Open Thread – Mon 7 Aug 2023


The Sacrifice of Vesta, Francisco Goya, 1771

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Rosie
Rosie
August 9, 2023 9:02 am

They’ll have to start converting some of those CBD office buildings to residential.

Indolent
Indolent
August 9, 2023 9:05 am

The basic tenet of globalism , at least in terms of economics, is that trade liberalization and peace etc lifts all boats.

The basic tenet of communism is equality and fairness to all. Isn’t it.

Rosie
Rosie
August 9, 2023 9:05 am

Another aspect of working from home is the timing of going into the office, on the compulsory two days many large corporates have, if no-one else from your team attends the same days, why bother?

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:05 am

De Santis is needed to Keep Florida Great and maintain clean elections in a pivotal State with a lot of EC votes. It’s like how Cruz might be a good SC justice but you need him in the Senate. It’s why they cheated Kari Lake so hard out of office.

The polls say Trump and Tucker.

Give the people what they want and win decisively, then go full microscope and blowtorch on the election stealing back to LBJ.

Tucker’s basically a libertarian with conservative branding and some Adderall to calm him down.

Rogan might be a King maker now. The downside is his audience is 99% men and 1% autistic lesbians.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 9:06 am

Panahi‘s description of Teh Ponds Institute, Australia’s leading independent think tank by Australia’s most trusted news service, as Leftwing clearly demonstrates the need for Albo’s disinformation Bill. In fact, it cannot come soon enough.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:06 am

Indolent
Aug 9, 2023 9:05 AM

The basic tenet of globalism , at least in terms of economics, is that trade liberalization and peace etc lifts all boats.

The basic tenet of communism is equality and fairness to all. Isn’t it.

Jesus christ man this is dumb.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
August 9, 2023 9:06 am

Is AnAl really that stupid to deny the 26 pages of FOI documentation?
Or is he just stupid enough to have been set up and really believes it’s only 1 page?

This is the whole exchange, copied from Hansard. Apologies for the length, but it neatly illustrates the dreadful state of parliamentary debate, Albanese’s dissembling, and the Opposition’s pitiful attack on arguably the most flawed, damaging and dishonest Government policy frolic in recent times:

Mr BOYCE: The Prime Minister has repeatedly stated that the Uluru Statement from the Heart literally fits on one A4 page. Is the Prime Minister aware the statement, as released by the National Indigenous Australians Agency in response to a freedom-of-information request, is actually 26 pages long and pages 23 to 26 call for a makarrata commission? Why does the Prime Minister continue to be deceptive and not provide information millions of Australians are asking for?

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:12): I thank the member for Flynn for his question. I do say that, as a new member, he should be wary if no-one up the front will ask a question. That is a conspiracy in search of a theory. It is something that has been out there, like a whole lot of the QAnon theories. We have all sorts of conspiracy stuff out there, but this is a ripper. That is the Uluru Statement from the Heart on an A4 bit of paper.

That is it. The first sentence in it is: We, gathered at the 2017 National Constitutional Convention, coming from all points of the southern sky, make this statement from the heart:

The last sentence, or the last para is: In 1967 we were counted, in 2017 we seek to be heard. We leave base camp and start our trek across this vast country. We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.

Nothing exposes the falseness of the arguments being put by the ‘no’ campaign than this conspiracy theory and nonsense. They put in an FOI, and what they got were a whole lot of minutes from meetings with a whole lot of verbal statements from whoever to whoever at meetings that were held right around the country. There were over a thousand meetings held around the country, big and small, through a dialogue leading up to the constitutional convention—something that should have been respected. And it came up with what is an eloquent statement from the heart, not only one that fits on an A4 page but one that was signed by the delegates to the constitutional convention, signed by the leaders who were there at Uluru.
What we have here are conspiracy theories colliding with each other. They’re struggling to get their scares straight. I mean, what role did Marcia Langton play in the faking of the moon landing? What was the role of the Uluru Statement from the Heart in that? This is absolutely nonsense. There’s a whole lot of projection going on
here—more projection than at a film festival—and it’s coming from those opposite, who do not want to debate the facts and take what is in the Uluru statement, an eloquent request from Indigenous Australians to come together as
a nation. This is something where-

Mr Sukkar interjecting—
The SPEAKER: Member for Deakin!

Mr ALBANESE: after the statement occurred, they established committees to look at the detail. This is absolute
nonsense and conspiracy. (Time expired)

Mr Speaker, I table the Uluru Statement from the Heart—the one A4 page.

The Takeaway:

1) Wrong member asking the question – Boyce is a newbie with no standing, easily batted away by Albanese.

2) Wrong question – the first page is indeed the Statement, the following 25 pages are explanatory notes about the delegates expectations. Those 25 pages, however, contain the substance of what Albanese has promised to deliver “in full”: treaty, self determination, self government, and compensation.

3) Albanese was obviously prepared. Hence the single A4 page to wave around and table – and the carefully scripted zingers about QAnon and Moon Landings.

4) Albanese is running a riskily condescending “whole lot of verbal statements from whoever to whoever” line – presumably as a segue to delivering a cut-down ‘adult version’ of the Voice, if the Referendum gets up.

The better question, asked by a senior Coalition member, would be along the lines of:

As you know PM, the Uluru Statement is accompanied by extensive explanatory notes detailing the expectations of the First Nations delegates to the Garma constitutional convention. These include that the Voice is not simply an advisory body to government, but rather a means to achieve a treaty that will deliver First Nations self-determination, self-government and financial compensation.

PM, you have agreed to implement these expectations in full – on multiple occasions – most recently last week at the 2023 Garma festival. Why will you not explain to the rest of Australia the detail of what you have promised the First Nations.

I think a parliamentarian could say all that in the allotted 30 seconds.

I’ve flicked this to Dutton and Littleproud via their APH emails – where no doubt it will be lost/ignored by a 20-year old media advisor.
If anyone has a better idea…

Black Ball
Black Ball
August 9, 2023 9:10 am

But they aren’t after the kids eh monty you grotesque moron
Expect a similar backlash to Bud Light.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:10 am

So now people in the press need to go hard on the 1 page or 26 page thing.

You know, just a friendly chat between Susan Ley and Linda Burney on Ch 7 with Nat Barr moderating. Like Fat Smokin’ Joe and Busty & Naive Jules (Tee Hee) from the old days.

Crossie
Crossie
August 9, 2023 9:11 am

Conservatives must learn to articulate their values and engage in the ideological debate; only then will they give the electorate a reason to support them. We already have Leftist options, what we need is mainstream conservatives who stand for something.

Here is another example that Liberals are not conservative. They gave Jim Molan’s senate seat to an unknown Maria Kovacic who promptly made herself known by voting with Labor and Greens against the motion to set an inquiry into transgender treatment of minors.

Roger
Roger
August 9, 2023 9:12 am

They’ll have to start converting some of those CBD office buildings to residential.

I’m sure QUT’s Communist urban planner from Albania is working on that presently.

“Your desire for a back yard is pathological. You vill live on the 20th floor.”

Indolent
Indolent
August 9, 2023 9:16 am

The US’ only chance of steering itself back to a semblance of what it once was is Trump. His winning will lay the groundwork for the ordinary American to take back their country.

De Santis is compromised. Since he threw his hat into the Presidential ring, he is no longer his own man.

This is where I miss the ticks the most. I totally agree that Trump is their only chance and I think much of the U.S. population has come to the same conclusion, vis his polls. It’s perfectly obvious now that DeSantis is owned by his donors.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
August 9, 2023 9:18 am

Vegan food maker Beyond Meat has seen its sales crash by almost a third as consumers reject its hyper-processed, plant-based products…

As an experiment, a few months ago I tried Beyond Meat burger patties – it’s a US product, available in any good Colesworth near you.
Rather nasty, made out of peas and chemicals, melting like sawdust in your mouth.

Rosie
Rosie
August 9, 2023 9:18 am

Are people really expected to read the mission statement and ignore the substance?

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 9:19 am

De Santis is needed to Keep Florida Great and maintain clean elections in a pivotal State with a lot of EC votes. It’s like how Cruz might be a good SC justice but you need him in the Senate. It’s why they cheated Kari Lake so hard out of office.

Spot on dot. In fact most of the Floridians I know (and I live there at the moment) don’t want DeSantis running for anything outside of the state. He’s the best thing that has happened here in decades.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:19 am

Give the people what they want and win decisively, then go full microscope and blowtorch on the election stealing back to LBJ.

Shut down the US surveillance state too.

No more TIA (evil), CIA (evil and corrupt), FBI (nefarious), DEA (corrupt), ATF (militantly anti-citizen), DHS (bloated from the start and absurd), IRS agents (no LOL, that perverse idea should have never of happened)., etc., – leave only the DIA, ICE (or whatever it is called now), bring back the old Secret Service and keep the US Marshals & NPS Police & Special Agents.

Joe Biden has been expanding the US Capitol police to become a second/third/fourth secret and Federalised US police & domestic spying agency. What an absurd corruptocrat.

calli
calli
August 9, 2023 9:20 am

I may have to withdraw my “benefit of the doubt”* re Mushroom Woman. Looks pretty ominous.

Do we have our very own Lucretia Borgia?

* learned, sadly, after several nasty high profile b/s accusations and cases

Crossie
Crossie
August 9, 2023 9:20 am

Vicki
Aug 9, 2023 8:45 AM
Cassie – also agree with your assessment of the Ukraine debacle. I somehow doubt that the events would have similarly played out under a Trump presidency.

Vicki, there would have been a war as there hadn’t throughout Trump’s term. He made it clear to Putin not to try it. The war only started because Biden gave Putin a go-ahead for a “minor incursion”.

Rosie
Rosie
August 9, 2023 9:21 am

Oh only luxury apartments for the well heeled Roger.
Box Hill is full of high rise apartments, a certain ethnic group love them.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:22 am

FBI agent Charles McGonigal who investigated Donald Trump for colluding with Russia, is set to plead guilty for colluding with Russia.

Dare I ask…is it Muellerween yet folks? Or should you laugh and clap at the dancing women and gays in syringe costumes?

Rosie
Rosie
August 9, 2023 9:23 am

No one is passing judgement, will be interesting to see if the police decide there is evidence of wrong doing.
Hope a donor liver can be found for Ian Wilkinson.

