It is fair to say the Right has been feeling the ideological pinch lately. While the fussing and feuding has been going on, the Hard Left in Australia continues its moral decay at an impressive clip with hardly a mention.
Take the animal liberationist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Usually PETA spends the bulk of its energy and time routinely supplying the ABC’s Four Corners with free footage, allowing the current affairs program to work within its budget. It’s a win-win, provided you’re a card-carrying member of PETA or a journo with an insatiable thirst for a gold Walkley.
Yesterday it surfaced PETA had written to the management of Hunters and Collectors urging the band to change its name to something less violent and antagonistic. The thought being the band, first formed in 1981, might now be inadvertently encouraging young kiddies to load up the shotties, the pig dogs and several cartons of Emu Bitter and go out blasting away at ecosystems various in a frivolous manner.
Full column here.
Was down at the cruiseship terminal today meeting and greeting and being nice to the cruisers
Couple of friendly Americans felt like chatting. They were from Michigan – and they love Donald – feel he is getting things done, shaking things up – and will settle down and become more presidential.
Have to agree with them Boadicea, he is only 6 weeks downwind of a possible 8 year term and is passionately American. He’s not your normal stiff Politician and that has shocked many, but they better get used to it. POTUS Trump a breath of fresh air imho. Don’t mind FLOTUS Trump either mmm
BODHISATTVA:- why don’t cruise ships have streamers hanging off them anymore? Greenies/environmental factors?
Dunno Bassy. It’s all very clinical and security conscious these days. Can’t get near the ship. The times we live in, sadly.
Apart from slinging the war hawks a quick 50 billion for an appetizer, did your new Seppo friends actually mention anything that The Donald has done? Donald will remember the “forgotten Americans”, and he will keep remembering them. As in “theres one born every minute.”
Next time could you ask them what they think of The Donalds intentions regarding AGW? What do you think about his AGW policy?
Hasn’t the Anti-Christ ordered his people to delete the words Climate Change from all government records?
Trump’s going to delete wildlife too, nutjob that he is, but I don’t suppose they’ll survive too long anyways once we go beyond the tipping point JB.
Regards, Bella
Sorry forgot the link.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/global-warming-beyond-the-co2/
Crikey JB. They were friendly cruisers having a good time. I was just being an ambassador for good ole Hobart town. Whatever they said, I would agree with, even if I didn’t agree with it – you know, sort of ”Bill Shorten” style.
Try being an ambassador for Planet Earth!
I am already that. JB. I just don’t go on about it.
Well you bloody well should go on about it.
If only Malcolm Turnbull could sound as sensible every day as he did today in calling out Pauline Hanson on both the importance of co-operation with the Muslim leaders he’s meeting in Indonesia and the integration of Muslims in Australian society. He also disagreed with her stance on vaccinations….well done MT
Agree 100% Penny, well done Turnbull. Hanson hasn’t changed a bit in 20 years and is a joke. I feel sorry for those that think she has something to offer Australia!
I don’t think it’s a case of voters thinking she has something to offer HB – more a case of voters wanting to park their vote somewhere other than the two majors!
The problem is that every time he attacks Hanson, he loses sight of the main game, Bill Shorten.
Dwight, Bill Shorten has to do nothing but sit back and watch the government implode time after time. It is bizarre. One step forward three steps back. Michaela Cash who was getting some impetus behind her, has blown any shred of credibility she might have had. Julie Bishop started off really well, now is a shadow of her former formidableness (good word on IWD?)
None of them a worth a pinch of you know what.
There we go. 188 to win it. Don’t stop on 187!
Looks too many to get now with Australia six down. Hoping Starc can blast a quick 40 and get them close.
Hopefully we can knock one more out quickly and hang tough. Plenty of time but it has got to be smart stuff.
Easy for me to say but I thought we paid too much respect to some balls in our first innings that needed to be smashed.
AGL say “Dysfunction in the gas market is causing most of the systemic problems we are seeing in South Australia,” At the same time the Farmers Fed., Origin and other business groups asking for a Market based ETS. But wait didn’t w have one???
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/07/energy-executives-say-gas-market-not-windfarms-to-blame-for-south-australias-woes
http://reneweconomy.com.au/biggest-risk-to-grid-security-is-coal-gas-settings-not-wind-or-solar-45195/
I like this…from Abbott’s column in the Oz, 2009 SCREAMING for an ETS. Have you EVER witnessed such hypocrisy?
