Open Thread – Wed 4 Oct 2023


The Market at Gisors, Camille Pissarro, 1899

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JC
JC
October 6, 2023 11:57 am

Welcome to stagnation and with a new shiny 6% inflation target, stagflation.

They’ve just introduced or about to, 1% land tax in certain pockets of the city. If the land is vacant for six months, you cop the tax.

There’s absolutely no thought given to even a shred of supply side inducements.

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2023 11:59 am

Roger
Oct 6, 2023 10:46 AM
Federal officials blasted for spending $3.3 BILLION on office furniture while employees worked from HOME

If the American civil service is anything like Australia’s, they spend the money allocated them regardless of the need because if they don’t their budget will be cut the next year.

IIRC, that was changed in the 1990s, to allow funds to be carried over. Has it been changed back? Also, overspends had to be immediately made up from the following year’s budget, keeping a rein on “over the top” spending.

Spending it all was still pushed, but not quite as hard.

calli
calli
October 6, 2023 12:00 pm

Because the details will change in the future

Quite so.

Peter Garrett smugly warned us in 2007. Nothing changes.

Big_Nambas
Big_Nambas
October 6, 2023 12:02 pm

Cassie of Sydney
Oct 6, 2023 9:52 AM

Have voted…..NO.

You would be in good company in Perth, the pre polling continues to be majority for NO.
My legs are getting sore from all the standing but it’s worth it.

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 12:02 pm

1. The number of warheads, unless it never changes, must have been leaked to Trump in 2021.

2. The US have nothing but guesses of what the Russians think about when US subs can be detected. It’s like saying how the Israelis consider it an Israeli State secret when the Iranian radars can detect their heavily modified F-16s. The Iranians may not even have an official figure.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 12:02 pm

Dr Faustus
Oct 6, 2023 11:51 AM

How about “Authorities warn of altitude risk after 80-year old uninsured Australian tourist has to be medivaced from popular destination …”

At ~US$200/minute heli-operating time, that’s second mortgage risk.

Dr Faustus

In London going out to Theatre with Wife – Kids in Switzerland Skiing with Elder Brother –

Urgent phone call from Son, Youngest Daughter has just had a Epileptic Seizure on Steep Mountain Side (Youngest Daughter 10 years younger than Son and he had left home before she had started having seizures)

Said wait till she becomes conscious then roll her down the mountain

Panickers called the Swiss Rescuers & $10,000 later Helicopter arrived in Local Hospital, obviously Ok by this time Epilepsy not cover by Travel Insurance

At that time in Australia, 2 Swiss had been rescued in the Outback – no charge

So I told Swiss Invoice to go hike as we look after your Citizens no cost – Found out later Family had paid behind my back

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 6, 2023 12:04 pm

Dot has already shown ChatGPT can’t be trusted

Yep.

Report: OpenAI’s ChatGPT Maintains Blacklist of Websites, Including Breitbart News (4 Oct)

ChatGPT and other lefty AIs (which is almost all of them) are increasingly looking like Orwell’s boot on our faces.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
October 6, 2023 12:04 pm

Dot:

if Trump was no longer President in April 2021, the only way he was giving away military secrets is if someone was leaking to him.

That is so lame.
Three months!

Janes’ or STFU.

Viva
Viva
October 6, 2023 12:08 pm

It never occurred to Albo to take a bipartisan approach to the voice. He only knows how to fight Tories not consult them.

That approach has backfired as a giant fart in his face. Even if it doesn’t knock him out the stink will linger ……

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 12:08 pm

Lame? It’s logical. If you don’t like logic, well…

You’re more likely to see US state secrets leaked on War Thunder forums.

https://www.nme.com/en_au/news/gaming-news/yet-another-war-thunder-player-leaks-restricted-military-documents-3491989

In 2021, a commander of a Challenger 2 tank from Tidworth, United Kingdom, shared screenshots of classified documents that were apparently from the official Army Equipment Support Publication (AESP) to prove that developer Gaijin Entertainment did not recreate it correctly.

Resultantly, the commander was in violation of the Official Secrets Act which is an offence that can carry up to a 14 year prison sentence if they were to be prosecuted.

Since then, leaks have occurred from the official manuals for the French Leclerc tank, an unnamed Chinese tank and the F-16 fighter plane.

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 12:10 pm

Oh god.

https://www.realcleardefense.com/2023/10/03/how_serious_are_war_thunders_classified_document_leaks_983489.html

Last week, a user on the War Thunder gaming forum named BarteG98PL posted a complete technical manual for the AH-64D Apache Longbow — a modernized iteration of the long-serving helicopter gunship that entered service in 1997 and continues to fly for the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and several other nations. Based on our research, this could be as high as the 30th time a document of this sort has found its way into War Thunder’s forums.

C.L.
C.L.
October 6, 2023 12:10 pm

John Kennedy ran an entire election campaign in 1960 saying what the number of nukes supposedly was. Dangerously few, he lied.

The truth was that America’s nuclear supremacy was gargantuan at that time.

Kennedy was briefed on this and therefore knew but he thought the “missile gap” was a vote winner for him against Nixon – whose impeccable national security credentials as Ike’s deputy for eight years were difficult to match.

Nixon refused to call out the lie because he thought it would unleash a potentially catastrophic new arms race.

As it happens, Kennedy’s big talk led the Soviets to counter his promised escalation in Cuba. Having done his best to destroy the planet, Kennedy was then praised for saving it by his sycophantic courtiers.

The man who got it right was Richard Nixon.

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 12:10 pm

but AI will also cause an increase in employment levels

Every tech innovation generates new jobs that didn’t exist before (“Cloud Architect”) and reduces employment where something can be done faster/simpler/better/cheaper.

People are already using AI like ChatGPT to do stuff themselves like copy editing, online marketing, simple web site generation, analysis of data which previously got handed off to dedicated resources. This trend will continue where AI works and money/time can be saved.

Amara’s Law

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 12:10 pm

Dr Faustus

Oct 6, 2023 11:51 AM

How about “Authorities warn of altitude risk after 80-year old uninsured Australian tourist has to be medivaced from popular destination …”

At ~US$200/minute heli-operating time, that’s second mortgage risk.

Mmmyes.
Someone here was citing a guesstimate of $200k for a medivac from Europe.
I know of someone who spent the thick end of $100k for transfer from Cairns to Sydney last Christmas.
I don’t think $200k gets you home from Italy or Spain.
Others may have better numbers.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 12:11 pm

NATO At ‘Bottom Of Barrel’ Of Weapons Stockpiles

The head of NATO’s Military Committee is urging the alliance to increase arms production, warning the “bottom of the barrel” of NATO’s stockpiles is now visible due to the massive amounts of weapons and ammunition that have been shipped to Ukraine.

