As we sit and wait for news of the fate of the seven dual citizens as they traipse from their parliamentary offices with the woebegone air of condemned men and women to the High Court this afternoon, it is worth reflecting on the sort of week the government has already had.
There is a prescient sense of deja vu about it. The Turnbull government often has good Tuesday afternoons but come the weekend, the control of the agenda has been lost, a scandal has emerged, or infighting on the backbenches has turned into a donnybrook. The familiar theme is, in any one week of the Turnbull government, one step forward and three back.
Indeed it has happened so often the thought occurs that possibly Malcolm Turnbull isn’t very good at being prime minister.
Full column here.
$6.6 billion profit from the NAB, Mr Insider, as they “sweeten” the news further with the announcement 6000 jobs will go over the next 3 years. Is it any wonder Australians are disgusted with Banks, Telco’s etc who do this. I left NAB for my banking years ago never to return they were bloody hopeless.
http://tinyurl.com/y9ebhvsp
Pinko commie agitator.
Talking about your super yacht in the Med, Milton, the new French Antarctic supply ship, Astrolabe, has arrived in Hobart – her home base…………
…….and the skipper is – a drop dead gorgeous young French woman. Good on her!
No doubt the testosterone levels have jumped up a few notches around Hobart – and at the same time there are lots of yummy French crew wandering around Salamanca. Ah that French accent is so divine 🙂
Funny name for a boat, Boa. And it sounds like you could do with one of your long walks in the mountains!
Astro McLabe-face. Perfectly reasonable scientific name Milton.
It’s a really nice vessel. Milt.
Still walking! And mountain biking……. It’s adventure world down here for sure!
Ello, ello, how are you laking my orizontal striping shirt and my beray? Non, alors, I em not from zees sheep Le Hasrolarb, I em professionale tennis playing champion of Bordeaux region. En I ’em 23 years old en you are remanding me of Catherine Deneuve. Ooh la la! What you say you saxy poussin?
Channeling Mdme Macron perhaps JB?
Just checked the British citizenship rules and as suspected my kids do not have British citizenship.
Section 2 (1) (a) of the British Nationality Act 1981 is quite clear, as is section 2 (1) (b) and section 2 (3) and section 2(1) (c) I would have had to have been in British/EU government employ in Australia for them to qualify.
If I can get that by Googling why could the idiots in Canberra
Nice try JB.!
Hey! Name rings a bell. Didn’t the character who allegedly nutted The Bott in the kisser have a handle like “Astro Labe? Now that would be an icebreaker wouldn’t it, the old Liverpool Kiss?
I think it was Astro Labe but he was more a flying saucer type guy. He’s bound to rock up in the senate one day.
IsaBella says:
OCTOBER 31, 2017 AT 9:05 PM
Dutts is such a national disgrace. How can his Mrs look him in they eye and feel no shame. A failed Minister in every portfolio he has held who has cost us billions in keeping a few genuine refugees offshore. Condemning genuine asylum seekers to a living hell, and then making it another nation’s problem, is beneath contempt. Surely this horrific situation, condoned by Dutts and his blackshirts can only end in disaster. I fear for the sanity and safety of those still in detention.
Rapes, murders, miscarriages….all seem to have no effect on Dutts. He brags about it to Hate Radley every week on ‘we don’t ask the hard questions’ 2GBiased. If we do nothing to save these wretches, we will be collectively responsible for destroying more innocent lives, and our children left to bear the shame, and the condemnation of the world. How have they gotten away with this? Simple. No information allowed out. No visas for hacks to Nauru. Not even a court case which would mean Dutts would have to ‘open the books’….BUT a class action is in the air. He will not snake his way out of this one.
His wife probably loves him Bassy
Razor certainly does
So that makes his complete incompetence okay?
I feel great shame to be an Australian right now over this Bassman.
Dutton will go down in history as a heartless creature masquerading as a human being.
Razor says he’s a “nice guy” but to lock up people seeking refuge from war & persecution for 4 years without any hope and carelessly give them to PNG authorities, smells a lot like people trafficking to me.
For those who aren’t disgusted by this governments treatment of these vulnerable people, just think, in another time, or a time in our childrens future, this could be any one of us.
