Tomorrow marks the 50th anniversary of the execution of Ronald Ryan. Just before 8 o’clock on the morning of February 3, 1967, Ryan declined a sedative but took a sip of whisky and walked calmly to the gallows trapdoor at Pentridge Prison.
Ryan addressed his executioner directly, “God bless you, please make it quick.”
Ryan’s supporters and opponents of the death penalty observed a three-minute silence. Protesters assembled outside Pentridge Prison in vigil.
The circumstances of his death at the hands of the state have led to great myth-making about Ryan. He has been variously painted as a bit of a larrikin, driven to crime by circumstance and little worse than a kite flyer (passer of bad cheques).
The truth is he was a career criminal and his crimes before his penultimate arrest, included what we would call today aggravated burglary and robbery in company.
His arresting officer on that occasion was Bryan Harding. I’ve known Harding for many years. He was an outstanding police officer and at various times headed up the Fraud and Homicide squads in Victoria. Harding is retired and now in his 80s; he remembers Ryan as a hardened criminal who showed little or no remorse for his crimes and gave nothing away under questioning.
Full column here.
Yvonne 09:18pm.
Amazing how Americans now settle quickly after all the indescretional drama ,now done a 180 degrees off into the wilderness in the first two weeks with some lingering bad taste left behind.
My wife has this Asian Thailand lady doing her hair making some interesting comments from customers from many nationalities including a women having her daughter just arrived back from the US Denver . Word widespread in America saying the celebrities was the main cause Americans turned off Hillary who would of possibly won the election if run it alone .
Also ,1999, pick up trucks and bumper stickers were circulation on cars as well saying “Run Hillary Run” when she was running for the senate .Predictable consequences this last election followed as now Foxtel is spreading coverage now into middle America in the next years ahead having the election decided in those regions.
Political correctness in heartland America goes into meltdown giving the elite in the Democrats little chance , that they must polish up on. All in all, marches saying Americans , are OK provided they don’t turn violent , that then works for the likes of Trump , Trump I don’t agree entirely with him having much more tidying up to do , is cunning enough to weave through the dust ,pick up his hat after combat and settle into president mode gathering strengh ahead.
Must ask my Asian Malaysian Chinese hairdresser why she thinks Hillary lost…..
My hairdresser says “the celebrities was the main cause”. Oh, except they elected one. So what would she know.
Thinking the same thing Doctor, except I will ask the IBTC as they have a say on everything.
“Asian Thailand lady.” Ya don’t say!
Off topic, but surely the big news of the day is the reported imminent defection of Cory Bernardi to his own party.
Cat. Pigeons.
But why wait 48 hours? What gives that he doesn’t just pull up stumps and go? And who will go with him? Can he take the Abbotts and Duttons of the world with him? One supposes that Fatso the Big-Arsed Wombat (GC) is a strong possibility. Will there be a three-way Coalishun? (doubt it). Let’s hope that he calls it the Conservative Party too – not the Bernardi party. How can any nascent outfit expect to last if it is named after the founder? Makes no sense to me.
Another skip of popcorn.
party of 1? his primary vote <3000 from memory
Flogs Malcolm Roberts then
Ah Smoke, the old lousy primary vote on a Senate ticket eh? Bollocks.
For starters, the Senate voting paper stretches to about one and a half times the width of the voting cubicle. Only masochists vote below the line (or sadists if you are thinking some poor bastard in the AEC has to count and recount the bloody toilet paper) and thus vote mostly on party lines. No individual primary votes in that scenario.
Now for the Bernardi issue. He might be a jerk, I’ve never met him, but to go off on his own without some indicative support would be a bit more radical than he has been up to now. Maybe he’s inspired by the One Nation revival, either way if it happens it’s just another step up the ladder for BS. If that numb knuckle ever gets to run the country, RGR will look like halcyon years.
He is on a mission for God.
Dry white toast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNPlp-fGya8
Filling in the entire senate sheet is the best part of election day, Lou, even beats the sausage. Working from the most egregious up (e.g. Fred Nile usually last), it’s a good little brainteaser.
12 below the line…too easy.
http://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/How_to_Vote/Voting_Senate.htm
Very interesting Triv. Pauline will be worried as the discontents who had turned to her in desperation (Abbott believers) will now have an alternative.
Malcolm will be even more worried as the Coalition is now in tatters….
….and all Bill has to do is wait and et it all fall into his lap!