Dutch Adm. Rob Bauer made the comments on the first day of the Warsaw Security Forum. He said NATO military budgets increased before the Russian invasion but that the Western arms industry did not increase production capacity.

“And that has led to higher prices already before the war. And that actually has (been) exacerbated by the fact that we now give away weapon systems to Ukraine, which is great, and ammunition, but not from full warehouses,” Bauer said, according to TVP World.

“We started to give away from half-full or lower warehouses in Europe and therefore the bottom of the barrel is now visible. And we need the industry to ramp up production at a much higher tempo and we need large volumes,” he added.

According to more from Reuters:

Bauer last month warned that a drastic rise in ammunition prices meant that allies’ higher defense spending did not automatically translate into greater security and called for more private investment in defense companies.

Earlier this year, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine was using artillery shells at a faster rate than the entire alliance could produce, raising questions about the sustainability of the proxy war. The US and its allies are taking steps to ramp up production, but results are expected to be seen anytime soon.

Bauer’s comments came after a British military source told The Telegraph that the UK was out of weapons to give to Ukraine. “We will continue to source equipment to provide for Ukraine, but what they need now is things like air defense assets and artillery ammunition, and we’ve run dry on all that,” the source said.

Kneel
Kneel
October 6, 2023 12:12 pm

Understand just one thing – THERE IS NO OFFICIAL PROCESS other than the president saying it! It may take the pencil-pushers a while to catch up, but that is their issue, no-one else’s.

Actually there is and multiple people with standing and experience have confirmed this. Again, if Trump & his legal team believe this he can go all the way to Supreme Court for what he believes. “

You are confused – there IS a procedure that applies to, eg, departments releasing information for FOIA requests and so on. But there is NO procedure that the President must follow to declassify something and then immediately release it to whomever he chooses. If he wants it available via the standard FOIA requests, then sure he has to follow a procedure to make that happen, but the decision is his and his alone – as head of the executive branch, he has all the authority he needs in this regard. That he may need to wait for his decisions to flow through the rest of the government system is expected and normal, but has NOTHING to do with who has the authority to declassify.

In any case, this is irrelevant to any current cases against DJT – NONE involve disclosure of classified materials.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2023 12:14 pm

It never occurred to Albo to take a bipartisan approach to the voice. He only knows how to fight Tories not consult them.

That’s fine. Make sure you win though.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 12:17 pm

The US may no longer avoid a recession

The economy is likely to weaken as markets internalise the significant likelihood that rates will stay higher for longer

MOHAMED EL-ERIAN

Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email [email protected] to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour.
https://www.ft.com/content/02a899eb-e899-4b6f-8848-b5240a7127e9?segmentId=b385c2ad-87ed-d8ff-aaec-0f8435cd42d9

The writer is president of Queens’ College, Cambridge, and an adviser to Allianz and Gramercy

An intense period of rising interest rates, high oil prices and a stronger dollar is pushing the financial market consensus on US economic growth away from the comforting notion of a soft landing.

By my count, this will be the sixth time in the past 15 months that conventional wisdom shifts for the world’s most influential economy. It is a pivot that, unfortunately, is likely to stick for longer this time around, threatening what has been an impressively strong US economy, undermining genuine financial stability and exporting volatility to the rest of the world.

In just the last two weeks, the yield on the benchmark US 10-year bond has risen by some 0.5 percentage points to around 4.8 per cent as part of a comprehensive shift in the entire interest rate structure. The move brought the change in yields to an eye-popping 1 percentage point since the end of June, leading to higher borrowing rates for companies, more burdensome car loans for households, and more pronounced and uneven deposit outflows from the banking system as investors shift cash into money market accounts. And notably, the cost of a 30-year mortgage is about to top 8 per cent, making already expensive home purchases even less affordable.

The international spillovers from this shift include more costly and less reliable financing and, for Japan, a more complicated exit from an increasingly unsustainable monetary policy regime with knock-on effects for the US.

Pushing yields up in an increasingly disorderly manner is the combination of markets recognising that the higher policy rates set by the Federal Reserve will be here for a while, and the need to absorb a significant supply of Treasury bonds due to large budgetary deficits.

Adding fuel to this fire are high prices for oil amid solid demand, continued production cuts by Opec+ and heavily depleted inventories. There is a material risk of this leading to higher inflation for a broader range of goods and services.

These are developments that the economy and markets do not enjoy. They damp growth and increase the threat of stagflation. Financial stability risks are raised with interest rate mismatches within certain banks, the refinancing needs of other financial sector participants, and the risk of credit dislocations.

While markets are adjusting fast to higher rates, that of the real economy is at a much earlier phase with now a much bumpier road ahead.

For well over a year now, I have argued that the US is able to avoid the 2023 recession that many were repeatedly calling. I am now less confident about what’s in store for 2024 given how the recent surge in rates compounds the erosion in financial, human and institutional resilience.

My confidence is also shaken by a Federal Reserve that is yet to realise that its forward policy guidance — as well as its monetary policy framework and the way officials communicate the appropriate inflation target — need to be rapidly adapted to the reality of a changed economic paradigm. 

Indeed, the world’s most influential central bank has yet to sufficiently embrace the fundamental change in the basic characterisation of the economy from a world of insufficient demand to one in which the supply sector is a lot less flexible for several years. The longer the Fed takes to adjust, the greater the risk to economic wellbeing.

Last year was about markets adjusting to central banks playing catch-up with adverse inflation realities. This year is about markets internalising the significant likelihood that rates will stay higher for longer, adding to the contractionary impetus in the pipeline. After all, as a Fed governor rightly said last week, “the most important question at this point is not whether an additional rate increase is needed this year or not, but rather how long we will need to hold rates at a sufficiently restrictive level to achieve our goals”.

At a town-hall meeting at the end of September, Fed chair Jay Powell stated: “When my colleagues and I publish our projections for the most likely path for the economy and interest rates, as we did a couple of weeks ago, one of our goals is to influence spending and investment decisions today and in the months ahead.”

If congressional dysfunction spreads further, and if the Fed continues to drag its feet on changing key underpinnings of its policy formulation, the turn in US economic surprises will not be pleasant for either the domestic economy or the rest of the world.

Viva
Viva
October 6, 2023 12:18 pm

The man who got it right was Richard Nixon.

