Humble servant of the Nation

We need a second Senate for Malcolm Roberts and other oddballs

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One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts’ testimony in the High Court yesterday might have been a crippling blow to the 77 people who voted for him but let’s look on the bright side. We haven’t had a senator so amusing since Mal Colston and truth be known, Malcolm Roberts is far more trustworthy around a packet of Tim Tams.

While the senator left the High Court yesterday looking cheerfully optimistic, there was general agreement from most observers that perhaps things had not gone quite as well as expected. This was rudely confirmed when the overflow room, established to accommodate the large number of visiting journalists who couldn’t fit into the gallery of the Brisbane court, spontaneously burst into uncontrollable laughter on numerous occasions.

The case, as far as we can tell, revolves around Malcolm Roberts firing off missives into the ether seeking to determine his citizenship status prior to nominating as a candidate for the Senate. The emails bear the subject heading, “Am I still a British citizen?” which stands at odds with the senator’s belief he has always been an Australian despite arriving in Australia in 1962 as an eight-year-old.

Full column here.

256 Comments

  • Wissendorf says:

    I don’t know about the second Senate, but I need a second TV. There’s so much sport on this weekend, it’s hard to pick what not to watch. Aside from the two big GF’s, PNG Hunters play Penrith at the NRL GF on Sunday for the Intrust Championship and it should be a great game. About the same time, Australia v India in the final (and pointless) ODI, and I’m hoping for some spark from Smith’s men ahead of the Ashes. On Monday morning here there are NFL and NHL fixtures of interest, Buffalo Bills v Falcons, and Sabres v Islanders. I’ll need an extra eye or two I think.

    And the final winner in the tipping comp rests on the GF result. If ser henry picks the winner, he wins the comp. If ser henry picks wrong and Boa picks right, Boa wins. If ser henry and Boa both spin the wrong wheel, and Lou O’Todd picks correctly, Gentleman Lou wins. If they all get it wrong, ser henry still wins. Intrigue to the last. I think I’ve avoided the Splintery Spoon, but only barely.

    • Lou oTOD says:

      Not sure about your analysis Wiss, but thank you for the Gentleman tag. I’ll be high up in the Atlas Mountains on Saturday, so I doubt they’ll have a tv tuned in up there, and no internet. Worse, no grog!

      Good luck all tipsters and barrackers, I hope it’s a cracker despite the selection of feature artist and song.

    • Boadicea says:

      Sheesh, I’m biting my nails! I haven’t watched a single game, Wiss.
      Which proves the theory that ignorance is bliss 😂……. and too much knowledge is dangerous

  • Dwight says:

    Isn’t this one of the signs in the Revelations of St. John: “Twitter to test 280-character limit”?

    TV, you’re a seismic kinda guy, Mount Agung going to be a problem?

  • Milton says:

    I note that Saudi Arabia has lifted the ban on female drivers, though why any self respecting women would want to drive a camel is beyond me.
    Now if a hot and sandy backwater like Saudi Arabia can tolerate this relatively progressive move then for us not to accept ssm would surely make us appear retrograde. And for what it’s worth men have been wearing dresses over there for years.

    • Wissendorf says:

      Modernity! Next thing you know the blokes will be wearing Levis and Akubras in Saudi. And planting trees. Can’t be anything but good. Buy shares in RM Williams now.

    • Razor says:

      You do know what Camels and Saudi submarines have in common dont you Milton?

    • Lou oTOD says:

      We are off to Marrakesh today Milton, then a trip to the Moroccan Alps to stay in a Bedouin village. Had the option of an all day camel ride into the desert but passed on that. I know they are more progressive than the Saudis, but I’m not getting on a camel, female or not.

      Back on the house of Saud, I’d not mention SSM in their company if I were you. I know who wears the dress in that family.

      • Milton says:

        Sounds like you’re having fun, Lou of the open holed dunny!!! Best prawns (mmm maybe a tie) I’ve ever had were called “prawns (?doesn’t seem right now) on the fry top” in a no frills place in Tangier. Yum yum and yum. The other place was Madrid and they were unvarnished.
        If you happen to be in the vicinity of Chefchaouen consider purchasing a combined b’day/xmas pressie for me. Send it via JtI … or better still, Dismayed!
        Go well mate, i’m jealous and Boa’s not helping.

