A week ago today, I attended the memorial for Bill Leak at the Sydney Town Hall.
As I scanned the crowd, an eclectic group of people who had known Bill one way or another, I had to ask where were the Labor people? Where was Shorten, Plibersek or Dreyfus?
In the wake of the 2004 election, with the Howard government enjoying a majority in both houses, there was no opposition in the parliament. For at least two years, the worst part of Coalition MPs’ days was opening up The Australian and flipping to Bill Leak’s cartoon, to see another hilarious lampooning of their leader.
I would have thought some of the Labor people might have made an appearance simply out of gratitude for those dark days. It bothers me they stayed away and it speaks of a faddish clannishness the old Labor people would regard with contempt.
Bill Leak embraced everyone he met. Ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, it didn’t matter. He genuinely enjoyed the company of people but it was more than that. If he spied someone feeling awkward or a bit uncomfortable, Bill would bound up and make a fuss of them. He not only had the ability to make people feel special but he brought a sense of fairness and equity to any table.
It is a politician’s gift but Bill was not on the ballot. He wasn’t trying to sell anything. He simply loved people.
Full column here.
Phishing scams are getting dumber. Just got one that had the return address, Winter Haven, FL Canada.
Florida citrus is going to be pretty rare if they’ve moved the state north to Canada.
Dunno Dwight – with climate change Canada could become quite tropical for a few years.
I got one recently which began, “Dear Sir, My names are John Williams…” I couldn’t fault the grammatical logic but the usage made me doubt its claimed provenance.
Have you seen the number of Canuck retirees in Florida Dwight? That and the Tampa Bay Lightning, maybe they submitted to the inevitable?
Good point. But the Snowbirds tend to roost around St. Petersburg or Ft. Lauderdale, but heck, anywhere that’s warmer than Yellowknife. Half a million estmated.
I imagine you can even find places that serve Poutine. I wonder if there’s a Tim Hortons yet?
KUDELKA…brilliant today. In fact brilliant for 2 weeks. A welcome return to humour in The Oz Cartoonery department. Best of the papers easily over the last 2 weeks.
He is very, very good.
Today’s cartoon has links with one Kudelka did in The Oz some years back. Tones is on the beach in his life saving gear and a kid is waving for help drowning at sea. Someone rushes up and says “Aren’t you going to save him?”. Tones says “I don’t discuss on water matters”. Tragic but very funny. Yes Kudelka has always been up there with the very best.
Just saw Dismayed’s comment below. What have you done with Rodent? I was just wondering about him yesterday. The standard of the blog is way down.
Are the psyops spooks examining his brain for some dastardly purpose?
A Tasmanian to boot!!!!! 🙂
not a Tasmanian to boot Ms B
A Tasmanian to to be read and enjoyed
booting tasmanians is frowned upon in this camp
🙂 We love him here, smoke
Now you tell me!
top piece from chris judd in the fairfax papers,
might be a few old team mates reading it with a bit of angst, but it is spot on.
as to the deficit, can’t work out whether reading about it here i just lose count or lose interest.
but to do a kevin rudd call and response trick,
are the deficits too high, well, we shouldn’t have one at the moment, do you get that.
who is responsible. howard and costello started it during the boom years by handing out ridiculous on-going payments to well off australians, a fooking cargo cult.
then the labor government did a good job with the initial response to the GFC, but instead of winding back as soon as the problems dissipated they went on spending like a drunken sailor.
worse, they decided we should have the best of everything, education systems, child care etc, that money could buy,
not, as they should have, the best ones we could reasonably afford.
Now, we need a government and a parliament which will return us to a sane budget.
basic stuff, an education and health system which works well but we can afford it. help with child care for those who need it to go out and work, etc.
So Hirsi Ali has cancelled her Australian tour because of threats from the Council for the Prevention of Islamophobia Inc and 400 or so activists and academics.
Freedom of Speech and association is going down the gurgler at a rapid rate in this country.
And half the press seems OK with that, as seen from their lack of acknowledgement.
So far I’ve seen it covered in very similar terms in The Guardian, the SMH, the BBC, the ABC, SBS, The Age, the New Daily, Yahoo, News.com.au, the Brisbane Times, even DW, as well as all the NewsCorp outlets. What did I miss?
Make room Bolt! It’s The JackSprat Report!
“Following a succession of organisational lapses……………………..” New Zealand too btw.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-03/ayaan-hirsi-ali-cancels-speaking-tour-amid-security-concerns/8411408
JB if you had one ounce of brain in that very thick skull of yours, you would realize that the trend by the left is to prevent anybody with alternate views from speaking.
You obviously agree with the methods being used because you happen to agree with the the people who are objecting.
I might remind you that people who disagree entirely with your leftish viewpoint have caused much more damage to the planet and one day you might feel the need to speak out.
