In relative terms, Bill Shorten, Labor leader since September 2013, has lived a charmed existence. Until he took the job, Labor leaders had a life expectancy in the big seat up the front that was measured in months, not years.
Reports of cracks emerging between Shorten and his frontbencher Anthony Albanese emanate from a speech Albo made to the Transport Workers Union in Western Australia in which he claimed a victory over the government’s budget. The Turnbull government, Albanese said, had shifted towards Labor policy and platform and this should be celebrated.
Meanwhile, his leader was running around telling anyone who cared to listen that the budget was not a Labor budget at all.
Given leadership spills or even the hint of them are a drug of addiction to many in the media, the clear contradictions caused a stir.
Appearing on the Nine Network’s Today program, Albo’s segment counterpart, Liberal Christopher Pyne, delighted in turning molehills into mountains. But Albo was having none of it and turned to a politician’s quick and easy answer when confronted with a difficult question.
Full column here.
Victoria’s resident clown, Andrews, has apologized to the Chinese “community” for the 10 pound licence fee imposed on Chinese miners during the gold rush.
This brings out a number of points that are probably beyond the comprehension of Andrews.
1. Great powers look after their wealth first and fore most. All gold was sold to the British Government at a fixed price “for the betterment of the empire”. (One of the major differences between the US and Australia that affected economic development during the latter part of the 19th century). The Chinese had a reputation of smuggling it back to China and the Empire got nothing. Modern day China is very well aware of the principal of keeping wealth within a country. Modern Day Australia, inhabited by a bunch who thinks we are among the richest countries in the world, has no idea. The levy was for economic purposes but could be twisted to mean anything.
2. The sanity of a group of people who think that an apology for something that happened over 150 years ago is meaningful has to be in doubt – unless it’s an exercise in exerting power over a politician and proving who is boss. As a group they understand kow-towing and its symbolism.
3. The action reinforces my contention that this society of ours is rapidly declining into multi-tribalism. Every time I see a politician meeting with ethnic “community” leaders confirms my opinion that the native born in this country who are Australian only are deprived of one level of political access that newer arrivals have – especially when they form a bloc.
Before I get pilloried for all of this, I will remind all that it was people like myself and many of my generation that fought to open up the immigration in this country – right now I feel that we made a fatal mistake unless we form one big tribe to counteract the stupidity of the likes of Andrews and the growing demands of minority groups who do not want to join the mainstream.
Well Victoria’s ‘resident clown’ as you put it, is presiding over an $8billion surplus over four years even without the billions Abbott and Turnbull have stole from them in infrastructure grants.
A fabulous read, Mr Insider and bloggers, Paul Cannon’s excellent book “Colossus, Bletchley Park’s Greatest Secret”, about the invention of the World’s first real Computer and the important part it played in winning WW2. Has been around a while don’t know how I missed it.
Just as entralling was the story behind the capture of the Enigma cipher machines that Colossus was designed to decrypt. One was captured in Poland and passed on by the underground, another was liberated by British sailors from a sinking U-boat. An American movie credited the US Navy with the capture but this is historically and factually wrong.
Indeed, Wissendorf, have read all about the Enigma machine what a fascinating era with technology then so limited yet they did so much!
Direct me to the movie of this Bald
This is a newer version made in 2000. This is a wiki link but there’s a good history of the movie and real events surrounding the Enigma machines. There’s an older version of this movie too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-571_(film)
The real U-571 was sunk by the RAAF (a Sunderland flying boat)
Jon Bon Jovi in a war flick???? What were they thinking?
the film received shocking reviews! even so will have a look at it
Another little known history, this one local, but I’m not sure if there’s any books or movies made about it. McArthur directed the Pacific campaign from his office in Brisbane, but his signals directorate, and a small decryption unit, were at Ascot, near the racetrack, in a mansion formerly owned by a bookie. McArthur frequently went there in an unmarked car. The only sign of this secret lair today is a small brass plaque on the gatepost of 21 Henry Street. The secret attacks on Singapore, Ops Jaywick and Rimau, were directed from this place.
Watched a doco on another person – Gordon Welchman – called the “Secrets of Hut 06”
He was Turing’s boss and made some pretty meaningful adjustments to Turing’s “bombe”. He introduced traffic analysis, went off to the US after the war and headed up NSA’s cryptology area – to do so he had to become a US citizen to get the highest security clearance in the US.
A few years before his death, he published his book and the security establishment went after him – pretty well in the same manner that they went after Turing. His book only sold about 900.
He spent the last few years of his life in absolute misery before succumbing to Cancer.
On the subject of spies, I came across a copy of “The Spycatcher”. The level of penetration that the Soviets had in the UK was incredible – all recruited at Oxford and Cambridge during the 30’s.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Peter Dutton’s making a ploy for the (future) leadership of the Coalition with his latest outbursts.
Possible Rhys but methinks Dutton has all the public appeal of a dropped pie at the SCG!
That’s usually a prelude to you calling him a magnificent bastard next week.
Your best post to date Trivy you are improving sweetie!
Don’t think the demographic that approve of his remarks is big enough to get him him over the line Rhys.
Those who do TV have no power to express themselves except at the ballet box.
Nothing an immigration minister does except having open borders would please many of his critics
Wanna bet TV
Yep
A bottle of something red to the value of $50.00 TV that he is the Federal leader of the Li real party within 3yrs.
FN delusional. Dutton is almost as disgusting as you, almost.
