Open Thread – Weekend 18 Feb 2023


The White Horse, John Constable, 1819


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Cassie of Sydney
February 19, 2023 4:03 pm

Further to Dutton, nobody should be surprised. The Liberal Party is simply replicating the template they used in combatting the climate con. It’s a template of do nothing. I’ll say it again, they are spineless, weak, craven, and cowardly. For fifteen years they did nothing about the demonisation of coal, the fomenting climate hysteria which has now morphed into a full blown cult and now the war on gas. They’re shit scared of activists, they’re shit scared of their ABC, they’re shit scared of the rest of the MSM, they’re shit scared of being called rude words on Twitter, and they’re shit scared of their own shadow. In the case of the Voice, they’re shit scared of being called “racists” and “white supremacists”, and so what happens? Their fear emboldens the left.

cohenite
February 19, 2023 4:05 pm

Carbon offsets leads the way for the aussie paddle bat team in India and gets a first ball closed limpid, cow eyes and swing and miss duck.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 4:07 pm

The PM promises to ‘reach out’ to any opposition politician who wants to discuss how the voice will work as he kicks off a national week of action on the referendum

He’s pretty desperate now.
can he get the Liberal Party to break ranks?
Doubtful, but he might be able to get Barnaby Joyce to join the bandwagon.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 4:11 pm

The Liberal Party would be laughed to scorn if they were ever foolish enough to embrace the NO position on the basis that to do otherwise would be racist.

P
P
February 19, 2023 4:16 pm

Carter suffered from a messianic belief in himself, no doubt related to his Baptist faith.

I do see it having anything to do with his Baptist faith.

his refusal to back the shah, a colossal and catastrophic mistake that the world, and in particular the Iranian people, still reels from.

Absolutely YES.

P
P
February 19, 2023 4:21 pm

I do not see it having anything to do with his Baptist faith.

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 4:25 pm

Elizabeth:

So they were never a ‘natural’ grouping of people leading traditional lives, and the initial housing merely duplicated shanty shelters, as an ‘acclimatising to civilisation’.

The part about “traditional housing” is wrong, wrong wrong.
The aboriginals themselves were asked what they wanted. Essentially it was a garage/shed with sides that could be opened up to allow wind through, and a fire pit out the front with a ‘long drop cesspit dunny”*. Electricity for fridges, lights, etc. Good water supply.
But the aboriginal industry told them to shut up and they got houses for which there was no use. Chop up floorboards if available for fire outside in a wheel rim.

*take two car bodies, dig a hole about 3 meters deep. Throw the car bodies in on their sides, roof top to roof top. Connect pipes to space, and fill in.
Plant tree in the middle. Mango is good.

Boambee John
Boambee John
February 19, 2023 4:29 pm

I see that Richard Cranium is still shilling for the Labor Constitutional change referendum.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 4:36 pm

Australia is amazing, underrated by too many and too good to ruin

Yet, she has been desecrated. You have very limited civil liberties, we have crippling intergenerational public debt and unaffordable housing. High property prices are simply a tax on future production and reproduction.

Industry has been hobbled for decades by environmentalists and the country gets put under lock and key. Ticket clipping and licensing is a constant drag on workers and employers.

You’re absolutely right this place should be paradise on earth. The only downside is our space for ski fields is not very big. Seriously! I would love it if we developed the region more and had a great network or roads and rail through it. Some of the reluctance is the same reason why people hate the idea of a rail line on the northern beaches – they won’t be special spuds anymore. (They don’t understand the commercial value of property will rise so will their houses and it will actually keep the “riff-raff” out).

We have virtually unlimited water if we choose to have it, astonishing resources, landscapes and very generous growing seasons.

Instead we are languishing in a sort of self imposed death spiral.

If I criticise Australia it is not out of malice but sorrow.

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 4:38 pm

Lizzie:

We could have a Referendum on Constitutional change with OPTIONS

That would be the same as being a little bit pregnant.
No means No.
Stand your ground Lizzie, stop letting them win by little bites. We could even think of winding back their flashes of stupidity for a change!
We can never win by remaining on the defensive.

Vicki
Vicki
February 19, 2023 4:43 pm


The elderly French lady who pumped our petrol at Rabbit Flat (it truly was a surreal experience) told us she had a shootout with the local Aborigines only a few weeks before!

It’s great when you bump into these larger than life characters!

I recall saying to her, “Madame, you have such a tidy toilet block”. The dirt floor was freshly swept and all was very clean. She sighed and said it was getting very hard for her. I kid you not – a tiny figure, she was in battle fatigues with her grey hair swept back in a bun! Surreal. I wish I had bought a jar of the home made fig jam on her counter. The figs were obviously from the large old fig tree behind the office shed. You think about this later. She obviously made precious little profit from the occasional traveller seeking petrol.

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
February 19, 2023 4:46 pm

9 wickets for 52.
It’s a bloody cricket bat not a broom.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 4:54 pm

bern

Did you see Michael Malice on Jimmy Dore two weeks ago?

rosie
rosie
February 19, 2023 4:56 pm

Drones v drones in war sounds like nothing more than a delay, are you going to lose all your drones then admit defeat?
You run out of drones, like you run out of cannon balls, then it’s time for the hand to hand.
It will always ends up men killing men.

Tom
Tom
February 19, 2023 4:56 pm

The Pat Cummins clownshow — under the tutelage of its clownshow coach, who was chosen by the captain as a result of the leaderlessness of Cricket Australia, which rivals the Stupid Effing Liberals for cowardice — just gave away the second test in under three days.

This is what you get when you hand supreme power in a sporting code to a smartarse knowall dullard who knows stuff all about stuff all and thinks he’s a genius.

I feel for Alan Border, who is being forced to watch this national tragedy from a studio in Sydney with millions of cricket fans betrayed by CA’s stupidity.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
February 19, 2023 5:00 pm

Adam Bandt is holding up his hands and is ready to negotiate on behalf of the Greens.
He is willing to pass Labor’s climate safeguard overhaul in exchange for Labor… erm… agreeing to do everything the Greens originally demanded.
Nice negotiating position!
Okay there is some other option on the table about letting coal and gas projects go ahead but with some “climate trigger” back door clause inserted in the approvals, but that just means they will fire the trigger as soon as they can find some scientist who doesn’t want to be fired. Should take about 5 minutes.

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 5:00 pm

P:

That was sarcasm, Robert. I should have marked it so.
First when referring to climate change and second with the Voice.

Apologies – I thought you were serious. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 5:10 pm

The male pill is a thing now.

https://nypost.com/2023/02/14/holy-grail-male-birth-control-drug-could-be-a-game-changer/

What does it mean?

Possibly, the idea of traditional conservatives outbreeding everyone else is finally here.

Drake wouldn’t be putting hot sauce in used condoms anymore.

Vicki
Vicki
February 19, 2023 5:12 pm

The Pat Cummins clownshow — under the tutelage of its clownshow coach, who was chosen by the captain as a result of the leaderlessness of Cricket Australia, which rivals the Stupid Effing Liberals for cowardice — just gave away the second test in under three days.

I used to be a fan of Patty. But his concession of “the knee” revealed his essential inner weakness when it counts. The Aussie cricket team thought they were worldbeaters are the defeats of the West Indies and then South Africa this summer. It was a “false summer” in every way. We have some very talented cricketers, but I am old enough to think that cricket is as much about character, as it is about ability. When you have the likes of David Warner on the national team, I think it says it all.

On the other hand, I think the new young spinner with the glasses and “the look of the past” may be just what we need. You can only hope.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
February 19, 2023 5:20 pm

“An overwhelming majority of the population wants the government to stop opening coal and gas,” he said.

“It’s really up to Labor now to justify why they want to keep opening coal and gas projects while Australia is burning.

He argued that the government hadn’t picked up on “just how much” Australians wanted to see further climate action and that any proposition that kept coal and gas in the ground would be “enormously popular”.

Bandt

I’m not entirely sure that Bandt has picked up on ‘just how much’ Australians want nice things – most of which come from overseas in exchange for hard currency – or how “enormously popular” free stuff is.