I would suggest that you adopt the philosophy “I disagree with what is being said but I defend the right to say it” or shut the f&*&k up!
If, it would be one ounce more than you have left! That’s just emotive drivel JS. You are hallucinating.
Your last two paras are specially weird not just nonsensical as the first two.
As for your suggestion, you might consider applying it to yourself, and don’t instruct me you arrogant puffed up authoritarian git.
Aha! …. So the bolshie doesn’t like a touch of the Lance Corporal Jack Jones’s treatment either.
A powder puff after all, eh.
Carrrrrrrlllllll, look at moi, sweetie pie honeybunch, you’re an idiot.
JS. Oh my. Again please go and learn what “Irony” is. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh wait I get it if we don’t agree with you we should shut the “F” up because by disagreeing with you people are impinging on your Free Speech??? Is that It?? Oh my HAHAHAHAHA
Dismal and JB
When basic freedoms are at stake and being eroded on a daily basis, it is time to make a stand.
I am fully aware of the irony in what I wrote but the useless lefties on this planet, like you pair, are on a trajectory to erode a freedom that has been essential to our way of life for a long time.
The only way of handling the idiots in the world that do not understand what they are doing is to call them out.
You pair of drongos appear not to have a clue of history and where we have come from, why it is essential, and I am pretty sure that Propaganda Central, where you get most of your information from, especially you Dismal, has not mentioned the subject because it is not in their interests..
If that puts me in the same camp as those who are stifling free speech so be it.
Learn from the tactics of the enemy and spit it back at them.
Where is Rodent JS is making him look sensible and articulate.
Compared with you and JB he was like a beacon on a hill.
At least he did not need propaganda central each morning to tell him what to think and write.
As for JB, nice fella but when somebody does not believe in the moon landings ………
JackSprat! If you are so gormless you don’t even know you’ve had your tit pulled with the moon landing nonsense you shouldn’t be carrying on about freedom.
Because your brain is still in prison.
You reckon you have a clue about history? Pffft.
Fine work, JS! You’ve got the Tag Team Tetchy & Superior Sisters going hell for leather with their handbags, umbrella’s and quince paste. HAHAHAHA…
HAHAHAHA Your hypocrisy is blinding self evident. Your “argument” or point of view is worthless due that same hypocrisy. This blog is a just another example of even MORE freedoms enjoyed today by society than at any other time. you are confusing your own paranoid projections and fear of the erosion of freedoms for your inability to view and hear anything other than what you want in YOUR ECHO ECHO ECHO chamber. Silly old buggers. Thank you Mr Hawke.
Oops, the bassinette got tipped over in the scuffle.
eh?
Milton. Eh? Just wondering what woke you up. Fell out of the pram?
oh, very good Jean i’m picking up on what you were attempting to do there. Keep at it and all that and give me heaps! Though I think a bassinette and a pram are two different things, but never mind.
You’re right JS, and Mark Latham’s sacking is just one example. I see Latham is now seeking support to set up his own “Outsiders” show. I say – go for it Mark, the sky’s the limit!
Mark Latham was sacked by a commercial news outlet because his uncontrollable boofheadery became too much of a liability. Again. Free speech had nothing to do with it.
From Mark Steyn:
As I say wearily for the umpteenth time, the defenders of Section 18 in Oz and the MPs who voted for M-103 in Canada and the jelly-spined non-entity of a university president who canceled Ayaan’s appearance at Brandeis, on the one hand, and, on the other, the men who slaughtered the Charlie Hebdo staff and shot up Lars Vilks’ event in Copenhagen and firebombed the Norwegian comedienne Shabana Rehman’s family restaurant are merely different points on the same continuum: they’re all in the shut-up business. And they’re all hustling us further along the same dark retreat into silence.
And I listen wearily for the umpteenth time as Mark Steyn trots out his customary controversialist absurdities, non sequiturs and reductios ad Hitlerum. If I am the same as ISIS because I defend 18C, then he is the same as Anders Brevik because he criticises Islam. After all, they are merely points on the same continuum: they’re both in the hating business.
Hey JS, who stole my country?
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/rendezview/miranda-devine-reverse-racism-is-now-acceptable-in-australia/news-story/98d895ff84f8014bb3a0a5141e24f6ac
It’s been going on for sometime MtK.
I don’t doubt that there were real security concerns that led to the cancellation, and that is cause for concern. However, I doubt that an online petition signed by 400 people was one of them. The petition did not threaten her, it _criticised_ her. That is free speech in action. I think FSWs are trying to score cheap points off this regrettable outcome.
Whilst fossicking through St Vinnies I happened to stumble upon a book called Here’s Luck by a chap named Lennie Lower. Never heard of either, but I reckon i’ll like it. He is considered by some as Australia’s funniest journalist. He’s from an earlier era but the book is considered “one of Australia’s funniest”. $1 well spent methinks!
