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.
John O’Hagan says:
April 4, 2017 at 10:04 pm
“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.”
Yes, its a pity that some folk still have difficulty in distinguishing harmless controversial commentary from “boofheadery”.
I do recall the paucity of condemnation from the progressives when Mark linked PM Howard a few years ago as being up front in a conga line of suckholes, etc to the then US president.
Why would anyone condemn accurate and fair reporting like that?
Yes, those unseemly “arse licking” comments would be right up your alley JB, eh.
In the interests of accuracy Carl, most definitely.
So, ….. you’re a fan of radiocarbon dating JB?
Or is it not as good as it’s all cracked up to be?
I can accept a margin of error there Carl. But not arse lickers selling out the nation for a sleep over in the White House.
CotC – I think he also referred to Janet Albrechtsen, possibly in parliament, in a grubby manner. He was good enough for labor! Actually, despite his argy bargy, he was perhaps the only one in labor with a working brain. Certainly much smarter than Rudd, imho, whom many people considered an intellectual! And the sad thing is Shorten is further down the food chain, yet spoiled by Turnbull’s presence.
Outrage apoears to be our fastest growing industry. It employs thousands of non-productive citizens, is largely taxpayer funded (these groups never reach into their own pockets) and has the backing of international bodies that do nothing of benefit to anyone. What could go wrong?
Can’t agree. Latham is a boofhead. If there was no such word as boofhead it would have been invented for Latham. If there’s a competition for Australia’s biggest boofhead and you can get evens on Latham, grab it.
Labor may sneek another Senate spot. Day gone. Recount ahead. He was voting over 95% with the government. No surprises. This must be all part of Bishop B’s socialist plot. Its the socialist its the socialist they make the right whingers do the wrong thing. Greed has nothing to do with it.
“Labor may sneek another Senate spot.”
Yes, they’re experts at being sneaky too. Underhand, untrustworthy and unscrupulous also comes to mind.
CotC. No Surprises. You completely over look the fact the Liberal funded Family First ex Senator was rorting the system, had been for years and because Labor probably will have enough votes to claim the spot you somehow turn it around and make your usual dim witted hard done by always persecuted conservative bullshit remarks. A greater example of the mindless sheep you are has never been seen.
Dismayed, your apparent inability to comprehend my comment in this instance should be cause for concern, but you may only be attempting a spot of simple blathering subterfuge.
However, of greater concern is your constant fallback position of disgorging vitriol.
Best you get it seen to ASAP mate.
Can’t trust ANY of them Carl, they can ALL be bought.
“One lie can ruin a thousand truths.”
Regards, Bella
Sounds like this lady is going to give the UN a shake up. Go girl.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/new-sheriff-in-town-nikki-haley-seizes-foreign-affairs-agenda/news-story/81b4f81c194c2b8fb341689b4be249b4
At a time of record youth unemployment and underemployment the coalition government want to push their “internship” program. This ridiculous program from the shrieking Minister will see the government (taxpayers) pay employers to put people on for a short period pay the below industry wages of that person , $200 per week and they lose the Newstart allowance which makes them worse off overall. If companies have productive work they should hire people in real jobs. This ridiculous plan will actually stop real jobs from being created. Why would a company hire someone when the government will pay them to turnover people every 12 weeks? This is just a “PATH” to less job security. This government is a disgrace.
It is indeed a BaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaD government Dismayed, strewth again we are on the “same page” and led by a complete wally PM Milton Trumble. I look forward in years to come to his Memoirs, they sure will be brief, 10 pages and a hand full of glossy pics!
O ye, of little faith.
Brilliant portrayal of Bleak in Fairfax by Malcolm Brown. Amongst the best I have seen.
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obituaries
POTUS Trump going “gangbusters” in the USA, Mr Insider, as we see on Thursday he is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping . There has been a steady stream of World Leaders arriving in Washington to meet the new US President and a lot more to come. Good friend and ally “Poots” from Russia must soon arrive methinks! Trump, despite the crazed Lefties trying to block everything he does to make America great again, is setting a blistering pace and is now a mere 2 and a half months downwind of a possible 8 year term. Poor old Hilary might as well attend a basket weaving class for all she now matters.
http://tinyurl.com/kn5qyjh
The bloke is beginning to sound like a serious sabre-rattler HB.
Doesn’t auger well for the future.