The Swamp got Nixon. We just didn’t know it back then

Fair Shake
Fair Shake
October 6, 2023 12:18 pm

Her Helmet von Martin,

Having read Das Uluru Statement from ze Heart, I find it an appalling statement in many way. On the topic of treaty does it refer to treaty? Well, Yes. Makarata means treaty in der language.

Its a No from me.

Now Fuckenoffen u dickenheden.

Proudly Australian.

H B Bear
H B Bear
October 6, 2023 12:19 pm

I don’t think $200k gets you home from Italy or Spain.

Maybe stabilised for a week or two and back from Bali?

Top Ender
Top Ender
October 6, 2023 12:19 pm

Pogria: I have a Trench Art shell on my mantle. It was made from a five pound shell I think.

Have a few bits of trench art round the house. Using old shell cases to make stuff was popular – probably be made illegal one of these days.

When I was a kid small aircraft models made out of beaten metal were popular – haven’t seen examples for a while.

BTW, I am after a model submarine souvenir from the midget submarine raids if anyone sees one. They were made out of the lead balance weights used in the midgets.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 12:21 pm

C.L.

Oct 6, 2023 12:10 PM

John Kennedy ran an entire election campaign in 1960 saying what the number of nukes supposedly was. Dangerously few, he lied.

The truth was that America’s nuclear supremacy was gargantuan at that time.

Lying about nukes since 1945.
The US justified the nuking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the grounds that the the US public would be allegedly angry about the massive spend on nukes if they weren’t used. There is no actual research to support the proposition that the US public would be against a demonstration of the power of nukes with limited loss of life.
The secondary claim was that they only had their test bomb and the two used on Japan. The truth was that they would have a subsequent bomb available within days and more within weeks.
There are arguments to be mounted for the use of nukes in that circumstance.
Those two are not it.

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2023 12:22 pm

Colonel Crispin Berka
Oct 6, 2023 12:04 PM
Dot:

if Trump was no longer President in April 2021, the only way he was giving away military secrets is if someone was leaking to him.

That is so lame.
Three months!

Janes’ or STFU.

Bugger orf. Go to the real source, Aviation Week and Space Technology, aka Aviation Leak. “Inspired” leaks appeared there routinely in the 1970s/1980s (I moved to other work after then). Generally disinformation, to encourage the Soviets into unproductive courses of action, or nudges for additional budgets for US projects.

Possibly both on occasions.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 12:24 pm

Watch: NATO Minister Suggests Ukrainian Lives Are “Cheap”

In yet another instance of a Western official speaking the quiet part out loud, the Netherlands’ defense minister issued some controversial remarks on Wednesday wherein she referred to supporting Ukraine as a “cheap” way to ensure Europe’s security.

“There are of course reasons to worry,” Dutch defense chief Kajsa Ollongren began at the Warsaw Security Forum when asked her view on if the West can keep up the level of support needed for the Ukrainians to drive back Russia.

She went on to speak of the 20-month old conflict raging on Europe’s eastern doorstep in cost-effective terms.

Her answer started by emphasizing that NATO allies have actually been bolstering their support of late which “surprised Ukraine, which surely surprised (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and the Kremlin.”

“We also surprised ourselves I think that what we are capable of a lot, and we have proven that in the past year and a half, and the only thing we have to do is keep it up,” she said. That’s when she pivoted to talking about Europe’s overall safety as taking primacy and not just Ukraine’s.

She called developments in Washington – where Biden’s desire to get tens of billions more approved for Kiev in next year’s defense budget has been stymied in Congress – “worrying”, and that US lack of support would be a “substantial” negative development..

“We cannot pretend that we’ll just wait and see how the American elections are going,” she said, adding that European politicians have to engage in the dialogue with American colleagues and friends.

That’s she when she referenced the “very cheap way” to protect NATO…

“Because they have the same interest in a way of course, supporting Ukraine is a very cheap way to make sure that Russia with this regime is not a threat to the NATO alliance. And it’s vital to continue that support,” she said.

She had also emphasized “they are fighting this war, we [the Europeans] are not fighting it.”

Of course, at a moment that common Ukrainians are suffering, with their country as ground zero for a ratcheting Russia-NATO proxy war, it’s easy to see how they might logically interpret Ollongren’s words as in actuality suggesting Ukrainian lives are cheap.

A number of online commenters noted the Dutch defense chief’s smugness in delivering these lines, given it’s set against the tragic backdrop of many tens of thousands having died.

The Cato Institute’s Doug Bandow has previously written that some US-NATO officials appear willing to fight Russia “to the last Ukrainian” rather than pursue peace negotiations.

Clearly Ollongren is in that camp.

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 12:28 pm

Kneel> I don’t agree that there is no official process to follow when de-classifying documents – see the links provided above which show the USA has a process in existence for decades. The question is not whether a President can de-classify but how and what laws or exemptions limit that right. Lets see what the courts rule and if trump will take it through the whole legal process.

On your last statement I agree – based on the filing of charges and statements in court to date. So the question being resolved is how Government documents, classified or not, are handled.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 6, 2023 12:28 pm

You’re more likely to see US state secrets leaked on War Thunder forums.

Are they going qwerty like that weirdo US admiral?

Queer characters in computer games: Greater diversity than before, but plenty of room for more (Phys.org, 5 Oct)

The most important thing for the players is that queerness and queer diversity is represented in the games so that they can play characters that they relate to, and feel included.

Presumably that doesn’t count for us non-qwerty gamers who are triggered and offended by this stuff. I think I’ll go play another decade old game, one which isn’t woke.

JC
JC
October 6, 2023 12:33 pm

So the question being resolved is how Government documents, classified or not, are handled.

The head of the executive branch has the last say. There’s nothing else and any modification would be unconstitutional. It cannot be any other way in the US system.

Knuckle Dragger
Knuckle Dragger
October 6, 2023 12:35 pm

Earlier:

Peter Garrett smugly warned us in 2007

Yes he did.

We’ll change it all when we get in, he said. And they did.

An (obviously) ardent Yes-man, he may be disappointed when that comment turns out to be one of the many millstones around this white elephant’s neck.

JC
JC
October 6, 2023 12:36 pm

Finally, please stop bringing up previous conventions and protocols. It has nothing to do with the constitutional rights of the president despite what the Atlantic or WaPo have to so on the matter. Enough about conventions and protocols.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 12:37 pm

If congressional dysfunction spreads further, and if the Fed continues to drag its feet on changing key underpinnings of its policy formulation, the turn in US economic surprises will not be pleasant for either the domestic economy or the rest of the world.

Exactly Congress, so balance the Budget. The Fed can only do so much.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 12:37 pm

H B Bear

Oct 6, 2023 12:19 PM

I don’t think $200k gets you home from Italy or Spain.

