Open Thread- Weekend 6 May 2023


In the Crimea. After a Rain, Fyodor Vasilyev, 1873

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Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
May 6, 2023 12:08 am

oooooh

Rabz
May 6, 2023 12:10 am
Barking Toad
Barking Toad
May 6, 2023 2:48 am

Third!

Fair Shake
Fair Shake
May 6, 2023 3:00 am

Go fourth.

Johnny Rotten
May 6, 2023 3:01 am

And Johnny Rotten came forth (with much respect to Moses).

Fair Shake
Fair Shake
May 6, 2023 3:34 am

And Johnny Rotten came forth

Missed it by that much.

Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:01 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:03 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:04 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:06 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:07 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:08 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:10 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:11 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:12 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:13 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:14 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:16 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:17 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:18 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:19 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:21 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:22 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:23 am
Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 4:24 am
DrBeauGan
DrBeauGan
May 6, 2023 4:34 am

Thanks Tom.

Gabor
Gabor
May 6, 2023 4:44 am

Tom says:
May 6, 2023 at 4:03 am

Mark Knight, and reading to children by drag queens, I can’t see the point of it, if there is one.

There must be, otherwise why bother?

feelthebern
feelthebern
May 6, 2023 5:29 am

For an early riser, Sydney is a fantastic town.

Ed Case
Ed Case
May 6, 2023 5:47 am

reading to children by drag queens, I can’t see the point of it, if there is one.
How different is it to Pantomine?
Kids find that pretty funny.

But, yeah, The Government is bringing 20,000 unassimilable aliens in through the airports every week and buying properties to house them.
Since they don’t want you talking about that, let’s have Trannies in Womens “Sport” and Drag Queen Story Hour to talk about instead.

Bourne1879
Bourne1879
May 6, 2023 5:55 am

For those with an interest in history I met a grand-daughter of an interesting military man / politics.

Never heard of him before but an interesting life

Rhodes Scholar, WW1 Lighthorse Palestine (Major & Military Cross), Olympian athlete, married US heiress, Deputy Premier VIC, Fascist for a short time in 30’s, WW2 LTCOL under Gordon Bennett and captured in Singapore, POW, Minister in Menzies Government, Chairman of Melbourne Olympics. Wrote books about his WW1 and 2 experiences.

Plasmamortar
Plasmamortar
May 6, 2023 5:55 am

Immigration must be kept high to keep the stamp duty and capital gains of property turning over.

Low birth rate for decades = low demand now without Immigration = market stagnation or collapse which leads to the biggest problem of all…

The party in power looks bad.

Both sides contribute to this.

Anchor What
Anchor What
May 6, 2023 6:44 am

… for an early riser…
That’s what the missus and I used to call a quickie before going to work.

Tintarella di Luna
Tintarella di Luna
May 6, 2023 6:47 am

For an early riser, Sydney is a fantastic town.

It sure is — On a morning like this morning I am blessed each morning to see the dawn seeping over the horizon in dusty pinks and mauves before the sun bursts into a burning blue sky. Yesterday was simply stunning, magnificent Sydney day in Autumn. Buongiorno gatti.

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 6, 2023 6:47 am

The Leak is a little unfair. Deep down Albo is still an 18yo Trot. The 6 negatively geared houses (or whatever) and a nine digit superannuation balance are just the perks of office.

Tintarella di Luna
Tintarella di Luna
May 6, 2023 6:55 am

Bob Moran very dark this morning on the new Rex

Plasmamortar
Plasmamortar
May 6, 2023 7:00 am

It sure is — On a morning like this morning I am blessed each morning to see the dawn seeping over the horizon in dusty pinks and mauves before the sun bursts into a burning blue sky. Yesterday was simply stunning, magnificent Sydney day in Autumn. Buongiorno gatti

And the Anzac bridge being closed, completely messing up our work sites starting time and planning

Petros
Petros
May 6, 2023 7:01 am

Anyone read Dissolving Illusions by Suzanne Humphries? It’s about the early vaccine studies. Wikipedia only gives a very brief account of Jenner’s work.

Petros
Petros
May 6, 2023 7:04 am

The rules for student visa holders are that they can only work 20 hours per week when their university course is in session. Pretty sure no one is policing this and no doubt some jobs would be cash in hand.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 6, 2023 7:17 am

Yesterday was simply stunning, magnificent Sydney day in Autumn.

Think of the poor suffering Poms…

Met Office weather: Blistering Spanish heatwave rages on with UK finally set for hot plume (5 May)

The Met Office has predicted that temperatures could reach 17C ahead of the Coronation before falling the following week, with rain and wind on the horizon.

Blisteringly hot 17C, ouch! Soon anything over the freezing point will be scorching heat.

Cassie of Sydney
May 6, 2023 7:21 am

“Plasmamortarsays:
May 6, 2023 at 5:55 am”

Brendan O’Neill on Spiked has uploaded a very good Youtube discussion with American author/academic Michael Lind. They talk about Lind’s latest book, “Hell to Pay, How the Suppression of Wages is Destroying America“. They discuss discuss “the crisis afflicting the American working class, the disaster of deindustrialisation and how the woke cultural elite shores up the status quo.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1XHuncC1dk

It’s excellent listening, it applies across the West.

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 6, 2023 7:24 am

As I understand it, you could come a foreign student, enroll in a course to allegedly train for a job where there was a shortage and then get your PR. What a sick joke. I assume that’s still the case. Canbra is an abomination.

calli
calli
May 6, 2023 7:25 am

Rough winds shaking the darling buds of May? Happened before.

Seventeen degrees should warrant another ermine wrap.

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 6, 2023 7:26 am

Yes I listened to that talk last night Cassie. So much of this modern leftist assault on society is essentially class warfare aka bogans shouldn’t have nice things.

rosie
rosie
May 6, 2023 7:38 am

40 hours per fortnight was the pre covid rule, then it was made unlimited, dropping back to 48 hours from the 1st of July.
Not surprisingly people were are masquerading as students in order to work full-time.
Doesn’t say how many were here on student spouse visas also working.

rosie
rosie
May 6, 2023 7:41 am

I wonder how many of the private tertiary institutions are out and out visa mills?

Cassie of Sydney
May 6, 2023 7:43 am

The Oz has a piece written by the expert fellator himself, Dribbler Sheridan, on his recent hobnobbing with Rishi Sunak in Downing Street. It’s a typical fawning Dribbler piece, read it and vomit. He is a clown.

Further to clowns, the Daily Telegraph is reporting Mrs Clown, aka Olena Zelensky, hobnobbed overnight with foreign royals and world leaders at a Buckingham Palace reception. My oh my, words fail me. Her country at war, the corpses of dead men, women and children scattered everywhere, yet Mrs Zelensky models for fashion magazines, and attends Buckingham Palace receptions and sips champagne. Please don’t tell me there’s nothing wrong here and there’s nothing to see here. It’s ghoulish. Olena Zelensky reminds me of Elizabeth Bathory. And like her husband, Mrs Clown is a fraud.

Oh well, I suppose there’s some logic to all of this, a clown writing a puff piece on Rishi Sunak, and a Mrs Clown attending a Buckingham Palace reception. After all, we do live in a “clown world”.

Nice day here in Sydney.

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 6, 2023 7:51 am

Mr and Mrs Clown were appointed by the US State Department. Pay to play. Show biz for ugly people.

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 6, 2023 7:51 am

America wants this war.

Top Ender
Top Ender
May 6, 2023 7:55 am

Victoria Police sergeant Bruno Staffieri pleads for job back despite over homophobic comments

A veteran cop dismissed for making racist and homophobic comments online is pleading for his job back — with his police mates labelling the ordeal a “witch-hunt”.

A veteran cop who posted “racist” and “homophobic” comments online has been backed by his police mates who say his dismissal was a “witch-hunt” by Victoria Police.

Sergeant Bruno Staffieri was booted from his job earlier this year after posting a series of “offensive” comments online to express his views about Victoria Police and the LGBTQI community.

Mr Staffieri begged to return to the force at a Police Registrations and Services Board dismissal hearing on Friday flanked by five former and current police officers, his partner and a priest.

The 62-year-old, who argued he was expressing his Christian beliefs, repeatedly told the board he “didn’t mean to offend anyone” and that he “won’t do it again”.

In comments on a Victoria Police LinkedIn post supporting LGBT community members for “WearItPurpleDay” in 2021, Mr Staffieri wrote: “I do not bully or tease or harass these people. I just don’t agree with what they do as it disgusts and repulses me … I hate having it shoved in my face.”

In another comment, on a Daily Mail article about an aboriginal woman who was refused a taxi in Cairns in 2022, the cop wrote: “You people cause your own problems (not all of you). Don’t blame the whitefella.”

Mr Staffieri had also had a dispute with Deputy Commissioner Neil Paterson, the state’s second-highest ranking officer, after he questioned why Victoria Police was only recognised as a “silver” employer at the 2021 Australian LGBTQ+ inclusion awards.

“Great achievement. But if the public knew how much time, effort and taxpayer dollars went into this, they would also be demanding why we didn’t get a gold,” he wrote on Mr Paterson’s post on online police forum, Yammer.

The board heard that a string of comments between the two were then deleted by Mr Paterson after he suggested Mr Staffieri find another job.

The cop was slammed by PRSB president Andrea Lester who listed many of “the 68 rationalisations” Mr Staffieri had given for his “offensive” comments during numerous interviews.

“You were joking … it’s a different police force now … people didn’t make complaints” she said.