Luckily we’re all in an experiment to find out what it’s like when governments just can’t keep giving anymore.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 5:20 pm

Good stuff from the NSW Liberal Democrats (LDP) 🙂

https://www.ldp.org.au/nsw_freedom

Some snippets and an outline of the rest. 🙂

——————

COVID Justice

We do not want the most bizarre, inhumane and pointless example of government over-reach in NSW history swept under the carpet. The risk of any “amnesty” is that we fail to learn the lessons when the next state-sponsored fear campaign comes along.

Using police and military, our leaders locked us down for months. They said they’d kindly release us when 80% were vaccinated. That morphed into 90% and then 95%. Almost everyone got vaccinated and most still caught COVID.

(It would be funny if it didn’t happen to us).

For months NSW Health has shown that hospital admissions, ICU and death rates for the unvaccinated, are very similar (if not lower) than those who’ve had COVID shots. There is still no explanation, and no inquiry, into the 19% increase in “all cause mortality.”

The NSW Liberal Democrats support a Parliamentary Inquiry into everything to do with the COVID response, including the extent of vaccine injuries.

At some point we’ll need a more powerful Royal Commission, but currently the major parties would only appoint their mates and set terms of reference to skew findings to say our COVID response was brilliant. Once the COVID fog has lifted we support a Royal Commission chaired by a commissioner who early on called out the hysteria (such as Dr Gigi Foster).

——————–

Colour Blind

Governments should be race blind. Martin Luther King settled this when he taught us to judge others by their character and not their skin colour.

The proponents of ‘positive racism’ have good intentions but their strategy doesn’t work. Encouraging individuals to believe their destiny is determined by their ancestry is a curse.

‘Acknowledgement of Country’ and ‘Welcome to Country’ should cease on government property.
We do not support race-based flags displayed on government property (including the Sydney Harbour Bridge).
We oppose the ‘Voice to Parliament’ in any form, including the proposed referendum and any legislated equivalents in state parliament.

——————

Coal & Nuclear

We are sceptical of the global warming orthodoxy.

“Renewables” are more accurately termed “unreliables”. That may well change with time, but until then we must reverse policies discouraging coal and gas based energy. We should not copy the mistakes of other governments who have self-harmed by going too hard, too fast, with unreliables.

NSW is coal-rich. We can drive energy prices down and recharge the private sector if we flick the coal industry switch back to ‘ON’. The only hope for a thriving renewable energy industry is if these new innovations compete in a free market energy sector where the state does not intervene.

Legalising nuclear is also well overdue, especially in uranium-rich Australia. All the nuclear energy industry wants is for the government to get out of their way – they know their product can compete in a free market. Thriving coal, gas and nuclear industries will compete against each other, making all three more efficient, and driving down energy prices.

——————

Reduce the Cost of Living
Abolish Stamp Duty
Abolish Payroll Tax
Return Taxation Powers to the States
Empower Citizens
Slash Red Tape
Fund Students, Not Bureaucrats
Shooters Rights
Capitalism

mem
mem
February 19, 2023 5:21 pm

Dover
Many thanks for responding re the Iron Law of Tolerance being a zero sum game. I am still mulling over the concept/phrase and don’t feel comfortable, despite your explanation. Tolerance to me is to put up with something, despite it hurting or being distasteful in some way, either physically or psychologically. Tolerance doesn’t mean approval. Zero sum implies that you can assign value i.e. a number to the “hurt” or pain. In the end I’m left with a statement that sounds profound but is a bundle of words. I’m open to be convinced otherwise. With regard to the cake man, inwardly I think he has the right to bake cakes for anyone he wants. But then I think if a Jewish man walked in and was refused a cake for a particular celebration, then I might bend the other way and call it discriminatory. I would hate to be a judge in such matters.

Zipster
Zipster
February 19, 2023 5:23 pm

The PM promises to ‘reach out’ to any opposition politician who wants to discuss how the voice will work as he kicks off a national week of action on the referendum

drop your dacks and bendover, get a taste of divershity, inclushion and equity

Indolent
Indolent
February 19, 2023 5:23 pm
Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
February 19, 2023 5:29 pm

JUST IN: President Trump will be visiting East Palestine, Ohio.

Will he be `fessing up for his administration nixing the proposal to install ECP brakes on hazardous materials freight trains – which could have prevented this derailment if they’d been installed (and if this obviously hazardous shipment had been classified as such)?

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 5:32 pm

Trump hasn’t been President for two years and the US Federal government has spent trillions of dollars thereafter.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
February 19, 2023 5:32 pm

Don’t worry Gez, they’ll bat better in the turd innings. May contain a certain amount of humour in the inverse amount of ability with the Carbon Credits batting effort.

P
P
February 19, 2023 5:33 pm

Mark Steyn: Covid is killing free speech

Thank you Indolent.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
February 19, 2023 5:38 pm

Sydney’s first queer museum opens
Sydney’s first queer museum has been launched, showcasing the LGBTQIA+ community through history, culture and art.

EXCUSE. ME. Did you just assume that this museum can be either open or closed? THIS IS A NONBINARY MUSEUM.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
February 19, 2023 5:39 pm

Zippy, Luigi the Unbelievable will encourage the reachoutables they will enjoy the shafting. No doubt some of the SFL will.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
February 19, 2023 5:41 pm

Will he be `fessing up for his administration nixing the proposal to install ECP brakes on hazardous materials freight trains

That was prevented by a law passed by Congress in 2015. Pretty clear there was a lot of lobbying of congresscritters behind it.

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
February 19, 2023 5:45 pm

The Aussies complain about cracked crumbling surfaces in India.
The pitches are better than most of our roads.

Tom
Tom
February 19, 2023 5:45 pm

Luigi the Unbelievable for PM!

Oh, he already is.

As you were.

rosie
rosie
February 19, 2023 5:49 pm

Really don’t want people getting cheap eggs
Maltese eggs under threat as EU pushes to ban cage-farmed chickens

Crossie
Crossie
February 19, 2023 5:53 pm

Miltonf says:
February 19, 2023 at 10:45 am
What I want to know is, how long are the American people going to stand for this?

good question- they seem to have accepted the theft of the 2020 election

And 2022 election as well. The most notorious was the Arizona debacle.

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 5:53 pm

Mem:

But then I think if a Jewish man walked in and was refused a cake for a particular celebration, then I might bend the other way and call it discriminatory. I would hate to be a judge in such matters.

The Baker has the right to serve whoever he likes.
The Customer has the right to buy wherever they like.
In this case, the Baker has no option but to either comply or refuse.
The Customer can go to another Baker.
The Judges call is quite clear – he must support the Baker – I see no quandary here unless the Judge is an activist, in which case he isn’t applying law – he is being an activist with an agenda that isn’t in his job description.
In effect, the Judge has no standing. 🙂

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 5:54 pm

India 2/39, go Aussies.

Tom
Tom
February 19, 2023 5:59 pm

India 2/39, go Aussies.

You idiot, Googleory. It’s still lunchtime in India. It’ll be over before afternoon tea time.

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 6:02 pm

chris mate ?
@ChrisLXXXVI
·
21h
The Northern Beaches Council have enlisted this man to host a Drag Queen Story Time for children aged 3+

Is it just me, or is this beyond messed up?

Again I ask why are libraries so keen on corrupting minors?

JC
JC
February 19, 2023 6:03 pm

Is it just me, or is this beyond messed up?

It’s just you. There’s nothing wrong with a grown man grooming toddlers. 🙂

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 6:05 pm

Have librarians around the world received a memo saying they must endeavour to expose little children to perverts?

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 6:05 pm

It’s always lunchtime in your head, old mate.
Try sticking up for Australia for once in your life?

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 6:06 pm

Anal really is bad little man

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
February 19, 2023 6:07 pm

BoN you should not be fibbing to support your political biases.
The 2015 regulation only required an evidence-based review, it did not decide to prevent ECP brakes in 2015.

Two months before Trump became pres:

a revised cost-benefit analysis, which found that the benefits of the rule could be quantified between $12 and $19 million per year while the costs of the rule would be between $35 and $46 million per year.

That is dependent partly on the value placed subjectively (and perhaps politically) on the environmental and humanitarian threats of hazardous materials accidents. The decision to cancel it did not happen until 2017 according to the document you have just linked to.