Maybe stabilised for a week or two and back from Bali?

The great intangible is that, if you are insured, hopefully the insurer navigates all the logistics of medivac.
If I had a relative in some shit-hole hospital and I was quoted $250k for medivac, would I haggle?

i wooden no wear too start

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 12:40 pm

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.

Nothing more needs to be said.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 12:41 pm

I think I’ll go play another decade old game, one which isn’t woke.

Darts with a few pints of beer sounds like the way to go.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 12:43 pm

If I had a relative in some shit-hole hospital and I was quoted $250k for medivac, would I haggle?

i wooden no wear too start

Once you knew that you were a beneficiary in the Will, it’s a no brainer.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
October 6, 2023 12:45 pm

Dot
Oct 6, 2023 12:08 PM

Lame? It’s logical.

It is not logical that a person entrusted to keep a nuclear defence secret is absolved of that obligation the moment they leave office, especially when the info is still current (less than three months).
You’re just digging yourself in deeper.
Perhaps that’s the safest place for you as you are now surrounded by a tornado of Whataboutisms of your own creation.

When the World Golf Tour MMO game leaks the missile loading manifest for SSBNs then you might have a point!

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 12:46 pm

It never occurred to Albo to take a bipartisan approach to the voice. He only knows how to fight Tories not consult them.

Note that Luigi the Unbelievable has chosen his words very carefully.
If “Yes” gets up, he will be open to working wiv the opposhishun.
No mention of what happens in the likely event that “No” prevails.
Oh, and another thing Luigi.
If “No” gets up you don’t hold any bargaining chips to decide who negoshiatesh what.

shatterzzz
October 6, 2023 12:48 pm

Bob Hawke .. 1988 …….

“It doesn’t matter where you came from,” he said.

“Whether you’ve been here for 60,000 years, or you got here in chains in 1788, or you came as a free settler post the convict era finishing… it’s about your commitment to this country.
“I would like to think every Australian, Indigenous and non-Indigenous is committed to this country. Totally committed to it.”

Rosie
Rosie
October 6, 2023 12:49 pm

Iirc insurance policy voided due to alcohol.

$224,000 from Thailand

Robert Sewell
October 6, 2023 12:51 pm

Rita Panahi on the same muddled mindset of what Teh Voice represents:

The celebrity class’ enthusiastic backing of the Voice is likely to do their cause more harm than good.

Australians typically baulk at lectures from actors, musicians and athletes about matters of national importance, let alone a referendum seeking to change our nation’s founding document.

From ex-footballer Nathan Buckley to alleged comic Magda Szubanski to veteran TV presenter Ray Martin, the support from celebrities is often intellectually vacuous and ill-advised.

It’s clear that many of the celebs advocating for the race-based referendum are ignorant of the details of the proposal; far worse is the counterproductive manner in which some have expressed their support.

Take former A Current Affair host Martin’s diatribe on his countrymen who are against entrenching racial privilege and division into the Constitution.

Speaking at an event attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week, Martin called No voters “dinosaurs and dickheads” and claimed the details of the proposed constitutional change “simply don’t matter”.

“What that slogan is saying is if you’re a dinosaur or dickhead who can’t be bothered reading, then vote No,” he said.

“At this stage of the game, the details simply don’t matter. They never did matter, honestly.”

Martin’s breathtaking arrogance was audacious enough but he was not done yet.

After showcasing his profound ignorance and insulting more than half the country, he then indulged in the Yes camp’s favourite tactic of emotional blackmail, claiming the world would look down upon a nation that did not back this far Left agenda.

“If we wake up on … October 15 and Australia has voted No, what will the New York Times and The Times of London and the best media in Europe and Asia and South America, what will the world say about us,” Martin asked.

“Ladies and gentlemen, as a proud Australian, that doesn’t bear thinking about it, does it? The way that the world sees us really does matter.”

Actually, it doesn’t.

What the thoroughly broken and race-obsessed miscreants at the NY Times or at European publications who still haven’t understood the Brexit phenomenon think of Australia matters about as much as Ray’s famously immovable bouffant.

What does matter is that Albanese called Martin’s speech “powerful”.

Here we have the PM applauding a celebrity who is abusing millions of Australians for not backing an ill-considered, poorly argued policy.

On Thursday we had Labor minister Tanya Plibersek praising former footballer Adam Goodes’ backing of the Voice.

The same Goodes who after being named Australian of the Year in 2014 told Australians to “remember whose lands you are on” and smeared footy fans as racists for booing him, and who in August argued for the Yes camp by falsely claiming his “mother was part of the flora and fauna act when she was born”.

That prompted the ABC to issue a correction after airing Goodes’ falsehood.

“Indigenous people in Australia have never been covered by a flora and fauna act,” the ABC clarified.

On Wednesday Minister Linda Burney was trumpeting another celebrity endorsement, this time a daft video featuring “rapper” Adam Briggs and Nathan Buckley who backs the referendum despite admitting in the 86-second clip that he doesn’t know how it will work.

“I don’t know how the parliament will operate, I don’t know how the Voice will go about its business but I trust that we are gonna keep moving towards giving the First Nations people more of a voice,” Buckley said.

Well, that’s convincing, isn’t it? Sure, I was hesitant about enshrining toxic racial politics in the Constitution and further empowering the activist class who have caused so much damage, but with that endorsement I’m on board!

As for Briggs, he regularly indulges in simplistic race-baiting on social media, claiming the No campaign is racist, the referendum is just about recognition and complained about “dumb dogs who want to know the details”.

But perhaps the most counterproductive support for the Yes side in the past week came via the Nine papers promoting the views of activist Tarneen Onus Browne, who was once a No vote but has switched to Yes in recent months.

This would be the same activist who has said during a protest on Australia Day: “F–k Australia, I hope it burns to the ground.”

Don’t know about you, but personally I prefer to ignore the opinions of those who hate this country and want to watch it burn.

Robert Sewell
October 6, 2023 12:54 pm

calli

Oct 6, 2023 9:53 AM
All that’s left is the lacquered, Grecian 2000 helmet spinning in the gutter.

How I wish I had your graphic/verbal skills.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 12:54 pm

If “No” gets up you don’t hold any bargaining chips to decide who negoshiatesh what.

He will be just like the Manager of Liverpool FC.

“I demand that this game be replayed and that I appoint the Referee”.

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2023 12:57 pm

Robert Sewell
Oct 6, 2023 10:53 AM
Indolent:
There were no commercial claims against Trump concerning the value of his properties and there are no outstanding loans but the government is charging him with fraud over business transactions satisfactory to both parties.
Do you think there might be a different agenda at play here?