Indolent
Indolent
August 9, 2023 9:23 am
H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 9:23 am

If you think Meriton dogboxes are bad, wait till you see converted commercial buildings.

Crossie
Crossie
August 9, 2023 9:26 am

There would have NOT been a war… sigh.

Bear Necessities
Bear Necessities
August 9, 2023 9:27 am

This is where I miss the ticks the most. I totally agree that Trump is their only chance and I think much of the U.S. population has come to the same conclusion, vis his polls. It’s perfectly obvious now that DeSantis is owned by his donors.

Trump is more than willing to share a stage with Senator Lindsey Graham one of the biggest swamp rats you will see. If he is their only chance then it is a very small one.

Rosie
Rosie
August 9, 2023 9:27 am
Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:27 am

Wait until we’re all living in windowless eskies because the energy efficiency rules demand it, because we can no longer use evil natural gas, except for peak, shoulder and baseload electric power when the wind isn’t blowing.

Why does this song play in my head as Australia slowly (?) becomes more dystopian?

Almost heaven, hm hmm mm mm
Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River
Life is old there, older than the trees
Younger than the mountains, growin’ like a breeze

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 9:27 am

CBD properties are tanking. Sub regional shopping centres next. Colesworths core tenancies become the new Australia Post.

Indolent
Indolent
August 9, 2023 9:28 am

This might be relevant to the discussion above.

World Bank: Russia vaults to 5th place in the world’s top economies per GDP PPP, ahead of Germany, France and UK (closing in on Japan).

To order countries by size of GDP, click on the arrow in the column marked Most Recent Value

Crossie
Crossie
August 9, 2023 9:28 am

Rosie
Aug 9, 2023 9:02 AM
They’ll have to start converting some of those CBD office buildings to residential.

Residential buildings need a different infrastructure, particularly sewage capacity which is not available in the CBD. Just think of the stink should sewers start to overflow.

Indolent
Indolent
August 9, 2023 9:30 am
Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:31 am

Perf blogging post jet stream turbulence pukin’

There were an awful lot of shut-down retail shops and dead malls.

Retail Archeology and Bright Sun Films on You Tube should actually go to Perf for a couple of weeks!

Was this normal before COVID?

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
August 9, 2023 9:31 am

Food dehydrator found at the tip?
If that is the offending article, why would you turf it out just now?
I was reading yesterday that a fatal dose of death caps is 30 grams, which is a reasonable bulk of mushie. But not if dehydrated and crushed.
Another question.
When exactly did she disclose the meal had mushrooms in it?

Pogria
Pogria
August 9, 2023 9:31 am

Cassie, with your comment about the coming violence if Trump receives the GOP nomination, I believe that the average American is preparing for such a circumstance.

Not in a Militia, guns blazing kind of way. More, Rooftop Koreans and recently, 7-11 Sikhs. A large presence of polite, but promise of retribution if “you cross this line”, average citizens. Over the last six years, most of America has realised they have been bullied and threatened. They know that now is the time to put up or shut up for the rest of what will be their miserable lives.

I may be wrong, but I am placing my faith in “average Joe”.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 9:32 am

When I was looking to rent in Melbournibad (around 20 years ago now!) I looked at one relatively upmarket tower along Southbank where you couldn’t even open the windows. It was a short inspection.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:35 am

Get in the windowless and polycarbonate _egg, Bear! Do it now, you brainwashed kulak!

That windowless, polycarbonate _egg has won many architectural design awards, so it must be good!

Indolent
Indolent
August 9, 2023 9:36 am

You’ll note that it’s the only one still turning.

Catturd ™
@catturd2

If only that would happen to all those worthless bird killers.

Rosie
Rosie
August 9, 2023 9:36 am

I don’t know anything about the practicalities of converting commercial spaces.
One of my local shopping centres is getting a do over, will have all three supermarket chains, a gym and I think a childcare centre and a medical practice.
Things that get people through the doors on a regular basis.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
August 9, 2023 9:37 am

The world’s first hydrogen-powered train has made its final stop

Germany’s state-owned, $85 million hydrogen fuel-cell powered train system is shuttering almost exactly one year after its first public debute in August 2022. This doesn’t mean that the railways are reverting back to pollutant-spewing diesel engines, however. According to the country’s Ministry for Economic Affairs, Transport, Building and Digitisation, the lines will transition to electric battery-driven systems that are simply “cheaper to operate.”

The tragedy is that each of these reality checks could be done with poster paint and butchers’ paper before spending $millions for a practical learning experience.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:37 am

Perf does have some nice old charming homes in the city surroundings, which reminded me of Neutral Bay a little bit. Probably priced like a pack of smokes and a loaf of bread at Rabbit Flat though.

Rosie
Rosie
August 9, 2023 9:39 am

BBC reported that the children had been taken into care as a precaution.

Cassie of Sydney
August 9, 2023 9:39 am

“Where’s the evidence Z man is corrupt (or more than usual)? “

Oh dear.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:40 am

Hahaha re bread prices

From Dec 2022

https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/food/shop-owner-reacts-to-uproar-as-loaf-of-sliced-bread-hits-1399-c-9211000

A spokesperson for Wiffens at Fyshwick Markets in Canberra made the comments in response to a recent Reddit post which took aim at the store over the high price of its XL Sourdough Bread.

A customer shared a photo of the Three Mills Bakery loaf, expressing their shock over the $13.99 price tag.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 9:42 am

There were an awful lot of shut-down retail shops and dead malls.

Was this normal before COVID?

Perf CBD retail would generally struggle more against the big regional shopping centres than their Sydney or Melbournibad equivalents IMO. A lot of the malls were developed in the 80s and would be requiring major redevelopment. I think Twiggy’s property outfit has its foot on the Carillion arcade. Karrinyup had a major capital spend on it in the last couple of years. The CBD is a tough gig.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 9:43 am

De Santis is compromised. Since he threw his hat into the Presidential ring, he is no longer his own man.

Money is the problem.

Mega-Donor Threatens To Cut Off Funding If DeSantis Doesn’t Go Moderate (8 Aug)

Ron DeSantis’s biggest individual donor, hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, warned that he will cut off donations if the Republican 2024 candidate doesn’t turn moderate.

“He does need to shift to get to moderates. He’ll lose if he doesn’t … Extremism isn’t going to get you elected,” Mr. Bigelow said during an interview with Reuters, adding that he had communicated these concerns to Mr. DeSantis’s campaign.

The trouble is if he does shift to moderate the base will go away in disgust and not turn up at the election. DeSantis is between a rock and a hard place, especially since almost all his money comes from guys like Mr Bigelow. By contrast almost all Trump’s money comes from small donors:

One Candidate Is Crushing The Field In Small-Dollar Donations (3 Aug)

Currently, 81.8% of donations to Trump’s campaign have been made by small donors, according to an Axios assessment of FEC data. … Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, widely regarded as Trump’s primary opponent in the race and second to him in polls, has just 17.5% of his campaign’s funds sourced from small donors, according to FEC data.

Accordingly Trump can fight both enemies, the nearer enemy is the Turnbullesque GOP elites who white-anted Trump all through his Presidency and aided the Dems’ steal by lockstep refusing to address the fraud. The Republican base voters are very unhappy with all this, with a level of fury not seen since the Tea Party revolt.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:43 am

I think Twiggy’s property outfit has its foot on the Carillion arcade.

That place looked like a horror movie set in 1991. The foot needs to be placed on the throat.

thefrollickingmole
thefrollickingmole
August 9, 2023 9:44 am

Unlike the Eldar, I’m not going to manifest Slaanesh into existence.

The Eldar/Slaanesh comunity frowns upon you lack of faith.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:45 am

Wow.

$14 for a loaf of bread possibly with some artificial nasties.

$199 – $299 for a breadmaker and full control over the ingredients etc.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 9:46 am

Downsizing from Sydney I would think Perf property prices look pretty good. Western Suburbs naturally.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 9:47 am

Now Julie Bishop is no longer the local member should make it easier.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
August 9, 2023 9:48 am

Crossie

Aug 9, 2023 9:28 AM

Rosie
Aug 9, 2023 9:02 AM
They’ll have to start converting some of those CBD office buildings to residential.

Residential buildings need a different infrastructure, particularly sewage capacity which is not available in the CBD.

Even within the buildings, the existing plumbing and drainage infrastructure is next to the central core. So you need a raised false floor (maybe 250-300 mm) if you want plumbing towards the perimeter.
This then lowers already low ceiling heights.
Just one of many problems.
No doubt God Oracle will turn up with a “youse wooden no” sometime today.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:48 am

I can’t understand why millennials by and large don’t plant citrus, avocado trees, etc when they buy homes (actual free-standing homes). I know one bloke who did, and he had a lawn mowing gig and then turned into a vegetable himself and became a council “outdoor wukka”.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 9:49 am

That place looked like a horror movie set in 1991

Renovator’s delight.

Roger
Roger
August 9, 2023 9:51 am

CBD properties are tanking. Sub regional shopping centres next. Colesworths core tenancies become the new Australia Post.

Myer has just vacated its eponymous centre in Brisbane’s CBD after 35 years.

Rumours of a college catering to foreign students leasing some of the space.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 9:53 am

I’m just trying to help kids save for a deposit. You can make smashed avo on toast inexpensively. People were already paying $9 – $18 for the delight in 2018.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 9:53 am

Our childhood lawnmower man put his 3 daughters through private school. Clearly paid its way back in the day. Jim not taking a cut either.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 9:58 am

Rumours of a college catering to foreign students leasing some of the space.

Major ECU development going into the Northbridge side of the Perth CBD. Notre Dame already own most of the Fremantle West End. Population Ponzi at work.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 9:59 am

If only that would happen to all those worthless bird killers.

Doesn’t look good for the wind proponents.

Wind Energy: A Doomed Industry | Power Line (8 Aug)

The Wall Street Journal reports that the wind industry has fallen on hard times:

The wind business, viewed by governments as key to meeting climate targets and boosting electricity supplies, is facing a dangerous market squall.

After months of warnings about rising prices and logistical hiccups, developers and would-be buyers of wind power are scrapping contracts, putting off projects and postponing investment decisions. The setbacks are piling up for both onshore and offshore projects, but the latter’s problems are more acute.