But Mr Staffieri’s police buddies said his dismissal was “completely unfair”.

One former colleague and friend, who wished not to be named, said Mr Staffieri was a “victim of evolution”.

“This whole thing is a witch-hunt,” he told the Herald Sun.

“Bruno had a dignified career” and has “always stood up for what’s right”, he said.

“Thirty-seven years of service speaks for itself.”

Another former colleague and ex-detective sergeant accused Victoria Police of “testing the boundaries of freedom of speech”, calling his friend’s posts “colourful”.

“This is a character assassination,” he said.

Inspector Michala Maskell, representing Victoria Police, argued Mr Staffieri should not be reinstated.

She said his behaviour was “absolutely appalling” and had hurt both Victoria Police and the wider community.

“They were simply, hurtful, mean and harmful … (and) not in line with the community of today,” she said.

In referring to his letter of apology to the force, she labelled him “self serving” and said she had “no faith that training in the future will work”.

A copy of a Fair Work complaint submitted by Mr Staffieri following his dismissal will be handed to the board before it hands down its decision.

Herald-Sun – no comments allowed of course

Tintarella di Luna
Tintarella di Luna
May 6, 2023 8:02 am

And the Anzac bridge being closed, completely messing up our work sites starting time and planning

Bugger – Was that due to the late finishing overnight roadworks?

Johnny Rotten
May 6, 2023 8:04 am

Fair Shakesays:
May 6, 2023 at 3:34 am
And Johnny Rotten came forth

Missed it by that much.

LOL. My forth was in relation to Moses –

And God said unto Moses, “come forth and receive eternal life in heaven” … But Moses came in fifth, and received a toaster.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 8:04 am

John Pesutto on expelling Moira Deeming from the VIC Liberals:

“We want to reform the party, we want an inclusive, welcoming party…”

When mention of being inclusive seems always to be linked with excluding someone, one is entitled to question whether it’s about inclusion at all.

Johnny Rotten
May 6, 2023 8:05 am

Don’t expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong.

– Calvin Coolidge

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 6, 2023 8:06 am

Wow to think I actually used to give the Lieboral party my hard earned.

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
May 6, 2023 8:09 am

Bob Moran very dark this morning on the new Rex

And in case there was any uncertainty as to the message – the frame of the painting reads ‘May he burn for eternity’.

Was that Jimmy Saville in the King’s groin? And the sausages for fingers?

Crossie
Crossie
May 6, 2023 8:09 am

Miltonf says:
May 6, 2023 at 7:51 am
America wants this war.

America does not want this war, the Department of State does and the Biden family. Just as America does not want open borders and unlimited immigration, the elites do who depend on low wages to make a profit.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 8:09 am

I wonder how many of the private tertiary institutions are out and out visa mills?

Do you think they’d be in business otherwise?

calli
calli
May 6, 2023 8:10 am

They’re just doing a purge of dissenters, however mild. See the sacking of the policeman above as well.

Lockstep into da fucha! With a jackboot on a human face.

Crossie
Crossie
May 6, 2023 8:11 am

Roger says:
May 6, 2023 at 8:04 am
John Pesutto on expelling Moira Deeming from the VIC Liberals:

“We want to reform the party, we want an inclusive, welcoming party…”

When mention of being inclusive seems always to be linked with excluding someone, one is entitled to question whether it’s about inclusion at all.

That broad church is becoming a single aisle chapel.

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 6, 2023 8:13 am

See the sacking of the policeman above as well.

Reminds me of eastern Europe in the 70s.

calli
calli
May 6, 2023 8:13 am

Yes, it was Saville. Moran is making an unsavoury connection between the two men. I presume they partied together along with a lot of other notorious nobs and slobs.

JMH
JMH
May 6, 2023 8:13 am

From Top Ender’s post:

Sergeant Bruno Staffieri was booted from his job earlier this year after posting a series of “offensive” comments online to express his views about Victoria Police and the LGBTQI community.

Can somebody point out the offensiveness of the quoted texts, please?
I am sick to death of this woke garbage.

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 6, 2023 8:13 am

I take your point Crossie

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
May 6, 2023 8:15 am

Herald-Sun – no comments allowed of course

Which is eloquent enough, in its own way.

mem
mem
May 6, 2023 8:15 am

Discovered a large lion slug on my back step. Well, I actually stood on it by accident. Made me think about I Cook foods. Does anyone know what happened to the case? It seems to have disappeared down the plug hole.

Vicki
Vicki
May 6, 2023 8:17 am

Thanks Plasmamortar re closure of Anzac Bridge. We are returning to Sydney today & will return a few days later.

Who knew about the closure of the Anzac Bridge AND a rolling closure of the Harbour Bridge & Tunnel over the next few weeks? Nothing that we have seen. Last time Bridge was closed it took us 45 minutes to get from our house 2 minutes from Bridge! We had a birthday bash at Art Gallery to attend. Most guests turned up almost an hour late. NO prior warning that any of us knew.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 8:18 am

That broad church is becoming a single aisle chapel.

Always the way.

What begins as a call for tolerance ends with a demand for conformity…or else.

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 8:22 am

It has been good over the past week to have it confirmed that Clarence Thomas is a corrupt bought-and-paid lackey of the Federalist Society.

mem
mem
May 6, 2023 8:23 am

Roger has penned a winner. I shall use that!

What begins as a call for tolerance ends with a demand for conformity…or else.

lotocoti
lotocoti
May 6, 2023 8:23 am

We want to reform the party, we want an inclusive, welcoming party…

Just the tip, I promise.

Vicki
Vicki
May 6, 2023 8:26 am

BTW first frost of the year up here this morning on Central Tablelands. Our Scottish Belted Galloways have already got their woolly winter coats – now not so hot for them!

So much rain in the last few months – pasture is still green & long. Husband has even done some last slashing for the season. That – despite having a new tractor refuse to start & being told warranty could not be honoured by a service call for at least 3 weeks. He searched for problem ( a broken bolt which triggered a safety shutdown on PTO) & fixed it himself.

Our neighbour’s old Massey Ferguson never fails. Bloody modern safety technology!

areff
areff
May 6, 2023 8:28 am

Monty rises from his fetid sheets, hopes Mum doesn’t spot the latest crusty stain and sallies forth to demonstrate once more how, despite an IQ roughly equally to his shoe size, he can still fill in a blog-comment field and hit ‘enter’.

Bourne1879
Bourne1879
May 6, 2023 8:29 am

Happy coronation day !

In other big news WHO boss declares pandemic over and Head of CDC Walensky has resigned.

Cassie of Sydney
May 6, 2023 8:30 am

““They were simply, hurtful, mean and harmful … (and) not in line with the community of today,” she said.”

Note those words in bold. We’re now being told what is and isn’t “in line with the community of today“, that’s not our community, it’s their community and we are being officially warned, if we don’t celebrate it, then we will be dealt with. Ask Mark Latham, they’re now resorting to legal warfare. Oh and the next “community of today” is the pedophile community. Make no mistake, the push is on. They’re coming for the children.

We now live under a LGBTQI+ tyranny. No dissent, no dispute, and no disagreement is permitted.

I voted NO to SSM, and I don’t regret for a moment. All of this was predicted. I could see it, Blind Freddy could see it. As for those libertarians and soft “right of centre” wimps who said and still say (because deep down they know they have egg on their faces) that no harm will come out of SSM, well we’re now witnessing in real time the societal repercussions, and this is only the beginning. It will only get worse.

Cassie of Sydney
May 6, 2023 8:31 am

Oh look, the pervert apologist rises from the fetid swamp.

Vicki
Vicki
May 6, 2023 8:31 am

Re resignation of Walensky etc – noticed lots of legal actions beginning OS re mandates, vaccine injuries etc.

Cassie of Sydney
May 6, 2023 8:31 am

“areffsays:
May 6, 2023 at 8:28 am”

Snap areff.

Pogria
Pogria
May 6, 2023 8:35 am

Yesterday was simply stunning, magnificent Sydney day in Autumn.
Beautiful yesterday here in the Southern Tablelands. Shaping up to be great today also. Not so great, yesterday was the first frost of the season, today the second. Had to smash the ice on my ducks and geese plastic ponds. They don’t seem to mind the cold though. 😉

flyingduk
flyingduk
May 6, 2023 8:38 am

What begins as a call for tolerance ends with a demand for conformity…or else.

And ‘Sunrise’ reported this morning that our new King wants his coronation to reflect inclusion, diversity and unity.

Diversity AND Unity FFS

Pro tip: Diversity Divides – the clue is in the name.

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
May 6, 2023 8:38 am

We want to reform the party, we want an inclusive, welcoming party

Which means we court all the people who claim to be excluded (the tyranny lobby, the gay lobby, the Muslim lobby etc) and let them tell us who should be excluded – and if that is most of our previous base, and that now abandoned base outnumbers our newly included, then so be it.

areff
areff
May 6, 2023 8:39 am

“… (and) not in line with the community of today,” she said.

But stitching up a cardinal, shooting fellow citizens with rubber bullets, always answering the hot line to the Premier’s office on the first ring, refusing to investigate Labor mates and arresting pregnant ladies in their kitchens for Facebook posts — all of that is OK.

Very much in keeping with Victoria’s new “community standards”.

Pogria
Pogria
May 6, 2023 8:40 am

areff, excellent comment. Beautifully written.

Cassie, re Mark Latham, if Greenwich goes ahead with his suit, I hope Mark goes for discovery. That would be so funny.

