to T. Jones on another Q&A. where he made a snide remark to Julia Gillard about a "knife in one's back"...to Bazz Cazz and Uhlmann and a host of others continually carping on and on and on about leadership...leadership...leadership ..till it finally did happen...THREE TIMES...THREE F##KIN" times before cringing fear broke through the lines. Betrayal of trust...the journalist becomes protagonist becomes provocateur...: taitors..no other word for them...they should all have been sacked! The commercial MSM. ?...not even worth dissecting...We've all seen and heard THEIR musings and abusings, they wouldn't have the intellect to even know WHO they were betraying...they are so in delusion, the majority of them firmly believe their mother's hymen was only breached upon their birth! They aren't worth a spit. But it's those we most trusted AND I confess, I believed right up until the end that those familiar voices on breakfast radio and on the evening news would come good in the end. How many times did Bazz Cazz stack the couch with Murdochian spielers mouthing their lines like the well-versed mummers they are!..and these human bullhorns were often pitted against the mildest of opposition...even the sometimes reasoned points of Laura Tingle was as the sub-decible whisperings of a Lee Marvin pitted against a full-throated Pavarotti! I admit my faith was somewhat shattered in the 2010 election in that first "Town Hall debate", when Julia Gillard was heckled by the stackled audience and the television camera, eager to capture the audience howling and baying, accidently caught a smirking Uhlmann and a giggling Grattan in it's sweep!...I have since tried to find that moment in archives, but have not been successful. But the memory lives on ...as does the sense and the deed of betrayal!...it will not be forgotten nor forgiven...till payment is due!

jaycee

5/11/2013" Don't feel to bad about not placing a bet!" ?? on what ?

Catching Up

5/11/2013jaycee, even today, I seen where someone accused Gillard of playing the gender card. Yes, once she let go, with what I believe justifiable anger. I watched parliament closely for the whole of her term. Every day, she was abused in a sexist manner, from those sitting on the shadow front bench. Mirabella and Bishop, being as bad as the men. Yes, Pyne had a whole stable of abusive words, from whore, through to slag and worse. He spent every day, calling out across the table. Abbott was more subtle, but no less effective. We seen the banners, that Abbott's revolution army marched under. All of a sexist nature. The media, especially radio. I do not know or care whether Abbott is a misogynist . What I do know, he acted like he is. That is all that counts. Some day, and I hope it is soon, some journalist makes it worth their while, to go back and study videos taken during the term of Gillard's time as PM.] It is a pity that Hansard does not record the words MPs are asked to withdraw. Maybe some can be picked up from video recordings of QT. The trouble is, when one is a woman, it is very hard to fight back against such treatment,. Only others, mainly men, can stand up for the woman being abused, saying, enough is enough. I must add that Wong and other women in the Senate got worse treatment. Some of the abuse that Wong received during Senate hearing's is beyond belief. Though I must add that some of the witness and department heads at these hearings did not get much better treatment from the coalition senators. Not was there much difference between the sexes from that side of the fence. No, Gillard did not pay the gender card. Maybe she should have stood up to them from day one. Maybe we women have to learn, that one fights back, from the first sexist remark made.

Casablanca

5/11/2013 Jay Rosen has tweeted that he will be on ABC24 with Jane Hutcheon at around 9.30pm tonight.

Catching Up

5/11/2013Wonder why they have scheduled the Keating show, on the same day that Abbott recalls parliament. Day 49 and still nothing positive coming out of Abbott's camp. Yes, Nationals unhappy with him, along with National leaders within our region. We also seem to be getting a lot of black arm band view of history shows on our ABC

jaycee

5/11/2013There are those journalists at Auntie that DO deserve respect...Michael Brissenden, who ought have walked into the position Uhlmann filled...perhaps it was the demand as to how Toolman was required to "fill that position" that turned Briss' off!...Jane Hutcheon is another one as is the lady that reports from America....Stephen Long is well worth a listen to, and there are others as well. Credit where it is due.

DMW

6/11/2013Hey 2353, I need to call you to account With this article you have committed a 'cardinal sin'. It called also be seen as 'unAustralian' Surely you are aware that you can omly compare Aus with other countries when we come up better. You know, like how we have the world's best cricketers ... oh, hang on, the world's best rugby team ... damn, well anyway like how we come up near the top when we compare Olympic Gold Medals per head of population ... oh that ain't so good either these days. Oh I know, how we have a triple three star credit rating though that seems be getting a bit tarnished. Anyway thanks for the article but sadly I don't think shame works any more and suspect that there are many who are secretly proud that we are, as a country, a bunch of hard-arsed bigots.

Casablanca

6/11/2013 [b]CASABLANCA'S CACHE. Wednesday, 6 November 2013: 35 items[/b] ENTITLEMENTS & FIDDLES 1. Changes to rules on MP expenses are likely: Mathias Cormann Jonathan Swan Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said he had “no doubt” the Special Minister of State Michael Ronaldson would recommend improvements to the system, which has allowed a quarter of the Coalition frontbench to claim about $16,000 alone to attend weddings on the public purse. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/changes-to-rules-on-mp-expenses-are-likely-mathias-cormann-20131105-2wy22.html 2. Joyce billed public for NRL games Jonathan Swan, Lisa Visentin Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce billed taxpayers nearly $5000 for ''official business'' travel while attending rugby league games, as senior ministers hint it is inevitable the Abbott government will tighten rules on politicians' entitlements. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/joyce-billed-public-for-nrl-games-20131105-2wzcn.html POLITICS 3. Opinion poll on Abbott audit: public not happy about possible selloffs Katharine Murphy 63% oppose Australia Post sale, 59% oppose privatisation of Hecs debt, 60% oppose cutting welfare benefits. A new opinion poll underscores the substantial political difficulties associated with some of the more ambitious reform proposals that could emerge from the Abbott government’s new commission of audit process. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/05/opinion-poll-abbott-audit?CMP=soc_568 4. A wrap up from last night’s Q&A Georgina Dent Did you watch Q&A on the ABC last night? If not, count yourself lucky. It was an absolute doozy. Last night's episode was always going to be a bit different; the panel was free from politicians and it was held at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Festival of Dangerous Ideas. The panellists were Germaine Greer, British journalist Peter Hitchens, US author Hanna Rosin and author, columnist and television presenter Dan Savage. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/editor-s-agenda/a-wrap-up-from-last-nights-qa/201311043151 5. Can Abbott talk up what he talked down? Rob Burgess It was wrong to talk down the economy during the Gillard years and it would be wrong to talk it down now – especially as something like the ‘Abbott bounce’ is finally apparent in retail data and consumer confidence. In government, Abbott should be out there in overalls picking fruit, in a hair-net packing chopped spinach; shaking hands with uni professors and, for a change, praising their efforts to expand their teaching into Asia; ...In short, using the photo-op for good, not evil. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/5/politics/can-abbott-talk-what-he-talked-down 6. Politics Gets A Change Of Tone Ben Eltham What happened to the hysterical scandal-mongering of the Labor years? Has Tony Abbott's strategy worked, or is he getting an easy ride from a sympathetic press. Tony Abbott’s strategy of keeping a tight control on the Australian media is working, and that’s bad news for Australian democracy. https://newmatilda.com/2013/11/05/politics-gets-change-tone 7. Tony Abbott’s silence a surprise Georgina Dent When our Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, appointed himself the minister for women there were two obvious explanations. Either he cared about the portfolio so much that he wanted to manage it himself, or, that he cared about it so little that he didn't want to saddle anyone else with managing it. Based on his first eight weeks' in the role the latter seems to be the case. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/editor-s-agenda/tony-abbotts-silence-a-surprise/201311043144 8. Election promises: seeking a cure for mandate fever Richard Mulgan Australian political debate has been suffering one of its periodic outbreaks of ''mandate fever''. A new government is elected and claims a ''mandate'' for its policies. This is the trigger for a clamour of assertion and counter-assertion: the mandate is an illogical myth; the mandate is fundamental to Westminster democracy; the mandate has no relevance in Australia; only governments have a mandate; opposition parties have their own mandate; and so on and so on. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/election-promises-seeking-a-cure-for-mandate-fever-20131102-2wszt.html#ixzz2jnDw23Bp 9. This transatlantic trade deal is a full-frontal assault on democracy George Monbiot Brussels has kept quiet about a treaty that would let rapacious companies subvert our laws, rights and national sovereignty... The Australian government decided that cigarettes should be sold in plain packets, marked only with shocking health warnings. The decision was validated by the Australian supreme court. But, using a trade agreement Australia struck with Hong Kong, the tobacco company Philip Morris has asked an offshore tribunal to award it a vast sum in compensation for the loss of what it calls its intellectual property. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/04/us-trade-deal-full-frontal-assault-on-democracy?CMP=twt_gu 10. Indonesia-Australia spying row: welcome to full-contact diplomacy Michael Wesley Jakarta is, of course, well aware that Australia can eavesdrop on Indonesia. Current protestations by the Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natelagawa should be taken with a pinch of salt http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/05/indonesia-australia-spying-row-welcome-to-full-contact-diplomacy THE BUREAUCRACY 11. Some mandarins are more equal than others Public Eye The head of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has published the official pecking order of mandarins. Of course, PM&Cs Watt and Treasury secretary Martin Parkinson are in leagues of their own above the rabble (their salary packages are $760,840 and $746,500 respectively) but the latest decree makes a few things clearer. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/some-mandarins-are-more-equal-than-others-20131103-2wv1w.html#ixzz2jnD0ioAh 12. Night of the short knives: sacking the nose to spite the face Paddy Gourley The Prime Minister will need all the help he can get from the public service, given the calibre of his ministry. The dust may have settled on the Abbott government's decision to sack three departmental secretaries immediately and Treasury head Martin Parkinson more slowly, but the damage has been done. And Prime Minister Tony Abbott has put a further discount on his professed respect for the public service. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/night-of-the-short-knives-sacking-the-nose-to-spite-the-face-20131103-2wugk.html#ixzz2jnEeIeM3 13. The 'sleepy' decade is over. We must evolve Stephen Bartos A century after it was founded, the Australian Public Service looks decidedly old-fashioned. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/the-sleepy-decade-is-over-we-must-evolve-20131102-2wszf.html#ixzz2jnFjffyp 14. Public service exit rate a trickle Noel Towell, Markus Mannheim Only 251 federal public servants have left their jobs since the Abbott government was elected, based on latest reported figures, and most of them pocketed redundancy payouts. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/public-service-exit-rate-a-trickle-20131103-2wv1e.html#ixzz2jnGNpnZS 15. The birth of the Royal Australian Navy: our coming of age J. R. Nethercote The early history of Australia's naval defence is not one of clear-headed rational policymaking http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/the-birth-of-the-royal-australian-navy-our-coming-of-age-20131104-2wwam.html#ixzz2jnFEJgMw ECONOMY + BUSINESS 16. Joe Hockey's Australia, US debt ceiling comparison overblown ABC Fact Check Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey says raising the debt ceiling from $300 billion to $500 billion will prevent a US-style crisis in Australia... However, Mr Hockey overreached when he compared that prospect with recent events in the United States. Given the fundamental differences in the two political systems, the "tremendous uncertainty" experienced in the US would not be mirrored here. In addition, comparing the capacity of each country to "live within its means" ignores that Australia has borrowed much less for the size of its economy than the US has. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-04/joe-hockey-australia-us-debt-ceiling-comparison/5050616 17. Commission of audit not enough: report AAP Tighter federal and state budgets are going to make economic reform harder in the future, a report says. Business consultant Rod Glover was hired this year, before the election of the Abbott government, to review the Council of Australian Governments' Reform Council and look at challenges ahead for federal-state relations and the economy. The COAG Reform Council is the body set up to monitor the progress of agreements made by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and state and territory leaders http://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2013/11/5/australian-news/commission-audit-not-enough-report?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=497902&utm_campaign=pm&modapt= 18. Stevens holds on for a Fed miracle Stephen Bartholomeusz The Reserve Bank has been in a holding pattern for the past three months and is likely to remain there for some months to come. Nevertheless the statement from Glenn Stevens that detailed the outcome of the Reserve Bank’s latest board meeting was marginally more optimistic than in previous months. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/5/economy/stevens-holds-fed-miracle 19. On the money: Matthias Cormann says Medibank Private sale will not raise premiums ABC Fact Check The controversial topic of privatisation is back in the news, with the Government confirming that it will press ahead with the sale of Medibank Private, Australia's largest private health insurer. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-05/medibank-cormann/5058346 NBN 20. 100Mbps broadband and easier fibre rollouts: Norway's new coalition sets out its IT priorities Stig Øyvann A policy statement from Norway's incoming coalition plans to tackle broadband, infrastructure, telehealth and more. The government said it will aim for all citizens to get access to a 100Mbps connection. A 100Mbps downlink would be a dramatic increase on previous government targets on broadband... In healthcare, the new government plans to increase the use of telehealth technology, and will ensure that all hospitals can communicate patient information and records electronically between themselves. http://www.zdnet.com/100mbps-broadband-and-easier-fibre-rollouts-norways-new-coalition-sets-out-its-it-priorities-7000021806/ 21. Turning off the televisions: lessons for the national broadband network Jock Given The 13-year transition to digital TV has important lessons for the national broadband network, http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/turning-off-the-televisions-lessons-for-the-national-broadband-network-20131102-2wtji.html#ixzz2jnFWVRFm ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 22. Africa's biggest wind farm opens in Ethiopia The $290m Ashegoda Wind Farm is expected to generate 120MW of electricity, easing Ethiopia's dependence on hydropower. Africa's biggest wind farm has begun production in Ethiopia, aiding efforts to diversify electricity generation from hydropower plants and help the country become a major regional exporter of energy http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/10/africa-biggest-wind-farm-opens-ethiopia-2013102713165843147.html 23. Marshall Islands pioneers sustainable technology solutions to climate change Elisabeth Braw The vice president of the Pacific nation at risk of being submerged says displacement is a lingering threat but new opportunities lie ahead http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/marshall-islands-technology-climate-change ASYLUM SEEKERS 24. A Hanging In Detention Trevor Grant This week an indefinitely detained refugee tried to hang himself at Victoria's Broadmeadows detention centre. Trevor Grant spoke with him only hours after he was cut down. This week I spoke with a 40-year-old Sri Lankan father of two who came to Australia in search of freedom from terror for himself and his family. Instead he is being terrorised by the very people he asked for help. https://newmatilda.com/2013/11/01/hanging-detention MARRIAGE EQUALITY 25. Tony Abbott incorrect on the history of marriage ABC FACTCHECK As state and territory governments consider adding same-sex marriage laws to the books, Prime Minister Tony Abbott is resisting change, invoking what he says is a traditionalist view of the institution. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-01/tony-abbott-incorrect-history-marriage/5053844 26. Jonathan Rauch, author and activist (55m audio) Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. He is the author of six books and many articles on public policy, culture, and government. In this interview with Margaret Throsby, Rauch enunciates a persuasive justification for same-sex marriage. http://www.abc.net.au/classic/program/midday/ GENDER INEQUITY 27. The cost of being female? 64 extra days at work Clare Buttner The Equal Pay Day calculation is based on the current national gender pay gap - 17.5% which equates to the average full-time woman earning $266.20 less each week than the average full-time working man. For example $1252.20 a week compared to $1518.40. The annual difference is $13,842.40. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/top-stories/the-cost-of-being-female-64-extra-days-at-work/201309022823?utm_source=Women%27s+Agenda+List&utm_campaign=74ec3d0914-Women_s_Agenda_daily_01_11_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f3750bae8d-74ec3d0914-30634093 28. Why I have changed my mind on quotas Marina Go The penny dropped for me on quotas during the 2050 summit I attended last week at the Academy of Science in Canberra. The focus of the two days, spent with about 50 thought leaders from a variety of disciplines, was the future of Australia. We were asked to consider scenarios 37 years out and the different pathways we might take to achieve them. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/the-daily-juggle/why-i-have-changed-my-mind-on-quotas/201310293119?utm_source=Women%27s+Agenda+List&utm_campaign=74ec3d0914-Women_s_Agenda_daily_01_11_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f3750bae8d-74ec3d0914-30634093 29. When fathers are the real champions of change Georgina Dent If Malala Yousafzai is the proof of what one father can achieve, imagine how the world might look if it were filled with more fathers like Ziauddin Yousafzai? Fathers that don't just love their daughters but advocate for them and demand for things to be different. Fathers who implicitly understand that their daughters and sons are equal. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/editor-s-agenda/when-fathers-are-the-real-champions-of-change/201310283116?utm_source=Women%27s+Agenda+List&utm_campaign=74ec3d0914-Women_s_Agenda_daily_01_11_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f3750bae8d-74ec3d0914-30634093 HEALTH + SCIENCE 30. Some random highlights of the OECD’s report on wellbeing through the crisis Nicholas Gruen How do health and wellbeing correlate, and how do they correlate across countries? No problem, check out this interesting graph which I found in this OECD report on wellbeing through the crisis. I wonder how New Zealand does it – all that equity of health outcomes? Perhaps it’s some statistical artefact, but if not, it would be good to know how they do it. http://clubtroppo.com.au/2013/11/05/health-and-income-how-do-they-correlate/ 31. How's life? 2013 Measuring well-being OECD Every person aspires to a good life. But what does “a good or a better life” mean? The second edition of How’s Life? paints a comprehensive picture of well-being in OECD countries and other major economies, by looking at people’s material living conditions and quality of life across the population. In addition, the report contains in-depth studies of four key cross-cutting issues in well-being that are particularly relevant: how has well-being evolved during the global economic and financial crisis?; how big are gender differences in well-being?; how can we assess well-being in the workplace?; and how to define and measure the sustainability of well-being over time? http://www.oecd.org/statistics/howslife.htm 32. How Australia eats – the ultimate pie chart Inga Ting ''In real terms, spending on food has increased 13 per cent [over the past 20 years], while incomes have risen 36 per cent,'' according to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) 2012 FOODmap report. http://www.goodfood.com.au/good-food/food-news/how-australia-eats-the-ultimate-pie-chart-20131102-2wstm.html?rand=1383604564336 33. Australia creates a groundswell of support for shared decision making in health care Promedia Public Relations A rapidly growing groundswell of public opinion in Australia is pushing strongly for a much stricter system to ensure that health care decisions are made more cooperatively between the patient and the health care provider. http://prwire.com.au/pr/40087/australia-creates-a-groundswell-of-support-for-shared-decision-making-in-health-care 34. Age fitness Norwegian University of Science and Technology Calculator http://www.ntnu.edu/cerg/vo2max 35. Master of many trades Robert Twigger Our age reveres the narrow specialist but humans are natural polymaths, at our best when we turn our minds to many things. In praise of the polymath.. http://www.aeonmagazine.com/world-views/anyone-can-learn-to-be-a-polymath/ ADDITIONAL NEWS SOURCES Refugee Boat Arrivals The updates that the Morrison Military Machine want to hide. http://archiearchive.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/refugee-boat-timeline-updated-to-october-21st/ Ashbygate on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/585444634841472/ The Finnigans' Home of the BISONs The Beautiful Inspiring Set of Numbers http://www.thefinnigans.blogspot.com.au/ • ROULE REPORT — Issues of Today http://paper.li/RouleReport/1334728962 • AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGES www.thepaperboy.com/australia/front-pages.cfm • NEWS HEADLINES 6 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/ #################################################################