WSJ seems to be able to defy Newscorp’s official net zero lurve, my impression from sceptical blogs they’ve had a number of very climate sceptical articles lately. Not completely sure about that as they’re paywalled.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
August 9, 2023 10:04 am

Dot

Aug 9, 2023 9:45 AM

Wow.

$14 for a loaf of bread possibly with some artificial nasties.

$199 – $299 for a breadmaker and full control over the ingredients etc.

I pay $8 for crusty sourdough.
Ingredients:- flour, water, salt, natural yeast.
It goes stale in two days.
This is a good thing.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
August 9, 2023 10:08 am

H B Bear

Aug 9, 2023 9:53 AM

Our childhood lawnmower man put his 3 daughters through private school. Clearly paid its way back in the day. Jim not taking a cut either.

Penman is in everything.
I’m half expecting to see a Jim’s Gynaecology pop up.

Cassie of Sydney
August 9, 2023 10:08 am

“I pay $8 for crusty sourdough.
Ingredients:- flour, water, salt, natural yeast.
It goes stale in two days.
This is a good thing.”

Correct.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
August 9, 2023 10:14 am

Police officers ‘tried to discredit’ rape claims, says Brittany Higgins

By ellie dudley
Legal Affairs Correspondent
@EllieDudley_
10:04AM August 9, 2023

Brittany Higgins has lashed out at the “awful” police officers who investigated her rape allegations, saying the cops made her feel “violated” and claiming they intentionally tried to discredit her and throw off her case.

The former Liberal staffer’s response comes following revelations published in The Australian regarding many senior and junior police who have lost their jobs or gone on long-term sick leave and will never return, in the wake of baseless accusations against them by ACT chief prosecutor Shane Drumgold.

Ms Higgins accused the police officers of never wanting to charge her alleged rapist Bruce Lehrmann, “despite the fact that no-one, not even the defence, made an application contending that the prosecution was not properly commenced.”
Read Next

“They made a fun folder full of unfounded claims in a literal attempt to discredit me as a permissible rape victim to the office of the DPP,” she said in a statement posted to social media.

“They wrongly handed over my most private thoughts taken over years in counselling sessions at the Rape Crisis Centre to defence.”

Ms Higgins accused the officers of not knowing the limits for charging in sexual assault instances, aligning herself with a recommendation from an inquiry by Walter Sofronoff KC that police officers be better trained on the handling of counselling notes, the threshold to charge someone over sexual offences and the adjudication process.

The Sofronoff inquiry into the handling of Mr Lehrmann’s case found that although mistakes were made by police, none had engaged in misconduct and investigators “performed their duties in absolute good faith, with great determination although faced with obstacles, and put together a sound case”.

Ms Higgins said the officers were “absolutely awful” to her throughout the investigation, and spoke down to her while she was giving evidence.

“They made me feel violated at every turn,” she said. “I will always remember how small I felt having five senior police officers I‘ve never met in a room belittling me – after I had just spent hours giving evidence in a second EIC (evidence in chief) interview.

“They cast judgments about the merits of my advocacy and regularly reiterated the reasons why they thought that I shouldn‘t proceed with pressing charges.”

Thirteen Australian Federal Police officers involved in the investigation of the rape claims have experienced catastrophic damage to their lives and careers from the inquiry Mr Drumgold demanded, The Australian revealed on Wednesday

Mr Drumgold denigrated the police in court during the Lehrmann trial, remarking that the quality of the police interview with Ms Higgins “is determined by the skillsets of those police officers asking the questions … which in this case was not high.”

The Sofronoff inquiry heard that during a break in the trial, Mr Drumgold had called the investigating police “boofheads”.

Ms Higgins said she did not wish to “celebrate the misfortune of others.”

“However,” she continued, “these officers were disgraced by their conduct not by the DPP.”

Dunny Brush
Dunny Brush
August 9, 2023 10:16 am

The Voice is taxation without representation. Always worked out well in the past.

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
August 9, 2023 10:17 am
Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
August 9, 2023 10:23 am

It is possible – as distinct from likely – that Mushie Erin is just thick as pigshit.

Cooks up what she reckons was a decent feed for ex-hubbie, who promptly goes into a coma.

Quite some time later, thinks ‘surely my recipe isn’t that bad. The last time must have been a one-off’, scrabbles together more mushies – because of all the times I cooked them, bad stuff happened only once before – for ex-hubby’s parents and friends, and they all start dropping off the twig.

She may even have blamed the dehydrator. ‘Maybe that machine gives off special rays, like Pete Evans’ covid curing lamp.’ Throws it into the tip, and now genuinely wonders why speculation is rife.

Never underestimate the potential for already stupid people to act irrationally under pressure.

Like I said. Possible. As distinct from likely. There’s a lot of hamster-wheeling yet to come with this one, I think.

Roger
Roger
August 9, 2023 10:23 am

Police officers ‘tried to discredit’ rape claims, says Brittany Higgins

She really doesn’t know when to shut up, does she?

Roger
Roger
August 9, 2023 10:26 am

Like I said. Possible. As distinct from likely. There’s a lot of hamster-wheeling yet to come with this one, I think.

You sound like you’re familiar with Blackstone’s ABC of police investigation, KD:

Assume nothing.

Believe nobody.

Challenge everything,

calli
calli
August 9, 2023 10:29 am

Roger, you have lost your stylish silhouette.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
August 9, 2023 10:35 am

H B Bear
Aug 9, 2023 9:23 AM

If you think Meriton dogboxes are bad, wait till you see converted commercial buildings.

H. B. Bear, I have to disagree – having rented a big 1 1/2 Bedroom Apartment in Highgate (using as an office) and with an old French Mate who bought 2 x 2 Bed room apartments high up overlooking Hrabour – Having coffee on 26thh Floor in Residents Library Coffee rrom – mice to swim in pool after working out in Gym then Spa & Sauna – Brad Fittler had Car Space next to mine

The Highgate

127 Kent Street, Millers Point. Formerly an office block, this building has been converted into a prestigious and elegant residential tower. It was previously the 19 storey Esso House built in 1971 as the Australian head office for Esso Australia Ltd. As part of the conversion another 8 storeys was added to increase the height to 27 storeys.

The building is is a luxury five-star 210 apartment complex of 32 levels, considered to be one of the best in Sydney due to its location and prestige.

All residents and their guests have the privilege to access an observation deck with uninterrupted views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Other nearby highrise buildings which have been converted from offices into apartments include Stamford On Kent (183 Kent Street, Millers Point) and 168 Kent Street, formerly the head office of IBM Australia.

https://www.domain.com.au/2502-127-153-kent-street-millers-point-nsw-2000-2016573204

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
August 9, 2023 10:37 am

Brittany Higgins has lashed out at the “awful” police officers who investigated her rape allegations, saying the cops made her feel “violated” and claiming they intentionally tried to discredit her and throw off her case.

Err, no, darling.
They are stress testing your evidence before someone like Whybrow pulls out the 12 gauge in court and starts blasting holes in your story. It is good police work.
If Britnah wants to keep the $3 meg, she might want to cease and desist from making outrageous assertions.
Expressing sentiments like “made me feel awful” … tick.
But the phrase “intentionally discrediting me” … not so much of a legal tick there.

“They wrongly handed over my most private thoughts taken over years in counselling sessions at the Rape Crisis Centre to defence.”

A mistake they readily admitted, which had no bearing on the conduct of the case.
The defence returned the document unread once they recognised the error.
The only person who read it was … ta-dah! … Dumgeld.
The only document he read in full it seems.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
August 9, 2023 10:39 am

She really doesn’t know when to shut up, does she?

She doesn’t realize that she has served her purpose to the cause?

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 10:41 am

Too cheap to meter.

How faulty wind turbines threaten to bring down a German industrial powerhouse (8 Aug)

Siemens warned on Monday that it was facing a €4.5bn (£3.9bn) loss this year as a result of issues within its wind turbine division.

Wrinkles in rotor blades and faulty gears are among the problems uncovered, which have led to operating issues and warranty claims from buyers. Inflation has only added to headaches.

The admissions of failures wiped as much as €6bn off the value of Siemens on Monday.

One interesting thing that is emerging is there’s a certain size for a windmill beyond which you get into a world of hurt. The materials of construction just can’t cope – gears fail, towers collapse as per that interesting Catturd vid that Indolent put up earlier. And it’s even worse with offshore windmills since the pounding from the waves adds to the stress. I wonder if Bowen ever reads such stories? This one being in the rightish UK Telegraph…probably not.

Roger
Roger
August 9, 2023 10:42 am

Roger, you have lost your stylish silhouette.

Yes…and I can’t remember how to get it back.

Which reminds me – when I was a youngster and went to the annual “show” I used to watch with fascination as a chap cut people’s profiles out of black card with a pair of scissors. He was remarkably good at it. I suppose he went to all the shows.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 10:42 am

Oops, forgot to blockquote. Last para is me, the previous three from the UK Tele.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 10:46 am

I pay $8 for crusty sourdough.
Ingredients:- flour, water, salt, natural yeast.
It goes stale in two days.
This is a good thing.”

Slice and freeze it. Toast from frozen. Indistinguishable from fresh for a month. Sourdough makes ordinary sandwiches at the best of times.

Pogria
Pogria
August 9, 2023 10:47 am

Honey Badger, Python and Two Jackals. Who wins?

https://twitter.com/Enezator/status/1688639224340230145

dopey
dopey
August 9, 2023 10:52 am

ABC: “Greens analysis shows national rental freeze could have saved renters $3 billion.” Scrap rents altogether and they’d save even more eh.

Rosie
Rosie
August 9, 2023 10:54 am

The cause was Brittany and Sharaz.
Always was, always will be.
For someone who is too traumatised to ever work again, she’s showing a lot of that publuc grace and dignity we’ve heard so much about.
Refusing to hand over your phone, making it clear media appeances have priority then scrubbing your phone probably did cause investigators to have doubts about your bona fides.
Fancy that.

Pogria
Pogria
August 9, 2023 10:57 am

Oh God, this is so funny!

In its lawsuit, Oberlin says it had ‘at least $75 million in total insurance coverage’ at the time of the bakery incident.

That was ‘more than enough to pay the underlying judgment and substantial unpaid defense costs’ from its six-year legal battle with Gibson’s.