Also, re Farookie’s, (yes, I know but I prefer my spelling) suit against Pauline Hanson, Pauline should send back one line, “Suck my Dick”.

calli
calli
May 6, 2023 8:42 am

’When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’

’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’

’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all.’

King Egg.

Ed Case
Ed Case
May 6, 2023 8:43 am

A veteran cop dismissed for making racist and homophobic comments online is pleading for his job back — with his police mates labelling the ordeal a “witch-hunt”.

Is this legit?
A 62 year old Sargeant?
Why would he keep working when he coulda retired on an extremely generous pension 7 years ago?

Jorge
Jorge
May 6, 2023 8:43 am

Julie Bishop’s heavily mascara’d eyes still don’t seem to have found what they’re looking for.

Everywhere I click I come to the same photo of her frocking off to a coronation party.

The Chancellor likes a party. Her PR assistant must be busy.

It’s over, Julie. Do you own any cats, yet ? If so they probably need a feed.

Give Julia a ring. She’s staying home tonight with some Tim Tams, though sadly it could be Tams, no Tims.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 6, 2023 8:44 am
Cassie of Sydney
May 6, 2023 8:46 am

“We want to reform the party, we want an inclusive, welcoming party”

No conservatives welcome, especially pesky conservative women.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
May 6, 2023 8:47 am

Had to smash the ice on my ducks and geese plastic ponds

28 degrees in D-Town, with a bit of sweaty 85% humidity which will burn off in the next few hours.

Luvverly.

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
May 6, 2023 8:49 am

the tyranny lobby

Damn Auto-corrupt.

The Tranny lobby!

shatterzzz
May 6, 2023 8:51 am

“Mum and dad just suddenly kicked me out of my house and they said ‘go to Australia’ … so I came here for school, and then when I finished school, I helped my parents migrate and I got married and got a job here,” he said.

The Oz OS education/university scam explained in one sentence .. FFS!

Bourne1879
Bourne1879
May 6, 2023 8:52 am

Courier Mail reported that Neil Breen of 4BC will be leaving to spend more time with family. Said it had been a tough three years and for part of it had been separated from family in Sydney.

I liked him as good on pretty much all subjects and held Government to account. Only point disappointing was his over enthusiasm for the vaccine and almost counting down to when he would get 5th jab.

Seems he may move to Sydney.

Looking at the comments under article their morning show before 0900 not getting favourable response. Have never listened to it myself.

Meanwhile Peter Costello has given an interview with John Anderson where he talks about over reaction in relation to Covid lockdowns etc. Chairman of Ch 9, SMH and 2GB etc !

Ed Case
Ed Case
May 6, 2023 8:53 am

Sotomayor Took Millions from Ex-Nazi Publisher While Voting on its Cases

That’s pretty lame.
Bertelsmann has had plenty of ownership changes since the Nazi Party ceased to exist [5/30/1945].
Let’s say someone bought Hitler’s childhood home in Linz, Austria?
Do they then become literally Hitler?

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
May 6, 2023 8:54 am

And here’s me thinking mutley had OD on Krispy Kremes. Special Ed has
been making up for the usual mutley dribbling excrement so there was no need to hurry back. Tell us about Sotomayor munster or didn’t that come in the talking points?

flyingduk
flyingduk
May 6, 2023 8:54 am

Reports that Tucker pushed back against Fox’s over early call of some states on election night.

Tucker Carlson recognized that Fox News’ core viewers would be angry over their decision to call Arizona while the polls were still open….. Tucker Carlson asked Bret Baier if there is anything he could do to help stop the Decision Desk from calling more states.

“Is there some way I could help?” Tucker asked. “Obviously I’d never do anything without full approval from the top.”

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/05/texts-between-bret-baier-and-tucker-carlson-show-concern-over-fox-news-decision-desk-calling-arizona-for-biden-too-early-on-election-night/

That’s my problem with Tucker – he *knew* that Fox wasn’t telling the truth, but he folded and went along with it. Thats why I have not watched him since – trust once broken 🙁

Farmer Gez
Farmer Gez
May 6, 2023 8:55 am

To paraphrase the words from the mouth of an AEMO executive yesterday.
‘We have to build in order of six times the current energy generation capacity to move to an equivalent renewable supply.’
Watched her say it.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 8:57 am

Roger has penned a winner. I shall use that!

You’re welcome to, mem.

mem
mem
May 6, 2023 8:57 am

Mother Lodesays:
May 6, 2023 at 8:49 am
Not to worry ML “the tyranny lobby” is an apt description.

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 6, 2023 8:57 am

Geoffrey Blainey lost his job for wrong think. That was in the mid 80s.

Diogenes
Diogenes
May 6, 2023 8:58 am

Also, re Farookie’s, (yes, I know but I prefer my spelling) suit against Pauline Hanson,

Someone should tell Forooki she should not be dissing descendants of the great Prophet and possibly Caliph of the Islamic World. I believe the connection is through the marriage of Pedro the Cruel’s daughters to the Dukes of Lancaster and York.

shatterzzz
May 6, 2023 8:58 am

The rules for student visa holders are that they can only work 20 hours per week when their university course is in session. Pretty sure no one is policing this and no doubt some jobs would be cash in hand.

You have to wonder why there are hours worked rules for anything .. how on earth does anyone , let alone incompetent gummint(s), monitor the activity and, more importantly, what are the penalties for breaching your hours .. a stint in the “naughty corner” wearing the ‘dunce” cap .. ? ..

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 9:02 am

Oh and the next “community of today” is the pedophile community. Make no mistake, the push is on. They’re coming for the children.

Do you realise how weird you sound, Cranky? Your rhetoric is indistinguishable from homeless people on street corners ranting about the End Times.

You have spent too much time in the weeds. You sound like Riccardo Bosi.

Meanwhile, another scandal came out this week over the Australian Church shielding a rock spider in their ranks. Ho hum, chuck it on the pile.

Every accusation is a confession with you Tory jokers.

rugbyskier
rugbyskier
May 6, 2023 9:03 am

the tyranny lobby

Damn Auto-corrupt.

The Tranny lobby!

Both work.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
May 6, 2023 9:05 am

areff, just now:

stitching up a cardinal, shooting fellow citizens with rubber bullets, always answering the hot line to the Premier’s office on the first ring, refusing to investigate Labor mates and arresting pregnant ladies in their kitchens for Facebook posts

The picture wireless also informs me that VicJack Inc is 1500 cops underneath their minimum staffing levels, that recruiting is abysmal and that there’s no sign of it changing.

I have made this assertion before, but will reproduce it here because I still believe it to be true:

People join the cops to lock up shit people who are bothering and/or killing normal people. They do not join the cops to target said normal people.

Enforcing thought-bubble policy developed by a government of the day and spruiked by unelected mid-level bureaucrats, and arresting punters (or not) on the personal whims of a Minister are not, I would have thought, attractants for Joe Normal.

I also hold the humble view that none of the above has anything to do with police work – but that’s what that job entails now (in Vicco at least), and it is therefore no surprise that nobody wants to do it.

Consequently, recruiting standards have burnt to ashes which means they’ll now take anyone, which also means the few they do get will be so god-awful at it that their bosses will wonder why the public don’t trust them.

To whoever it is that runs Victoria – reap it. If you couldn’t see this coming three years ago, you deserve everything you get.

Ed Case
Ed Case
May 6, 2023 9:06 am

That’s my problem with Tucker – he *knew* that Fox wasn’t telling the truth, but he folded and went along with it. Thats why I have not watched him since – trust once broken

It’s worse than that.
TC was only concerned about his viewing numbers, that’s why Sidney Powell later got a platform, even while Carlson and his cronies knew she was either Controlled Opposition or a Fruit Loop.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 6, 2023 9:10 am

Geoffrey Blainey lost his job for wrong think. That was in the mid 80s.

Geoffrey Blainey lost his job for writing a book “All For Australia”, criticizing the level of Asian immigration to Australia, in 1984.

Miltonf
Miltonf
May 6, 2023 9:11 am

Seems like Ralph Babet might be doing ok-

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 6, 2023 9:11 am

Global warming causes warts.

If You Had To Choose “Ignore Or Believe All Academics On Climate Change”, Which Is Smarter? (4 May)

In my talk at Hillsdale, I emphasized the many sins of academic science, including the quite unbelievable idea that only bad things can happen because of “climate change”. Nothing good is possible. Or nothing good can be admitted, for fear of the academic mob.

If it’s delicious, photogenic, or useful, “climate change” will quash it. If it stings, bites, or is a menace “climate change” will cause it to flourish.

My first thought was to run a reader contest: FIND THE THING THAT WILL NOT BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY “CLIMATE CHANGE”.

But I realized that this is an impossible task. For fun, I thought I’d do a few myself. How about, I don’t know, something hilariously stupid, like warts?

Yes: the peer-reviewed paper “The effects of the El Nino Southern Oscillation on skin and skin?related diseases: a message from the International Society of Dermatology Climate Change Task Force” says, “Wart viruses may be susceptible to changes in temperature, a fact that coincides with a significant increase in the prevalence of viral warts during El Nino in Peru”.

So. Which way should you bet? Ignore or believe all academics on climate change?

I think the answer is pretty obvious.

cohenite
May 6, 2023 9:12 am

Ho hum, chuck it on the pile.

The pile of dickless perverts, eh dickless. Church paedophilia justifies trannie kiddie fiddling; is that your point, retard.

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 9:13 am

Here you go Monty.