2353

6/11/2013DMW - You are entirely correct and I stand corrected. I will speak to myself harshly and give myself an uppercut!! Your last paragraph is sadly true - when will this society remember the concept of "the greater good" is much better in the long run that "whats in it for me"? Sadly I suspect its going to take a while when those on $150k+ per year are still crying poor while climbing into their Toorak Tractors to drop the kids off to their private schools.

jaycee

6/11/2013"Howard said that he had grown up being told ulcers were caused by stress but it was later revealed a virus was to blame." And yet, the ulcer (like Howard)like climate change, is still a reality! I had to force myself to read Howard's speech...it is always an ordeal to read anything by that beast...it's akin to being forced to breathe the air in a slow elevator after the anonymous fart! The cowardice of these deniers is that they KNOW they cannot be held responsible or be made to pay for their criminal stupidity once climate disaster really hits as there will bo no one act that can be ajudged as a result of any one human deed. When all are suffering from natural disaster, how can one take time to accuse the fool or delinquent in the middle of chaos? The deniers will continue to hide behind the vast wall of uncertainty of exact science and moment of destruction, taking pot-shots at the sun and wind and sea without fear of recrimination, as there is no one justice body that can deliver verdict upon an opinion that APPEARS to do no direct damage to the environment....but there is that common ground of instinctive knowledge that is aware of the criminal intent of Howard's diatribe. And, of course...the fear of those who oppose renewable energies is that the "fuel-load" that powers solar and wind is both untaxable and uncontrolable...it is therefore only the cost of infrastructure and delivery of product that can be charged!...damn, damn, damn!

jaycee

6/11/2013Now there's an interesting observation in "Casa's cache"..: Georgina Dent / "Women's Agenda"...a couple of articles there..and when one open's them, one reads of Georgina switching from 'Commercial Lawyer' to 'journalist', to manage the online publication. That's great...good on her!...but it kind of struck me for a moment..that switch from lawyer to journo, one accepts such a career change amongst that class as normal, natural..just a moment's hiccup as one "adapts" from one juggling of selective grammar to another...But how would I go..I mean myself ; "Jaycee"..; a carpenter / builder to journalist?...roll THAT over your tounge..: "Jaycee..in 2008 made a career change from commercial building to journalism." Yes!...that's what I'm going to call myself in my retirement..; "Journalist"...not much difference to the vernacular of the building site..except the bullshit is a tad thicker! as are the customers one deals with and as for the fellow "tradies" in the MSM.?.....wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them! Yes!..must rehearse that moniker..just like the cartoon character..; "..yes, I like the sound of that..; "Wile E. Coyote...super genius!"

jaycee

6/11/2013I'm sure all of us remember those "leaks" that made their way to "Fatso Oakes" all through the 2010 election...and when asked, he would not devulge their source, but assured us they were from a reliable source within the party and we, the customers ought to accept his word as a journalist that they were accurate. The same with all the "Leadership Spill" destabilising from Bazz Cazz and Uhlmann and again ; Oakes, in the lead-up to the 2013 election and again, they wouldn't reveal their source, but , AGAIN!..it was "reliable"...and after about eighty false starts, it was!...and again, we ; the readers were expected to just take it as a given. Righto..let's turn this around a bit...let's play with words somewhat...why not?...this is the fifth estate...we can do anything! Scenario ; Building site..customer comes in with plan in hand...consults builder, points to large central beam..: "That large beam spanning the width...what is it's structural rating with the engineer?" Builder ; "Oh don't worry about that...but it is rock solid!" Cust'...; "What do you mean ; 'don't worry'..it supports your whole structure...it has to be authenticated!?" Build'...: " Look, I can't tell you the strength of it, but I can say it comes from a reliable supplier ". Cust'...: " Oh yeah!...Who's that? " Build'..: "I can't tell you." ..........................I think we can draw the curtain of censorship down on the rest of the conversation!...Sufficient to say that if such ethics as are held up as standard practice in journalism, were applied to MANY other professions (save criminal activity), they would be laughed out of the comedy club! Journalists!!??....geez..have we ever been dudded!

jaycee

6/11/2013How about THAT for timing!...I just put up that post and an email comes in telling me about a new book by Laurie Oakes.."Remarkable Times"...what?..has someone just given Laurie a dentist's mirror so he can look up his own a..e?

2353`

6/11/2013Jaycee - while I've heard of some really *out there* career changes - Solicitor to Journalist isn't that much of a stretch when you think about it. One tells stories (sometimes based on facts) to a small group of people who try to see through the spin and determine if the story is true; the other tells stories (sometimes based on facts) to a large group of people who try to see through the spin and determine if the story is true. Builder to Journalist - I'm not so sure about. At least what you do now will be constructed to a standard and stand the test of time - unlike a lot of the dross Journalists are responsible for.

Catching Up

6/11/2013Well it is clear, this government intends to take away from lower income earners, to give to industry and higher income earners. is giving higher income earners their tax loop holes back.

jaycee

6/11/20132353...spot on!...and my point exactly..ie. ; who's certifing the authenticity of journalists?...I, like many others, go to the MSM. sites and we see a 'head shot' of the journo who writes the story and I think ; so what!?..is a stupid pic supposed to give 'cred' to the story?..who is this person? On the ABC. I see some sad person trying to look like a 'bobby-soxer' and wanting me to take her writing seriously at the same time! You go to the forth estate and you get this feeling of gravitas and serious delivery style from...whom?...a picture of someone who calls themself a "journalist" and that is that!? A "journalist!..."journalist"...what's that?..they could be a greengrocer, a builder or even (laugh if you will!) a lawyer! how much trash "journalism" from the forth estate have we been sold over the last few years? and they still get up over on the national broadcaster and say ; "This is Le**h Sales reporting"...so what? who is she ; a fishmonger? Or you get Bazz Cazz standing before a camera with a clipboard of paper and three or four other stunned mullets seated on couches and he solemly delivers another pile of tommy-rot, asks the mullets their opinion and we all go away and comment on it. I think it's about time the fifth estate come of age and asked real people like Tim Flannery to come onboard and be interviewed by real people like Ad Astra or Gypsy Janet or others. I'm sure they would find it advantageous to give some time to be seriously interviewed without the "gotcha" moment and be able to deliver a true assessment of a scientific situation. the result could be "you-tubed" to many other sites and spread around the community by honest people for a change!

2353`

6/11/2013Well worth a read in full is this letter to the Australian PM on asylum seekers/refugees. [quote]A joint letter to the prime minister, Tony Abbott, from 138 organisations has called on the federal government to end the practice of describing asylum seekers arriving by boat as “illegal maritime arrivals”. “On behalf of the many Australians who believe in the importance of protecting people fleeing persecution, we write to voice our objection to the Australian government’s recent decision to refer to asylum seekers who enter Australia by boat as “illegal maritime arrivals”, the letter reads. <cut> “You and members of your cabinet are well aware that seeking asylum is not illegal under Australian or international law. Article 31 of the Refugee Convention makes it clear that contracting states, including Australia, must not impose penalties on people who arrive without authorisation to seek refugee protection,” they say in the letter.[/quote] http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/06/letter-calls-on-coalition-to-stop-using-illegal-maritime-arrivals-term Have a look at the comments. The one claiming Australia is being run by Major Burns and "Hotlips" is a gem!

Casablanca

6/11/2013 World's greatest maps on show at National Library in Canberra By Adrienne Francis and Penny McLintock The Mapping Our World: Terra Incognita to Australia exhibition at the National Library examines the history of cartography from ancient Greek days and medieval times through to European explorations and the voyages of Flinders and Cook. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-06/greatest-maps-of-the-world-on-show-in-canberra/5073658

Catching Up

6/11/2013What is the truth. Sus[ect none comes out of the mouth of Hockey and his ilk. [quote]he development is aimed at debunking the Coalition claim that it is more effective and less costly than an internationally linked emissions trading scheme. Advertisement It comes as the Australian Industry Group called for ACCC understanding over any failures by business to drop prices once the carbon tax is stripped out. The peak employer body warned that many of the costs of the carbon tax had not been passed on to consumers, meaning its repeal might not produce the reductions in electricity and other prices promised by the Abbott government. In a new submission to the government's carbon tax repeal process, Ai Group CEO Innes Willox said the prospect that the repeal would be delayed beyond June next year also presented major compliance problems for employers. He cited a 2013 survey of members that found 70 per Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-climate-plan-to-be-tested-20131105-2wzfh.html#ixzz2jqJZk1Po[/quote]

Catching Up

6/11/2013Will electricity be cheaper. I suspect not. [quote].............Tony Abbott's claim that his ''direct action'' policy would cut national greenhouse gas output by 5 per cent within the decade through tree plantings and paying polluters to cut emissions, is to be tested in public hearings designed to prove it is a waste of money. Greens leader Christine Milne will unveil plans on Wednesday to establish a full Senate inquiry into the $3.2 billion direct action program with a view to taking expert evidence from scientists and economists as well as from key industry representatives. The development is aimed at debunking the Coalition claim that it is more effective and less costly than an internationally linked emissions trading scheme. Advertisement It comes as the Australian Industry Group called for ACCC understanding over any failures by business to drop prices once the carbon tax is stripped out. The peak employer body warned that many of the costs of the carbon tax had not been passed on to consumers, meaning its repeal might not produce the reductions in electricity and other prices promised by the Abbott government. In a new submission to the government's carbon tax repeal process, Ai Group CEO Innes Willox said the prospect that the repeal would be delayed beyond June next year also presented major compliance problems for employers. He cited a 2013 survey of members that found 70 per cent of businesses in the construction, manufacturing and services sectors were unable to pass on any of their carbon-related energy costs to consumers. Announcing the repeal of the carbon tax, the government predicted electricity prices would fall by 9 per cent and gas would go down by 7 per cent, wiping $200 off the average power bill and making gas $70 a year cheaper. The Greens will move to initiate the Senate inquiry next week when Parliament resumes.......... Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-climate-plan-to-be-tested-20131105-2wzfh.html#ixzz2jqKbcpmA[/quote]

Catching Up

6/11/2013wELL, ITY Appears Abbott can. [quote]Canberra press gallery veteran Laurie Oakes says the Abbott government is "thumbing its nose at voters" through a lack of transparency and communication. You can’t thumb your nose at the voters’ right to know and you can’t arrogantly say ‘we’ll let the voters be misinformed and we won’t help journalists get it right'. That’s just a disgusting attitude. The respected Channel Nine reporter and political commentator told Fairfax Media that Prime Minister Tony Abbott and senior ministers were breaking their election promise of greater accountability for voters.......... Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-thumbing-his-nose-at-voters-says-laurie-oakes-20131106-2x0p8.html#ixzz2jqNHNa9o[/quote]

jaycee

6/11/2013Well..stiff sh#t Laurie!