The Democrats are going to have to tighten those screws even harder over the next 12 months, and I doubt they can keep a lid on the pressure cooker for that amount of time.

I get the vibe that Biden’s DOJ is pushing ever more odious accusations not only against Trump but anyone who would vote for him in an effort to provoke a reaction to justify a lockdown or voting only online. I think the idea is to be able to claim that it’s too dangerous to vote in person. Once the election is anll online then he US is over.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 12:57 pm

Just voted No.
Straight through.
The Yes line was yuuuge.

Rosie
Rosie
October 6, 2023 12:58 pm

I reckon Ray has an elaborately hairsprayed combover.
The side part is suspiciously low.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 12:58 pm

Yes23 volunteers urged by campaign officials to change pitch to Australians on treaty based on voting intention

The Yes23 campaign is instructing volunteers to drastically change their pitch to voters on a treaty based on how they are leaning in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.

Sky News Australia host Peta Credlin has uncovered the way Yes campaign’s message to voters on a future treaty changes based on which way they are leaning in the upcoming Voice to Parliament referendum.

After revealing Anthony Albanese’s website still spruiks his government’s commitment to treaty and implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart “in full” – despite the prime minister’s denials – Credlin showed the “sneaky” ways Yes23 broaches the controversial issue.

Exclusive message exchanges obtained by Sky News Australia and the Daily Telegraph highlighted the inner workings of the campaign’s telephone canvassing operation where it uses volunteers to cold call Australians to persuade them to vote for the constitutional amendment on October 14.

Alongside these volunteers are campaign officials and strategists who provide advice and ensure key talking points are hit.

On her Thursday night program, Credlin showed a screenshot of an online chat over Zoom this week where a volunteer asked for a “good script about the treaty”.

“I just had a chat with someone about it and kinda got caught off guard,” the volunteer said.

Then an official Yes23 campaigner jumped on the line and told the volunteers:

“If they are pro treaty, you can say that the Uluru statement from the heart asked for (the Voice) before treaty, if they are anti treaty, you can say that (the Voice) is a purely advisory body”.

Credlin said the conversation was another example of how the Voice was “plainly” about treaty.

“There it is in black and white: you tell voters that its Voice first, then treaty if they’re in favour,” she said.

“But if they’re not, you deny that it’s all about treaty, even though plainly it is.

“The people behind the Uluru Statement know exactly what they’re doing. Be up-front about the agenda, to their fellow activists; but keep voters in the dark.

“Trouble is, like the PM’s website, what they really think is all out there on the record if anyone in the media is prepared to do their job properly.”

The Prime Minister was grilled by 2GB’s Ben Fordham in July over the implications of a treaty, but Mr Albanese refused to engage and instead kept insisting the Voice referendum is “not about a treaty”.

But when asked about statements made by members of his referendum working group – like Thomas Mayo, who has suggested the Voice was the “first step” in paying reparations – Mr Albanese dodged any link with the referendum and treaty.

“This is not about a treaty. This isn’t about that. Ben, what we need to do – this is the issue here. We have had a debate about things that aren’t happening rather than about things that are,” Mr Albanese told Fordham.

“No, Ben. I can’t say it any clearer. Compensation has nothing to do with what people will vote on in the last quarter of this year.”

The government has committed to establishing a Makarrata Commission, as proposed in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

The Commission is designed to lead processes for treaty-making and truth-telling with Labor pledging more than $8 million to work on establishing the body as part of a $27 million commitment to implement the Uluru Statement.

Comment has been sought from the official Yes23 campaign.

Colonel Crispin Berka
Colonel Crispin Berka
October 6, 2023 12:58 pm

The argument that POTUS can do anything is wrong.
The argument that they are not accountable for the way in which they use the powers legally granted to them is wrong.
The power to unilaterally declassify is incoherent in the specific case of strategic nuclear secrets because the procedures around actually using the nukes make it clear that it has to be a joint decision supported by both the head of civil power and the military.
I’m not saying Trump dunnit, but the expectation of actually keeping WW3 secrets a secret instead of using them to impress guests at golf clubs is hardly diminished by the legal power of unilateral declassification. i.e. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should. That line is not specific to the Mar-a-Leako situation, so surely you will not disagree with that.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 1:00 pm

Speaking at an event attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last week, Martin called No voters “dinosaurs and dickheads” and claimed the details of the proposed constitutional change “simply don’t matter”.

That reminds me of ‘Shillary Clitoris’ and her mention of Trump’s “Deplorables”.

And that went over like a lead balloon.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
October 6, 2023 1:01 pm

Good letter Vicki. Never work in politics of course, too short, to the point, no wriggle room and too hard to get a decent grift out of.

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2023 1:02 pm

Alamak!

On your last statement I agree – based on the filing of charges and statements in court to date. So the question being resolved is how Government documents, classified or not, are handled.

If Creepy Joe (and a lot of Congressional DemonRats) are not to end up facing worse charges than Trump, the US courts will have to finesse those decisions verrrry carefully.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 1:04 pm

‘Simply amateur hour’: Annastacia Palaszczuk leadership rival Shannon Fentiman caught out in multiple bungles

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s hospital pass to once-rival Shannon Fentiman by giving her responsibility of the state’s disastrous health system has seen the former attorney general caught up in multiple bungles, writes Sky News Australia Brisbane Bureau Chief Adam Walters.

Adam Walters

Many suspected Annastacia Palaszczuk would see-off the widely touted pretender to her Queensland throne by throwing former Attorney General Shannon Fentiman a literal hospital pass in making her the Minister in charge of a disastrous health system.

But Fentiman may have more than a wary Palaszczuk to worry about if her most recent performance is any guide.

When she called a media conference on Thursday to announce a second inquiry into the bungling of 37,000 criminal cases by Queensland’s infamous Forensic Services Laboratory the newly minted Health Minister found herself floundering.

She is also the Minister for Women, and no stumble was more disturbing than her failure to know how many of the 37,000 botched investigations involved mismanaged DNA samples from serious sexual assault cases.

It was a fair enough question and the answer of “not having that figure” begged the question of why she wasn’t sufficiently concerned or curious enough to ask the many senior bureaucrats and police within the speed dialling capacity of a senior Minister or her staff.

As the Coaldrake report into the intimidating behaviour of ministerial staff found – supercilious minders seem to have little trouble when demanding directors-general snap to attention.

It would be worrying enough if the failure to know the number of sexual assault victims were Fentiman’s only glaring knowledge void but she was just as clueless on the percentage of the 37,000 cases involving people who had died without any hope of justice since the DNA bungling began in 2008.

