Put aside the rubber band and icy pole stick jokes. Australia is going into space. Soon. well, soon-ish. Weather permitting.
In typical Australian fashion, the government has decided a space agency sounds like it might be a good idea and have immediately announced a committee to see if it really is a good idea and after that committee reports, the government will review it immediately or in the fullness of time, whichever comes first and move straight to establishing a working party to announce the formation of a commission to get cracking on creating a new committee to conduct a feasibility study. When that’s done, the sky’s the limit or it might be if a bunch of government consultants decide it is.
“This is really a way to bring the whole issue to a head,” Industry Minister Arthur Sinodinos says in a statement announcing the review.
At this pace we should have a space agency around the time Burkina Faso sends its first manned mission to Pluto.
Full column here.
the Guardian gets it spot on, Gay Alcorn is right about this.
https://tinyurl.com/ycrylvq9
besides, if we ban office affairs some women will be denied the opportunity to find a very very suitable husband. There are a couple of former Mrs Murdochs who would be much poorer if the new rules applied in their day.
Ms Alcorn mentions Andy Demetriou but there are others in the footy world that even I know of and I left Melbourne in 1994.
it’s not just that the AFL thinks it is running a church, but also that it is doing such a rotten job of it.
and of course church folk don’t have affairs?
It’s a good article, jack
Bit of local gossip, Bella
Sitting at Retro having a coffee alongside Bob Brown, partner Paul and Nick McKim.
Bob is still very much active behind the scenes methinks! 🙂 – which is a good thing.
Hmmm, in light of this arvie’s events, maybe it was a crisis meeting!!!
One of my personal heroes B; how lucky are you? 🐬
I only know he’s very involved with saving the Tarkine and the BB Foundation is opposed to high-rise developments in Hobart city. Last year he actively participated in the Great Australian Bight Alliance alongside Sea Shepherd & other GAB Alliance organisations.
What a decent, good man.
Regards, Bella
Indeed he is Bella. Is it so refreshing to see a man so happy with his life and his work. I have the greatest admiration for him
Lovely to hear you say that B. 🌳
Saw a werewolf with a Chinese menu in his hand
walkin’ through the rain in Hobart…
I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic’s
And his hair was perfect
If you hear him howling around your kitchen door, better not let him in…..
Can’t say I’m all that enthused about this whole expanded Home Office-type mega-Department the Turnbull Government is proposing to set up; they’re rarely a good idea for very many reasons in practice. Especially so since Evil Mr. Potato Head is the one proposed to be promoted even further beyond his meagre capabilities to run it.
It didn’t work as people thought it might in the US. The DNI is an impediment, not a solution.
He’s a very capable Minister Rhys. Border protection and immigration going well and out of the news.
I agree with your point on mega-ministries and departments though. There will be a heap of internal feuding even before they knock the silo’s down. ASIO in particular have never had much of a reputation as team players.
The irony being that the head of Border Force seems to be in the same kind of hot water as those blokes from the AFL, plus the suggestion that the younger woman may or may not have allegedly got preferment out of it as well.
I’m also cynical enough to echo suggestions that the whole re-organisation of domestic security and law enforcement might be a way of Turnbull doing what a lot of State Premiers traditionally do to their probable up-and-coming rivals: give them the toughest of portfolios with the likelihood of major scandals to torpedo their chances of promotion at the leader’s expense.
Dutton strikes me as rather authoritarian by temperament, too, but that’s just me.
Rhys,
Great summation on the why’s and wherefores. I’m a Dutton fan as you know and he’d be the bloke I’d put in charge. Turnbull would definitely see this as putting him to bed. The other bloke I’d have in charge is Andrew Leigh but our system of government isn’t mature enough for real bipartisanship.
I see each agency are going to remain seperate statutory bodies. The first hurdle will be the rather strange arrangements between the AG’s office, ASIO and the new ministry. If you aren’t across it have a read it will make your hair stand on end. The inevitable friction points, pissing competitions and doubling up on beaurocracy here alone will lead to stuff ups. The problem is loss of life isn’t out of the question.
Disaster looms
What’s Dutton got over other ministers who’re about to be stripped of some of their powers?
Giving the lot to Voldemort is just stupid.