It’s easy in hindsight, but looking back, Turnbull’s move on Abbott was disastrous for them. It would have been better for them to have lost the election under Abbott – which they certainly would have, and then dropped him, appointed a new leader and set about trying to win the next election. It’s all pretty bleak really – and we face the prospect of Shorten and Plibersek dealing with Trump. Quite scary. That’s one area Turnbull would be better at.
“Descendants of Italian Immigrants Anti-immigration Party” is the early favourite at $2.50. “Married Gays Really Prefer Horses” is $5, “Burqa Beserker” $8.
Cory’s Tories? The Bernardi Army? The Libertarian Theocratic Monoculture Party?
Actually the name’s out already: Conservative Right Australia Party.
Razor 09:12pm.
Correct what you saying on smear adds votes to the apponent after hearing today news that Hansen has surged ahead of the majors. Same is happening in America the tide has turned. History shows that sarcasm, vindictiveness, spiteful media adding on and Hillary using the”deplorable” word shows resilience of mainstream survives over the now deplorable whinges in their decloration to destroy America not excepting democracy of the voters. This show of bitterness eventually defeats the sooks trying to ramp up American destruction in divisional hate they have in their blood. Just “get over it” and allow democracy to rule you trouble making lot whinging knowing people voted for changes after Hillary with her deplorable rot, blew it.
No Nation has 8% of national support. How does 8% equate to “surged ahead of the majors” ?? Are you dismissing the other 92% ??
Wrong again dismal
the majors garner just over 70% not the 92% you have dreamed up
Suggest you actually read the numbers before gobbing off
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/newspoll-hanson-on-the-rise-as-coalition-support-dives/news-story/7e0b701bfa1fcd912a3ef44dd1fa1b37
No nation 8%. But you are only dismissing the other 70% then. Oh my great effort old girl. PFFFFFFT.
Arithmetic, Robin! 92% don’t vote ON, doesn’t mean they all vote for the majors. There are plenty of other parties.
You are barking mad Rodent, but Jesus loves you anyway.
Luke. 64:24. “Blessed be the barking mad.”
Malcolm Turnbull has copped a belting in the polls, with support for the Coalition collapsing to the lowest level since Tony Abbott was toppled as Prime Minister, Mr Insider, as the latest NEWSPOLL shows. He is on the nose big time and only himself to blame. Looks like Cory Bernadi set to leave the Libs today and start his own Party, which will leave the hapless Turnbull with a majority of none!
http://tinyurl.com/j33pzg3
I think the High Court should have a look at the senators who jump ship – Culleton and Bernardi soon to join him. People didn’t cast votes for them but for their parties.
Agree 100%, Mr Insider, its pretty poor form. I must correct myself too, Bernardi is a Senator and his departure wont affect Turnbull’s one seat majority but if others leave to join Bernardi it may well do so. Bernardi is no Donald Trump imho.
Absolutely. It’s ridiculous.
free to vote how they like, nothing unconstitutional about it.
besides, it’s been happening for a long time without any real complaint.
Bit like having a by election mid term Jack, either leave the seat empty until the next election or make the retiring mp foot the bill unless there are serious reasons for them not to see out their term.
Senators have their seat for 6 yrs Tracy. I’m not sure what the story is with the senate. House of Reps – there should be a by-election.
Not in a DD Yvonne, some have only three years, I’m referring to Skinner and Baird in the NSW parliament.
The next election is in 2019 but same goes for the fed house of reps, Hockey caused us another expensive by election so he could swan off to the U.S
Pedant watch Tracy, it’s a bi-election.
Then again, if the current parliament can’t deal with a LGBTIQ vote, there’s no chance they’d go for a bi-election every time an MP changes their mind about who they are sleeping with.
What we are seeing is the political structure of bicameral parliament being challenged. Many are pissed off that the party elected to govern can’t get their agenda through the upper house. Many others are alternately pleased or pissed off under the same scenario, depending whether the horse they backed got up or not. Then we have the reality of minor parties, and even individuals, holding the balance of power well beyond the relevant electoral support that put them there.
To put it bluntly, we’ve ended up with a shit sandwich. I don’t think anyone’s got the guts to bite down on it to change. The way forward is resplendent with smoke and mirrors.
Pedant Watch Watch, it’s by election. Hyphernate it if you like. Suit yourself on that.
Pedant watch watch watch…..Nah just taking the piss.
The constitution and electoral laws dont acknowledge parties Jti. Its all done by conventions, which are not justiciable by the courts.
Pedant Watch – not strictly true, the Const. provision dealing with casual vacancies was amended in the 70s to allow them to be filled by a member of the same party, and parties now get quite a few mentions in the electoral laws. But I agree with your general point, that parties aren’t defined or required by those laws, and IMO currently there would be no basis to challenge an MP’s place in Parliament just because they left their party.