Now expecting BoN to confidently predict that Trump will be attending Palestine Ohio specifically for the purpose of reassuring everybody that there isn’t really any problem because the cost of adding the brakes would have been more than the cost of remediating their groundwater and restocking fisheries, and that they should be thanking him for ensuring they spent less money on train safety regulations.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 6:07 pm

Libraries are owned and operated by Local Councils.
Got a problem, ring the Council [go on a watch list].

bespoke
bespoke
February 19, 2023 6:08 pm

Tom
8 hours ago
Geriatrics in Space! Didn’t like TNG when it first came out so the likelyhood of enjoying it when the cast is using canes and walkers ain’t going to happen. Even with a thumbs up from the Drinker.

Chuckle.

Tom
Tom
February 19, 2023 6:12 pm

Try sticking up for Australia for once in your life?

Googleory, how many decades do you think it will be before the woke clowns who now run Australian cricket appoint an actual bloke with balls like Alan Border as national captain?

Pat Cummins is a formula for national humiliation.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 6:14 pm

I’ll explain it in simple terms:
No one’s forcing anyone to attend Drag Queen Story Hour.
Here’s what happens:
Library [read Local Council] announces DQSH.
Local Flamers and Lezzos show up with their kids.
That’s it.

bespoke
bespoke
February 19, 2023 6:16 pm

Unless Trump had something todo with the classification I don’t whichever should, Berka.

bespoke
bespoke
February 19, 2023 6:18 pm

i don’t see why he should…

Cassie of Sydney
February 19, 2023 6:22 pm

“Is it just me, or is this beyond messed up?”

Nup.

H B Bear
H B Bear
February 19, 2023 6:26 pm

Try sticking up for Australia for once in your life?

Groogs from Ironbark.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
February 19, 2023 6:35 pm

bespoke says: February 19, 2023 at 6:16 pm

Unless Trump had something todo with the classification I don’t see why he should, Berka.

A fair point, Bespoke. So then what are the chances that Trump is attending Palestine to argue that 1) Joe Biden is to blame for the total lack of adequate *departmental* response to the accident and 2) for not placing enough value on the environment in the original evaluation while he was VP, and 3) that no tragedy like this crash will be permitted to happen again under a Trump admin so please vote MAGA/Trump `24 ?
If he could not have been to blame for departmental decisions in 2017 then how can he promise a different outcome? If Biden is responsible then why isn’t Trump? The power and the responsibility go together, don’t they?

areff
areff
February 19, 2023 6:35 pm

Sydney’s first queer museum opens

Please use rear entrance.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
February 19, 2023 6:38 pm

BoN you should not be fibbing to support your political biases.
The 2015 regulation only required an evidence-based review, it did not decide to prevent ECP brakes in 2015.

Colonel – Not fibbing. The bill required evidence, the railroads gave it as you might expect, thus there was no cost-benefit justifying the application of the rule and the DoT withdrew the requirement. If you want to blame anyone blame Congress, and lobbying by the railroad companies. The cost to retrofit that much rolling stock is not insignificant so bringing in a cost-benefit assessment in law was sufficient to kill it. Trump had enough wars to fight, and without solid legal basis he could not proceed. The courts would side with Congress. I have no dog in this fight, I’m just reporting what I read.

There is photo evidence that one of the tanker railwagons was on fire many km before to the derailment. I think I saw it was due to a stuffed bearing, but I can’t recall where I saw that. In that circumstances it wouldn’t matter what sort of brakes the wagons had.

Zipster
Zipster
February 19, 2023 6:39 pm
bespoke
bespoke
February 19, 2023 6:40 pm

The lack/slow of response by Biden is the key criticism, Berka.

calli
calli
February 19, 2023 6:40 pm

I see a stack of children’s books have been re-written by the woke. Roald Dahl this time.

Why don’t they just collect them and burn them? They want to.

The optics though might alert people.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
February 19, 2023 6:43 pm

Andrew Bolt: Albo must come clean on Brittany Higgins’ secret deal

It is astonishing that the Albanese government paid so much compensation over an alleged rape that isn’t proven.
February 19, 2023 – 3:46PM

heraldsun.com.au05:17
Taxpayers ‘get the bill’ for Higgins’ compensation payout and ‘don’t get an explanation’

UP NEXT

Sky News host Andrew Bolt says former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins claimed up to $3 million in compensation after an alleged rape in Parliament House,…
Andrew Bolt

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese once campaigned against secret deals by politicians. “We need to have transparency,” he insisted.

So could he finally come clean on why his government paid Brittany Higgins up to $3m?

Oh, look! There’s the grateful Higgins sharing photos on Instagram of herself and fiance David Sharaz on their holiday last month at some resort in the Maldives.

And there’s Sharaz publicly thanking her for “the best Christmas present ever”. How kind to let taxpayers know how Higgins is faring after her handout, which was for – among other things – loss of future earnings.

But some taxpayers must surely wonder why Higgins was given so much of their cash, especially now that former Liberal defence minister Linda Reynolds has broken her silence.

Higgins became a multi-millionaire last year after claiming she’d been raped by a former Liberal staffer, Bruce Lehrmann, in Reynolds’ Parliament House office after a drunken night out.

From the start, it astonished me that the Albanese government paid so much (the exact amount is secret) and so quickly.

After all, Higgins’ rape claim is fiercely denied by Lehrmann and has never been proved.

Higgins didn’t even lodge a complaint with police for two years, and gave them such poor and inconsistent evidence that they advised the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions to drop the case.

When the DPP, Shane Drumgold, still took it to court, Higgins had some of her story proved false. The first trial was then aborted by jury misconduct, and Drumgold scrapped the retrial, claiming Higgins could die if she gave evidence again.

Be clear: I’m not saying Higgins wasn’t raped. Nobody but Higgins and Lehrmann could know.

But why has the government made taxpayers – not Lehrmann – pay compensation over an alleged rape that isn’t proven, and which Higgins now won’t help prove, either?

Here’s a possible clue. Higgins got her payout after claiming the former Morrison government was mean to her. Or as she put it in her claim, she was the victim of sexual harassment, sex discrimination, disability discrimination, negligence and victimisation.

That’s what made Higgins gold for Albanese and Labor before the last election.

For years, they’d smeared the Liberals as sexist and anti-women, and here now was Higgins – a perfect symbol of the Morrison government’s misogyny.

How fantastic to have Higgins accuse her Liberal bosses – ministers Reynolds and Michaelia Cash – of being unsympathetic and making her feel she might lose her job if she went to police.

Never mind that both women denied it. Labor smelled blood, and Higgins helped them get it.

The trial heard a recording of Sharaz, Higgins’ boyfriend, saying the two of them wanted the rape allegation made public at the start of a parliamentary sitting week because a Labor “friend” would “probe and continue it”.

That “friend” turned out to be Katy Gallagher, now Albanese’s Finance Minister, who savaged Reynolds until the stressed defence minister had to check into hospital.

So you might conclude the Albanese government now has good reason to suppress how it co-operated with Higgins. It certainly has no interest in anyone questioning Higgins’ story of being raped and then betrayed by nasty Liberals.

What a coincidence! The government last year agreed after just one mediation session to hand Higgins a reported $3m. It even barred Reynolds from giving evidence, warning it would stop covering her legal fees and costs if she did.

But now we learn some of the things Reynolds might have said at that mediation that could have blown up that deal.

For one, she’s now told The Australian, Higgins had actually praised her as a great boss and given her flowers when Higgins left after the alleged rape to work for Cash instead.

What’s more, six days after the alleged rape, Reynolds’ chief of staff was praised by the Finance Department, responsible for parliamentary staff welfare, for her handling of Higgins.

Lauren Barons, the department’s assistant secretary, said “the steps you have taken are appropriate”, adding: “I understand you have discussed with her on several occasions that if she does choose to pursue a complaint … she would have the full and ongoing support of yourself and the minister.”

Reynolds said she’d also met Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, who “was unable to advise me what more I could have done”.

So why did the Albanese government still hand Higgins up to $3m for an unproven rape and unproven cruelty from the Morrison government?

Can we have transparency, Prime Minister?

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
February 19, 2023 6:44 pm

Australia as a concept finished with covid.
It’s just a bunch of petty principalities run by court eunuchs and gossips.

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 6:44 pm

Why don’t they just collect them and burn them? They want to.

The current purge of books containing wrongthink at Northcote High has been copied from Canada. The international left has obviously decided to make its move and word has gone out around the world.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
February 19, 2023 6:45 pm

I think it’s funny that people fall for this blame Trump stuff. The Bidenistas have this week tried to blame Trump for both the Ohio fiasco and the balloon fiasco. It is so transparently fake that it’s amusing.