When asked if the government was concerned about the flight risk of those suspects who had evaded arrest thanks to the DNA debacle Fentiman could only say “the police had not related any concerns to her.”

Surely, it’s reasonable enough for a Minister to make that very inquiry, given the enormous publicity has given such perpetrators plenty of chances to update their passports before the police come knocking, and flee to a country without an extradition treaty with Australia.

That very real possibility was either completely lost on the Minister, or she simply didn’t seem to rate the scenario as an issue.

She then went on to brush a question on whether the enormous amount of police resources needed for so many exhaustive retrospective investigations would place severe stress on a shrinking Queensland Police Service’s ability to meet the incumbent demands of exploding youth crime and the usual amount of recurrent crime in the wider community.

But surely the worst part of her media conference on Thursday came as she laughed openly at a question about how such a huge number of reinvestigations would be funded.

She smiled and then scoffed when asked whether the $200 million allocated in the last budget for fixing this enormous mess was in fact enough.

An incongruous giggle was her response when confronted with a simple mathematical equation that each of the 37,000 cases would receive a meagre average of $5,405.

Maybe Annastacia Palaszczuk was laughing too – at how such a Minister could even begin to entertain the idea that she’d be sharp enough to take on the top job.

Labor is well known for its professional politicians.

This performance from an aspirant was far from her finest hour in public office. It was simply amateur hour.

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 1:04 pm

It is not logical that a person entrusted to keep a nuclear defence secret is absolved of that obligation the moment they leave office, especially when the info is still current (less than three months).
You’re just digging yourself in deeper.

You’re assuming that the information Trump gave was accurate, the FBI are cleared to verify this and that it does not change. He might have given a guess of an average number of warheads which is virtually irrelevant because each boat is tasked differently in the real world.

This is what Trump would have had to do to actually have committed an offence post Presidency, given detailed precise numbers on each boat, which would require a leaker!

You can guess the average deployed SSBN or attack sub-warheads from treaty details and the number of boats.

You’re just digging yourself in deeper.
Perhaps that’s the safest place for you as you are now surrounded by a tornado of Whataboutisms of your own creation.

There’s no digging at all because the accusations are so vague they amount to Trump googling something before a meeting and giving average numbers.

Without any details about what Trump “leaked” the entire accusation is a whataboutism.

“Oh no, we can’t tell you that, that would breach national security”

Sure, so the journalists Trump told couldn’t know, these other journalists can, and the FBI have military and DOE clearance now?

How absurd.

Now why would I be sceptical about this? Because they have cried wolf, how many times?

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 1:06 pm

Rosie

Oct 6, 2023 12:49 PM

Iirc insurance policy voided due to alcohol.

$224,000 from Thailand

Yes, I made that point here when the original insurance debate came up.
Many people read the alcohol clause as equivalent to comprehensive car insurance clause here, assuming it only applies to motor vehicle accidents.
It applies to being under the influence as a pedestrian, in a bar or, in this case, around a pool.
I don’t know, but I suspect you might have a case to claim insurance where you had an accident after two drinks and weren’t sky-larking.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 1:07 pm

Sancho Panzer
Oct 6, 2023 12:57 PM

Just voted No.
Straight through.
The Yes line was yuuuge.

Sancho,

Seriousy or just taking the Mickey?

If Serious – I am depressed.!

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 1:10 pm

One more thing.

If Trump actually gave away State military secrets as a civilian, he’d be arrested within hours, not days or weeks.

Until he’s arrested, it’s just slander.

This has shades of Muellerween all over again, plus the Steele dossier.

As for the “submarine detection”, the entire layered defence system detects and the subs can be broadcast to whilst they stay passive. SOSUS had a range of several hundred km for noise down to 1 watt of power.

Give me one ping, Vasily.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 1:11 pm

ChatGPT and other lefty AIs

ChatGPT is not AI. It’s ABS – All Bull Shite. FFS.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 1:11 pm

Sancho,

Seriousy or just taking the Mickey?

I’ll leave that for you assess based on past form.
😉

Cassie of Sydney
October 6, 2023 1:11 pm

“We’ll change it all when we get in, he said. And they did.”

In contrast to the Liberals, who should state up front that…

‘we won’t change anything when we get in’. And they don’t.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 1:15 pm

As for the “submarine detection”, the entire layered defence system detects and the subs can be broadcast to whilst they stay passive. SOSUS had a range of several hundred km for noise down to 1 watt of power.

Don’t yer’ know that the Ruskies have ‘cloaked’ (Klingons beware) their subs to be just like Blue Whales and have got through every Western Defence system for mega yonks.

Please keep up wiv’ the ‘high tech’.

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 1:18 pm

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.

Nothing more needs to be said

Sounds like a King

Gilas
Gilas
October 6, 2023 1:18 pm

Sancho Panzer
Oct 5, 2023 8:09 PM

Attention ‘doctors’:
You are people who have been to uni, and who can follow instructions on the internet.
You are not God Oracles.
yeah

show em a plc for an aircon unit
wooden no wot they were lookin at
mongs

Oi! Not all..

I hated their love of conformity, arrogance and general cowardice when it came to supporting younger colleagues. An almost totally detestable bunch of trumped-up autistics who can pass exams and pompously virtue-signal with the best of the oleaginous leftard class.
Many left the medical sewer early, to enjoy other life pursuits.

PS. And you think lawyers are any better?

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 1:22 pm

The head of the executive branch has the last say. There’s nothing else and any modification would be unconstitutional. It cannot be any other way in the US system.

Perhaps you’ve not heard of the Judicial system in the USA. it’s worth reading about if you want to know how the country works (or doesn’t)

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 1:22 pm

Just read my recent travel policy (Tick Travel Insurance) …

What you are not covered for
– Any claim arising from;

– you deliberately putting yourself in danger (unless trying to save a human life)

Any claim arising directly from you, your partner, relative or travelling companion consuming alcohol.

These are separate sub-clauses (“or” not “and”).
They key word in the alcohol clause is “directly”. If you walk out of a bar and are struck by a car whilst standing on the footpath, you should be covered.
Even though they are separate clauses, I think the “deliberately putting yourself in danger” clause might often be read in conjunction with the “alcohol” clause.
Example. The Perth woman copper who fell off the wall in Dubrovnik with a BAC over 0.2%.
And Rosie’s example of the woman in Thailand who “fell off into a void”. I am betting she didn’t fall off a marked footpath.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 1:22 pm

Media Coverage of Ukraine War Dwindles

As the Russia-Ukraine war grinds on more than a year and a half after the initial invasion, U.S. economic and military support for Ukraine has become increasingly embroiled in domestic politics. How is the media covering Ukraine as the war continues?