Sotomayor Took Millions from Ex-Nazi Publisher While Voting on its Cases (4 May)

LOL, as Groogs says, that is extremely weak. All SCOTUS justices have book deals, does that mean they should all recuse themselves when setting precedent in literary publishing cases? They refused to take the case anyway.

Meanwhile, over many decades, Clarence Thomas accepted a string of corrupt payments from rich pricks with business in front of the court that is longer than Wembanyama’s arms.

Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 9:16 am

Thanks, KD:

People join the cops to lock up shit people who are bothering and/or killing normal people. They do not join the cops to target said normal people.

Enforcing thought-bubble policy developed by a government of the day and spruiked by unelected mid-level bureaucrats, and arresting punters (or not) on the personal whims of a Minister are not, I would have thought, attractants for Joe Normal.

The fascist pig state of Victoria perfectly summarised in two sentences — all made possible because it has more scared little mob fascists per head of population than anywhere else on earth.

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 9:17 am

Church paedophilia justifies trannie kiddie fiddling; is that your point, retard.

There is no actual historical trannie kiddie fiddling being debated here. All you lot are complaining about is the possibility of such in future, because you are so dumb that you don’t understand performance art. You are arguing with a weird-arsed fantasy in your own heads.

Meanwhile, decades of organised crime within the Church to protect rock spiders and enable them to reoffend with new victims… you prefer to ignore it.

flyingduk
flyingduk
May 6, 2023 9:18 am

In other big news WHO boss declares pandemic over and Head of CDC Walensky has resigned.

Ding Dong the witch is dead?

Indolent
Indolent
May 6, 2023 9:18 am

In other big news WHO boss declares pandemic over

Of course. How can they declare a new one (with their new overarching powers) if they don’t end the old one first.

Don’t think it’s not in the works.

Indolent
Indolent
May 6, 2023 9:19 am
Miltonf
Miltonf
May 6, 2023 9:21 am

Thanks Mem.

flyingduk
flyingduk
May 6, 2023 9:22 am

Consequently, recruiting standards have burnt to ashes which means they’ll now take anyone, which also means the few they do get will be so god-awful at it that their bosses will wonder why the public don’t trust them.

Like my former profession (medicine), the COVID response was used as a screening test for a ‘new’ type of Police Officer, one who will ‘follow orders’ and collaborate with the government to oppress the people.

Just as Drs no longer work for their patients, Police Officers no longer serve the public – both are now agents of the state to be deployed against the public.

Those who refused, self identified and were weeded out over the last 3 years.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 6, 2023 9:23 am

LOL, as Groogs says, that is extremely weak. All SCOTUS justices have book deals

And all SCOTUS justices go on holiday Monty. Do please try to be a little bit consistent sometimes.

Indolent
Indolent
May 6, 2023 9:25 am

This is simply unbelievable. I’ve never heard of the second song but I assume it’s genuine. We’re living in a cesspit.

Cassie of Sydney
May 6, 2023 9:27 am

“Meanwhile, decades of organised crime within the Church to protect rock spiders and enable them to reoffend with new victims… you prefer to ignore it.”

Ah the pervert apologist uses his favourite words..”rock spiders”.

Any condemnation of the organised crime within Labor that protected “rock spiders” for decades? The ALP has a long history protecting various “rock spiders”, and rapists. Or is it because you and your lot prefer to ignore those “rock spiders” because they don’t suit your ideological narrative?

Oh and have you told your wife you’re a pervert apologist?

Cassie of Sydney
May 6, 2023 9:29 am

“Do you realise how weird you sound, Cranky? Your rhetoric is indistinguishable from homeless people on street corners ranting about the End Times.

You have spent too much time in the weeds. You sound like Riccardo Bosi.”

Nah, don’t think so pervert apologist, my rhetoric makes complete sense.

Go dig up some rock spiders.

Cassie of Sydney
May 6, 2023 9:30 am

Just remember, the pervert apologist approves of intimidating, threatening and bashing women.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
May 6, 2023 9:31 am

It’s War: 19 US States fight back against the Woke Banker Cartel

By Jo Nova

Oklahoma blacklists BlackRock and 12 other banks that boycott fossil fuels

We may yet be saved by states in the US that are pulling the pin on the Big Banker Cartel. In this case Oklahoma wrote laws to investigate and ban state investments with banks that boycott the energy sector. They’ve now decided that 13 banks fail the bar, and should be banned from all public business. In response BlackRock and JPMorgan Chase are now dancing to a whole new tune, suddenly protesting that they invest billions in the energy sector. The twisted truth is, that it is no defense at all, it was part of their strategy. Often they used their major voting interest to oust directors and pressure boards to pick up more “woke” ESG policies. These are big targets. JP Morgan Chase is the largest bank in the US and BlackRock is the largest asset manager in the world.

This is excellent news, and we need more. Spread the news. But how did it get to the point where a bank that outspokenly campaigned to end fossil fuels was managing 60% of the state employees retirement funds in a state that is the fifth or sixth biggest oil and gas state in the US? This rort meant the bank managed funds on behalf of people who spent their whole lives working in the oil and gas industry — yet it used their funds as leveraged power to try to destroy their livelihood, to make their energy costs rise and to undo their democratic choices.

Make no mistake, the banker money isn’t following the fashions, it is creating them. The way to win is to turn off the tap…

Thanks to NetZeroWatch

Ed Case
Ed Case
May 6, 2023 9:32 am

Any condemnation of the organised crime within Labor that protected “rock spiders” for decades? The ALP has a long history protecting various “rock spiders”, and rapists.

The difference is this:
The ALP has never denied that it is a criminal organisation infested with Rock Spiders.

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 6, 2023 9:32 am

The rules for student visa holders are that they can only work 20 hours per week when their university course is in session.

No pig aviation either.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 6, 2023 9:33 am

Hey Monty you don’t happen to be German by any chance?

Journalism is Left-Wing as Profession Requires Critical Thinking, State Broadcaster Boss Says (5 May)

Snobbery abounds in establishment media as ever, as national broadcast boss says left-wing people are more likely to become journalists because they are more capable of critical thought.

Kai Gniffke, the head of the German state-owned broadcasting association ARD, has claimed that the reason government-backed journalism is overwhelmingly left-wing is that the job requires critical thinking.

Previous research into the association has shown that over 90 per cent of its volunteers vote exclusively for far-left parties — including the ruling Greens — during Germany’s elections.

Uncritical unthinking more like. The baaing of the journalistic sheep at the ABC is endless.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 9:37 am

All you lot are complaining about is the possibility of such in future, because you are so dumb that you don’t understand performance art.

Do you think it’s unreasonable for the authorities to require police checks (e.g. a working with minors card) of those engaged in this “performance art”?

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 9:38 am

And all SCOTUS justices go on holiday Monty. Do please try to be a little bit consistent sometimes.

Not all of them go on free holidays paid for by billionaires with Nazi memorabilia collections. Just the conservative ones.

You’re a bit thick, aren’t you Bruce.

Indolent
Indolent
May 6, 2023 9:38 am
OldOzzie
OldOzzie
May 6, 2023 9:38 am

Relevant to the Non-Stop emails & Indian Call Centre Phone calls re NSW Govt replacement Gas HWS with $330 Electric Heat Pump HWS- My Electricians & Gas HWS/Spa people say avoid – yeah only $330 with NSW Govt Subsidy. but the break down quickly & are expensive to replace – “Stay with Gas HWS they say”

Brits forced to spend £22,000 ripping out gas boilers and installing heat pumps. ‘Absurd’

SCRAPPING GAS BOILERS and forcing everyone to replace them with expensive electric heat pumps could cost homeowners more than £20,000 each and drive up their energy bills as well, experts warn.

On top of the “eye-watering expense” of installing heat pumps in tens of millions of homes, the running costs are likely to be higher, too. The Government must reconsider its “absurd” plans which could cost taxpayers an incredible £115 billion in total, energy experts say.

As we reported on Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants 600,000 heat pumps installed every year by 2028, as part of his drive “net zero” carbon emissions drive.

But the Government’s infrastructure chief Sir John Armitt said most people would refuse to spend between £5,000 to £15,000 on a heat pump when a new gas boiler costs just £1,500.

His conclusion? Households must be forced to make the switch by BANNING the sale of new gas boilers.

The International Energy Agency has already said that gas boiler sales should cease after 2025, if the UK is to hit its net zero target.

The Government has indicated that it is likely to ban gas boilers in all newly built homes from that date.

This triggered a furious response from Express readers, who slammed the “bonkers” idea and said people cannot afford the expense.

We contacted energy experts and they agree. The Government’s scheme will cost a fortune, and YOU will be footing the bill.

“Some of the options put forward to achieve net zero homes involve eye-watering sums of money, which frankly, people do not have.”

Installing a heat pump as an alternative to a gas boiler will cost at least £10,000 and that is only the start of the expense, he said.

Those living in period or poorly insulated homes might have to pay another £12,000, to retain the heat generated to make them work efficiently. This could lift the total cost to around £22,000.

“These absurd sums might mean nothing to the millionaires suggesting heat pumps are the future, but to ordinary hard-working families, they are beyond reach,” Foster said.

He said there’s a much cheaper option. Gas networks plan to blend low carbon hydrogen with natural gas, allowing us to continue using our existing boilers for now, and switch to zero carbon “hydrogen-ready” boilers later.

Even heat pump manufacturers are sceptical about scrapping gas boilers. Christian Engelke, technical director at Viessmann, said “heat pumps are not the only game in town”.