Catching Up

6/11/2013I cannot help but think, Abbott is about welfare cuts for the poor. Tax cuts for the rich. Added to that, giving business a free go, to do as they wish. It will be those a the bottom,. that will be doing all the paying.

2353

6/11/2013Can someone ask Laurie Oakes why he (and the majority of the Press Club) couldn't see the wood for the trees prior to the election - but now it's plain as day?

Jason

6/11/20132353, Jason Hand ‏@jasonrhand now @LaurieOakes Why did you & and the majority of the Press Club) couldn't see the wood for the trees prior to the election???

Jason

6/11/20132353, Sorry stuffed it up a bit auto correct on new phone was still on

jaycee

6/11/20132353...because the journos' were getting paid overtime rates for submitting anything and everything negative about the Labor govt'...they couldn't believe their luck, nor resist the lure of endless group-comment at so much per line! They sold their soul to the very devil! and now they are at the pawnbroker's window trying to redeem it...but no-one's home any more..and their Faustian deal is done! You're up sh#t-creek Laurie...your credibility's gone. Go weep on Gina's shoulders.

jaycee

6/11/2013"Ol' Joe Hubbard went to the cupboard, To search for Tony's lost bones. But when he bent over Tony took over, And gave him a bone of his own!

TalkTurkey

7/11/2013Here's a story to warm all Labor True Believers' hearts. Today I went to my address book intending to ring one of our most treasured contributors, who shall remain anonymous for the purposes of this missive, just to say hello and thanks for what she does for us .. . but I was instead sidetracked by finding on the same page the name of an old friend, [i]Maureen McEwen[/i]. She won't mind my using her whole actual name, because she has everything to be proud of, and nothing to fear - especially defended as she is by three alert and savage hounds, 2 Shih Tzus and 1 miniature Dachshund, which she says hear every leaf that falls in her big yard. I haven't talked with Maureen for over a year, and maybe two, so it was wonderful when she answered her old number straight away. [b]Maureen was South Australia's first Labor Life Member.[/b] http://www.sa.alp.org.au/labor/life-members She is 83 - an age that will resonate with another of our treasured contributors! - and like him, she has lost none of her mental acuity: on the contrary, the only change I could detect in her today was that she is mellower in her attitude to her very early life: more forgiving of the treatment she and her sister received at the hands of the nuns who raised them from the ages of 3 and 4 respectively at Goodwood Orphanage, a Catholic institution comprising a beautiful but forbidding old building, and once upon a time, very impressive grounds only a mile or so from Adelaide's CBD. (Today most of the land is suburbs, but the Orphanage building, now State-owned, is I think used for educational conferences.) In Maureen's early years she had the job at the Orphanage of milking their cows and tending their horses, which she herself would hitch to carts which then she and her sister used to drive around the locality, delivering and picking up stuff as needed. Amazing to think of, a little girl and her shyer one-year-older sister, whom tough little Maureen protected, in the streets of Adelaide, driving a dray around in the late Depression and early World War Two period! I don't know why or how Maureen and her sister came to be in the custody of the Orphanage - I don't know if [i]she[/i] knows! - but I spent one long afternoon with her many years ago, drinking tea and talking, and her tales of wanton acts of cruelty by the nuns literally brought me to tears, in days when I wept less readily than I do now. Horrible some of them were, mean and spiteful, though today Maureen was emphatic in saying that [i]some[/i] were kind to her, and that on reflection at least they were fed adequately, when she said many kids on the outside were near starving. [I said it's about a toss-up, perpetual hunger or perpetual cruelty, but the cruelty unlike the hunger was unnecessary. And Maureen agreed. It just struck me as so generous of her that, with most of the nuns being horrid, she could still defend the nicer ones.] I first met Maureen in 1982, when my brother Gordon first gained preselection for Kingston, then held by Grunt Chapman for the Libs. She was from the first a leading member in Gordon's Federal Electorate Committee (FEC) and that was not the first FEC she'd been on neither, she was into Richie Gunn's campaigns, and I don't know what before that! From first meeting her, everyone knows the indomitable Maureen, you can't miss her for her blunt truths and earthy colourful expressions - not grubby I mean, earthy - her realistic quick appraisals of character and situation, energy and passion and humour. Some woman is Maureen McEwen. She utterly adored Gordon, an adoration that lasted until Gordon's death just over a year ago, and they were close friends all that time. Maureen still boards Jessie, Gordon-&-his-widow-S****'s border collie, when S**** goes on trips. [Indeed, Gordon invented a nice little earner for her at her home, putting quite a few people needing their dogs boarded her way - and if there's anything she adores as much as she did Gordon, it's Dogs, from miniature Dachshunds up to and including Bull Mastiffs, - and she has a funny story about this one huge dog! She still does that for people, and loves it.] But even at 53 when I first met her, Maureen was far from well. She had a malignant brain tumour even then, and her prognosis was not good. Few would have thought she would see out Gordon's first term. But she has had brain surgery time and again, and she survives, and as I say with [i]no loss whatsoever [/i]of mind power. [i]None![/i] At the last election, disappointed as any of us were at *J*U*L*I*A*s defenestration, she limited herself to helping at the job of handing out HTV cards at pre-polling - as I did myself. She adores *J*U*L*I*A* too, condemning Rudd with a deadly passion, on behalf of the rank-&-file Party Members of whom she has been such a champion. Well, as I say I rang her today and Dam I couldn't get off the phone for over two hours. We bounced stories off each other without stopping for breath, (I haven't for example mentioned her early married life at Pt Lincoln, where she raised her four children, at least one of whom I know to be an energetic and resourceful and cheerful Labor hard-worker himself ... And I haven't mentioned her real hard work on that brilliant Kingston FEC, folding thousands upon more thousands of pamphlets, letterboxing and doorknocking the hilly electorate, answering phones, all that ... but she says she has written "a short sort of a biography for the Mortlock Library" so her experiences will be archived. They must make great reading. We seem to see exactly eye-to-eye on most matters, as indeed I see eye-to-eye with the other 83-year-old I mentioned earlier. It must have been a good year for Labor babies, 1930! Well at last I pulled myself away from one of the liveliest conversations I can recall, with the warmest of invitations, well a demand really, that I come to her place - only a few miles away - for Tea. Thank you Dear Maureen, and I shall too.

Casablanca

7/11/2013 KHTAGH Wild bees have a job to do Larissa Nicholson The old travelling livestock routes north-west of Canberra, which once carried livestock across the country, are now helping scientists tackle a very modern agricultural problem. Research conducted on the strips of native vegetation shows how farmers can attract native bees to help pollinate their crops when the local honey bee population is inevitably threatened. There is no escaping the dreaded Varroa mite, Canberra-based CSIRO expert Saul Cunningham said. It will make it to Australia, greatly reduce feral honey bee numbers and pose real problems for bee keepers and producers. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/wild-bees-have-a-job-to-do-20131106-2x1xh.html#ixzz2jsKpY0sh