The timeline below shows total daily mentions of Ukraine across BBC News London, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News since the start of last year. The initial early January 2022 jump in mentions captures the growing fear of an invasion, leading to a vertical surge in coverage as Russian troops surrounded and then poured into the country. Remarkably, peak coverage lasts only a single day (February 25, 2022) before immediately falling. Coverage remained elevated for about two weeks, but then began declining the week of March 14, eventually reaching levels in May 2022 at which it has remained ever since.

From a peak of 1,500 to 2,000 mentions daily on the day after the invasion to between a few dozen and a few hundred a day since, Ukraine remains a constant but low-bore topic on the news. BBC News has mentioned the war the most, with 203,655 mentions to date, followed by CNN’s 166,304, MSNBC’s 116,658, and Fox News’ 90,246. BBC News has mentioned the war 2.3 times as much as Fox News since the invasion.

Remarkably, the Ukraine counteroffensive has not led to a meaningful boost in coverage. The offensive receives just a handful to a dozen or two mentions a day, peaking on select days on BBC News with just over 100 to 125 mentions.

While President Volodymyr Zelensky received a burst of attention in the early months of the war, he has largely fadedfrom both television news and worldwide online news. Zelensky himself receives less than one-fifth as much coverage as his country does on a typical day. While the country itself often centers its messaging around its wartime leader, global media focuses more on the country as a whole.

What about onscreen textual mentions of Ukraine? The timeline below shows a pattern similar to spoken mentions, though while CNN has not ramped up its spoken mentions of Ukraine, its onscreen textual appearances noticeably increased in mid-May. While BBC News dominates spoken mentions, CNN leads in onscreen textual appearances, totaling 1,408 hours to date, followed by BBC News’ 1,112 hours and MSNBC’s 790 hours. Fox News once again comes in last with 631 hours – 2.23 times less than CNN.

While television coverage remains relatively stable, worldwide online news coverage is declining, though it has stabilized in the last few weeks.

U.S.-based Google searches about Ukraine collapsed largely in step with media coverage and have been on a similar long-term decline through this year.

The bottom line is that media attention to Ukraine continues to stagnate and fade in combination with growing economic woes in the U.S. and Europe.

This suggests the likelihood that it will be increasingly difficult to maintain public support in the United States and Western Europe for Ukraine without a major breakthrough that returns the war to the media forefront.

Kalev Leetaru is a RealClearPolitics contributor whose areas of research include trends in news coverage, fact-checking, and social media platforms.

Frank
Frank
October 6, 2023 1:22 pm

I reckon Ray has an elaborately hairsprayed combover.

Sculpted by some flunky in the special effects department of channel nine. A turban made of hair, dog hair.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 1:24 pm

Gilas at 1:18.
I plead guilty to making a wild and only partially substantiable allegation.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 1:28 pm

The Ray Martin story still running on 3AW news.
He is the equivalent of the Yes campaign’s suicide bomber.
Except he pulled the switch before leaving Yes HQ.
All that remains is a carefully coiffured hairpiece.

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 1:29 pm

Sounds like a King

It’s quite literally meant to.

The President is meant to be exactly like a post Glorious Revolution monarch, prior to the Triennial Acts and Parliamentary Government, working with a legislature but not inferior or superior to it.

Read up on your Madison and Jefferson.

Perhaps you’ve not heard of the Judicial system in the USA.

They declassify documents, how?

I should probably add:

Classification is a defence issue, clearly not for the courts.

The President is the executive.
The President is commander in chief.

All plain language, black letter law.

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2023 1:30 pm

Sancho Panzer
Oct 6, 2023 12:57 PM
Just voted No.
Straight through.
The Yes line was yuuuge.

Ha, ha, good one.

Pogria
Pogria
October 6, 2023 1:30 pm

During School Holidays, the local teens used to light fires. Things have changed.
Watch the video, it’s awesome. Also nice to know you have mates you can rely on, not.

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 1:32 pm

A temporary monarch from 1689 to 1703 roughly elected by indirect but representative means, suitable to a Federal electorate and the general popular vote.

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2023 1:33 pm

If Creepy Joe (and a lot of Congressional DemonRats) are not to end up facing worse charges than Trump, the US courts will have to finesse those decisions verrrry carefully.

BJ, the US is no longer that country. You would have a much easier time in what used to be behind the Iron Curtain, they know what raw power looks like and are not keen to let it loose on their people people.

Real Deal
Real Deal
October 6, 2023 1:35 pm

A relative shared with me that Adam Briggs video explaining the Yes case to the two sheilas. Pathetic and exceedingly patronising to women. If it had been a white guy there would have been shreiks of “misogyny” and “mansplaining” from a pathetic male. He also repeats the 80% indigenous in favour of the Voice. Is that true? Where does it come from (serious question).

A lot of other stuff in it as well. According to news.com.au it is going viral. I should watch it again, but I’d rather gargle a hot cup of Fat Magda’s sick.

Kneel
Kneel
October 6, 2023 1:36 pm

“The argument that POTUS can do anything is wrong.
The argument that they are not accountable for the way in which they use the powers legally granted to them is wrong.”

The argument is NOT that POTUS can do anything, nor that he is not accountable, rather it is that POTUS is the head of the executive branch of Gov and has the power to de-classify docs. Period.
Congress could, should and would likely impeach, convict and then criminally charge a president that willfully gave enemies of the US its military secrets – not for releasing classified docs, but for treason.
The general public would likely NOT re-elect such a president even if congress did not impeach, convict and indict.

The Dems want Trump off the ticket and will do “whatever it takes” to make sure he is off the ticket. However, I think they have gone way too far left on many issues and way too far in the lawfare department too.
If someone like RFK Jr runs as an independent, they may split the Dem vote and either get Trump in outright, or force a contingent election on the house, which Trump would win. It would be highly amusing to watch a third party so split the vote and thus give DJT the popular vote, forcing states like CA to actually send electors for Trump to DC. Oh how I’d laugh at such an outcome.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 1:37 pm

Regarding referendum vote cheating.
Yes, some cheating is possible, but nowhere near the same scope as the US.
With compulsory voting and a fairly tightly controlled roll, you can’t fabricate or duplicate tens of thousands of votes without it being noticed. And there is no advantage or scope to pull a “McGowan-Indi” trick by loading people into a marginal electorate.
The most likely source of whingeing about vote-rigging post 15th will be disappointed Yessirs.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 1:40 pm

Spotlight on e-bike safety

Many of you have shared your concerns about the safety of e-bikes on our roads, shared pathways and footpaths. We hear you, and we are working on a solution.