They will not suit every UK property, and it is unrealistic to expect the nation, its heating industry or electricity grid to embark on a mass rush to adopt heat pumps. “Especially as the industry is struggling to meet demand right now.”

Engelke called for a mixed approach, including hydrogen boilers, hybrid heating systems, and fuel-cell boilers. “This is on top of improving leaky and inefficient housing through insulation.”

Yet the Government looks set to press ahead with its heat pump plans and the nation’s 26 million gas boilers are living on borrowed time.

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 6, 2023 9:39 am

28 degrees in D-Town, with a bit of sweaty 85% humidity which will burn off in the next few hours.

Get back to us in February. Winter in the north is great – all 3 months. Summer in Perf is an acquired taste.

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 9:40 am

Do you think it’s unreasonable for the authorities to require police checks (e.g. a working with minors card) of those engaged in this “performance art”?

That seems reasonable if they are interacting one on one. If it’s a crowd performance, no, not necessary.

Do you think buskers and other street performers need working with children checks?

Rabz
May 6, 2023 9:42 am

Bob Moran’s ‘toon above is superb.

Nicely distills my opinion of that disgusting inbred big eared hypocrotical imbecile, who in any just world would have already gone the way of the Romanoffs and the Bourbons.

The Savile codpiece is a functional addition as well as a blunt reminder.

cohenite
May 6, 2023 9:43 am

Meanwhile, over many decades, Clarence Thomas accepted a string of corrupt payments from rich pricks with business in front of the court that is longer than Wembanyama’s arms.

That’s a lie dickless; and the point is sotomayor adjudicated where she had a vested interest. Thomas didn’t.

There is no actual historical trannie kiddie fiddling being debated here

Hundreds of families could sue transgender clinic Tavistock for medical negligence

One of many law suits. Kiddie fiddling is not just fat drag shitheads waving their lumpy arses in front of the kids. It also includes the widespread abusive medical and hormonal intervention by activist teachers, medicos etc.

You’re such a retard.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 9:44 am

If it’s a crowd performance, no, not necessary.

We’ll bear that in mind.

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 9:46 am

Kiddie fiddling is not just fat drag shitheads waving their lumpy arses in front of the kids. It also includes the widespread abusive medical and hormonal intervention by activist teachers, medicos etc.

Yeah nah cohenite, you are mistaken there. Gender reassignment is not pedophilia. Words mean things.

Big_Nambas
Big_Nambas
May 6, 2023 9:47 am

Summer in Perf is an acquired taste

Still love Perth summers but they were better in the 1990’s when we had more days over 40C.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
May 6, 2023 9:47 am

Health and Human Services Folds Like a Cheap Suit Over Threat to Deny Catholic Hospital Accreditation

The Department of Health and Humans Services has folded on its demand that Catholic hospitals in Tulsa-based St. Francis Healthcare System extinguish the Eternal Flame candle burning it is chapel Confronted with a lawsuit that it was doomed to lose over an indefensible position contrary to law, HHS’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services agreed to grant a waiver to the bizarre inspection finding that concluded that a single beeswax candle on a wall sconce enclosed in glass constituted a fire hazard to patients.

Wednesday, I reported on how HHS was poised to pull the accreditation of the St. Francis Healthcare System; see Xavier Becerra and HHS Threaten to Strip Catholic Hospital of Accreditation Over Chapel Candle. This hospital network, the twelfth largest in the nation, runs five hospitals in eastern Oklahoma serving about 400,000 patients annually. Many of the patients use Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP to cover medical expenses. To retain accreditation and the ability to serve patients reliant on Federal programs, the hospital had to pass a safety inspection.

Because the hospital is Catholic, it has a chapel. The chapel has a candle that burns 24-hours a day.

Under Canon Law, the candle has to meet certain specifications (like 50% beeswax). It can’t be replaced with a light bulb or an emoji.

Whether the inspector had a hard-on for Catholics or he’d been told to f*** with the “mackerel snappers” is a matter of speculation.

But the inspector made a beeline for the chapel and cited the hospital for a fire code violation even though the candle had been in the same place since 1960 without complain or conflagration.

The hospital appealed. HHS denied the appeal and gave the hospital the choice between shuttering the chapel or keeping accreditation. It was at this point that The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty intervened.

Just three days after sending its “pre-litigation” letter to HHS, which included the zinger,

“If we go to court, you will lose. I write in the hope that you will see reason (or at least the law) and we can skip to the easy part,” HHS beat a hasty retreat.

There is no doubt that the Biden White House and its parent organization, the Obama administration, are implacably hostile to Christianity in general and public devotion to it specifically.

It was Barack Obama who tried to convert the Constitutional Freedom of Religion into FDR’s Freedom of Worship.

We have to be constantly on guard or this liberty will be snuffed out by the use of the regulatory power of the administrative state.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 9:50 am

Do you think buskers and other street performers need working with children checks?

Many municipalities do in fact require such if the busker or street performer’s act is directed at children.

Do you suppose the councillors who require this are merely the victims of their own”weird-arsed fantasy”?

Perplexed of Brisbane
Perplexed of Brisbane
May 6, 2023 9:52 am

Knuckle Draggersays:
May 6, 2023 at 9:05 am

The picture wireless also informs me that VicJack Inc is 1500 cops underneath their minimum staffing levels, that recruiting is abysmal and that there’s no sign of it changing.

I was talking to a QLD Cop at an RBT. I was in my work uniform and he asked me about our recruiting (beating them off with a stick). He said they were 50% under their target. He was an old school beat copper.

Much the same as Vic, some QLD cops didn’t cover themselves in glory during the scamdemic hysteria. Also, the vaxx requirements were so strict for them. I think they dropped the mandate recently but they lost a lot through sackings and are still punishing those they reinstated, so they cut off their nose to spite their face.

I would guess that the type of people that refused the vaxx are not the type they want to recruit. They want the sort you mentioned KD.

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 9:52 am

That’s a lie dickless; and the point is sotomayor adjudicated where she had a vested interest. Thomas didn’t.

Thomas has been on the majority side of a long procession of rulings opening up US politics to dark money from megarich donors like his old mate Harlan Crow. Shelby County was probably the most famous, there were many others before and after with Citizens United another big one.

Thomas has a vested interest in keeping his rich mates happy so they continue to give him corrupt payments and gifts. It is blatant corruption of the worst kind. It is hard to see how much more corrupt it could be. Swamp creatures all.

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 6, 2023 9:52 am

Gaborsays:
May 6, 2023 at 4:44 am
Tom says:
May 6, 2023 at 4:03 am

Mark Knight, and reading to children by drag queens, I can’t see the point of it, if there is one.

There must be, otherwise why bother?

Grooming new recruits.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
May 6, 2023 9:52 am

Mutley and critical thinking is the same as a pile of poo and knowing that it stinks when you smell it. The left sprinkle it with glitter and admire it as a work of art.

CrazyOldRanga
CrazyOldRanga
May 6, 2023 9:53 am

My employer requires that I have a Working with Children card even though I only visit schools to access the headmasters office or staff rooms. Generally much less interaction with children than a tranny “guest” story teller.

lotocoti
lotocoti
May 6, 2023 9:54 am

Nailing Elephant Seal snot to the wall.
Her body, her choice!
What if she’s doing Meth?

Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 9:54 am

Gender reassignment is not pedophilia.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

It’s hard to believe the troll has children of his own. Poor kids.

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 9:55 am

Many municipalities do in fact require such if the busker or street performer’s act is directed at children.

Right, so if the performance is directed one on one at children, check required, job done.

That is a far cry from the current situation where police refuse to protect the performers so they are effectively banned. So much for liberty.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
May 6, 2023 9:55 am

Summer in Perf is an acquired taste

I happen to be very fond of windburn.

mizaris
mizaris
May 6, 2023 9:55 am

Vida Reid: Founder of NDIS provider Forward Focused Group tight-lipped on if she still plans to fight charges
Sarah Steger
The West Australian
Fri, 5 May 2023 12:17PM
Sarah Steger

Alleged NDIS fraudster Vida Reid leaves Perth Magistrates Court. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

A woman accused of ripping off hundreds of thousands of dollars destined for people with disabilities has remained tight-lipped on whether she still intends to fight the charges.

Vida Reid, founder and executive director of Forward Focused Group an Armadale-based disability provider, appeared in Perth’s Central Law Courts on Friday morning on allegations she used her position to defraud almost $250,000 from the NDIS by submitting false claims as well as overcharging clients.

Alleged NDIS fraudster Vida Reid leaves Perth Magistrates Court. with lawyer Hubert Gawley (left). Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
Ms Reid is also accused of bullying harassed and intimidating some of her clients.

The 35-year-old, who has become as notorious for her fashionable outfits as the charges she is facing, wore a hound’s tooth blazer, slim-fitting black pants and knee-high black leather stiletto boot ensemble.

Her outfit was completed with a trendy black scarf draped over her left shoulder, a diamond-encrusted crucifix around her neck, and black Versace sunglasses to shield her eyes from waiting TV crews as she left court.

Ms Reid was charged with two counts of dealing in proceeds of crime and two counts of general dishonesty causing loss following a major investigation involving multiple agencies after the National Disability Insurance Agency, Federal police and WA Police, began looking into the not-for-profit last year.

When Ms Reid first faced court in October, she was granted bail on a $100,000 surety and a personal undertaking of the same amount and was ordered to report to police three times a week.

A month later, Ms Reid — who was nominated for last year’s AusMumpreneur awards — vowed she would fight the allegations against her, telling reporters outside court she would be pleading not guilty.

