Do I have a mandate for you!

Prior to the election, Tony Abbott claimed that the election would be a referendum on the carbon price and Julie Bishop repeated this the day after the election (8 September). Since the election both Abbott and Environment Minister Greg Hunt have claimed people voted to repeal the ‘carbon tax’ and have been pressuring Labor without necessarily using the word ‘mandate’. But on 10 October, in response to Clive Palmer creating a four-member voting bloc in the new Senate, Abbott did say:

I’m confident that everyone in this parliament very well understands that the new government has a clear mandate to get certain things done.

What is this mythical beast called a ‘mandate’?

There is no doubt that Abbott has a mandate to form a government as he has a majority in the House of Representatives, the Parliamentary chamber in which governments are formed. The Governor-General asks a person who has ‘the confidence of the House’ to form a government and, unless there is a split in the Coalition, Abbott can clearly claim that confidence.

No problems with that mandate, but that is the end of certainty.

Votes can be one way of considering a ‘mandate’ but the national vote does not automatically lead to Government. In fact, five times in 26 elections since 1946 a government has won the seats it needed to form government with less than half the national two party preferred (2PP) vote:

YearWinnerWinner’s 2PP (%)Winners majority
1954 Menzies 49.3 7
1961 Menzies 49.5 2
1969 Gorton 49.8 7
1990 Hawke 49.9 9
1998 Howard 48.9 13

John Howard in 1998 is a stand-out: the lowest recorded 2PP to win government but with a significant 13-seat majority. My own recollection of the 1998 election is that much of Labor’s increased vote occurred in Labor’s own seats, which did nothing to help it gain the additional seats it needed to win, although increasing its national vote.

So it is possible to achieve a mandate to govern but not a popular mandate from the voters.

Can we take the number of seats or the size of the majority as an indication of a mandate?

The way the single member seats in the HoR work also reflects that national votes do not match seat numbers. As the vote increases, the number of seats often increases in greater proportion. Some of the more significant wins in this way are:

YearWinnerWinner’s 2PP (%)Winner’s seats/seats in HoRWinner’s seats (%)Winners majority*
1949 Menzies 51.0 74/121 61.2 27
1958 Menzies 54.1 77/122 63.1 32
1966 Holt 56.9 82/124 61.2 27
1975 Fraser 55.7 91/127 71.7 55
1977 Fraser 54.6 86/124 69.4 48
1983 Hawke 53.2 75/125 60.0 25
1996 Howard 53.6 94/148 63.5 45
2013 Abbott 53.5 90/150 60.0 35

[* The majority shown is over the other major party and does not include minor parties or independents.]

Two other interesting results were:

YearWinnerWinner’s 2PP (%)Winner’s seats/seats in HoRWinner’s seats (%)Winners majority*
1980 Fraser 50.4 74/125 59.2 23
1987 Hawke 50.8 86/148 58.1 24

In both cases, Malcolm Fraser and Bob Hawke won the national vote by less than 1% but finished with comfortable majorities.

By contrast in 2010, Labor under Julia Gillard scraped home in the national vote, 50.1% to 49.9%, but managed only 48% of the seats (72 out of 150).

In the recent election about a quarter of Abbott’s seats came from the conjoined Liberal National Party in Queensland. It won 22 of 30 seats on a 8.9% share of the national first preference votes. Its share of the Queensland first preference vote was 45.7% and its 2PP, 56.5%: but this gave it 14.7% of the seats in the House of Representatives, and an amazing 73.3% of the Queensland seats.

So the number of seats in the HoR bears no direct relationship to the proportion of votes and suggests, that other than being able to form government, the number of seats held or the size of the majority are not very good indicators of a mandate.

And the vote was so close in a number of electorates that a shift in vote of 4,754 voters (about 0.04% of total votes) would cause Abbott to lose eight seats; a shift of 7,196 votes (0.06%) would lose him 12 seats; and a shift of 29,904 votes (0.25%) would lose him government (18 seats). While Abbott may claim a win on national votes and seats, it is on a slim margin when examined at the seat level.

If we break-down the 2013 election there are, in fact, several different mandates and not each is consistent with Abbott’s claim of a mandate.

In Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, the Coalition won the 2PP but by less than 1%. It would have taken only 20,809 voters in total across those three jurisdictions for Abbott to have lost the 2PP in them. Does he claim a mandate from those jurisdictions because 0.6% of voters (or 0.17% of the national vote) made the difference between winning and losing the vote? A fairly flimsy claim in my opinion, which means his mandate from Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory is marginal at best and in Victoria Labor did win a majority of seats.

In the ACT the vote was strongly Labor: 42.9% of first preference votes and 59.9% of the 2PP. So there is definitely no mandate for Abbott there, which is quite understandable given his ‘promises’ regarding the Public Service.

Chris Graham has also analysed the vote in distinctly Aboriginal communities and shown that in communities outside the Northern Territory the average vote for Labor was in the order of 71% and as high as 94%. In the Northern Territory seat of Lingiari different Aboriginal communities showed different swings, both to Labor and to the Coalition, but generally a move back towards Labor after a strong shift to the Coalition in 2010. As Graham headlines his article: ‘Abbott has no mandate from Aboriginal Australia’.

Abbott said in his victory speech that ‘a good government is one that governs for all Australians. Including those who haven’t voted for it.’ Does that mean he will take account of the mandates he does not have, from Aboriginal people and the ACT voters, or the marginal mandates from Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory, and also the views (mandate) of the 5,583,200 who did not prefer the LNP as their government?

If he doesn’t, can we say that his is not a ‘good government’ by his own definition?

If he can’t really claim a mandate on the proportion of votes or the number of seats, or lacks a clear mandate from some groups and jurisdictions, that brings us to Abbott’s claim that the election was a ‘referendum’.

To be won, a normal referendum requires a majority of the votes and a majority (4) of the States. He did win the vote, 53.5% to 46.5%, and he also won all six States but, as with the discussion of the size of his victory, he won two by less than 1.0% and one by 2.4%. It would have required only 22,116 voters out of about 12 million, or 0.18%, for Abbott to have lost three States and therefore technically to have lost a ‘referendum’ – I think a bit too close to claim as a clear mandate.

Although on the figures Abbott may have just won a referendum, did the voters really enter polling booths with the carbon price foremost in their thoughts?

In July, prior to the election, polling was showing that, although a majority still opposed the carbon price, 53% against and 34% for, there was a general trend of slowly increasing acceptance since 2011. Also, a month before the election ‘climate change’ was rated last of ten issues that may influence voting. There was, however, a marked difference on party lines: while climate change was a clear last amongst LNP voters, it was actually sixth for Labor voters. How this may have affected voting is impossible to say but it does reduce the likelihood of voters seeing the vote as a referendum.

The fact is that on election day exit polls suggest between 3% and 8% of the voters considered the ‘carbon tax’ an influence on their vote. Only 1% of LNP voters mentioned the environment or climate change as an important consideration while 13% of ALP voters did.

So perhaps it was not a referendum at all – well, at least, not so far as the voters were concerned!

The final word on ‘mandates’ should rightly belong to Abbott himself. After the LNP election loss in 2007, he wrote:

The elected Opposition is no less entitled than the elected Government to exercise its political judgment and to try to keep its election commitments.

So, thank you Tony: the 5,583,200 voters who preferred Labor have also created a mandate as you pointed out in 2007, although it is not the one you are claiming now.

What do you think?

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tpsteam

10/11/2013This week on [i]The Political Sword[/i] we benefit from Ken's detailed research into what is a mandate and discussion of Tony Abbott's claim he has one to remove the misnamed "Carbon Tax". There is also some concerning discussion on the larger issue of the fairness of single member seats generally used to fill Australian Parliaments. Ken looks at various Prime Minister's election results over the years and determines that on a number of occasions, the eventual Prime Minister only get there due to the numbers falling favourably at the time. For example Gillard received 50.1% of the vote and had to rely on Independents to achieve the passing of any legislation - let alone the large number the 43rd Parliament achieved. Howard was elected (as part of the Coalition) on one occasion with under 49% of the popular vote. Ken's piece is timely as Federal Parliament is scheduled to sit this week and Abbott has promised his first piece of legislation will be the abolishing of the "Carbon Tax". The ALP is claiming that they will only support the legislation if a pricing scheme is implemented instead and the Greens are claiming they will not support the legislation if it gets to the Senate. So in a week where the claims and counter claims of "mandate" will be louder than a Cold Chisel concert - Ken demonstrates why a considerable number of similar claims over the past 50 years in Australian Federal politics are substantially lacking at best interpretation. [b]Will the media comply with the "mandate" argument that Abbott and Hunt are already using? Is there a better option than single member seats for the Australian Parliaments?[/b] It could be an interesting week and we welcome your opinion.

Michael Taylor

10/11/2013Just dropping by to say I like what you guys are doing. Keep up the good work. The Fifth Estate needs you.

Frank

10/11/2013It's misleading to argue that Tony Abbott has a mandate on the carbon tax. If policies are mandates for victorious parties, Kevin Rudd’s Emissions Trading Scheme was also one and Abbott gave that very short shrift. This was after he said the following in 2009: "They(the people)gave the Rudd Government a mandate to deal with climate change, and I think that has to be respected." He and his colleagues had no option but to go with the abolition of Work Choices because that was deleterious for workers. The carbon price leading to an ETS is most effective and cheapest way of dealing with climate change. The vast majority of scientists and economists endorse that.

Pappinbarra Fox

10/11/2013Man Date - what Mr Abbott goes on to flex his macho muscles. Does he have a mandate to avoid journo questions? Does he have a mandate to humiliate our defence forces? Does he have a mandate to claim expenses to go cycling or attend weddings or footy finals? Does he have a mandate to increase the deficit? Does he have a mandate top trash our, hard earned and well justified, reputation as scientists of quality? No No No No and No!!

Bacchus

10/11/2013Speaking of Michael Taylor, over at his site, AIMN, John Lord attacks this topic from a slightly different perspective. I think Ken's and John's articles complement each other well. http://theaimn.com/2013/11/09/a-mandate-what-on-earth-is-a-mandate/ And as the TPS Team mentioned, this will be quite topical this first parliamentary sitting week of the Abbott government. (Why does my skin crawl while typing those words?) Now tell the truth Migs - you only came to show off your flash new avatar, didn't you? :P

Michael Taylor

10/11/2013At least it's a recent one, Bacchie, and not something I dragged up from the archives. :)

cuppa

10/11/2013He wouldn't have got any mandate at all if it hadn't been for the interference of the Murdoch media/MSM/ABC. He's a media welfare case. His obligation is to them, the media, and the billionaires who bankrolled the Liberal campaign. For all his babbling about governing for everyone, we know who he's there to look after.

Ken

10/11/2013Frank Yes, Abbott is quite good at saying one thing one day and another the next. And continues to do it. And we also know heis getting rid of all those pesky scientists and advisers who might agree with an ETS. cuppa Abbott bo doubt has a mandate to those you mention!! Pappinbarra fox Plenty of mandates that Abbott doesn't have and you have managed to list a few more.

2353

10/11/2013Migs - looking good ;-) Suit & tie even - are we going for a job interview? Ken - great article. I wonder if the 4th estate will continue with the asylum seekers coverage this week or if they will fall into line and present the "mandate" argument based on press releases from Credlin & crew. Hopefully Abbott releasing his "carbon tax" bill on Facebook rather than Sunday night TV tonight is that no one on TV would replace the "we'll take the boats" reporting and an indicator of future behaviour.

Casablanca

10/11/2013One of the problems in this mandate argument is that what the Gillard Government enacted did not meet Tony Abbott's own definition of a 'Carbon Tax'. Tony Abbott Supports a Carbon Tax (1m27s) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UulkhRPqFV8 Tony Abbott Carbon Tax Abbnesia (3m33s) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYO3TjmczCQ Love that word 'Abbnesia' - perfect!

Michael Taylor

10/11/2013Nothing that serious, 2353. Just my wedding day. I dressed up for the occasion.

2353

10/11/2013True Casablanca the legislation didn't meet the definition. Proof of Abbott's habit of never letting the facts get in the way of a good story. As further evidence witness the "stop the boats" farce that is happening this weekend and Ken's destruction of Abbott's self-proclaimed "clear mandate" to "axe the [Carbon} Tax" - a "tax" that is in reality a fixed price for a specified period at the commencement of a free market carbon pricing scheme. Its actually funny that the ALP brings in a "free market" process to reduce a problem in the community that is pure capitalist market forces at work- and the LNP are claiming a 'what the heck, write the cheque" - socialist style policy is a better method to achieve a result (assuming it ever sees the light of day).

Bacchus

10/11/2013Looking very dapper too Michael! :D

Casablanca

10/11/2013 Inside Tony Abbott's mind: This is serious Waleed Aly 'Oppositions are not there to get legislation through. Oppositions are there to hold the government to account. And unless we are confident that a piece of legislation is beyond reasonable doubt in the national interest, it is our duty as the Opposition to vote it down'. This is the Abbott doctrine. He would not acquiesce unless the only remaining objections were so slight as to be unreasonable. He would approve of nothing that was justified on balance. Abbott would treat the government as though it were the prosecutor in a criminal trial aiming to deprive someone of their liberty. It’s a standard designed to ensure no innocent people are convicted, even if the guilty go free by the hundred. In this way, Abbott was apparently happy to see countless good ideas perish for the sake of preventing a single bad one coming to fruition. Just as a defence lawyer does his opponent no favours, Abbott wouldn’t co-operate to make good legislation better. Here was the ultimate contrast with Turnbull, who had negotiated amendments to Rudd’s ETS. Abbott was emphatically rejecting that deal, and, when asked if he would be willing to negotiate new, more satisfactory amendments, he simply repeated his rejectionist doctrine, in quasi-legal terms: Now, if we are absolutely confident that what the government is doing is beyond reasonable doubt in the national interest, sure, let’s go along with it. But if you’ve got the sort of doubts that we obviously have over this, well, we’re obliged to oppose it. http://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2013/july/1372600800/waleed-aly/inside-tony-abbotts-mind Over to you Bill Shorten

Ken

10/11/2013Michael I left you out of my earlier comment but I did notice that you did a post back on 19 September about the numbers in the election - in your case, to raise the flaws in the single seat system in the HoR. And the huge drop in turn-out. I really enjoyed that. I think there are many different issues that arise from the numbers in the last election.

TalkTurkey

10/11/2013I've been out all afternoon, haven't read Ken's thread yet, nor heard J*U*L*I*A's and Tony Windsor's speeches neither, but here are the transcripts of those speeches. margo kingston ‏@margokingston1 15m Audio of misogyny song, Windsor and Gillard speeches today http://australianpolitics.com/2013/11/10/gillard-windsor-vwt-speeches.html … via @mfarnsworth #CreditJulia And Dear Michael CONGRATULATIONS! You sure look spiffy, I'll bet SWMBO outshone you nevertheless. Long life and much happiness to you both. You are an encourager too, I think that is splendid.

TalkTurkey

10/11/2013Tim Minchin is a rare talent indeed. I invite him to join the Labor Party if he isn't already a Member. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoEezZD71sc&feature=share

Casablanca

11/11/2013 Fairfax's Mark Kenny slowly removing his groupthink blinkers: Abbott government's turning back boats policy a failure [quote]Snapping superciliously at reporters who have the temerity to ask legitimate questions about the conduct of the policy at a once-a-week press conference merely makes the problem worse. [b]Australian voters will eventually wake up to the fact that they were sold a pup[/b]. [/quote] http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-governments-turning-back-boats-policy-a-failure-20131110-2xa57.html

Casablanca

11/11/2013 [b]CASABLANCA'S CACHE. Monday, 11 November 2013: 36 items[/b] ENTITLEMENTS & FIDDLES 1. Tony Abbott stuck in travel expenses cycle of shame Kirsty Needham The Abbott government's crackdown on politicians who rort travel expenses follows a series of reports by Fairfax Media revealing dubious claims by a quarter of Tony Abbott's frontbench. Journalists first exposed the misuse of parliamentary travel entitlements by Liberal and Nationals MPs to attend weddings. The investigation then grew into a crowd-sourced examination of questionable travel by politicians, with tip-offs provided by readers living in MPs' electorates. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-stuck-in-travel-expenses-cycle-of-shame-20131109-2x8lr.html 2. WA politicians on the gravy plane Andrew Probyn The Weekend West can reveal one of the Government's 737 Boeing business jets has been booked to fly three Abbott Government ministers, six Liberal MPs and seven of their family members to the nation's capital. The plane will be flown empty from Canberra's Fairbairn base tomorrow morning for the Perth pick-up. The largesse comes at a time when the Abbott Government is demanding big savings from the public service. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/19748655/wa-politicians-on-the-gravy-plane/ 3. Analysis and Forward Strategy of Citizens Against Rorting of Entitlements (CARE) It is going to be a big weekend leading into the return to parliament on Tuesday. On Tuesday night 12th from 8pm DST (7pm QLD) I will be running the second #BudgetAus Twitter chat focusing again on the rorts. This is the day our new parliament sits for the first time so it is bound to be an interesting evening. http://infoaus.net/wp/ THE MURDOCH/ABBOTT GOVERNMENT 4. The Abbott Government after fifty days Bob Ellis After fifty days in office it is clear Tony Abbott’s is the worst new government in our history. http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-abbott-government-after-fifty-days,5878 5. Message from the dear leader With Parliament coming back this week, I want to report to you on the progress that the new Government has made since the election to implement the commitments that we made to the Australian people; to stop the boats, to abolish the big new taxes, to get the budget under control and to build the roads of the 21st Century. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It59KJNPkdI&feature=youtu.be Where's Tony? Flat Out Being Pm… The Hoopla Is being “flat out” running the country a good excuse for our prime minister keeping a very low profile? Commentators have started a game of “where’s Tony?” lately – they seek him here, they seek him there, they seek him every-bloody-where. A dearth of media conferences, interviews, appearances and accountability have characterised Abbott’s two months in office. http://thehoopla.com.au/wheres-tony-flat-pm/ 6. Back to the past Jenny Goldie Back in 2008, at the Sydney Writer's Festival, Tony Abbott was asked: "Are you familiar with the concept of peak oil?" He replied: "It's not a term I have heard. Perhaps Robert has heard about peak oil. He is expert on arcane concepts…" More than five years have passed and we may assume he has learnt something since then. Yet there is nothing to suggest in the formulation of his Cabinet nor in his early actions to dismantle the Gillard Government's Clean Energy legislation, that Tony Abbott has come to grips with two of the major challenges confronting Australia and the world: resource scarcity and climate change. http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=15669 7. Do I have a mandate for you! Ken Wolff Prior to the election, Tony Abbott claimed that the election would be a referendum on the carbon price and Julie Bishop repeated this the day after the election (8 September). Since the election both Abbott and Environment Minister Greg Hunt have claimed people voted to repeal the ‘carbon tax’ and have been pressuring Labor without necessarily using the word ‘mandate’. http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/default.aspx 8. A Mandate. What on Earth is a Mandate? John Lord ... in essence the word ‘’Mandate’’ is not derived from any particular institution, doctrine, law or constitution. It may have its grounding in philosophy, history or political morality. In those rare moments where it is legitimate it is more to do with how governments govern rather than any authority to do so. http://theaimn.com/2013/11/09/a-mandate-what-on-earth-is-a-mandate/ 9. Agriculture cuts to hurt pests control Noel Towell Australia's frontline defence against invasive plant and animal diseases is the latest operation to be hit by federal government cutbacks, with 220 jobs in the Agriculture department to be axed. Workers in the department were told on Friday jobs in the vital Border Compliance Division would be first to go, but Agriculture bosses insist they can protect the nation's bio-security despite the cuts. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/agriculture-cuts-to-hurt-pests-control-20131110-2xa7n.html#ixzz2kFtFK349 10. Clive Palmer to host world leaders at Coolum resort Lenore Taylor Invitation to event boasts attendance of former prime ministers of the Netherlands and NZ and video message from Bill Clinton...The World Leadership Alliance, of which Clive Palmer is joint secretary-general, and an associated body, the World Economic Council, were formed last year after Palmer reportedly donated more than $1m to the Club de Madrid, a forum of former democratic presidents and prime ministers. Palmer’s company Mineralogy also registered the name “world leadership alliance – world economic council”. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/08/clive-palmer-to-host-world-leaders-at-coolum-resort?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS 11. Concerns raised over Deloitte forced leave during Christmas Matt Coughlan Employees are increasingly being asked to take long periods of leave over the Christmas break, with many employers keen to see staff use up leave over the holiday period, an employment expert says. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/concerns-raised-over-deloitte-forced-leave-during-christmas-20131109-2x8b2.html JULIA GILLARD 12. Credit Julia: Gillard And Windsor Speak At Victorian Women’s Trust Tribute Tony Windsor praised Gillard’s temperament and her calmness during her time as prime minister. He said there was no doubt that he and Rob Oakeshott made the right decision in backing her minority government. He repeated one of his favoured lines that “the world is run by those who show up”. Includes links to audios: Tony Windsor’s speech (26m) The misogyny song (4m) Rob Hulls’s (Former Victorian A-G) speech (6m) Julia Gillard’s speech and questions (53m) http://australianpolitics.com/2013/11/10/gillard-windsor-vwt-speeches.html 13. Credit where credit is due (1hr37m) Livestream video of Victorian Women’s Trust Tribute to Julia Gillard http://www.livestreamaustralia.com.au/creditjulia/ 14. Julia Gillard: Gender revolution has failed AAP What is it about a woman assuming the prime minister's role for the first time that called for so much that was so ugly? Ms Gillard said while it is up to the nation to think in a sophisticated way about that, the gender revolution of the last 50 years had failed to leave as deep an impact as hoped. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/julia-gillard-gender-revolution-has-failed-20131110-2x9zk.html 15. Julia Gillard tells of her regrets as PM Adam Shand JULIA Gillard says the greatest regret of her government was not explaining to Australians why she toppled Kevin Rudd in 2010. And “another bad error” had been effectively conceding the use of the term “carbon tax”, the former prime minister said today. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/policy/julia-gillard-tells-of-her-regrets-as-pm/story-e6frg6xf-1226756831173 16. @nancycato1 tribute to our shy first female PM Margo Kingston tweeted that she went back and re-read this article in preparation for her attendance at the Credit where credit is due conference in Melbourne http://nofibs.com.au/2013/06/30/nancycato1-tribute-to-our-shy-first-female-pm/ 17. Comment: A tale of two Julia Gillards Elly Michelle Clough. For many progressive feminists, Julia Gillard will always be a complex and conflicting political figure. And yet, I cannot help but separate these policies that I fundamentally disagree with from the iconography of our first female Prime Minister. It is undeniably significant that Gillard held our highest elected position, and it is undeniable that her being a woman was in no small part the reason her Prime Ministership became untenable. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/10/02/comment-tale-two-julia-gillards 18. Julia Gillard, the movie: who would you cast? Brigid Delaney Rachel Griffiths will play the former prime minister – but what about the rest of the cast? Phillip Seymour Hoffman as Anthony Albanese? Eric Bana as Tim Mathieson? http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/08/julia-gillard-movie-cast?CMP=ema_632 ECONOMY + BUSINESS 19. How half our retirement savings went missing Rob Burgess The stink over the Abbott government’s decision to scrap a planned 15 per cent tax on retirement earnings over $100,000 won’t clear quickly. Indeed, it will haunt the Coalition at the next election. The planned tax was expected to impact around 16,000 retirees and was part of the funding model for a low-income super top-up payment that is also now being scrapped. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/8/property/how-half-our-retirement-savings-went-missing?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=504232&utm_campaign=kgb&modapt= 20. Federal budget: New report predicts $10 billion deficit blowout Lexi Metherell A respected economic forecaster is predicting a federal budget deficit blow out of nearly $10 billion this financial year. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-09/new-report-predicts-2410-billion-deficit-blowout/5080820?WT.mc_id=newsmail ASYLUM SEEKERS 21. Morrison: Different Strokes For Same Boats Nick Olle Now you can go from refugee to TPV – and suddenly get only temporary protection – depending on the paperwork flow in Australia’s bureaucracy. This means that the fate of some refugees who arrived in Australia at the same time – even on the same boat – will have been dictated by the speed with which the government processed their visa. http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/morrison-different-strokes-for-same-boats/736/ 22. Abbott government's turning back boats policy a failure Mark Kenny Canberra would simply turn back the boats to Indonesia, with the only caveat being, ''when it was safe to do so''. ''Safe'', you will note. Not ''politic'', not ''agreed'', not ''in co-operation with'', just ''safe''. Yet, since the election, since actually being in charge and having responsibility for outcomes rather than slogans, the government is finding that it is not that easy. International relationships are complex and multi-factorial. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-governments-turning-back-boats-policy-a-failure-20131110-2xa57.html 23. Prime Minister Tony Abbott backs down in asylum seeker stand-off with Indonesia Michael Bachelard, Natalie O'Brien The arrival will be seen as a loss of face for the Coalition, which vowed before the election that Australian authorities would not act as a taxi service for refugees. It may also encourage other people smuggling syndicates to try their hand. The arrival will be seen as a loss of face for the Coalition, which vowed before the election that Australian authorities would not act as a taxi service for refugees. It may also encourage other people smuggling syndicates to try their hand. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/prime-minister-tony-abbott-backs-down-in-asylum-seeker-standoff-with-indonesia-20131109-2x8n8.html ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 24. Groupthink perfected: how Australia is isolating itself over action on climate change David Holmes The announcement last week that no Australian government ministers would be attending the UN summit on climate change in Poland tomorrow is as embarrassing as it is serious...What most explains the position of the Abbott government on climate is the extraordinary closure that can be witnessed amongst the power elite who have been working away at a hegemonic position on climate for years now. http://theconversation.com/groupthink-perfected-how-australia-is-isolating-itself-over-action-on-climate-change-20054 25. Two degrees: how we imagine climate change David Holmes What should worry us today is that human-forced climate change is happening at 10,000 times the rate of climate change caused by the...natural cycles. The changes we’re seeing now may be happening quickly compared to the past, but still slowly compared to human lifespans. That’s because the climate system is “lethargic”. And here’s the problem, the inertia of climate is very difficult to imagine or visualise. http://theconversation.com/two-degrees-how-we-imagine-climate-change-18035 26. World's burning, but mind how you feel Bianca Hall ... in our increasingly individualistic culture, appealing to our own selfish feelings is an attractive prospect - far better than taking orders from the 97 per cent of the world's scientists who agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are caused by humans. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/worlds-burning-but-mind-how-you-feel-20131109-2x8dv.html 27. No carbon repeal bonanza? Tristan Edis Based on the assorted claims over the past five years from Abbott and his colleagues, plus the tabloid media and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, after repeal of the carbon tax we could all look forward to buying a roast from the local butcher and walking out $80 richer, seeing our electricity bills halved, and even saving a few bob on a glad-wrapped watermelon http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/7/policy-politics/no-carbon-repeal-bonanza-0 28. Down, down: The crazy repeal price bonanza! Tristan Edis For power and gas, of course poor pensioners like Hetty Verolme and residents of western Sydney saw price increases of 50-80 per cent because of that dastardly carbon tax, according to Prime Minister Abbott and his colleagues. So naturally it’s only reasonable to expect that the ACCC should be able to deliver equivalent reductions in electricity prices once the tax is axed... If these price reductions don’t eventuate then one would imagine [Newscorp] newspapers, as self-anointed defenders of the Aussie battler, will aggressively pursue the Abbott government and the ACCC for answers. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/9/12/policy-politics/down-down-crazy-repeal-price-bonanza 29. CSG: we’ve already seen the movie – Errol Brandt @e2mq173 reports Errol Brandt Coal seam gas (CSG) is a highly prized and abundant resource found across Australia. With the endorsement of state governments, mining companies have invested heavily to extract natural gas from coal seams. CSG companies have been shocked by the level of community opposition to CSG and its controversial ‘fracking’ technique. The industry likes to paint opposition to CSG as the work of extremist green groups. In reality, even traditionally conservative groups, like the Country Women’s Association, have risen to campaign against coal seam gas development. http://nofibs.com.au/2013/11/10/csg-weve-already-seen-movie-errol-brandt-e2mq173-reports/#sthash.JSKX5cKQ.dpuf 30. Climate contrarians are more celebrity than scientist John Abraham In the journal Celebrity Studies, Dr. Maxwell Boykoff and Shawn Olson trace the history of climate contrarians back to the 1980s and discuss their potential motivations and strategies. The study identifies these contrarians as a "keystone species;" climate contrarians are more influential than their scant numbers and limited expertise would suggest, and exert an outsized media impact. According to the authors, it's these keystone species that hold the ecosystem of climate denial together. http://www.skepticalscience.com/news.php?n=2273 31. Smart water meters lead to bigger savings Science Direct Smart water meters used to locate water leaks within households can result in environmental and economical savings according to a new study. A team of researchers at Griffith University focused on 22,000 smart meters installed throughout Hervey Bay in Queensland. http://theconversation.com/smart-water-meters-lead-to-bigger-savings-20032 MEDIA & 'BUTTHURT' 32. The test facing our media Ed Butler We have been noticing for the past few weeks that several of the nation’s most prominent political journalists are, for want of a better phrase, massively butthurt. Clearly the coalition has learned an important lesson. There is no doubt that their response has been extraordinarily cynical, but what if they’re right? What if the votes that are actually up for grabs are not swayed in the slightest by high-minded debate in the pages of the broadsheets? What if the public really don’t care if the government are happy to not only shut down debate but the availability of information?http://ausopinion.com/2013/11/10/the-test-facing-our-media/ 33. Have you ever wondered where journalists source their news? Michael Taylor So if you’ve ever wondered where journalists source their news, now you know: from each other. http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/have-you-ever-wondered-where-journalists-source-their-news/ 34. Human Rights Awards Finalists By Staff On November 4, the Australian Human Rights Commission announced the finalists in the radio, print and online categories for its 2013 awards. The Global Mail is honoured to have three of the four finalists in print and online. http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/human-rights-awards-finalists/731/ HEALTH + SCIENCE 35. Workplace stress increasing depression: Australian Psychological Society Rachel Browne The latest snapshot of the nation's mental health by the Australian Pyschological Society paints a distressing picture of workers, with an increasing number reporting they are suffering immense pressure. The survey, released on Sunday, found a significant decline in workplace wellbeing with workers being driven to despair as more pressure is put on increasing productivity and jobs become increasingly insecure. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/workplace-stress-increasing-depression-australian-psychological-society-20131109-2x8b6.html 36. Does your left brain know what your right brain is thinking? Tamara Watson Are you a left brain or a right brain person? I’ve never met a person who doesn’t know what I mean by this question. The idea that creative people use the right side of their brain more than logical people (the left-brained) is an extremely strong meme. http://theconversation.com/does-your-left-brain-know-what-your-right-brain-is-thinking-19722 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 11 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/ #################################################################