This included $25 million in commercial umbrella liability coverage from Lexington; $10 million from Mount Hawley; $5 million from StarStone; and $25 million in overlapping educators legal liability coverage from United Educators, court papers show.

The college received $1 million from one of the insurers, but ‘also incurred millions of dollars in defense costs pursuing its appeals,’ says the lawsuit.

‘The defendant insurers have failed to pay a penny toward the $36,590,572.48 sum that Oberlin paid the Gibson’s plaintiffs,’ the lawsuit says.

‘They also have failed to pay for the full cost of Oberlin’s appeals, which were pursued at the behest of the insurers in order to reduce their collective exposure.’

Oberlin College is suing its Insurers for refusing to pay the Gibson Bakery payout.
Daily Mail has the full story.

Karma’s a Bitch. 😀

calli
calli
August 9, 2023 10:58 am

Have you changed your email? The Gravatars are attached to the address. Not sure about ISP, I think it’s email only.

rosie
rosie
August 9, 2023 10:58 am
H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 11:00 am

OldOzzie at 10:35 – I would be interested in knowing when that building was built? The big issue is services and floor plates. I’m speculating but I would think that Miller Point was premium, even back in the day. I’m not sure whether that would impact floor plate spacing for premium office buildings at the time. I suspect that is not what developers have planned for the CBD with vacancy rates where they are.

Lysander
Lysander
August 9, 2023 11:00 am

“They made a fun folder full of unfounded claims in a literal attempt to discredit me

Am glad to see Ms Kernickerless defending the late Great George Pell.

Cassie of Sydney
August 9, 2023 11:01 am

“Err, no, darling.
They are stress testing your evidence before someone like Whybrow pulls out the 12 gauge in court and starts blasting holes in your story. It is good police work.
If Britnah wants to keep the $3 meg, she might want to cease and desist from making outrageous assertions.
Expressing sentiments like “made me feel awful” … tick.
But the phrase “intentionally discrediting me” … not so much of a legal tick there.”

Indeed, some thoughts…

1. She really can’t keep her mouth shout, she’s so addicted to the limelight and manipulating the narrative. She’s desperate.

2. She’s unravelling, and I don’t think it will be too long before her relationship with Svengali Shazza unravels too.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 11:03 am

ABC: “Greens analysis shows …”
Unless it’s Antony Green the rest can be safely ignored.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 11:05 am

Unless it is branded by a leading independent think tank.

Cassie of Sydney
August 9, 2023 11:07 am

“The cause was Brittany and Sharaz.”

Yep. from day one.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 11:07 am

Both Grace and Brittany seem to lack grace. Time for new media advisors.

Rosie
Rosie
August 9, 2023 11:08 am

He’s broke, she’s holding the purse strings, they’re both being sued for defamation.
I dunno.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 11:10 am

Mother Lode
Aug 9, 2023 10:17 AM
I know a lot of people here are very fond of Pauline.

Here is a Jimmy Dore clip where she figures in a clip he plays about the vaccine and coercion.

So glad that I was retired at the time (and still am) so could not be coerced into having the Jab(s). Of course it was mandated, otherwise people would have lost their Jobs (and did).

These Fizzer pr*cks are criminals. Put them in the Slammer and throw away the keys.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
August 9, 2023 11:11 am

H B Bear
Aug 9, 2023 11:00 AM

OldOzzie at 10:35 – I would be interested in knowing when that building was built?

H B Bear

A bit confusing – DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – 127 – 153 Kent St Millers Point Esso Building – Add 7 Levels 216 Apartments 207 Car Spaces – $35000000 – 01 03 93 2 Part Unique ID A-00664560 Series

see

Looks like 1971 – Page 23

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 11:11 am

But the phrase “intentionally discrediting me” … not so much of a legal tick there.

Yep. You’d might want to run that one through Legal. Just to be on the safe side.

Roger
Roger
August 9, 2023 11:11 am

Have you changed your email? The Gravatars are attached to the address.

No but my computer carked it yesterday.

Unless I entered the address incorrectly when I posted here on the new machine.

I’ll check that.

Roger
Roger
August 9, 2023 11:12 am

Test.

Roger
Roger
August 9, 2023 11:12 am

Hey, presto!

Ta calli.

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 11:13 am

Oberlin College is suing its Insurers for refusing to pay the Gibson Bakery payout.

It’s not like the insurers didn’t warn Oberlin (as early as May of 2019) that their insurance didn’t cover intentional torts.

Oberlin could have backed off and settled then but they wanted to screw Gibson’s Bakery so badly they ran themselves off the cliff.

Alamak!
August 9, 2023 11:15 am

Colesworths core tenancies become the new Australia Post

A hard rain might be about to fall on the Super funds and others invested in non-liquid assets. See the sale of Canva shares announced this week.

H B Bear
H B Bear
August 9, 2023 11:16 am

Old Ozzie – thanks. A developer quoted in Teh Paywallian the other day reckons around 20% of the commercial to residential stuff might work. I stayed at a hotel in the Sydney CBD for a week for work and just about went crazy with concrete and noise. I guess you get used to it.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
August 9, 2023 11:17 am

Does DeSantis Know What Time It Is? Didn’t Sound Like It In That NBC Interview

If the Florida governor wants to be the GOP nominee, he needs to stop attacking Trump and go after the deep state.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 11:18 am

Of course the USA was acting in its own interests. Kissinger: the USA doesn’t have allies, it has interests. All countries engage in Machiavellian games. Putin fell for it. He walked right into the trap and now is far worse off. He didn’t have to take the bait. He chose to respond in the way he did. All people and nations are confronted with those choices. Making the smart choice, thinking ahead, is something Putin didn’t do. Now he has to contend with so many more problems than before. NATO never needed Ukraine to attack Russia. NATO could take out the Russian air force in a fortnight, the navy is virtually non-existent, the tanks are crap, the only thing in its favour is huge numbers of cannon fodder, outstanding air defense capability, and nukes. He had nothing to gain by invading and has seriously damaged Russia. They played him like a fool.

LOL. What utter bilge water.

Putin is in the box seat as the UKR has just about run out of Men to form an Army.

The so called UKR offensive is fast running out of steam and the UKR is now a ruined rump of a Nation. Its Economy is only being propped up by the West.

Russia doesn’t look damaged to me. But NATO with the US does.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 11:25 am

The irony is perfect.

Zoom demands workers return to the office (8 Aug)

Of course there’s a catch.

L.A. Times: Making Employees Show Up in Person Exposes Them to Racism (8 Aug)

So Zoom is racist if they make their wukkas show up in the office, but they aren’t racist if they let them Zoom into the Zoom office. This seems a bit like one of Zeno’s paradoxes…

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 11:26 am

What were his choices and outcomes? Had he done nothing, Ukraine would have continued on its track of being a forward base for the US. The argument was never that Ukraine would attack Russia on NATO’s behalf, but that NATO, and by NATO read the US, could leverage their position in Ukraine to mitigate Russian influence abroad.

Blaming what happened on the EU or the Americans is more than a little disingenuous.

What is it that drives this presumption that Ukraine isn’t a sovereign nation? One who doesn’t need anyone else’s permission to exercise that sovereignty?

Ukraine was never a US base, forward or otherwise. Putin’s issue was that Ukraine was considering joining NATO for their own protection and he wouldn’t tolerate having a NATO state on his border. Well Putin and Russia don’t get a vote. So he invaded.

Perhaps they should have tried diplomacy a little harder instead of seizing the Crimea and invading Ukraine.

Megan
Megan
August 9, 2023 11:27 am

Oberlin could have backed off and settled then but they wanted to screw Gibson’s Bakery so badly they ran themselves off the cliff.

And it couldn’t happen to a greater collection of woke offendapottimi.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
August 9, 2023 11:28 am

H B Bear
Aug 9, 2023 11:16 AM

Old Ozzie – thanks. A developer quoted in Teh Paywallian the other day reckons around 20% of the commercial to residential stuff might work. I stayed at a hotel in the Sydney CBD for a week for work and just about went crazy with concrete and noise. I guess you get used to it.

H B Bear,

the quality of the commerical building conversions in Kent Street were excellent

When working for IBM in 1965-68 – at end was in IBM Pagoda in Kent Street – having been inside apartments in the 2 other Kent Street Conversions – compared to today’s modern apartments

Observatory Tower – Old IBM – Stamford on Kent – Old Caltex – Page 26/27

They are superb – the same reason why you would buy one of the 60s blonde tall brick flat buildings on Spit Road Stdney

Lysander
Lysander
August 9, 2023 11:31 am

When 45% of Labor voters can’t confirm the country is headed in the right direction, you’re in a bit o’ trouble:

https://essentialreport.com.au/reports/08-august-2023

Roger
Roger
August 9, 2023 11:34 am

When 45% of Labor voters can’t confirm the country is headed in the right direction, you’re in a bit o’ trouble:

Have they awoken to the fact that the ALP doesn’t govern in their interests?

Could be seismic if they have.

calli
calli
August 9, 2023 11:36 am

And it couldn’t happen to a greater collection of woke offendapottimi.

Problem is that the “academics” at the forefront of the demos and libel have walked away scot free, including the execrable Anti-semite Meredith Raimondo. Now gone on to bigger and better things at other universities.

They blamed Trump for all the trouble. Of course.

Lysander
Lysander
August 9, 2023 11:36 am

I’ll “put it out there” and say (since chinaflu) the days of every worker fighting against every other working to commute (an hour to work and an hour from work) every day to work in soulless, cold, grey cities only populated by meth heads and locals (in Perth’s case), and where you can buy a simple sandwich and coke for **only** $19… is over.

I don’t dispute the fact that teams should spend time together in the same office (at a central location) but I doubt it’ll ever return to the ‘good ol days’

Miltonf
Miltonf
August 9, 2023 11:36 am

They converted the old IBM tower in Sydney to apartments. Certain former pollimuppet lives there or used to.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
August 9, 2023 11:43 am

soulless, cold, grey cities only populated by meth heads and locals (in Perth’s case)

Preach it.

