Humble servant of the Nation

The lights are on in Canberra but nobody’s home

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You may be wondering, like I am, who is running the country.

It certainly isn’t the prime minister.

One could pose a forlorn argument that it is the executive, the cabinet calling the shots but that, too, doesn’t pass scrutiny. On Tuesday, Scott Morrison and Malcolm Turnbull were strident in opposition of a Royal Commission into the banks. It would not happen they said. Not on their watch. The commitments lasted less than 48 hours.

Tuesday’s titans have once again become Friday’s flotsam.

So who is running the country?

Sam Dastyari thinks the Chinese might be in charge, if not today then at some point in the not too distant future. Wealthy Chinese businessmen with strong links to the Chinese government imagine Australians as their drinks waiters and golf caddies of the future so with a gleam in his eye, Shanghai Sam has got out of the blocks early.

“The Chinese integrity of its borders is a matter for China. Seven iron, Mr Huang?”

Full column here.

484 Comments

  • Tracy says:

    Been watching NZ v WI, the windies staged a fight back but it wasn’t enough.
    Husband has a smirk on his face after the Oz first innings……….don’t want to talk about it but hey, eight in this round of EPL she says changing the subject.

  • Boadicea says:

    Wiss – there’s an interesting article on Bitcoin in today’s Age.
    JB – there can only ever be 21million bitcoin in existence according to this article – expected to he achieved by 2040.
    I still don’t understand how, if at all, you can an cash your bitcoins in.

    • Boadicea says:

      Hmmmm further into the Age there is an article on those two guys who sued Zuckerberg for $65million over Facebook copyright.
      They invested $11mill in bitcoin (100,000 coins) and are now billionaires.
      Geez Wiss you could be sitting on a goldmine!

    • Jean Baptiste says:

      Find a good broker, me. Send me your bitcoins.
      If there is someone still here in 2040, they’ll need 21 million bitcoins to buy a loaf of bread.

    • JackSprat says:

      There’s an old adage about the stock market B – when the bell boys start buying stock get out.
      Grandmothers are now buying bit coin.

  • Henry Blofeld says:

    No 24 Negative Consecutive Newspoll ticks over for PM Turnbull, Mr Insider. A tiny bounce but the trajectory is still the same. Turnbull is now only 6 away from tying with ex ousted PM Abbott who scored a whopping 30 b4 being shown the door by his own Party. Nothing will save Turnbull, the QLD Election sent a loud clear message there. Look out Tony here comes Malcolm!
    https://tinyurl.com/y8ojqz62

    • Jean Baptiste says:

      Meaningless Henry. Turnbull is still the preferred Prime Minister.

      • Henry Blofeld says:

        On those figures Mr Baptiste we would have a change of government to Labor, as we would have had in the last 23 Polls. Shorten never the favoured PM in any Poll so far but we vote for Parties not PM’s. Cheers

        • Tracy says:

          The only “opinion” poll that means anything is on Election Day when you put your cross in the box

        • Jean Baptiste says:

          Come on Henry. Wakey, wakey. The appropriate adjustments will be made to the peasants in the final fortnight. The polls are only showing disapproval of the government, not the desire of the proles to change the government.

  • Razor says:

    Lou from Dec 3rd,

    Always willing to learn and I do here often mate. It’s a subject close to my heart at the moment as two of my sons are trying to buy houses and haven’t quite got the 20%. They have gone to a variety of lenders and bloody Geneorths name pops up every time.

    • Lou oTOD says:

      Ok Razor.

      Mate if your sons are that close, do anything you can to find the deposit gap for them. If you don’t realise it, the borrower pays the LMI premium even though it is protecting the lender’s risk. Sure it allows them to borrow, but hardly good economically.

      • Razor says:

        That’s part of my argument Lou. The bloody banks aren’t holding the risk! They win no matter what.

        • Boadicea says:

          Given the huge mortgages that a lot of young people are taking out – having been granted by the banks at a time of low interest rates, I would say that the banks are holding significant risk, Razor.
          When interest rates start to rise it’s going to be a problem.

    • Bella says:

      Obviously I don’t know their circumstances at all but, for what it’s worth, I know two brothers who were way off the 20% individually but together they easily did so as tenants in common they’ve bought into the Sunshine Coast market. Last I heard they’re both ripping into medium scale renos while making double mortgage payments so I guess it can work for some. Just a thought mate. 😊

      • Razor says:

        Bella,
        Many thanks. Not a bad idea at all. I’ll throw it up there, the worst they can say is bugger off old man.

        Away camping with Mrs Razor at the moment Bella saw 3 dugong and umpteen turtles this morning on one of Mother Natures great days. Hope the North isn’t too hot for you at the moment.

        Cheers!

  • Uncle Quentin says:

    David Marr made a good point on Insiders yesterday. The Nats represent only 7% of the electorate yet they call the shots in the coalition. Time their wings were clipped.

    https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/937088392713584640

  • Boadicea says:

    Well I think that John Alexander’s chances of being re-elected will be considerably enhanced if it comes to light that Shorten has been telling porkies about the citizenship of his MP’S.
    Given his relentless pursuit of Coalition MP’s on the matter it won’t be a good look.

  • smoke says:

    that McCartney geezer goes orright eh?

    • Henry Blofeld says:

      He’s 755yo smoke just had a friend from Perth phone me she saw his last night at NIB Stadium and he did a 3 hour concert non stop! He even invited a young couple on stage for a wedding proposal, she said Yes . Cheers

  • Milton says:

    Well deserved century by Marsh. I may have been wrong to say not too flashy, but it was certainly a concentrated affair. A most likely declaration by 450, depending on how fast(and if?) we get there.
    That’s me from the commentary box, oops hehe dropped collision catch, got to mix and mingle at tea!

  • Milton says:

    Ok i’ll revise upwards of 430 and pencil us in for batting last!! and a coupla more !!!

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