It came after her lawyer, Nick Scerri, told the court the matter would be going to trial

Ms Reid has not formally entered any pleas.

Alleged NDIS fraudster Vida Reid leaves Perth Magistrates Court. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian
Then in December, she returned to court again, this time in the hopes some of her bail conditions would be relaxed.

At the time of that hearing, which he granted. Mr Scerri asked Chief Magistrate Steven Heath to reduce the number of days his client had to front a police station to one day a week

Ms Reid brushed off questions from The West Australian on Friday when asked whether she would be entering a plea.

It came after prosecutor M’mbijiwe Gatwiri asked the court for more time to gather disclosure, including a forensic analysis report that was still outstanding.

Ms Reid’s lawyer, Hubert Gawley, did not oppose an adjournment, and the matter has been listed for July 21.

According to its website, Forward Focused is a family-owned and operated registered NDIS service provider in Perth which provides a range of services and programs that supports people and families who live with a disability.

Following the charges, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission suspended the company and issued a notice of intent to revoke its registration.

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 6, 2023 9:55 am

Bourne1879says:
May 6, 2023 at 5:55 am
For those with an interest in history I met a grand-daughter of an interesting military man / politics.

Never heard of him before but an interesting life

Rhodes Scholar, WW1 Lighthorse Palestine (Major & Military Cross), Olympian athlete, married US heiress, Deputy Premier VIC, Fascist for a short time in 30’s, WW2 LTCOL under Gordon Bennett and captured in Singapore, POW, Minister in Menzies Government, Chairman of Melbourne Olympics. Wrote books about his WW1 and 2 experiences.

Sir Wilfred Kent-Hughes?

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
May 6, 2023 9:56 am

Speaking of which:

To outdoor pursuits!

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 6, 2023 9:58 am

Tintarella di Lunasays:
May 6, 2023 at 6:55 am
Bob Moran very dark this morning on the new Rex

Almost getting to Rowe Standard?

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 9:59 am

Right, so if the performance is directed one on one at children, check required, job done.

No…children is plural.

Crossie
Crossie
May 6, 2023 9:59 am

It really annoys me when TV people reporting on the coronation comment that Charles is about to become king. He became king when his mother died, this is the formal confirmation of that fact. The sad fact is that their producers are even more ignorant yet these people are describing the world to us even when they are not deliberately lying.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
May 6, 2023 9:59 am

In the pursuit of fully representative democracy, we can learn a lot from Lidia Thorpe
Janet Albrechtsen Follow @jkalbrechtsen Janet Albrechtsen

12:00AM May 6, 2023
285 Comments

I will not hear a bad word said about Lidia Thorpe. Not one single word. Lidia is what you get when you insist that institutions must mirror the full tapestry of our society. Thorpe is our diversity champion of the year – she’s female, she’s black (or, as she spells it, Blak), she has dated a bikie – and she has behaved badly.

She has had varying interactions with police, like many Australians. She has attended places, late at night, offering “high-end” adult entertainment, again like many others. She has shouted at men at 3am, even accusing them of having small penises. She has cheered at news of a fire at Old Parliament House. She has called for war on Australia Day. She has disrupted a Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras float by lying down in front of it. She has snickered to a co-worker who has a disabled child that “at least I keep my legs shut”. She has complained she has been “white banned” by media outlets, a comment some might find a touch racist if it weren’t for Lidia explaining: “We cannot be racist to white people. White people don’t fall into that category,”

None is a reason to demand she leave the Senate. On the contrary, for all those social progressives who demand that every high-end workplace – from parliament and cabinet to the judiciary and boardrooms – reflect modern Australia, you actually must have a Lidia or two in the Senate. After all, if these institutions are to be regarded as legitimate only if they properly represent all of Australia, Lidia is the ticket to legitimacy. Given Australia’s love of larrikins and colourful history, how could you have a properly representative body without someone such as Lidia?
Read Next

Note, these progressive types want all of the community’s subgroups reflected only in places where power is wielded. I can’t recall anyone ever saying that plumbers should reflect society, or bricklayers, or garbage collectors.

Putting that aside, let’s explore a little more our 21st-century commitment to the idea that the institutions of power should properly reflect the society they govern. When it comes to women in parliament, especially, both houses should represent all sorts of women. There must be a cohort of mean girls, a group of conscientious goody-two-shoes, some science nerds, a few arty types, some mothers, gay women, straight, bi-sexual and trans. And some offensive, graceless, shouty, abusive and rather silly women – just like Thorpe.

Indeed, if we were serious about this idea of parliament representing the broader community, we would realise there has been entirely too much focus on concepts such as intellect and integrity. Parliament should have not just its proportionate share of all society’s religions, occupations and mindsets but also its proportionate share of crooks and deviants. And not just accidentally, either – we should plan to have people such as Milton Orkopoulos in parliament, rather than discover after the event he ticked a few diversity boxes.

OK, you got me. This is ridiculous. The advocates of a representative parliament didn’t actually mean everyone gets represented. Only those subgroups they think worthy of special representation. People like us, progressives might say. It’s here that problems arise.

As soon as you think admission to parliament, or any other institution, should be determined, even partly, by a candidate’s group membership rather than their individual skills you run into nasty questions of definition and selection. Which groups are special, which ones aren’t, and why?

More important, you run headlong into the central questions of representative democracy. Character should count, not markers of identity such as race or sex.

The argument was made powerfully by Noel Pearson in a passage quoted with approval by Megan Davis and George Williams in their 2021 book, Everything You Need to Know about the Uluru Statement from the Heart: “As long as the allowance of racial discrimination remains in our Constitution, it continues, in both subtle and unsubtle ways, to affect our relationships with each other. Though it has historically hurt my people more than others, racial categorisations dehumanise us all. It dehumanises us because we are each individuals, and we should be judged as individuals. We should be rewarded on our merits and assisted in our needs. Race should not matter.”

I could not have said it better myself. While it would seem Pearson, Davis and Williams may no longer hold those views, those views were correct then and remain correct. What is true of race is also true of sex, and of the many other favoured characteristics of identity politics. What is offensive about all these forms of special pleading is that they judge people as members of one or other collective group, not as individuals.

The other fallacy propagated by those who say our institutions have to look like the population at large is the argument that unless one has experienced the evils of racism, sexism or any other favoured ism, one cannot represent those who have. This spawns arguments about the need to “walk in the shoes” of disadvantaged groups before you can understand them, help them or represent them.

These arguments are fatuous. Does a doctor need to have had a disease to understand or treat it?

The first cousin of these arguments is the cultural appropriation fallacy. You know how this goes: only gay men can play gay characters in movies, only ethnic women can write about women of the same ethnicity.

Lucky Shakespeare hadn’t heard of these theories or, if he had, happily he ignored them. We would have lost most of the world’s great literature if the cultural appropriators had their way. At bottom of all this madness is a common flaw. They treat us primarily as members of a group, not as individuals.

Back to Thorpe. She was democratically elected, if under a Greens flag she now rejects, and so we have deliberately given her a platform. Whether she deserves it, and whether she should keep it, will be a matter for voters at a future election. One thing is certain, though – and this is the challenge for those who can think only through a collective prism.

Thorpe should be judged for her own individual actions, behaviour and policies. She should not be judged, favourably or unfavourably, because she is black or female.
Janet Albrechtsen
Columnist

cohenite
May 6, 2023 10:00 am

Yeah nah cohenite, you are mistaken there. Gender reassignment is not pedophilia. Words mean things.

Sounds like a viable defence; send it off to the litigants: dickless : Gender reassignment is not pedophilia your honour, it’s just words. His/her/it honour: well argued dickless; case dismissed.

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 6, 2023 10:03 am

Disappointing to read about The Australian club troubles in Teh Paywallian. A chap doesn’t like to see this.

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 10:04 am

Oooohhhhhhhh I get it, cohenite.

You have shit for brains.

Carry on.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 10:04 am

The sad fact is that their producers are even more ignorant yet these people are describing the world to us even when they are not deliberately lying.

Only if you let them into your lounge room.

😀

Makka
Makka
May 6, 2023 10:05 am

Yeah nah cohenite, you are mistaken there. Gender reassignment is not pedophilia. Words mean things.

They do, mOron.

How about child abuse and those who support it? Like you. That’s exactly what gender reassignment is in children. You really are a sick little fat fuck. Does your better half know you come on here advocating for creeps and pervs having access to kids?

Makka
Makka
May 6, 2023 10:06 am

Why is my comment in moderation, dover?

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
May 6, 2023 10:06 am

Watch The Other Hand – The Potential for One Million Illegal Alien Migrants Expected to Swarm the U.S. Southern Border, May 11th With Biden Ending Title 42

May 5, 2023 – Sundance

On or around May 11th, will the U.S. launch the new spring offensive in Ukraine? Will Fulton County Georgia release unseal their indictment of Donald Trump? Will Jack Smith release his assault upon the former president? Will Main Justice finally release, through the USAO in Delaware, the indictment of Hunter Biden?

These are the questions we should ask as approximately 1,000,000 economic migrants are positioned to swarm the U.S. southern border on the same date. They will need a distraction, a BIG distraction.

What we can anticipate is that on/around May 11th something big will be delivered as part of that distraction.

The people in command and control of the Biden administration will need to coordinate something big to cover for their May 11th removal of Title 42, the public health authority currently being used to slow illegal alien migrants from entering the U.S.