I was there in December. Perth was comprised of Poms, derros and derro Poms, all going flat tit-o-rama on the glass barbie.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 11:48 am

dover0beach Avatar
dover0beach
Aug 9, 2023 11:18 AM

Undoubted, and the governing American premise from WW2 to the present has been that it is in the US interest to maintain a peaceful co-existent world in order to pursue prosperity. It’s been the harbinger of US international policy for decades

Come on, JC. Is that the lesson learned from the last three decades? We don’t have to venture to the opposite extreme but we really shouldn’t just believe the above. There’s a disconnect with some on the centre-right that wouldn’t for a second believe that the US political elite just want to “maintain a peaceful co-existent [nation] in order to pursue prosperity” irrespective of their policies and what’s actually happening in cities like NYC, SF, and the like, but believe that this same elite are different with respect to their foreign policy.

Can’t we chew gum and walk at the same time?

It is good we won the Cold War but Senator Patrick Daniel Moynihan was right, the Cold War institutions were obsolete. NATO? GTFO!

China is much more of a threat than Russia. The NMD wasn’t really targeting Russia.

Russia also has interests to align with the West. China will take the Far East if given a chance. The Chinese are no longer isolationists “only interested in traditionally Chinese domains” and what their generals and political commissars have said openly (albeit in Chinese) about China dominating the world after they win a major conflict is alarming.

Vicki
Vicki
August 9, 2023 11:53 am

A article on the disintegration of American society. It is very applicable to other western nations, including our own:

https://unherd.com/2023/08/america-is-now-a-zombie-state/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 11:55 am

Here’s KD and the lawn mower man turned mailman buttressing their slumping REIT super portfolio.

PROF – Squad Goals

(Yeah…NSFW…)

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 11:57 am

I keep on forgetting Biden partially green-lighted the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Good lord. Is that Russian collusion?

John H.
John H.
August 9, 2023 11:59 am

This claim is just too easy to make. What were his choices and outcomes? Had he done nothing, Ukraine would have continued on its track of being a forward base for the US. The argument was never that Ukraine would attack Russia on NATO’s behalf, but that NATO, and by NATO read the US, could leverage their position in Ukraine to mitigate Russian influence abroad. Of course, just what would have happened to Crimea is an open question. The Us could have very well continued arming and training the Ukrainian armed forces, treating it like a de facto member of NATO, and then green lighting an action against the Russians in Crimea and then pretend that Ukraine was acting independently, and that because its not a de jure member, nothing implicates NATO members.

As for all this stuff about taking out the air force, crap tanks, Horde infantry, etc. it’s all bluster. Ukraine had the largest army in Europe excluding Russia, and a force smaller than the Ukraine army got them to the negotiating table. They were only stymied at the end by promises from NATO to Ukraine of unending loans, arms, and armaments to continue with their doomed enterprise. BTW, how great are those Leo 2s doing? Tanks don’t just engage their counterpart in a duel, they have to fend off Hornets, Lancets, Alligators, 155mm shells AND their counterpart, T-72/T-80/ T90M, and to be clear, given the price/performance ratio, the T-90M is a probably better all-round.

You’re ignoring the fact that by your own argument Putin was sucked into a war that has left Russia in a very difficult position. If he was that concerned about Ukraine why that stupid tank move into Kiev that turned into a rout? Why such a haphazard approach? Why so many mercenary groups? The problem for Ukraine is it has an air force many times smaller and less capable than Russia. The fact that it is still flying is an indictment on Russia’s air force. Ukraine’s air defense capability is also very weak. The big problem for Russia is the inability to take those s300s etc. It has no dedicated SEAD aircraft while NATO has the Hornet growlers, is converting Eurofighters for higher SEAD capability, and F35s acting as forward controllers to allow F16s conduct SEAD attacks. Russia has nothing comparable. Failing to develop SEAD capability has been a huge strategic mistake. The s400s are a formidable threat but will not survive against that onslaught.

What does Russia have that is the equivalent of the meteor, the AIM120-D, the peregrine, the AIM-260, the new long range anti-radiation missiles, the long range stealth missiles with a range in excess of 500 kms? What aircraft does Russia have that can counter the Rafale, the Eurofighter, the F35, and the Gripen? Hint: it has 2 excellent aircraft but not enough of them and one missile of comparable to the 120D but nothing comes close to the other missiles. Air power is everything in a modern war yet Russia’s air force has been largely MIA. The biggest threat to NATO is not the Russian air force it is the s400\500 but those defenses can be worn down through attrition. The ground war isn’t relevant because NATO has no intention of invading Russia. Nor can Russia conduct a ground war against NATO countries because without air cover it will be a slaughter and with the exception of the Baltic countries the logistics of a land invasion are far too difficult.

NATO will not attack Russia, it is too vast and there is nothing to gain by it. There is no need for a ground or naval war. Russia has nukes, that is enough to prevent anyone contemplating invading Russia. What NATO can do though is keep bleeding Russia. Putin was sucked into a conflict that he hoped would be a quick win and now stuck in a situation where no-one wins.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 11:59 am

Undoubted, and the governing American premise from WW2 to the present has been that it is in the US interest to maintain a peaceful co-existent world in order to pursue prosperity. It’s been the harbinger of US international policy for decades

Wot’ Jerk Off Cretin wrote this BS propaganda?

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
August 9, 2023 12:04 pm

Knuckle Dragger
Aug 9, 2023 11:43 AM
soulless, cold, grey cities only populated by meth heads and locals (in Perth’s case)

Preach it.

I was there in December. Perth was comprised of Poms, derros and derro Poms, all going flat tit-o-rama on the glass barbie.

A lot of good people from South Africa are here.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
August 9, 2023 12:11 pm

Lysander
Aug 9, 2023 11:36 AM

I’ll “put it out there” and say (since chinaflu) the days of every worker fighting against every other working to commute (an hour to work and an hour from work) every day to work in soulless, cold, grey cities only populated by meth heads and locals (in Perth’s case), and where you can buy a simple sandwich and coke for **only** $19… is over.

I don’t dispute the fact that teams should spend time together in the same office (at a central location) but I doubt it’ll ever return to the ‘good ol days’

Suzie Cheikho: Work from home employee at IAG sacked for ‘not typing enough’ has unfair dismissal claim thrown out by Fair Work Commission after damning keystroke technology revealed the truth about what she was really doing on the job

. IAG worker has her unfair dismissal claim dismissed
. Her boss tracked how much she was typing on her laptop

Ms Cheikho’s boss asked IAG’s ‘cyber team’ to conduct a review of her laptop activity from October to December by checking how much she was typing on her laptop while she was working.

It was discovered through the review that Ms Cheikho did not work her rostered hours – 7:30am to 4:00pm – for 44 days in that period of time.

She started work late on seven days and left early on 29 days. She also recorded zero work hours on four days.

When Ms Cheikho did work, the findings showed she had ‘very low keystroke activity on her laptop’ averaging 54 strokes per hour throughout the three months.

Poll
Is it fair for bosses to monitor staff with keystroke technology?

Yes – if they are working from home
85%
1,168 votes
No – it’s an invasion of privacy
15%
199 votes
Now share your opinion

She did not type a single letter for 117 hours in October, 143 hours in November and 60 hours in December.

When the cyber review was brought to her attention, Ms Cheikho vehemently rejected the accuracy of the data.

She told her managers during a formal meeting before her dismissal that she ‘doubted the data’ and did ‘not believe for a minute’ the findings were correct.

‘I cannot believe this data,’ she said.

‘Sometimes the workload is a bit slow, but I have never not worked.

I mean, I may go to the shops from time to time, but that is not for the entire day.’

And what do you think Federal/State/Territoy/Local Govt WFH do?

Try ringing a Govt Department!

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 12:14 pm

Wasn’t Cuba a sovereign nation? What drives this presumption that the USSR couldn’t park its nukes in Cuba when invited too?

Remind me, when did the US invade and overrun Cuba? Cuba could invite whomever they wanted (as they have now with the ChiComs) and the USSR could have parked its nukes there. However, the price to do so was more than the USSR was willing to pay. Don’t think it was a one-way deal either, Russia walked away with a deal for the US to pull their missiles out of Turkey in exchange.

Of course it was a intended and made a forward base of NATO.

How did they manage that with exactly zero US or NATO forces in Ukraine? Show us the chart that shows those bases.

They did try diplomacy a little harder. At least from 2004 onwards. But by 2007 Putin saw the writing on the wall as his 2007 Bucharest speech outlined.

Funny, that didn’t keep them from seizing Crimea in 2014. But speaking of negotiations, how about the ones where Ukraine gave up its nukes in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum in exchange for a guarantee of their security from the UK, US and Russia? Think we would be having this convo now if Russia had honored that commitment?

Again, Putin doesn’t get a vote in how Ukraine chooses to exercised its sovereignty.

Pogria
Pogria
August 9, 2023 12:14 pm

These Fizzer pr*cks are criminals. Put them in the Slammer and throw away the keys.

No Johnny, the fizzerati, scummo and co, and every other polli and employer who forced aussies into lockdown and the stab, have to be herded into the showground.
Then, every aussie who was forced into the stab, and the ones who weren’t, can bring trailer and truckloads of building materials and have at them.

Revenge, Justice and fun for all the Family.

Morsie
Morsie
August 9, 2023 12:17 pm

Even if Trump gets elected does anyone think it will be any different.When he left office there were still zinc think hundreds of his nominated appointments languishing in the Senate and they had a majority.
The public service and the RINOS will once again rise up against him.
There is too much money involved for these people.
I read the other day that there is an ETF which you can invest in which follows share trading by Congress members.
One man of an advanced age who has a history of picking crooks or duds to key positions ,think Barr Pence and Wray will just not be able to do it.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
August 9, 2023 12:17 pm

127 Kent Street, Millers Point. Formerly an office block, this building has been converted into a prestigious and elegant residential tower. It was previously the 19 storey Esso House built in 1971 as the Australian head office for Esso Australia Ltd. 

I think this was an Exxon-Mobil thing.
They often built their own buildings and kept one eye on building usage when the oil/gas ran out.
To my eternal shame I was a regular visitor to Esso Big Oil at Southbank in Melbourne for a few years. I wondered about the unusual layout, higher ceilings and massive glazed reception atrium.
Thought it was just Big Oil showing off.
Turns out they designed the building so that it could easily be converted to apartments or a hotel when Bass Strait ran dry.
Probably not a big deal in Melbourne or Sydney (probably more applicable if your HQ was in a more remote area) but it was just a thing they did.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 12:18 pm

Turning country shoppers into genetic supermen!