Casablanca

7/11/2013 [b]CASABLANCA'S CACHE. Thursday, 7 November 2013: 37 items[/b] ENTITLEMENTS & FIDDLES 1. Barnaby Joyce won't repay more than $5,000 billed to taxpayers for attending State of Origin, NRL finals Eliza Borrello Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce says he will not repay thousands of dollars of taxpayers' money he spent going to rugby league matches last year. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-06/joyce-repayments/5073316?WT.mc_id=newsmail 2. Barnaby Joyce, the Indian wedding and the big new coal mine Nick Feik Dear Sanjay, I haven’t seen you since the wedding! .Gina probably told you, I’m a minister now. Not for mining, mind you, hold your horses! Julie, Teresa and I were feeling a bit ashamed because we didn’t bring your family a gift. Gina was in such a rush to get us on her plane we were caught totally empty-handed. And she left straight after, too, with the jet! Always in such a rush. [quote]Luckily my old mate the Australian taxpayer got me home safe and sound.[/quote]..Give me a call if you’re having any problems. Cheers, Barnaby http://www.themonthly.com.au/blog/nick-feik/2013/11/05/1383613783/barnaby-joyce-indian-wedding-and-big-new-coal-mine POLITICS 3. PM stumbling around the international stage Raoul Heinrichs Tony Abbott has lurched from one diplomatic disaster to another as he compounds rookie mistakes with our Asian neighbours. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/pm-stumbling-around-the-international-stage-20131105-2wz4q.html#ixzz2jrjdXE00 4. Tony Abbott 'thumbing his nose' at voters, says Laurie Oakes Tom McIlroy Canberra press gallery veteran Laurie Oakes says the Abbott government is "thumbing its nose at voters" through a lack of transparency and communication. You can’t thumb your nose at the voters’ right to know and you can’t arrogantly say ‘we’ll let the voters be misinformed and we won’t help journalists get it right'. That’s just a disgusting attitude. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-thumbing-his-nose-at-voters-says-laurie-oakes-20131106-2x0p8.html#ixzz2jrdi5GnM 5. Got Dumped? Tell Us About It The Hoopla & Corinne Grant So press gallery stalwart Laurie Oakes has made the front page complaining about the Abbott Government’s refusal to answer questions from journalists. Oakes said of the Abbott Government: “You can’t thumb your nose at the voters’ right to know and you can’t arrogantly say ‘we’ll let the voters be misinformed and we won’t help journalists get it right’. That’s just a disgusting attitude.” http://thehoopla.com.au/laurie-oakes/ 6. Are Australian men having a “bromance” with Action Man Tony Abbott? The Hoopla Is he an old-fashioned Alpha Male to look up to in times of uncertainty about the masculine role? Is this another gender card? http://thehoopla.com.au/pm-abbott-hairy-bromance/ 7. Tony Abbott: leader of the bloke nation Elena Douglas Prime Minister Tony Abbott appears to model what it means to be relaxed and comfortable with older ideas about manhood. Australia, already known for the red-blooded masculinity of its men, appears ¬destined to become more hairy-chested. The personal is political. http://www.afr.com/p/lifestyle/review/tony_abbott_leader_of_the_bloke_fppGArPX5dj3AO6tFltFxK 8. Cutting greenhouse gas emissions: Senate plan to test Tony Abbott's claims Mark Kenny Greens leader Christine Milne will unveil plans on Wednesday to establish a full Senate inquiry into the $3.2 billion Direct Action program with a view to taking expert evidence from scientists and economists as well as from industry representatives. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/cutting-greenhouse-gas-emissions-senate-plan-to-test-tony-abbotts-claims-20131105-2wzim.html 9. The vibe of being open for business goes only so far Greg Jericho At some point after the election a new government must take ownership of the budget and also the economy. The Coalition already owns the budget but it won't be long until it’s time to step up on the economy http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-06/jericho-myefo/5070876?WT.mc_id=newsmail 10. Despite industry doubts, Joe Hockey promises power prices will fall Judith Ireland "Electricity prices will go down as a result of the abolition of the carbon tax, there is no doubt about that," he told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday..."The economy will be stronger. There will be higher economic growth as a result of the abolition of the carbon tax." http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/despite-industry-doubts-joe-hockey-promises-power-prices-will-fall-20131106-2x0ts.html#ixzz2jsIgf9Ns 11. The Carbon Tax Standoff Monica Attard No wonder the Abbott government has gone to ground, strategising, as governments do, to find the safest and most bloodless way to deliver to those who voted for the Coalition its promise to repeal the carbon tax. As for those who voted for the ALP, Bill Shorten is already delivering. And therein lies the genesis of the Mexican standoff in which Australia now finds itself. http://thehoopla.com.au/political-promises-smoke/ 12. Murdoch wants his pound of flesh Elizabeth Knight Having been the largest single contributor to the election of Tony Abbott's Coalition government, Rupert Murdoch is looking for his reward, according to word around the industry. The Sun King - as he has been crowned - is said to have been talking to the freshly minted Canberra legislators about the possibility of acquiring the Ten Network. The jungle drums say his agenda also includes discussion on the abolition of anti-siphoning laws restricting the ability of pay-television operator Foxtel to exclusively broadcast first-run premier sports events. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/murdoch-wants-his-pound-of-flesh-20131105-2wzhs.html 13. The making or breaking of Mr Infrastructure Robert Gottliebsen Tony Abbott’s pre-election promise to be ‘Mr Infrastructure’ is now in danger of being neutralised. A distracted prime minister is being outmanoeuvred by the lethal combination of big unions, big corporations and a state government in election mode. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/6/construction-and-engineering/making-or-breaking-mr-infrastructure?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=498852&utm_campaign=kgb&modapt= 14. Fresh government demands on foreign aid recipients 'could backfire' David Wroe The Abbott government will introduce "mutual obligation" for countries receiving Australian aid, in a move experts say could backfire and drive neighbours further into China's sphere of influence. In a speech last week, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told the aid sector that the government wanted to improve aid efficiency and effectiveness - in part by demanding more from recipient countries. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/fresh-government-demands-on-foreign-aid-recipients-could-backfire-20131106-2x0pf.html 15. The end of entitlements doesn't apply to the rich Leith van Onselen Treasurer Joe Hockey wants to cut tax concessions for 3.6 million workers on lower incomes, but not those for around 16,000 of Australia's highest earners. If anyone wants an example of why politics is mostly form over substance, look no further than Joe Hockey's actions on entitlement spending. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-06/llewellyn-smith-entitlement-spending/5073642?WT.mc_id=newsmail 16. Abbott’s belligerence: putting in the boot or kicking himself? Mark Rolfe The words won’t rank with the oratorical flourishes of great leaders but I can’t remember Churchill or Roosevelt describing anybody as “wacko”. When prime minister Tony Abbott uttered this word in an interview with the Washington Post on the weekend, it was clear he wished to plant one of his partisan boots in the soft, nether regions of his opponents. http://theconversation.com/abbotts-belligerence-putting-in-the-boot-or-kicking-himself-19624 PHILOSOPHIES, VALUES & ETHICS 17. Want better media commentary? Find better conservatives OnlyTheSangfroid On Monday, Peter Hitchens sat in a modern approximation of Castiglione’s game: ABC’s Q&A. The modern format of the game is more like improvisational theatre. Instead of responding to the discussion in order to build a shared exploration of an idea, the participants react to questions from the crowd. The purpose of the game isn’t to convince anybody; it is to perform. And there Hitchens was in full performance. Disaffected air. Nose up high. No superfluous movements. http://ausopinion.com/2013/11/06/want-better-media-commentary-find-better-conservatives/ 18. Labor abandons policy at its peril Sean Kelly This is the broader context within which the carbon tax failed politically. While compromise with the Greens and the use of "tax" was disastrous, no analysis should ignore the multiple swerves the ALP had already taken, each telegraphing Labor wasn't sure of itself: from emissions trading scheme to no emissions trading scheme, from carbon pricing to carbon tax. In hindsight, it is no surprise voters were unwilling to accept the assurances of government on a policy they were no longer convinced the government itself believed in. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/labor-abandons-policy-at-its-peril-20131030-2whav.html#ixzz2jrkuaVKK 19. Never trust the 'diary' of a political spinner Chris Berg The political diary is the falsest, most self-serving form of confession. No wonder it's grown to be a favourite genre for political warriors... After all, diaries are where we keep secrets. That's their appeal. To read a genuinely private diary - even of someone long dead - feels like crossing an ethical boundary... The modern political diary is narrative construction and score settling and blame shifting masquerading as honesty. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-05/berg-never-trust-the-diary-of-a-political-spinner/5070094?WT.mc_id=newsmail 20. News Corp bias against Kevin Rudd showed up in independent study, diary reveals Mark Kenny It found that Mr Rudd was subject to "unfavourable" reporting in The Daily Tele-graph at "over twice the volume of unfavourable coverage of Kevin Rudd and the ALP than The Sydney Morning Herald". The analysis, which goes some way to explaining Mr Rudd's unusually direct references to media bias throughout the campaign, was undertaken by the media assessment and measurement firm iSentia. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/victoria/news-corp-bias-against-kevin-rudd-showed-up-in-independent-study-diary-reveals-20131106-2x1ig.html 21. Does Murdoch’s multiculturalism light Abbott’s path to the future? Andrew Jakubowicz Murdoch has now further positioned himself as the éminence grise of Australian neoliberal conservatism. His shaping of the multicultural discourse gives strong indications of where Australia may be headed over the next few years. http://theconversation.com/does-murdochs-multiculturalism-light-abbotts-path-to-the-future-19762?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+6+November+2013&utm_content=Latest+from+The+Conversation+for+6+November+2013+CID_cef343e696c450e55c029a15a4e15768&utm_source=campaign_monitor&utm_term=Does%20Murdochs%20multiculturalism%20light%20Abbotts%20path%20to%20the%20future ECONOMY + BUSINESS 22. A shining victory for super holders Robert Gottliebsen The Australia superannuation movement has had the most enormous victory. Any person aged over 60 who classifies their super funds as being in “pension mode” will have no tax levied on their investment income. They will be required to pay a minimum pension that rises with age, but that pension is also tax-free. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/6/financial-services/shining-victory-super-holders?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=498908&utm_campaign=pm&modapt= 23. Govt scraps superannuation, FBT reforms By a staff reporter, with AAP The coalition government will scrap a series of tax proposals introduced under the previous Labor government, including planned changes to the fringe benefits tax and moves to raise taxes on earnings from superannuation pension funds. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2013/11/6/politics/govt-scraps-superannuation-fbt-reforms?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=498908&utm_campaign=pm&modapt= 24. Hockey readies spending cuts Laura Tingle Treasurer Joe Hockey has started preparing for a tough May budget by dumping a range of Labor tax initiatives, in a move that meets business demands for greater certainty and will further blow out the budget deficit in next month’s mid-year budget review. http://www.afr.com/p/national/coalition_ditches_tax_changes_worth_yerVyXe28H1dnsLxRRJSQK 25. Treasurer dumps Labor taxation plans Peter Martin Only 18 of the backlog of 96 tax measures are set to survive; 11 have been dumped, three partially dumped and 64 put out to consultation with the expectation they will be dumped. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/treasurer-dumps-labor-taxation-plans-20131106-2x1pb.html 26. It's competition, not carbon, that matters Rob Burgess Competition policy. Not carbon. Competition. That's something that actually matters, though you'd hardly know it when month after month, year after year, all we've heard about is the 10 per cent increase in our quarterly power bills due to the carbon tax. Yes, that's about $50 per household per quarter. That is what has crippled the political process for three years. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/6/small-business-sme/its-competition-not-carbon-matters?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=498852&utm_campaign=kgb&modapt= 27. US State minimum wages in 2014 Littler Mendelson & Sebastian Chilco The 2014 federal minimum wage will remain unchanged at $7.25 per hour for non-tipped employees, and $2.13 per hour for tipped employees. http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=d5c07b6c-9c80-4b81-b900-d17f309e106f&utm_source=Lexology+Daily+Newsfeed&utm_medium=HTML+email+-+International+developments&utm_campaign=Lexology+subscriber+daily+feed&utm_content=Lexology+Daily+Newsfeed+2013-11-06&utm_term ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 28. Climate change 'exaggerated', says former Australian PM Karl Mathiesen John Howard says Tony Abbott's victory was founded on climate scepticism and global deal on emissions will never be reached in London and agencies http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/06/climate-change-exaggerated-says-former-australian-pm?CMP=ema_632&et_cid=54987&et_rid=maurene.grundy@gmail.com&Linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.theguardian.com%2fworld%2f2013%2fnov%2f06%2fclimate-change-exaggerated-says-former-australian-pm 29. “A government of climate skeptics?” macrobusiness We already know that this Government is struggling to produce a coherent climate change policy but how deep does its skepticism run? John Howard gave a speech last night in the UK that suggests very deep. http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/a-government-of-climate-skeptics/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+MacroBusiness&utm_content=Daily+MacroBusiness+CID_d4f3e2bc321f0b12228d736aff885923&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=A+government+of+climate+skeptics 30. Crikey attacks Hugh Morgan on climate macrobusiness Crikey’s Paddy Manning has a red hot go today at former Western Mining doyen Hugh Morgan for yesterday’s declaration in an interview withThe Australian that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change would be remembered as a “Chicken Little”, like the Club of Rome: http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/crikey-attacks-hugh-morgan-on-climate/ 31. Carbon emissions must be cut ‘significantly’ by 2020, says UN report Oliver Milman Failure will mean greater costs and risks and pathway to limiting temperature rise to under 2C will close fast http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/05/carbon-emissions-must-be-cut-significantly-by-2020-says-un-report?CMP=ema_632&et_cid=54987&et_rid=maurene.grundy@gmail.com&Linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.theguardian.com%2fenvironment%2f2013%2fnov%2f05%2fcarbon-emissions-must-be-cut-significantly-by-2020-says-un-report 32. Sceptical Climate Part 2: Climate Science in Australian Newspapers - Full Report. (222 pages) Wendy Bacon, Australian Centre for Independent Journalism Australia is a medium sized wealthy country that emits more greenhouse gas emissions per capita than any other country in the OECD. Since 2007, climate change has been high on its political agenda. In 2009 no topic occupied more media attention (Media Monitors, 2009); political leaders of both major parties have risen and fallen over fairly modest proposals designed to reduce emissions. In 2011, the Gillard Labor government’s proposal for a carbon pricing policy led to a polarised debate that was often strident. The policy finally became law in October 2011. In September 2013, a new Abbott conservative Liberal National Party government was elected on a promise to abolish that policy. http://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/docs/ACIJ_ScepticalClimatePart2_Oct_2013.pdf 33. Sceptical Climate Part 1: Climate Change Policy 2011 Wendy Bacon, Australian Centre for Independent Journalism Climate change policy has dominated Australian politics in recent years. While journalists often criticise others for poor communication, they should also be accountable for how they communicate climate change. This Australian Centre for Independent Journalism report analyses how ten publications in mainstream corporate media covered carbon policy for six months in 2011. http://sceptical-climate.investigate.org.au/part-1/ CHILD SEX ABUSE 34. Catholic Clergy and Child Sex Abuse Anne Manne "The priests abused, they confessed, they were forgiven, they did penance and they abused again. And again. Here, at the very heart of an institution concerned with enforcing a strict moral order about sex, was a practice, unbeknownst to anyone in the laity, which quite unintentionally was operating as the perfect, permissive system for a compulsive, recidivist paedophile." http://rightnow.org.au/topics/children-and-youth/catholic-clergy-and-child-sex-abuse/ HEALTH + SCIENCE 35. What the research says about cholesterol and statins Dr Norman Swan ABC 1’s Catalyst program caused considerable interest after it questioned the importance of cholesterol as a health risk and attacked the use of statins. Dr Norman Swan says the show went too far, and for many people, disregarding medical advice on lowering cholesterol could kill them. http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/5070114 36. Unfixable: time to ditch personally controlled e-health record scheme David Glance Federal health minister Peter Dutton has commissioned a review of Labor’s troubled Personally Controlled Electronic Health Record (PCEHR) project. It’s unclear whether the review committee is to decide whether to scrap the project altogether or to try and fix it. Hopefully it is not the latter because if the past year has taught us anything, it is that this is not a fixable problem. It needs to go. http://theconversation.com/unfixable-time-to-ditch-personally-controlled-e-health-record-scheme-19834 37. Some things you should know about statins and heart disease Ian Hamilton-Craig Cardiovascular disease (heart attack and stroke) causes the most deaths in Western countries overall and the vast majority of premature deaths. Drugs known as statins have been the cornerstone of how we treat people at risk of such deaths, and they’ve made a huge difference to survival rates. http://theconversation.com/some-things-you-should-know-about-statins-and-heart-disease-19655 ADDITIONAL NEWS SOURCES Refugee Boat Arrivals The updates that the Morrison Military Machine want to hide. http://archiearchive.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/refugee-boat-timeline-updated-to-october-21st/ Ashbygate on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/585444634841472/ The Finnigans' Home of the BISONs The Beautiful Inspiring Set of Numbers http://www.thefinnigans.blogspot.com.au/ • ROULE REPORT — Issues of Today http://paper.li/RouleReport/1334728962 • AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGES www.thepaperboy.com/australia/front-pages.cfm • NEWS HEADLINES 7 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/ #################################################################

2353

7/11/2013Jason - thanks (bet there is no reply) :-)

Catching Up

7/11/2013Could Hockey be into class wart. Cut welfare for the poor. Cut taxes for the rich.

Catching Up

7/11/2013Hockey and Abbott have a big problem. Cost will not fall. as they predict, if they dismantle the so carbon tax. Mainly because, they over egged the cost of the CEF to the economy. In fact many businesses will miss out on being able to retool, in order to bring their power usage down, to move to cleaner and more efficient production.. The money from the CEF suite of bills, went straight back into the community. Firstly as compensation for families, and to help industry, transfer to a cleaner production. n

jaycee

7/11/2013OOOOOO!! the Nat's have got their back up over GrainCorp!...THEY won't be pushed around : "I'll give you such a peeeinch!"

jaycee

7/11/2013When I try to imagine Mr. Oakes in another occupation other than the one he is in now ( just WHAT is he again?), I see him with one of those dull-blue, full length dust-coats on, the middle button is missing and the coat bulges there. There is some fidgety piece of something in his stumpy, work-stained hands and a vague questioning look on his face...it is obvious from residual crumbs on his cheek that he has just eaten. : a self-employed service-mechanic...probably whitegoods, specialising in microwaves (he is recognised as a whiz at getting that 'finish-bell' to DING! just loud enough). His workshop is cluttered, the front counter greasy and it always takes three weeks to get anything fixed because "...the part has to come from Melbourne"...and you always leave cursing that he is the only service centre in the town and swearing you will get a new machine next time it breaks down, rather than darken his door again!

jaycee

7/11/2013Ms. Grattan, on the other hand, could well fill the role of librarian..not in a state library, nor local coucil or university, but rather one of those 'lost around the back-streets' "Institute Library" of some anacronistic group..like The Ancient Order of Druids" or the "Oddfellows Society" or in her case ; "The Steam Engines Assoc' Institute". In her younger years, when she first started there, she was known as an innovator of style...she is recognised as the instiagtor of the "clutch-carry method" for librarians carrying books..a colour-tinted photograph appeared in the "Woman's Day" magazine of Feb' 1953 demonstrating her unique grip on a large load of books..she has a copy archived at home and a cutting prominent on the wall behind her desk. She also gained a mention in "The Binder", an inter-institute mag', on her innovation of using different colour "tags-for-topics" on her Dewey-fileing system....THAT also is archived and a cutting etc... She has no time for 'untidy',chatty people and denies she ever "encouraged" Mr.Glanville Bartlett to propose and never regretted placing Sam "side-valve" Duggin's donated complete 'Biggles' collection on the "For sale...cheap" table by the front doors..citing one particular book ; "Biggles Sees it Through" as rather too racy and suggestive for her library! She is still "in situ".

TalkTurkey

7/11/2013From @andrewelder [i]Politically Homeless[/i] 06 November 2013Swine without pearls [i]Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.[/i] - Matthew 7:6 (KJV) It seems another age if not another country now, but we had a government that held together a seemingly fragile majority and had to argue every point it made, all the time. It released mountains of information under the assumption that everybody was as policy-wonky as they were, or if not that they would be impressed with all that forethought and detail and careful planning. In every policy there was something you could hate, something to love or at least grudgingly appreciate; something to talk about anyway. The bloke who'd gone before (and who came again after) demanded ... http://andrewelder.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/swine-without-pearls.html Yeah well I got in first at Michelle Grattan 2 days ago: on Twitter, apropos some griping on her part about the same sort of thing, I wrote this gentle reminder: TalkTurkey ‏@TalkyTurkey 5 Nov @michellegrattan You arselicked the LNP ALL THE WAY to the election and NOW you bitch about their secrecy! DUMB MEDIA WHORE!@ConversationEDU Abborrrtians have coarsened me. I used to be polite. Rotten scumbag bastards! Come on out and FIGHT!

TalkTurkey

7/11/2013jaycee I hadn't read your bit on Grattan when I posted at 10.03. :) But I had you in mind! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tributes I'd pay in rhyming verse To Casablanca's Cache But in English (hear the poets curse!) There IS no rhyme for [i]cache![/i] Well there's crèche of course but you try working that into a pome. Blame the bloody Frogs. Thank you Casablanca.