I thought Abbott was Voldemort?
macgilla up for a few gorilla’s
http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/stuart-macgill-hopes-for-mediation-in-26-million-case-against-cricket-australia-20170717-gxclbq.html
In the wash up it seems a pity that Ms Harrison maybe did not have a wise advisor to listen to.
How much more prudent it would have been to invest the $400k (which is a huge amount of money in anyone’s language) in property or something worthwhile – and walk away leaving the past behind her. As many do after a relationship breakup.
Instead she faces personal and financial ruin.
Sad, but imo, the judge’s comments were valid.
So ultimately the Boys Club has destroyed her.
What’s HIS punishment?
Has HE been sacked as CEO of Seven?
Has HE being forced to pay half the legal costs, considering she was not in the relationship alone?
I don’t give a rats a**e how much hush money she was paid, I say how dare HE walk away with what amounts to just a hiccup in his life and his career, whilst she has been thoroughly trashed.
It’s just not right.
She breached the contract Bella not him.
It’s controversial Bella. If she had been a young junior staff member hoping for career advancement by sleeping her way to the top or something – yes maybe.
But by all accounts the woman involved was not a young innocent and had been down this path of revenge at the end of the affair on more than one occasion. They were two consenting adults behaving very badly, sure. An affair with a married man (or woman) at the office is always going to end painfully. She had found that out before too.
I have yet to understand how one’s personal life has anything to do with one’s job – and can only come to the conclusion that these days there is a pot of gold worth going for at the end of a workplace discrimination procedure. And there are law firms touting their services for the cause.
Unfortunately in this instance it seems expenses were abused, giving the firm leeway for dismissal.
The legal proceedings in this judgement were about a breach of contract – not the morals in the workplace. She got paid $400k in a negotiated settlement and nevertheless chose to breach the contract. That’s a heck of a lot of money. Not sure why you feel he had to pay half her costs.
Seems Seven is probably not going to pursue her for retrieval of the costs – which she should be relieved about.
Maybe not in this country so much, but I’m sure there have been cases where the boss may be a female in these circumstances.
The ones I feel for are the wife and children who land up in the public spotlight – the latter are probably teenagers and going through some sort of hell right now – which could affect their lives forever.
The man in this case has been punished. He has probably lost a marriage and his children . A much much bigger loss than his career or salary. A huge price to pay – silly boy.
Amber H excoriated
http://www.afr.com/news/complete-lack-of-evidence-amber-harrison-to-pay-sevens-legal-costs-20170717-gxcplx?&utm_source=social&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nc&eid=socialn:twi-14omn0055-optim-nnn:nonpaid-27/06/2014-social_traffic-all-organicpost-nnn-afr-o&campaign_code=nocode&promote_channel=social_twitter
The very exciting and dynamic businessman Sanjeev Gupta is the new owner of the Whyalla Steel Works, Mr Insider. I have long followed Sanjeev, who I do believe is one of the most amazing “movers and shakers” in the world today. Sanjeev is noted for his sudden change of direction day today and plans to fly to London one day can be quickly cancelled and he may then fly to Australia instead. Keeps his Staff on the ball does Sanjeev!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjeev_Gupta
Completely OT. I have been spending a bot of time recently on SA’s South Coast – Bella will remember my post about southern right whales. My wife and I were having a pint of Vale Ale stout at the Wharf Barrel Shed in Goolwa last Sunday. That’s a pint each, of course. As I sat there drinking, I could not help but realise to what extent the Hindmarsh island Bridge, which dominated our view, has damaged the ambiance of the Goolwa Wharf, although I often like bridges. And it reminded me of the whole saga of the Hindmarsh Island Bridge, well known to Chris Kenny, who wrote an obituary last year for Dulcie Wilson, one of the dissident Ngarrindjeri women. The truth is the truth, but it made me think that the outcome of something that had had had such a high financial and human cost ended up being so unworthy of that cost.
The bridge was about getting traffic to the Hindmarsh Island residential marina, now in receivership. Only half the allotments ever sold, and a lot of the houses that were built are on the market. In the end, taxpayers footed the bill for a Royal Commission and much of the infrastructure. The Aboriginal heritage issues and the environmental concerns may have been nonsense, but it’s a bleak and windswept location, with no protection in winter and no shade in summer. Who was it aimed at? If you are going out in a tinny from the Wallaroo residential marina at the top of Yorke Peninsula, you would hope to come back with a bag of whiting, garfish or snapper. From Hindmarsh island? Maybe a few carp. And if your interest is water sports, you are much better off on the northern side of the island, where you can have a jetty right on Lake Alexandrina for skiing and wakeboarding. Yes, there is a modern tavern there, but you are much better off having a fantastic seafood lunch at Cafe Bombora right on the beach at Goolwa Beach, or at the cosy Whistle Stop in Goolwa itself, both only minutes away.