jaycee

11/11/2013Journo' cameo #5 The Ambulance officer and the policeman compared notes outside the suburban bungalow...the "deceased" was on a trolly next to them...the corpse was covered with a sheet. "...and the name, is it Hartcher or Hatcher?"....."Hatcher, H-a-t-c-h-e-r...for god's sake get that right." the policeman said "I booked a senior-cit' for DUI. the other night and he insisted he check I had the spelling correct for his first name...'Piers', he said..' P-i-e-r-s'...good job he spelt it out...I had it down as ' PLIERS' ..so gotta get it right!" They turned their attention to the deceased..the sheet was strangely raised "tent-like" at about mid-way down the corpse..the copper winced ;" Death by misadventure, I'd say....are you going to extract that thing?" The ambulance officer raised both his hands flat "Not me!...I'll leave THAT to the pathology chap!...that's why we've got him on his stomach...too hard." The policeman looked closely at the "offending object"..." What IS that thing?"....the ambulance officer brought out his "i pad" and punched in some letters..." There, on wikipedia...it's a oriental fly-whisk....I'd even go so far to say it could be very similar to the one shown. He picked it up in Sarawak last spring, according to his partner...loved it...it was part of his "get-up"......"Get-up?" queried the copper...The ambulance officer took him to one side of the ambulance. "It seems he used the whisk "inserted" as a tail-piece," he lowered his voice ".... they "role play" but in a different way....to get off...in a sex-romp thingy and he accidently fell backwards....according to the surviving partner ; "Rooster in the Hen-house"..he was the rooster, the partner was the hen...that's why he has the feather coated mittens on and the "cocks-comb" shower-cap...." the ambulance officer made little flapping motions ..".. wings.., you know?"...The policeman looked at him strangely..."NO!...I don't know!...but I get what you mean...just how far in has that handle gone?...it looks chockers!"....the ambulance officer dropped the sheet back down and sighed.."Dunno, but I reckon it'll take a three-armed clamp and a hydraulic puller to remove it!...if that wiki-pic is anything to go by...that end knob looks nasty!" "What was his occupation?"....the policeman checked his clipboard...he read out ; "It seems..he was some sort of political adviser...to...to....phew!"...he showed the clipboard to the ambulance officer, who upon recognising the name immediately took from his pocket his mobile phone and pushed the camera option...the policeman did the same..."..just for the record."....."same", said the policeman.

Ad astra reply

11/11/2013Ken Thank you for your forensic analysis of the Abbott 'mandate', which shows that it is nonsense, like most of what comes out of his mouth. As journalists and the public realize that they have been dudded by Abbott, Hunt, Hockey, Morrison and Co time and again on issue after issue, they will become more and more sceptical about everything they say, and will see the 'mandate' for what it is, another con, from a supreme con artist. He had fooled a lot of the people a lot of the time, by even he can't fool all of the people all of the time. The journos are waking up to him, as Mark Kenny's article indicates, and once media scepticism takes hold, he begins his downward spiral to ignominy. Thanks for debunking another Abbott 'myth'.

Ad astra reply

11/11/2013Casablanca I've started on your Cache. What an interesting collection. I'll continue this evening after reaching Noosa, visiting our dear Lyn on the way.

TalkTurkey

11/11/2013Lost a lovely post right then about mandates, touched backspace (I think) and ZAP, gone. No time now to even attempt a rewrite. Sorry Ken, I'll try again later. Just no-one else tell me to write it on Word first OK!

Ken

11/11/2013thanks Ad There are so many ways of looking at a mandate and, indeed, so many mandates that can be considered in the voting, that the very idea becomes meaningless. As you say, as meaningless as everything else this Government is saying.

Michael

11/11/2013One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, even though it hasn't worked previously and previously and previously. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-11/mps-canberra-to-prepare-for-first-sitting-new-parliament/5082044 Abbott just doesn't learn, does he?

Ken

11/11/2013Michael They could get the train from Perth and meet some voters in the process. They seem so keen on spending money to travel all over the country to meet people - well, on the train they would! Might be good for voters to have a "captive" politician for three days.

Casablanca

11/11/2013Michael, For a brief second there I thought you were responding to TT's comment @ 10:26 AM about losing a post. There's a brave man I thought to myself as I tip-toed around! Abbott just continuing to play us for mugs.

Ken

11/11/2013A bit of doggerel I ran off quickly to lighten the day [wet and cold where I am] hope you can get past the e.e.cummings style) “Islands in the sea” there was a Tony Abbott leader of the LNP He knew he must be right but knew only how to fight and now he’s all at sea there was a Tony Abbott born on an island in the sea That island was called Britain there his parents they were smitten and bore the little ‘b’ there was a Tony Abbott lived on an island in the sea That island was Australia and he turned it to a failure for all the world to see there was a Tony Abbott abused some islands in the sea The isles were Indonesia for which Abbott had amnesia then crawled on bended knee there was a Tony Abbott found an island in the sea That island was Nauru refugees just for you his answer to their plea there was a Tony Abbott sent to an island in the sea A barren place I fear but as long as it’s not here how happy we will be

Casablanca

11/11/2013 Ken, Great bit of doggerel. Such talent!

Casablanca

11/11/2013Vintage Keating Paul Keating delivers address marking 20 years since unknown soldier eulogy (12m.42s) Former prime minister Paul Keating delivers commemorative address marking 20 years since his eulogy to the unknown Australian soldier killed in World War One. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-11/keating-address-marks-20-years-since-unknown-soldier-eulogy/5082958 Remembrance Day Speech 1993 Paul Keating Prime Minister, The Hon. P.J. Keating MP Below is a transcript of the eulogy delivered by the Prime Minister, The Hon. P.J. Keating MP, at the funeral service of the Unknown Australian Soldier, 11 November 1993. http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/keating.asp

Curi-Oz

11/11/2013Does Mr Abbott have no sense of the appropriate? Why was he not at the National War Memorial, but in Melbourne? Does he still think that Mr Keating would demean himself and the occasion by indulging in passing an straight-forward and stinging observation about the current occupant of the office that Mr Keating once held? I find myself torn between angry irritation about the conduct of the current government, and trying desperately to understand where their philosophy has come from. The closest I have come is either Gibbons "Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire" or the stubborn instructions of WWI generals that provided the spectaculars of Passiondale or the Somme.

Jason

11/11/2013Sorry if already posted Coral Ross ‏@CoraltRoss 6h For those who did not see the musical version of Julia Gillard's misogyny speech at #CreditJulia, here it is http://m.youtube.com/watch?

Casablanca

11/11/2013TAMS Media Room ‏@tamsmediaroom 5h Here's a very rare albino eastern grey kangaroo (pic by Elise Furlan) seen in Namadgi ACT yesterday https://twitter.com/tamsmediaroom/status/399710873800814595/photo/1

Casablanca

11/11/2013Mike Carlton ‏@MikeCarlton01 28m Now Morrison insults the Indonesians: "no rhyme or reason" for their boat decision.This man is terminally stupid. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/indonesias-refusal-to-accept-asylum-boats-very-frustrating-scott-morrison-20131111-2xbbn.html

Casablanca

11/11/2013la bouledogue ‏@LaBouledogue 1h “@markatextor: How to tell if your dog is involved in a sex scandal. https://twitter.com/markatextor/status/399664405639467009/photo/1

2353

11/11/2013Curi-oz. Abbott was in Melbourne because he knew the TV cameras would be in Canberra. He's developed a life threatening allergy to cameras!

Casablanca

11/11/2013 Opening of the 44th Parliament - Timetable Tuesday, 12 November 2013 – from 8.45 am http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Opening

Casablanca

11/11/2013Tao de Haas ‏@TaodeHaas The man on the right is our new PM, the woman on the left our new speaker, AU we've got a serious problem! #auspol https://twitter.com/TaodeHaas/status/399395925535109121/photo/1

Ken

11/11/2013Abbott obviously has no idea about being a PM. Having to sit through Keating's speech would only emphasise his own stuttering or open-mouthed silence. While he might be getting some reasonable advice from Credlin about handling the media, it is clear that he doesn't have a decent speech writer. And given his previous peformances, I doubt he could deliver a good speech without making it laughable!

Casablanca

11/11/2013Credlin soothing Abbott's fevered brow: TheFinnigans天地有道人无道 ‏@Thefinnigans 52m Congratulation to Tony Abbott and Peta Credlin: In a mere 2 months, you have created a Govt in total chaos. https://twitter.com/Thefinnigans/status/399789592024334336/photo/1

Casablanca

11/11/2013The First Couple? TheFinnigans天地有道人无道 ‏@Thefinnigans 1h Any wonder this country is in total chaos, who's in charge? https://twitter.com/Thefinnigans/status/399796752112304129/photo/1

Catching Up

11/11/2013Ken, I believe Abbott is proud, in the fact, he writes his own speeches. Yes, it does show.

Catching Up

11/11/2013Once again, when it comes to mandates for any government, they are to be found in the number of votes the PM can muster on the floor of both houses. If he has them, yes, he will get the legislation through. If not, he will not. Simple as that. No mention anywhere in the constitution that any MP has to runner stamp whatever Abbott puts forwarded. No PM has ever had that power. Whats more, they should not have. Once again, a wonderful address by Keating. I do like his view of history, over Howard and his cronies.

Casablanca

11/11/2013 Lesson for Abbott: you can’t keep a secret when others are talking Michelle Grattan http://theconversation.com/lesson-for-abbott-you-cant-keep-a-secret-when-others-are-talking-20056 [quote][b]Abbott is said to work the phone a lot[/b] with senior colleagues, including those he knows might have a different view on issues.[/quote] I suppose that might explain, if not justify, Abbott's over the top telephone bills. For example from 1 January to 30 June 2011, Tony Abbott clocked up a 'Telecommunications Usage' of $27,642.34: by my reckoning that's about $151.00 per day. http://agencysearch.australia.gov.au/search/search.cgi?collection=agencies&profile=finance&form=advanced&num_ranks=20&query_and=Tony+Abbott&query_phrase=Entitlements&query_or=&query_not=&scope=&scope_disable=off&submit=Search For the same period PM Julia Gillard clocked up a 'Telecommunications Usage' of $3,463.40 by my reckoning that's about $19.00 per day. http://agencysearch.australia.gov.au/search/search.cgi?collection=agencies&form=advanced&profile=finance&query=Julia+Gillard&scope=&scope_disable=off At the very least, the Liberal Party should reimburse the taxpayer for Abbott's excesses.

Catching Up

11/11/2013Wonder how many of the phone calls are about keeping the media on side.

Casablanca

12/11/2013 [b]CASABLANCA'S CACHE. Tuesday, 12 November 2013: 40 items[/b] Note: This edition contains several older articles on the basis that they were resurrected on Twitter today. These articles have a date attached. ENTITLEMENTS & FIDDLES 1. Government defends use of RAAF jet to fly MPs and families to Canberra for opening of new Parliament Emma Griffiths The Federal Government has defended the use of an RAAF jet to fly West Australian MPs and their family members to Canberra for the opening of Parliament. The West Australian newspaper has reported that the fuel costs alone for the VIP flight will be more than $30,000. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-11/mps-canberra-to-prepare-for-first-sitting-new-parliament/5082044 2. MPs dodge family work order Nick Butterly Federal MPs have fobbed off Tony Abbott's directive not to employ family members by shuffling relatives and spouses to the offices of other politicians. The moves to shift relatives come amid complaints the Prime Minister's reforms to the broken system of politician entitlements will do little to stop rorting. WA Liberal Luke Simpkins employed his partner Lara Swift as a "media and office manager", but she left after Mr Abbott made his views clear. She is now a media officer for WA Liberal Senator Alan Eggleston. The job was not publicly advertised. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/19770023/mps-dodge-family-work-order/ THE MURDOCH/ABBOTT GOVERNMENT 3. Train Wreck bushfirebill This is the week where we find out just how big a train wreck the new Abbott government has become. It’s the week where Reality meets Slogans. As to other matters, there is a veritable grab bag of potential for the new parliament. So many promises made and then broken. Mark Kenny knew all about a couple of them. It’s just that he didn’t bother telling us. Neither did Haystacks Laurie Oakes. Or Man-Love Peter Hartcher, or Saint Paul Kelly, or the well-connected Phil Coorey. http://pbxmastragics.com/2013/11/11/train-wreck/ 4. Abbott government rethinks emissions reduction pledge Lenore Taylor Spokeswoman refuses to recommit to target range of 5%-25%, saying cuts will be in line with 'fiscal policy'. The Abbott government appears to be reconsidering its longstanding policy to reduce Australia's emissions by between 5% and 25% of 2000 levels by 2020 – a crucial and internationally-scrutinised goal which had retained bipartisan support since 2009, throughout Australia's tumultuous political debate over climate policy. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/10/tony-abbott-carbon-emissions-target?CMP=ema_632 5. The Arsonist Denise Allen. 21 June 2013 Make no mistake, Tony Abbott lit the fire, fanned the flames, turned them into an inferno, then sat back and watched it rage; and now − like many arsonists − he has jumped on the fire truck seeking to be one of the heroes that put it out. http://www.independentaustralia.net/article-display/the-arsonist,5444 6. Morrison’s boat theatrics backfire and the stage show is over Laura Tingle We’ve now endured eight low-farce, quasi-militaristic press conferences with Immigration Minister Scott Morrison and his variously starred generals about border protection. The mission? To say as little as possible about what the government is doing on border protection but sound as tough as possible. The reality is that when Kevin Rudd, as returned prime minister, outflanked the Coalition on the far right on asylum-seekers, he robbed the new government of the chance to claim a huge material difference in boat arrival numbers, since the tough line on people arriving by boat “never” being settled in Australia had started to have an impact on numbers, even during the election campaign. http://www.afr.com/p/national/politics/morrison_boat_theatrics_backfire_ZycQZsEOzdapeNjFHdVwCI 7. Labor plays hardball on debt ceiling – as well as on mining tax and carbon price Michelle Grattan The opposition is going into the new parliament with something of the “relentlessly negative” frame of mind that it used to attack in Tony Abbott. It will try to deny the government its way on the three key legislative items to which Abbott is giving priority - including attempting to cut back the amount by which the Coalition can increase the debt ceiling. http://theconversation.com/labor-plays-hardball-on-debt-ceiling-as-well-as-on-mining-tax-and-carbon-price-20111 8. Stretching the friendship: Australia, Indonesia and the ‘good friend’ narrative Melanie James How far can friendships stretch? Two months ago, the rhetoric of the Indonesian and Australian governments was centred on the countries being good friends. Until last week, from the Indonesian perspective, the positioning of the friendship between the two countries was one of strength and co-operation. But when Australia does things that are not usually part of a friendship – as happened in recent days with the unilateral (and failed) action of turning back boats carrying asylum seekers – Indonesia is within its rights to claim that Australia is not being a good friend to their country. http://theconversation.com/stretching-the-friendship-australia-indonesia-and-the-good-friend-narrative-20063 9. Lesson for Abbott: you can’t keep a secret when others are talking Michelle Grattan One is that not much is happening. This bobs up from time to time in the media, still weaning themselves off the hung parliament. The other is how everything is orderly. That’s the government’s story line, maintained even when there is blinding evidence to the contrary. In fact, quite a lot is happening, and some things are going awry. http://theconversation.com/lesson-for-abbott-you-cant-keep-a-secret-when-others-are-talking-20056 10. Tony Abbott is wasting no time bringing the public service to heel Katharine Murphy The prime minister has been showing Canberra who is boss in the lead-up to the resumption of parliament. Political parties rise and fall, they win elections and they lose them, but institutional Canberra rolls on, regardless of which political party happens to be in office. The rituals of the bureaucracy, the quaint customs of officialdom, endure, despite the partisan trappings, the transient discomforts and procedural tweaks imposed on top whenever a new occupant shows up in the Lodge. (correction: Liberals live at Kirribilli House) http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/tony-abbott-bringing-canberra-to-heel?CMP=soc_568 11. Will Murdoch Close the Ashbygate? John Lord (October 18, 2013) • BUT WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE? Why is the media not falling over itself demanding answers? They can do it over a few hundred dollars of falsely claimed expenses. Or accusations going back twenty-three years. So why not a scandal about bringing down a government? http://theaimn.com/2013/10/18/will-murdoch-close-the-ashbygate/ 12. Happiness comes to Rupert Murdoch Michael Wolff This is partly because he believes that he and his family have largely beaten the rap. But it is also a personal trait of Murdoch's, being able to write off the past, with both finesse and brutality. And for everything to turn out well for him. http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/wolff/2013/11/10/ruper-murdoch-finds-happiness/3476379/ ECONOMY + BUSINESS 13. Australia's rising debt: what happened to the Coalition's budget emergency? Greg Jericho For a government apparently dealing with a fiscal crisis, it doesn't seem overly concerned with a blowout in the deficit. At the start of a new sitting week and Australia's new parliament it is worth remembering how much things have changed in the four and a half months since politicians last held court in Canberra. The biggest economic change will be the size of the deficit. http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/nov/11/australias-rising-debt-what-happened-to-the-coalitions-budget-emergency?CMP=soc_568 14. More generational super war from boomer interests Leith van Onselen Daryl Dixon, executive chairman of Dixon Advisory and author of Securing Your Superannuation Future, published a curious article in The Australian over the weekend lamenting the “unfairness” of Australia’s superannuation system under the former Labor Government, which purportedly unfairly penalised higher income earners: http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/more-generational-super-war-from-boomer-interests/ ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 15. Abbott's first broken promise Tristan Edis Tony Abbott has released a little video clip to feed the media this week giving us another one of his golden gem snappy slogans: “This week I will be introducing the carbon tax repeal legislation. It is our bill to help reduce your bills.” Now the Coalition in its election policy statement said that the ACCC would set up a special unit (The crazy repeal price bonanza! September 12 http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/9/12/policy-politics/down-down-crazy-repeal-price-bonanza) that would: “...monitor consumer prices across all sectors of the economy. It will ensure that consumers and businesses receive the direct savings benefit on their electricity, gas and supermarket bills when the carbon tax is repealed.” http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/11/policy-politics/abbotts-first-broken-promise?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=504920&utm_campaign=pm&modapt= 16. Off the Charts: Record breaking October heat & climate change Climate Council Australia has broken all the wrong records this year. We broke over 120 extreme weather related records in the 2012/2013 summer. We experienced the hottest January on record, the hottest summer, the hottest September and the hottest day ever recorded in Australia. We have just experienced the warmest September in Australia’s history, as well as the warmest 12-month period, and we are on track to break yet another record for the warmest calendar year ever recorded in Australia. http://www.climatecouncil.org.au/october-heat/ 17. Abbott shouldn't complain about a carbon tax delay Mungo MacCallum Prices were never going to plummet in the absence of a carbon tax, so the longer its scrapping is delayed, the longer this reality is kept hidden. Much of Abbott's railing against the great big new tax on everything has already been exposed for the bluster it always was. Whyalla has not been wiped out, the Sunday roast is still affordable, and the dreaded python squeeze has singularly failed to strangle the economy. This has been of little consequence to an electorate long inured to political hyperbole and happy to muddle along in spite of it.. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-11/maccallum-carbon-tax/5082476 18. How the Coalition can keep a carbon price and its election promises Michael Howes ..the (Coalition) promises are contradictory. Cutting the “carbon tax” reduces income. Paying for direct action is expensive. This makes balancing the budget more difficult. http://theconversation.com/how-the-coalition-can-keep-a-carbon-price-and-its-election-promises-19829 19. Australia is on track for its warmest ever year, says study Oliver Milman Australia is "on track" for its warmest ever calendar year, temperatures in October 1.43C above the long-term average and more than 100 heat-related records broken in the past 12 months, according to a new report. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/10/australia-warmest-ever-calendar-year?CMP=twt_gu 20. Cosmic Rays Contribute Little to Climate Change Paul Brown ...findings, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, revisit the basic science that it is increasing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are causing most climate change. They also re-examine the alternative case made by climate deniers: that it is the Sun’s changing activity and not us that is causing the Earth to heat up. The two scientists, Professor Terry Sloan at the University of Lancaster and Professor Sir Arnold Wolfendale at the University of Durham, conclude that neither changes in the activity of the Sun, nor its impact in blocking cosmic rays, can be a significant contributor to global warming. http://www.climatecentral.org/news/cosmic-rays-contribute-little-to-climate-change-16718 21. Melting ice leaves polar ecosystems out in the sun Graeme Clark et al It is no secret that climate change is transforming the polar regions. Retreating glaciers, melting ice-caps and changing sea ice patterns are frequently reported in both the Arctic and Antarctic, and with these come dramatic changes to polar ecosystems. http://theconversation.com/melting-ice-leaves-polar-ecosystems-out-in-the-sun-19807 ASYLUM SEEKERS 22. More boats arrive amid Indon stand-off Nick Butterly. Another two boatloads of asylum seekers have been intercepted by Australian authorities, calling into question Immigration Minister Scott Morrison's claim the Government is getting the upper hand over people smugglers. http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/newshome/19770026/more-boats-arrive-amid-indon-stand-off/ 23. The most common word used to describe immigrants is 'illegal' Ayesha Saran 64 per cent of British people consider it to be more of a problem than an opportunity, according to the Transatlantic Trends survey. But there is cause for optimism. http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/09/most-common-word-used-describe-immigrants-illegal 24. The tragic futility of trying to “stop the boats” Kellie Tranter The asylum seeker debate is an expedient way for politicians ‒ and probably corporate interests ‒ to distract the citizenry from difficult domestic issues and circumvent pressure for progressive social change http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/the-tragic-futility-of-trying-to-stop-the-boats,5883 THE GILLARD LEGACY 25. Julia Gillard's speaking tour: demanding credit where credit is due Karen Pickering As long as Gillard is attacked so relentlessly, her defenders will craft her legacy. This is the reason behind her recent events: a belief that she is being denied the recognition she deserves I don’t remember this kind of eulogising after the downfall of Rudd (either time), Howard or Keating. People have likened it to the aftermath of the Dismissal, and it certainly has similar passion at its heart, and high emotion: anger, horror, righteousness and disbelief. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/11/julia-gillards-speaking-tour-demanding-credit-where-credit-is-due?CMP=ema_632 26. Julia Gillard: The voice of inexperience Jane Gilmore (08 October 2013) One thing that was immediately noticeable as soon as she started speaking was that her voice was fuller and more rounded than it ever sounded on even the most relaxed TV or radio interviews. Maybe there is something in broadcast technology that flattens out the timbre of her voice; maybe it was simply nerves tightening her throat slightly, but it might explain why so many people who have heard her speak in person report a different perception than those of us who’ve only heard her speak through the media. The forces aligned against her, from both sides of politics and the majority of the media, were overwhelming and it’s unlikely that anyone in her position would have been able to defeat them, but perhaps more time on the political treadmill might have helped her predict the gathering storms and avoid them, rather than have to try to battle her way through them. http://www.kingstribune.com/index.php/weekly-email/item/1905-julia-gillard-the-voice-of-inexperience 27. Julia Gillard rouses Women's Trust with carbon policy defence Thomas O'Byrne Former prime minister Julia Gillard has urged Labor to stand firm behind its commitment to pricing carbon, and challenged the Coalition to prove the effectiveness of its Direct Action climate policy. During a keynote address for the Victorian Women's Trust at the Melbourne Town Hall on Sunday, Ms Gillard said good governments needed to be "gutsy enough" to implement difficult policies, such as carbon pricing. "Sometimes change means staring down the most reckless of fear campaigns," she said. "But carbon pricing is here, and it is working." http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/julia-gillard-rouses-womens-trust-with-carbon-policy-defence-20131110-2xa4i.html 28. Rachel Griffiths to play Julia Gillard in trial by media TV drama Amanda Meade Actor looking forward to exploring ‘private aspects of her remarkable term’ in film based on Kerry-Anne Walsh's book. Based on controversial book, The Stalking of Julia Gillard, by the Canberra press gallery journalist Kerry-Anne Walsh, the drama will focus on how the media was complicit in Kevin Rudd’s repeated undermining of Gillard when she was prime minister. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/08/rachel-griffiths-to-play-julia-gillard HUMAN RIGHTS 29. Shared memory and the licensing of hate Tim Soutphommasane The historical significance of Kristallnacht cannot be doubted. It marked the escalation of Nazi hatred of Jews into systematic violence. It also serves as a powerful cautionary tale as we debate the racial vilification provisions in the Race Discrimination Act. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-11/soutphommasane-shared-memory-and-the-licensing-of-hate/5083292 PHILOSOPHY, ETHICS & VALUES 30. A values deficit, toxic politics, and the climate change debacle Barry Jones We live in an age of unprecedented prosperity, in which the major influences have been secularism, materialism, utilitarianism, urbanisation, remoteness from nature, institutional failure (especially in churches) and an emphasis on immediate economic self-interest. http://theconversation.com/a-values-deficit-toxic-politics-and-the-climate-change-debacle-20024 31. Paul Keating describes first world war as 'a war devoid of any virtue' Gabrielle Chan Australians had already “crystallised a good idea of ourselves” and did not need redemption in the first world war, a conflict which was “devoid of virtue”, the former Labor prime minister, Paul Keating, said. “Those Australians fought and died not in defence of some old world notion of competing empires and territorial conquests but for the new world – the one they belonged to and hoped to return to,” http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/11/paul-keating-describes-first-world-war-as-a-war-devoid-of-any-virtue?CMP=soc_568 32. Who are the new socialist wunderkinds of America? Max Strasser Every time I’ve come home to the US from my home abroad over the past four years, I notice a trend among people of my demographic: they have become increasingly politicised – and increasingly radical. The stereotype of the apathetic hipster has given way to a new kind of well-educated, middle-class twentysomething who rails against the prison-industrial complex, who talks about wages for housework, who throws around words like “imperialism” and “exploitation” with a growing sense of comfort. Occupy Wall Street may have something to do with it, but what is happening now in America feels more like a moment than a movement. http://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2013/11/who-are-new-socialist-wunderkinds-america DOUBLE STANDARDS 33. Gillard led a contest of 'crude political head-banging', says Abbott MARK BAKER (August 24, 2013) Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has accused former prime minister Julia Gillard of undermining political standards and promised to restore faith in government and Parliament if he wins the election. Mr Abbott said Ms Gillard had reduced national politics to a contest of ''crude political head-banging'' and had driven an ''over the top'' campaign to damage his reputation. While both sides of politics had used aggressive tactics during the three years of minority government, both Ms Gillard and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd were primarily to blame for ''demeaning'' the conduct of national politics, he said. http://m.smh.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/gillard-led-a-contest-of-crude-political-headbanging-says-abbott-20130823-2sh5m.html 34. What If Rand Paul Were a Woman? Tina Dupuy Any female politician as sloppy with matters of fact and attribution as the Kentucky senator would be laughed out of Washington...But let’s imagine the junior senator from Kentucky were a woman. Not just any woman—let’s call her Randi—but, for the sake of this argument, a beautiful woman...The headline is: “Randi Admits She Doesn’t Read!” The Internet breaks out in a rash of mansplaining. She’s dubbed Bluegrass Barbie. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/11/what-if-rand-paul-were-a-woman/281258/ 35. The press gallery cheer squad Tim Dunlop (08 October 2013) Abbott is, after all, an invention of the media. His consolidation of power inside and outside his party simply could not have happened without the acquiescence of large sections of the press who were constantly willing to give his gaffes and obvious problems the benefit of the doubt, while always holding Julia Gillard to a higher, different - some would say, impossible - standard. http://www.kingstribune.com/index.php/weekly-email/item/1906-the-press-gallery-cheer-squad MEDIA WOES 36. On Paying Writers Jane Gilmore Don't reword something that has been written by 15 other people, add no original ideas and then charge full rates for it. Establish yourself as a valuable commodity. Don’t expect that you have a right to be paid just because you put words on a page. You're not entitled to get paid, you have to be worth paying. http://www.kingstribune.com/index.php/the-shout/item/1599-on-paying-writers 37. Crikey‘s new The Daily Review: why you shouldn’t volunteer for a for-profit media organisation Byron Bache Freelancers and current, past and future Crikey contributors: Today, Crikey is launching a new arts website called The Daily Review. It has no contributor budget. We are writing to ask you not to contribute to it for free, and to tell you why we won’t be doing so ourselves.This is about fairness, and recognition of the value the work of arts writers has contributed to a publication we are immensely proud to write for. It’s about beginning a discussion. http://byronbache.com/?p=233 HEALTH + SCIENCE 38. Australia needs fundamental research to build a great country Jonathan Borwein Like many scientists, I was apprehensive in advance about the Abbott government’s approach to science policy. Would it be pragmatic but fact-based or would it be ideological and politically driven? Sadly it has only taken two months to discover that it is the latter. http://theconversation.com/australia-needs-fundamental-research-to-build-a-great-country-20031 39. Australian workplaces failing to create a healthy environment Tim Hannan Working Australians are showing increasingly higher levels of stress and distress, according to the third annual Stress and Wellbeing survey by the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Workers are also showing more depressive symptoms and anxiety than in the previous two years. These latest results show that Australian managers need to provide more supportive leadership and address factors influencing psychological health so workers can be happy and productive. http://theconversation.com/australian-workplaces-failing-to-create-a-healthy-environment-19986 OBITUARY 40. Doug Ireland (1946 – 2013) Thomas Harrison Once, Doug’s writing – in US publications like the Nation, the Village Voice, New York magazine, his blog Direland, and in France’s Libération and the news website Bakchich – was easy to find. But in recent years, his voice was rarely heard outside of New York’s Gay City News, for which he continued to contribute reportage as international editor and political commentary until this year, and few younger radicals are likely to know about him. http://jacobinmag.com/2013/11/doug-ireland-1946-2013/ 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 12 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/ ###############################################################