It’s possible that he’s positioning but it would have to be a long-term project. Immigration is always hot but it’s never hot enough to either win or lose elections or build or destroy careers in its own right. It’s also a portfolio that seems to age its ministers and chief executives at an unnatural rate. Watching Phillip Ruddock as Minister and Andrew Metcalfe as Secretary was like watching a time-lapse movie of fruit in a bowl. Peter Dutton might make a pitch for the leadership from his current position but it’s likely he’ll be too exhausted by it to summon sufficient energy. If he were to move on soon to something else and keep up the momentum he might have a shot.
I hope so…Howard has already said the Looters are too fat to the right…Dutts wld take them full circle. At the last election his seat became marginal. he is only popular amongst the far right and Alan Jones choir. Of all the Liberals he is easily the worst.
So, Jack, the “holy month” of Ramadan is upon us.
May I ask, with all due respect, what the broader Australian polity benefits from it?
Do you foresee any politicians seeking to burnish their popularity by engaging with the festivities?
Do you know of any mosque that has invited the local MP to attend during Ramadan?
Look, HU, as I’ve said before Islam is really hot right now. It doesn’t need the cheap promotions. Just quietly I reckon a few pollies will get along for the knees up at Eid.
Last year was bloody good tucker here! Already looking forward to this years do.
There is a game tonight in the AFL which is between Geelong and Port Adelaide. It should be noted that no team has ever won returning from a “road” trip to China. Also, recent history suggests teams coming off a bye have a poor record. Surely with results the way they have been this season that see the Power over the line.
Thanks for the reminder. Alas too late for me. For what it’s worth Port by 16pts.
On reflection and now having learned the game is at Geelong (d’oh) I think Cats by 38.
Plenty of games this weekend that can swing you back into the fray Jack. The comp is so even there are chances everywhere. I like Saints to do the ‘dogs, Bombers over the Tigers, GWS over the Eagles in a thriller, and Demons over the Suns (just). I’m sticking with Carlton over the ‘boners. NMFC are playing erratically and Blues 1st half against Freo showed some decent intent. A long chance but worth a tick. I think you’re just giving yourself a ‘Stawell Start’ again. You did OK last time you missed the early game.
I don’t like Thursday night footy. Just want that known.
I do not approve either. Plays hell with my tipping.
Tip early, tip often. Oh – that’s voting isn’t it.
If you play fantasy the teams are not even known
I just like footy-8 days a week for me Bi
Jack, if I may be permitted: Recommended gig – Adrian Belew playing at Bird’s Basement in Melbourne 13 – 18 June as part of their international jazz festival.
http://birdsbasement.com/show/241/adrian-belew
I believe this could also be of interest to you – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eBmRcVMu74. Robert Fripp (who played guitar on David Bowie’s Heroes and several other albums) leading King Crimson in a cover of it.
Actually a brought a tear to my eye, Rhys.
I haven’t seen that line-up of Crimson before – I recognised Fripp, Pat Mastelloto and Tony Levin but not the others. Also never seen a Crimson with three drum sets.
There’s another version of Heroes on Youtube performed by Adrian and Martha Wainwright on Rockwiz a few years ago that is one of the sexiest things I ever saw. (Which probably had a bit more to do with Martha than with Adrian).
Interesting things going on down the road from me.
https://tinyurl.com/mu5mq8e
I see Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s ABC show has been “axed”.
Ouch!
Don’t be surprised if the show reappears later as “Wide Australia”, Carl, with someone who fits the “Football, Meat Pies, Kangaroos and Holden Cars” criteria as Host. mmmm. Cheers P.S. say that Mr Baptiste has been giving me lots of cheek lately, Chinese Moon Lander what a crock!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGW-WX77zjY
And the Australian is still obsessed with her beyond all reason
I see straight out of Uni she went to work for the big blue machine Tri, then jumped ship to Shell. Must have done well at Uni, but she seems a bit clueless in reality. Wonder what the guys at the rig made of her, and if could she do the MWD job. Seen a few very clever graduates looking at the screen and having not a clue what they were seeing.
I think she is more of a WMD girl Mack…..
I can’t comprehend the general tone of the comments over the wall in response to the Roger Franklin article in Online Quadrant, Michelle Guthrie’s entirely reasonable request for an apology, and Keith Windschuttle’s entirely reasonable response.
Even if one doesn’t agree with some of the ABC’s editorial stances, Franklin’s article was a hateful piece of writing that was rightly condemned by many – but, sadly, not many readers of The Australian. I do think that Tony Abbott’s ousting as PM has been the catalyst for many to give unfettered vent at anyone that is slightly to the left of them. I don’t think that the timing for all those loonies to come out of the woodwork is coincidental.
I think it definitively underlines what a bunch of obsessed, squalid dross those people are. Best ignored.
Horrifying news out of Manchester (at least it’s not new news by the time I’ve got on to write this). It’s as much about the misogyny of the bombers targeting girls and young women in that complicated transition between girlhood and womanhood as about anything else, and not just a general soft target like running pedestrians and bystanders and police officers over in public places, or glorified suicide-by-cop. It’s saddening, sickening, nauseating, and more all in one. There are people still missing, though, so I think it’s best I move on from this quickly.
Looks like some of the response by some alleged ‘public figures’ in the UK and here, specifically, is getting extremely ugly and out-of-hand as well, namely Quadrant’s further radicalisation from something not far off Mein Kampf (and I’m not being hyperbolic here) to calling for violence – http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-24/abc-boss-seeks-quadrant-apology-over-vicious-attack/8554192. If the author of that screed gets his collar felt by the long arms of the law, it’s his own fault and well-deserved.
For once, though, Donald Trump’s calling the bomber an ‘evil loser’ is right on the mark for probably the first time since his acceptance speech on Election night back in November.