TalkTurkey

7/11/2013From Twitter: Stephen Koukoulas ‏@TheKouk 2h Mark Latham good again: http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/how_unions_captured_labor_industry_0UrBzO9ju1etTIJ39fRyhM …

Pappinbarra Fox

7/11/2013TT Depends on how you say it. Bash slash mash Or Sashay Etc Rhymes don't have to be aptly the same. Cheers

Catchung up

7/11/2013 It is official. This PM can only perform one task at a time. Why does he need to have any policies from his ministers for ten days, before taking them to cabinet. [quote]reasurer Joe Hockey has defended Tony Abbott's low profile since the September election, saying the Prime Minister is "flat out" running the country. Eyebrows have been raised at the Coalition government's move to clamp down on media appearances since it won government, which has seen a marked drop in the number of interviews given by the Prime Minister, in particular. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/joe-hockey-says-tony-abbott-too-flat-out-to-talk-to-media-20131107-2x2tl.html#ixzz2jvXGaWpm Howard now on ABC 24 Lowry Institute. [/quote]

Catchung up

7/11/2013class wart class warfare Howard ABC 24. Rewriting history as is his norm.

TalkTurkey

7/11/2013Pappinbarra Fox said [i]TT Depends on how you say it. Bash slash mash Or Sashay Etc Rhymes don't have to be aptly the same. Cheers[/i] Mais NON mon ami, Casablanca calls it neither [i]cash[/i] nor [i]cashay [/i] She calls it [i]'caish'[/i], et moi aussi! "... aptly the same" ? Je ne compris pas! With my pomes I do insist on precise rhymes wherever possible and if not possible I try to go with different words. Neither is possible here!

Casablanca

7/11/2013 Dear me, what a rhyming disaster we have created for our wordsmiths & poets. Cache was TT's suggestion in the first place so he has backed us all into a rhyme-less corner. He is correct, it is pronounced [i]caish[/i]. In computing, a cache is a block of memory for temporary storage of data likely to be used again. Cache originally referred to Caching or hoarding (animal behavior), a food storing behavior of animals Cachet - [i]cashay[/i] is an entirely different entity altogether: cachet ˈkaʃeɪ/ noun: cachet; plural noun: cachets 1. the state of being respected or admired; prestige. [b]"no other cache has quite the cachet of Casablanca's Cache"[/b] synonyms: prestige, prestigiousness, distinction, status, standing, kudos, snob value, stature, prominence, importance, pre-eminence, eminence; More: street credibility; merit, value; mana; informal street cred. 2. a distinguishing mark or seal. [b]"special cachets are applied to Casablanca's Cache just as they were to lynlinking"[/b] https://www.google.com.au/search?q=Cachet&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:unofficial&client=firefox-nightly&gfe_rd=ctrl&ei=5TN7Usz1OOPC8geu8YCoBQ&gws_rd=cr

Casablanca

8/11/2013 *J*U*L*I*A* Former Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor has accepted an invitation from the Victorian Women’s Trust to speak about the “Hung” Parliament alongside the former Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, in Melbourne this Sunday 10 November. The event titled “Credit Where Credit is Due” will take place at the Melbourne Town Hall from 2pm – 4pm and can be viewed on a live stream at http://www.livestreamaustralia.com.au/creditjulia/ http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1rr8eoq