Keep in mind one reason for this spate of derailments is that Obama forced oil onto rail cars when he canned Keystone pipeline. Buffett has been making a lot of money transporting Canadian oil, since he invested in the railroads. I suspect the transport unions have a bit of involvement in all this too.

Cassie of Sydney
February 19, 2023 6:53 pm

“It is astonishing that the Albanese government paid so much compensation over an alleged rape that isn’t proven.”

It isn’t astonishing that the Albanese government has paid so much to Ms Higgins for a job well done.

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 6:57 pm

Another disgusting, obscene canbra sh*tshow.

Zipster
Zipster
February 19, 2023 7:02 pm
Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 7:03 pm

Australia as a concept finished with covid.
It’s just a bunch of petty principalities run by court eunuchs and gossips.

the current crop of premiers are the dregs- is this because political office is only open to the connected?

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
February 19, 2023 7:09 pm

Tomsays:

February 19, 2023 at 4:56 pm

The Pat Cummins clownshow — under the tutelage of its clownshow coach, who was chosen by the captain as a result of the leaderlessness of Cricket Australia, which rivals the Stupid Effing Liberals for cowardice — just gave away the second test in under three days.

Tom, Tom, Tom.
It’s not a loss.
We don’t use negative terms like that.
It’s a “valuable teaching moment”.

Zipster
Zipster
February 19, 2023 7:09 pm
Tom
Tom
February 19, 2023 7:13 pm

It isn’t astonishing that the Albanese government has paid so much to Ms Higgins for a job well done.

It was a doddle for the media, the Greens and the ALP to finish the project started by Malcolm Turnbull (via Scott Morrison and useful idiots like the open-legged slut Brittnaah Higgins) to destroy the LNP government and sell out its voters.

P
P
February 19, 2023 7:19 pm

David Sharaz Retweeted
Lucy Turnbull AO?
@LucyTurnbull_AO
·
Feb 18
This is a horrible invasion of privacy, Britt. Just horrible to imagine police leaked this to the media. But always totally proud to be your friend, you brave strong champion ???xxx

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 7:21 pm

But some taxpayers must surely wonder why Higgins was given so much of their cash, especially now that former Liberal defence minister Linda Reynolds has broken her silence.

Reynolds story is extremely self serving.
She’s Gaslighted Higgins and blamed everybody but herself for the destruction of her own career.
Higgins was a junior staffer, she’d only been there 3 weeks, why didn’t Reynolds sack her on the Tuesday following the events of the previous Saturday morning?
According to Reynolds, it’s because she’s a “great boss” and definitely not because of any allegations Higgins made to her concerning the events of 23/04/2019.

calli
calli
February 19, 2023 7:21 pm

We don’t use negative terms like that.
It’s a “valuable teaching moment”.

There will be learnings.

Delta A
Delta A
February 19, 2023 7:23 pm

Well. What a weekend!

Last night, just before dinner, a dorper lady decided to give birth. I saw that she was looking a tad stressed when I rode past on my buggy (thank you darling, clever Son) and I mentioned that to said Son before scooting down the road; first time driving (illegally) on bitumen since my op. By the time I’d returned to the house, Son had collected two sweet little babies – twinnies, one jet black and the other pure white.

Poor mother had no milk, and so ensued a frantic search where old favours were called in for 100 ml of colostrum. Babies fed furiously and were then consigned to the music room in a large, blanket lined crate, where they slept the night cuddled up together.

During the night, we all independently decided on the next step: take a baby back to see if Mum was fit to care for it. Son in Law ignored the plan and, having checked that Mum was doing fine, carted both little girl lambs back to her. Oh happy reunion! Mum, aunties and cousins all rushed up to welcome the little babies, who ran to Mum and happily latched onto their life source.

Later in the day, while we were congratulating ourselves on our newly-acquired animal husbandry skills, we saw an ominous plume of smoke rise up behind a shed less than 300 mtrs away. Yikes! Quick call to CFS, but they were already on the job. Within 10 minutes, two planes swooped low over the house, sirens wailing and retardant oozing from the back. Fire out, ready for the CFS trucks which arrived shortly after to mop up and finish the job.

Love living this country life again.

H B Bear
H B Bear
February 19, 2023 7:23 pm

The Waffleworths never fail to live down to expectations.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
February 19, 2023 7:24 pm

Farmer Gezsays:

February 19, 2023 at 5:45 pm

The Aussies complain about cracked crumbling surfaces in India.

There will be no tête-á-tête in the sheds tonight over what time they do the victory dance.
Injuns home by six wickets.
Given the four Injun wickets lost included a catch off an unlucky deflection and a suicide run-out, that is an even bigger pasting than it looks for Captain Climate and The Carbonettes.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 7:27 pm

It isn’t astonishing that the Albanese government has paid so much to Ms Higgins for a job well done.

It’s not Higgins fault that the matter was handled so poorly by Reynolds, Morrison, the Dept of PM&C.

The reality appears to be that the Morrison Government was engaged in a cover up, the ALP knew about it from Day 1, ALP operative David Sharaz won Higgins confidence, and then it was just a matter of springing the trap.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 7:28 pm

The much well loved Katy Gallagher seems as corrupt with one of the best of the finest from NSW, QLD, VIC or WA. Morally if not actually illicitly.

Was Higgins always a Labor party activist?

Was Sharaz financially motivated to support allegations which were sabotaged by the accuser?

Oh to be a fly on the wall on some of these private chats.

What we really want to know is where Penny Wong and her relentless negativity fits into all of this.

Funniest of all, Shane Drumgold is making out that HE is the REAL VICTIM. Bullied by hard nosed coppers making a judgment call every other Director of Prosecutions would have made.

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 7:28 pm

It was a doddle for the media, the Greens and the ALP to finish the project started by Malcolm Turnbull (via Scott Morrison and useful idiots like the open-legged slut Brittnaah Higgins) to destroy the LNP government and sell out its voters.

I wonder how Howard feels about that- after all he brought Trumble in, made him a minister and convinced him to stay.

C.L.
C.L.
February 19, 2023 7:30 pm

Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister hails freezing the bank accounts of her political enemies as “a powerful tool to discourage participation and to incentivize protestors to leave.”

Like most prominent women in world politics nowadays, Freeland is morally deranged, weird and proud of being a fascist:

https://twitter.com/JamesGRickards/status/1627022631818993664

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 7:31 pm

The $3mill for Higgins is really in your face democratic party level stuff.

bespoke
bespoke
February 19, 2023 7:32 pm

Love living this country life again.

Excellent! Delta.

Cassie of Sydney
February 19, 2023 7:36 pm

“Feb 18
This is a horrible invasion of privacy, Britt. Just horrible to imagine police leaked this to the media. But always totally proud to be your friend, you brave strong champion ???xxx”

Funny how a Turnbull is so outraged about “leaking”.

H B Bear
H B Bear
February 19, 2023 7:37 pm

Dot, yep a full cast of wrongdoers. Expect ACT Liars won’t be far from the action. Not a good look for the Town Council.

jupes
jupes
February 19, 2023 7:37 pm

Love living this country life again.

A few more tales like that Delta, and I’ll be heading out bush!

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 7:39 pm

In 2021, 73 Rape complaints were received by ACT Police.
They actioned 4.
Now, I don’t know the figure for other States, but if anyone [Dot] says the
DPP only prosecutes 1 in 18 Rape complaints in Sydney, I’d be surprised.

jupes
jupes
February 19, 2023 7:42 pm

The much well loved Katy Gallagher seems as corrupt with one of the best of the finest from NSW, QLD, VIC or WA. Morally if not actually illicitly.

The great (and possibly only) skill of Australian politicians is to legalise corruption.

Was Higgins always a Labor party activist?

Was Sharaz financially motivated to support allegations which were sabotaged by the accuser?

Great questions.

Old School Conservative
Old School Conservative
February 19, 2023 7:44 pm

Dot says:
February 19, 2023 at 5:10 pm
The male pill is a thing now.

It’s been around for quite some time.
You put it in your shoe and it makes you limp.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 7:48 pm

The $3mill for Higgins is really in your face democratic party level stuff.