This is the wildest story you’ll read this week (7 Aug, via Instapundit)

Sam Bankman-Fried’s younger brother, who was a top lobbyist for failed crypto exchange FTX, considered purchasing the island nation of Nauru in the Pacific to create a fortified apocalypse bunker state, a lawsuit filed in Delaware bankruptcy court shows.

Gabe Bankman-Fried was looking at buying Nauru in the “event where 50%-99.99% of people die” to protect his philanthropic allies and create a genetically enhanced human species, according to the suit filed Thursday by attorneys from Sullivan & Cromwell, which is seeking to recover billions of dollars following the collapse of FTX.

Nauru, with a population of about 12,000, is a little over 2,100 miles away from Brisbane, Australia. It was there that FTX lawyers allege the Bankman-Fried team sought to establish an emergency base for itself and a select group of “EAs,” or effective altruists.

The whole FTX fraud is getting weirder and weirder. The Dems are tying themselves into knots trying to let Mr Bankman-Fried off, after he funneled hundreds of millions into Dem coffers. Now his bro is doing Dr Strangelove impersonations.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
August 9, 2023 12:18 pm

John H.
Aug 9, 2023 11:59 AM

What NATO can do though is keep bleeding Russia.

Putin was sucked into a conflict that he hoped would be a quick win and now stuck in a situation where no-one wins.

GDP, PPP (constant 2017 international $)

All Countries and Economies

Country Most Recent Year Most Recent Value (Millions)

China 2022 30,327,320.30
United States 2022 25,462,700.00
India 2022 11,874,582.57
Japan 2022 5,702,286.57
Russian Federation 2022 5,326,854.62
Germany 2022 5,309,606.32

Indonesia 2022 4,036,901.36
Brazil 2022 3,837,260.59
France 2022 3,769,924.07
United Kingdom 2022 3,656,809.44
Turkiye 2022 3,180,983.79
Italy 2022 3,052,609.06
Mexico 2022 2,742,903.11
Korea, Rep. 2022 2,585,010.70
Canada 2022 2,273,488.58
Spain 2022 2,181,968.25
Saudi Arabia 2022 2,150,487.12
Egypt, Arab Rep. 2022 1,674,950.63
Australia 2022 1,626,940.10
Poland 2022 1,625,235.69

Iran, Islamic Rep. 2022 1,600,556.42
Pakistan 2022 1,518,043.00

Muz
Muz
August 9, 2023 12:30 pm

Perth has its idyllic minutes. South bound over the Mount Henry Bridge on a sunny winter morning is one.

Pogria
Pogria
August 9, 2023 12:30 pm

John Nolte has written a very thoughtful and interesting article on William Friedkin’s legacy of film work.

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2023/08/08/nolte-the-late-william-friedkins-four-masterpieces/

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 12:32 pm

What is it that drives this presumption that Ukraine isn’t a sovereign nation? One who doesn’t need anyone else’s permission to exercise that sovereignty?

Wasn’t Cuba a sovereign nation?

Hehe…

Cuban immigrants join Moscow’s fighting forces in Ukraine after Putin signs bill granting citizenship (27 May)

When the Russians invaded a number of their armoured vehicles were flying Soviet flags as they entered Ukraine. It was an interesting sight, that Vlad should’ve prevented. Medvedev later talked about re-establishing the Soviet Empire.

You can paper over history but it just keeps on rising to the surface when you least expect it.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 12:34 pm

Russia has an industrial output 1/30th of NATO.

bons
bons
August 9, 2023 12:48 pm

I have never understood.
Why did Reynolds pay off Higgins over her “lying cow” comment?
Was Morrisson involved?

Diogenes
Diogenes
August 9, 2023 12:48 pm

BoN

You can paper over history but it just keeps on rising to the surface when you least expect it.

There is actual historical imperative for Putin’s invasion. There are, IIRC, 3 or 4 main invasion routes into the Russian heartland. There are corresponding defensible locations to block said invasion routes. The western invasion route runs through the Ukraine, and the defensible blocking position is also in the Ukraine. Russia controls the other blocking positions.

That also does not account for the Ukrainians becoming more chauvinistic, and doing the cultural(& in some cases real) version of ethic cleansing, mostly to Russians, but also ethnic Hungarians and Poles.

Had the UK and US not interfered in the UKR-RUS talks, then a compromise may have been worked out which did not involve troops on the ground.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 12:49 pm

Lefties gotta lefty.

Warren Mundine threatened for ‘No’ stance on the Voice (Sky, 9 Aug)

Indigenous activist Warren Mundine says he has been the target of personal attacks because of his status as a leading force behind the Voice to Parliament’s ‘No’ campaign. Mr Mundine spoke at a ‘No’ campaign meeting on Tuesday, telling members he has been threatened over his role as director with the Centre for Independent Studies.

Aren’t they just such nice generous people? Meanwhile Tony Abbott is tired of it all:

Tony Abbott declares he is ‘sick’ of the Welcome to Country ceremonies as it ‘belongs to all of us, not just to some of us’ (Sky, 9 Aug)

In his opening statement at Monday night’s event in the federal electorate of Aston, Mr Abbott expressed his frustration over the emphasis towards First Nations, nationwide.

“I’m getting a little bit sick of Welcomes to Country because it belongs to all of us, not just to some of us,” he told the audience, prompting applause.

“And I’m getting a little bit tired of seeing the flag of some of us flown equally with the flag of all of us. And I just think that the longer this goes on, the more divisive and the more difficult and the more dangerous that it’s getting now.”

Seconded.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
August 9, 2023 12:53 pm

offendapottimi“

Worth getting out of bed this afternoon for that.

Note to Gallagher: Our Brinny needs an urgent top up because triggered by Sofronoff being nice about awful police. Otherwise the rebuttal re his favourable comments on Reynolds may be delayed.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 12:57 pm

Putin was sucked into a conflict that he hoped would be a quick win and now stuck in a situation where no-one wins.

He has already won.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 12:58 pm

There is actual historical imperative for Putin’s invasion.

Yes, Diogenes. Yes there was.

Putin compares himself to Peter the Great in quest to take back Russian lands (Jun 2022)

I actually said on the old Cat a few times that he should’ve declared himself Tsar, since I think there’s quite a lot of fondness in Russia for the old days pre-Lenin. Unfortunately he doesn’t seem to have a son that could inherit, therefore the dynastic considerations were not especially helpful.

132andBush
132andBush
August 9, 2023 12:58 pm

Don’t get me wrong, I love Trump for how well he had things running and fighting the rabid media in particular.
However, for me at least, he doesn’t have an aura of impenetrable infallibility shining like some supernova from his fundament.
He has an ego larger than Turnbulls and if he set that aside and backed DeSantis the Republicans would steamroll the Dems. No matter what crap they pull.
OR
Trumps runs against Biden and maybe wins, maybe just scrapes in, or even loses.
That’s against BIDEN.
Biden will not contest the next election, he’ll either be dead or more of a vegetable than he is already.
Have you thought for a sec about the Dems pulling a last minute switcheroo and Trump finds himself running against, oh I don’t know, Mr Obama 2.0?
Again, I want Trump as much as anyone and I’m not “running scared”.
I prefer to call it “running prepared “.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
August 9, 2023 12:58 pm

On Mrs Mushroom.
Taking the kids into care didn’t happen as a routine cop precaution.

Someone, somewhere is thinking about her potential for going down in a vengeful blaze of fungi.

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 12:58 pm

There is actual historical imperative for Putin’s invasion. There are, IIRC, 3 or 4 main invasion routes into the Russian heartland. There are corresponding defensible locations to block said invasion routes. The western invasion route runs through the Ukraine, and the defensible blocking position is also in the Ukraine. Russia controls the other blocking positions.

It’s been done. The other bloke called it lebensraum though and little known fact, it involved the ex-pat German population in Ukraine as an excuse as well.

Had the UK and US not interfered in the UKR-RUS talks, then a compromise may have been worked out which did not involve troops on the ground.

Had the UK and US not been involved in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum the Ukrainians would still have their nukes. End of story.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 12:59 pm

Russia has an industrial output 1/30th of NATO.

So it could outfit a military 30 times as large as Russia?

But it hasn’t because it cannot.

Salvatore, Iron Publican
August 9, 2023 1:00 pm

Roger Aug 9, 2023 10:42 AM
Which reminds me – when I was a youngster and went to the annual “show” I used to watch with fascination as a chap cut people’s profiles out of black card with a pair of scissors. He was remarkably good at it. I suppose he went to all the shows.

On my bookshelf is one of his silhouettes of the youthful me.
Grey cardboard cover, an oval of white in the centre contains me in black silhouette, he even cut in the hatband & the line of the shirtcollar.

Printed in the bottom corner is his name: S. John Ross

IIRC he spoke with the remnants of a soft North American accent & while difficult to describe his physique & face, I can clearly picture him in my mind.

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 1:03 pm

Putin compares himself to Peter the Great in quest to take back Russian lands (Jun 2022)

Allow me to introduce you to the Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian Commonwealth. Note that it encompasses Ukraine, Belarus, and a large chunk of mother Russia itself.

So whose lands are they again?

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 1:05 pm

Russia has an industrial output 1/30th of NATO.

So it could outfit a military 30 times as large as Russia?

That’d need a lot of sequins and feather boas.

Arky
August 9, 2023 1:06 pm

and its economies are in the doldrums, and the US is going to need about a decade to replenish its own. Russia is clearly in the driver’s seat.

..

Almaz-Antey withdraws from int’l defense company ratings

MOSCOW. July 1 (Interfax) – Russia’s Almaz-Antey company is withdrawing from international ratings of defense product manufacturers, the company’s press service said on Friday.

“JSC Almaz-Antey ceases to participate in international ratings of the world’s biggest manufacturers of defense products despite a revenue growth posted last fiscal year,” the company said.

“Although the company’s revenue grew in 2021, compared to 2020, we deem the disclosure of these values to be sensitive information, which could be used to tighten the pressure of sanctions on the company and its Russian and foreign partners,” it said.

This refers to arms manufacturer lists annually published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the U.S. specialized weekly Defense News, the company said, adding that the rating organizers rely on information about the amount and structure of consolidated revenue.