Casablanca

8/11/2013 [b]CASABLANCA'S CACHE. Friday, 8 November 2013: 62 items[/b] ENTITLEMENTS & FIDDLES 1. Who is meeting whom, and why? The public is entitled to know more Katharine Murphy Let’s join some dots. Public respect for politics and politicians is not high at the present time. The frustration voters feel with their elected representatives plays out in a number of ways. The issue of politicians’ entitlements provides a focal point for some of the current disengagement – a logical intersection where various grievances can coalesce and simmer. It’s a symbol of something – politics and politicians prioritising their interests at our expense, metaphorically and practically. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/06/who-is-meeting-whom-expenses MORE ERRATIC ABBOTT 2. Abbott ducks questions on Howard climate speech (Video 01:11) John Howard praised the PM for challenging the global warming consensus. Here's Tony Abbott's response. 3. Everyone is over politics. They’re enjoying the break Drag0nista This may well be one of the most manipulative and selective comments on Australian politics I’ve heard in a long time. Yet it’s being repeated uncritically around the country, including by those who should know better. Voters’ supposed delight in the absence of politics has become the multi-purpose excuse for hiding any and all manner of political activities that might otherwise be troubling our pretty little heads. http://www.kingstribune.com/index.php/weekly-email/item/1922-actually-we-re-not-over-politics 4. Swine without pearls Andrew Elder It seems another age if not another country now, but we had a government that held together a seemingly fragile majority and had to argue every point it made, all the time. It released mountains of information under the assumption that everybody was as policy-wonky as they were, or if not that they would be impressed with all that forethought and detail and careful planning. In every policy there was something you could hate, something to love or at least grudgingly appreciate; something to talk about anyway. The press gallery now have the gall to complain that the new government isn't what they hoped. http://andrewelder.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/swine-without-pearls.html 5. Clive and Tony are no joke Simon Copland Aren’t they a joke? ‘Cliev’ and ‘Tony’ – the jokes of Australian politics. The ‘stupid’ things they say, and ‘ridiculous’ positions they take – it’s hilarious when you think about. Hahahaha – ‘Cliev’ – boy the next three years are going to be fun! And Tony – I mean how stupid are people that they voted that joke in? Oh god – what is the rest of the world going to think of him? 6. The long sting in Abbott's Huawei snub Fergus Ryan The government's bungling of the Huawei issue has put Australia’s free trade agreement in jeopardy and needlessly caused a loss of face for the Chinese government. The government would have been better off leaving the issue to rest than raising the hopes of the Chinese. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/7/china/long-sting-abbotts-huawei-snub?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=500976&utm_campaign=pm&modapt= 7. The walk of shame … First Dog On The Moon http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/11/07/the-walk-of-shame 8. The Coalition's Guide to Getting Away With It (Cartoon) Fiona Katauskas https://newmatilda.com/2013/11/07/getting-away-it POLITICS 9. Joe Hockey says Tony Abbott too 'flat out' to talk to media Judith Ireland, Jonathan Swan Treasurer Joe Hockey has defended Tony Abbott's low profile since the September election, saying the Prime Minister is "flat out" running the country. Eyebrows have been raised at the Coalition government's move to clamp down on media appearances since it won government, which has seen a marked drop in the number of interviews given by the Prime Minister, in particular. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/joe-hockey-says-tony-abbott-too-flat-out-to-talk-to-media-20131107-2x2tl.html 10. Joe Hockey says Tony Abbott is 'flat out' dealing with government business Ben Packham Mr Abbott's office often stipulates that media appearances are for “remarks only” or “pic fac (facilitation) only”. Journalists who attempt to break the rules are routinely ignored. Ministers and backbenchers must also clear their media appearances with Mr Abbott's office in advance, as it seeks to tightly control the government's media message. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/joe-hockey-says-tony-abbott-is-flat-out-dealing-with-government-business/story-fn59niix-1226754888210#sthash.uSiNrUU9.dpuf 11. Parliament Is Bigger Than This Government Henry Sherrell More worryingly, if this basic information about government policy is withheld...the centrepiece of government accountability in Australia will cease to function as an effective process. I hope this information will be released, but I don’t believe it will be. This should set the scene for an almighty showdown on the basic tenets of government accountability in Australia. I hope the Opposition are up for it. https://www.newmatilda.com/2013/11/06/parliament-bigger-government 12. When grave facts and political calculation collide Jonathan Green Accepting the science of climate change and its ramifications while opposing action out of political necessity? That would be bordering on outright evil. It's been a bit of a week for it, for the provision of proof, if it were needed, that politics is pretty much exclusively the business of, well, politics. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-07/green-when-grave-facts-and-political-calculation-collide/5076354?WT.mc_id=newsmail 13. Spying ‘scandal’: another challenge to the Australia-Indonesia relationship? Colin Brown For anyone interested in Australia-Indonesia relations, nothing so characterises the phenomenon as a car on a roller-coaster. Any rise is followed inevitably by a fall. The ride is never boring, and in a bizarre kind of way it is quite predictable. But sometimes you might hope for a little more stability, a few more moments of calm. http://theconversation.com/spying-scandal-another-challenge-to-the-australia-indonesia-relationship-19909 14. Multilateralism is under stress but still vital, argues DFAT secretary Michelle Grattan Those in the Abbott government are not great fans of the United Nations or of multilateralism in general. Yet the government has inherited from Labor the two year temporary seat on the Security Council. And next year Tony Abbott will host the G20 meeting. Circumstances have built a strong strand of multilateralism into the Abbott government’s foreign policy. http://theconversation.com/multilateralism-is-under-stress-but-still-vital-argues-dfat-secretary-19912 15. Command and Control Michelle Grattan The big brothers and sisters in the Prime Minister’s Office have been on the job in vetting the troops' media appearances – right down to a backbencher, Jane Prentice, on pay TV. The Prentice incident is just the latest (small) example of both government information management and the centralised control exerted by the Abbott office, under the guiding hand of chief of staff Peta Credlin. http://theconversation.com/the-latest-on-the-command-and-control-front-19855 16. Parliament seating plan puts Cathy McGowan next to Clive Palmer Judith Ireland Clive Palmer and Cathy McGowan may be relative strangers, but they are about to get to know each other really well. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/parliament-seating-plan-puts-cathy-mcgowan-next-to-clive-palmer-20131107-2x3vp.html 17. House of Representatives Seating Plan http://www.aph.gov.au/house/seating LABOR 18. How unions captured Labor’s industry policy Mark Latham Buried in the detail of Labor’s new frontbench is a remarkable story of survival and political patronage. Kim Carr is back as the opposition spokesman on industry policy – a position he first held in July 2003 in Simon Crean’s shadow cabinet. Kim Beazley had unsuccessfully challenged Crean, in a caucus ballot and Carr was ‘promoted in return for his Victorian Left sub-faction supporting the leader. http://www.afr.com/p/opinion/how_unions_captured_labor_industry_0UrBzO9ju1etTIJ39fRyhM 19. Unions NSW Are Right To Challenge O'Farrell Osmond Chiu The NSW donations laws are a direct attack on the ability of peak bodies like unions to affiliate with political parties. If they stand, the consequences for the left will be dire. Unions NSW are currently before the High Court, challenging the political donations reforms introduced by Barry O'Farrell in 2012. I wonder whether many progressives actually understand how insidious these laws are. https://www.newmatilda.com/2013/11/06/unions-nsw-are-right-challenge-ofarrell 20. Donations Laws Don't Create A Level Playing Field Jim Casey Barry O'Farrell's donations laws favour the rich. Greens who oppose the Unions NSW court challenge have made a big mistake, argues FBEU Secretary and party member Jim Casey https://www.newmatilda.com/2013/11/07/donations-laws-dont-create-level-playing-field ECONOMY + BUSINESS 21. Is economics a science? Robert Shiller Critics of 'economic sciences' sometimes refer to the development of a 'pseudoscience' of economics, arguing that it uses the trappings of science, like dense mathematics, but only for show. I am one of the winners of this year's Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, which makes me acutely aware of criticism of the prize by those who claim that economics – unlike chemistry, physics, or medicine, is not a science. Are they right? http://www.theguardian.com/business/economics-blog/2013/nov/06/is-economics-a-science-robert-shiller 22. Hockey's Bluster Will Come Back To Haunt Him Ben Eltham The Coalition's behaviour since winning the election is totally at odds with their crisis rhetoric in opposition. They can't get away with bluffing on economics for much longer, https://www.newmatilda.com/2013/11/07/hockeys-bluster-will-come-back-haunt-him 23. Rupert Murdoch, economic disruption and Australian values Tim Harcourt And many of our best Australians from business leaders to Nobel Prize winners have been immigrants (and many have been refugees). As well as Frank Lowy, think of Max Corden and Fred Gruen in Economics, or Gustav Nossal in Science. When refugees apply for residency we could give many of them an Export Market Development Grant or a post doctoral research grant. http://theconversation.com/rupert-murdoch-economic-disruption-and-australian-values-19809 24. Under The Umbrella: Tax Haven Cocktails Mike Seccombe Australia is cleaning up some of its own tax-avoiders, but for those with money to launder – especially from Papua New Guinea – it’s a nice place to wash up. Of 82 jurisdictions assessed by the group, Australia came in about half-way down, at number 44. http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/under-the-umbrella-tax-haven-cocktails/733/ 25. Joe Hockey keeps and drops Labor's tax measures Peter Martin You can learn a lot about someone's priorities by the way they sort out the garbage. Joe Hockey and Assistant Treasurer Arthur Sinodinos have sorted through 96 tax measures bequeathed to them by Labor as announcements not signed into law. (That it ever got this far is an indictment of Labor in government. It was keener to announce measures than it was to ensure they were practical and give Treasury the resources to bring them about. One superannuation measure was announced in last year's May budget, took effect from July, and didn't finally become law until June 28 this year, two days before the end of the financial year for which it had applied.) http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/joe-hockey-keeps-and-drops-labors-tax-measures-20131106-2x1ss.html 26. Hockey: Budget outlook has deteriorated” Leith van Onselen Treasurer Joe Hockey has this morning flagged that the Budget outlook will be “substantially worse” by the time that the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) is released in December. http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/hockey-budget-outlook-has-deteriorated/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+MacroBusiness&utm_content=Daily+MacroBusiness+CID_69619525abc6e1cb9e0d1598fb44637b&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=Hockey+Budget+outlook+has+deteriorated 27. Super changes to cost low income earners $27k” Leith van Onselen ...the new Coalition Government jettisoned the former Labor Government’s planned changes to superannuation, which would have seen tax concessions reduced on super funds earning over $100,000 per year. It also cancelled the Low Income Super Contribution (LISC) – a policy that refunds the 15% tax on super contributions for workers earning less than $37,000 a year. http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/super-changes-to-cost-low-income-earners-27k/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+MacroBusiness&utm_content=Daily+MacroBusiness+CID_69619525abc6e1cb9e0d1598fb44637b&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=Super+changes+to+cost+low+income+earners+27k 28. Online shopping robbing business and states of $1b: John Brumby Mark Kenny Australia's love affair with online shopping is robbing businesses and state governments of much-needed revenue and operating as a kind of "reverse tariff" against a struggling retail sector, says former Victorian Labor premier John Brumby. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/online-shopping-robbing-business-and-states-of-1b-john-brumby-20131107-2x2qu.html 29. Aldi blitzes Woolworths, Coles, Nielsen retail barometer finds Adele Ferguson When it comes to size and market clout, supermarket chains Woolworths and Coles have it all sewn up. But when it comes to leadership, their relationship with suppliers, strategies for success and innovation, smaller rival Aldi blitzes them, according to a confidential survey. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/aldi-blitzes-woolworths-coles-nielsen-retail-barometer-finds-20131107-2x4bq.html NBN 30. Will Turnbull leapfrog Telstra's copper? Rob Burgess The strategic review of the NBN is not due for another month, but while its authors are busy assessing the next phase of our biggest-ever infrastructure project, the very ground beneath their feet is shifting. Or rather, the copper beneath their feet is corroding. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/7/information-technology/will-turnbull-leapfrog-telstras-copper?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=500892&utm_campaign=kgb&modapt= EDUCATION 31. Christopher Pyne in the red on student outcomes in independent public schools ABC Fact Check There's a long standing belief that student outcomes can be improved by giving public schools the authority to choose staff, manage budgets and exert control over the curriculum. The verdict: There has been no measured improvement in student outcomes in WA independent public schools. "All international evidence" does not point to the fact that the more autonomous a school, the better the outcomes for students. Mr Pyne's claims are unsubstantiated http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-06/christopher-pyne-student-outcomes-western-australia/5063342 32. Can anyone teach? Fast-tracking our children to educational disaster David Zyngier Governments in Australia are increasingly looking to “fast-track” professionals or high-performing graduates into teaching in schools. It’s a policy idea that has surface appeal. After all, you can get those with experience in a particular field or industry and knowledge into a classroom quickly – usually with only a few weeks training. http://theconversation.com/can-anyone-teach-fast-tracking-our-children-to-educational-disaster-19441 33. Coalition reprieve on self-education tax break Michelle Grattan The Abbott government has abandoned Labor’s plan for a A$2000 cap on the amount people can claim for self-education expenses. The deduction covers training and educational courses, textbooks and other accreditation expenses. http://theconversation.com/coalition-reprieve-on-self-education-tax-break-19886 ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 34. Coalition turns back on UN climate summit Tom Arup Australia will not be represented by a senior elected member of the Abbott government at next week's major round of international climate change negotiations starting Monday in Warsaw. It is also unclear whether the delegation of diplomats representing Australia at the talks has been given a final negotiating mandate for the meeting. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/coalition-turns-back-on-un-climate-summit-20131107-2x2ur.html 35. Climate change and aerosols: new research James Whitmore, Andrew Glikson & Matthew Woodhouse The study released today shows that aerosols produced by people are not as important as once thought. But natural aerosols are far more important for their influence on climate, and researchers warn without better understanding of natural sources of aerosols, climate forecasts will fall short. http://theconversation.com/climate-change-and-aerosols-new-research-19871 36. Explainer: how does the electricity grid work? Glenn Platt But what do we mean when we talk about the electricity grid? The grid itself is less of a physical location. Instead, it is a term typically used to describe the three main players involved in the supply of electricity; generators, distributors or transmitters, and retailers.... Ausgrid, a major electricity distributor, has estimated that $11 billion worth of network infrastructure in the NEM is used for just 100 hours per year (about one per cent) to meet periods of peak demand. http://theconversation.com/explainer-how-does-the-electricity-grid-work-19289 ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 37. Look out for that turbine! Climate sceptics are the real Chicken Littles Stephan Lewandowsky Several Australian corporate figures have recently disparaged climate scientists...Much is known in cognitive science about how people judge risks. It is now commonly accepted that those judgments are inherently subjective and subject to cultural biases, such as one’s attitudes towards the free market. http://theconversation.com/look-out-for-that-turbine-climate-sceptics-are-the-real-chicken-littles-19873 38. Abundant fossil fuels leave clean energy out in the cold Damian Kahya From Cuadrilla's well in West Sussex to Gazprom's rig in the Arctic, unconventional sources of gas and oil are putting the transition to renewable energy at risk http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/07/abundant-fossil-fuels-clean-energy 39. UN climate talks: Labor calls Coalition an 'embarrassment on the world stage' Oliver Milman Mark Butler says decision not to send minister to Warsaw proves Tony Abbott doesn't accept climate change is real http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/07/un-climate-talks-labor-calls-coalition-an-embarrassment-on-the-world-stage 40. The whopping climate change footprint of two Australian coalmining projects Graham Readfearn Two Queensland mines would emit triple the greenhouse gas emissions of the Keystone XL pipeline, or six times the UK's annual footprint http://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2013/nov/07/climate-change-keystone-galilee-queensland-coal-mining 41. Climate change 'exaggerated', says former Australian PM Karl Mathiesen John Howard says Tony Abbott's victory was founded on climate scepticism and global deal on emissions will never be reached in London and agencies http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/06/climate-change-exaggerated-says-former-australian-pm?CMP=ema_632&et_cid=54987&et_rid=maurene.grundy@gmail.com&Linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.theguardian.com%2fworld%2f2013%2fnov%2f06%2fclimate-change-exaggerated-says-former-australian-pm 42. “A government of climate skeptics?” macrobusiness We already know that this Government is struggling to produce a coherent climate change policy but how deep does its skepticism run? John Howard gave a speech last night in the UK that suggests very deep. http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/a-government-of-climate-skeptics/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+MacroBusiness&utm_content=Daily+MacroBusiness+CID_d4f3e2bc321f0b12228d736aff885923&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=A+government+of+climate+skeptics 43. Crikey attacks Hugh Morgan on climate macrobusiness Crikey’s Paddy Manning has a red hot go today at former Western Mining doyen Hugh Morgan for yesterday’s declaration in an interview withThe Australian that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change would be remembered as a “Chicken Little”, like the Club of Rome: http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/crikey-attacks-hugh-morgan-on-climate/ 44. Carbon emissions must be cut ‘significantly’ by 2020, says UN report Oliver Milman Failure will mean greater costs and risks and pathway to limiting temperature rise to under 2C will close fast http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/05/carbon-emissions-must-be-cut-significantly-by-2020-says-un-report?CMP=ema_632&et_cid=54987&et_rid=maurene.grundy@gmail.com&Linkid=http%3a%2f%2fwww.theguardian.com%2fenvironment%2f2013%2fnov%2f05%2fcarbon-emissions-must-be-cut-significantly-by-2020-says-un-report ASYLUM SEEKERS 45. Parliament Is Bigger Than This Government Henry Sherrell When budget estimates roll around in a fortnight, will the Coalition release figures on asylum seekers? They will if they're committed to a functioning democracy...More worryingly, if this basic information about government policy is withheld – information that has been made public since the beginning of mandatory detention in the early 1990s – the centrepiece of government accountability in Australia will cease to function as an effective process. https://www.newmatilda.com/2013/11/06/parliament-bigger-government 46. Asylum seekers rescued off Indonesia AAP A boatload of asylum seekers who issued a distress call have been rescued off the south coast of Java. A group of more than 50 asylum seekers has been rescued off the coast of Indonesia after earlier issuing a distress call while en route to Australia. Indonesian authorities have confirmed a distress call was received from a boat, carrying about 56 people, which had reported engine trouble in the early hours of Thursday morning. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/11/07/asylum-seeker-boat-strife-indonesia?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=www.uavsaustralia.com 47. 'Every day I am crying': boys held on Manus island tell of their despair Oliver Laughland 'I’m very sad here … I say I want to go to school but they say you have to stay there,' says Arvin, an Iranian aged 17 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/07/every-day-i-am-crying-manus 48. A Melbourne Cup Day Observation In Gosford http://australianpolitics.com/2013/11/05/cup-day-observation-in-gosford.html SATIRE + BATHOS 49. Don't Dismiss Howard Just Because He's Wrong Ben Pobjie Is John Howard right about climate change being a new religion? Who can say? Climate scientists probably, but let's go with our favourite PM's gut feeling instead. One of the most pressing problems of this modern, youth-centric world is how to keep our elderly population engaged with society. It can sometimes be difficult for those more advanced in years to feel useful and relevant to the wider community. [Howards] latest...escapade was in London, where he delivered a speech to a gathering of distinguished British climate sceptics who are currently off their medication. https://www.newmatilda.com/2013/11/07/dont-dismiss-howard-just-because-hes-wrong 50. The World Is With Howard On Climate Change Karl Mathiesen John Howard's speech to white-haired blue-bloods on climate zealots was a rare public outing for our former PM. Listening to him speak was comforting. Like hearing your father’s voice after a long time apart. John Howard’s idiosyncrasies have grown more pronounced as his 70s have progressed, the pauses and dysfluencies longer, the rhetoric less incisive. It all serves to enhance the vaguely adorable Elmer Fuddiness. In aesthetic terms, it was oddly pleasurable. 51. Howard went on to make this startling claim: James Wight Politicians who bemoan the loss of respect for their calling should remember that every time they allow themselves to be browbeaten by the alleged views of experts, they contribute further to that lack of respect..Personally, I’d have a lot more respect for politicians if they would accept the mountain of scientific evidence supporting the conclusion of 97% of climate experts that humans are warming the planet. To be fair, I agree with Howard’s point that it is not possible to be “above politics” because all decisions involve value judgements. But while politicians are entitled to their own opinions, they are not entitled to their own facts. http://precariousclimate.com/2013/11/07/john-howard-climate-deniers-run-australia/ PHILOSOPHY, ETHICS + POETRY 52. Cackling geese and taxes Andrew Hamilton ... the phrase 'taxpayers' money' is misleading and the response evoked by it too mean. It is better to speak of public funds. Public funds come from persons who depend on their relationships to one another within society. They also have a responsibility to one another in the building of society. Taxation is an expression of the social reality of human beings and helps them discharge their mutual responsibility. It acknowledges that the free working of the market and the prosperity of those who profit in it rely on mutual trust built by the social structures inherited from those who have gone before us. Our taxes help our society build on what we've been given for the benefit of those who follow us. It is not my money but our money. 53. Sex and haikus Philip Harvey Poetry allows us to say just how silly we feel or can make of a simple admission, something sublime. http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=38369#.Unub2reqpZY 54. Talkin’ bout a revolution revisited Michael Taylor To say Russell Brand has had an impact on the blogosphere would be the understatement of the year. His notion that we should all stop voting has brought out all the people who don’t, those who are thinking about it, and those who think the whole idea is the abandonment of hard won liberty and democracy . . . http://theaimn.com/2013/11/07/talkin-bout-a-revolution-revisited/ GENDER INEQUALITY 55. Pregnancy overtakes disability as the main workplace discrimination complaint Women's Agenda For the first time pregnancy discrimination is now Australia's number one complaint against employers, with pregnant women in the workforce reportedly facing more discrimination than those with a disability, a new report has found. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/top-stories/pregnancy-overtakes-disability-as-the-main-workplace-discrimination-complaint/201311063167?utm_source=Women%27s+Agenda+List&utm_campaign=105e448a24-Women_s_Agenda_daily_07_11_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f3750bae8d-105e448a24-30634093 56. Big business gets serious about women in senior management Georgina Dent The Business Council of Australia wants its members, 120 of our biggest companies, to increase the number of women in senior roles to 50% by 2023. This ambitious target has been set as part of the BCA's Action Plan for Enduring Prosperity which is a call to action to grow Australia's economy and provide the basis for a resilient and prosperous community. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/top-stories/big-business-gets-serious-about-women-in-senior-management/201311053157 57. ‘Historic event’ launches Male Champions of Change report Australian Human Rights Commission The Male Champions of Change have released their 2013 report entitled Accelerating the advancement of women in leadership: Listening, Learning, Leading which is the culmination of concerted actions they have taken in their respective organisations over the last 18 months. https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/historic-event-launches-male-champions-change-report 58. Accelerating the advancement of women in leadership: Listening, Learning, Leading (44 pages) Tapping into the full talent pool will give us a diversity advantage, creating commercial, societal and economic value. If we want gender balance to be the norm in our organisations, we must create the conditions and cultures that enable both men and women to thrive. As all the research says, there is no ‘silver bullet.’ With wide consultation, we have identified an interconnected set of high impact actions that leaders can take to ‘change the game.’ These actions fall into four key themes... https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/accelerating-advancement-women-leadership-listening-learning-leading 59. A message from male chief executives: An intervention is required Georgina Dent Getting a handful of our most powerful chief executives in the same room at the same time is no small feat. Getting more than 20 of them, including the head of our defence force, and having seven of them voluntarily submit themselves to 7.30 host Leigh Sales's questioning, is remarkable. But it happened yesterday. Even more remarkably the topic that drew them in was the role of men in accelerating the advancement of women in leadership. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/editor-s-agenda/a-message-from-male-chief-executives-an-intervention-is-required/201311063169 MARRIAGE EQUALITY 60. The trouble with gay marriage Annamarie Jagose In most public discussions, the issue of same-sex marriage is posed as a simple question – for or against?...Important questions of social justice, equity and social belonging cannot get worked out across such an absurdly constrained and increasingly irrelevant category as marriage. Presenting itself as a magical solution while only distracting us from the real and unaddressed conditions of social inequity, marriage is a red herring for the 21st-century pursuit of social justice.http://theconversation.com/the-trouble-with-gay-marriage-19196 HEALTH + SCIENCE 61. Am I a feminist? Simple ways to tell Rob Brooks Are you a feminist? It’s a question I ask of my third-year Animal Behaviour class every year. I ask the question in a lecture, near the end of the course, about human sexuality. It’s a part of the lecture where I discuss sexual conflict: the idea that what’s best for one mate isn’t necessarily best for the other. http://theconversation.com/am-i-a-feminist-simple-ways-to-tell-19801 62. ‘Mindfulness’ training improves self-control for youth in jail Source New York University The meditation-based therapy known as “mindfulness” training has been found to improve concentration in incarcerated adolescents and increase self-control over emotions and actions. http://theconversation.com/mindfulness-training-improves-self-control-for-youth-in-jail-19991 SOME ADDITIONAL SOURCES Refugee Boat Arrivals The updates that the Morrison Military Machine want to hide. http://archiearchive.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/refugee-boat-timeline-updated-to-october-21st/ Ashbygate on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/585444634841472/ The Finnigans' Home of the BISONs The Beautiful Inspiring Set of Numbers http://www.thefinnigans.blogspot.com.au/ • ROULE REPORT — Issues of Today http://paper.li/RouleReport/1334728962 • AUSTRALIAN NEWSPAPER FRONT PAGES www.thepaperboy.com/australia/front-pages.cfm • NEWS HEADLINES 8 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/ #################################################################

Pappinbarra Fox

8/11/2013Emi gutpella tru tank yu tupella Casa na Toka. It is great to have genuine wordsmiths on this site! There I was thinking it was from the french cache (sans inflection) meaning hidden - which would be the case if the items were not revealed and exposed to us by Casablanca. A wonderful learning experiecne - I had never heard of the computer term.