It’s 12c from every Australian, one time only.
You’ll get over it.

But in case you don’t, I’ll explain it to you.
Normally, a Claim like this would be contested by both sides of politics
[as the Government] for years until the claimant either gave up, died, or necked themselves.
The reason there was a prompt and just payout in this instance was that Higgins, having received zero support from the Morrison Government, allowed herself to be used by the Labor Party for political ends, which paid off for them on Election Day.

Black Ball
Black Ball
February 19, 2023 7:48 pm

Racial Discrimination against who?

Until Albanese comes clean with the Australian people regarding the proposed Amendment to the Constitution, no one is in a position to make any sensible comment.

Really dumb khunt

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
February 19, 2023 7:53 pm

My sexist rant.
It was only possible for the sordid and utterly irrelevant Higgins affair to threaten an elected federal government because there are too many women in the place and they have turned the seat of our democracy into a hairdressing salon.

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 7:55 pm

Dickless uptick for BB

Vicki
Vicki
February 19, 2023 7:57 pm

Love living this country life again.

Although it can be terrifying (bushfires, floods etc), and sickening (crow and wild dog attacks of lambs), there are moments that are almost mystical. This afternoon we arrived back from a short return to the city. The day was warm, with a soft breeze blowing, and our cows had distributed themselves under big box gums and smaller, private, “one cow only” trees for their “siesta” time. After a perfect season, they are fat (too fat!) with shiny, sleek coats. I tell you – I could feel their contentment, and it made me feel good. For this afternoon – everything was pretty right in my world.

Cassie of Sydney
February 19, 2023 7:57 pm

“This is a horrible invasion of privacy, Britt. Just horrible to imagine police leaked this to the media. But always totally proud to be your friend, you brave strong champion ???xxx”

Oh, isn’t soooo sweet, sooooo nice, and sooooo noble to see Luce the Cane Toad standing up for her “sister” Britt. Funny though, Luce the Cane Toad is quite selective about “horrible invasions of privacy”. I don’t recall Luce the Cane Toad ever standing up for Peta Credlin or Margie Abbott when her slug of a husband decided to smear Credlin in his book, inferring that Credlin and Abbott had an affair, which they didn’t, but Luce the Cane Toad didn’t care about the feelings of Ms Credlin or Mrs Abbott. The two Turds of Point Piper do like to spread a bit of “horrible” shmuts when it suits them, and especially when it comes to wreaking revenge on the party that installed Mr Slug as PM.

So much for the sisterhood caring about their sisters, but there’s one thing we know, nobody does hypocrisy like the left and the two leftist Turds of Point Piper are masters at hypocrisy..

You know, the Liberal Party lost ALL credibility when they decided to install the slug from Point Piper as PM in September 2015. It’s been downhill ever since.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
February 19, 2023 8:01 pm

Funny how a Turnbull is so outraged about “leaking”.

And this Britt person she is corresponding with about leaking?
Not our Britnah, surely?
Not the Britnah who was too busy setting up media interviews about her “harrowing experience” rather than actually making a statement to ACT Plod regarding her “harrowing experience”.

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 8:04 pm

You know, the Liberal Party lost ALL credibility when they decided to install the slug from Point Piper as PM in September 2015. It’s been downhill ever since.

That’s exactly right- Trumble in my mind was always enemy no. 1 of hard working Australians in the suburbs and regions. A supercilious, elitist nincompoop. The other one who lost all credibility from this fiasco is Howard but Howard gave himself away with his comments about Trump.

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 8:07 pm

You know, the Liberal Party lost ALL credibility when they decided to install the slug from Point Piper as PM in September 2015. It’s been downhill ever since.

They had one opportunity to redeem themselves after Trumble was removed (remember that tantrum?) and that was bring Abbott back into the government.

Cassie of Sydney
February 19, 2023 8:09 pm

““This is a horrible invasion of privacy, Britt. Just horrible to imagine police leaked this to the media. But always totally proud to be your friend, you brave strong champion ???xxx””

Further to “horrible invasions of privacy”, does Luce the Cane Toad have anything to say about Britt and her boyfriend taping private telephone conversations? Firstly, it’s illegal and secondly, I don’t know what others think but I regard such acts as “horrible invasions of privacy”.

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 8:10 pm

The refusal to give Abbot a portfolio shows that what’s his name really meant it when he said ‘they don’t matter’.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 8:11 pm

It was only possible for the sordid and utterly irrelevant Higgins affair to threaten an elected federal government …

… because it was poorly handled by that same Government whose only concern appears to have been protecting Bruce Lehrmann at all costs.

And that’s how it turned out.
It cost them Government.

Roger
Roger
February 19, 2023 8:12 pm

Australia as a concept finished with covid.

Australia as originally conceived was a minimalist project compared to what we have now.

Would that we could reduce Canberra to its original constitutional powers.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 8:13 pm

If it can be proven Higgins & Sharaz recorded private conversations (this is already confirmed) and others knew about it, these are possibly the two factors that could be their undoing, plus it would blow this already corrupt government out of the water.

They should (all) seek qualified advice.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
February 19, 2023 8:16 pm

But always totally proud to be your friend, you brave strong champion ???xxx””

Friends like her, you wouldn’t need enemies.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 8:16 pm

The refusal to give Abbot a portfolio shows that what’s his name really meant it when he said ‘they don’t matter’.

What’s his name being Senator George Brandis, who hired 17 year old Bruce Lehrmann as a staffer and promoted him to Senior Adviser on $2ooK
by the time he was 21.

Funnily enough, no one has ever asked the question

Who exactly is Bruce Lehrmann, why is he above the Laws of Australia, and why would a Government go to it’s doom trying to protect him?

Any takers?

Miltonf
Miltonf
February 19, 2023 8:19 pm

Remember that website called StopTrumble.com? Lots of interesting stuff. Got taken down.

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
February 19, 2023 8:21 pm

Meanwhile in the Chinese politburo serious discussions are being held as to the truth of the Higgins/Lehrmann saga.
Xi is backing Britnah.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 8:21 pm

Ed Case is about as authentic as “Brisbane housewife” Vilma Ward.

Roger
Roger
February 19, 2023 8:23 pm

Ed Case is about as authentic as “Brisbane housewife” Vilma Ward.

Gosh…there’s a blast from the past.

win
win
February 19, 2023 8:23 pm

Is it a common practice that women in Canberra who work at Parliament house have no knickers on when going out at night to a work gathering of men and women who will be drinking alcohol. I thought this would be classified as seduction, incitement or an open invitation.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 8:25 pm

Our Touring batsmen are criticised for not using their feet to the Indian Bowlers, but have a look at the Wickety they’ve got.
He stands a yard closer to the stumps than Alex Carey, hasn’t missed a chance.

Rockdoctor
Rockdoctor
February 19, 2023 8:26 pm

Albo must come clean on Brittany Higgins’ secret deal

Been following the back and forwards here for the last hour or so. So far no referral to the Fed ICAC speaks volumes of the possibility both sides have much to hide.

Unsure if PHON can make referral but their silence is telling too.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 8:28 pm

Is it a common practice that women in Canberra who work at Parliament house have no knickers on when going out at night …

You’re saying Higgins was asking for it, right?

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 8:32 pm

Unsure if PHON can make referral but their silence is telling too.
What would be the grounds for referral?
That the Commonwealth didn’t fight the claim for the next 40 years?

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 8:35 pm

Sorry. 🙂

Being a shill again before the NSW 2023 State election.

Trump positively influenced libertarians here in Australia. Conservatives rejoice!

https://www.ldp.org.au/nsw_freedom

Slash Red Tape

NSW is drowning in red and green tape. A report commissioned by the Institute of Public Affairs in 2017 found that red tape costs the Australian economy $175 billion per year – up to 11% of GDP – and New South Wales is not immune to this regulatory bloat. This is not just a matter of personal freedom, it’s a drain on our small businesses, our productivity and our prosperity.

We advocate for the one in, two out approach successfully implemented by the Trump Administration in the United States in 2017. For every new regulation, two must be identified for elimination.

We also support drastically cutting ‘green tape’ (environmental regulations), including emissions targets, over-classification of property as “non-urban”, unnecessary restrictions on private backburning, and regulations preventing the removal of trees or other vegetation on private property.