It’s an interesting idea though. I can’t see why it wouldn’t be possible to amend the Electoral Act so that a party member would need enough below-the-line votes to keep their seat if they left. That would give voters the option of ensuring their MP stayed in the party, or not.
???? senate vs HoR
I reckon there is a difference smoke. People vote for a person in the HOR and a party in the Senate.
Nah Razor, hoary old chestnut.
Show me an election where the “individual” representing a major/minor party hands out a generic HTV card with his or her name only, and has no Party advertising during the campaign and I’ll side with you.
Fact is, outside true independents, they ride on the Party coattails. Why do you think preselection a are such an inelegant bunfight.
Then there’s the Senate where the voting paper is wider than the voting booth. People aren’t going to vote their favourite candidate if they have to peruse the whole toilet sheet. Again, that’s why the parties spen dos much time fighting over the order of nominations, arguing the best candidates at the top of the ticket will “pull” votes.
I get your point Lou but still think more people know who will represent them in the HOR than whose number 1 on both the Senate ticket.
Nobody really knows, and plenty of thought has already been put into this issue:
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0203/03RP04
After discussing the issues, that paper looks at attempts made in NZ, SA, PNG and India to legislate on it, usually with little success. It’s just too hard to draw any general conclusions about who a seat “belongs to”, even in NZ, where some MPs are elected wholly on a party ticket. Also, some individuals have a strong personal following but that is linked to their party, others would succeed with or without their party, others have no personal presence and rely entirely on party membership, etc. This applies to both Houses.
The things we do, had to sleep on the sofa last night as the bedroom was still really hot at bedtime and the dog likes to sleep close to me, having a very thick bluey coat it was too hot for her even with a fan.
so under the air conditioning it was, dog on feet and me with very little sleep but she’s bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning……..I’m not.
Oh Tracy, that is way too much information to be sharing. As for being hot, same same!
Kick the dog out into the outdoor kennel?
We don’t do outdoor dogs…..she’s asleep on her blanket on the sofa under the air conditioner, six “forever homes’ before she came to us at the age of three from cattle dog rescue, go figure.
Beautiful, gentle loving dog who just wants to be loved can’t imagine life without her.
Tracy, we had to have our so loved dog put to sleep back in August, we miss him more than it should be, especially at night, no snuffling or snoring, too bloody quiet. We are on a list now, four more weeks to go, waiting for a puppy to be ready for us all to love insanely. We met him on the weekend, a whole family trip to the city. He’s beyond wonderful, I can’t wait for him to keep me up at night.
Aren’t we lucky in Oz to be blessed with fur babies!
Cheers to you and your fuzzy friends.
Nothing like the gentle sound of a doggie snore, cuts to the bone when you lose one doesn’t it?
The ferrets stretch out in this sort of weather instead of piling into a furry bunch, the air con reaches into their room so they seem to be ok, our eighteen year old lovebird has been moved to a cool spot but he’s a bit peeved because he can’t see out the window.
What type of pooch Wraith?
English Terrier Razor. The ones with the Asian eyes. Most beautiful faces on earth.
.
@ Tracy
I can just see your ferrets lounging under the air-con, chaise anyone?
Didn’t know what you meant Wraith until I googled a picture. I love them. Growing up a mate used to have one. Fantastic dogs. Not real smart but bloody loyal and great with kids.
You make me so jealous Wraith. Because we live 6 months here in Penang, and the 6months on the road in Australia we can’t have a dog. I have made a lot of enquiries and while we can get a dog easily back into Malaysia, but getting back into Australia is not an easy process…. which is fair enough I suppose. In the meantime I’ll just have to cuddle all my family and friend’s dogs…..and cats
Wraith & all animal lovers, I got home from work today and it was my turn to walk the pups. Not a chore though. As I picked up their leads I looked at our own little tribute to all the dogs we’ve owned. All of ours who’ve turned their toes up have been cremated and their ashes are in tins and boxes with their names on them. It’s starting to look like one of those Italian mausoleums in your favourite graveyard!
Our dogs have been our surrogate kids and we are on first name terms with the local dog rescue coordinator.
When I walk them I drive them a kilometre to the golf course and we walk 9 holes off the lead. The lake is the out of bounds boundary so plenty of swimming, chasing sticks and sniffing.
I much prefer animals to humans. Wraith (and Tracy ? – I hope – who lost her ferret ?) all you can do is know that the animal you looked after had the best life it could ever have. If you get the chance to love another one, you know it’s going to end in tears but you do it anyway.