Casablanca

12/11/2013 Plus ça change... https://twitter.com/bionic_beer_gut/status/396487198364532737/photo/1

KHTAGH

12/11/2013A great political lesson Ken. Has anyone else noticed that Abbott doesn't give interviews any more, he just [i][b]preaches[/b][/i] at Labor & the public. He is just a political Jihadists, destroy everything he does not agree with.

Michael

12/11/2013Word on ABC News this morning was that Indonesia would accept boat-traveling asylum seekers returned as a result of 'on water' interceptions if Australia accepts a commensurate number of refugees from Indonesian camps. A people swap. Sounds like a solution. The Malaysian Solution. The Abbott Error is the thesaurus of hypocrisy, incompetence, smug arrogance, and plain bone-deep stupidity. From the head down, where the rot incubates.

Ken

12/11/2013Catching up November 11. 2013 11:10 PM I didn't know Abbott wrote his own speeches. It just confirms what I said - he needs a decent speech writer. KHTAGH thank you. Agree on Abbott's preaching and also, have you noticed, not a sign of a policy as yet. The only 'policies' so far are all the negatives, repealing existing legislation. Perhaps they have discovered that their so-called "Plan' before the election was so light on detail that it can't be easily translated to an actual policy. I have no doubt there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of Public Servants struggling with this right now, trying to put some sort of flesh on the vague outlines presented at the election. But wait - Abbott is getting rid of Public Servants! Who will turn his slogans to policies! Perhaps we won't see any policies after all - Government as a policy free zone. That would be a novel approach.

TalkTurkey

12/11/2013I don't believe this. I just lost another post -just then - a short one but intended to be a longer one though to cover my lost post yesterday. But for the first time I KNOW what button did it, it was my [b]<-Backspace [/b]button, and it doesn't do it every time or hardly any time but that's what it was, I felt it as it happened. [i]GRNH![/i] [b]WTF [/b]as they say in the classics! I'm going to have to use a different program I guess after all. I hate that.

Catching Up

12/11/2013 I read somewhere, that Abbott was proud he wrote his own speeches. Now knowing Abbott, he could have been lying. Why that haltering speech we got today, and on other occasions. Compare this one with the one he gave to the party faithful over the the weekend. Nothing alike in context or delivery. I wonder if Abbott is afraid of the public, or is he just treating them as idiots, he believes they are. It was a relief to listen to Shorten, who followed. Maybe someone can tell us why Abbott has taken a stand on the boat trade this week, while Bishop was in the country. Suspect they have tried since day one. Did he not promise the Indonesians he would consult with them, before taking action. So much of what this government does, does not compute. Just does not make sense. I suspect this government is incapable of adjusting their plans, even if the situation changes.

Catching Up

12/11/2013Clive Palmer fronting the NPC today, tells us all. Not sure what it is yet.

Catching Up

12/11/2013Wonder how many of the procedures improvements , that were achieved in the previous minority government will survive. The changes that gave Independents and minorities to be heard.

Bacchus

12/11/2013"[quote]Just no-one else tell me to write it on Word first OK![/quote]" OK then TT - write it in Notepad first :P :D :D

Catching Up

12/11/2013[quote]………Tony Abbott's pick as the head of his Business Advisory Council says Australia faces a collapse in the growth of national income so severe it will feel ''like hitting a brick wall''. Maurice Newman was until 2012 chairman of the ABC and is a former chairman of the Australian Stock Exchange. Addressing the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia in Sydney on Monday night, he spoke of losing his ''political virginity'' by throwing his lot in with the Coalition after years having ''voted for and worked for both sides''. ''Openly declaring support for one side before an election shows clearly where your sympathy lies,'' he said. ''However having watched five long years of reckless spending, economic waste, class warfare particularly aimed at business and the mindless destruction of Australia's international competitiveness, I thought I had a civic duty to stand up.'' Advertisement ''I have seen and heard nothing since the election to question that judgment,'' he said. ''Indeed I am shocked that so much economic damage can be inflicted in just six years………[/quote] Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/abbott-adviser-warns-on-national-income-20131111-2xcdp.html#ixzz2kNzV9rEF As Tony does not listen to his departments, I assume he will be listening closely to this man. A little frightening one would say. As everything is vetted by Credlin, I take it, his words of yesterday were cleared.

Catching Up

12/11/2013Abbott nominating member for McKellar. Hypocrite in full flight.

Catching Up

12/11/2013Labor is nominating Jenkins. Made good argument for nomination.

Catching Up

12/11/2013Election for speaker is a secret ballot.

Catching Up

12/11/2013Barely a hint of struggle, Might muck uo the hair. Abbott, no stilted speech this time.

Catching Up

12/11/2013Abbott still in campaign mood.

Michael

12/11/2013http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/12/indonesia-australia-refugee-people-swaps?CMP=ema_632 Malaysian Solution V2. The Abbott Error continues. Stinkingly.

Catching Up

12/11/2013Clive Palmer now at the NPC ABC 24 Talking abut media and Marx.

Ad astra reply

12/11/2013Folks We had a delightful visit to dear Lyn and her husband yesterday on our way from Bundaberg to Noosa. It was so good to have a happy three hours with them over lunch. Lyn is well, as energetic as ever, and enjoying her post-TPS life.

Janet (j4gypsy)

12/11/2013jaycee: absolutely adoring the scurrilous and acerbic journo cameo satires! Think Annabelle's curls might still be my favourite :-). There's an alternative career somewhere in this, I reckon. And now we have Ken joining poet's corner and turning a hand to doggerel, and what a neat hand it is too! :-) Casbablanca, who continues on apace, a belated thank you for the link to the 'Credit due' afternoon by the Women's Trust for Julia Gillard. I caught most of it; and it felt like one had come home, just for a little while. How is it that the press gallery cannot see a person of integrity in her, cannot compare an Abbott with a Gillard and [i]not[/i] see who is the person of substance, and who is not?

TalkTurkey

12/11/2013Casa-blanca just means "white house" CASBA-blanca, [d'apres Janet(j4Gypsy)] ... Now THAT sounds exciting! :)

Casablanca

12/11/2013 TT “Come weeth me to ze Casbah”

Ken

12/11/2013Casablance, TT "You played it for her, you can play it for me" or to quote from the end "..., I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship", which may well apply to all here on TPS

Casablanca

12/11/2013 “Boss, ain’t you going to bed?” “…Not right now.” “Ain’t you planning on going to bed in the near future?” “…No.” “You ever going to bed?” “…No!” [b]“Not until I post tomorrow's Cache.”[/b](lol)

TalkTurkey

12/11/2013“Come weeth me to ze Casbah”... We shall have notheeng on but ze musique ..!.. Pity that didn't happen while I was still a sexagenarian!

Janet (j4gypsy)

12/11/20132353: this one's for you :-): https://twitter.com/ABCNews23/status/396005113900597248/photo/1

Ad astra reply

12/11/2013Casablanca With a few days left to relax and read in Noosa, I'm gradually catching up with your Cache, and enjoying the great variety of material you harvest for us. Now that QT is about to resume, the heat will be on the Government to explain what it's doing, if in fact it's doing anything. Who would know? Thank you for your continuing efforts to bring us up to date across the wide spectrum of issues that confront government and the public. I thought Barry Jones' piece was particularly insightful, which, given his intellect and background, is not surprising.

2353

12/11/2013Janet - thanks for that. A member of my family was quite chuffed on the weekend when one of the Sunday Morning political shows mentioned Abbott using a Cone of Silence. :-)

Casablanca

13/11/2013 [b]CASABLANCA'S CACHE. Wednesday, 13 November 2013: 48 items[/b] ENTITLEMENTS & FIDDLES 1. Travel rorts: Abbott's fig leaf won't end age of entitlement Jonathan Swan Tony Abbott has given us a policy to stop expenses rorting that he neither wanted nor believed in. And, like most half-hearted policy-making, the rules are designed to placate a distrustful electorate and the media - but in reality change not much at all. There are three reasons why Abbott's “sensible reforms” to improve the “integrity” of the entitlements system fall well short of being truly effective. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/travel-rorts-abbotts-fig-leaf-wont-end-age-of-entitlement-20131112-2xdsq.html 2. Abbott to adjust rules governing parliamentarians' entitlements, but known rorters remain untouched northcoastvoices The system of funding the work costs of parliamentarians in carrying out their responsibilities must work in a way that ensures senators and members are accessible to their electors while ensuring taxpayers' money is well spent and maintaining public confidence in the system. For this reason, the Government will act to strengthen a range of measures governing the funding of parliamentarians' work costs. http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/abbott-to-adjust-rules-governing.html 3. A politician's life: play now, pay later Wendy Harmer Prime Minister Tony Abbott says we punters are welcome to make suggestions on how to change the system of parliamentary entitlements - not that he's going to change anything, he's made that perfectly plain. So for what it's worth (absolutely zilch), here's my offering. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/a-politicians-life-play-now-pay-later-20131108-2x6nw.html#ixzz2kPp9U0R4 ABBOTT 4. Raising the bar of stupidity Michael Taylor No matter how high Tony Abbott keeps raising the bar of stupidity he manages to hurdle over it with athletic ease. Thanks to Kaye Lee over at The AIMN she has provided us with his latest effort and one that raises the bar higher than GWB could ever hope to clear. It’s a comment on his favourite topic: boats. Brace yourself for this one 'And if any boat ever set out from Australia to Indonesia to enter that country illegally, we would do our damnedest to stop it'. Yes, he said it. http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/raising-the-bar-of-stupidity/ 5. Welcome to power: Tony Abbott faces first big test when parliament resumes this week Leo D'Angelo Fisher “He said he had an Indonesian Solution; well it looks more like an Indonesian shambles than a solution right now.” It’s a predictable rebuke, but a good line nonetheless. But who said it? Actually, it was Tony Abbott, speaking on the ABC’s Lateline on October 27, 2009, as an opposition frontbencher, criticising then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. http://www.brw.com.au/p/leadership/welcome_parliament_power_tony_abbott_Rjh8aMeOotljBchxL6lBaP 6. Abbott’s Nice New Parliament John Lord Mr Abbott pledged a parliament that “discusses the issues, rather than abuses individuals”. The prime minister said the parliament wouldn’t impugn the motives of opponents or trash their reputations. If anyone tried to go over the top, new Speaker Bronwyn Bishop would sort them out. “And I am confident that after just a few weeks of the new parliament – that parliament that diminished our policy and embarrassed our citizens over the last three years – will soon seem like just a bad dream’’... http://theaimn.com/2013/11/11/abbots-nice-new-parliament/ 7. Abbott’s ‘open for business’ honeymoon is over Flavio Menezes From a three-and-a-half year high last month, business confidence data for October shows the post-election honeymoon is over, with business conditions continuing to underperform in non-mining sectors. http://theconversation.com/abbotts-open-for-business-honeymoon-is-over-19546 8. Abbott cutting green and red tape creates a diplomatic row Is there no-one Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is not willing to offend in his ideological descent into political madness? This time it is one of our largest trading partners, Japan, and our oldest ally, New Zealand. Along with Indonesia, Taiwan, Republic of Korea, Philippines, South Africa and the European Union – countries which are members of or co-operate with the Commission for Conservation of Southern Bluefin Tuna. http://www.blogotariat.com/node/1343841 9. Tony Abbott jeered, Speaker Bronwyn Bishop cheered as 'Hogwarts' Parliament gets underway Emma Griffiths Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who nominated Mrs Bishop to the Speaker's chair, prompted the first jeer from Opposition benches by saying that "this chamber should always be a place of spirited debate, but it should never be a place where motives are impugned or characters assassinated". http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-12/new-mps-sworn-in-as-debt-cap-row-flares/5085344 10. Political universe shifts as Tony Abbott ascends and the age of Bronwyn dawns Katharine Murphy ... this was the day when the “kinder, gentler polity” was finally to arrive – the one he promised three years ago, before making a daily mockery of the aspiration. ... Bronwyn, Abbott reasoned, would do “what was necessary” to bring on the new parliamentary dawn. This new chamber would be mercifully free of stunts, of disruption, of bile and churlishness, of high-impact demolition nonsense – it would be free of precisely the type of politics that Abbott had pursued relentlessly to win government. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/12/political-universe-shifts-as-tony-abbott-ascends-and-the-age-of-bronwyn-dawns?CMP=soc_568 POLITICS 11. Abbott adviser warns on national income Clancy Yeates, Peter Martin Tony Abbott's pick as the head of his Business Advisory Council says Australia faces a collapse in the growth of national income so severe it will feel ''like hitting a brick wall''. Maurice Newman was until 2012 chairman of the ABC and is a former chairman of the Australian Stock Exchange. Addressing the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia in Sydney on Monday night, he spoke of losing his ''political virginity'' by throwing his lot in with the Coalition after years having ''voted for and worked for both sides''. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/abbott-adviser-warns-on-national-income-20131111-2xcdp.html 12. Rocking the boats: Abbott needs to salvage Indonesian ties Tanya Plibersek Over the past several weeks, many have looked on shocked as the Abbott government has turned Australia's once strong relationship with Indonesia sour. Unfortunately this is hardly a surprise. Indonesia is an important neighbour. It is an important trading partner and friend. In government, Labor worked with Indonesia to strengthen the relationship between our two countries. From closer defence ties to helping build 2000 schools, Labor carved out a deeper partnership with Indonesia. We handed over a relationship in fine working order – strong and productive. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/rocking-the-boats-abbott-needs-to-salvage-indonesian-ties-20131111-2xbeg.html#ixzz2kOhr16pQ 13. CSIRO job cuts out of place in lucky country: WWF president John Thistleton Slashing jobs in the CSIRO is needless in a country enjoying its 22nd consecutive year of economic growth, according to philanthropist and businessman Rob Purves. Mr Purves, World Wildlife Fund Australia's president and a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, said Australia was hardly a poor country and should support institutions such as the CSIRO. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/csiro-job-cuts-out-of-place-in-lucky-country-wwf-president-20131111-2xcpl.html#ixzz2kOhCFKdf 14. Clive Palmer remains defiant on questions of business interests and tax owed Michelle Grattan Almost all the politicians sworn in today for the new Parliament are much constrained, glued to the parties that put them there. That imposes disciplines at multiple levels. Clive Palmer, as he showed again in today’s appearance at the National Press Club, is neither constrained nor disciplined. http://theconversation.com/clive-palmer-remains-defiant-on-questions-of-business-interests-and-tax-owed-20171 15. Crossbenchers fear new parliamentary rules will freeze them out Katharine Murphy Abbott government's changes to parliamentary standing orders may restrict opportunities for private members' business http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/12/crossbenchers-fear-new-parliamentary-rules-freeze-out?CMP=soc_568 16. Australia’s very efficient public service macrobusiness A new report out today from the Centre for Policy Development shows that Australia’s public service compares favourably with internal peers and is worth a look: http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/australias-very-efficient-public-service/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+MacroBusiness&utm_content=Daily+MacroBusiness+CID_ea9e5b35b90d988f215cdd165194b29a&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=Australias+very+efficient+public+service 17. Three benchmarks that matter most in childcare Lisa Bryant At a time when accessing childcare of any sort can be extremely problematic, being offered a place in a centre for your baby or child is almost akin to winning the lottery. Some would say the odds are even similar. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/guilt-free-zone/parenting/three-benchmarks-that-matter-most-in-childcare/201311113187?utm_source=Women%27s+Agenda+List&utm_campaign=0ae9acd58e-Women_s_Agenda_daily_12_11_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f3750bae8d-0ae9acd58e-30634093 18. Coalition government moves to secure firm control of Australian Parliament Mark Kenny Parliamentary standing orders are set for an overhaul as the Abbott government looks to unwind participatory reforms negotiated under Julia Gillard's leadership after the 2010 ''hung parliament'' election. Crossbench MPs are concerned that the changes, which are yet to be unveiled, could see the return of a winner takes all mentality to the way the Parliament is run. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/coalition-government-moves-to-secure-firm-control-of-australian-parliament-20131111-2xcil.html 19. Clive Palmer says government can sue him for unpaid carbon tax Lenore Taylor Billionaire and newly sworn-in MP refuses to pay the $6m owed by his company Queensland Nickel until court challenge is heard http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/12/clive-palmer-says-government-can-sue-him?CMP=twt_gu 20. Are Australia’s surveillance services out of control? Murray Hunter. The exposing of espionage activities from Australia’s diplomatic missions have caused the Australian government great embarrassment which will potentially strain relations within the region for years to come. So far the only comment that has come from a “shell shocked” Abbott government was from Foreign Minister Julie Bishop who said that “it was not policy of the Australian government to comment on intelligent matters”, hardly sufficient to placate some very angry governments within the region. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/11/11/are-australia-s-surveillance-services-out-control.html ECONOMY + BUSINESS 21. Honeymoon over: business confidence fades Glenda Kwek Business confidence has fallen back towards its pre-election levels as optimism fades and conditions remain weak, a monthly private survey has found. Firms were less positive in October after a surge of sentiment in September, as soft forward indicators pointed to a tepid outlook for domestic demand, the National Australia Bank's business survey on confidence and conditions found. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/the-economy/honeymoon-over-business-confidence-fades-20131112-2xdfn.html 22. Business leaders: Negative gearing’s gotta go Leith van Onselen What ensued was a somewhat heartening discussion over the merits of negative gearing, whereby all panelists acknowledged that the system was inherently flawed, acting to push-up property values and unfairly subsidising wealthier investors at the expense of poorer taxpayers. http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/business-leaders-negative-gearings-gotta-go/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+MacroBusiness&utm_content=Daily+MacroBusiness+CID_ea9e5b35b90d988f215cdd165194b29a&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=Business+leaders+Negative+gearings+gotta+go 23. One-eyed Newman blames Labor for economy’s ills Leith van Onselen Last night, the head of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, Maurice Newman, delivered a speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) urging the Government to embrace economic and fiscal reform, whilst blaming the former Labor Government for the economy’s and Budget’s woes. http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/one-eyed-newman-blames-labor-for-economys-ills/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+MacroBusiness&utm_content=Daily+MacroBusiness+CID_ea9e5b35b90d988f215cdd165194b29a&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=One-eyed+Newman+blames+Labor+for+economys+ills 24. A huge opportunity in retirees' hidden wealth Rob Burgess The question for the 44th parliament is: do either Tony Abbott or Bill Shorten have the intelligence, the grit, the bloody-mindedness to start selling a policy that will solve a colossal problem: the increasingly bizarre relationship between the generations caused by our out-of-kilter superannuation investment and housing markets. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/12/politics/huge-opportunity-retirees-hidden-wealth?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=505832&utm_campaign=kgb&modapt= NBN 25. Why the most important thing about the NBN is me (and you) Mark Ritson ... the NBN has been an economic debate. It’s been a political football. It’s been a financial dispute. But what it hasn’t been is a discussion about how much it means to people who don’t live in a CBD to have proper world class wireless. http://www.brw.com.au/p/tech-gadgets/why_the_most_important_thing_about_ezqLN9MNRktRr4HigB2RtJ ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 26. My Philippines typhoon fury Fatima Measham But the truth is that whatever adaptive measures may be taken, the intensity and frequency of typhoons have worsened. This is not debatable. This is reality. Excluding super typhoon Haiyan (which made landfall in the Visayas on Friday), five of the 10 deadliest cyclones in the Philippines occurred in the past decade: Winnie in 2004, Durian in 2006, Fengshen in 2008, Washi in 2011 and Bopha in 2012. http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article.aspx?aeid=38489#.UoGWTLeqpZY 27. Climate change: when ignorance is a recipe for disaster Peter Hartcher In other words, climate change is working to make ordinary weather patterns more dangerous. It doesn't seem to be happening through any direct causal link to cyclones. But it doesn't need to. A rising sea level will intensify the power of cyclonic winds to create bigger storm surges, according to the IPCC. Man-made climate change is real and dangerous. Is it causing more or bigger cyclones? There's no evidence that it is. But, again, it's a distinction without a difference. Because it's making normal cyclones more damaging. Rising sea levels will supercharge them. There is no need for exaggeration and there is no excuse for inaction. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/climate-change-when-ignorance-is-a-recipe-for-disaster-20131111-2xccy.html#ixzz2kOrGVatK 28. Cosmic rays fall cosmically behind humans in explaining global warming Dana For climate skeptics trying to find an alternative explanation for the global warming that's occurred over the past century, the sun and galactic cosmic rays have become a popular hypothesis. However, several recent scientific papers have effectively put the final nail in the cosmic rays-global warming coffin. http://www.skepticalscience.com/news.php?n=2278 29. The Forgotten Protocols Gummo Trotsky The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer came back into the news on Monday (11 November), with reports on a paper published in Nature Geoscience which finds that reductions in chlorinated fluorocarbon (CFC) emissions achieved under the Montreal Protocol have contributed to the lower rate of global warming since the 1990s. This is because CFCs – and other halogenated hydrocarbons covered by the protocol – are also greenhouse gases, socutting these emissions provides a double benefit for the environment. http://clubtroppo.com.au/2013/11/12/the-forgotten-protocols/ 30. Typhoon Haiyan looms over Warsaw Alister Doyle & Michael Szabo The Philippine delegate at UN climate talks began a fast yesterday in protest at a lack of action on global warming that he blamed for fuelling a super typhoon that has killed an estimated 10,000 people in his country. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/article/2013/11/12/policy-politics/typhoon-haiyan-looms-over-warsaw?utm_source=exact 31. Judge Michael Finnane criticises Tony Abbott's climate change stance Tim Barlass Tony Abbott's stance on climate change has been criticised by an eminent judge speaking from a Pacific island that is being devastated by the effects of rising tides. District court judge Michael Finnane spoke during a self-financed fact-finding visit to Kiribati, where seawater has broken into fresh water reserves, flooded houses and in the future is likely to force an exodus of islanders. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/judge-michael-finnane-criticises-tony-abbotts-climate-change-stance-20131112-2xdvc.html 32. Coalition Commitments to 5 - 25% Emissions Reduction Targets (pdf 3 page document) The Climate Institute The many times Greg Hunt and Tony Abbott said they would increase Australia's emissions reduction target if need be http://t.co/oLtMMCkUX7 33. Abbott government abandons emissions reduction target range Lenore Taylor Prime minister says Australia will cut greenhouse gases by no more than 5% until he sees more commitment from other nations http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/12/abbott-government-abandons-emissions-reduction-target-range?CMP=twt_gu#start-of-comments ASYLUM SEEKERS 34. Asylum Seeker Boat Arrives, Likely Carrying Children Nick Olle An asylum seeker boat likely carrying children pulled into Darwin last night, according to Global Mail sources. It is unclear how many people were on the boat or what their nationalities are. The asylum seekers are being held in Darwin’s Blaydin Point immigration detention centre. An “Alternative Place of Detention” (APOD), the facility is exclusively for families with children and unaccompanied minors. As one source says: “If they’re at Blaydin, there must be kids.” http://www.theglobalmail.org/blog/asylum-seeker-boat-arrives-likely-carrying-children/738/ PHILOSOPHY, ETHICS + VALUES 35. It's business that really rules us now George Monbiot Lobbying is the least of it: corporate interests have captured the entire democratic process. No wonder so many have given up on politics http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/11/business-rules-lobbying-corporate-interests 36. An Open Letter to George Monbiot Victoria Rollison Dear George Monbiot Let me start by saying I’m a big fan. You can file this letter under fan-mail if you like, but as you can see, since it’s an Open Letter, it clearly has a much larger purpose than patting you on the back. The reason for my letter is that I wanted to let you know about a huge problem Australians like me are currently having to deal with. This problem is our Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, and his blatant predilection for making political decisions in the interest of his corporate mates, while stomping on the interests of working Australians. http://theaimn.com/2013/11/12/an-open-letter-to-george-monbiot/ 37. Book Review: Battlers and Billionaires: The Story of Inequality in Australia, by Andrew Leigh Kay Rollison Not long ago I wrote a review of The Price of Inequality, by Joseph Stiglitz, which investigates the increasing economic inequality of American society. Battlers and Billionaires (2013) covers some of the same ground for Australia. Leigh argues that while things are not as bad here as in America, the level of inequality is nevertheless of major concern. http://theaimn.com/2013/11/12/book-review-battlers-and-billionaires-the-story-of-inequality-in-australia-by-andrew-leigh/ 38. Q&A: Business leaders discuss new government, carbon tax, paid parental leave and the gender pay gap Georgina Dent Last night the ABC hosted the first ever corporate leaders Q&A panel. The host Tony Jones was joined by Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond, Santos chief executive David Knox, Nestle Australia's chair Elizabeth Proust, Stockland's non executive director Graham Bradley and the founding chair of the Women's Leadership Institute Carol Schwartz. http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/top-stories/qa-business-leaders-discuss-new-government-carbon-tax-paid-parental-leave-and-the-pay-gap/201311113190?utm_source=Women%27s+Agenda+List&utm_campaign=0ae9acd58e-Women_s_Agenda_daily_12_11_2013&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f3750bae8d-0ae9acd58e-30634093 39. Neoliberalism: it’s back! Errol Brandt @e2mq173 reports Errol Brandt Just when you thought we’d learned our lesson about corporate greed from the Global Financial Crisis, it seems that noeliberalism has returned to Australian politics. Yesterday, PM Abbott’s chair of the Business Advisory Council , Maurice Newan, relaunched neoliberalism by arguing for cuts to social services and cuts in the minimum wage. One of the founding fathers of neoliberalism, Milton Friedman, argued in the 1970s that the minimum wage should be scrapped so that the market could set the price of labour. Whether this market-based wage was sufficient to sustain life was largely irrelevant. As was the analysis to prove that high wages were the cause of the nation’s economic problems. http://nofibs.com.au/2013/11/12/neoliberalism-back-errol-brandt-e2mq173-reports/#sthash.C2bJa6n3.dpuf 40. A man with a philosophy, not an ideology Nicholas Stuart Mason's complex. This is perhaps what makes him so infuriating to Labor supporters. He's obviously very intelligent and loves to debate ideas. He'll articulate, for example, an intellectual position any leftie would endorse before following the logic through until he finds himself sitting close to the hard right of the political spectrum. He simply places different weightings on particular aspects of the issue; these lead to different results. In person, Mason is charming and companionable. Why isn't this a contradiction? http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/a-man-with-a-philosophy-not-an-ideology-20131111-2xce1.html#ixzz2kOjIX48D FORMER LEADERS 41. Ex-PM Julia Gillard to receive Jerusalem Prize Ben Westcott FORMER prime minister Julia Gillard has been announced as the recipient of the 2013 Jerusalem Prize, in honour of her work strengthening Australia's connection with Israel. The award will be presented during the 75th Annual Assembly of the Zionist Council of Victoria on November 26, at which Ms Gillard will be keynote speaker. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/ex-pm-julia-gillard-to-receive-jerusalem-prize/story-fn59niix-1226730293184#sthash.hqiUnb2u.dpuf 42. The collected insults of former PM Paul Keating Kieran Ricketts with archives researchers Bruce Crabb, Christian Cox, Justin Bush, Liz Elward and Annie Angel Whatever your opinion of Paul Keating's politics, it is hard to find his equal as a parliamentary performer. His acerbic, theatrical and often hilarious debating style saw a number of cutting one-liners issued from the dispatch box - many of which have entered the Australian lexicon. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-12/the-collected-insults-of-paul-keating/5071412 REALPOLITIK 43. Get your mongrel on Ed Butler It is not the obligation of those of ‘teh Left’ to uphold some arbitrary moral and intellectual standard while they get, frankly, beat up on by their opponents who face no such constraints. You’re losing by doing that. Every progressive issue is on the brink of being torn to shreds. So get angry and make hay. http://ausopinion.com/2013/11/12/get-your-mongrel-on/ MEDIA WOES 44. Pay writers or we'll pull ads, National Library tells arts website Ben Butler The National Library of Australia has threatened to pull its advertising from a new arts website run by Eric Beecher’s Private Media group unless it starts paying its writers. The Daily Review, an offshoot of Private Media’s popular website Crikey, launched yesterday amid controversy over its decision not to pay for contributions. In an open letter, arts writers, many of whom already write for blogs run by Crikey, have asked others not to contribute to the new site for free. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/media-and-marketing/pay-writers-or-well-pull-ads-national-library-tells-arts-website-20131112-2xdix.html 45. News Corp’s Australian newspapers sees 22 per cent revenue drop. Megan Reynolds and Tim Burrowes Revenues for News Corp’s Australian newspapers have continued to freefall, numbers for the company’s first US financial quarter suggest. http://mumbrella.com.au/news-corps-australian-newspapers-sees-22-per-cent-revenue-drop-189049 46. Why I said no to The Daily Review Andrew Stafford Nearly 20 years ago, my first piece of journalism was published. For a music fan, it was an auspicious beginning: I saw a young You Am I supporting rock behemoths the Beasts of Bourbon at the Mansfield Tavern, one of those great suburban beer barns that gave up on live music long ago. One band was at its peak; the other scaling theirs. My review appeared in a Brisbane street paper, and I was paid $35. http://mumbrella.com.au/said-daily-review-188696 HEALTH + SCIENCE 47. Mental health stigma still affecting Australian workers, with research showing 4 in 10 hide depression from employers Matthew Grimson Four out of 10 Australians who take sick leave for depression keep it hidden from their employer, with almost half fearing their job would be compromised if they revealed their illness. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-12/australians-worried-depression-will-cost-their-job-study/5085820?WT.mc_id=newsmail 48. 5 reasons why ‘tax’ is not a dirty word Alessandro R Demaio Having just lived for three years in Denmark, renowned for their near-50% income tax, I think we have it all wrong when it comes to how we perceive taxation and paying tax. http://theconversation.com/5-reasons-why-tax-is-not-a-dirty-word-19849 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 13 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/ ################################################################