Bermuda shorts fit Milton 🙂
Lennie Lower – classic bloke, used to write in the Daily Tele in Sydney I think., way back. Could drink a bit so I recall.
Dead at 43 TV; he must have made up for the lost time.
I’ll provide a comment once I’ve read the book.
Cousin Zelda got married on Saturday Mr Jack and showed a side of her that the groom Cyril had not seen before. Lucky Cyril.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZApBEF_mXCw
“Better an empty house than an a foul tenant.” William Shakespeare .
Another “Barry Crocker” of a Newspoll for “current” PM Turnbull, Mr Insider. That’s 8 or 9 in a row so far and he’s fast catching ex ousted Pm Abbott who tallied a whopping 30 negative ones straight before being toppled by the complete dud Turnbull.
http://tinyurl.com/kz7wbz5
Correction, Mr Insider, its now 10 consecutive negative Newspoll’s in a row for PM Milton Trumble. He’s only 20 now behind ex ousted PM Abbott’s mega tally of 30 and gaining fast! Go hard Trumble!
Sick of seeing Morrison manically losing it in interviews, blaming Labor as if the statute of limitations was still open after four years of LibGovt.
Perhaps he needs help so I’ll step up to the plate & give it a shot.
Scott, it’s your fault.
You’ve tripled the deficit.
Yes mate, you did that.
Your fault.
It’s on you.
Take responsibility.
Own it Scotty.
You’re most welcome, Bella
Bella,
You do realise we are just now picking up the tab for the spending Labor pushed out past the forward estimates.
Just saying…….
Four years mate. C’mon.
In what century, approximately, will the big-spending Libs ever take responsibility for tripling the deficit?
Trust me, there’s an inferno of rage building in voterland with the majority of Australians holding them solely responsible for ripping the guts out of our poorest & most disadvantaged whilst gifting the tax-dodging corporates a windfall profit margin.
Sick, sick, sick of the spin, they have to own it Razor.
Just saying……..
The coalition has added $60 billion in spending decisions and given up $45 billion in political decisions. The PEFO at the time of the 2013 election produced by Treasury and Finance had the budget getting back into Surplus this year with a peak debt of $219 billion last year. That was under Labor’s settings with Labor’s spending decisions. Labor’s debt figure contains $58 Billion of Howard/ Costello debt. There was still debt in 2007. Debt has rocketed up to $464 billion more than double in 3.5 years. March just gone was highest amount of debt added ever in 1 month at $18.7 billion . 3 decisions alone have cost the budget over $25 billion. ETS, Mining Tax and Money to Reserve bank over the 4 year forward estimates. “Nine months into this financial year, the total gross debt added so far has been a staggering $64.2 billion. That’s an extra $7.13 billion each month on average — the highest for the first nine months of any financial year in history. ” Just saying try some facts.
Mate…face reality gross debt has increased $210 billion since 2013 and the deficit has TRIPLED. This is all new Liberal debt. Under Labor, unemployment was as low as 4.9%, debt to GDP 10% with growth of 16%. Er U forgot to mention the GFC…the Liberals are running a much worse kitty with NO GFC to contend with than Labor did.
Gross debt added in March was $18.7 billion, the highest monthly increment in Australia’s history. The most Labor treasurer Wayne Swan added was $13.2 billion in May 2009, at the depths of the global financial crisis. Joe Hockey’s highest was $12.7 billion in November 2013 with no Global Financial Crisis. Nine months into this financial year, the total gross debt added so far has been a staggering $64.2 billion. That’s an extra $7.13 billion each month on average — the highest for the first nine months of any financial year in history. It belts Hockey’s first nine months in 2013-14, when he added $53.6 billion — the second greatest ever. Labor’s highest was $44.7 billion in 2011-12.
Within months of Hockey becoming treasurer unemployment hit 720,000 (6.3%) whereas before it had been 4.9% under Rudd/Gillard (Unemployment 4.8% December 2008, 4.9% 201)(. Levels have remained high ever since, despite changing prime minister and treasurer. The jobless number has been above 720,000 for 31 of the last 34 months. In February it was 748,123.
By any measure you wish to use-unemployment, debt, business investment, spending on infrastructure, consumer confidence this is one of the worst government in history. What can I say…only quote Tony…’This is a baaaaaaaaaad government”.
More importantly it is amazing what Fran Kelly RN, Leigh Sales, Bazza on Insiders let Morrison get away with without mentioning ANY of this stuff!
Care to tell me what new expenditure measures the Coalition has introduced to produce such a deficit Bassman?