Thanks for your post Bassy, I too hope he won’t get away with it.
it’s now trite to mention this but once enquiries get going it can tricky to predict exactly where they will end up. Loads of examples down the years of investigations wandering off the reservation including the appointment of Ken Starr as a special prosecutor.
My recollection is that Starr investigation started out as an enquiry into the suicide of Vincent Foster and some real estate deals that some thought dodgy, but eventually became about matters of marital fidelity, and whether it is OK to fudge about such things when giving evidence on oath.
it was all a bit ‘whoo, how did we get here’ at the time.
if only we had Peter Hatcher around, we could all have seen where it was going.
Last night found this on my screen.
“…….But the special prosecutor is playing a long game. His first charges are powerful not because they implicate the president – they don’t – but because they set up pressures on people who would have information that might, if such information exists.
At least one is already cooperating, and Mueller is plainly hoping that others will, too….”
Personally i doubt that Mueller would confess to that motivation even it were true.
I doubt you’d get better than two words out of Mueller at the best of times, mate and those would be “No comment”. Just quietly I wonder what’s happened to Michael Flynn. I wonder if he’s flipped.
Started off with the Whitewater investigation into real estate deals in Arkansas and ended with Slick Willy getting picked up for lying about whether Monica Lewinsky went down on him and linguistic parsing that would put most philosophers of language to shame. A lot of conspiracy theories that might have helped give the world Donald Trump as President on top of it all.
I think they called it cunning linguistics.
Sometime in early 2007 The Australian and the News stable turned on the Howard Government. We are seeing a very similar occurrence in The Australian over the last couple of weeks. We may have an election sooner than planned.
They only ‘turn’ (like big business donations) when they can see for sure the Looters or whatever party looks like going down will definitely lose. Looter election money may dry up even worse than in 2016. Maybe not even Malcolm’s squillions can save them! That said I don’t think Stan will make a good PM.
Your source of information about The Australian is obviously a result of “REAL data and research from your preferred media outlet”, Dismayed.
You switching sides at last mate?
Someone over the wall makes a fairly valid comment re the citizenship thing.
If Labor are so sure they are squeaky clean, as they claim to be, surely they would be baying for an audit – in the hope of knocking off a few more Libs.
Instead we have silence.
This is getting very messy. What a CUFU.
Certainly Parry’s resignation means they have lost any moral superiority. The Coalition don’t want an audit. If one MP in a marginal gets shown the givt can lose its majority permanently.
Goodness. My mother is a born and bred Brit (they have equal opportunity laws) – but I have never considered myself a British citizen. I once applied for a 4 yr visa which I got – but had to live in the UK for 4 yrs and then apply for residence if I wanted to stay
This seems to be getting out of hand.
An audit will bring out all sorts of variations no doubt!
You haven’t run as a candidate for federal parliament either. The rules are clear for those who do. The Australian Constitution is not an opt in, opt out document.
Malcolm is not exactly enthusiastic either. It’s long been suspected there is at least one big “Aussie Flag” draping name in the Liberal Party that isn’t quite kosher. What fun!
To the barricades citizens. Root out the Poms.
Agree JB. I suspect there are a few – on both sides – having sleepless nights perhaps. They’ll get sniffed out eventually. When the media is onto something it doesn’t give up that easily.
Frydenberg now.
I’m all for crowd funding a peoples audit!
well that’s good news, now that wind and solar are cheaper than coal we can get rid of the Renewable Energy Target and all the other boondoggles that have built up over the years.
i always though the market would sort it out, and once people choose renewables on their own, without being required to use them, then the price of elec will come down quickly as all those expensive cross subsidies get grandfathered.
Happy days!
Diesel subsidy, too, mate?
JTI – As far I as I understand it the diesel subsidy is not a subsidy per se. The purpose was as a credit for taxes already paid for diesel used in off road vehicles, offsetting any amount that may be used for public road building and maintenance. By the way the scheme is accessible to any number of commercial users, including agriculture and trucks using public roads – rates vary. It also applies to a number of fuel types.
And dismasted below, what is given to the mining industry each year? Even looking at the figures of that paragon of balanced reporting, the Australia Institute, mining provides far far more than it takes (and that is using what TAI considers “taking”, which would overstate the case – they don’t provide details.