    • Trivalve says:

      This will only add to the mayhem in one of the most dangerous countries to drive in worldwide. And just watch the boys target them (they will in various ways.) The combination of fast, good cars (although not that good – mostly American it must be said – sorry Dwight in advance), good roads, terrible road manners and road sense, plus the inshallah factor (sure I turned abruptly across eight lanes of traffic – it was God’s will) makes the place bad enough already. Now the number of drivers will explode (maybe) and most of the newbies will be learners with the same proclivities. Stay away.

      • Boadicea says:

        The French are the worst drivers in the world Triv! I speak from experience!!!

      • Penny. says:

        Kuwait has the deadliest highway in the world, more fatalities on one day than anywhere else. It was a nightmare to go to the supermarket. Having said that I applaud the Saudis for allowing women to drive, but all it does is take the world’s attention away from what they are doing in Yemen. The new Crown Prince may be regarded as a bit of a progressive, but no-one in our Gov’t ever mentions what really goes on in that country because a) we still need their oil and b) Christopher Pyne wants to sell them our military weapons. Nothing Saudi Arabia does surprises me any more but allowing women to drive is moving one step forward while they take several steps back in their human rights atrocities

        • Mack the Knife says:

          Trouble is Penny, they have to have a letter of permission from their family. Be a lot of ladies who don’t get that letter I’d wager.

      • Penny. says:

        The inshallah factor is one I gladly left behind when we left the Middle East. Still get it a bit from online students, but my God it was annoying

    • Boadicea says:

      Being on the road at school pickup time can be stressful, Milt.

  • Lou oTOD says:

    Cotchin got off at the MRP, and rightly so. It was incidental contact while going for the ball, only Patrick Smith could see otherwise.

    Meanwhile Barry Hall takes out not one but two players in the QAFL grand final, the first bearing a strong resemblance to the mancat hit on Brett Staker. This is the same Barry who did the Maya Culpa at the awarding of his Hall of Fame medal. He should give back his gong and the premiership medal for a game he had no right to play in after another brutal hit against Saint Kilda.

    In any other venue he’d be charged with assault.

  • Boadicea says:

    I’ve come to the conclusion that Qld Nickel/Mineralogy must have a corporate dining room that serves high fat, ten course meals.

  • BASSMAN says:

    For what its worth-BRADMAN FIXTURES (below)…very little coverage in the media. One would not even know we are playing Hindia! Trying to find out when a game is on or when it starts is futile. Foxtel said 7pm our time start last game. Thort I wld switch on early at 6.50pm..they were into the bloody 11th over!! Even on the news ABC says ‘We are playing blah blah’ but they NEVER tell you what time the game starts our time. Crazy! Ditto in any newspaper…they never say the starting time.

    http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/match/fixtures.html?team_country=2;future=1

  • Dismayed says:

    Gee I tell you what several people have made a lot of comments on this blog. Don’t see anyone whingeing though, the echo chamber feels secure again.

  • smoke says:

    what a shock
    ” Lindsay Partridge was fuming on Thursday as he revealed that Brickworks manufacturing plants were facing a 40 per cent rise in energy prices over the next 15 months as it grappled with an extra $20 million in gas and electricity price hikes.”

    “If a company was run as badly as this country, the board would resign,” Mr Partridge said.

    http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/gas-crisis-three-times-bigger-than-thought-turnbull-says-20170925-gyo418.html

    • Boadicea says:

      It’s ridiculous that the resource rich country of Australia is in this situation.
      We’ve had 10 years of political games. When will we get a government that can actually govern?
      Neither would Shorten’s Labor seem to be a viable option.
      Depressing stuff.

  • Mavis Toms says:

    My Trevor says world war 3 is about to start Jack and I was wondering should we go ahead and book our holidays in Vanuatu or not?

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