“Over the past decade, the company has been an invariable leader among Russian enterprises in terms of the volume of military supplies, and has traditionally been a top 20 member in the ratings of global arms manufacturers. However, a substantial part of information about the defense sector has become classified amid the growing pressure of sanctions on Russia,” the company said.

In addition, the company does not consider the credibility of such foreign ratings to be indisputable.

“Their organizers are unable to verify the volume of sales reported by participants, which has led to the emergence of new companies on the lists in recent years – they have no transparent history or reputation on the global arms market,” the company said.

..
Lockheed Martin:
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed-martin/eo/documents/annual-reports/lockheed-martin-annual-report-2022.pdf

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 1:10 pm

So whose lands are they again?

Varies.

Arky
August 9, 2023 1:10 pm

Top para is quote from DB.
2nd is about Russia’s largest arms manufacturer and the third is a link to it’s American counterpart, Lockheed Martin’s annual report on sales, including the number of Javelins being supplied straight from USA production lines to Ukes.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 1:18 pm

Had the UK and US not been involved in the 1994 Budapest Memorandum the Ukrainians would still have their nukes. End of story.

The UKR agreed to give up their Nuclear weapons so that they could become a Nation State. At the same time, NATO agreed not to move further east. And what did NATO do? Move further east. FFS.

Kneel
Kneel
August 9, 2023 1:19 pm

“One man of an advanced age who has a history of picking crooks or duds to key positions ,think Barr Pence and Wray will just not be able to do it.”

Trump assumed that the people in his own party would support him on issues he campaigned on, and that he could rely on them to suggest appropriate people to fill his staff. That was a mistake – one he won’t repeat.

Also, the US system has “primaries” for congressional and senate seats too – if you piss off the base enough, they will put in who they want, so it’s a bit of a tight-rope walk to please the primary electors, the establishment and the deep state. The further the base swings towards DJT, the more likely congressional and senate candidates will also support DJT – or at least say they do. That’s the real races to watch – primaries. If they swing heavily Trump, and then Trump wins, he will arguably have done it “himself”.

Tintarella di Luna
Tintarella di Luna
August 9, 2023 1:19 pm

I see Triggly-puff is having a go at the Australian Federal Police. That portly potato-nosed creature cannont keep her gob shut. Go for it Knickerless start naming names and be on the end of a defamation suit. The Trollop of Tinder speaks such utter garbage.

Real Deal
Real Deal
August 9, 2023 1:20 pm

Regarding Sancho mentioning the Esso Building in Sydney being converted to apartments.

That building actually featured in the final scenes of the 1975 movie, The Man from Hong Kong. Lots of explosions where the bad guy, George Lazenby had his lair.

Arky
August 9, 2023 1:22 pm

This was the war we needed to shake us out of our complacency.
Without it, the arrogant path we were on would have lead to a deindustrialised, impotent wasteland and utter defeat at the point of decision within the decade.
History has a way of turning out OK after all.
You get what you need, not what you want.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 1:27 pm

Zatara
Aug 9, 2023 1:03 PM
Putin compares himself to Peter the Great in quest to take back Russian lands (Jun 2022)

Allow me to introduce you to the Polish-Lithuanian-Ruthenian Commonwealth. Note that it encompasses Ukraine, Belarus, and a large chunk of mother Russia itself.

So whose lands are they again?

Genghis Khan and the Mongols. LOL.

Possession is 9/10ths of the Law.

Robert Sewell
August 9, 2023 1:28 pm

John H.
“Russians do things differently”. Exactly. And the West doesn’t get it. By concentrating on technology fixes, they make the very same errors Germany made last time. Intellectual arrogance and a refusal to even think doing things differently cost Germany the last big war, and will cost us in the next.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 1:29 pm

Possession is 9/10ths of the Law.

Good luck with the YES vote.

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 1:31 pm

And if Cuba and the SU were free to do whatever they wanted why was there ‘a price to pay’? Let’s stop pretending the situations aren’t analogous.

I didn’t say the Soviets were free to do what they wanted, I said the Cubans were free to invite them (and if you think that’s what actually happened I have a bridge to sell you).

The situations aren’t even remotely analogous. To point out a glaringly obvious difference, compare the number of Cubans who died in that event with the number of Ukrainians who have died in this one.

it suffered the same fate as the commitments to no eastward expansion of NATO;

Yeah, except that never happened.

Claim: NATO promised Russia it would not expand after the Cold War

Fact: Such an agreement was never made. NATO’s door has been open to new members since it was founded in 1949 – and that has never changed. This “Open Door Policy” is enshrined in Article 10 of NATO’s founding treaty, which says “any other European State in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic” can apply for membership. Decisions on membership are taken by consensus among all Allies. No treaty signed by the United States, Europe and Russia included provisions on NATO membership.

Or: NATO enlargement and Russia: myths and realities

Cassie of Sydney
August 9, 2023 1:31 pm

“132andBush
Aug 9, 2023 12:58 PM”

Thanks, agree wholeheartedly.

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 1:33 pm

The UKR agreed to give up their Nuclear weapons so that they could become a Nation State. At the same time, NATO agreed not to move further east. And what did NATO do? Move further east. FFS.

No, it didn’t. See my above post.

Arky
August 9, 2023 1:33 pm

.. At the same time, NATO agreed not to move further east.

..
Bullshit.

December 6, 1994
BUDAPEST, DEC. 5 — President Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin drew sharply opposing pictures of Europe’s future today, with Yeltsin warning that plans Clinton supports for an expansion of NATO threaten to make an enemy of Russia.

The verbal clash highlighted a day of stark contrasts at the opening meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, a loose 53-member grouping that aspires to play a larger role on the continent now that the Cold War is over. With the CSCE as a backdrop, the United States, Russia and Ukraine finalized arms agreements to reduce the chances of nuclear conflict and agreed that Europe should not again be split into hostile camps. But their glad tidings were shadowed by the brutal warfare in Bosnia and the sharp U.S.-Russian differences over security for Eastern Europe’s former Soviet allies.

Clinton and Yeltsin displayed clear disagreement on the role NATO ought to play in coming years for those countries. In particular, Yeltsin denounced plans, which NATO approved only last week, to prepare for extension of its security guarantees to some former Soviet satellites.

..
The memorandum:

Ukraine: The Budapest Memorandum of 1994
The following is the text of the Memorandum on Secu- rity Assurances, known as the Budapest Memorandum, in connection with Ukraine’s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, signed Dec. 5, 1994.
The United States of America, the Russian Federa- tion, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
Welcoming the accession of Ukraine to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons as a non- nuclear-weapon State,
Taking into account the commitment of Ukraine to eliminate all nuclear weapons from its territory within a specified period of time,
Noting the changes in the world-wide security situ- ation, including the end of the Cold War, which have brought about conditions for deep reductions in nuclear forces.
Confirm the following:
1. The United States of America, the Russian Fed- eration, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of the CSCE [Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe] Final Act, to respect the Independence and Sovereignty and the existing borders of Ukraine.
2. The United States of America, the Russian Fed- eration, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reaffirm their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial in- tegrity or political independence of Ukraine, and that none of their weapons will ever be used against Ukraine except in self-defense or otherwise in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
3. The United States of America, the Russian Fed- eration, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reaffirm their commitment to Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of the CSCE
EIR February 21, 2014

Final Act, to refrain from economic coercion designed to subordinate to their own interest the exercise by Ukraine of the rights inherent in its sovereignty and thus to secure advantages of any kind.
4. The United States of America, the Russian Fed- eration, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reaffirm their commitment to seek immediate United Nations Security Council action to provide assistance to Ukraine, as a non-nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, if Ukraine should become a victim of an act of aggression or an object of a threat of aggres- sion in which nuclear weapons are used.
5. The United States of America, the Russian Fed- eration, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, reaffirm, in the case of the Ukraine, their commitment not to use nuclear weapons against any non-nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, except in the case of an attack on themselves, their territories or dependent territories, their armed forces, or their allies, by such a state in association or alliance with a nuclear weapon state.
6.The United States of America, the Russian Fed- eration, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will consult in the event a situation arises which raises a question concerning these com- mitments.
This Memorandum

Cassie of Sydney
August 9, 2023 1:35 pm

How on earth does this happen?

Police did not raise red flags about alleged childcare pedophile with working with children regulator

A former childcare worker in the Gold Coast has been charged with 1,623 child abuse offences.

The alleged pedophile was able to keep his Blue Card to work with children in Queensland despite two reports to police about him

Regulators overseeing Queensland’s working with children scheme were not told an alleged pedophile childcare worker was under investigation until charges were laid against him in August 2022, despite police having the power to tell them.

The 45-year-old childcare worker, one of the nation’s worst alleged pedophiles, is accused of sexually abusing 91 young girls at 10 childcare centres in Brisbane, one in NSW and one overseas.

He was able to keep his Blue Card to work with children in Queensland despite two reports to police about him in 2021 and 2022.

Queensland Police investigated the man but have said there was “insufficient evidence” to take action against him. His Blue Card was suspended only after the AFP charged him in August 2022.

Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath told a budget estimates hearing on Wednesday that “no concerning information” was uncovered during Blue Card Services’ screening processes and it was up to police to decide when to raise red flags with regulators.

“I can also advise that previous criminal history checks undertaken by Blue Card Services did not return any criminal history,” she said.

“Additionally, there was no other relevant concerning information, disciplinary or investigative information or other allegations or adverse information returned to Blue Card Services in its screening processes in relation to that individual.”

Ms D’Ath said Blue Card Services had the power to take into account “police investigative information relating to allegations of serious child related sexual offences even if no charges are laid”.

“It is police to determine at what point we are provided with that information so that we can notify that person of that suspension,” she said.

“As such, where there is covert surveillance and investigations happening, it is up to the police to advise us at what point that person can be aware that that investigation is occurring.”

Queensland Police have been contacted for comment about why they did not notify regulators about previous reports.

A childcare worker has claimed she reported the man to police in October 2021.

Yolanda Borucki, who managed a chain of Queensland daycare centres, told A Current Affair a staff member saw the man kissing a girl inside a fort.

Queensland Police is understood to have cleared the man without checking his home or devices because there was insufficient evidence for a search warrant.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
August 9, 2023 1:37 pm

The UKR agreed to give up their Nuclear weapons so that they could become a Nation State. At the same time, NATO agreed not to move further east. And what did NATO do? Move further east. FFS.