Boambee John
Boambee John
February 19, 2023 8:36 pm

Richard Cranium

… because it was poorly handled by that same Government whose only concern appears to have been protecting Bruce Lehrmann at all costs.

By sacking him immediately. As you do when you are protecting him.

Real Deal
Real Deal
February 19, 2023 8:36 pm

We don’t use negative terms like that.
It’s a “valuable teaching moment”.

Or when Terry Gilliam’s character is told by the Grim Reaper that he is dead in “The Meaning of Life”, he tells his fellown dinner guest:- “I don’t see it that way, Geoff. Let me tell you what I think we’re dealing with here, a potentially positive learning experience…”

If death can be a positive learning experience, another test loss is a doddle.

Boambee John
Boambee John
February 19, 2023 8:39 pm

Richard Cranium

Funnily enough, no one has ever asked the question

Who exactly is Bruce Lehrmann, why is he above the Laws of Australia, and why would a Government go to it’s doom trying to protect him?

Any takers?

Come on, don’t keep us in suspense. You tell us, as you imply that you know.

Then tell us the “real” reason for that $576,000 payout, something else that you imply that you know.

You know you want to.

Boambee John
Boambee John
February 19, 2023 8:40 pm

Ed Casesays:
February 19, 2023 at 8:28 pm
Is it a common practice that women in Canberra who work at Parliament house have no knickers on when going out at night …

You’re saying Higgins was asking for it, right?

Or was she offering it?

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
February 19, 2023 8:45 pm

WA mayors pan PM for not visiting troubled regional towns

By SARAH ISON
Political Reporter
@@sarsison
8:03PM February 19, 2023
No Comments

Mayors of regional towns in Western Australia’s Goldfields struggling under booming rates of violence and dysfunction say they are “extremely disappointed” Anthony Albanese is not planning to visit when he flies into the region on Monday.

It follows the mayors of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Leonora, Coolgardie and Laverton revealing in the Weekend Australian their concern that the abolition of the cashless debit card had exasperated issues in their towns, raising alarm they were headed for crisis without urgent intervention.

The CDC was first introduced by the Coalition at four sites in 2016, with the aim of reducing alcohol-fuelled violence by quarantining up to 80 per cent of welfare recipient benefits.
Read Next

But Labor axed the card after winning government last year because it was “stigmatising” and thought not to be making any difference to the issues facing the communities.

The Prime Minister is due to visit the Goldfields on Monday, but the mayors of surrounding towns confirmed on Sunday night it seemed he would not be going further than Kalgoorlie.

The Australian understands mayors and councillors from towns like Laverton and Leonora were planning on making the trip to Kalgoorlie – which would mean an almost 400km drive for some – but could not lock in any meeting with Mr Albanese.

Coolgardie Shire President Malcolm Cullen said he was frustrated by the lack of urgency from all levels of government, with “no real plan” to improve the issues facing towns like his.

“We are all frustrated by both levels of state and federal government because there’s really not a lot we can do at our level to change things,” he said.

“It’s a fly in, fly out visit with no interaction with communities, other than senior people in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.”

Mr Cullen said he had been “gobsmacked” at the federal intervention in Alice Springs, where Mr Albanese announced a $250m package to address the issues in Central Australia, and pleaded for the government to take the challenges of towns in WA just as seriously. The federal investment in Alice Springs was accompanied by the Northern Territory government reintroducing grog bans last week after figures showed alcohol-fuelled domestic violence had jumped by more than 90 per cent following the scrapping of alcohol restrictions in July last year.

Laverton Shire President Patrick Hill – a former Liberal Party member – said he had been calling for the Prime Minister to visit his town for months.

“I’m extremely disappointed I haven’t been contacted by the Prime Minister and he doesn’t seem to be willing to come,” he said. “I’ve been telling the Prime Minister to come and see the town for himself and wanting to explain what we need to alleviate a worse situation developing.”

F.I.F.O. Albo strikes again…

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 8:46 pm

SpongeBob bleats:

By sacking him immediately. As you do when you are protecting him.

No, SpongeBob.
Lehrmann was not sacked Immediately.

Yes, when Higgins showed up at work on Tuesday, 26/03/2019, Lehrmann was in the process of clearing out his desk and leaving the building and Higgins assumed that he’d been sacked.

But that wasn’t a correct assumption.

Lehrmann wasn’t sacked until the next day, by which time Fiona Brown and Reynolds had spoken to Higgins and surmised, probably correctly, that she wouldn’t be going quietly if she was sacked over the events of the previous Saturday morning.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 8:48 pm

Ed, Grey Nurse pulse check please.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 8:48 pm

Ed, go make fish and chips.

Boambee John
Boambee John
February 19, 2023 8:49 pm

Richard Cranium has been very busy for Labor today, shilling for them on both the Voice referendum and the Mizzzz Knickerless saga.

Roger
Roger
February 19, 2023 8:50 pm

“We are all frustrated by both levels of state and federal government because there’s really not a lot we can do at our level to change things,” he said.

A good argument for at least trying the devolution of power to local communities.

It could hardly get any worse.

Boambee John
Boambee John
February 19, 2023 8:52 pm

Richard Cranium

Yes, when Higgins showed up at work on Tuesday, 26/03/2019, Lehrmann was in the process of clearing out his desk and leaving the building and Higgins assumed that he’d been sacked.

But that wasn’t a correct assumption.

Lehrmann wasn’t sacked until the next day,

So he was told to clear out his desk and get out, but the paperwork didn’t come through until the next day? What (apart from clearing out his desk) did he do in the form of work that day.

You are splitting hairs, try harder.

cohenite
February 19, 2023 8:56 pm

Library [read Local Council] announces DQSH.
Local Flamers and Lezzos show up with their kids.

Key word: kids, you crotchless retard.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 9:04 pm

So he was told to clear out his desk and get out, but the paperwork didn’t come through until the next day?

Who knows what Reynolds told him, because Janet Albrechtsen “forgot” to ask her that question.

What we do know is that he was sacked after Brown and Reynolds had interviewed Higgins and it became apparent that she wasn’t going quietly if she was sacked.

Now, Reynolds isn’t real smart, but she was smart enough to work out that if she sacked Higgins, the ALP would be on to it like a seagull on a hot chip.

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 9:06 pm

Indolent:
‘See You in Court, Criminals!’ Pfizer Whistleblower Case is Being Taken to the Next Level.
The Judge:
Michael Truncale.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 9:07 pm

Flamers and Lezzos can’t make decisions about their own children’s after school activities on Planet Sulu, Mr Sulu?

cohenite
February 19, 2023 9:10 pm

Flamers and Lezzos can’t make decisions about their own children’s after school activities on Planet Sulu, Mr Sulu?

What decisions crotchless?

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
February 19, 2023 9:16 pm

Aside from the questions about Drumgold, the Higgins Affair is now largely fishwrap.

Whatever happened to her:

Job done.
Huge political payoff.
Off on holiday with taxpayers funds.
Career based on ‘stunning and Brave’ assured.

Situation normal for the nomenklatura and those in close contact.

This sort of stuff just doesn’t seem to happen for people in the real world of shit and struggle.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 9:17 pm

State of U.S. Railroad Infrastructure.
Trump didn’t do anything either.
[Twitter, 7 minutes]

Black Ball
Black Ball
February 19, 2023 9:19 pm

I see Ed (doctorate of law) and Ed ((professor of history) and Ed (medicine emiritus) and Ed (social doctorate Aboriginal affairs) and Ed (foreign affairs) is all over it
Cats and Kittehs, drop the mic. He’s all over it ?

cohenite
February 19, 2023 9:21 pm

Well crotchless, what decisions are your perves making about their children?

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 9:24 pm

What qualifications do you have to make decisions about other people’s children, Mr Sulu?

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 9:26 pm

Forget my last question, I had forgotten that you’re a Family Court lawyer.

How was your week in the Family Court?

Boambee John
Boambee John
February 19, 2023 9:27 pm

Richard Cranium

Still no answers to my two questions at 2039? Too hard, or are you struggling to make something up?

Gabor
Gabor
February 19, 2023 9:29 pm

Black Ball says:
February 19, 2023 at 9:19 pm

I see Ed (doctorate of law) and Ed ((professor of history) and Ed (medicine emiritus) and Ed (social doctorate Aboriginal affairs) and Ed (foreign affairs) is all over it
Cats and Kittehs, drop the mic. He’s all over it ?