Some of what is provided to industr ymay be the upfront cost for infrastructure (including coal rail in Queensland). This is definitely not a subsidy – it is a piece of infrastructure that is paid back for by fees paid by the industry. As I seem to recall, in the case of Queensland there was a time where there was a double whammy where haulage costs were paid, and were not deductible as a cost of business in calculating tax.
Tax credit, yes. Farmers get it too, as you say and commercial trucking. Cost of the scheme around $6 billion a year. Mining is an unusual industry. When there’s a downturn in price, the mine shuts and workers get the flick for the sensible reason that there’s no point pulling the stuff out of the ground if it’s not going to turn a dollar. So while it may be a big employer, it goes nowhere near say, retail, an industry that tries to keep staff during a downturn.
Is this the one you are talking about? http://www.tai.org.au/content/what-have-state-mining-subsidies-cost-you
Here is one from 2014 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-11/coal-oil-and-gas-companies-receive-4-billion-dollar-in-subsidie/5881814
Yes as long as we get rid of the $8billion we give the mining lobby every year for years which does not include the tax they squib out of.
Fossil fuels receive 3 times the level of subsidies renewables get.
ahh yes, but none of that is gong to matter a fig when people insist on using the cheaper wind and solar, and they will won’t they?
Amazing how many folk in the regions have solar. Often just to cover the cost of the hotwater service but more and more to be essentially off the grid or indeed sell electricty back to it. I’d say maybe one in four and in new developments like around Shell Harbour, mate, they are everywhere.
yes, have read about the take up in those circumstances, and saw an excellent interview with a bloke who dairyfarms in a big way in south aus.
he is installing some solar and also diesel units around his properties to run milking sheds and irrigation points etc, can’t afford the blackouts of course.
not sure what this does for the greenhouse gas situation.
Maybe a bit at the margins but what it does do is make people more and more independent from the grid. The corporates are doing the same. Solar on skyscrapers running the aircon and the lifts. Google’s HQ is entirely energy self sufficient. Most of the big corporations all do the same. The cost of energy is something they couldn’t control otherwise and affects their bottom line when there are huge hikes.
What blackouts? Im going to call you out on this. Citation is required at this point.
We have had one, uno, in twelve months, after a massive storm, none since. Show me the blackouts, or please, dont be a bloody sheeple and just keep the lie going. It stinks.
When our home was evaluated re energy use the assessor asked us what we thought used the most energy in our pad. I quickly said our 4 plate cooking stove and oven…NUH…the hot water heater.
Yep. My hot water is itemised on my bill. And it is more expensive than the rest of my usage put together.
I have been looking longingly at a wind turbine again Jack. We nearly went that way, but solar was easier. But Im thinking, when we put the batteries in, (two years max), we should be looking at popping up a windmill too. It is always windy here, just always.
There is a point (I think JS made) about how long you plan to be in a spot. Well for me, its a dynasty sort of set up. Im doing this for myself and heirs who tell me they are going nowhere ever. Cool by me.
.
ps last power bill came in, after winter, heaters churning, my share, $80. But when I step off grid…… even less.
Great work Wraith. Depending on your council area about 4.5 metres is as high as they will allow you to go with a wind turbine in your back yard unless you are rural in SA. anyway Solar (and batteries will probably produce more energy to be used and the batteries can be cycled a couple of times per day. I also am just holding off another year or two for the batteries.
I also agree, one system black due to Privately owned transmission lines being dropped by cyclonic winds and on one other occasion rolling stoppages due to AEMO not having enough power available across the NEM while gas fired plants sat idle in SA.
Finally!
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/indigenous/climbing-uluru-banned/news-story/53511b7f2e58f7ed03d5b0c3f66e2792
How would people like adventure tours through their churches, mosques and temples?
ask the vatican$$$
OMG yes smoke, biggest little whorehouse in the holy city. You can buy Heyzeus and Maria and the whole gang, all blessed and ready to go, right after the tour!!!