JS. What about the pork barrelling to the Nationals $5 billion Regional Rorts Northern “Infrastructure” Fund that the Auditor General has concerns about because there seems to be no way to find out how decisions are made except for what the Nationals want to do with it? Or the $500million to Dairy Farmers because they were not happy with their National Party or the $500 million fund for Barnaby to play with Water? Or the $2.55 Billion to pay polluters to pollute more? $17 Billion on JSF’s as mentioned above by smoke? Unfunded Corporate Tax cuts? The loss of revenue from various other changes to placate the Business Council and business in general? $8.8 Billion to the Reserve Bank ( to only then take the biggest dividends ever by government each year since) JS you really should open your eye.
Please address the facts. Looks like i will have to remind you of a few things son:- The Looters were supposed to have the magic bullet…remember?
Hockey….The National Press Club, 2012… “The condition of the budget will not be an excuse for breaking promises” AND “We will achieve a surplus in our first year in office and we will achieve a surplus for every year of our first term”.
Abbott:-DOORSTOP,13th August 2013 “The condition of the budget will not be an excuse for breaking promises”.
During his first budget reply on May 12, 2011, Abbott said: “People can be confident that spending, debt and taxes will always be lower under a Coalition government.”
I could go on and on and on mate….how can you defend this mob. Your tongue must have drilled a hole in your cheek!
This is a baaaaaaaaddd govt.
Take out the JSF sport – that has been on the books for yonks.
You have come up with $3 billion in real money and the deficit has increased by how much in the last 5 years – $200 billion.
You are going to have to do better than that sunshine.
Riddle me this JS. Why after the “greatest” fiscal consolidation in Australia’s history and with Spending at 24% of GDP and falling did the Finance and Treasury produce the 2013 PEFO using Labor’s spending and setting’s stating debt would peak in 2016 at $219 billion and the budget would be in surplus in 2017. Why did the coalition government immediately ramp up spending to 25.8% of GDP and have held it there every year since only coming down this year slightly as Debt more than doubled and the Deficit went from $17 billion the over $40 billion now due to resources prices will probably come in at $34 billion this year. Tell us JS why has this occurred when the settings under Labor and with Labor’s spending clearly had the Budget and Debt in much better position? Are you so blind that you will just not look at facts that do not suit your narrow minded ideology? You refuse to acknowledge at least $14 billion worth of expenditure measures noted further up by the coalition and refuse to acknowledge the Loss of revenue due to the coalitions decision because it does not suit your myopic, echo chamber view of the world. BAA BAA is that better I know you understand that.
Ah actually now I see your problem. The “deficit” has more than doubled from $17 billion to over $40 billion but will come down this year due to resources prices and cuts to poorest people along with cuts to Public Health and Public Education. Debt has more than doubled in 3.5 years and this year alone has seen the most debt ever added in the 9 months to date. Your inability to understand the difference is probably why you are looking so foolishly out of touch and wilfully ignorant. “Sunshine” you should probably get out in it more often to help you eyesight. You myopic vision is seems to be only part of your problem “Sunshine” .
https://t.co/lRbiArQifg
I was liking him Bella for a while as an alternative PM and maybe he can do that job? Its that Finance chappie Mathias Cormann I cant stand. A likeable chap, but I have never once seen him give a straight answer even to the simplest of questions. He may well have had a hand in enticing the dreaded One Nation to ‘join” the Libs in the preference deal in the recent WA election and we all know what a massive cock up that was!
If you liked him for a while Henry, and now you don’t, I predict a ‘magnificent bastard’ down the track.
He’s not listening Bella. Busy admiring himself in the mirror I think.
Chill kids.
Lord gonna take of care of everything. Halleluhah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIioOvwaT3A
Shining examples of why inbreeding should be avoided.
Enery Blofeld. Regarding the Eagles Nest. Fascinating, bloody fascinating. Right up there with the series on the problems with the head gaskets on Hitler’s staff cars, from 1939 thru 1942. Riveting stuff and equally dramatized with romantic re-enactments without the swear words or the unseemly notorious threats to have testicles rearranged with a club hammer.
Heres a little doco for your appraisal Enery. What do you think?
http://video.aljazeera.com/channels/eng/videos/the-big-picture%3A-the-people-vs-america—featured-documentary/5315558967001
Leftie Politically inspired claptrap Mr Baptiste. Sadly your lefties in the US screaming blue murder as POTUS Trump restructures the economy to get people back into real work, something many don’t want to do and here too. Cheers good buddy.
Aw geez ‘enery. Sorry you didn’t like that. Try this.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/sarah-silverman-donald-trump-coup-oust-mad-king-comedian-actress-twitter-tweet-fascists-handlers-a7560596.html
We look forward to some classic performances from the divine Ms S , during the short reign of the mad king. I hear she is about to release a new version of “Diva” adapted for Trump.
Do not watch “Diva” ‘enery. It is too rude for your innocent ears.