My scrolling wheel is taking a punishment, Ed is exceptionally busy today.

cohenite
February 19, 2023 9:31 pm

What qualifications do you have to make decisions about other people’s children, Mr Sulu?

I’m not making decisions about other people’s children crotchless, I’m making decisions about you: antisemite and pedo supporter. Is that right?

cohenite
February 19, 2023 9:33 pm

Speaking of Trump, and boy has it taken a long time, even for the great man: the GOP must use the same ballot harvesting tactics as the demorats:

https://choiceclips.whatfinger.com/2023/02/19/trump-announces-genius-gop-ballot-harvesting-plan-can-this-win-us-2024/

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 9:33 pm

Aside from the questions about Drumgold, the Higgins Affair is now largely fishwrap.

No, it’s not.
The Australian is on a mission to restore Lehrmann’s reputation and if Katie Gallagher, Penny Wong and Peter Dutton get taken out, not many will mourn their passing from the scene.

In fact, an airing of how the ALP won the Election by focusing on the Morrison Government’s handling of the Higgins Affair will only help Labor win another Election.

Ed Case
Ed Case
February 19, 2023 9:36 pm

I’m making decisions about you: antisemite and pedo supporter. Is that right?

Why are you asking me?

You’re an expert on those particular subjects, right?

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 9:37 pm

P:
That’s an interesting link.
Is there more?

MatrixTransform
February 19, 2023 9:40 pm

Again I ask why are libraries so keen on corrupting minors?

libraries are staffed and run by librarians
and librarians generally, are broken in the head

libraries are funded and maintained by local councils
and local councilors are invariably broken in the head

people that like books
are curated by libraries the same way that their internet searchers are curated by Google
and they love that

when they’re told to cut their dicks off and consume kiddie-cartoon-soft-porn
they can’t emasculate themselves fast enough

ie. they’re broken in the head

it aint just the libraries, or the librarians, or the Councillors, or even the punters

… it’s all just part of the downward sucking and spiraling vortex of post-modernity

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 9:53 pm

Vicki:

Although it can be terrifying (bushfires, floods etc), and sickening (crow and wild dog attacks of lambs),

Do you allow trusted shooters onto your land during lambing times?

Perfidious Albino
Perfidious Albino
February 19, 2023 10:13 pm

I would guess there might be some high profile folk now getting quite concerned as to what other (just between us) past communications with Brittnah might also be ‘leaked’ and making it known obtusely that this should not occur.

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 10:16 pm

I notice the nation is rejoicing over the new Queer Museum.
Now where did I put my superglue and baked beans?

Pedro the Loafer
Pedro the Loafer
February 19, 2023 10:17 pm

Just back from leaning on the bar at the local and having a prowl through today’s Cat chat.

We will not speak of the embarrassing shit show by our cricketers in India or that creepy Luigi person swanning around WA (except for the dysfunctional “communities”.

Delta A, congrats on the acquisition of a couple of newly minted Dorpers. Just a reminder to watch your back when in their paddock (evil buggers love to charge the unwary), and ensure your fences are built to the standards of Colditz Castle before they get a bit older.

Also, that dropkick Ed Case is a contrarian know-all poseur.

‘Nite Cats.

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 10:22 pm

Vicki:
What do you do with the black lambs?
I’m looking for a guard sheep and from what is remarked on around the Cat, a weaned black sheep would be just the ticket to keep the locals at bay.
I would call it “Satan”.
(Ask DoverBeach for my email if you are interested.)

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
February 19, 2023 10:25 pm

Observations:

1. As previously mentioned some time ago, SA roads are infinitesimally better than the patch worked, pinballing pieces of shit masquerading as highways in north west Vicco. They are both well made and maintained.

2. According to signage, the SA town of Keith has a monorail.

3. There are security guards in golf carts driving around the Port Augusta joint I’m staying in, which is either reassuring or terrifying dependent on your POV.

4. All caravanners should be shot, dragged behind their own poorly-packed monstrosity, set on fire, buried, then dug up and be ripped apart by dogs. It’s every time with those muppets.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
February 19, 2023 10:28 pm

4. All caravanners should be shot, dragged behind their own poorly-packed monstrosity, set on fire, buried, then dug up and be ripped apart by dogs. It’s every time with those muppets.

Shooting is too good for them.
Soak their towelling hat in petrol, roll it up, shove in in their mouth and use it as a wick.

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 10:29 pm

Ukraine: Belgian Man Who Bought 50 Old Tanks Cheap Now Wants €1m Per Vehicle
Fifty Leopard 1’s – some runners some not.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
February 19, 2023 10:32 pm

KD.
Any thoughts on the implosion in Delhi?

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

2. According to signage, the SA town of Keith has a monorail.

It does have a statue of a Landrover.
Or so I’m told. It’s on my bucket list, to see the plinth-mounted Landrover at Keith.
Like a big Airfix model – or just like the Wentworth plinth-mounted Massey-Ferguson tractor, only a Landrover.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
February 19, 2023 10:34 pm

4. All caravanners should be shot, dragged behind their own poorly-packed monstrosity, set on fire, buried, then dug up and be ripped apart by dogs. It’s every time with those muppets.

The seventh circle under the pit of Hell should be reserved for those who ignore parking bays designated for caravans, and park their monstrosity’s, taking up three or four car parking bays.

shatterzzz
February 19, 2023 10:34 pm

When British TV get their comedy right they really make a good job of it! ..
this one will stir up memories of the golden age of the Brit TVcomedy .. late 60s/early 70s ..
Well worth watching ….. FUNNY WOMAN …..
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15309272/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

Ukraine: Belgian Man Who Bought 50 Old Tanks Cheap Now Wants €1m Per Vehicle
Fifty Leopard 1’s – some runners some not.

All capable of taking a hit from a MANPAD, which is what counts in a Ukrainian tank.

H B Bear
H B Bear
February 19, 2023 10:36 pm

Any thoughts on the implosion in Delhi?

Any that can be published?

Louis Litt
February 19, 2023 10:38 pm

Dot 4.36 19 Feb
You have nailed it for me.
Environmentalism – biggest handbrake on Oz.
Unlimited water – please explain.
In your mind do you think we can green the interior.

rosie
rosie
February 19, 2023 10:40 pm

Apparently Malta was more or less uninhabited prior to muslim conquest and most present day Maltese are descendants, possibly because Arab conquerors killed off the previous inhabitants (pure speculation).
I noticed yesterday that Lent here is called Randan. It’s a fascinating place, I wouldn’t mind being here for Holy Week some time.
In 1551 virtually the entire population of Gozo by the Turks was enslaved. Only a handful were able to redeem themselves.
Suspect slavery, seiges and piracy has a lot more of an with Maltese distrust of Islam than Catholic clerics.
wiki

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
February 19, 2023 10:44 pm

Troops for East Timor ‘a step too far’
EXCLUSIVE
By TROY BRAMSTON
Senior Writer
@TroyBramston
9:01PM February 19, 2023
3 Comments

The official history of Australian operations in East Timor finds the Howard government resisted deploying troops, preferred the province remain incorporated into Indonesia and support for ­independence was a reluctant ­reversal of post-war policy consensus.

The first volume dealing with the response to the East Timor crisis in 1999, Born of Fire and Ash by historian Craig Stockings, was published in December after the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade insisted on so many redactions that it ­had ­delayed publication for three years.

The 921-page book, with ­access to classified records and including hundreds of interviews, has caused so much consternation in government that there has been no official launch and no publicity by ministers or ­departments. The Australian War Memorial’s promotion of the book has been negligible. And there has been little media coverage.

Professor Stockings told The Australian that the lack of government promotion of this first of six volumes of official history that will also cover Iraq and Afghanistan is “curious” and “not consistent” with past practice.

“A three-year period to clear the volume for publication was extraordinary,” he said.

“We write from classified sources, and it is only proper for our product be cleared for public release. What becomes ambiguous, however, is when real or substantive issues of information security end and where official preferences and reputation management begins.”

The book pushes back against the popular narrative that Australia’s intervention was motivated to “liberate” East Timor, with the former head of the Prime ­Minister’s Department, Peter Varghese, saying this has been “a post-event rewriting of history” and was never the government’s aim.