TalkTurkey

8/11/2013This was tweeted, I guess it presages a downgrading if not outright abandonment of the CSIRO under this fraud-ridden ungovernment. Ketan Joshi ‏@ArghJoshi 9m It's not like the CSIRO ever invented a huge number of extremely useful things or anything. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_Scientific_and_Industrial_Research_Organisation#Inventions … pic.twitter.com/VAQ0pMunTT

TalkTurkey

8/11/2013First time I took notice of the word cache it was in relation to the North Vietnamese troops leaving caches (caishes) of weapons in strategic places. It has been used as a verb too, "they cached the rifles" or adjectivally, "the cached weapons". To me it means a strategic and probably secret stash of important supplies.

Casablanca

8/11/2013 TT I must have read about squirrels and acorns in a children's book because I always think about their little stores of food for survival during the winter. According to the Huntipedia: [quote]Acorns are attractive to animals because they are large and thus efficiently consumed or [b]cached[/b]. Animals that [b]cache[/b] acorns, such as jays and squirrels, may wait to consume some of these acorns until sufficient groundwater has percolated through them to leach out the tannins.[/quote] So it is hopefully the case that TPSers dip back into Casablanca's Cache over a period of days to consume the brain nourishing store of articles. A few of the articles will contain too much tannin but that's life. That was a lovely tribute to your friend Maureen.

Ad astra reply

8/11/2013Test

Casablanca

8/11/2013 Ad, You are coming through loud and clear! Over!

Casablanca

8/11/2013 It's unfortunate that the Keating interviews go to air on the day following the first sitting of the 44th Parliament. As a Keating groupie from way back, I look forward to the interviews but I would prefer the focus to be on Abbott next week. As Grattan says, [quote]The interviews, revealing, meaty and provocative if the first is a guide, will probably set off a round of “Keating wars”. His admirers will love to see their man in fine verbal fettle, feisty as ever. The detractors will have new fuel to stir old fires.[/quote] [b]Keating, on life, politics, and the day he suggested arresting the Governor-General[/b] National politics has moved on a long way but it’s the familiar Paul Keating - pugnacious, brooding, reflective, funny - who bursts through in the first of a series of interviews with the ABC’s Kerry O'Brien. As O'Brien says, the former prime minister has written no autobiography. These interviews, done in his Sydney office – the room and its contents testament to his artistic taste as well as his political career - are something of a substitute, as well as an important exercise in oral history. http://theconversation.com/keating-on-life-politics-and-the-day-he-suggested-arresting-the-governor-general-19980

Casablanca

8/11/2013 Barack Obama @BarackObama This is huge: The Illinois House just passed marriage equality. #LoveIsLove

Casablanca

8/11/2013 Hello, hello. Is anybody out there?

Casablanca

8/11/2013 Earth to TPSers....

Casablanca

8/11/2013 [b]Scott Morrison denies boat 'stand-off' but refuses to give details[/b] Natalie O'Brien, Michael Bachelard Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has denied there is a stand-off between the Australia and Indonesian governments over a boatload of asylum seekers in distress off the coast of Java, despite Indonesian authorities confirming they were unwilling to accept the refugees back. At his weekly briefing on Operation Sovereign Borders on Friday, Mr Morrison did reveal that a decision had not been made about where they would be taken despite the boat having been in distress since Thursday. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/scott-morrison-denies-boat-standoff-but-refuses-to-give-details-20131108-2x5na.html

Casablanca

8/11/2013 [b]Indonesia says it will not accept rescued asylum seekers Australia has tried to return[/b] George Roberts and Jane Norman Updated 2 minutes ago Indonesia's security affairs minister says his country will not accept a group of asylum seekers Australia has attempted to send back to Indonesia. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-08/indonesia-says-it-wont-accept-rescued-asylum-seekers/5077974

Bacchus

8/11/2013Hi Casablanca - it seems only those who can login to TPS can comment at the moment. We have asked Web Monkey to have a look 'under the bonnet' :)

Casablanca

8/11/2013 Thanks Bacchus. It was getting a bit lonely here.

Test

8/11/2013Recaptcha has now been repaired

jaycee

8/11/2013Giving it some thought, one can come to the conclusion that the reason the nation's political parties, the MSM. and a large section of the voting public seem unable to make positive decisions, seem uncertain about national direction on a number of issues and the mainstream media and it's political cohorts are somewhat dumbstruck in regards analytical disection of policies is perhaps because of a widespread infection of the "Peter Principle"! Not just the odd individual, but a wide swathe of society has reached it's intellectual and rational thinking limit when it comes to appreciating the global situation in regards a number of important issues that need immediate attention and rational analysis and positive action. And sadly, with each concealing from each other their incompetencies, they collude in backing-up and supporting the next..like a house of cards just waiting for a collapse!.....Collectively, perhaps we just don't have the depth of mojo anymore! It could be the physical implementation of what is called "Plato's Doubt"...I will cut and paste from an old article on the ABC. religion by Damon Young .. " Plato's fear of myths is actually terror at existence; the fear that there actually is no ultimate story to tell. And dread, perhaps, that the human mind has no necessary grasp of any of it; that its grip on things is always provisional, situated, and often superficial; that, as Hume noted, our ideas are more a procession of relations than a system of perfect truths." Indeed...a worry!

TalkTurkey

8/11/2013 You may not wish to sign the petition but the reading is startling - esp to a Crowie! https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Dont_let_foreign_corporations_sue_Australia_for_millionsbillions_over_our_policies_on_GE_crops_coal_seam_gas_more/?fbdm

TalkTurkey

8/11/2013jaycee That made the gerbils scatter in discombobulation! 2353 Lampedusa is somewhere between Indonesia Sri Lanka Iraq and ESPECIALLY Australia. It varies but it's always the same tragedy and it is ALWAYS the Religious Right that drives it. Jews Christians Moslems and Buddhists too. Here's a 3 word slogan for the world: DOWN WITH RELIGION!

TalkTurkey

8/11/2013Indonesians must be appalled. I am. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/midocean-standoff-as-australian-customs-vessel-tries-to-turn-back-asylum-seeker-boat-to-indonesia-20131107-2x4qs.html RELIGIONEM DELENDA EST

Catching Up

8/11/2013Well Morrison may not be talking. The Indonesians seem to be making up for that. Well it is official, this government does not need or listen to expert advice. They, it seems know it all. Appears that gut instinct is one that one governments by.

42 long

8/11/2013If someone wrote a book with a plot like what is happening now, it would be condemned as unrealistic . What Morrison is trying to get away with is stage managed BULLSHIT. MSM get off your precious little clique style of thinking and take the bastard on. He is having a lend of you all and you will be seen wanting when it all comes out BAD. (and you did nothing because you are too comfortable and self interested and LAZY. Even Grattan has got off her arse.

TalkTurkey

9/11/2013Casablanca Thank you for commenting on my Maureen McEwen post, not so much because I thought it was passably penned but because she so deserves a hat tip from other True Believers. Oh and I'm a septuagenarian as from today! I used to be a sexagenarian but never again! [i]Hippie Bathday TT ![/i] :)

jaycee

9/11/2013TT...: " jaycee That made the gerbils scatter in discombobulation!" " I shouldn't wonder !"

KHTAGH

9/11/2013Happy Birthday TT

Bacchus

9/11/2013Happy Birthday young TT. Enjoy! :D

Ad astra reply

9/11/2013Talk Turkey CONGRATULATIONS. You have joined the three score years and ten club, and can look forward to more decades of enjoyable blogging and happy retirement. Warmest birthday greetings from Mackay.

Jason

9/11/2013Insiders tomorrow Bill Shorten + Panel Karen Middelton Dennis Atkins and Phil Coorey Happy Birthday TT hope you have a great day

TalkTurkey

9/11/2013Merci Bien to my wellwishers: I still got to do dem dishes!

Bacchus

9/11/2013"[quote]TONY Abbott's government capitulated to Indonesia on Friday night, ordering a Customs boat with up to 63 refugees on board to go to Christmas Island. An asylum seeker in Indonesia contacted Fairfax Media early on Saturday to say the boat had reached the Australian territory on Saturday morning after immigration minister Scott Morrison failed to convince Indonesia to accept their return.[/quote]" http://www.smh.com.au/national/abbott-government-ends-asylum-seeker-standoff-with-indonesia-20131109-2x85v.html

jaycee

9/11/2013These bluffers and liars and traitors have got to go!....ELECTION NOW!

Michael

9/11/2013'Operation Sovereign Borders' just became 'Operation Wet Tissue', exposing Abbott and Morrison as shysters and fakers... all within just two months of being elected as the 'tough guys'. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/abbott-government-ends-asylum-seeker-standoff-with-indonesia-20131109-2x85v.html Once again, people smugglers have a template to get a boat and its human cargo out of Indonesia and into Australian responsibility. The Coalition has no chance to turn back boats, because it was all posited on boats having independent means of propulsion, and Indonesia allowing them to land 'back' in Indonesia. Neither apply from today. One as a tactic, the other as a diplomatic arrangement. Gone gone gone. And if it seems like Howard-era brinkmanship is back out there on the open seas, yes it is. Abbott and Morrison have brought us to this situation in record time, and there is nothing, short of using Australian Navy/Customs weaponry against incoming vessels to frighten them away, that will now work to avoid asylum seekers in disabled vessels being brought to Australian territory, migration-zone excised or not, by Australian government vessels. 'Operation Sovereign Borders'? "Does that come with game cards and extra fries?" That's what Abbott and Morrison's kindergarten sandpit game was always set to be exposed as. Flounder Scott. Flounder Tony. Sink, both of you.

TalkTurkey

9/11/2013This is an ad, from a woman in Adelaide whom I met one day, now doing very well and happily from Hemp products of yet another kind. I'm just pointing out how supremely versatile this plant really is - source of medicines for a plethora of complaints, fibre for paper and fabrics and building materials, oils for cooking, dairy substitutes, paints, lubricants and fuels, stock fodder, resins for glue and hashish, and seeds which contain the best balance of any plant of all necessary amino-acids for human nutrition. The actual best. Quinoa and Soy also contain them all but Hempseed is the best. The war on cannabis is a war on the poor, the rational, and the planet. It is time it went the way of sexism and other prejudices. And in this case Cannabis shows itself suitable as a base for cosmetics, among other things. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9dMprSyq1k&cid=104538616:0

Casablanca

9/11/2013 TT Hippo birdee 2 ewe Hippo birdee 2 ewe HIPPO BIRDEEEEE TTeeeeeeeeeeeeee Hippo birdee 2 ewe

TalkTurkey

9/11/2013In four months since Rudd and his rats brought *J*U*L*I*A* down, and just two since Murdoch and his maggots conned Australians into electing Abborrtt and his apes, this nation's international image has gone from awe at our leadership's wisdom and success, to utter derision and disbelief at our stupidity. This deserved KO of Abborrrt by SBY and his decent respectful Government puts us all, along with Abborrrtt and Morriscum themselves, into the most shameful position I have ever known. Ships of shame, indeed. ELECTION NOW!

jaycee

9/11/2013Damn! if we haven't been dudded by Murdoch and his cohort of employed traitors!...Damn! if we have been deprived of stable, safe govt' by the white-anting of insider traitors, fully promoted by journo' traitors in our ABC! Damn! if we are now at the mercy of the most useless clods and buffoons that have EVER pulled on a House Of Representatives pullover! Damn! Damn! Damn!

jaycee

9/11/2013This govt' hasn't the depth of diplomatic nous to govern in the interests of the nation. It hasn't the depth of social awareness to govern in the interests of it's citizens. It hasn't the depth of economic responsibility to govern in the interests of national economic viability. It is all "piss 'n' wind" !....and that's all it ever was

TalkTurkey

9/11/2013Hippo Birdie Two Ewes is the most popular birthday card ever! http://www.zazzle.com.au/hippo_birdie_cards-137150681503498832

Bacchus

9/11/2013jaycee's on [b][i]FIRE[/i][/b]and I'm loving it! ♫♪♫♪♪♫

2353

9/11/2013Happy birthday TT - hopefully the next ten years are an enjoyable prelude to being an octogenarian!

Catching Up

9/11/2013It appears that Indonesia is still operating under arrangements made with Gillard, then Rudd. There have been no new arrangements since this government came to power. That is in spite of Bishop having seven meetings with the Indonesian FM. What is so stupid, when it comes to this government, anything they have done will make little difference to the boats coming. There is no way "turn back the boats' will ever be put into operation. Not possible. Not needed. One can only say. the present posturing is purely political. What type of government puts one relation in stress, with a near neighbor, for no advantage. The sensible thing would to be, let the matter drop.

jaycee

9/11/2013Abbott, with the help of any amount of MSM. journo's, has been bad-mouthing and verballing our northern neighbours for years...what we are now seeing is a polite "withdrawing of neighbourly obligance" in assisting to resolve a mutual problem. You cannot on one hand make snide remarks and on the other reach out for comfort. It is not only bad manners, it is somewhat foolish.

Janet (j4gypsy)

9/11/2013Very dear @TalkyTurkey I hope you are out & about celebrating, but in the meantime ... wishing you the happiest of birthday occasions :) x

Catching Up

9/11/2013Happy birthday, TT

Jason

9/11/2013Malcolm Farr ‏@farrm51 35m If true, we weren't told: Jakarta Post says Australia's last THREE turn-back attempts failed. http://bit.ly/1awWZIR (HT @profsarahj )

Catching Up

9/11/2013Day 53. Looking forward to next week.

jaycee

9/11/2013Don't know if this is already known... http://theaimn.com/2013/11/09/an-open-letter-to-laurie-oakes/

Casablanca

9/11/2013 Jaycee, Yep, I found it earlier this afternoon and it will be in the next edition of Casablanca's Cache.

Jason

9/11/2013Casablanca, You've lost your gravatar!

TalkTurkey

9/11/2013Never again can Abborrrtt rely on bluster and bullshit to induce the decent and respectful Indonesian Government to take back asylum seekers properly Australia's responsibility. If Shorten can't summon the fire to blowtorch this mob of morons on Tuesday he should be fired himself. So far he's seemed as tough as cream cheese. What would *J*U*L*I*A* say? What would Keating say? What would Albo say? Bill you're not there to be agreeable, FFS say something that draws blood!

Catching Up

9/11/2013http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvNI8g00nyE

cuppa

9/11/2013Been a very enjoyable last 36 hours or so, watching the humiliation of Abbott, Morrison, Credlin and Co. It hasn't taken very long for the wheels to fall off this new "government".