Casablanca

13/11/2013AA Agree with you that [quote]Barry Jones' piece was particularly insightful, which, given his intellect and background, is not surprising.[/quote] I see that Web Monkey has archived a batch of Caches (plus corrected a date error in the 'current' file title). I posted an extra Cache in the wee small hours of Sunday - hope that you picked that up in your travels. Good article also by bushfirebill - Train Wreck - where he gives Mark Kenny and other gallery hacks a bit of a serve.

Catching Up

13/11/2013We have a new media player. Funded by Super funds. NO paywall. http://thenewdaily.com.au [blockquote]"Super site: Guthrie’s secret publication revealed e publication of former Age editor Bruce Guthrie has broken cover, with backing from superannuation firms. Crikey can reveal the details. Former Age and Herald Sun editor Bruce Guthrie is preparing to launch a new Melbourne-based news website named The New Daily, Crikey can reveal. The site is expected to have a mass-market, general-interest flavour with an emphasis on news rather than opinion.." http://www.crikey.com.au/2013/11/09/super-site-guthries-secret-publication-revealed/[/blockquote]

Catching Up

13/11/2013Can someone explain to me, why could not Greg Hunt go to Warsaw, Mr, Abbott is launching the bills today. Mr. Hunt is not out selling the legislation. Refused a interview o ABC this morning

Catching Up

13/11/2013CASABLANCA', I must say, it is a full time job keeping up with what is going on at this time. Another good effort.

Catching Up

13/11/2013It appears Abbott wants all these bills gabbled through in on day. ABC 24 Wonder if Abbott will remember there is a disater in the Philippines.

Catching Up

13/11/2013Burke got in first, moving a motion. Abbott will not like that. Attacking Minister for Immigration. YES, A MOTION BEING MOVED. Demanding Morrison face the house immediately and explain what he is doing. Division called that the member be no longer heard. Leave not granted. MSO by Burke.

Michael

13/11/2013Rescind. Repeal. Revert. The Three R's that characterise the Abbott gumnint's claimed 'mandate' (does that require lycra and Lynx, Tony?). The Three R's holes this gumnint will dig for itself.

Catching Up

13/11/2013Well, I believe that this morning is what Abbott dreamed of. Within half a hour, the speaker is being challenged. Burke pointed out, that b=never before, has speaker been bought to the chair by a PM and leader of the house. Within half a into the trap.

2353`

13/11/2013Interesting piece in The Guardian this morning. [quote]Refugees: the reason why my lifelong Liberal voters parents now vote Green My parents have always voted Liberal, but the appalling treatment of refugees forced them to shift their loyalty. The second world war taught them to treat human beings with empathy[/quote] http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/12/refugees-the-reason-why-my-lifelong-liberal-voters-parents-now-vote-green

BSA Bob

13/11/2013Casablanca A hearty "thank you" for replaying the Tim Dunlop piece at No. 35 yesterday. I had fond memories but couldn't track it down. I'm even thinking of knocking out a hard copy & pinning it up, it reads so well. And so absolutely bloody hilarious to reread Laurie Oakes initial lipsticking attempts, presumably done under the impression that HE would be kept informed. Congratulations all round to the TPS team. I don't say much here because I figure most of my stuff's fairly light. But you do an excellent site. 2353 Recently had a ride behind a 'lil NSW 27 class steamer.

Catching Up

13/11/2013Abbott is introducing all the bills. I believe there are eight. Good morning's entertainment. Wonder what the media will focuses onto night. Burke. They have no copies and cannot proceed. Bishop siding with the government. Threatening Burke. It appears that the bills are sitting on the table. So this government is not going to give the Opposition the respect of showing the bills.

Catching Up

13/11/2013Abbott is introducing all the bills. I believe there are eight. Good morning's entertainment. Wonder what the media will focuses onto night. Burke. They have no copies and cannot proceed. Bishop siding with the government. Threatening Burke. It appears that the bills are sitting on the table. So this government is not going to give the Opposition the respect of showing the bills.

Michael

13/11/2013Catching Up, really!!??? "Respect" from Abbott? Three R's holes being daily dug to exemplify The Abbott Error.

Catching Up

13/11/2013http://media.crikey.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ElectricityBill.jpg

Catching Up

13/11/2013Knowing the rule book inside out, is entirely different to interpret and administering them.

Bacchus

13/11/2013Back to Ken's mandate topic for a moment - Those with a little more time on their hands can read Stanley Bach's in depth study of the topic in his 2003 book, 'Platypus and Parliament: The Australian Senate in Theory and Practice', specifically chapter 9, 'Mandates and reforms'. That chapter is only 52 pages ;-) PDF - http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Research_and_Education/~/media/5486A81C20214810A5E11790A9503DC6.ashx or HTML - http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Research_and_Education/~/link.aspx?_id=420A65AC138D4784B482024178ADC8CF&_z=z The entire book can be accessed here: http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Research_and_Education/platparl

Catching Up

13/11/2013No deaths since the last sitting of Parliament? That is hard to believe. No sympathy to the Philippines. Maybe this PM does not think it is worth his time to raise such issues. Ni mention of the officials from other countries that he has spent time with today.

Catching Up

13/11/2013Now we should see Abbott accused on misleading the house. Did not cut assistance to fire victims.

Catching Up

13/11/2013What pressure did Dutton put on Labor. Never asked a question on Health for years. Hearing very little truth. Now responsible for the three triple AAA ratings.

Catching Up

13/11/2013It seems that the government is not going to drop their sexist remarks when it comes to women in Labor.

Catching Up

13/11/2013I suspect it will not be long, before Labor gets them on misleading the house. Still a serious crime, I believe.

Catching Up

13/11/2013MPI now on. Shorten.

Catching Up

13/11/2013Tanya now on. MPI Sounds passionate.

Catching Up

13/11/2013I think the time for MPIs has been halved this morning.

2353

13/11/2013Ken, the ABC Factcheck Unit agrees with your conclusion. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/abbott-government-mandate-carbon-tax/5085340

TalkTurkey

13/11/2013Dam the TPS Comments program, it or my computer's way of using it has stolen yet another (third in a row) embryonic post of mine. I don't know what it is but I can't stand it, I know what the necessary extra step is to write it elsewhere but Gee I wish the TPS program had Autosave. I'd contribute Money, some anyway, for that to be able to be incorporated. So OK I am writing this elsewhere. But see, then I will have to transpose it, and got through it all to [i]re-italicise[/i], [b]Re-Bold[/b], generally [u]re~puncturate [/u]it. That's why I hate doing this. On MONDAY I lost a proper reply to You Ken, in which I first took some definitions of "mandate" from Concise Oxford. I lost it next day again! I'm not copying it a third time, but the most pertinent definition was, "authority for action [i][b]supposed[/b][/i] to have been granted by voters (to a party) in Parliament." (Emphasis mine) I said the whole idea of mandate in the non-sense that Abborrrtt & Co attempt to abuse it is a nonsense. I first heard the term used as a verb, as in, Members of a Union voting to mandate their representative to vote a certain way. It both a command for the reps to vote that way, and a promise of support for the representative in so voting in the members' names. [i]It presupposes majority agreement on given issues. [/i] It is a [b]lie [/b]to say that the election was a referendum on the *Carbon Tax* (2 lies, yes! It isn't even a Tax) But we do have referenda in Australia, they relate to [i]specific issues[/i], they are worded impartially (at least ideally) and they must be passed by a majority of voters in a majority of States. Only when those conditions are met might the Government claim a mandate. The whole notion of a mandate is devalued to zero if Abborrrrrtt's nonsense is even countenanced. Abborrrtt has a man~date though, that he sold to the ex-Australian traitor Murdoch, the world's worst criminal. A fit place to fit his mandate. [On Monday I got stuck into what I reckoned Shorten should do with his first two days back but that's passe now!] I can't ever rewrite the things I said in a lost post, they're g-o-n-e, but I know I finished that post by saying some nice things to our comrade Miglo. I didn't have much trouble finding them, not just a good-lookin' fella in his wedding day bag o' fruit neither, he writes like an angel and he is one of the very best blogmasters of all. Thank you Migs for your kind words, let me return them with interest and may your married relationship be long and rich. There now. My first post was lovely. This is ho-hum, sorry.

Janet (j4gypsy)

13/11/2013This: ABC News ‏@abcnews 2m Kevin Rudd: "My family is everything, always has been, always will be, which is why I will not be continuing as a member of this parliament" And TT, you are NEVER ho hum :-)

jaycee

13/11/2013Abbott on 7.30....Oh my god!! No, no, not my prime minister...he's just a complete goose...a complete goose.

Janet (j4gypsy)

13/11/2013A complete goose with an earpiece in on a hotline to Peta, jaycee :-)

jaycee

13/11/2013If we ever wanted proof that the MSM. got Abbott into office we saw it in that interview...for even without trying and I'd say even TRYING to be nice..he broke and you could read the "cut male" on his face when Sales used the word ; "buckled"...he went to water just over that one word..and if they were half serious in the last election, the MSM. could've slaughtered him...mangled his ego and destroyed his political career in only a couple of sessions...but no..they gave him a clean run...under orders or not, they swept the path and paved the way into office.....they have betrayed their dignity, their duty and the nation. Judas to a man!

jaycee

13/11/2013And I have to add..If Abbott, who is now PM. of this country, looks a complete fool, how does that reflect on the MSM. journos' who assisted to place him there? If we adapt the adage that ; "A barman is a drunk's labourer"...then in the same measure, "the MSM. journos' are a fool's courier"

BSA Bob

13/11/2013Sales destroyed Abbott tonight without getting out of second gear. Jaycee makes a good point in picking up "buckled". Abbott certainly picked it up. I have memories of Abbott in the 2010 campaign- I combine that & the recent one as they flowed into each other- airily trotting out his slogans, only slightly toned down in the end this year. And what's happening didn't figure in those slogans. And I particularly liked his declaration that we're spying on the Indonesians FOR THEIR OWN GOOD!!! Without wanting to stir up any internecine argument about Leadership I'm glad to see the back of Rudd. I liked him a great deal at first & his achievements in 2007 shouldn't be taken from him. But his recent behaviour is inexcusable. But I think we can look forward to a reprise of the election campaign assuming a byelection. I saw someone saying that the liberals mightn't contest it but the temptation to do so, backed up by their still reliable supporters must be great. And a liberal victory will be rubbed in.

Michael Taylor

13/11/2013Thanks TT. Awfully kind of you.

jaycee

13/11/2013Rudd was too much the bleedin' religo...you can't trust a religo after the first "hail mary"...they go on to short-change the collection plate and dud their friends.

Casablanca

14/11/2013 [b]CASABLANCA'S CACHE. Thursday, 14 November 2013: 28 items[/b] ENTITLEMENTS & FIDDLES 1. Gina Rinehart meets Coalition MPs in secret trip to Canberra Jonathan Swan The iron ore magnate, who has vigorously supported Prime Minister Tony Abbott's plans to abolish the carbon and mining taxes, suggested the politicians meet for drinks in her Canberra hotel room to avoid media attention. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/gina-rinehart-meets-coalition-mps-in-secret-trip-to-canberra-20131113-2xh77.html POLITICS 2. PM warns of debt blowout Mark Kenny ...under pressure to explain why the Coalition government has asked for an unprecedented debt ceiling at half a trillion dollars, Mr Abbott appeared to acknowledge it was essentially a political move crafted to avoid the need to seek another increase during the 2016 election year. Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen said claims of past co-operation by the Coalition were factually wrong and that the case for the rise had not been made. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/pm-warns-of-debt-blowout-20131112-2xelz.html 3. Does the Abbott Government have a mandate to overturn the carbon tax? ABC Fact Check The Prime Minister has made repealing the carbon tax one of his first items of business in the new Parliament. He says the Government has a mandate to overturn Labor's policy, and to proceed with a direct action plan instead......VERDICT:There is no legal obligation for any party to support the policy position of its opponent simply because that opponent won the power to govern. Mr Abbott is entitled to say the people's verdict should be respected, but not that it "must be respected". A government mandate is unenforceable. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/abbott-government-mandate-carbon-tax/5085340?WT.mc_id=newsmail 4. Tony Abbott and his ragtag bunch David Donovan It is hard to imagine a group of people less ready and less suited to governing Australia than new Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his ragtag bunch of senior ministers. And so, it seems, despite a lifetime of ambition, Tony Abbott was unprepared for the prime ministership and, once installed, has shown himself to be decidedly unequal to the task. But it is not just him; his selection of ministers were no better suited to high office and now in situ have started the inevitable mayhem, chaos and disaster you would expect from such a gallery of rogues, miscreants and clowns. http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/tony-abbott-and-his-ragtag-bunch,5888 5. Less power on the floor, more power off it David Forman It might be difficult to imagine Clive Palmer patiently sitting through hours of parliamentary process waiting for his chance to ask a two-minute question. But it is easy to imagine him spending the next three years constantly peppering his media appearances with reminders of how the Abbott Government, in its first week, changed the rules to avoid scrutiny from Palmer himself. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/forman-less-power-on-the-floor-more-power-off-it/5088898?WT.mc_id=newsmail 6. Senator Peris says she doubts racial divide can be bridged in Australia Anthony Stewart and Anna Henderson Senator Nova Peris, Australia's first Indigenous woman to be elected to Federal Parliament, says the nation is unlikely to bridge the divide between black and white people. However, Senator Peris used her maiden speech in Parliament to warn that she will call out racism where she sees it. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/nova-peris-maiden-speech-preview-equity-and-equality/5089518?WT.mc_id=newsmail 7. Tony Abbott keeps Indonesian officials waiting Mark Kenny Prime Minister Tony Abbott has left a senior delegation of Indonesian officials, including its Vice-President, cooling their heels while he remained in Parliament for a debate about whether he could call Bill Shorten "Electricity Bill". http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-keeps-indonesian-officials-waiting-20131113-2xffe.html 8. Pay attention to Dewi Fortuna Anwar Paul Barratt ...I came away from that meeting with a lasting impression of Dr Anwar as a very capable person with a formidable intellect, and one who is very comfortable working at the highest levels of authority and decision-making. As a Monash Ph.D., she understands Australia better than anyone in the current Government understands Indonesia. I do not read her as a person who would be in the habit of going off half-cocked; she will know exactly what she is doing with this intervention, and the Australian Government and Australian media would be well advised to pay attention. There is a story here. http://aussieobserver.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/pay-attention-to-dewi-fortuna-anwar.html MADAM SPEAKER 9. New Speaker Bronwyn Bishop to brook no nonsense in Parliament's House of Hogwarts Tony Wright Bronwyn Bishop had waited a long time to become Mistress of the House of Representatives, and with her throne in sight, she was not about to mess about with all that faux struggling against destiny. Why, she positively streaked to the House of Representatives' splendid Speaker's chair, very nearly dragging her champions, Tony Abbott and Christopher Pyne, in her spirited wake. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/new-speaker-bronwyn-bishop-to-brook-no-nonsense-in-parliaments-house-of-hogwarts-20131112-2xem6.html 10. New Speaker Bronwyn Bishop stumbles at first hurdle Michael Gordon Bronwyn Bishop has failed the first test of her speakership and this Parliament is in danger of being just as rancorous as the last one. The woman who built a reputation on her encyclopaedic knowledge of Parliament's standing orders declined to apply one of the most basic rules of decorum when Christopher Pyne set out to ridicule Labor's fledgling leader, Bill Shorten on Wednesday morning. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/new-speaker-bronwyn-bishop-stumbles-at-first-hurdle-20131113-2xfnk.html 11. Electricity Bill, Typhoon Tony and Dolores Umbridge: the name calling begins Jacqueline Maley Bronwyn Bishop spoke with characteristic archness. "We have had," she said, "a display of [the] new energetic nature of the opposition." The Member for Mackellar - who, on her election to the chair, informed her House of Representatives subjects she was to be addressed as Madam - had only been in the job a few hours when she was faced with her first act of insubordination. It came in the form of Tony Burke, who has taken on the important opposition role of manager of opposition business. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/electricity-bill-typhoon-tony-and-dolores-umbridge-the-name-calling-begins-20131113-2xfrw.html KEVIN RUDD: Compendium 12. Kevin Rudd quits federal politics: in quotes & Videos Former prime minister Kevin Rudd has announced his retirement from federal politics. Mr Rudd, who has served as the Member for Griffith since 1998, said he would leave Parliament at the end of the first sitting week. View and Read what Mr Rudd's friends and foes had to say about his decision to leave politics. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/kevin-rudd-quits-politics-in-quotes/5090242 13. Kevin Rudd's farewell address to parliament – in full (Video 30m) 'To have served as prime minister of Australia has been a great honour afforded to very few in our country's history'. Madam Speaker, there comes a time in our lives as parliamentarians when our families finally say enough is enough. And my family has reached just such a time. We ask much of our families in this place. And in the case of my family, well above and way beyond the call of duty. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/13/kevin-rudds-farewell-address-to-parliament-in-full?CMP=soc_568 http://media.canberratimes.com.au/news/national-news/in-full-kevin-rudd-quits-parliament-4921151.html 14. Kevin Rudd quits politics Katharine Murphy, Australia's former PM to leave parliament, saying it's time to give back to the family who supported him for so long http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/13/kevin-rudd-resigns-parliament 15. Rudd makes his final zip Michelle Grattan Kevin Rudd has bowed out of politics in a tearful farewell to Parliament that drew a heartfelt tribute from Tony Abbott and a highly emotional one from former opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull. Ending an extraordinary political career – in which he was sacked by his party from the prime ministership in 2010, only to be reinstated this year in Labor’s desperate bid to prevent an electoral wipeout – Rudd declared it was time for “the baton unequivocally to be passed to others”. http://theconversation.com/rudd-makes-his-final-zip-20269 16. Kevin Rudd had a unique ability to polarise opinions Greg Jennett The 4th of December 2006 was the day Labor's "Dream Team" of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard combined to knock-off Kim Beazley and, indirectly, his then deputy Jenny Macklin. It was the day the tectonic plates of ALP politics suddenly shifted. Microscopic fault-lines papered-over that day would later turn into gaping chasms. In later years, the careers of countless Labor men and women would fall into its darker depths. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-14/kevin-rudd-retires-polarises-opinion/5090426 17. Kevin Rudd, the nerdy PM who proved his resilience James Grubell & Adam Gartrell Kevin Rudd will go down in history as the nerdy prime minister who returned from the political graveyard. He leaves parliament with the rare distinction of having served twice as prime minister, once as foreign minister and three times as a far from humble backbencher. Along the way, he has suffered some of the worst insults ever thrown at a politician, with most coming from his own party and former ministerial colleagues, who labelled him a controlling psychopath. http://thenewdaily.com.au/#./?&_suid=138429532105100918214608154429 18. End of a Labor tragedy Michael Gordon Kevin Rudd's tearful farewell ends a Labor tragedy of Shakespearean proportions and the political career of one of that party's most brilliant yet flawed leaders. It also gives Labor the opportunity to begin a new chapter, free of a daily reminder of its most self-destructive and rancorous period in generations. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/end-of-a-labor-tragedy-20131113-2xh40.html 19. Labor’s downfall: @mattyhoran review of @apatrickafr book It’s hard to read Aaron Patrick’s Downfall – How the Labor Party ripped itself apart and not make comparisons with the ultimately disappointing The Stalking of Julia Gillard. Kerry-Anne Walsh’s book canvassed much the same period and will now be turned into a mini-series starring Rachel Griffith – and it’s a shame, because Patrick’s book is the better, and more incisive, read. Patrick, a Financial Review journalist, brings an intimate knowledge of events to bear, not least because as a former Young Labor activist he was close to new Labor leader Bill Shorten in the early ‘90s. Written before the Federal election (the postscript describes Rudd’s return after the Gillard interregnum), Downfall is no less relevant now. http://nofibs.com.au/2013/11/13/labors-downfall-mattyhoran-review-apatrickafr-book/#sthash.PYp1i1Rp.dpuf 20. There will be relief and anger Tony Wright It was all about Kevin. Always...Now Labor can put Kevin Rudd behind it and Rudd himself might get on with his life. But he leaves behind an astonishing trail of collateral damage: including former ministers Nicola Roxon, Simon Crean, Craig Emerson, Martin Ferguson, Greg Combet, Stephen Smith and Peter Garrett, and many staffers, bureaucrats and colleagues burnt out by Kevin Rudd's ambition, which burnt beyond his own capacity to control it. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/there-will-be-relief-and-anger-20131113-2xh5a.html ECONOMY + BUSINESS 21. Axing carbon tax costs budget $7.4bn Staff Reporter The Government has revealed a $7.37bn hit to the budget over the forward estimates from its repeal of the carbon tax. The financial impact was revealed in a table reprinted below from the explanatory memorandum the Government introduced to the Parliament today. In addition the government also included a series of other bills that would abolish the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, the Climate Change Authority and also cut the funding allocated to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency by $434.9 million. http://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2013/11/13/carbon-markets/axing-carbon-tax-costs-budget-74bn?utm_source=exact&utm_medium=email&utm_content=507134&utm_campaign=pm&modapt 22. Australia's not-quite-jaundice economy Greg Jericho Australia's economy at the moment is in rather a weird state. Rather like the character Yossarian in the novel Catch 22 - whose liver pain fell just short of being jaundice, meaning it could neither be treated nor ignored - our economy is just short of being bad enough to warrant stimulus, but not good enough to require needing the brakes applied. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/jericho-state-of-the-economy/5085814 ADVOCACY, ACTIVISM + NEW MEDIA 23. The New Australian Arrow – An Improbable Media Dream prestontowers in Using media outlets to Misrepresent. Make silly pictures. Make up silly names. Obfuscate. Shout. That kind of thing. It’s an intriguing idea – having Labor becoming a raucous opposition and people starting a media presence that would a “Bolt of the Left”. The problem, however, for the progressive movement is that it’s not the True Believers that need to be appealed to and IA, for a lot of people, is a target for derision, not respect. So, really, that isn’t the answer for a Progressive Bolt with maximum reach... a daring strategy would be to have strategists and staffers who have been Liberals, or worked for Liberals and ask them precisely how to organise a group of people to peddle simplistic lines until they sink in. http://ausopinion.com/2013/11/13/thearrow/ 24. The New Daily New digital media founded by Eric Beecher and backed by Industry Superfunds. Includes a number of articles on Rudd - these are linked to in 'KEVIN RUDD' above. http://thenewdaily.com.au/#./?&_suid=138429532105100918214608154429 ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 25. Deconstructing former Australian Prime Minister John Howard's 'gut feeling' on climate change John Cook Last week, former Australian Prime Minister John Howard gave a speech on climate change for the Global Warming Policy Foundation, a conservative think-tank opposed to policies that mitigate climate change. Howard characterised scientists who accept the evidence that humans are disrupting climate as “religious zealots”. Consequently, he is not so convinced of the scientific evidence. On what does he base his views? Howard states that “…I instinctively feel that some of the claims are exaggerated.” http://www.skepticalscience.com/news.php?n=2281 26. Warsaw talks: climate action is failing Karen Elizabeth McNamara (reporting from Warsaw Conference of Parties) One of the most hotly-contested issues on the agenda for the current round of climate talks in Warsaw is “loss and damage”, an attempt to compensate for impacts of climate change that we can’t mitigate or adapt against. Throughout the talks the international gathering will debate how much to contribute to funding for losses and damages, particularly for developing nations. http://theconversation.com/warsaw-talks-climate-action-is-failing-20252 IMMIGRATION 27. Immigration: We can choose our skills, but we can't choose our family Gareth Larsen Whilst boat arrivals, asylum seekers, skilled permanent and temporary programs and even students have kept immigration featured in our politics and newspapers, family migration receives little share of public debate. This is intriguing as family migration is a bigger part of permanent migration than official planning levels would lead us to believe. http://parliamentflagpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/immigration-we-can-choose-our-skills.html OBITUARY 28. Yvonne Boyd, wife of fellow artist Arthur Boyd, dies aged 93 Anne Maria Nicholson A member of one of Australia's great artistic families, Yvonne Boyd, has died in Melbourne at the age of 93. "Bundanon is Yvonne Boyd's legacy as much as Arthur's," said Deborah Ely, chief executive officer of Bundanon Trust. "She shared his vision as she shared his life. She was an artist of great talent and unrealised potential." http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/artist-yvonne-boyd-dies-at-93/5089340?WT.mc_id=newsmail 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 14 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/ ################################################################