Yep we lost two of our little furries end of last year. Have to pack Boo’s blankets and bits and pieces up as her owner will be back from Sweden in a couple of weeks.
Our fur kids get a plant in the garden, never gets any easier but it will be a tough day when I can no longer have a furry friend.
You sound like you’re walking the dogs on my golf course Mac.
I played on Wednesday, and was strolling up the third fairway when I spotted a huge, well chewed leg bone sitting in the middle of the course. He/ she must have had fun gnawing on that one.
We also had a recalcitrant local who insisted on giving his very large pooch a run during the hours of play. The dog’s favourite trick was to leap into the bunkers and generally creat havoc. He also refused to rake the sand , the dog that is. The owner wasn’t smart enough to use a rake. Oh well.
Do you know Tracy that Darwin was the coolest city in Australia on the weekend, 25 degrees. They have real monsoon weather going on with surf and all. Talking to my daughter last night from cool Penang, she lives over near you and said it was closer to 40 degrees in her house. The dogs ( border collies) are just a little distressed.
The crazy thing they got rid of their air conditioning five years ago…..why??
Dismayed 05:00pm.
Get the article from Dennis Shanahan from the Australian clarifying the new frontier of energy facing our future added new coal technology being cheap with new coal plant technology.
I agree with you on gas is going to expand eventually if those buffoons in Victoria and SA premiers sit up and listen instead peddling the idealogy policies. It is in the interests of the states premiers with voters now seeing SA power charges up 12% says Dennis. These premiers are playing politics while now sacrificing their own jobs. The chaotic flawed energy policies in those states, shows business and family alliance has been steadily eroding leaving unemployment SA will increase dramatically after business facing higher power charges getting out of there due to the bleak future on the horizon.
“clean coal” most expensive option to build. Very little reduction in emissions.
http://reneweconomy.com.au/clean-coal-most-expensive-new-power-supply-says-bnef-and-not-all-that-clean-74531/
clean coal = glamorous gonorrhea …. ie bulldust
Oh just to help you. “Not only does this research put clean coal firmly in the ‘economically ridiculous’ basket, but it puts lie to the Coalition’s argument that building new coal in Australia will help deliver that “affordable electricity supply.”
There is NO SUCH THING AS CLEAN COAL…its an oxyMORON!
ah…..a politely put post…..
smoke must do better
smoke must do better
smoke must do better…….
……………
Now go to the naught corner Bald!
Yep the rort continues…….all for the sake of no measurable contribution to worldwide emissions but we’ll destroy coal mining towns and the people they employ n the process.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/bill-to-prop-up-green-power-hits-3-billion-a-year/news-story/779f40bbea67693e72b707468188edde
Sigh. I will see your $3 billion for renewables and raise you $4 billion for Coal. Very surprised by your swallowing of propaganda. There is No such thing as ‘clean coal” The power generation companies do NOT want to invest in it in Australia because it is MORE EXPENSIVE than other options. Do you believe one subsidy is more acceptable than another?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-11/coal-oil-and-gas-companies-receive-4-billion-dollar-in-subsidie/5881814
Just one of many showing how much more Expensive “clean coal” would be. If anyone was interested in building it which they are not.
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clean-coal-would-push-up-power-bills-more-than-wind-solar-or-gas-analysts-20170203-gu4ow5.html
https://theconversation.com/new-coal-plants-wouldnt-be-clean-and-would-cost-billions-in-taxpayer-subsidies-72362
The ABC, The Age and The Conversation……..very independent NOT!
As opposed to the “Minerals Council” PFFFT. And where does the research and data in the articles come from??? I take it now unless it is the IPA or Breitbart you refuse to accept data. No wonder the right whingers in this country have No credibility.
A Qld man out on bail for assaulting his wife previously, kills her last week. Appalling………
And there will be more to come Yvonne. Of interest the rate in ATSI communities has dropped significantly since Alcohol Management Plans were introduced.
Seems Clive Mensink’s extended European vacation might end in the back of an Australian paddy wagon. About time too.
Not unexpected Newspoll this morning. Malcolm sinks lower, most don’t like either him or Bill and One Nation is on the rise.
The next election is going to be a polarising one. The Brexit/Trump phenomenon will arrive here I reckon as people demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the seeming non-governance we have endured for 8 years now.
God only knows what sort of parliament we will land up with!
And the same sex marriage debate cranks up again ………………
Cory Bernardi set to leave Libs in the next 48 hours Yvonne and start his new Party. Turnbull looks stuffed.