“The government’s (Rudd Govt.) emissions trading scheme is the perfect political response to the public’s fears. An ETS is a plausible means to limit carbon emissions”. Abbott, June 2009
…and of course my old favourite:- ‘If you want to put a price on carbon why not just do it with a simple tax.’ Abbott, July,2009
Even a dumbo would use this against the Looters…but not Dill Shorten. Hopeless. Bereft of tactics. Gotta go.
I agree with Tom Switzer. Abbott would eat him.
The Norwegians can do this: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/the-times/worlds-first-ship-tunnel-to-be-built-in-norway/news-story/73319e34f3169a3703b3c6f284cb8896
for less than half of what it costs to not build a road in Victoria or less than fraction of a hospital in SA.
They are mad about tunnels. I think they’re the prototypes of Tolkien’s dwarves.
Sounds about right Dwight!
Pah! It’s just a hard rock mining exercise. No big deal but expect it to cost double the estimate at least.
Now this! Is really interesting.
https://www.rt.com/business/353690-norway-underwater-floating-tunnels/
Not cheap, but for a country that doesn’t roll over and let itself be fleeced by the multis , no biggie.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/sep/04/oil-tax-norway-could-teach-australia-a-thing-or-two-about-managing-wealth
More Putin news from RT?
I texted Natasha at the Moscow news desk, the story is true and Pravda will be running a feature on the concept online early April.
For now.
http://www.citylab.com/design/2016/08/underwater-tunnel-norway-fjords/494093/
Whoa we needed that by big Starc. 152 behind Tough from here.
Whoo. 2 in a row C’mon Aussie.
Geez all of a sudden the pitch has come to life with the new ball.
Seems to me that PETA does some wonderful work.
https://weloveanimals.me/bear-held-captive-30-years-priceless-reaction-shes-finally-freed/
For the very few who still disbelieve in the NASA Apollo Moon Landings, Mr Insider, a link to a treasure trove of raw photos released by NASA for public scrutiny a year or so ago. Of course even after viewing this compelling evidence there would still remain 1 or 2 doubters, people who still tune in to Radio Havana for their daily news updates! Plenty of ‘”fake news” there.
http://tinyurl.com/pexttpf
It’s impossible Enery. Was then, is now. Have a closer look at the photos you silly old bugger.
Ohh goodness me Mr Baptiste did not expect a reply from you my dear fellow but am sure now you have seen these raw pics even you must have a feeling it all happened as NASA said it did. They wouldn’t be game to release 100’s of pics that have been retouched or edited in this day and age. The next landing on the Moon by Man will be the 7th. Cheers good buddy.
Once again! Impossible! Get your head out of your inner cavity space and examine the physics. Humans are locked into low Earth orbit and will be for a long time yet.
Try “thinking” instead of just inanely regurgitating any old bollocks you’ve had rammed down your gaping gob Monsieur de Loopy Blofeld.
Do you seriously believe that you could not be fooled by the powerful organisations who conduct these great scams? No wonder the world is in such a state when people allow themselves to be petted and ego stroked and led like sheep.
Had a yarn with an old mate this morning and the talk turned to a mutual friend. Old mate told me the friend had been out of work for a year, had blown his inheritance and spends his days playing computer games, drinking and smoking weed. I asked what he was doing for an income.
Old mate: He’s on sickness benefits.
Me: What the f*ck is he on sickness benefits for?
Old mate: Hypochondria.
Me: So he’s on sickness benefits because he imagines he gets sick?
Old Mate: Yep.
Almost as good as my boss telling me about a friend of hers who is on the DSP for anxiety.
Me: What does she gets anxious about?
Boss: Job interviews.
I swear, if this country was a child it would be catching the special bus to school with all the other window-lickers while the smart kids, India and China were doing their homework and getting ready to run the world.
Yes TBLS. On some doco I watched there was someone who was depressed, felt he could not go out and work – . and lay on the couch playing on his iPad all day – on the disability pension.
Depression is an illness treatable with drugs, psychotherapy – and WORK wouldn’t do it any harm either maybe !! It is not a disability as meant by the purpose of the DP. The whole area is so grey. And gobbling up zillions of dollars
Yvonne, Just how much is it “gobbling up”? ?Do you have any facts you can offer. I do. In the last Budget Newstart and Disability support cost $22 billion all up , if you add Carers and student support to those 2 you get about $30 billion the Aged Pensions cost $46 billion.