They have already positioned Vice President Kamala Harris as the sacrificial lamb to take the blame, via her appointment as border czar. Harris essentially representing a pre-deployment of a defensive narratives.

The United States is about to be crushed by the largest mass migration of illegal aliens in history. Yeah, you can guarantee there’s something planned to distract everyone from the reality of a purposefully collapsed border.

The only question remains, what will it be?

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 6, 2023 10:06 am

m0ntysays:
May 6, 2023 at 8:22 am
It has been good over the past week to have it confirmed that Clarence Thomas is a corrupt bought-and-paid lackey of the Federalist Society.

And your comments on Sotomayor affair?

cohenite
May 6, 2023 10:07 am

Thanks dickless. The inverse rule applies to tards like you: the opposite to everything you assert is the truth.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 10:07 am

It seems you are out of step with community expectations on the protection of children, monty. Might warrant some introspection and correction, wouldn’t you agree?

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 6, 2023 10:08 am

I just can’t see the Coronation helping the quiche. Which is a shame because a well made quiche Lorraine and salad makes a delightful light lunch in summer.

P
P
May 6, 2023 10:10 am

Gold Coast seat of Fadden to face a by-election.

Rabz
May 6, 2023 10:11 am

Meanwhile, mUttley waddles in and denounces an uppity negro, while loudly expressing his enthusiasm for the mutiliation of children.

Grate work, you festering lump of lard. You’re an adornment to this blog, but not in the way you imagine.

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 6, 2023 10:12 am

Mother Lodesays:
May 6, 2023 at 8:49 am
the tyranny lobby

Damn Auto-corrupt.

The Tranny lobby!

Hmmm, tyranny and tranny are almost homophones. How appropriate.

m0nty
m0nty
May 6, 2023 10:12 am

It seems you are out of step with community expectations on the protection of children, monty.

Not at all, Roger. Mums keep taking their kids to drag story time without complaining about police checks on performers, how about asking their opinions? Or are their views not in line with your concept of “community”.

calli
calli
May 6, 2023 10:13 am

Anyone working with children should have a WWC approval. Anyone.

It’s quite easy to get one. I can’t see a problem for the drag queens unless they have been involved in some sort of felony.

Makka
Makka
May 6, 2023 10:14 am

Mums keep taking their kids to drag story time

They should all be on charges. Every single one of the sickos.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 10:15 am

Gold Coast seat of Fadden to face a by-election.

Good riddance, Stuart Robert.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
May 6, 2023 10:15 am

$50 Trillion For What? Kennedy Dumbfounds Biden Climate Peddler In Fiery Exchange Over ‘Carbon Neutrality’

Kennedy: “Let me ask you. Maybe I’m not being clear. If we spend $50 trillion to become carbon neutral by 2050 in the United States of America, how much is that going to reduce world temperatures?”

Turk: “This is a global problem, so we need to reduce our emissions and we need to do everything to, uh…”

Kennedy: “How much of we do our part is it going to reduce global temperatures?”

Turk: “So, we’re 13% of global emissions…”

Kennedy: “You don’t know, do you? You don’t know, do you?”

A fully flabbergasted Turk then says “In my heart of hearts, there is no way the world gets its act together on climate change unless the U.S. leads.”

Watch (with full exchange here):

As energy expert David Blackmon writes in the Daily Caller;

And there we have it. Americans are being asked to accept the force-feeding of an incredibly radical set of policies with a price tag that is unprecedented in global history to achieve a “carbon neutrality” goal, whose benefits are so nebulous, negligible and wholly reliant on the cooperative actions of other countries beyond U.S. control that they cannot be measured in any reliable way.

Instead, we are being told by senior political appointees forcing those policies into being that we should simply trust them because they think it is the right thing to do in their “heart of hearts.”

This is madness. For some context, $50 trillion is an amount that exceeds the gross domestic product of the U.S., China, India, Germany and Japan, combined. It is a number that drastically exceeds total U.S. national debt. It is more than 135 times the $369 billion in green energy subsidies contained in last year’s Orwellian-named Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).

That is five new IRAs each year for the next 27 years. Madness.

Madness indeed.

calli
calli
May 6, 2023 10:16 am

I have to have one because I work with old ladies. It’s about coercion and control and being aware of someone being in danger. It’s church policy now.

Libraries need to catch up.

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 6, 2023 10:16 am

Ed Casesays:
May 6, 2023 at 8:53 am
Sotomayor Took Millions from Ex-Nazi Publisher While Voting on its Cases

That’s pretty lame.
Bertelsmann has had plenty of ownership changes since the Nazi Party ceased to exist [5/30/1945].

Grandpa Ed Simpson does the usual,leftard shilling to try to cover for a leftard caught with her fingers in the till.

Black Ball
Black Ball
May 6, 2023 10:17 am

FMD halitosis and flatus, a nasty combination today.
Anyhoo, from the Hun:

The Hawthorn racism scandal is teetering towards the Federal Court as all sides are being urged to park their demands and attend mediation with an open mind.

If mediation collapses – and it will if Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan are unwilling to participate – the scandal is destined for a hearing in the Human Rights Commission, which is under the umbrella of the Federal Court.

In what would be a dramatic turn of events, all parties would be required to take the stand at the Human Rights Commission.

An imperfect storm is brewing.

On top of the frantic desire for mediation, WorkSafe Victoria is also investigating whether Hawthorn supplied an unsafe workplace for its Indigenous players and, if found guilty, the club faces a considerable fine.

WorkSafe this week interviewed Phil Egan, who conducted the Cultural Safety Review: Of Past and Present Indigenous Players and Staff of the Hawthorn Football Club.

In January 2016, Essendon was fined $200,000 by WorkSafe for side-stepping medical staff and ignoring protocols during its controversial supplements program.

A source told the Herald Sun this week the WorkSafe investigation of Hawthorn had uncovered damning evidence against the Hawks and their staff between 2008-16.

Meanwhile, progress towards mediation continues, but there’s hope more than confidence it will take place.

“Multiple parties’’ have agreed to attend the proposed gathering. One of those parties is believed to be Hawthorn.

But it’s understood Clarkson, Fagan and a fellow former Hawks staffer Jason Burt have not agreed, and it’s highly unlikely they will attend if they have to agree to the demands put in place by lawyer Leon Zwier.

Zwier is acting for four of the five Indigenous players and their partners, but he will be encouraged to drop his demands in a bid to get Clarkson, Fagan and Burt to the table.

The Herald Sun can reveal the 18 demands imposed on the two coaches, Burt, and Hawthorn.

The most critical is them being asked to apologise for their behaviour while working at the Hawks and to drop all legal action.

The points of order are:

1. Truth-telling.

2. Acknowledgment.

3. Explanation.

4. Apologies.

5. Apologise for conduct of others.

6. Public apologies.

7. Contrition.

8. Education.

9. Revised club practices and policies.

10. AFL racism review.

11. Recommendations.

12. Compensation fund.

13. Re-capitalisation of the compensation fund.

14. Claims process.

15. Reparations.

16. Joint media statement.

17. Non-disparagement agreement.

18. Termination of all legal claims.

It’s believed the independent panel set up by the AFL to investigate the claims of racism – which has hit a brick wall – has the authority under its terms of reference to appoint a mediator.

“The investigation panel has determined to try to pursue that avenue,’’ a source told the Herald Sun. “It is looking to appoint a mediator or mediators.’’

The source said the panel was “looking for a solution’’ and wanted to avoid a court hearing, as do the Indigenous players and their partners.

The players and partners are seeking compensation, but they are also determined to ensure the behaviour which they allege took place is not repeated at other AFL clubs, or sporting clubs or any institution throughout Australia.

They believe a positive outcome for them would be a monumental outcome for all Indigenous people and the ongoing fight against racism.

While the AFL is also keen for mediation between all parties, adviser Peter Jess stressed that the mediation needed to concentrate on the victims and not the alleged “perpetrators’’.

“It must be clearly understood that the proper context of vilification and discrimination is always about the victims,’’ Jess said.

“The perpetrators’ understanding of the situation is irrelevant.

“It is not about what the perpetrators think or feel, it is simply about the victims and the impact it has had on them.’’ (WTF nothing has been proven)

He said the “evidence was clear’’ the players and their partners suffered racism.

“The mental and physical health of the victims can be independently medically confirmed and this is both a terrible trauma both individually and collectively,’’ Jess said.

“There is compelling independent corroboration of the evidence, both written and oral, that the events took place supporting the victims’ position they now find themselves in.’’

Clarkson and Fagan have denied any wrongdoing through their legal statements, while Clarkson has gone further, declaring he will take legal action to clear his name.

“The context that the perpetrators are portraying once again is irrelevant to the victims or the outcomes,’’ Jess said.

“I think the prospect of the perpetrators suing for defamation will be in fact welcomed by the victims.

“The truth is a powerful purveyor of justice in the end (and neither) the AFL nor Hawthorn and the perpetrators can escape that fact.’’

The most stunning of the claims by some of the Indigenous players is that they were allegedly forced into separating from their partners – which they say is a form of paternalistic racism – and that one player was told to tell his partner to terminate her pregnancy.

These allegations are strenuously denied by the subjects of the investigation.

Other allegations are emerging, such as the time one official, it is alleged, asked an Indigenous player why he was blacker than another, or another time, when an Indigenous player, it is alleged, was asked why all the Indigenous players sat together in team meetings.

The point there being why weren’t the white players asked the same question?

It’s understood an acceptance that there had been a case or cases of cultural insensitivity – or naivety – could unlock the current stalemate.