It’s all a great example of the fact that development is not synonymous with progress. As I said, the truth is the truth, but a development with so little appeal deserved to fail, and it has, at considerable cost to us mug taxpayers.
Big debates going on down here re development NFY.
It’s controversial to say the least. A Singaporian company has plans in for 4 highrise hotels in Hobart city. Some say ”great” – others say ”why spoil what people come to enjoy?” viz, charming Hobart Town.
Plans for a huge modern viewing platform at Dove Lake, Cradle Mtn, I’m glad I’ve had the chance to enjoy the simple magnificence of Cradle Mtn and The Overland Track before insanity prevails and thousands of people descend on the place daily..
Of course, people need to see the magnificent SW wilderness so that they can appreciate why it is so important to preserve it from clear felling. No point in hiding it. But it can be done sensibly – without all the bling.
Wineglass bay has become ridiculous. Virtually a highway to the lookout – where once it was a little mountain track. That as half the fun of seeing it!
But that’s just my opinion. What do you think, Bella?
You’re possibly asking the wrong person B but for what it’s worth I love Hobart city as it stands; a treasure of historic and beautiful buildings with charm in spades.
Skyscrapers are ugly & would take that away not to mention hamper the views of smaller accommodations like my favourite, the Astor Hotel. Tildy’s establishment is mix of retro & history reached only by a wide carpeted staircase set above a gorgeous old pub & feels a part of the Tassie experience for me.
I say don’t break with a formula that works to be just another sell-out to offshore wealthy property sharks who don’t ‘get’ what your state is all about.
Regards, Bella
Agree totes, Bella. I think it’s a huge shame that beautiful places are to he disfigured by architectural monstrosities.
The old adage sallies once again “developers destroy what people came to enjoy”
In Tasmania’s case that would be the sheer natural magnificence of the place.
I even have a problem with the Three Capes walk. I dont walk it any more.
How could I forget mate.
Lately I’ve become obsessed with the coastline along the Southern Ocean, so much so, my son & I are right into the research for a trip next February/March to Bremer Canyon.
I can’t recall if it was you or Simon T but someone here planted the seed & I’m running with it. Our sea legs will be put to the test I’m told but the experience sounds incredible!
As for the eyesore you describe, so much changed and for what?
“The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.” Unknown
Regards, Bella
This looks interesting, Mr Insider, a new Telemovie on crooked Cop Roger Rogerson, called “Blue Murder: Killer Cop” and again starring the fabulous actor Richard Roxburgh who played Rogerson in the original “Blue Murder” in the 90’s. Starts on Ch 7 soon.
http://tinyurl.com/y9x6r8dx
Should be good – especially with Roxburgh in the lead! Although he’ll always be Rake for me.
Just watching footage of the anniversary rally of the failed Turkish coup and behold a light show.
Albert Speers “cathedral of light” at the Nuremberg rally’s came to mind.
7,400 public servants thrown out of their jobs to add to the thousands already out of work or in jail and Erdogan’s bum is welded firmly to the presidential throne
Yes, clear evidence that history repeats itself Tracy.
Fred Nietzche referred to it as the ‘Doctrine of Eternal Recurrence”.
Reckons he will behead the coup traitors, not a nice chap.
Strewth, Mr Insider, looks like Scott Ludlam may end up with a monster Bill for his tenure in our Parliament as George Brandis has intimated here and I quote: “Brandis said Ludlam could face a substantial debt repayment for the salary and allowances he received during his tenure as a senator. He said there is also a “100 pounds” fine for every day that a person not eligible to sit does sit in the Senate.” I hope Scotty has saved his “pennies” over the last 9 odd years or is able to service a loan that would choke a horse!
http://tinyurl.com/y9ccc864
They will crowd fund it
Maybe he can shack up with Amber and work something out? Does Sixty Minutes still pay well?