Have a look at the forward cost estimates Dismayed. They are mind-boggling. The whole thing is escalating out of control. The term ”disability” needs to get clearly defined to stop the rorting or misuse of the benefit. Apart from the one above I have heard of others that are clearly ridiculous and are being used to sit around at home on the couch rather than get a job. Of course there are genuine claimants – but they are wearing the brunt of those who are abusing the benefit.
I would have thought that a disability was something one is born with or acquires as a result of a bad accident or something (maybe epilepsy, deformity, genetic stuff etc etc) – things like depression, debilitating cancer, whilst very distressing of course, are illnesses that are dealt with via other health welfare.
This is probably why the costs have blown out – and will continue to do so until the reins are pulled in.
So you don’t have any actual facts or data just more hearsay and hyperbole from A current affair. Did you even look at the costs, straight from the budget, that I placed in the comment. NDIS will still be less than half of what the Aged Pensions cost the budget. If a wealthy country like Australia cannot or will not support those that need it most what sort of Nation has it become?
Sorry to fact-police you Yvonne, but if it’s cost you’re worried about, a bit of perspective. Of total welfare, roughly speaking the aged pension makes up 40℅, family assistance 25℅, disabilty 20℅, unemployed and sick, 7%. They are already subject to strict testing, and there is little non-TV-based evidence of rorting.
Maybe we should subject pensioners to activity tests, means testing etc; just because you’re old you can still work, right?
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1516/WelfareSpend
Yeah, when the NDIS gets into full stride, most of the lounge lizards will end up back in harness. No worries.
Oh come on TBLS, you’re being a bit harsh. Do we really want these people in the workforce? I have to say I’m a bit of a hypochondriac, you wouldn’t believe the things I’ve got after I’ve been in Dr. Google. As for being anxious, I get anxious when I don’t have anything to get anxious about. I just didn’t know I could get welfare for these afflictions. How hard would it be to get through to Centrelink from here in Malaysia?
Or maybe I should wait until we get back to Darwin and I could go and see that nice young lady who told us that she personally “didn’t believe that Australians living overseas for half the year should get Medicare cards…..sigh but it wasn’t up to her”
I don’t get the impression it’s easy to get through to Centrelink from Box Hill or Parramatta so Malaysia’s probably might as well be off in another dimension.
Penny, re your: ” ….. you wouldn’t believe the things I’ve got after I’ve been in Dr. Google” is enough to raise an eyebrow.
Or are you just attempting a touch of Rabelaisian humour?
Centrelink doing their best to stop the ‘gougers’.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/centrelink-asks-paralysed-man-to-prove-he-deserved-pension-20161021-gs88ax.html
If we’re talking about rorting look no further than dopey ex money wizard Joe Hockey gobbling up his zillions while the going’s good and double-dipping his $90k pension plus childcare expenses. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/taxpayers-slugged-for-former-treasurer-joe-hockeys-babysitting-bills-as-us-ambassador-20161025-gs9xnr.html
Woohoo what a ride for bozos like him but no sympathy or empathy or compassion from some for citizens disabled by physical or mental conditions, which INCLUDE depression, anxiety & various, serious mental illnesses, the likes of which no employer ever wants around a workplace.
People need to cease over emphasising the tiny percentage of disability pension recipients who CAN work but don’t and maybe just for one lightbulb moment, try comprehending the realities of daily life for someone who CAN’T participate in the workforce.
Perhaps the cruel nutjob ignoramuses in government now, who love to stick the boot into anyone who they deem somehow ‘lesser’ than their ilk, might soon create a more permanent ‘solution’ to this most bothersome of issues that is having poor people at all.
I don’t know all the ins & outs of Medicare eligibility for overseas residents Penny but I reckon you’d easily blitz sweaty Joe’s intellect, so if he can wrangle every last cent from the taxpayer then it should be a cakewalk for you to get a Medicare card.
My best, Bella
Get a grip. Sounds like you are all smoking something. Talk about ridiculous hearsay. Only a fool would believe it.
Wow. Coming from the bloke who believes every word in The Age and the Guardian are handed down from heaven, carved in marble. You and JohnO should get a room.
Hey, what did I do!?
You know what you did . . . 🙂
Pretty sure you’ve had both of your legs pulled there.
Think so JOH, but it does make a good story
yeah its a top larff…. bowie can do that
Not quick on the uptake are grumpy old conservatives!
And you behave yourself Penny, this is serious.