Agree Razor. A long time coming
Like St Pauls, Notre Dame, Hagia Sophia, Temple Mount, Angkor Wat, Haji tourism, Pyramids, Machu Picchu, Parthenon, Pantheon etc etc etc?
Well you certainly can’t climb all over the Pyramids……
No, you cant climb them, but they are on sale big time. Oh and as for things being dangerous, come on. Its dangerous to climb Everest, but man still goes there. Imagine if a bunch of Himalayan hippies decided it was ‘their god mountain’ and no one can climb it anymore. There would be a rightful outcry.
But not here in thee land of thee nutjobs.
In Bhutan all the peaks are considered sacred. Nobody is allowed to summit them. And no one does.
Good point.
Razor, the NT News reported this morning that “most Territorians” didn’t agree with the ban. You have to ask what questions they were asked. I, for one, think it’s a terrific idea and it should have happened long ago. For most people who do visit Uluru (particularly the Europeans) they respect the wishes of the custodians and don’t climb it. It is actually quite dangerous
custodians? what do they run over it with the swifty sweep twice a week? another bunch of religious hippies forcing their rules on everyone else. ugh. Its a rock people, a remnant outcrop. It has no soul, neither does anything else. Oh look over there, fairies!!!
Wraith, I can’t agree with you in this. Sorry, but I have visited most of the places Harry mentioned with the exception of Manchu Picchu and Angkor Wat, I have had no desire to climb all over them. I do however find it kind of contradictory when indigenous folk visit Darwin and show no respect for other people’s property or the land.
But Uluru is different, it’s an impressive part of the landscape as is Ubirr in Kakadu and people should respect that. If people didn’t feel it necessary to urinate and throw rubbish on it, I might think differently, but they do, so I don’t.
There are good tourists and there are bad tourists obviously, but in all my travels I have to say there are mostly good tourists who do respect other cultures and traditions. Having said that it is now getting to the point when I now keep my mouth firmly shut when I hear an Australian accent both here in Penang and other places as the behavior of increasingly boorish Australians is getting worse.
Opened my curtains this morning on my first day on the sub continent to the sight of three young blokes out the side of the Hotel playing cricket on their break!
JTI, Dismayed and a few of you others here would have loved it. I watched them for about 20 minutes before brekky.
Very nice.
Seen it all mate.
That’s the comment my daughter made about her time in India. Kids playing cricket in the streets everywhere, with whatever they could find to use as a bat! Great! Enjoy their happy play.
Yes Razor, that’s what I noticed when I was in India, any opportunity to have a cricket game was enthusiastically embraced. They even did it in Kuwait where the working conditions don’t give them much incentive, but any piece of ground was used for a game when they could.
When I was working in Pakistan (onshore on this occasion) years ago we used to play cricket after work. Always used to upset the old crane op (Imam or prayer leader) the area I had back bladed and rolled apparently was better for kneeling on but as I had a Senior position the cricket continued. Left the country “not out” comparisons were made to Steve Waugh.
these are the thing the government does not want people talking about. Solar and wind are already cheaper than coal.
“Queensland has the greatest number of large-scale renewable energy projects under construction in Australia, representing a quarter of all new capacity being built around the nation, $1.6 billion in investment and over 1,300 new renewable energy construction jobs”
http://reneweconomy.com.au/five-reasons-not-to-build-new-coal-power-plant-in-queensland-45488/
Baseload?
Somebody called me?
That one word proves you are out of touch. Even your coalition is using the term “dispatchable” Coal is not dispatchable as it cannot be dialled up and down quickly like Gas, like batteries, like hydro. New technology you know Agile and innovative as per the coalition slogan allows use of renewable energy sored for use. Better for health better for emissions and importantly Cheaper for consumers.
ahh a new word, dispatchable, there’s another new word you need that goes with it, expensive
That is the Coalition’ word and dispatchable renewable energy is cheaper as proven by every report since and including the Howard government.
A great excuse to cut the subsidies. Looks like the governments plan is a winner, winner chicken dinner! 🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗🍗
So you will accept the removal of the 3 times more subsidies that fossil fuels receive then? this is the deceit of the cons. You want subsidy removed from the part of the industry that creates competition but refuse to accept removal of the subsidy at extraction, subsidy at production and subsidy at point of use.