Putin isn’t doing well. He has a batting average worse that Joe Burns.

1. He tried a coup de main and faceplanted.
2. He’s now stuck in a very bloody WW1 style slugfest.
3. As a result of that all the countries neighbouring Russia are clamoring to get into NATO.
4. Finland, and notably the previously scrupulously neutral Sweden, have done so.
5. Moldovia and Romania are pissed off too, as are all the Baltic States.
6. Vlad gave nukes to Belarus, which means he can’t ever now annex that country, even though that was scheduled by 2030.

Georgia is also pissed off with Russia since she took bits of their country. Armenia is pissed off with Russia since Russia betrayed their defensive alliance in the recent war with the Azeris. Kazakhstan is pissed off with Russia since Russia let slip she wants Kazakhstan back. China is pissed off with Russia because Russian police have been heavying Chinese border crossers. Way to go Mr No Friends.

Cassie of Sydney
August 9, 2023 1:38 pm

“The Trollop of Tinder speaks such utter garbage.”

Just superb Tinta!

Robert Sewell
August 9, 2023 1:41 pm

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/08/now-we-have-proof-tgp-exclusive-massive-2020/?utm_source=Email&utm_medium=the-gateway-pundit&utm_campaign=breaking&utm_content=breaking
Massive 2020 Voter Fraud Uncovered in Michigan – Including Estimated “800,000 Ballot Applications Sent to Non-Qualified Voters” – Bags of Pre-Paid Gift Cards, Guns with Silencers, Burner Phones, and a Democrat-Funded Organization with Multiple Temporary Facilities in Several States

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 1:54 pm

Biden loses ground with working-class Black, Latino voters

The slippage is occurring even as Trump, the GOP’s standard bearer, is facing an unprecedented trifecta of indictments in the run-up to the 2024 election.

Blacks and Latinos are not big on illegal aliens, street crime, trans BS, the Biden economy, etc.. I see a big pendulum swing there, particularly among black males.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
August 9, 2023 1:56 pm

Mitchell is a media whore. I have a good memory. That c-bomb was a Big Pharma jab pusher!

I’d … [ self censored ]

Avi:

The interview Neil was warned against | Neil Mitchell Asks Why with Avi Yemini

Cassie of Sydney
August 9, 2023 1:58 pm

I presume those who say that NATO is within its rights to move east and border Russia have zero problem with Chinese influence moving further south, to PNG, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and so on.

Robert Sewell
August 9, 2023 1:59 pm

Indolent

Aug 9, 2023 9:16 AM
The US’ only chance of steering itself back to a semblance of what it once was is Trump. His winning will lay the groundwork for the ordinary American to take back their country.
This is where I miss the ticks the most. I totally agree that Trump is their only chance and I think much of the U.S. population has come to the same conclusion, vis his polls. It’s perfectly obvious now that DeSantis is owned by his donors.

Many many upticks.

Robert Sewell
August 9, 2023 2:03 pm

Calli:

Aug 9, 2023 9:20 AM
I may have to withdraw my “benefit of the doubt”* re Mushroom Woman. Looks pretty ominous.

My “Wait a week before commenting on dodgy cases” is bearing fruit, with 4 days to go!

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 2:08 pm

I presume those who say that NATO is within its rights to move east and border Russia have zero problem with Chinese influence moving further south, to PNG, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and so on.

One doubts that anyone would be happy with invading PNG, Vanuatu, and the Solomons to keep the ChiComs out.

But that’s a far cry from having zero problems having the ChiComs increase their presence there.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 2:10 pm

Hello Blackout Bowen. When there is too much wind, this is what happens. Imagine this at sea with a Big Storm. If you can imagine that is – Pea Brain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s_AD3sgRkc

JC
JC
August 9, 2023 2:11 pm

Cassie of Sydney
Aug 9, 2023 1:58 PM
I presume those who say that NATO is within its rights to move east and border Russia have zero problem with Chinese influence moving further south, to PNG, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and so on.

Cassie, isn’t the more correct analogy if China on Taiwan?

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 2:17 pm

Italy Turns Its Back on China’s Belt and Road

By exiting the BRI, Rome will be dealing an embarrassing blow to Beijing on the initiative’s 10th anniversary. Italy’s planned withdrawal also reflects a broader reckoning overtaking Europe as many leaders turn away from the deep economic integration that has for years defined the Europe-China relationship. For years, Europe has lagged behind Washington’s confrontational approach to China, especially when it comes to economic integration—or decoupling. But that appears to be changing.

“For the Chinese, this is a major humiliation,” said Yun Sun, the director of the China program at the Stimson Center, who noted that Beijing took pride in the fact that Western countries—and particularly European countries—had signed onto the BRI. “For Italy to publicly announce its intent to withdraw from BRI, I think for the Chinese they take great offense in that decision.”

John H.
John H.
August 9, 2023 2:18 pm

I’m not ignoring that at all. You can be faced with choices that involve obvious costs for both. The initial moves to Kiev and the other cities in the north and east were pretty clearly intended as moves to force Zelensky to the table as well as giving it an opportunity to capture areas in the east and south that could be traded later. When negotiations fell through they reorganized for what we have now.

You are ignoring the fact that the initial move was a disaster. It was a dumb strategy and a serious miscalculation because rather than forcing Zelensky to the table it revealed to him and the world how badly Russian forces were equipped. A far better strategy would have been missile strikes.

The same applies to what I said about tank warfare. It won’t be just that the airplanes and AA missiles that they will have to contend with but Russia’s AD as well as their EW. And in any hot war between NATO and Russia, the airbases and the AWACS will be targeted from both the air and the ground by Russia’s long range missiles.

I’ve explained to you why ground warfare without air superiority is a lost cause. That has been recognised since WW2. Russia has very few EW capable aircraft. NATO has dozens of those aircraft and they are probably already active picking up radar signatures of Russian aircraft which is vital for IFF and targeting purposes. Russia can’t target NATO AWACs, too far away and their aircraft won’t get within striking distance. Russia hasn’t even been able to stop Ukrainian fighters on the ground and you’re arguing it can take out NATO airbases? The only way Russia could take out NATO airbases is with nukes. Your comments reflect an ignorance of missile capability and modern air warfare tactics. I don’t expect you to understand these matters because it takes a lot of reading.

Meanwhile, NATO on the right side of the Atlantic has almost bared its warehouses of arms and armaments, and its economies are in the doldrums, and the US is going to need about a decade to replenish its own. Russia is clearly in the driver’s seat.

Your argument is that Russia with the GDP of Canada, and even after price parity adjustment(h\t Hollings), has huge economic gaps compared to NATO yet it can replenish stocks more quickly than the most powerful military alliance in the world. It is wishful thinking and ignores the fact that Russia has been rolling out 50 year old tanks, repurposing old mid-range nukes for what they call hypersonic missiles, and is using Mig 31s which were designed to take out incoming bombers; those were never intended to be an air superiority fighter but are brilliant bomber interceptors. Russia is experiencing production shortfalls as evidenced by only one tank at the last military parade.

The Abrams will be stripped of the cutting edge tech before being provided to Ukraine, the F16s so old the USA is droning those models and European nations are giving those to Ukraine because those are being replaced with F35s, and the European tanks being provided are being pulled out of storage.

Stop pretending that Russia has miraculous military, economic, and production capacity.

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 2:18 pm

Cassie of Sydney
Aug 9, 2023 1:35 PM
How on earth does this happen?

Because the so called Authorities are blind and incompetent.

And with Covid, the same.

Safe and effective. Trust me, I am from the Guv’ment. FFS.

calli
calli
August 9, 2023 2:19 pm

Apropos of your comment, Bob, I have found a nice little needlework project.

Dot
Dot
August 9, 2023 2:21 pm

Cassie of Sydney
Aug 9, 2023 1:35 PM
How on earth does this happen?

Corruption is a likely candidate. It is Queensland we are talking about.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
August 9, 2023 2:22 pm

Salvatore, Iron Publican
Aug 9, 2023 1:00 PM

Roger Aug 9, 2023 10:42 AM
Which reminds me – when I was a youngster and went to the annual “show” I used to watch with fascination as a chap cut people’s profiles out of black card with a pair of scissors. He was remarkably good at it. I suppose he went to all the shows.

On my bookshelf is one of his silhouettes of the youthful me.
Grey cardboard cover, an oval of white in the centre contains me in black silhouette, he even cut in the hatband & the line of the shirtcollar.

Printed in the bottom corner is his name: S. John Ross

He used to be at Sydney Royal Easter Show & Sydney Luna Park

Johnny Rotten
Johnny Rotten
August 9, 2023 2:22 pm

Stop pretending that Russia has miraculous military, economic, and production capacity.

I don’t think that anyone here is pretending that. But Russia has the upper hand and the UKR is just about gone as a Nation State.

Cassie of Sydney
August 9, 2023 2:23 pm

“Corruption is a likely candidate.”

Yep….friends in high places.

Zatara
Zatara
August 9, 2023 2:26 pm

Meanwhile, NATO on the right side of the Atlantic has almost bared its warehouses of arms and armaments, and its economies are in the doldrums, and the US is going to need about a decade to replenish its own. Russia is clearly in the driver’s seat.

Yeah, nah.

The US has sold/given away almost the entire portion of its inventory designated for international sales/distribution (roughly 6% of its total). By US law, they got lotsa more (to quote BJ Barracus of the A Team).

Pogria
Pogria
August 9, 2023 2:30 pm

re, the Funghi Fatty, her ex was also supposed to be there, but changed his mind at the last minute. Last year’s belly bomb still hurt.

Seriously though, the guy was in hospital for a long time last year with gut problems.

Cassie of Sydney
August 9, 2023 2:33 pm

“Cassie, isn’t the more correct analogy if China on Taiwan?”

Yes JC, Taiwan is a correct analogy, along with Chinese influence further afield. Here in Oz, over the last few years, we’ve had conniptions about China’s influence in the Solomon Islands, in PNG and in other places across Asia/Pacific. I just find it odd that those who think that Russia’s hostility towards NATO is unfounded, particularly with NATO edging ever closer to Russia’s borders, and somehow Russia is supposed to accept that, yet countries such as Australia are disconcerted, perturbed and outraged by China’s creeping influence in places like PNG and the Solomons.

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