Casablanca

14/11/2013[b]"Kevin has left the building"[/b] The most comprehensive coverage of Kevin Rudd's announcement in the House of Representatives of his retirement and the responses from Government and Opposition members was posted by the ABC: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/kevin-rudd-quits-politics-in-quotes/5090242 See also items 12 -20 in Casablanca's Cache for today. It's interesting to see how quickly the new kid on the block, namely, The New Daily, posted articles. They started at 8.19; then 9.33; 10.24; 10.28 & 11.16pm. Katharine Murphy was pretty fast out of the starting blocks posting her piece at 21.40 - though the Guardian said that was AEST so maybe it was really at 22.40 AEDT; Tony Wright got in at 10.12pm; Michelle Grattan just after pumpkin hour at 12.04am; Greg Jennet at 1.00am and Michael Gordon at 1.03am.

TalkTurkey

14/11/2013I now remember my lost main point in speaking of *mandate*. It's not even a matter for conjecture really: [i]either you have the [b]numbers,[/b] or you don't.[/i] If you have the numbers you don't need to speak of mandates. If you don't, all the talk won't help. I said originally that the 5th Estate must now concentrate on educating the new Senators to seeing sense about Australia's need to cut carbon emissions and dependency, and turning them to voting responsibly when the proposed legislation resurfaces in July. And I also said - and it sounds a little bit truer than it did even on Monday - that if I were Abborrrrtt I wouldn't be too sure of Palmer's support even for the 'Carbon Tax' repeal. He's a fat Joker and he intends to have a lot of fun in his weird game, h'mmm, he's going to abstain from voting in the Reps, citing conflict-of-interest as his reasons,not of course that his solitary vote there would make any difference anyway. BUT the kicker is, his PUPs in the Senate can vote "according to conscience" ... No possibility of conflict of interest there then. Except the PUPs get funded by Palmer. And he only needs to drop the tiniest of hints ... Ahhh the Goddess of Democracy!

jaycee

14/11/2013On the Kevin Rudd retirement...: one should not speak ill of the dud. But as for that bastard Hawker!!

Catching Up

14/11/2013https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1396835_544541845636076_1849354681_o.jpg

TalkTurkey

14/11/2013Rudd has gone to his political grave. I hope his God gives him all he deserves. [b]A strange end to a strange saga, in which my late brother Gordon, dead barely a year, played a strange, even possibly crucial part, as told by Gordon himself a few years ago to his friend, the top journalist Alan Ramsey - whose partner btw is Laura Tingle.[/b] I've linked to this before, but the strangeness of it all is haunting - to me, very literally, both being now departed. http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/in-praise-of-certain-pms-past-and-present/2008/02/08/1202234162182.html?page=2 Arrr wotthehell, i'm'a post the whole article, because I want to highlight a few bits. It's both a tribute to Gordon, and to Alan Ramsey, and to the best of journalism as it used to be, and on the other hand, the record of a dream turned bizarre nightmare, and my brother's part in it. All emphasis my own. [b]In praise of certain PMs, past and present[/b] Alan Ramsey February 9, 2008 [u]I sorely miss Gordon Bilney. When the new Parliament meets on Tuesday, and Krudd and Co grace the government benches for the first time, there will be nobody of Bilney's like on either side.[/u] Bilney was like the Hawke years' John Button, [u]another free spirit of great style and wit.[/u] It is no coincidence they are close friends. Bilney was the MP and Keating Labor minister from Adelaide's suburbs who, the week after his voters dumped him in the 1996 election of March 2 that gave us 12 years of John Howard's government, wrote to a carping local official in his electorate: "Dear Mr Seamer, "I saw today your letter of 26 February. [u]One of the great pleasures of private life is that I need no longer be polite to nincompoops, bigots, curmudgeons and twerps who infest local government bodies and committees such as yours. In the particular case of your committee, that pleasure is acute.[/u] "Yours sincerely … " The official was so upset by Bilney's "bloody insulting" letter that he gave it to South Australia's then (short-lived) Liberal premier, Dean Brown, who immediately rubbished Bilney publicly as a "disgrace" and "not fit" to be in political life - which, of course, he no longer was - but I thought the beige Mr Brown a thoroughly humourless man who must surely often have felt similarly about such twerps as Bilney's target but had never had the courage to tell them to go elsewhere and and seek a life. Bilney's life, on the other hand, has always been full of colour. [b]He was 13 years a politician and, before that, [u]16 years a diplomat[/u], [i]including a stint as an adviser to his political god, Gough Whitlam,[/i][/b] before elective politics swept him up in 1983. Bilney enjoys his life, always did, including two wives, as much as he still does sailing, Australian Rules football, and the produce of South Australia's vineyards. And when he emailed me three days ago, I knew the content would be a joy. "[u]Dear Alan", he wrote[/u]. "As I sent these two [emailed letters] to my old mate, Greg Terry, formerly of Gough's staff (after my time), I thought of you who recently recounted [u]a similar experience[/u]. I thought I was too old to believe anything good might come from a change of government, but I wouldn't mind being proved wrong. Best to you and Laura, Gordon." The "similar experience" was last Saturday's column about Kevin Rudd's hospital visit at St Vincent's to the dying wife of Dick Woolcott, former head of Australia's foreign service and, for a time, Rudd's boss when Rudd was a diplomat in the 1980s. And Bilney's "old mate", Greg Terry, is now headquartered in Singapore as managing director and chairman of Morgan Stanley's South-East Asian operations. To start at the start, Terry had emailed Bilney three weeks before Christmas. In this he'd included a copy of a letter he'd written getting stuck into an article in the local Singapore press about the new Rudd Government, which, in passing, while praising Rudd, had described Mark Latham as "Australia's most anti-American Labor leader" since Whitlam. It was Terry's vigorous defence of Whitlam he sent to Bilney, who replied at the time: "Dear Greg, "Re Rudd's a friend. "Good letter, and one that needed to be written. I'm not sure that Our Kev is quite in the Legend League of The Great Gough just yet, but you'd have to say he's off to a pretty good start. And not least in the sphere of accountability of ministers/their staff/government servants, which has absolutely gone to the dogs under Howard, and with his encouragement. [b]"[Here's] a true story. When [early last year] Kevin was moving the motion at ALP Conference to have EGW made a Life Member of the ALP, he recalled in his speech that, [u]as a 15-year-old[/u] at Queensland's Nambour High School in 1973, he had [u]written to Gough asking how one became a diplomat[/u]. Gough (Rudd went on) replied personally, as the then foreign minister [as well as prime minister], advising him to get a good university degree and learn a foreign language. So he did, and (as we say) the rest is history. Now you would know better than most that [i]Gough Himself, though He signed it, did not personally draft that letter: but rather one of His personal staff with experience in that area. [u]Will this be my major claim to fame? We shall see[/u].[/i][/b] "It is a good feeling just at present, a bit akin (I imagine) to having a long hot shower after being unjustly shut up in a Sudanese prison. At least. Whatever else Rudd does, he has rid us of the lying, morally compromised and downright evil little turd we have had to put up with for nearly 12 years. (I wouldn't normally be so polite, but we are now in the season of goodwill towards all men.) I hope however that spirit of Christian charity doesn't extend to Downer over the oil-for-food $300m, or to Andrews/Ruddock over the Haneef thing, though I fear the temptation to let bygones be bygones may not be resisted. As it shouldn't be. "We will also be in Melbourne around New Year, both my daughters and my three granddaughters now being there. Let's know how we can contact you and we'll have a drink or whatever. "Allabest, Gordon and Sandy." And that was that. Three days ago Bilney resumed the correspondence. Sent: Wed, Feb 6, 06.45. "Dear Greg, "Just a note to say I'm sorry we weren't able to catch up over Christmas - it all got as chaotic as usual with offspring (Sandy's and mine) in three States, let alone friends. One day. "As for Rudd being a friend, how's this? Last Saturday morning, I went to Canberra for the funeral of Birgit Woolcott (a week doesn't pass, seemingly, without a funeral or two) and was standing in the queue waiting to go in when who should line up immediately behind me but the said K. Rudd. Staff? One (Gary Quinlan, whom you might but probably wouldn't recall from DFAT). Security? Two dour gentlemen with things in their ear. As you probably know K and Dick have been close ever since D approved his taking leave without pay to work for Goss, then approved an extension, then knocked back a request for a further extension but said Rudd would be welcome back later on. Well, he's back all right. "Anyway, K then rocked up to Dick's for the wake, stayed longer than I did - three hours plus - talked to everyone (cast as you'd imagine, all the great and good still extant, such as our old mate Peter Henderson [and son-in-law of Sir Robert Menzies, John Howard's political god], who as you'd recall did a rather more helpful thing for Alexander Downer by posting him to the paid non-job of DFAT rep in Adelaide so he could run for Liberal preselection for Boothby, which Steele Hall pipped him for, and then for Mayo. Rest is history etc etc). How the wheel turns. "Enough already, but it's interesting watching the Libs blaming KR for present economic circumstances after just two months. Hope I live long enough to see some history rewritten by the winners. On a more serious note, I see from the AFL draw that St Kilda have got nine of their first 11 games at Telstra Dome, so if you don't crack it this year it will prove beyond argument your view that the Saints have been put on earth because there has to be a loser. [b]"But can you imagine Howard doing anything remotely like turning up out of friendship (does he actually have any?) for such an occasion, unaccompanied by flacks, flunkies and a battalion? I have to say, unlike EGW, who came unannounced to see me in horsepiddle when I fell out of a tree with a live chainsaw when he was PM, only to be told by the nurses he couldn't see me as I was too crook. He did, however, leave a highly sympathetic note - which I still have, and reproduce below - from Hilaire Belloc, as a literary person like yourself would instantly recognise: "'Lord Finchley tried to mend the Electric Light/ 'Himself. It struck him dead. And serve him right!/ 'It is the business of the wealthy man/ 'To give employment to the artisan.'[/b] "Allabest to you and yours, "Gordon." Terry replied two hours later. "We were sorry to miss you, too Love the EGW story. I think I told you my favourite. We were in the car with [Whitlam minister] Tom Uren. [b]"'Avagudwegend, Gough?' "'Most enjoyable, Thomas. I went to an opera you have never heard of by a composer you could not pronounce.'[/b] "My best, "Greg." Bilney had the last word. Terry's Uren story recalled the quotation by Whitlam which Graham Freudenberg, Labor's great speechwriting wordsmith and Whitlam apostle, wrote about in his own memoir, A Figure Of Speech, two years ago. It was the last line of Dante's inferno, which Whitlam had quoted in a parliamentary lunch in the late 1960s to a visiting senior Italian politician: [i]E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle [/I](and thence we emerged to see the stars again.) Wrote Freudenberg: "This line has stood service on a dozen occasions since." And, as Bilney concluded, again on November 24 last. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Don't speak ill of the dead? No, but then Rudd isn't dead. Yet. I regard him as filth, as the wanton destroyer of the Labor Government he only helped with the work of thousands and the goodwill of millions to bring to power, but which almost singlehandedly he has now destroyed. I would, if I could get into his circle, leave in his private chamber a bottle of Glenfiddich and a loaded duelling pistol on a silver tray, with the tastefully handwritten legend, [b]"Do it beautifully Kevin."[/b]

TalkTurkey

14/11/2013 Oh Brilliant. (NOT!) Australian News ‏@LatestAusNews 24m Early Senate vote possible on carbon tax (AAP): Labor and the Greens have helped defeat each ... http://yhoo.it/1bEjJti #ausnews #uavaus Retweeted by Geoffrey Payne

jaycee

14/11/2013It's sickening...this "whitewashing" of the whiteanting..The "napisan soak" to remove all stains of doing and deed. The infection remains unless we sterilise the wound...The Howard "infection" is back in force, The Rudd infection is still apparent in the "agreeable" tone of Labor's political arguements...if Leigh Sales can reduce Abbott to a stumbling, bumbling no-excuse interviewee, why cannot experienced Labor hard-liners demolish him on the floor with carefully scripted attack words?...not abuse, but with Keating style demolition?.....Why? , because the Rudd method / delusion ; "We're all just jolly good blokes together in this parliament!" style of a bunch of kids playing in the same sandpit....now let's all sing along the theme song..." That's what friends are for". Dammit!...politics is the "blunt instrument" of war...we are at war with the barbarian right-wing wanting to sack and pillage nations for the leisure class to live in selfish, comfortable luxury and the citizen body fighting for it's very life to have and to afford, food, clothing and shelter AND a sustainable enviroment just to live in! I'm sick of slave labour being seen as the norm! I hate to have to state the bleedin' obvious, but I think every now and then we need to re-examine our objectives and direction.

TalkTurkey

14/11/2013A ventriloquist's dummy, as someone said. Check the photos and the comment stream! https://twitter.com/RobedSinners/status/400566395689127936/photo/1

Catching Up

14/11/2013Was Abbott given a mandate to treat the possibility of man made climate change with contempt. [quote]Tony Abbott's Coalition has cast aside its goal of cutting emissions by up to 25% of 2000 levels by 2020. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Tony Abbott has confirmed that his government has abandoned its longstanding policy to reduce Australia's emissions by between 5% and 25% of 2000 levels by 2020 – a crucial and internationally scrutinised goal that had retained bipartisan support since 2009, throughout Australia's tumultuous political debate over climate policy. Asked whether the Coalition still supported the target range as UN climate talks began in Warsaw without any political representation from Australia, the prime minister told journalists: “Australia will meet our 5% emissions reduction target, but this government has made no commitments to go further than that. We certainly are in no way looking to make further binding commitments in the absence of very serious like binding commitments from other countries, and there is no evidence of that.”[/quote] http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/12/abbott-government-abandons-emissions-reduction-target-range?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

TalkTurkey

14/11/2013 Oh Yeah, the girl can sing! http://www.flixxy.com/9-year-old-girl-sings-opera-on-hollands-got-talent.htm

Ken

14/11/2013Just catching up after a busy day yesterday. Bacchus and 2353 thanks for the links to other discussion of a mandate. As was said in the TPS Team intro, the mandate question became highly relevant in this first week of Parliament. TT Yes, the end result of all the discussion of 'mandates' is that it is virtually meaningless in a political context. As you say it is all about numbers - someone gets the numbers to form a goverment but that's eseentially the end of the story. Thank you for the stories about your brother and Gough and Rudd. Not ignoring the main point of your comment, but I particularly liked the story about Tom Uren mainly because he was my local member and I did meet him a couple of times, so can visualise Tom and Gough and that comment. jaycee couldn't agree more. There comes a time when directions and objectives need re-examining. Of course, it was done by Whitlam after years of stupor under Menzies;it was done by Hawke and Keating (not that I agree with everything they did but at least they understood the country had to move in a new direction); and there was a hesitant start under Rudd and Gillard. But now, of course, Abbott wants to go back to the Menzies years!

jaycee

14/11/2013If I have to listen to that "missplaced consonant" ; Hunt say once more ; "with respect..." !...

42 long

14/11/2013A "Mandate" based on misinformation and lies has about as much validity as a confession obtained under duress. Abbott's exaggeration of the carbon price/tax was there for all to see. His constant misrepresentations should be called for what they were. Deliberate deception. The TRUTH is not in him. Why should those who elected the NON-LieNP people to the parliament expect their reps to disregard their constituents views, and not represent THEIR electorates . WAKE UP abbott. Another example of not accepting who the people put in the parliament.

jaycee

14/11/2013Journo cameo #6 The old "Stardust" room of the Hackney Hotel was fast emptying, the party was almost over and only a few slouching hangers-on scraped their feet amongst the burst balloons and flattened streamers on the dance floor....The song : "Yellow River" warbled out of the disc-jockey's amps just below a banner that had writ in red..: " BEST WHISHES - NEW CAREER....."TOOLMAN" " Two seasoned hacks sat precariously on high-stools at a high round drinks-table awash with empty bottes and glasses...they both looked the kind of older males who's doctor had told them to give up smoking for their health and deeply regretted it. one of them pushed and nudged half a salted peanut through beer-swill next his coaster. he half-heartedly grunted ; " Well....He's made the big leap!.....new career, new life"...The other man looked in deep thought...which was far from the truth.." At least he'll have more security"...they both looked to each other and guffawed..it was a cynical guffaw. "How'd he get this far in the company anyhow?" , the peanut pusher asked. " I heard he WALKED in over Brissy's presumed promotion when "Red" left !" "NOT.. the action I would describe." the other man sneered " more like crawled !"...he paused frozen in his thought and then said something quite profound for a journalist ; "He's a suck-hole". "So why the nick-name ; "Toolman"? "Why do you reckon?..and it rhymes...say did you notice when he skulled that tequila and then sucked on the lemon after? .. that's what sets that fish's-arse look to his mouth.. talk about perfection !" "Oh well...his new career will give him a chance to do what he does best". "What!?...playing the tough guy?...; the bully's pimp?.." He looked about and spat into the greenery stand next to him " Well, I suppose marching up and down the shopping mall as a security guard will give the little bastard many chances to try it on." " He'll make a good security guard... was a shithouse broadcaster !"

jaycee

14/11/2013Yes, Ken..though I admire Keating for a different reason than his politics, I had to disagree with his reasoning for the sell-off of govt' controlled utilities. Having such utilities in govt' hands, while seen as costly, were never as innefficient as the media / vested interests portrayed and they had the added bonus of giving secure employment to a fair percentage of the population which gave spending power to purchase goods and services from the private sector...PLUS..they turned over a great number of skilled, trained apprentices that moved out into the private industries to serve that sector. No..it was a sorry day when the politicians began the great public utility sell off.

Ken

14/11/201342 long That's another aspect of the 'mandate' that I didn't go into. Yes, what sort of mandate is one that is based on fabrication and exageration! And, as you say, each elected representative has a mandate for their own electorate. The idea of a mandate is complex and, as I said in an earlier response, almost meaningless in a political context.

Ken

14/11/2013Apart from being a sceptic, Abbott's approach to climate change is based on the idea that if Australia moves ahead of the rest of the world our economy will suffer. For some reason, he can't see that our economy will suffer if we don't and, as all the reports on climate change by [u]economists[/u] have pointed out, it becomes more expensive to address the longer it is put off. Australia has the science and capacity to become a world leader in some of the technologies associated with addressing climate change. If we don't utilise that capacity we will be importing the technology we need - another burden on the economy when we could, and should, be making income by being an exporter of such technology. The short-sightedness of Abbott and the LNP is breathtaking and almost criminal in its neglect!

Catching Up

14/11/2013Ken, only to the Menzies era. Maybe a century before. Yes, always back to the past, but not Menzies. The one that Abbott is is in love with, is that of Santamaria. Pyne has introduced his union bashing bills. Only ones that have anything to fear, is those that do wrong. Wrong in whose eyes, is the question. Yes, Uren was a great man. One I was proud to meet.