Of course, that would require Clarkson mainly to admit this. Clarkson has strenuously denied all of the allegations being investigated, insisting: “I did not behave in the manner claimed.”

Jess has previously lamented that the panel’s investigation had been hijacked by criminal lawyers and that’s why lawyers are requested not to attend the proposed mediation.

The case against the criminal lawyers attending is that they will argue proof is needed beyond a reasonable doubt, whereas someone involved in dispute resolution will try to fix the dispute beyond a courtroom.

A source close to the situation said the talks would be about truth and reconciliation and not about punishment and crime.

“Mediation is the obvious pathway to a resolution,’’ the source said. “It’s looking positive.

“There would have to be a compromise from both sides in respect to demands.

“There’s also questions of cultural safety as well as procedural fairness involved for both sides, both in location of various participants as well as balancing the demands of those involved in the current AFL season.

It’s hoped the mediation talks could be held by the end of this month and that Darwin is a possible destination for the sit down. Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide are also being considered.

A bit of a word wall but FMD.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 10:17 am

Mums keep taking their kids to drag story time without complaining about police checks on performers, how about asking their opinions?

Keep digging that hole, monty.

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 6, 2023 10:18 am

Good riddance, Stuart Robert.

He rose without trace.

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 6, 2023 10:19 am

Embodied the ethos of the ScoMo years.

Tom
Tom
May 6, 2023 10:20 am

It’s uncanny how the third generation in successful business families tends to destroy the empire.

The Murdoch children are hellbent on destroying the goliath their father and grandfather built.

They’re now decimating the top-rating formula that Rupert (and Roger Ailes) brought to Fox News.

Their latest stunt is to appoint a public relations hack to fill Tucker Carlson’s evening slot, a slap in the face to the fans who built the network’s unassailable lead in the US cable news ratings – an audience that has disappeared in the past fortnight since Carlson’s sacking:

Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany will take over the time slot formerly occupied by the “Tucker Carlson Tonight” show on Fox News from next week.

As areff says, the decimation of the Rupert’s News Corp empire is proceeding at record pace because his children are both business dunces and cowards.

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 6, 2023 10:22 am

Farmer Gezsays:
May 6, 2023 at 8:55 am
To paraphrase the words from the mouth of an AEMO executive yesterday.
‘We have to build in order of six times the current energy generation capacity to move to an equivalent renewable supply.’
Watched her say it.

Expecting around a 16% capacity factor.

After years of reducing maintenance, NSW coal fired stations are still delivering a 76% capacity factor. And they do not need thousands of kilometres of new transmission lines with the associated transmission losses.

Roger
Roger
May 6, 2023 10:22 am

The points of order are…

That’s not mediation; it’s a struggle session.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
May 6, 2023 10:23 am

Qwerties gotta groom, and lefties gotta abet.

Colorado Dem argues against indecent exposure law that targets drag queens and the trans community (29 Apr)

Liberals like to play deaf: They opposed the “Don’t Say Gay” law that kept sex education out of kindergarten classes. They’re all for “all-ages” drag shows and “drag camp” for kids. They want minors to be able to consent to “gender-affirming care” that alters their bodies for life. It’s the children, stupid.

We wish we knew this representative’s name, but here she is in Colorado arguing against a House bill setting the penalty for indecent exposure “in view of minors.” Once more for the hard of hearing: “in view of minors.” She claims bills like this have been used to target drag shows and keep biological males out of women’s bathrooms.

Here’s the bill summary:

Under current law, indecent exposure is a class 1 misdemeanor; except that it is a class 6 felony for a third or subsequent offense. The bill makes indecent exposure a class 6 felony if committed in view of a person who is under 18 years of age.

All it does is clarify the penalty for indecent exposure in front of minors. And Democrats oppose this.

The context was drag queen story time, so the Democrats are actually in favour of allowing drag queens to flash their dicks at kids. That’s how deep the evil is currently at.

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 6, 2023 10:25 am

Hopefully Clarkson and Fagan stay the distance. The process is the punishment.

Rabz
May 6, 2023 10:25 am

Good riddance, Stuart Robert.

A worthy candidate for HOP Time™.

I’ll never forget the look of sheer uncomprehending bemusement (i.e. staggering stupidity) on his face when confronted by the braindead lamestream meeja about the kilometres long queues outside of centrelink offices the morning after Goose Morristeen and the provincial tinpot tyrants decided to lock everyone in their homes for years on end.

A scene of unrelenting human misery that should have resulted in every politician in this country being dragged out into the street, subjected to a series of lengthy public floggings before being hanged from their necks until dead with their heads later mounted on pikes along public thoroughfares.

No, I haven’t forgotten.

Boambee John
Boambee John
May 6, 2023 10:25 am

Fat fascist fool

Meanwhile, another scandal came out this week over the Australian Church shielding a rock spider in their ranks. Ho hum, chuck it on the pile.

Citation needed. Current or historic?

Ed Case
Ed Case
May 6, 2023 10:27 am

It’s uncanny how the third generation in successful business families tends to destroy the empire.
When did that ever happen, dickhead?
Murdoch Pere was part of the Syme family, they went back generations.

H B Bear
H B Bear
May 6, 2023 10:30 am

16% of nothing is still nothing. #winddrought

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
May 6, 2023 10:30 am

Be patient on spending measures, Chalmers tells Labor base

Phillip Coorey – Political editor

Jim Chalmers has appealed to the “impatient” Labor base to temper its expectations on spending, as he promises cost-of-living measures that would come with the bonus of lowering inflation.

In an interview with AFR Weekend before Tuesday’s budget, the Treasurer said he could understand the impatience of colleagues and like-minded lobby groups in demanding big spending on cost-of-living assistance, but the inflationary environment and the state of the budget made this impossible.

“We can’t do all of the things that we want to do,” he said. “Everything we want to do for people in our society, in our economy, needs to be built on the foundation of a much more sustainable budget.

“Our base is impatient, and that’s good. They are big-hearted and that’s welcome. My job is to corral all of those ideas and all of that goodwill and all of that ambition into a budget that adds up.”

The interview came at the end of a week in which the Reserve Bank of Australia raised interest rates for the 11th time in 12 months, highlighting that inflation remained a major economic challenge.

Apart from increases to social security payments for over-55s and single parents, Dr Chalmers said the cost-of-living assistance for low-income households, classified as those receiving pensions and other payments, had been designed to cause a net reduction in CPI.

The measures would be similar, and in addition, to the already promised one-off $3 billion in energy bill discounts, which will be funded 50:50 by the states and the Commonwealth, and which Treasury has previously said would lower the CPI.

“There is a wrong assumption out there that cost-of-living relief can only add to inflationary pressures,” Dr Chalmers said.

“Our job has been to try and find ways that it can put downward pressure on the CPI forecast.”

In December last year, when the government announced price caps on black coal and gas, and plans for $3 billion in energy bill assistance, Treasury said the combination of these measures would collectively reduce forecast inflation for 2023-24 from 4.2 per cent to 3.5 per cent.

These estimates will be revised in the budget.

On Friday, the Reserve Bank of Australia gave a hint in its statement on monetary policy, saying energy prices were expected to “add significantly to inflationary pressures” over the coming year, but “government policy measures are expected to limit the increases”.

Dr Chalmers is not ruling out announcing the first budget surplus in 15 years, as first forecast by AFR Weekend a week ago, but said any surplus or balance would not last long because of the longer-term structural pressures caused by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), interest payments on debt, aged care, health and defence.

‘Substantial improvement in bottom line’

“The budget is under substantial pressure into the medium term,” he said. “There will be a substantial improvement in the budget bottom line this year and an improvement next year.”

That would be due to commodity prices, lower unemployment, quicker wage growth and banking most of the revenue windfall, he said.

The budget will contain more upbeat forecasts on wages and unemployment than the October budget.

On Tuesday, unemployment will be forecast to be 3.5 per cent in the June quarter of this year, and 4.25 per cent in the June quarter of next year, which is an improvement of 0.25 of a percentage point for both years.

Unemployment is still forecast to peak at 4.5 per cent, but this will occur in 2024-25, rather than a year earlier as previously forecast.

The budget will also forecast a return to real wages growth early next year, rather than mid-next year as forecast in October. This is because of forecasts of lower inflation and stronger wage growth.

On the revenue side, Dr Chalmers said there would be more measures on multinational tax, to augment the $1.9 billion in measures in the October budget.

He is also likely to unveil plans to bolster the Petroleum Resources Rent Tax, which The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age reported would raise $3 billion over the next four years.

The budget will also include the already announced increases in tobacco excise and the doubling of the 15 per cent tax on earnings from superannuation funds from balances above $3 million.

Dr Chalmers has faced strong demands from his own backbench and welfare groups to boost spending on welfare, with the biggest request being a $24 billion, across-the-board increase to the JobSeeker unemployment benefit.

That has been ruled out on the basis that it is unaffordable and inflationary. Moreover, with unemployment at a near-record low of 3.5 per cent, and 420,000 job vacancies, Dr Chalmers said the budget would have an extensive program to tackle entrenched unemployment and get people into work.

He spoke of a “series of place-based initiatives to try to shift the needle in disadvantaged communities”.

“It has been, I think, a concern of ours for some time that even in an economy which is capable of creating opportunities and an economy with 3.5 per cent national unemployment, there are parts of Australia, there are pockets of disadvantage in this country, and we don’t want to see long-term unemployment,” he said.

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  1. My accountant informs me that I have made an obscene amount of money during the year, No amount of money…

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