“The dominant public narrative of Australian officialdom acting to ‘save’, ‘liberate’ or exercising a ‘duty to protect’ the East Timorese is simply not borne out by historical facts,” Professor Stockings said. “Government policy was the precise opposite, until forced by circumstance and public outcry to reverse its course.”

The official history argues the Australian Defence Force was not adequately prepared and the ­deployment exposed “shortcomings” in organisation and capability, even though the mission was a success.

These institutional weaknesses were partly a function of “efficiency” cutbacks.

In 1998, John Howard wrote to Indonesian President BJ Habibie offering Australian support for an autonomous East Timor within Indonesia, end encouraged negotiation with East Timorese leaders and consideration of their call for an “act of self-determination”. The president initiated a vote on autonomy or independence the following year.

But the book reveals this letter, drafted by a small group of officials in the Prime Minister’s and Foreign Affairs departments, was not shared with Defence Department officials who were not even aware it had been sent to the Indonesian president.

Professor Stockings writes that Australian policymakers “never sought” an independent East Timor “until the choice was made for them” and during 1999 tried to “shape events” in the province to ensure that “it did not have to ­deploy a peacekeeping force, or if it did to keep it as small as ­possible”.

Mr Howard told The Australian that he encouraged Mr Habibie to allow Australian-led peace­keepers in East Timor in the lead-up to and after the historic vote on independence.

“If it is alleged that we opposed the deployment, or were reluctant, that is absurd,” Mr Howard said.

“Once it became apparent after the decisive vote for independence that peacekeepers would be needed, I was determined to provide those peacekeepers. I made it very clear that we would expect to lead the peacekeeping force.”

Professor Stockings stands by the book and says it reflects the historical record of the time supported by hundreds of interviews with politicians, public servants and military figures.

“There will be many who do not agree with our conclusions,” he said.

“Yet we must tell the truth as we find it, and we must go where the evidence leads … We must be able to tell the bad with the good. To fail to do so, to take what might be an easier path, is to betray the 100-year tradition of official history in this country.”

Born of Fire and Ash: Australian Operations in Response to the East Timor Crisis 1999-2000 is published by UNSW Press

rickw
rickw
February 19, 2023 10:44 pm

stating that removing asbestos from the tanks alone could cost as much as 75,000 euros.

Ukes and asbestosis. First world problems.

shatterzzz
February 19, 2023 10:48 pm

It does have a statue of a Landrover.

Hold my beer .. Minchinbury*, NSW just short of Mount Druitt on the highway to Penrith has a JINDIVIK on a pedestal .. not long re-furbished and looking great .. LOL!
*Minchinbury, legendary home of the 2nd Fleet Tactical Air Group that flew air cover/supply drops for Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson during their slog up the Blue Mountains and opening up the western plains**
** Tales My Nanna Told Me, volume 6, chapter 12, page 64 ………….

rickw
rickw
February 19, 2023 10:50 pm

India must reform its bureaucracy to grow, but it is unreformable along with its caste system.

I think “stop being bullshit artists” would go much further.

rosie
rosie
February 19, 2023 10:53 pm

I nearly got road raged, well carpark raged by a Winnebago owner in qld.
He’d parked nose in next to me on the left but at an angle across my car’s spot so my son closed the Winnebago driver’s side mirror and carefully guided me out.
Driver of the Winnebago came running over but I just drove away. He must have known he’d cut across me but didn’t care.
Of course he shouldn’t have parked there in the first place, his vehicle was way too long.
NSW plates.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
February 19, 2023 10:54 pm

My thoughts on the Implosion.

Well, Dover’s banned the rudest swear words – so I will content myself with mentioning that this was the direct result of several ponces continually being that they’re brilliant, and that feelings will conquer all.

Border was spot on the other day when he said it was ridiculous for our batsmen (ex-Captain Cheaty McSnivel) giving bowlers a thumbs up when they’re beaten outside off stump. A barely discernible nod – if that – is the go.

Flat track bullies at home, and a laughing stock everywhere else.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
February 19, 2023 10:56 pm

Winnie blue?

rosie
rosie
February 19, 2023 10:59 pm

That Taco drag queen was so typical.
Don’t these morons see how much they despise and mock women?

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
February 19, 2023 11:01 pm

Pat Cummins, incidentally, was talking about ‘failing the right way’ last week.

Mission accomplished, you bonehead.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 11:03 pm

Louis

N U C LE A R – – P O W E R

We have virtually limitless thorium and seawater.

CALD has identified a possible ~450 new large dams for hydro power and irrigation.

Robert Sewell
February 19, 2023 11:05 pm

Me:

India must reform its bureaucracy to grow, but it is unreformable along with its caste system.

rickw:

I think “stop being bullshit artists” would go much further.

Valid point.
Even more valid “Stop lying and cheating every time you get an opportunity.”

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
February 19, 2023 11:09 pm

Flat track bullies at home, and a laughing stock everywhere else.

Exhibit A. The cheatin’ houso ranga.
Averages 58 in Australia, and 31 elsewhere.
But the “elsewhere” includes big numbers against Bangladesh and Sth Africa when they were battling.
Against real opposition on away turf?
In India – 21.
In England – 26.
In NZ – 13.
In West Indies – 27.
In Pakistan – 33.
In Sri Lanka – 25.
So.
No good on seaming wickets.
No good on spinning wickets.
But should be captain … of something.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 11:09 pm

ANCOLD, perhaps.

Louis Litt
February 19, 2023 11:10 pm

Dover 5.20 Burnt Alive in Odessa
That you for finding and showing this dock.

Dot
Dot
February 19, 2023 11:11 pm

shatterzzz says:
February 19, 2023 at 10:48 pm

Now that’s some fine satire.

Barking Toad
Barking Toad
February 19, 2023 11:13 pm

Pat Cummins stressed out by the ads for Indian cement.

The petals have really talked themselves out of this series.

But you can bet they bought carbon off-sets.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
February 19, 2023 11:15 pm

Knuckle Draggersays:

February 19, 2023 at 11:01 pm

Pat Cummins, incidentally, was talking about ‘failing the right way’ last week.

Did that involve coming in at 6/95, trying to hit the first ball out of the park and having your off stump knocked back?
Or not saying hurtful words to blokes who get out 75% of the time playing reverse sweeps?
Still.
It was a low carbon footprint innings.
All out 113 in under two hours.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
February 19, 2023 11:21 pm

The petals have really talked themselves out of this series.

Yep.
As I said the other day, bitching about the pitch is a sure sign you are beaten before it starts.
Now, this has been known to happen before to pressure home curators, but good coaches and captains will be saying completely different things behind closed doors to prevent a defeatist mind-set.
This lot really believed it, because it gave them an easy out.

Salvatore, Understaffed & Overworked Martyr to Govt Covid Stupidity

shatterzzz says: February 19, 2023 at 10:48 pm

The only Jindivik I can find on a plinth is at Woomera.
Not that I’d cross the street to look at one.

The Wentworth Massey Ferguson however, I travelled the length of the country for (well, sorta) & spent close to half a day absorbed in it.
The Keith Landrover I can likewise relate to, or rather, what it represents, & will likely spend even longer there on Landrover-up-a-pole related matters.

H B Bear
H B Bear
February 20, 2023 12:12 am

Or not saying hurtful words to blokes who get out 75% of the time playing reverse sweeps?

Playing their natural game.

H B Bear
H B Bear
February 20, 2023 12:48 am

Looks like the Mean Girls are in Teh Paywallian’s sights. Will it get any wider traction? Gallagher and the Dept of Finance would seem to be the weakest link. kd wrong could potentially survive as the last Mean Girl standing.

Tom
Tom
February 20, 2023 4:03 am
Tom
Tom
February 20, 2023 4:04 am
Tom
Tom
February 20, 2023 4:06 am
Tom
Tom
February 20, 2023 4:07 am
Tom
Tom
February 20, 2023 4:09 am
Tom
Tom
February 20, 2023 4:12 am
  1. It’s not commonly known, but Teslas use Righteous Electrickery (RE), so all is balanced with Gaia. Namaste.

  2. I see scrolling down at his Cricinfo [age that Joe Burns made 108 not out for Italy vs. Romania. Forza…

  3. https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/joe-burns-326632 Joe Burns is out of calculations as he is now representing Italy in cricket, the rotten Dago turncoat. Neil…

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