TalkTurkey

14/11/2013 Comrades DO TRY TO MAKE IT! On this Sunday 17th there's a similar RALLY in every capital and some regional centres but not where I'll be it seems, dam, I'll be in Mildura. Insult to injury, I'm roped in to going to the 80th birthday of J****'s half-sister's husband who thinks Abborrrrttt is "a [i]very fit man[/i]" (and that is all he needs to be.) Urgh. But if you can turn out please do, it'll feel good. Day of Climate Action - Adelaide Sunday, November 17, 11:00 AM Elder Park, King William Rd, Adelaide, 5000, Australia On 17th November, tens of thousands of Australians will turn out across the country to mass climate rallies in capital cities and local Climate CatchUps in regional towns to show their support for stronger climate action. Come and join the crowds in Adelaide! This day of action will be a spark for our work over the summer - As the Temperature Rises, So Will We! For more information on the rallies:https://www.getup.org.au/get_togethers/national-day-of-climate-action--2

Ken

14/11/2013jaycee Selling off public assets was a disaster for many of the reasons you point out. One that strikes me now as climate change affects us was the selling off of water and electricity utilities (or even if not sold off, they now operate as corporate entities). People are reducing their electricity and water usage, which is for the public benefit, but now the utilities increase their prices to off-set the reduced usage. If they were still publicly owned, surely they would have to accept that reduced usage as a public benefit and actually plan for further reductions in the future, and/or ensure sustainability, not profit-making.

jaycee

14/11/2013Journo cameo #7 In front of Janet, on the white, washroom bench, was a small mother-of-pearl hinged box, she was using the mascara pencil from that box to adjust her eye-lining. Her closest friend and confidant was talking to her reflection in the mirror.. "Really, Janety...I doubt they would even give a thought to it !" Janet demanded the name shortening of Janety be used from an early age..She didn't really like Janet and she abhorred "Jan", as she said it sounded like someone who makes "fruit spreads in a ric-rac edged apron !". "Of course they will!" Janet barked "They are more than likely discussing it as we speak!" her mouth contorted as she concentrated. "Well, I don't think one raised eyebrow constitutes condemnation...and anyway..with Rupert with all those wrinkles, you can hardly tell if he was bemused, annoyed or constipated!.......anyway, I wouldn't shed a tear over it." "I'm certainly not one for shedding a tear, Connie...not at all!" Which was mostly true...the last time Janet had shed a tear was when she was ten years old and they were taking her pet guinea pig "Adolph" to the vet to be put down...as her mother explained to her at the time...: "It's cancer, Janety...and you know what the vet said last week...I think it is time to say goodbye to "Adolph."....and of course, Janet was of the pragmatic mind even then to accept the inevitable. " Yes, I know...but I will re-name him first as I don't like putting down anything named Adolph...I shall re-name him 'David'." On the way to the vet in the back seat of the Range Rover, it was the only time she shed a tear...the little guinea pig, held tightly in his owner's lap struggled and in restraining him, Janety was bitten....it hurt so sharply she gave a little gasp and a tiny tear crept into her eyes. Suddenly, she hated the little beast, as if it had betrayed her affections, she pressed her thumb fiercely into it's throat and clamped it's little body tighter...she pressed and pressed until she felt a small but strangely satisfying "crick"....her mother looked in the rear-view mirror..."Are you alright, Janety? "......."Yes...yes, quite alright....now..aren't we 'David' ? " she replied. The vet was suprised and cast leery eye to Janet before declaring that .." Well, I suppose the shock coupled with the illness must have done the trick...all's well that ends so...I suppose"...but he did look curiously at Janet. And now here was Connie prattling on about something she obviously knew nothing about...."Connie...I KNOW how such things go down with men, especially when they come from a woman....and to make a complete ass of oneself in front of the managing director of the "Orange Grove Organic Juice and Yoghurt Cooperative" by declaring at the announcement of lunch ; ' Oh wonderful...I'm ravished!' when obviously I meant "famished" will go down a treat in the minutes as the "femme faux pas" of all time....Really, Connie...you're such an innocent, sometimes I could strangle you !"

Catching Up

14/11/2013 [blockquote]"..........At the outset, I wish to register my concern about the duration of this debate. In September 2011, the coalition described as ‘ridiculous’ this House’s decision to schedule 35 hours of debate on the carbon price bills. They were bills which, according to the Climate Institute, ultimately had ‘an undetectable impact’ on the overall economy. Yet this House is now scheduling 70 minutes to debate $200 billion—that is $47 million per second of this debate. Every second of this debate that elapses, the debt limit will rise $2 for every single Australian. That is how little this government regards debate in this House............"[/blockquote] http://www.andrewleigh.com/blog/?p=5214 No debate allowed. It matters not that Abbott ignores the will of the voter, of the people. Yes, those on the cross benches are also elected. They have the same mandate, that Abbott has. Yes, a duty to act on behalf of their electorate. Yes, they represent who voted for them. Where is democracy in this country, disappearing to.

Catching Up

14/11/2013What Abbott does not see or understand, we are already far behind the rest of the world. He does not see, that others will lose respect for the country, the path he is taking us down.

42 long

14/11/2013Perhaps some drastic action may be required in the future if commonsense doesn't prevail something like a walkout of reps from the Parliament. their arrogance will only increase with time as they are more confident. Attract world attention. we haven't been faced with a threat like tis ever.

Catching Up

14/11/2013Well, one cannot deny the arrogance we are seeing. Pyne's chest will erupt, if he gets anymore puffed up. Shorten doing well. Bishop trying to slow him down, with little success.

Catching Up

14/11/2013I can see this Opposition walking out, as I believe the speaker did in Victoria today. Either that, or just sitting there during QT, not asking any questions.

Catching Up

14/11/2013http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-14/hockey-labor-will-be-responsible-for-more-severe/5090834

TalkTurkey

14/11/2013Koukoulas ‏@TheKouk 8m For some reason this song is on my mind today: The Eulogy Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXHleozgQ18 …

Casablanca

14/11/2013 TT FYI - https://twitter.com/hippiebutter/status/400800840249643008/photo/1

Curi-Oz

14/11/2013Even allowing for the fact that some things (like boats that never apparently left somewhere else to sail to Australia), of the borrowing of large sums of money (that not even the RBA wanted), that were undertaken during the interregnum between swearing in and sitting in the House, I am beginning to wonder on the evidence of the last couple of day's performance in the House of Representatives if the current holder of the Prime Ministership and their cohorts actually have a vision for all Australians or just their paymasters? The major discrepancy between the "dreadful" (and demonised) Ms Gillard and the "sainted" (and hagiographed) Mr Abbott in getting back to the governance of this (flogged off and sold out) country, is that at least Ms Gillard and the ALP had a vision for Australia. Even if the execution of it could have been better. PS - I've tried writing to my representative (an LNP member) to find out what vision there might be, but end up weeping in frustration at being incapable of expressing my outrage sufficiently cogently that it's neither expletive-riddled, libellous nor liable to render me facing investigation for threatening behaviour. Less than three months of this "government" and I am dreading Christmas dinner with family who think that the sun shines out of Mr Abbott...

Ken

14/11/2013Curi-Oz Appreciate the dilemma. I agree it would be extremely difficult to write a civil letter to any member of the current co-called 'government'. Perhaps you need to adopt a different approach. Pretend you are writing to a complete moron (perhaps no need to pretend!!). Don't use any words of more than two syllables. Sentences should be no more than about six words. And perhaps everything should be in caps and probably 16-18 point font, as is you are shouting at them in an effort to have them understand. Hope you can avoid politics at your family Christmas.

Casablanca

14/11/2013[b]Tony Abbott #abc730 interviews with and without earpiece #auspol[/b] https://twitter.com/RobedSinners/status/400566395689127936/photo/1 [b]Abbott wears ear piece during radio interview for instruction. [/b] https://twitter.com/RobedSinners/status/394228174801756160/photo/1 [b]So everybody else noticed Tony Abbott clasping a $2 coin on @abc730 last night, right?[/b] https://twitter.com/RyanSheales/status/400901543940984832/photo/1 Tweets: Thanks for putting this up, he's definitely being guided and that may explain the weird body language, coughs etc. Body language expert needed. Not acceptable for the leader of a nation to need someone to tell them what to say. Voters elected a ventriloquist's dummy. Who has their hand up Abbott?

jaycee

14/11/2013I hope the voters of Australia now realise, with all the outstanding civil and potential criminal issues against Mr. Abbott, we now have a potential and indeed, some would quite correctly claim, an actual accusee of criminal deeds as our Prime Minister....for the first time in our history, a new precedent has been set with the PM. having civil and criminal suspicion hanging over him. What have we done?

Curi-Oz

14/11/2013Jaycee, Sydney proudly started as a convict settlement ... now it has bequeathed the nation an exported Englishman with 'alleged' criminal tendencies to lead us. *wry sour grimace* Just as the archetypes of the US Tea Party are hidden in their so-called 'Pilgrim Fathers', so our archetype is either the squatter or the convict. And when we get to certain points in history, I think that sometimes those archetypes rise to the top to make life "interesting" ... I think those points are usually triggered by complacency and fear in different proportions at different times, and I usually have to be a lot more inebriated for it to make sense to me. This last two days have given me a head start *sighs*

Curi-Oz

14/11/2013PS - have you noticed that there were/are no "Pilgrim Mothers", but lots of "Daughters of ..." in the US social whirl?! Fathers are obviously the leaders of the world ... Sons go to fight ... Daughters support fathers and brothers ... What do the Mothers do? And I wonder what our archetypes get up to. *just maundering miserably*

Casablanca

15/11/2013 [b]CASABLANCA'S CACHE. Friday, 15 November 2013: 66 items[/b] ENTITLEMENTS & FIDDLES 1. New tenants having a party Jack Waterford Abbott says Labor trashed the joint, but he too must remember he’s on leasehold, not freehold. Nothing turns new governments into old, worn and shop-soiled governments quicker than public perceptions of greed, complacency and contempt for public opinion. Abbott looks as guilty, and shifty about it as colleagues such as George Brandis and Barnaby Joyce. He could hardly choose a more silly excuse than insisting that others were equally guilty. The feeling that he doesn’t even feel contrite, other than for being exposed, is the stronger for the fact that not one of the tweaks actually addresses any of the situations – including the posited Labor ones – that had caused the public dismay about the new tenants being as bad as the last. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/new-tenants-having-a-party-20131112-2xevs.html POLITICS 2. Being a jackhole is not a human right OnlyTheSangfroid Senator Brandis has announced that his first act as Attorney-General would be to repeal sections 18C and 18D of the Racial Discrimination Act. These sections have been controversial ever since Herald Sun columnist, Andrew Bolt, was found to have breached section 18C by offending a group of fair-skinned Aboriginal people with comments that were, in Justice Mordy Bromberg’s view, “untrue”, “erroneous”, “exaggerated”, “wrong because they were exaggerated”, “constitute[d] a significant distortion of the facts”, and “not done reasonably and in good faith”. http://ausopinion.com/2013/11/13/bolt-laws/ 3. Can Abbott keep his party in order? Shaun Crowe While the Liberal Party may have enjoyed watching Labor cleave itself in two over the past six years, it's quickly learning that its own house isn't as ordered as it seemed in opposition...Tony Abbott's economic agenda, an agenda we'll generously describe as 'still developing', has so far lacked coherence because he leads a government founded on contradictory impulses, a government being pulled in a number of different directions. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-14/crowe-abbott27s-economic-dilemma/5088988 4. Does Indonesia have to take asylum seekers rescued by the Australian Navy? ABC FACT CHECK Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Indonesia has legal responsibility for people picked up from boats in its search and rescue region. The verdict: Mr Abbott goes a step too far when he says Indonesia is obliged to take in people just because they are rescued in its search and rescue region. When people are picked up in a search and rescue region they should be taken to a place of safety, which is usually the nearest port. However, in Indonesia's search and rescue region the nearest port could be in Australian territory. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-14/asylum-seekers-rescued-at-sea/5088168 5. ‘But’, not ‘and’ – Palmer set to prove the Nats are a spent force: Errol Brandt @e2mq173 Errol Brandt Undoubtedly the biggest shock from the last federal election was the emergence of Clive Palmer’s Palmer United Party (PUP). Politicians and journalists alike dismissed Palmer as a buffoon. Fanciful stories of CIA plots and a dubious understanding of macroeconomics appears to have distracted them from seeing Palmer as a shrewd political tactician. PUP’s support in the Senate will now be critical to the effective running of the Abbott government come July next year. http://nofibs.com.au/2013/11/14/palmer-proves-nats-spent-force-errol-brandt-e2mq173-reports/#sthash.dheMilUz.dpuf 6. Coalition Cuts To Aid Will Limit Disaster Relief Max Chalmers Experts say the Coalition's cuts to the aid budget will likely come from funds earmarked for emergency relief, limiting our ability to help during events like Typhoon Haiyan. In the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, aid experts are warning that federal budget cuts may limit Australia’s capacity to provide emergency responses to future disasters in the region and undo some of our most important long term development work. https://newmatilda.com/2013/11/14/coalition-cuts-aid-will-limit-disaster-relief 7. Tony Abbott ‘an embarrassment’ for linking spying claims to Labor Helen Davidson Shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus accuses prime minister of using national security for political advantage http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/14/tony-abbott-an-embarrassment-for-linking-spying-claims-to-labor?CMP=soc_568 8. When Tony wants to talks tough, who does he run to? Michael Taylor Our chest-beating Prime Minister must have Indonesia shaking in its boots after this bold broadside: Tony Abbott has fired a verbal warning to Jakarta that Australia is not happy over a standoff in which a boatload of asylum seekers landed on Australian territory, despite being rescued in the Indonesian search-and-rescue zone. The article tells us – wait for it – that Mr Abbott told radio station 2GB. http://cafewhispers.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/when-tony-wants-to-talks-tough-who-does-he-run-to/ 9. Nine stray thoughts on the Abbott ascendency Tim Dunlop As Parliament returns under a new leader, Tim Dunlop offers correctives to the myths and misconceptions pervading the debate on politics and media. http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-14/dunlop-nine-stray-thoughts-on-the-abbott-ascendency/5091798 10. Tony Abbott on ABC's 7.30: Leigh Sales may as well throw jelly at a cliff Jazz Twemlow The prime minister's performance last night was opaque: he hid from questions about asylum seekers by saying he could not discuss 'operational matters'. A clever trick, that.... In Question Time, Abbott was on typical form, rather laboriously peppering his first answer with "carefully", "methodically", and "steadily" like an animatronic flesh mannequin that's only been programmed with adverbs. It was therefore something of a sweet relief when a protest broke out in the public gallery while the PM was midway through mathematically explaining the benefits of putting a carbon pillow over mother nature's face: adverbs and numbers – it would have been his favourite colour next. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/14/tony-abbott-on-abcs-730-leigh-sales-may-as-well-throw-jelly-at-a-cliff?CMP=twt_gu#auspol 11. How a jesuit product turned a government into trappists Kevin Childs One intriguing view on the Jesuit-educated Abbott's attempt at becoming a Trappist monk, and so assuming a vow of silence, is that it is a clever strategy because if refugees and boat people are ignored, the public will think the problem is solved. This is the view of behaviourial psychologist and Gruen Transfer panelist Adam Ferrier. So as Abbott strode, tight-lipped and eyes down past reporters asking him about the latest drownings at sea it did not, apparently, matter that he seemed utterly without compassion. http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=15699&page=2 12. Low, mean or petty behaviour in the House of Representatives is out says a 'reformed' Tony Abbott northcoastvoices ... this is how Tony Abbott, as the Member for Warringah and/or Leader of the Opposition, behaved in the House of Representatives during ...two parliaments. It is interesting to note the frequency with which a self-confessed political liar accuses others of lying and, the level of disrespect he shows the various occupants of the Speaker’s chair and the prime ministers of the day. http://northcoastvoices.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/low-mean-or-petty-behaviour-house-of.html 13. Wizards of Hypocrisy Mike Seccombe Hypocrisy and politics go hand in glove, that’s axiomatic. But there are degrees of hypocrisy, as the first actual day of business of the 44th Parliament showed. Let’s start from the least of examples and work up, shall we? And the least of it was name-calling. Our example here actually starts on the previous day, Tuesday, when the new manager of Opposition business in the house, Tony Burke, zinged one off the new Speaker, Bronwyn Bishop. http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/wizards-of-hypocrisy/741/ 14. What’s in a name? Electricity Bill versus Typhoon Tony David Holmes ....in the US, there is a campaign and petition to name hurricanes and storms after denialist politicians such as Hurricanes Michele Bachman and John Boehner. With parliament sitting again - and already showing signs of descending into chaotic rancour might - might we see Perfect Storm Pyne, Cyclone Cormann, Tornado Turnbull, Heatwave Hockey or the Frydenberg Floods? http://theconversation.com/whats-in-a-name-electricity-bill-versus-typhoon-tony-20266 15. You don’t need the numbers to cause a spot of trouble Michelle Grattan The new Parliament is starting its work on a narky note, as if still suffering a hangover from the old one. The government today quickly asserted its authority by changing the House of Representatives' standing orders to its advantage. http://theconversation.com/you-dont-need-the-numbers-to-cause-a-spot-of-trouble-20263 RUDD 16. Rudd's Tragic Legacy Ben Eltham Kevin Rudd resigned last night a diminished man, who learned the hard way that the ALP never forgets old hatreds. His legacy is one of both success and betrayal https://newmatilda.com/2013/11/14/rudds-tragic-legacy 17. The best and worst of Kevin Rudd Tony Wright Calling it quits on his political career, we look back at the best and worst of Kevin Rudd's time in parliament. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/the-best-and-worst-of-kevin-rudd-20131114-2xiaj.html 18. Kevin Rudd and the rise of vested interests David Llewellyn-Smith Kevin Rudd may have steered Australia through the GFC, but his prime ministership will be remembered for giving vested interests power over economic reform. Rudd's business cycle and budget management.... is a template that is likely to be followed again in the future, though with a modulated magnitude and with a different mix of spending targets. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-14/llewellyn-smith-kevin-rudd-and-the-rise-of-vested-interests/5091306 19. Second thoughts on Kevin Rudd Rory Medcalf He had a far-sighted vision of Australia’s interests and what needed to be done to advance and protect them in a changing Asia and a changing world. He set out to do great things. But much went awry in the doing of them, and his legacy is less than it could have been. Now reviewing my own hasty and somewhat harsh appraisal of his record up to 2010 in light of Rudd's retirement from parliament, I must admit to a few second thoughts. http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2013/11/14/Second-thoughts-on-Kevin-Rudd.aspx 20. Tony Abbott: I will not be offering Kevin Rudd a job Katharine Murphy As Labor prime minister Rudd often gave government posts to retiring Coalition politicians – but the favour will not be returned. “Do I think that Kevin Rudd can usefully contribute to our public life in the future? Yes I do. But do I think that a Coalition government is going to rush to find a job for him? No I don't.” http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/14/tony-abbott-i-will-not-be-offering-kevin-rudd-a-job?CMP=soc_568 21. Siegfried and Rudd – Kevin the Illusionist Zipping Into A New Challenge prestontowers There’s going to be plenty written about Kevin Rudd in the next few days and years. His life in politics would make a great play somewhere down the track – though not if it’s written by Chris Taylor or David Williamson. It needs to be written by someone some distance away from the protracted discourse that Kevin from Queensland has inspired over the years. And what a lot he has inspired – the many faces of Kevin have included: http://ausopinion.com/2013/11/14/siegfriedandrudd/ 22. Rudd exit provokes something rare – MPs pondering their own mortality Katharine Murphy Australian politics locked the door on the outside world, just briefly, and took a moment to indulge and comfort itself. The fact that it was over was etched in the flagging body language of the man who was prime minister, then wasn’t, then was again, then wasn’t. Rudd sagged, his organising and animating principle gone. Everyone present sensed the scale of the defeat, and what the admission had cost the man finally making it, so they laid down their weapons, gathering as one in a strange vigil of grief and protection. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/14/rudd-exit-provokes-something-rare?CMP=soc_568 23. The Labor messiah who could not save himself Michael Gordon, Tony Wright Once the most popular PM in history, Kevin Rudd remained fundamentally unknowable. When Kevin Rudd took his backbench seat in the House of Representatives for question time on Wednesday, the man who sits next to him sensed that he was anguished, tortured and reflective, all at the same time. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/the-labor-messiah-who-could-not-save-himself-20131114-2xjal.html 24. Rudd’s poor timing will likely cost ALP in Griffith Todd Winther. Kevin Rudd’s final speech in parliament yesterday was delivered in his customary egocentric fashion...The timing of Rudd’s resignation does the ALP more harm than good, particularly during the first week of the new parliament. This paradoxically takes the attention away from new Labor leader Bill Shorten, but the result will act as his first definable test as leader. http://theconversation.com/rudds-poor-timing-will-likely-cost-alp-in-griffith-20273 25. Glorious Progress of Dragon Emperor Kevin In Storming Heaven!: Guy Rundle Kevin Rudd had a transformative vision of how Australians should live. So why did Labor fail so badly? http://arena.org.au/glorious-progress-of-dragon-emperor-kevin-in-storming-heaven-guy-rundle/ GILLARD 26. Hard days and nights: the final 147 days of the Gillard Government Brenton Holmes Julia Gillard endured what many considered to be the toughest of political environments. This paper describes the key events and issues that dominated the 147 days between Gillard’s National Press Club announcement in January that an election would be held 14 September 2013, and the Labor Caucus ballot on Wednesday 26 June 2013 which saw Gillard replaced as leader by Kevin Rudd, whom Gillard had herself deposed on Wednesday 24 June 2010. http://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/docs/ParliamentaryLibrary_HardDaysAndNightsTheFinal147DaysOfTheGillardGovernment_Nov_2013.pdf 27. Julia Gillard puts Altona house on market David Adams It was the home she bought as she embarked on her federal parliamentary career in 1998 - only dreaming she would one day reside in the Prime Minister's Lodge. Julia Gillard paid $140,000 for the modest property in the working class suburb of Altona, in Melbourne's south-west. But earlier this week she quietly moved out, putting the home on the market, ending 15 years in the electorate. http://canberratimes.domain.com.au/real-estate-news/julia-gillard-puts-altona-house-on-market-20131113-2xgir.html ECONOMY + BUSINESS 28. Hockey’s budget hypocrisy writ large Leith van Onselen Ironic, isn’t it. After spending five years lambasting the former Labor Government over their so-called reckless spending and a “budget emergency”, Treasurer Joe Hockey has threatened spending cuts if Labor and the Greens do not pass the proposed increase in the Federal Budget debt limit from $300 billion to $500 billion through the Senate. The Greens and Labor have instead proposed an increase in the debt limit to $400 billion. http://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2013/11/hockeys-budget-hypocrisy-writ-large/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily+MacroBusiness&utm_content=Daily+MacroBusiness+CID_2afe07c69b075b5c59155afca623e06c&utm_source=Email+marketing+software&utm_term=Hockeys+budget+hypocrisy+writ+large 29. Living payment to be cut The Abbott Government introduced legislation this week to abolish the Income Support Bonus, a tax-free payment which came into effect earlier this year to help people prepare for unexpected living costs. The Income Support Bonus provides $210 extra a year for single people and $350 extra a year for couples, to assist them in meeting unforeseen costs like medical expenses or car repairs. The scrapping of the income support bonus was announced as part of the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT) Repeal Bill. http://www.nationalseniors.com.au/be-informed/news-articles/living-payment-be-cut 30. Business confidence in Tony Abbott’s government drops Flavio Menezes From a three-and-a-half year high last month, business confidence data for October shows the post-election honeymoon is over, with business conditions continuing to underperform in non-mining sectors. http://www.smartcompany.com.au/leadership/34537-business-confidence-in-tony-abbott-s-government-drops.html# NBN 31. Turnbull accuses Lundy of 'rolling' Clare on NBN committee Josh Taylor Summary: Labor's shadow communications ministers will not be a part of an NBN committee after Labor and the Greens put forward proposal to establish a Senate committee in place of the existing committee. Labor's new shadow communications minister Jason Clare and assistant shadow communications minister Michelle Rowland will miss out on participating in a new joint parliamentary committee for the National Broadband Network (NBN) after Labor Senator Kate Lundy put forward a motion with Greens Senator Scott Ludlam to establish a committee operating from the Senate alone. http://www.zdnet.com/turnbull-accuses-lundy-of-rolling-clare-on-nbn-committee-7000023185/ 32. ACCC approves NBN purchase of TransACT Matthew Raggatt The NBN Co has been given a clear run by the corporate regulator for its purchase of Canberra’s TransACT network. The ACCC announced on Thursday it would not oppose the government-owned company’s proposed $9 million acquisition of TransACT's fibre to the premises network, saying it was unlikely to lead to any major drop in competition in the wholesale or retail market. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/accc-approves-nbn-purchase-of-transact-20131114-2xjfg.html#ixzz2kcfKMi5Z ENVIRONMENT + ENERGY 33. Australia makes a bad start at Warsaw climate change meeting Ian McGregor Australia pulled a triple bad start by being awarded Fossil of the Day on the summit’s first day. The award is given by the international Climate Action Network to the country which has done the most to block progress at the climate change negotiations on that day. Australia also topped the Fossil of the Day Awards on Wednesday beating out Turkey. http://theconversation.com/australia-makes-a-bad-start-at-warsaw-climate-change-meeting-20190 34. Christine Milne: The Greens are defending action on climate change Christine Milne An historic agreement between Labor and the Greens built the Clean Energy Act and delivered action on global warming to Australia. Now is the time to defend it. The clean energy act is working and we know there are millions of Australians who want to see it continue. But that does not mean we should equivocate or delay in voting down Tony Abbott's attempts to tear up our clean energy laws. It is every reason to take a stand. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/christine-milne-the-greens-are-defending-action-on-climate-change-20131114-2xi9n.html 35. 2013 on track to be 7th warmest year since 1850 Andrew Freedman The world is on track to have its 7th warmest year on record in 2013, which is up from 2012, which was the globe’s 9th warmest year, according to a new report released on Wednesday. The report from the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva found that the January to September period tied with 2003 for the 7th warmest such period on record, with an average global surface temperature that was 0.86°F above the 1961-1990 average. In addition, global average sea level reached a record high this year, with an average rate of increase of 0.13 inches per year, which is double the observed 20th century rate. Sea level is rising because of melting polar ice caps and warming ocean temperatures that cause the water to expand over time. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/2013-on-track-to-be-7th-warmest-year-since-1850-26569 36. Who says business wants to scrap the carbon tax? Errol Brandt @e2mq173 reports Errol Brandt The government is telling a fib when it says that business wants to scrap the carbon tax. At best, this might reflect the views of some, but it completely ignores the views of others. Although not in any official capacity, I say this as somebody directly involved with implementing carbon pricing at one of Australia’s largest carbon polluters. http://nofibs.com.au/2013/11/13/says-business-wants-scrap-carbon-tax-errol-brandt-e2mq173-reports/#sthash.zYoiDpzc.dpuf 37. Will Australia cause a slip on the climate change stepping stones in Warsaw? Graham Readfearn United Nations climate talks aim to make ground on a new global deal as Australia's rhetoric turns negative. The United Nations climate change negotiations taking place in Warsaw have been trivially described as a "stepping stone" towards the next big global deal to cut emissions which, some hope, will be greeted with a giant rubber stamp in Paris in 2015. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/planet-oz/2013/nov/14/climate-change-warsaw-australia-united-nations-talks?CMP=soc_568 38. 2013 'one of warmest' on record Roger Harrabin Dr Steve Rintoul, research team leader at Australia's CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research division, said: "A more significant point is that global-average temperature in each of the last three decades has been warmer than any prior decade dating back to 1850, as reported in the recently released IPCC report. It provides compelling evidence that human activities are primarily responsible for the warming over the last 50 years." http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24925580 39. A fair go – the right to say ‘no’: Phil Laird Weeks of rumours that peak industry bodies were providing input into the proposed amendments to the Petroleum (Onshore) Act, regarding access agreements and permits, finally found their way into social media. The Act has had amendments proposed, the most controversial of which are about access to land for petroleum (read: unconventional gas) exploration. NSW irrigators confirmed on Twitter that the Land and Water Commissioner, Jock Laurie, is in discussions about the development of a draft code for access in order to push forward the NSW Government’s CSG agenda. http://nofibs.com.au/2013/11/14/fair-go-right-say-phil-laird-reports/#sthash.xpo3E5Hw.dpuf 40. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Ari Phillips In Australia, temperatures are on track for the hottest year on record. But observing the government’s recent actions and rhetoric on climate change gives another impression entirely. Tony Abbott, the staunchly conservative Prime Minister, had an anti-climate agenda throughout his campaign over the summer. Since being elected in early September he has shown every indicator of following through with vows to scrap the country’s hard-won carbon emissions scheme. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/11/13/2932871/australian-climate-agenda-cuts-repeals/ 41. A tale of two cries for help Barry Tucker A Philippines delegate to the UN’s climate change conference breaks down in tears while a Liberal party executive asks for donations to fight carbon pollution legislation. It’s hard to think of a more startling contrast between the reality of the human damage that can result from climate change and the Australian Liberal Party’s indifference to that reality. http://thesnipertakesaim.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/a-tale-of-two-cries-for-help/ 42. Tony Abbott and his ministry of the misinformed Giles Parkinson Now Abbott is acting on what was implicit in his policies. Which is that Direct Action is a construct of a party that simply doesn’t accept the science. Direct Action is barely capable of meeting a 5% target and certainly not a 25% target, and was never designed to do so. Little wonder that Abbott is still calling for proof of any equivalent international action, when it is there for all to see. http://reneweconomy.com.au/2013/tony-abbott-and-his-ministry-of-the-misinformed-62152 43. Vote Climate Jane Morton Grassroots campaigning for the planet as the election hots up For decades the large environmental groups have campaigned in marginal Labor/Liberal seats for campaign objectives that are ‘SMART’—Strategic, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound. David Spratt, co-author of Climate Code Red (2008) has described this style of public policy debate on climate as delusional and has repeatedly called for more forthright campaigning. http://arena.org.au/vote-climate-by-jane-morton/ 44. Provisional Statement on Status of Climate in 2013: Continuing high temperatures globally and many climate extremes worldwide World Meteorological Organization The year 2013 is currently on course to be among the top ten warmest years since modern records began in 1850, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The first nine months, January to September, tied with 2003 as the seventh warmest such period on record, with a global land and ocean surface temperature of about 0.48 C (0.86 F) above the 1961�1990 average. http://www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_981_en.html ASYLUM SEEKERS 45. Immigration: We can choose our skills, but we can't choose our family Gareth Larsen Whilst boat arrivals, asylum seekers, skilled permanent and temporary programs and even students have kept immigration featured in our politics and newspapers, family migration receives little share of public debate. This is intriguing as family migration is a bigger part of permanent migration than official planning levels would lead us to believe. http://parliamentflagpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/immigration-we-can-choose-our-skills.html 46. Tony Abbott’s asylum seeker secrecy is leaving Australians in the dark Lenore Taylor The public has a right – and a moral obligation – to know how the government's asylum policy is being implemented. Tony Abbott is starting to go further than just refusing to answer questions about his government’s asylum policy. He now seems to be suggesting journalists have some kind of moral obligation not to ask them. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/14/tony-abbott-asylum-secrecy-australians?CMP=twt_gu 47. Indonesia to change the rules Mark Kenny, Michael Bachelard In a further blow to the federal government's asylum seeker policy, Indonesia is trying to shrink its search and rescue area, putting more responsibility on Australia to take stricken boats. The developments come just days after Jakarta jolted the bi-lateral relationship by refusing an Australian request to land asylum seekers rescued at sea in the Indonesian search and rescue zone, in accordance with an understanding between the two countries and established international law. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/indonesia-to-change-the-rules-20131113-2xh0v.html 48. Explainer: the law of the sea and asylum seekers Sam Bateman What the law of the sea actually says on this issue can be found in the 2006 amendments to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, known as the SAR Convention. The amendment to Chapter Three of the convention says the country responsible for the region in which the search and rescue takes place shall take responsibility for co-ordinating efforts to have survivors disembarked from the assisting ship and delivered to a place of safety as soon as possible. This includes ensuring the rescuing vessel suffers minimum deviation from its intended voyage. http://theconversation.com/explainer-the-law-of-the-sea-and-asylum-seekers-20125 49. Jakarta hits back at Canberra over asylum seekers Ina Parlina. The government rebuffed on Tuesday Australia’s claim that Indonesia was responsible for the fate of a group of asylum seekers at the center of a maritime standoff between the two neighboring countries as they were rescued in Indonesia’s search-and-rescue zone. http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/11/13/jakarta-hits-back-canberra-over-asylum-seekers.html 50. Why Settler Australia Needs Refugees Lorenzo Veracini Australia’s newest refugee policy, like its predecessors, is ostensibly designed to address the refugee ‘problem’. However, in this article I argue that beside concerns about ‘national interest’, ‘security’, and ‘border protection’, asylum seekers—dehumanised people piled up in different configurations outside of its borders—are useful, indeed necessary, to settler Australia. Here I adopt the specifically Australian definition of refugee: someone who must not be allowed to enter a particular space no matter how urgent his or her human right to do so, and someone who is not entitled to protection unless he or she is ‘processed’ first. It is a definition that only makes sense in the context of Australia’s public debate, and a definition that is not consistent with that of international law. http://arena.org.au/why-settler-australia-needs-refugees-by-lorenzo-veracini/ BETRAYAL OF TRUST 51. Catholic church welcomes child abuse report but defends its patch David Marr Betrayal of Trust paints a picture of an institution determined to handle abusers and victims without interference from the state. Tears and ovations greeted the tabling of the report in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. “The words from the politicians just rang in my heart,” Chrissie Foster told Guardian Australia. “There they were saying what I’d wanted to say for so long and they have the power to change things. It was astounding.” http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/14/child-abuse-catholic-church-welcomes-report?CMP=soc_568 52. Tony Abbott defends George Pell after criticism from child abuse inquiry Katharine Murphy Prime minister calls Catholic leader a fine human being and the first senior clergyman to ‘take the issue seriously’. The prime minister has gone in to bat for his friend, the leader of the Catholic church in Australia, George Pell, a man who was “not perfect” but was nonetheless “a fine human being, a great churchman”. Wayne Chamley, of advocacy group Broken Rites, said Mr Abbott needed to ''check the history''. The first senior cleric to tackle sex abuse by clergy was Sydney Bishop Geoffrey Robinson in the 1990s. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/14/tony-abbott-defends-george-pell-after-criticism-from-child-abuse-inquiry?CMP=twt_gu 53. Abbott's response to child sexual abuse by clergy angers victims Barney Zwartz Prime Minister Tony Abbott's support for Cardinal George Pell over child sex abuse is inappropriate and factually wrong, victims say. Asked whether Cardinal Pell, now Archbishop of Sydney, carried any responsibility for the failures described by the report of the Victorian inquiry into the church's handling of child sexual abuse, Mr Abbott said he hadn't read it. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/abbotts-response-to-child-sexual-abuse-by-clergy-angers-victims-20131114-2xjpo.html LGBTI EQUALITY 54. Same-sex marriage bill defeated by one vote in New South Wales Australian Associated Press Labor MP reads hate letter to house, but a happy Fred Nile will be 'celebrating the victory' at his own wedding in December. Nile credited the outcome to last month's statement by the premier, Barry O'Farrell, in which he stated his preference for national same-sex marriage laws to avoid a "patchwork quilt" of state legislation. http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/14/same-sex-marriage-bill-defeated?CMP=soc_568 55. Colonialism, homophobia and the legality of gay sex in the Commonwealth Timothy Jones The Kaleidoscope Trust this week released a report on LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual/transgender and intersex) rights in Commonwealth countries. It found that 41 of the 53 member states still criminalise homosexual sex. This equates to almost 80% of the Commonwealth members, and over half of the 78 states globally in which gay sex is illegal. http://theconversation.com/colonialism-homophobia-and-the-legality-of-gay-sex-in-the-commonwealth-20094 THE MEEJA 56. Arena at 50: still a model for intellectual activism Raewyn Connell It’s intelligent. It’s left-wing. It’s pathbreaking. It’s non-commercial. It’s fiercely autonomous and it has loyal readers. Arena is the kind of media entity that, in the world of Rupert Murdoch and Tony Abbott, shouldn’t exist. The first edition of Arena rolled off the presses in 1963. Arena. And yet this year Arena, the little magazine started by a bunch of radical intellectuals in Melbourne in 1963, celebrates its 50th birthday. How have they kept it in print? That’s an achievement that has required an immense amount of work of a group of activists who have stayed in it for the long haul. http://theconversation.com/arena-at-50-still-a-model-for-intellectual-activism-19748 57. Laurie Oakes talks politics and life in Canberra Tom McIlroy Veteran political reporter Laurie Oakes knows more than most about the inner workings of government and his second home, Parliament House. He talks about life in Canberrahttp://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/books/laurie-oakes-talks-politics-and-life-in-canberra-20131112-2xdkn.html 58. The art of listening and the art of shutting up A. Ghebranious I like many sat and watched the masterful Kerry’O'Brien interview Paul John Keating last night. I had never any doubt that Kerry would allow his subject to speak because the man has the one interview skill that is essential. Listening. http://ashghebranious.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/the-art-of-listening-and-the-art-of-shutting-up/ PHILOSOPHY, ETHICS + VALUES 59. New view of right and might Ramesh Thakur 'The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must'' - thus spake Thucydides (ca. 460-395 BC), the Greek historian and Athenian general who sometimes is called the father of political realism that holds relations between states to be based on might, with little consideration for right. The still-snowballing controversy over industrial-scale global US spying is not a bad illustration of the maxim. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/new-view-of-right-and-might-20131113-2xh41.html#ixzz2kceOFBuy 60. What ‘Democracy’ Occludes Alison Caddick Consensus neoliberalism, a degree of fear about the future, if hardly consciously or adequately expressed by or for the people, and active participation by both Labor and the Liberals in strategies to appease significant reactionary tendencies in our fearful world, add up to a mealy-mouthed, boring and ethically suspect set of performances from both sides of the mainstream. http://arena.org.au/what-democracy-occludes/ 61. ANU professor Des Ball who 'saved the world' honoured Emma Macdonald An “insurgent intellectual” who has been credited with saving the world from nuclear annihilation has been given the Australian National University’s highest honour. Professor Des Ball was yesterday presented with the Peter Baume Award, recognising a career of global significance and an association with the ANU lasting nearly five decades. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/anu-professor-des-ball-who-saved-the-world-honoured-20131114-2xi6r.html#ixzz2kcg9CwEK 62. Elocution of Quentin Bryce John Warhurst The choice of Governor-General Quentin Bryce to deliver this year's ABC Boyer Lectures deserves greater analysis...This is a potentially risky step, one that no previous governor-general has attempted while in office. Bryce herself reflected on accepting the offer that the Boyer Lectures have sought to take Australians "down countless paths: enthralling, challenging, unworn paths". She has chosen the general topic of "Back to the Grassroots". Her emphasis, drawing on her lifetime experience as an academic, lawyer, and community and human rights advocate as well as her time as Governor-General, is on building communities, courage in everyday life, the powerful role of women in Australia and across the world and the future of Australian citizenship. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/elocution-of-quentin-bryce-20131113-2xguz.html#ixzz2kchNFnGj HEALTH + SCIENCE 63. Putting it off: some ideas about why we procrastinate Amy Reichelt Everyone procrastinates. I became somewhat distracted by completely irrelevant websites, for instance, while preparing to write this article. Procrastination, as you may have figured out by now, is the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to urgent ones. Or, doing pleasurable tasks in place of less pleasurable ones, and thus delaying performing impending jobs. http://theconversation.com/putting-it-off-some-ideas-about-why-we-procrastinate-19374 64. National report card shows Australians living longer - see how you compare Australians are living longer, are healthier and better educated than a decade ago, according to a snapshot released by the bureau of statistics. The Measures of Australian Progress report is broken up into four areas: society, economy, governance and environment. It has found a nation in good shape in most areas. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-14/progress-report/5091566 65. Health in Australia: a quick guide Amanda Biggs Australia’s health outcomes are among the best in the world. At the same time, as Australia’s Health 2012 notes, health system arrangements, which are mixture of public and private funding involving blurred lines of jurisdictional responsibility, multiple providers and a variety of regulatory regimes, are ‘nothing short of complex’. This guide provides an overview of Australia’s complex health system: what governments do, the role of private health insurance, how much we spend on health care, how Australian health outcomes compare internationally, the health care workforce and links to further information and resources. http://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/docs/ParliamentaryLibrary_HealthInAustraliaAQuickGuide_Nov_2013.pdf 66. Worried about taking statins? Here’s what you need to know Carissa Bonner & Jenny Doust After the controversial Catalyst program on the ABC, some people may be wondering whether they should stop taking statins to lower their cholesterol. But before making such a decision, read this article and discuss your risk of heart disease or stroke with a doctor. http://theconversation.com/worried-about-taking-statins-heres-what-you-need-to-know-19877 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 15 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/ ################################################################