KHTAGH

9/11/2013Just for you TT to add to your remarks earlier. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=702814073062907&set=a.115969958413991.17486.114517875225866&type=1&theater

Casablanca

9/11/2013 Jason What was lost has been found

Patriciawa

10/11/2013Very Many Happy Returns, Talk Turkey! With love from Patricia

Curi-Oz

10/11/2013KHTAGH, hemp crops can also be used downstream of production facilities as 'mop crops' to clean waste water (and produce an extra profit for the facility). And just to remind folk of the deadly consequences ... /*wry_cynicism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_jGAC77Tpg

Curi-Oz

10/11/2013TalkTurkey! Congratulations on the celebrations. Hope there are many more to come *happy for you*

Casablanca

10/11/2013ABC Radio National on Sunday at noon: The Boyer Lectures [b]Maintain the outrage[/b] Her Excellency, The Governor General, Quentin Bryce Watching the women: The powerful role of women in leading reform. Before the 1993 World Conference on Human Rights, thousands of hearings were held with women around the world. The testimony made visible their shocking and widespread abuse. These women were no longer immobilised victims; they had become empowered and active campaigners for change. This is an edited extract of the second Boyer lecture by the Governor-General. It will be broadcast on ABC Radio National on Sunday at noon. The final two Boyer lectures will be broadcast on the following two Sundays. ABC Books will publish the full texts and an e-book. More information at http www.abc.net.au/rn http://www.smh.com.au/comment/maintain-the-outrage-20131108-2x6a7.html#ixzz2k9YcUn3i [b]*J*U*L*I*A*[/b] Former Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor has accepted an invitation from the Victorian Women’s Trust to speak about the “Hung” Parliament alongside the former Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, in Melbourne this Sunday 10 November. http://vwt.org.au/ The event titled “Credit Where Credit is Due” will take place at the Melbourne Town Hall from 2pm – 4pm and can be viewed on a live stream at: http://www.livestreamaustralia.com.au/creditjulia/ It is sold out and will be also be screened live into Sydney, the ACT, Adelaide and Hobart. ([i]Not sure of details, Casablanca[/i]) http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1rr8eoq

2353

10/11/2013Some reporters are actually starting to report. Not quite up to the standards of the (then Uni of Qld Student Union owned) 4ZZZ radio reporter that asked Bjelke-Petersen a question over 50 times before there was a response - and they played it on air - but it is a sign of hope. [quote]The federal government has refused to answer the most basic questions about asylum seekers, amid a stand-off with Indonesia about the fate of 63 rescued boat people. Fairfax Media attended the weekly media briefing by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison on Friday - now the only opportunity to seek answers from the government on its asylum seeker policy, known as Operation Sovereign Borders. The following is an edited transcript of some of the questions put to Mr Morrison and Lieutenant-General Angus Campbell, the commander in charge of the operation:[/quote] http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/no-comment-government-silent-over-fate-of-asylum-seekers-20131109-2x8a1.html#ixzz2kBXdBBlZ News is reporting this morning the policy backflip on asylum seeker boats over the weekend is because the Government wants to clear the decks for the "debate" around emissions trading that will start this week. Yeah right!!!!

cuppa

10/11/2013Fairfax comes in for a fair bit of flak (justified). But it's still a much better, more independent, source of reporting than LtdNews and Their ABC.

TalkTurkey

10/11/2013[b][u]BASIC MANUAL FOR PEOPLE SMUGGLERS[/u][/b] 1. Issue each Asylum Seeker with a quality flotation vest. 2. Provide boat with marine radios, flares and automatic floating beacons. 3. In hull of boat, well below water level, remove planking to create a hole about 30cm square. Replace with a panel which may be kicked out to allow boat to be scuttled in minutes. 4. Summon help when very close to Australia's "Search and Rescue Zone". This will help to confuse Australian authorities and ensure maximum international attention. 5. On approach of Australian Coastguard vessel, advise passengers to don vests and stand by with floatable luggage. 6. Need I go on?

Catching Up

10/11/2013Well Abbott and his stop the boats is getting a kick in the arse on Insiders this morning. Same on Seven and Nine.

cuppa

10/11/2013Each time the Liberals get back into government they're worse than the Liberal government before that. Fraser's was worse than Menzies'. Howard's was worse than Fraser's. Abbott's is worse than Howard's... How to break this vicious cycle?

Ad astra reply

10/11/2013Folks 'We'll turn back the boats' Tony looks more foolish by the day. King Canute would have been proud of him! We'll be on the road today from Rockhampton to Coral Cove on the coast at Bundaberg. I'll catch up with your Cache Casablanca when we get to Noosa on Monday. The items look delectable.

cuppa

10/11/2013Belated Happy Birthday wishes, Talk Turkey. Wishing you all the best.

jaycee

10/11/2013Journo' cameos #3. In another life, Annabell would wince at the term ; "Bondi Bouffant", as it was one of those hair-perms that she considered an essential part of the " Entrata Spettacolosa!"..and was nothing to be sneered at!..Annabell kept a 'cache' of foreign words ready for that certain moment when a "drop of that vital essense of mystique" was required...she treasures the memory when, on the opening night of the film ; "Roman Holiday", fully decked out in a gown of white French organza, splashed with scattered clumps of crimson cherries woven with their leaves, in what she would call her ; " haute couture of conquest!" she swept into the foyer of the Woy Woy Odeon picture theatre hatted like an exotic tropical bird of paradise and greeted all her open-mouthed friends with a flamboyant ; "Caio everybody!"....that was Annabell ! And anyway...HER variation of the Bondi Bouffant was created after many long nights and many failures, until she switched products from "Toni" to "Richard Hudnut" home perm....it was the "lanolin waving lotion" that did it! and the rest, as they say in the small town of West Wyalong ; "is what you make of it". No-one..could "bouffant" like " 'bell th' gurl" as the locals would often say. Annabell had but two regrets in her life, one was that she didn't stay in the big provincial town of her district, where she is certain she could've made a successful business of a ladies hair dressing salon...a friend suggested a name for it in keeping with Annabell's fifties themes..; "Period Piece"...the play being on ; the time-line and a hair-piece...get it?...but Annabell was too saavy a wordsmith to fall for that 'faux pas' and instead she moved to the big smoke and became a shipping clerk for a transport company. Her second regret was that she wasn't born earlier so she could become like her...! a call from downstairs!.."Coming mo..." she pulled herself up...she realised she almost shouted ; "mother" !...THAT would have been a Freudian slip for sure.."Coming ; kids "! , she quickly corrected herself.

Catching Up

10/11/2013https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1459854_10200975297206175_1284614497_n.jpg

Pappinbarra Fox

10/11/2013My father fought for this country in the second world war. In the middle east then on Kokoda. He fought for his family mates and community to stop genuine military aggression. I am absolutely disgusted to see the Army/defence forces being trashed by having a "three star" something or other standing mute in a political news conference or worse not being mute but saying I cannot answer that question. That man must have an extremely small person complex to allow himself to be used like that. The real defence force officers must be apoplectic!! I am that is for sure. I am ropable!!! If Morrison knocked on my door I could not be held responsible for my actions I am so irate.

Catching Up

10/11/2013cuppa. you forget the ones that come between Fraser and Menzies. Some beauties there. Have to say, Abbott is going to outshine them all. Could even welcome the likes of McMahon back. He was just useless, not so destructive. They have habit of tossing out good ones as well. Remember Gorton. Looking back, Nelson was not bad. Not that rapped in Turnbull. With them, one always get horror budgets, that attack the low income earner.

TalkTurkey

10/11/2013Cuppa said, [i]Each time the Liberals get back into government they're worse than the Liberal government before that. Fraser's was worse than Menzies'. Howard's was worse than Fraser's. Abbott's is worse than Howard's... How to break this vicious cycle?[/i] Actually Cuppa that isn't exactly a vicious cycle, it's an even viciouser[i]spiral down![/i]

Catching Up

10/11/2013I believe that defence force, like the judiciary, should always be seen as being at arms length to politicians. The defence forces should only be used in the defence of the country. The asylum seekers pose no danger to this country. We now have a three star general, in charge of government departments, direct by a minister. We know this, as Morrison said in his announcement yesterday, he directed the general to take the people to Christmas Island. So Morrison has taken, to himself, more power than the I am not too sure, if challenged, that there could be Constitutional questions to answer. If not, the lines between the politicians and the defence force are being blurred. We will have ministers, directing the forces directly in war zones next.

TalkTurkey

10/11/2013Pappinbarra Fox Dad was a navigator in bombers in WWII, and a good Labor man, he's turning in his grave I am sure at the prostitution of our Defence Forces by this "Three Star General" ntm the bastardization and disgusting sexist behaviour in the Navy.

Ken

10/11/2013Pappinbarra fox Agree it is demeaning to the military. My late father was a Navy man who served the entire War - actually called up to active service (from the Navy Reserve which he had only joined four months earlier) a few days [u]before[/u] War was actually declared and steaming into Milne Bay on the day it ended. Unfortunately the military is obliged to follow the orders of the Government of the day. Some poor bar****d had to put forward to meet the Government's orders. I have little doubt that there is a lot of disquiet among the upper echelons of the military. Perhaps time for a coup! As much as I would love to see it in the current circumstances, it is unfortunately better for the future that we keep the military out of politics. Perhaps Campbell is deliberately performing poorly in his public appearances. At least one would like to think so! It also puts the pressure back on Morrison which is good to see.

Ken

10/11/2013Catching up Yes, "all the way with LBJ" Holt and McMahon (Mcwho? Is it little wonder people forget them!

Catching Up

10/11/2013Did I read, in one of the stories relating to Abbott, that his father, or was it grandfather fled England during the war, to Australia, for safety. Never read of any being in the forces. It appears they made a promised to God, as they left the shores of the mother country, they would convert to Catholicism, if they survived the German navy on the way out. His father returned to England after they war. That is where he met his mother. I am not sure, what one labels someone, who flees there country during a war. Not, do as most others did, enlist. TV. Still claimning that Abbott failed in turning back at least one boat. Yes, he backed down.

Ken

10/11/2013Catching up I read that Abbott's family arrived in 1960 under the old assisted migration scheme. Perhaps if we give him his ten pounds back he will go home!

Catching Up

10/11/2013Yes Abbott himself came out there then. His father came out during the early war years. Went back when the war finished. Married Abbott's mother, who I believe is Australian. The family came back to Australia, as you said, above.

Ken

10/11/2013So that means we have a 'ten pound pom' as our Prime Minister. How un-Australian is that!! And I wonder whether he ever became an Australian citizen. He arrived in the days when we were still all British subjects so there was no need for any form of naturalisation. Abbott needs to be naturalised in more ways than one - or is that neutered, or perhaps both? And he can't claim the same of Gillard. She and her family arrived in 1966 and became Australian citizens in 1974. So for a while she had dual citizenship but is said to have renounced her British citizenship in 1998 prior to entering Parliament. The High Court has ruled that a person cannot sit in the Australian Parliament if they still hold citizenship of another country. This is a list of where members of the previous Parliament were born. http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/Parliamentary_Handbook/mpsbyplc There were 28 born overseas, including Abbott. Are there questions to be asked whether Abbott has ever renounced his British citizenship? Does anyone out there know the answer re Abbott?

Casablanca

10/11/2013 I just checked out the livestreaming site for this afternoon's tribute to the leadership of Julia Gillard and there is a slide show with pictures interspersed with legislative achievements. http://www.livestreamaustralia.com.au/creditjulia/

jaycee

10/11/2013The LNP. always stitch their "dirty-deeds" to a military uniform so they can "brand" themselves as aligined with "our brave soldiers" when a bit of credibility is needed and can blame military blunders (remember the "confusion" with Reith over the messaging of "children overboard"? )when things go wrong. They're a dirty bunch of devious bastards, the LNP.!

Michael

10/11/2013Metaphorically extend the economic arguments Ross Gittins lays out here: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/selfinterest-has-killed-off-any-hope-of-real-reform-20131108-2x73s.html?skin=text-only across the social fabric of this country, and the 'culture' of self-interest that has cancerously formed here and worldwide (let's be honest, Coca Cola-nisation was all about self satisfaction), and.... I'm calling on a lot of asterisks here, it's revealed just how f***** Australia is and is about to be even more so, and how f***** Australians have conspired to let themselves become. All because of glorifying 'Number One'. And everyone else can go and get f*****!

Casablanca

10/11/2013 ABC24 has picked up the live presentation of Credit where credit is due - Mary Crooks & Robert Hulls introducing Julia Gillard

jaycee

10/11/2013Journo' cameos #4 Bazza swilled the ice-cube around the bottom of the tumbler in the dregs of the scotch whisky....he was a bit piqued that his favourite barman ; Ron, wasn't taking him seriously..."no-one takes me seriously anymore" he thought. "You see, Ron..I've thought about it..It's the name..: Bazza !"....Ron was really too busy polishing glasses to be concerned...it was the latest 'Barryism" in a long line.."What's wrong with ; Bazza?" he sighed. Barry continued ; "Well...it's a "slogan name" isn't it?....you know, someone enters the room spots you, stops and in an exaggerated way "pistol-fingers" you with both hands and shouts so the whole room hears..; "BAZZZAH !" like they've just had a eureka moment...how's that make a bloke feel?".......there was a depth of silence..."It's like you gotta jump off your stool, face them arms and legs spread like a 96 lb. weakling full-back trying to block a Jonah Lomu charge single handed !" In truth, Barry lamented his fate..He had the perfect situation, he had a captive audience, yet no matter how he pressed his point of view on a topical situation, they just didn't seem to take any notice of him! "I can't understand it , Ron...the other day f'rinstance..I had Barnaby in the "big chair", and I was asking him about all these Chinese buying our agricultural land and all he could do was to tell me Irish jokes!...they just don't take me seriously any more!" ..finally Ron had enough, he put the cloth down, the glass on the bar and looked Bazza direct in the eyes... "Bazz...you're a barber, not Parkinson...people come to you for a haircut, not a grilling on the economy..just do your job, charge your fee and be happy!"....Bazz blinked a couple of times, but Ron could see it was a wasted effort...the lights were on but nobody was home. "Glad you reminded me, Ron...quick, give us another shot of that scotch..I got Tony in the chair this afternoon for a short back and sides...I wanna have a steady hand with the cut-throat !"

Bacchus

10/11/2013Casablanca @ November 10. 2013 01:45 PM The livestream is from 2:00pm => 4:00pm EST (Eastern Standard Time), 3:00pm => 5:00pm AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time). If you missed any of it, you can rewind to the beginning... http://www.livestreamaustralia.com.au/creditjulia/

Casablanca

10/11/2013Credit where credit is due: Tony Windsor & Julia Gillard Thanks Bacchus, WOW! What an afternoon. I watched from around 1.38pm through to the finish at around 4.30pm AEDT. I also watched Julia's address live on ABC24 from about 3pm AEDT. Regretably, ABC24 did not list the sold-out event in the online ABC Program Guide. I hope that poeple will demand a re-run on ABC24. The livestream was a bit patchy in places nevertheless I shall give it a re-run later. Did anyone else tune in and/or follow #creditjulia?
How many umbrellas are there if I have two in my hand but the wind then blows them away?