Then again, he may be all p & w?
Well, well, well.
When an office romance goes sour and you decide to tell all and sue the company for large amounts of money – not to mention potentially ruin some peripheral lives in the process, and your own career prospects – you would have to be sure your past is squeaky clean. Rule No1 one would have thought.
If what one reads in The Oz this morning is accurate, alledgedly – and The Australian takes pains to point out that it is merely reporting what it has been told, and not making any accusations – Ms Harrisson has stirred up a hornet’s nest which she may now find herself well and truly in the centre of.
Having your photo blazened all over the local and international newspapers – eventually some past will pop up – if it exists.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the legals next……
“……… you would have to be sure your past is squeaky clean. ” Why?
We only have accusations. That doesn’t mean they are true and again, why does someone have to be sure their past is squeaky clean? I don’t think unproven allegations should be evidence enough to influence decision making in the judicial process in what is an unrelated case.
A prior conviction might be used by a defence in attacking the character of a plaintiff in a civil case I suppose. I’d stand corrected on that if otherwise.
In any case even a convicted criminal with a perceived issue is entitled to seek recourse in the law on other matters.
Nothing quite like a bit of the old scandal though eh? Harumph harrumph!
JB says:
“……… you would have to be sure your past is squeaky clean. ” Why?
Because, as sure as hell, you can be sure that someone is going to start digging the dirty laundry, JB, which may not always support your case.
Scandals sell newspapers……and I guess juicy stories to sell are worth a few bob too.
So what? Because someones past does not “support?” their case it doesn’t follow that the case wont stand on it’s own merit.
If the settlement is worth it, who gives a stuff! If you’re laughing all the way to the bank the righteous can suit themselves.
As I went to pains to emphasize in my self help book “Shag The Boss and Retire at 30” , unless you have a thick skin or a natural desire for publicity it is always best to make discreet private compensation arrangements.
Contrary to popular belief the employment opportunities for “Jezebels” increase exponentially with notoriety.
Rule number 1 is don’t get caught…….
Haha – true Razor!
Seems the lass allegedly leaves behind a trail of acrimoniously curtailed office romances – Her employment opportunities shrink by the day one would think.
Ex ousted PM Tony Abbott a “PM in exile”, so writes Michael Koziol of the SMH, Mr Insider. Wonderful to know we have a choice of a dud in office and a dud out of office, between them both tallying 40 consecutive negative Newspolls. Ahhhh Australia, stuffed one day, rooted the next, Leader wise anyway. The good honest hardworking Taxpayers of Australia getting on with their lives despite the shocking lack of decent leadership from our pollies.
http://tinyurl.com/kjqbbcc
Tony might be outside of the tent trying to piss in but he’s not in “exile”. Not that that isn’t a bloody good idea if we only could! I’m thinking Belgium. Can’t stand ’em. Just kidding I’d love to see him back as PM.
Cut Mal some slack Enery, he rescued the party from an ignominious defeat and he is a very good chance to get them over the line next election. What exactly is it you expect of him and how do you think he go should about it? Howard steered the nation through the greatest boom in the history of the world and stuffed it completely. In terms of effectiveness against opportunity and available resources Mal is a genius in comparison to Little Johnny and Botty. The love child of Little Johnny and Bronny.
Turkeys in suits are still turkeys.
It hurts me to remind you, and add to your misery, honestly it does, the cabinet is a hive of blathering duds too!
Digressing back to thylacines- had a walk in the Florentine valley today through magnificent rainforest to Churchills Hut. A trapper’s (Mr Churchill) hut that was discovered not all that long ago and restored. Old newspapers and bits and pieces still there. Wonderful history.
The interesting thing about it is that it was where the last 4 thylacines were held – one of which was transported over the back of a horse to Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart – and is apparently the last remaining thylacine that died there.
The Florentine was the scene of the protests to save the forests – where Miranda lived up a tree for a year or so!
The giant trees, still standing, are awe-inspiring. The circumference base of one we looked at would take 10 men with arms outstretched. To give you an idea of just how tall they are – they would match the height of Wrest Point Casino tower here.
A wonderful day in pristine air. Not so wonderful finding leeches in my hair – eeeeek! Disgusting things.
As you were, stand easy! it’s up now.
Are you inhaling again sweetheart looks like its affecting your thought processes sugar.