Pappinbarra Fox

15/11/2013A threee dollar coin is to Tony Abbott as three silver balls were to Captain Queeg

Janet (j4gypsy)

15/11/2013Bravo jaycee on journo cameos 6 and 7! You are the sublime instigator of my early morning cackles :-). I must say, now have very mixed feelings about the name 'Janet', let alone Jan! I might just have to try 'Janety' - never thought of that one ('tho have been variously Janaiki and Jalina, depending on my cultural milieu). Keep 'em comin' :-)

jaycee

15/11/2013Gypsy Jan...."Janety" is yours if you want it...I was trying to think of a "shortning" of name as snobbishly pompous as some of those P.G. Wodehouse characters, but still usable as a satirical put-down!.....(and it suits the "person" satired).

jaycee

15/11/2013Papinga..I was thinking of that same thing last night...Captain Queeg and his silver balls.

jaycee

15/11/2013Yes, now that Casablanca's cache mentions it..that interview with Keating the other night...It demonstrated the masterful skill of both Kerry O'Brien showing once again, the masterful skill of excellent interviewing style and Paul Keating taking his time to deliver the mot juste to perfectly describe the situation or the emotion. An excellent visual experience. Guaranteed not a Mark Scott initiative!

jaycee

15/11/2013With Abbott gone overseas, the deputy PM. ; Warren Truss, is now "in charge"....imagine his suprise when he quickly ducks into the PM's. office to "try the 'Big Chair' out for size" and finds Barnaby already seated there!....." You bastard Barnaby!...that's mine!"

Catching Up

15/11/2013<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>You don&#39;t make cuts in the budget to get back at people, you cut because you think they&#39;re needed. Fricken kindergarten types in charge.</p>&mdash; Greg Jericho (@GrogsGamut) <a href="https://twitter.com/GrogsGamut/statuses/400736124420644864">November 13, 2013</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ad astra reply

15/11/2013Folks Today we are leaving warm Noosa for cold and wet Melbourne. Now that our holiday in the warmth of Queensland is over, I will have more time for reading the many informative links you all provide.

Catching Up

15/11/2013Sorry, forgot to change the brackets.

42 long

15/11/2013Gina will want Banarnaby and Rupert will want S.Hockey.

Casablanca

15/11/2013 Possessed by Kev STREWTH: James Jeffrey HAVING overcome a desire to leave this space blank in tribute to Scott "Operational matters" Morrison, we turned our mind to the empty spot left by Kevin Rudd's departure. Unexpectedly, it was Tony Abbott who seemed to feel the loss most keenly. We found him on 3AW - still in shock, presumably - emulating the Wholly Roamin' Emperor's patented self-interrogation style, possibly leaving Neil Mitchell feeling fleetingly redundant. "Do I think Kevin Rudd was a good prime minister?" he began, getting into the groove. "No I don't. Do I think Kevin Rudd left the Labor Party in good shape? Absolutely not. Do I think Kevin Rudd's policies on a whole host of issues were effective? No I don't. ... Do I think that Kevin Rudd can usefully contribute to our public life in the future? Yes I do. But do I think that a Coalition government is going to rush to find a job for him? No I don't." But he didn't zip. [End of article] http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/strewth/possessed-by-kev/story-e6frgdk6-1226760138956#sthash.08T8V8Ph.dpuf

Casablanca

15/11/2013 Former PM Kevin Rudd's house gets new tenant: Raiders' Ricky Stuart Meredith Clisby A $2 million Yarralumla residence once the perfect castle for a former prime minister has become hallowed home turf for the new coach of the Canberra Raiders. Recently returned local Ricky Stuart has confirmed he is the mystery tenant living in the executive-style home of former prime minister and now retired politician Kevin Rudd. Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/former-pm-kevin-rudds-house-gets-new-tenant-raiders-ricky-stuart-20131115-2xlwy.html#ixzz2kh1X7Dck Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/former-pm-kevin-rudds-house-gets-new-tenant-raiders-ricky-stuart-20131115-2xlwy.html#ixzz2kh1H99Ml

Casablanca

15/11/2013 Malcolm Fraser ‏@MalcolmFraser12 3h Will it never stop, inhumanity should not be our trademark. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/14/asylum-seekers-in-detention-in-darwin-for-more-than-48-hours

Casablanca

15/11/2013 Law Professors Call for Public Process for Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Intellectual Property Chapter In the midst of the controversy surrounding the release of a Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) negotiating text on intellectual property by Wikileaks yesterday, over 80 law professors of intellectual property law and related disciplines have written to President Obama, Members of Congress and the United States Trade Representative calling for the creation of a public process to vet the TPP’S intellectual property proposals. http://infojustice.org/archives/31217

Casablanca

15/11/2013 Tim Soutphommasane ‏@timsout 23m RT @AusHumanRights: Life expectancy gains for Aboriginal and TorresStrait Islander Peoples https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/stories/new-data-shows-positive-gains-life-expectancy … julianburnside ‏@JulianBurnside 25m How cruel is Morrison willing to be in order to stop boat-people asking for help? Has he any moral limits? http://bit.ly/1hKlRXE Chris Johnson ‏@seearjay 2h Morrison's treatment of asylum seeker mum inhumane says former Lib leader John Hewson: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-15/asylum-seeker-baby-brisbane-hospital-rejects-scott-morrison/5093782 … Coalition secrecy set to fail.

Catching Up

15/11/2013Interesting. [quote]…..Call for Action The Salvation Army calls on all political parties to commit to the following: The development of alternatives to the off-shore processing and detention of asylum seekers. To reiterate, while we recognise the importance of deterring asylum seekers making hazardous sea journeys with people smugglers, The Salvation Army believes that more humane and compassionate polices can be put in place to achieve this objective. To this end, discussion about the development of a better communication and prevention model engaging Australia’s regional partners must be undertaken, and such a discussion would be strongly supported by The Salvation Army. Reversal of the decision to excise the Australian mainland and islands for the purpose of the Migration Act; The processing of all claims being commenced promptly on arrival and completed within the shortest possible timeframe, taking into account the need for health, character and security checks; The urgent review of the decision to deny asylum seekers on bridging visas work rights while they are waiting processing. At the very least, a program to provide community work opportunities and other options to participate in the community should be made available; The provision of additional emergency relief funding to approved agencies, in targeted locations, in recognition of the growing burden on their resources caused by increased demand from asylum seekers and refugees; Revisit the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers (The Houston Report), particularly focusing on reviewing our humanitarian intake and the strong recommendations to build the capacity of countries in this region to develop effective, humane responses to the challenges posed by asylum seekers; and Ensuring that asylum seekers and refugees have access to support services for those whose lives have been affected by trauma and/or torture.[/guote] - See more at: http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/en/Who-We-Are/Publications-reports-submissions/Reports–Submissions/Statements-for-the-Federal-Election-2013/5-Asylum-see

Catching Up

15/11/2013http://static.politifact.com.au.s3.amazonaws.com/politifact%2Fphotos%2FScreen_Shot_2013-11-14_at_4.36.47_pm.png

TalkTurkey

15/11/2013In Mildura, a bit weary. So sick of Abborrrttians already, like everybody with a brain, but really that's a head of pressure to get the bastards out asap. Folks [b]don't forget about the CLIMATE ACTION RALLY on Sunday.[/b] I'm going to try to dash from here back to Adelaide on Sunday morning in order to get to Elder Park by 11AM, we'll have to leave by 6AM but at least we get the half-hour back these thieving Vics confiscated from us as we crossed the border! There are to be rallies in every city and some regional centres, - I wish there had been such before the election, but nobody moved. Do try to make it if you possibly can Comrades.

TalkTurkey

15/11/2013In my email: Dear friend, We know it's Friday afternoon, and we've sent you a couple of emails already this week. [b]But we just had to send a reminder about the climate rallies this Sunday.[/b] As our government steps back from climate reality, it’s time for us to step up like never before. Around Australia, tens of thousands of people from the bush to the burbs will hit the streets - and [b]we need you to join us.[/b] As we write, in Poland, governments of the world are meeting once again to work on a climate agreement - yet one country is noticeably absent from the table – our own. The Government has sent a Minister-less & mandate-less delegation. We're getting emails from overseas delegates at the meeting, expressing their shock and dismay at Australia's disruptive efforts. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, families are burying their loved ones – casualties of yet another climate-fuelled tragedy. Yet Tony Abbott is busying himself with cutting our carbon price, cutting hundreds of millions of dollars for clean energy solutions, cutting climate finance for developing countries and committing to cut emissions by a tokenistic 5%. It's time to stop this madness. Share this infographic by email or on Facebook to show that you are joining a rally on Sunday and won’t put up with Tony Abbott’s climate madness. [b]Join us on Sunday [/b]to tell our Government that enough is enough, to expose the fossil fuel industry’s dangerous plans and to, in the words of the Philippines lead negotiator Yeb Sano, “stop this climate madness”. The rally is being organised by a coalition of groups, led by GetUp!, and including the AYCC, Fire Brigade Employees Union, ACF, Environment Victoria, Oxfam, Greenpeace, 350.org, and more! See you on Sunday! Blair, Aaron, Charlie, Simon, Josh and the entire 350.org Australia team P.S. Sunday’s just the start. Over Summer, through next year and the year after that, we hope you’ll join us to stand up to the fossil fuel industry – and its supporters – who are doing all they can to block meaningful action on climate change. Pledge to stand up to fossil fuel expansion this Summer and/or get involved with one of our fossil fuel divestment campaigns today. * Ciobo 's a HOBO! I think Tony Burke is the best man left standing, and perhaps always was the best of all. He's so sensible. He negotiated Murray-Darling and Marine Parks agreements against fierce opposition and as Manager of Opposition Business he jumped the Parliament FIRST UP on Wednesday. He is softly spoken but he brooks no nonsense and tonight while creaming Ciobo he also made clear the he will not be talked over, I love that.

Casablanca

16/11/2013 [b]CASABLANCA'S CACHE Saturday, 16 November 2013; 26 items[/b] ENTITLEMENTS & FIDDLES 1. Politicians spend more to commute by RAAF jets Heath Aston Federal politicians taking Air Force-operated VIP flights are costing taxpayers $50,000 for every hour spent in the air. Documents obtained by Fairfax Media call into question the Abbott government's insistence that the use of luxury RAAF jets to shuttle ministers and MPs to Canberra from as far away as Perth is often more economical than individual commercial fares. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/politicians-spend-more-to-commute-by-raaf-jets-20131115-2xmcd.html MINISTERS & THEIR INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS 2. Why is Lucy Turnbull dodging Australian equities?” AFR Smart Investor has an interesting deconstruction of Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy’s investment porfolio today: Late last year, it was reported the Minister for Communications invested directly into the equities and bonds of three telecommunications companies: French Telecom, Spain’s Telefonica and America’s Sprint. RUDD 3. Australia and Labor can now finally move on Nicholas Stuart Is it an immutable law that all political lives must end in tears? Is it predestined that the fiercely kindled hopes will inevitably burn down until they're nothing more than charred embers of disappointment? How can the ending, the hackneyed spectacle of a middle-aged man coughing out trite lies, be reconciled with the eager optimism of the beginning? http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/australia-and-labor-can-now-finally-move-on-20131115-2xlz7.html#ixzz2kiOWG8RK 4. The outsider who did it his way to the very end Barry Jones Kevin Rudd was always smart, stubborn and passionate - and a prime minister we are unlikely to forget. Since World War I, only two Australian prime ministers have held non-consecutive terms - Robert Gordon Menzies (1939-41; 1949-66) and Kevin Michael Rudd (2007-10; 2013). In both cases their first period ended when they were done in by (or ''lost the confidence of'') colleagues. Removal of serving prime ministers, except at elections, is an Australian speciality, Hughes, Gorton, Whitlam, Hawke and Gillard being the other examples. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/the-outsider-who-did-it-his-way-to-the-very-end-20131114-2xjju.html#ixzz2kiSJGzyT 5. What has Kevin Rudd ever done for us?! Alan Austin (With apologies to Monty Python’s Life of Brian.) http://www.independentaustralia.net/article-display/what-has-kevin-rudd-ever-done-for-us,5897 6. Kevin Rudd on way out but he won't be down for long Judith Ireland Kevin Rudd has long been recognised as a genius - and not just by himself. Here's a man whose noggin and furious worth ethic took him from a farm near Nambour to the Department of Foreign Affairs, then Wayne Goss HQ and The Lodge. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/kevin-rudd-on-way-out-but-he-wont-be-down-for-long-20131115-2xlz9.html#ixzz2kianZCm1 7. Julia Gillard tops Kevin Rudd as better prime minister Chris Johnson Julia Gillard was a better prime minister than Kevin Rudd, but only marginally. That is the expert view of veteran psephologist Malcolm Mackerras, who has readjusted his ranking of the effectiveness of Australia's former prime ministers to include Ms Gillard's leadership and Mr Rudd's second stint in the top gig. With Mr Rudd's resignation from parliament this week, the election analyst said Australia's 26th PM was entirely predictable in quitting soon after the election Labor lost. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/julia-gillard-tops-kevin-rudd-as-better-prime-minister-20131115-2xl2c.html 8. Labor's leaders lack real legacy Jack Waterford But if there is hardly a pantheon big enough for the statues of the long list of noble Labor failures, it is by no means clear how much space will have to be cleared for Kevin Rudd or Julia Gillard, or any of their immediate predecessors or successors. Each has seemed to supervise and symbolise, in different ways, the ruin of a party which once pretended to dream of a better Australia and which hardly any longer bothers, except with meaningless rhetoric. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/labors-leaders-lack-real-legacy-20131115-2xmhc.html#ixzz2kiPgTlly 9. Kevin Rudd's former foes leave it to Labor MPs to add fondness to farewell John Birmingham At least the Mafia send flowers, or a nice horse's head for a throw pillow. All Kevin Rudd got in the end were heads hung low and embarrassed mumbling. It was probably better than the Bacardi Breezers smashing into the TV at Julia Gillard's place when she saw him delivering his own obit, but we can forgive Jules. She's selling her joint and moving out to hit the road and ramp up her exciting new career on stage. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/kevin-rudds-former-foes-leave-it-to-labor-mps-to-add-fondness-to-farewell-20131114-2xjmh.html#ixzz2kiQtnobL 10. Labor fears Kevin Rudd's old seat of Griffith may fall to Coalition Mark Kenny Bruised Labor MPs are bracing for a potentially hostile byelection as early as February in Kevin Rudd's Brisbane seat of Griffith, with party hard-heads conceding defeat is likely if the Liberal National Party's Bill Glasson runs again. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/labor-fears-kevin-rudds-old-seat-of-griffith-may-fall-to-coalition-20131114-2xjpt.html 11. Clive Palmer blames Rupert Murdoch for Kevin Rudd defeat Tony Moore Clive Palmer believes Kevin Rudd was the ‘‘victim of a relentless and self-serving propaganda’’ campaign waged by Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. “Kevin Rudd didn’t deserve to be savagely slandered by the Murdoch media interests.’’ In Canberra on Thursday morning Mr Palmer, the Member for Fairfax, said he sympathised with the former prime minister’s decision to retire. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clive-palmer-blames-rupert-murdoch-for-kevin-rudd-defeat-20131114-2xiea.html 12. TWEET: Paul Keating's statement on Kevin Rudd (he doesn't do this sort of thing too often) pic.twitter.com/bCk9PPfdcd PARLIAMENT 13. Comment: Testing times for Labor Greg Jericho Parliament, that great spectator sport for politicos and policy wonks, is back for another season. As its first week draws to a close, Greg Jericho takes us through the runs on the board. http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/11/15/comment-testing-times-labor 14. Zippers: former prime ministers leaving parliament Janet Wilson Of Australia’s 28 Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd has become only the fourth former prime minister to have lost an election or the leadership of his party and resigned from parliament shortly afterwards, bringing about a by-election. http://parliamentflagpost.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/zippers-former-prime-ministers-leaving.html 15. PM's top adviser trapped in a time warp Adele Ferguson When Prime Minister Tony Abbott chose Maurice Newman as chairman of his business advisory council - to give senior politicians "dependable and fearless advice" - he picked a businessman whose views appear to be trapped in a time warp. The size of the time warp became clear on Monday night when Newman gave a speech that not only resulted in a key member of the Abbott ministry, Christopher Pyne, trying to distance the government from some of his views, but created some confusion about Abbott's true intentions. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/pms-top-adviser-trapped-in-a-time-warp-20131112-2xehw.html 16. The Australian parliament's first week: five things we learned Katharine Murphy As we relax into the weekend, and anticipate the dawn of a new political week on Monday, here's how the 44th parliament started out, from a droll Joe Hockey to a toned-down Tony Abbott http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/15/the-australian-parliaments-first-week-five-things-we-learned 17. Gina Rinehart visit causes a stir in Canberra Jacqueline Maley Celebrity-spotting in Canberra takes a different form to other urban hotspots. ''Oh look, there's Ian Macfarlane!'', is an exclamation you might hear at the local Chinese on a Tuesday night during parliamentary sitting weeks. Or perhaps, ''Wow, Stephen Conroy looks weird in mufti'' when you're popping into the shops for milk on the way home from work. And so when Australia's second-favourite mining magnate (Clive Palmer takes top honours) flew into town on Wednesday afternoon, on private jet of course, it caused quite the stir. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/gina-rinehart-visit-causes-a-stir-in-canberra-20131114-2xjo7.html DEBT CEILING FARCE 18. Get rid of the debt ceiling and end the silly point-scoring Peter Martin Some debates are too silly to waste ink on. But for what it's worth, here's a way the new Treasurer Joe Hockey could end the angst over the debt ceiling once and for all. Go to the Greens and those with the balance of power in the upper house and get their approval to abolish it. The debt ceiling is an anachronism. It has no practical meaning and no practical purpose other than to facilitate point-scoring. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/get-rid-of-the-debt-ceiling-and-end-the-silly-pointscoring-20131114-2xhze.html 19. Surreal nature of brawl over debt ceiling Malcolm Maiden It's worth recalling how much things have changed as the government and the opposition confect a debt-ceiling brawl over Treasurer Joe Hockey's plan to raise the government's borrowing limit from $300 billion to $500 billion. In less than a decade, reality has been up-ended http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/surreal-nature-of-brawl-over-debt-ceiling-20131114-2xjkh.html 20. Joe Hockey goes a step too far Michael Pascoe There is politics with its usual play-acting and huffing and puffing, and then there's going a step too far. Joe Hockey has taken that step. I gave him the benefit of the doubt, thought he couldn't be serious, suspected there was a careful use of weasel words to provide an out – but I checked and apparently the Treasurer means what he said: he'll throw a Tea Party on December 12 and slash government services when the existing $300 billion debt ceiling is reached unless the opposition gives him a $500 billion ceiling now. He won't accept the proffered $400 billion interim offer. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/joe-hockey-goes-a-step-too-far-20131115-2xll6.html 21. Debt ceiling farce rolls on Leith van Onselen The Federal Coalition is good at manufacturing crises. While in opposition, they continually labelled the former Labor Government as economic vandals, declaring a “budget emergency” and voting against Labor’s bill to increase the Federal Government debt ceiling to $300 billion in May 2012. Now in Government, the Coalition is once again painting Labor as economic vandals for not agreeing to increase the debt ceiling from $300 billion to $500 billion, with Labor and the Greens rejecting the deal in the Senate yesterday and instead offering a $100 billion increase in the limit to $400 billion. 22. Senate rejects Hockey’s $500 billion debt ceiling Leith van Onselen Karma is a bitch. After spending five years lambasting the former Labor Government over their so-called reckless spending and a “budget emergency”, and voting against similar moves when Labor increased the debt limit to $300 billion in May 2012, Treasurer Joe Hockey’s bill to increase the federal debt limit to $500 billion has been defeated by the Senate ... with Labor and the Greens instead voting to increase the limit to $400 billion. 23. Ross Garnaut calls for end to 'great Australian complacency' Gabrielle Chan Renowned economist Ross Garnaut has called for a change in the political culture to address serious economic challenges facing the country, and says low income Australians cannot bear the brunt of reforms. His comments are a direct rebuff to the chairman of the Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Council, Maurice Newman, who said Australia’s minimum wage was too high compared with other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/15/ross-garnaut-calls-for-shared-sacrifice MEEJA 24. The Civic Vacuum Mr Denmore Whether liberal or traditionally conservative, no champion of a vigorous democracy can be happy with the emaciation of the Fourth Estate to the point where it is reduced to being a passive cheerleader or booster for the well-heeled, the powerful and the connected. The civic function of journalism has been almost entirely eclipsed by the market function of commercial media. http://thefailedestate.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/the-civic-vacuum.html 25. Help make our coverage bias paper free and open-access Kevin Cowtan, Robert Way Earlier in the year, Skeptical Science ran an appeal to fund the publication of the Cook et al Consensus Project paper. The required funds were raised in less than a day, a powerful example of citizen-science in action. Our new paper 'Coverage bias in the HadCRUT4 temperature record' is somewhat different from the consensus paper: it is not a Skeptical Science project, and the primary audience are the users and providers of global surface temperature data. Nonetheless the results of the paper are also of significant relevance to the public discourse on climate change. http://www.skepticalscience.com/news.php?n=2283 26. julia baird ‏@bairdjulia 6h Many people excited by the new, soon-to-be-launched The Saturday Paper. Our interview with its editor @ErikOJensen on @ABCthedrum at 10pm. 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 16 November 2013 http://www.hotheadlines.com.au/ ################################################################

Pappinbarra Fox

16/11/2013Thanks Casablanka, a great set of weekend reading for us Cheers

TalkTurkey

16/11/2013*Janety* Rhymes with some hootful words! Vanity Inanity Sanity Gannetty Humanity Granitey Planettee Manatee!

TalkTurkey

16/11/2013[b]CLIMATE RALLIES! BE THE POWER! We need [i]US[/i] at The Eleventh Hour![/b]

jaycee

16/11/2013Iwas thinking more on the lines of...: Janety = "Jane-tee"...not Janity. Rhymes w/ jaunty !

Ad astra

16/11/2013Casablanca Now back in Melbourne without holiday distractions, I have read your links already - an informative collection indeed. The debunking of the 'debt ceiling myth' was good reading. No wonder the public is disdainful of politicians when they play such silly games, all for a headline or a five second grab on TV. Yet all except a few journalists challenge them. Thankfully we still have some Peter Martins and Michael Pascoes to put us straight.

Michael Taylor

16/11/2013Hi Ad Astra, how's life these days?

Michael

16/11/2013http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/abbott-cameron-diverge-on-sri-lanka-human-rights/story-fn59niix-1226761628995 Tony Abbott does "shit happens" all over again in Sri Lanka. He opens his mouth, and... see above.

Ad Astra

16/11/2013Miglo Life has been much more relaxed for me since the excellent TPS Team took over. The weekly task of researching and writing a piece has been replaced by more time to read and enjoy the contributions of others, here and in other outlets. It's a good feeling, with which I'm sure you will identify. I hope all is going well for you.

Ad Astra

16/11/2013Michael For Abbott, it happens when he opens his mouth before his brain is in gear, over and over again. What have we done!

jaycee

16/11/2013From Shakespeare ...perhaps? ...And since my mind, my wit, my head, my voice and tongue are weak To utter, move, devise, conceive, sound forth, declare and speak Such piercing plaints as answer might, or would, my woeful case, Help crave I must, and crave I will, with tears upon my face Of all that may in heaven or hell, in earth or air, be found To wail with me this loss of mine, as of these griefs the ground... Indeed...AA. What have we done!

Casablanca

17/11/2013 [b]NATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION[/b] There will be 203 events happening all over the country as part of our National Day of Climate Action. Go to https://www.getup.org.au/get_togethers/climate-catchup where you can do a search by postcode to find your nearest venue. The major capital city details are below: [b]NATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION[/b] What: Beat the Heat - a national day of climate action When: 11am Sunday 17 November (Same time at all venues except Brisbane - 10am and Hobart - 12 noon) Wear: Bright heatwave coloured clothing – reds, oranges, yellows Bring: A hat, water bottle and lots of friends! [b]WHERE:[/b] Sydney: Prince Alfred Park 11am Speakers: Jim Casey (Fire Brigade Employees Union), Ian Dunlop, Byron Smith, Kirsty Albion (Australian Youth Climate Coalition), Mehreen Faruqi (Greens), Tanya Plibersek (Australian Labor Party). Canberra: Garema Place 11am Speakers: Dave Livingstone (United Firefighters Union), Amelia Telford (Australian Youth Climate Coalition), Josh Creaser (350.org), Maria Tiimon Chi-Fang (Pacific Calling Partnership), Shane Rattenbury (Greens), Andrew Leigh (Australian Labor Party). East Melbourne: Treasury Place 11am Speakers: Tim Flannery (Climate Council), Peter Marshall (United Firefighters Union), Dr. Mick Pope, Jane Stabb (Environmnet Victoria), Lucy Manne (Australian Youth Climate Coalition), Adam Bandt (Greens), Mark Butler (Australian Labor Party). Adelaide: Elder Park 11am Speakers: Greg Northcott (United Firefighters Union), Tim Kelly (Conservation Council SA), Darren Ray (BoM), Daniel Spencer (Repower Port Augusta), Sarah Hanson-Young (Greens), Penny Wong (Australian Youth Climate Coalition). Brisbane: Queens Park at 10am Speakers: Dean McNulty (United Firefighters Union), Emma Bosworth (Beyond Zero Emissions), Drew Hutton (Lock the Gate), Gemma Plesman (Reef campaigner), Christine Milne (Greens) and Jim Chalmers (Australian Labor Party) Hobart :Parliament Lawns 12 noon Speakers: Greg Cooper (United Firefighters Union), Phil Harrington (Climate Action Hobart), Heather Johns (Australian Youth Climate Coalition), Cassy O'Connor (Greens), Julie Collins (Australian Labor Party). Northbridge WA: Russell Square 11am Speakers: Kevin Jolley (United Firefighters Union), Jarrod McKenna (World Vision), Prof. Ray Wills, Piers Verstegen (Conservation Council WA), Claire Harford (Australian Youth Climate Coalition), Rachel Siewer (Greens), Louise Pratt (Australian Youth Climate Coalition)

Pappinbarra Fox

17/11/2013Unbelievable - Abbott is now helping a tyrannical government to suppress people fleeing an island for their lives because they are politically oppressed? How else can a person seeking refuge flee from an island? Abbott by providing military boats is not targeting people smugglers he is aiding oppression. Now he has shown his true colours and deserves the title of fascist. Peace in our time. Indeed. We were warned - in your guts you know he's nuts.

Pappinbarra Fox

17/11/2013here is an idea for Bill Shorten. He should find all the ludicrous quotes from Abbott (used to justify his behaviour in opposition), and without saying I am quoting Abbott, just say them as though they are his words, and see how the press and Abbott's team react. It may take a little while for the less intelligent of them (most) to realise what Bill is doing. A few choice quotes in Parliament and at pressers should do the trick. Watch the howls of outrage. Can he do it? Yes he can!

KHTAGH

17/11/2013Something close to my heart, please sign http://action.sumofus.org/a/bayer-bees-lawsuit/13/2/?sub=fb Just last month, 37 million bees were discovered dead on a single Canadian farm. And unless we act now, the bees will keep dying. We have to show Bayer now that we won't tolerate it putting its profits ahead of our planet's health. If this giant corporation manages to bully Europe into submission, it would spell disaster for the bees. Happy birthday for tomorrow Miglo, you enjoy tomorrow & I'll enjoy today as its mine today.

jaycee

17/11/2013The rise of the new order of aristocracy. With the jetting in (by private jet) of M'layhdy Gina this week to attend the maiden speech of one ; B. Joyce in Parliament (which as far as I can deduce was the equivalent of a monkey peeling a banana with it's teeth!) and the recent "Decree" of "Baron Forrest"....an apt moniker if ever there was one!...to grant largesse to the masses (let them eat caque), topped off with "Laud Palmer" sitting (or perhaps 'melting' )on the cross-benches...we are moving smoothly into a phase of re-establishing a ruling order by the new Patriarchy...I use the term "patriarchy" because the "blood-line aristocracy" is almost gone and only exists in a theatrical sense now. BUT!..even in my generation, kings and queens were still viewed as a ruling power in much of Europe...and any visit by royalty to our shores was mass attended!....so I use the word "Patriarchy" in the sense that the new ruling order is promoted by wealth to a level of 'mock-aristocratic" rule. Of course, with the heirarchy there is a descending order of authority...the top echelon does not do the "dirty work"...they now have a promoted "Equestrian Order"..; the knights...; middle-management elevated. These "in-situ" managers are nearly one hundred percent professionals...highly educated (at the 'right' schools), highly skilled (if no longer practicing) in their professions, well connected and moderately wealthy..BUT...not so wealthy that they cannot be broken and left destitute by "unfortunate investigations"...so they not only 'fearfully'back up their "overlords" ideals, they transfer such ideals through the media as an aspirational goal for the "working classes"...who in turn become half-educated through skill dumbing-down to believe and to indebt themselves to an aspirational goal too impossible for such a semi-skilled person to achieve. There is an interesting ; "Study of the Clerks" done in the early years of twentieth century Germany, where, amongst other interesting gender issues, it was found that with the rise in PERCIEVED STATUS of the clerks, these workers willingly adopted the mannerisims and social codes of their employers....we see this same "mock middle-class" adaption today with the FIFO. mining employees ; the new-rich of the working class, ostentatiously displaying their new wealth via gross consumerism and gauche behaviour....Sort of like ; Steve Martin in "The Jerk"..."...What!..this is OLD WINE!....I don't want your old wine...bring me the new wine!...". This new 'Aristocracy" is still in it's fledgling stage, but we can gaurantee, with their 'boy" heading the new parliament, we are going to see a ramping-up of the new Aussie Order, real quick.....this mob can only be given one term of govt'....we cannot afford to let them have more!

jaycee

17/11/2013And one thing I find distasteful in the extreme, is the new fashion of dissing unionism. This idea that unions have too much say in politics (I don't dispute there are good and bad unions / unionists)and wage considerations is the most gross perversion of equality!....The day I hear a minimum-wage employee sanely declare that they have been paid too much and would like to give twenty or thirty percent of their wages back to their boss, is the day I concede that unionism is dead and buried! United we stand...divided we fall.

Catching Up

17/11/2013We are still getting this morning, that Shorten and Labor are still getting it wrong. Their actions are being dissected, not the government. Little about the misbehaver of this government and PM. Just to say, he knows he can get away with anything. Does not have to tell us, secrecy is OK. [b]Why is this so?[/b]

Ken

17/11/2013jaycee Agree with both your earlier comments. We now have a plutocracy running the country and Abbott is just its mouthpiece. And we need the unions more than ever. With this mob we will soon see conditions being cut back, and there will be efforts to lower wages, more casualisation of the workforce, more use of labour hire companies, so employers can say "I'm not responsible". I'm surprised that they're not encouraging the boat people - they might work for very low wages in a genuine effort to make a start.

Catching Up

17/11/2013Funny thing, I found during my working life, most factories continue to produce without the boss around. Sometimes better. I have never seen much produced when the worker is not there.

Catching Up

17/11/2013Pappinbarra Fox, Abbott is the only leader supporting Sri Lanka, making excuses for them. Could he be the only man that has it right? The UK is taking the matter to the UN. Wonder what Abbott's stand will be there. We are also getting the same reception in Warsaw. Abbott thumbing his nose at all others that are attending.

Catching Up

17/11/2013National Day of Climate Action. Anyone attend. I was unable to, because of the falling rain, and the need to catch four buses to get there and back to my local gathering. As I sit listening to the rain, sadly I made the correct decision, Are we still a fair go society debate on ABC 24

Catching Up

17/11/2013Does one get the feeling that we are returning to the days of the white shoes brigade, of many years ago. Along with all those bottom of the harbour schemes, that led to much of that red, green and black tape, that many find obnoxious today. Yes, we can have cheaper childcare and nursing homes, if we just do away with regulations and tape. Most of the regulations, that has evolved out of abuse and rorting of the system in the past. Most rules and regulations are there for good reasons. Yes, review them, update them, but no answers wil be found by letting business off the hook. One good examples is the so called disaster of Labor and Pink Batts. The argument seems to be, that Garrett did not ensure there were safety guidelines in place. Yes, even when each contact stated that State Health and Safety and other refutations had to be followed. Now some bosses ignored their responsibilities, enshrined in law, and people died.

Catching Up

17/11/2013Abbott finds it very easy to glide over inconvenient facts. [quote]BRITISH Prime Minister David Cameron has hinted at a stark divide between Australia and Britain over alleged rights abuses in Sri Lanka, saying it is important not to "glide over difficult issues", but his stance has been rejected by his hosts. At a media conference on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit in Colombo, Mr Cameron made the comments after setting a March deadline for the Sri Lankan government to set up an independent inquiry into war crimes. Mr Cameron warned that if that did not happen he would formally demand an - See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/abbott-cameron-diverge-on-sri-lanka-human-rights/story-fn59niix-1226761628995#sthash.wSNg25nw.dpuf[/quote]

Catching Up

17/11/2013Where is the man's morals. None exist, I am afraid. [quote]"I'll be thanking the Sri Lankans for the co-operation which they have extended to us on this important issue and I will have more to say about this in the next day or so,'' Mr Abbott said. At home, Mr Abbott's assessment of torture in Sri Lanka was slammed by the federal opposition. Mr Abbott told reporters in Sri Lanka that while his government [b]"deplores the use of torture we accept that sometimes in difficult circumstances difficult things happen"[/b]. Labor rejected the comment. "The use of torture is never justifiable," Labor's attorney-general spokesman Mark Dreyfus said. "There is never a 'difficult' situation where torture should be accepted." Additional reporting: AFP, AAP - See more at: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/abbott-cameron-diverge-on-sri-lanka-human-rights/story-fn59niix-1226761628995#sthash.wSNg25nw.dpuf[/quote]

Catching Up

17/11/2013...........Munjurul Hannan Khan, representing the world's 47 least affluent countries, said: "They are behaving irrationally and unacceptably. The way they are talking to the most vulnerable countries is not acceptable. Today the poor are suffering from climate change. But tomorrow the rich countries will be. It starts with us but it goes to them." Recent decisions by the governments of Australia, Japan and Canada to downgrade their efforts over climate change have caused panic among those states most affected by global warming, who fear others will follow as they rearrange their priorities during the downturn. In the last few days, Japan has announced it will backtrack on its pledge to reduce its emission cuts from 25% to 3.8% by 2020 on the basis that it had to close its nuclear reactors after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Australia, which is not sending a minister to this weekend's talks, signalled it may weaken its targets and is repealing domestic carbon laws following the election of a conservative government. Canada has pulled out of the Kyoto accord, which committed major industrial economies to reducing their annual CO2 emissions to below 1990 levels. China's lead negotiator at the Warsaw talks, Su Wei, said: "I do not have any words to describe my dismay at Japan's decision." He criticised Europe for showing a lack of ambition to cut emissions further, adding: "They talk about ratcheting up ambition, but rather they would have to ratchet up to ambition from zero ambition." When the highest-level talks start at the summit on Monday, due to be attended by representatives from 195 countries, including energy secretary Ed Davey, the developing world will seek confirmation from states such as Britain that they will not follow the path of Japan and others. David Cameron's comments this weekend in which he backed carbon emission cuts and suggested that there was growing evidence of a link between manmade climate change and disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan, will inevitably be used to pressure others to offer similar assurances............ http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/16/climate-change-pledges-rich-nations?CMP=ema_632 Can we hold our head high on the world stage?

jaycee

17/11/2013With his promise of patrol boats (presumably armed?) to Sri Lanka..is Tony having a "Benito moment" vis a vis General Franco?

Catching Up

17/11/2013Abbott ABC 24

42 long

17/11/2013This worthless creature will bring nothing but SHAME on australia. If you say "I don't agree with what he does", the obvious answer is that WE (collectively) voted him in. The LieNP made him leaderof their party and Murdoch gave him millions of dollars of free advertising, and that is all reprehensible, but at the end of the day WE voted him in. My feeble efforts to oppose that did little. Now we wear the consequences.

Catching Up

17/11/2013So it is humane for one to stop people, who believe they are fleeing from danger, within their own country. ABC 24

Catching Up

17/11/2013He assumes it is coming out of foreign aid budget. What, the PM does not know.

Catching Up

17/11/2013Abbott is sure cocky today. What I do not understand, is why"

Catching Up

17/11/2013.................HANDOUTS will be slashed and eligibility tightened as the Abbott Government eyes off welfare wastelands draining the budget of billions of dollars. Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews has given his strongest indication that a crackdown on welfare is coming - and in his crosshairs are the 822,000 Australians receiving the disability support pension. Mr Andrews has begun a review of the system with government agencies and the not-for-profit sector in a bid to curb a welfare blowout. The review will help guide the extensive reforms, which could be rolled out as a matter of urgency. Those on a disability pension - now one in 20 working-aged Australians - face being booted off the entitlement and moved on to Newstart, which is less money and requires people to more actively look for employment. Some doctors could also be stripped of their ability to assess patients as concerns grow about some overworked or lazy medicos not properly scrutinising claims. It comes as the Government and the Human Services Department have been tipped off about people claiming the disability pension while being involved in physical criminal activity. Ke................. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/federal-government-has-welfare-rorts-in-sights-as-eligibility-tightened/story-fnihsrk2-1226761822856

42 long

17/11/2013He's where he wanted to be. He doesn't realise how lacking in ability he is, because he is abbott. Reality is not in him.

jaycee

17/11/2013Where's Margie these days?

Catching Up

17/11/2013Margie no longer needed. Has not been seen, since he dumped her in Bali

jaycee

17/11/2013You know....there's more..so much more than wierd about this bloke we have as PM. Let's face it...he's thick, he's an opportunist, a user and a hypocrite to even his closest friends (Slipper) and yet he gets backing and support from all and sundry on his side of politics....it's not that he has charisma or even a modest or likeable personality...he's a bastard!....so the question needs to be asked....Why? Is he being set in place to do things a sane, loyal to the nation person would not do?...Who are these shadowy creatures pulling the strings?...it obviously is not Tony...he doesn't think that fast...; Sinodinas? Howard and co.? Murdoch is there somewhere...the IPA. also is playing on his lute. Every now and then history throws up these freaks that ought not to succeed, but they prosper and do untold damage....social disasters. I have fear Abbott is one of those "point in time" freaks that end up out of control !

Catching Up

17/11/2013and it is all our Tony's own idea.

jaycee

17/11/2013I am going to post this on our community environmental site later. Completely and totally at the mercy of the environment. The recent typhoon (read ; cyclone) in the phillipines, "Typhoon Haiyan", gives cause for us to reflect how dangerous the weather can become. I will not debate here the ludicrous denial of climate change connection...THAT is "fiddling while Rome burns". We have a more pressing concern...: What are we to do in the event of such a serious weather event in our districts? While I'd admit the likelyhood of a cyclone striking where I live is remote, other storms and heatwaves most certainly will...and if we trust the science (as we do in a multitude of other catogries), such storms and heatwaves will increase in size and intensity. The death toll in the Phillipines shows that regardless of preparation, the sheer depth and ferocity of the storm was underestimated. It is always too late once the disaster has hit!....I have worked in locations where the temperature can go to over 50 degrees C. ....nothing of flesh and blood functions for long above ground at that temp' !....here, in the mallee, we have come close to and in some places exceeded that temp. If it was to become a regular thing over summer, it will be catastrophic for the very young and the aged. It is time we admitted, both to ourselves and to the world out there that we humans are completely and totally at the mercy of the natural environment....and we can no longer afford to ride roughshod over it's existance. We have said all that we can say in defence of sustainability, we have lamented all we can lament on environmental destruction...it is time now to act. We count on the Govt' to implement policies that reflect concern on a global scale, while we implement actions on a local plan. We need our local govt's to design and deliver to the community a plan, a timetable and a costing drawn up and printed out on display in every town in the council areas, showing step by step proceedures to respond to dangerous weather systems. The cruel visuals of the suffering and the dead of the people of the Phillipines shows it is too late and too useless to have wisdom in hindsight...and I doubt among those throngs of injured, hungry, thirsty, homeless masses, there were too many of the wealthy and well-connected persons...THEY would've been long-gone before the typhoon hit!....We have been warned with this tragedy to others..there is no doubt ferocious storms and severe drought will come our way....the last decade has been the hottest on record...the rising intensity of the storms and temperatures are what the science said they would be....all very well to wish it would go away..don't we all wish such things would...but it isn't, it won't and it is here, it is now and it will only, with time, get worse. We have reached that 'blind freddy" moment where we have to concede that we, as mammalian species, are completely and totally at the mercy of the environment!......it's time we acknowledge it..respect it!

Catching Up

17/11/2013Wonder if that noise, our illustrious PM is making in Sri Lanka has any worth. The true facts are, not many are now coming from that country. Many that have arrived, have gone back. It is worth selling out belief in human beings, to do so. Is it worth making other CHOGM leaders look fools. I suspect not.

Catching Up

17/11/2013http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2013/11/sra_20131117_0955.mp3
How many Rabbits do I have if I have 3 Oranges?