Over the past few months, Council has been collaborating with the Northern Beaches Police Area Command to audit e-bikes and scooters on local paths. This audit has confirmed several safety issues, including speed, lack of helmet usage, and limited knowledge of NSW Road Rules among young riders.

Council will contact Transport for NSW and the Minister for Roads and urge them to initiate a statewide education campaign and review relevant road rules. Council will also explore ways to better accommodate e-bikes.

In the meantime, we encourage you to familiarise yourself with the current road rules around e-bikes and e-scooters.

What e-bikes are allowed?

There are two types of permitted of e-bikes in NSW: power-assisted pedal cycles and electrically power-assisted cycles.

While e-bikes sold in Australia meet the legal requirements, there is currently no quality control over e-bikes purchased and shipped from overseas retailers.

What rules must e-bike riders follow?

E-bikes are subject to the same rules as bicycles. To be considered a bicycle the e-bike cannot be propelled exclusively by a motor.

E-bikes must not assist pedalling past the speed of 25km/h.

Are e-scooters allowed on roads and paths?

E-scooters cannot legally be ridden on public roads and paths in NSW, only on private property. The exception is where e-scooter trials are taking place, approved by Transport for NSW. With no trials taking place here, they remain illegal on the Northern Beaches.

What is Council doing to improve safety?

Council is calling for the NSW Government to review the NSW Road Rules to keep riders, pedestrians and motorists safe.

With more and more e-bikes appearing in our communities, all councils are grappling with how to keep everyone safe.

Council will submit a motion to the Local Government NSW 2023 Annual Conference to be held in November. Council will also write to the Minister for Roads and Transport for NSW seeking:

. the development of a community awareness and safety campaign to improve pedestrian and rider safety in respect of e-bikes, including but not limited to education on the current laws in respect of all electric micro mobility devices

. a review of the current NSW Road Rules 2014 and Regulations under the Road Transport Act 2013 to make any necessary changes to improve public safety and to focus on key risk areas: speeding of e-bikes and bicycles on shared paths; e-bike riders approaching and passing pedestrians safely; the carrying of 3 or more pillion passengers on e-bikes and bicycles; the altering of e-bike systems to prevent the requirement for pedalling or preventing top speed controls; and setting an appropriate maximum size and weight of an e-bike to reduce risks to pedestrians

. that the NSW Government provide capital grants to local councils to assist with safety improvements to shared paths

Our Road Safety and Transport Network team will continue to work closely with NSW Police and the community to respond to safety concerns. Together, we hope to improve e-bike safety.

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 1:42 pm

Sounds like a King

It’s quite literally meant to

working with a legislature but not inferior or superior to it.

there are three not two branches of government in the USA.

As mentioned, worth a read on how the whole thing works to avoid surprises like this in future.

Robert Sewell
October 6, 2023 1:44 pm

Commonwealth Bank Home loan:
$500,000 (Average home loan)
$7,536 repayment per month.
$2,712,754 total loan repayment.
$2,212,754 Total Interest repayment.
I wonder what the equilibrium point is? Because these are not stable.
The average weekly income for males were $2,122.90 (public), and $1,905.00 (private). For females were $1,897.70 (public), and $1,605.30 (private).

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 1:46 pm

Speaking of “McGowan-Indi”

‘Exhausted’ McGowan has four jobs, including one with Joe Hockey

Tom Rabe and Mark Di Stefano

Former West Australian premier Mark McGowan will add another two private sector roles to his post-political career, including a senior advisory position with Joe Hockey’s consulting firm, Bondi Partners.

Fresh from accepting roles at mining giants BHP and Mineral Resources, Mr McGowan will join the former treasurer and former ambassador to Washington’s consultancy five months after his shock exit from state politics, citing exhaustion.

In an internal note to employees obtained by The Australian Financial Review, Mr Hockey said the former Labor premier would join his team as a senior adviser based in Perth and “making the occasional visit to the east coast and beyond”.

“Of course you would all know Mark as the recent former premier of Western Australia,” Mr Hockey said in the note.

“Mark recently retired with massive public support (the best way to go) after serving six very successful years as premier. Mark is advising both BHP and Mineral Resources as well as Bondi.”

It is also understood Mr McGowan is set to join the advisory panel of disability employment provider APM Human Services International.

Mr McGowan quit unexpectedly in May after six years in the top job and having led WA Labor to a thumping victory in the 2021 pandemic election that reduced the Liberals standing to two lower house seats.

“I’m tired, extremely tired. In fact, I’m exhausted,” he told reporters in late May when he announced his resignation.

About three months later he was reported to be in discussions with BHP about joining the mining giant.

Now, Mr McGowan has at least four private sector gigs, getting into business with Australia’s former treasurer from 2013-2015.

Mr Hockey’s Bondi Partners was dragged into the legal dispute at infant baby formula company Bubs earlier this year. It was revealed Bondi Partners had been paid $2 million from the company, which was allegedly not disclosed to the board.

Other clients have included Brisbane biotech Ellume and US investment giant Blackstone on the Crown Resorts takeover.

But the consultancy group has also branched into capital markets and investments. In 2021, Bondi Partners teamed up with Ellerston Capital to set up a fund called 1941, which was pitched as an investment vehicle in national security,

The 1941 fund received money from Rich Listers Peter Freedman and the Saltier family as well as World Bank president Ajay Banga.

Street Talk reported in June that Bondi Partners was working to put together a US consortium to take ASX-listed shipbuilder Austal private. Perth-based Austal will play a role in the trilateral AUKUS security pact.

Other Bondi Partners staffers include former senior Trump administration officials Mick Mulvaney and Emma Doyle, as well as Australia’s first astronaut, Paul Scully-Power.

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 1:49 pm

The argument is NOT that POTUS can do anything, nor that he is not accountable, rather it is that POTUS is the head of the executive branch of Gov and has the power to de-classify docs. Period.

That may be your argument and its possible that Trump will argue that case in his defence, but the charges laid for 184 documents found at his personal address are not based on that power or the documents being classified. So its a moot point which the higher courts may allow to be resolved, depending if Trump lawyers raise it formally.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 1:50 pm

there are three not two branches of government in the USA.

Unfortunately, the tree is rotten and the roots are giving way. More CO2 should help so please burn more coal, oil and wood.

But only the dead wood which can be found in just about every Guv’ment in the World.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 1:51 pm

Had some appointments down in Coastal Town today.
Headed off early and had a quick nine holes with my brother and few of his mates.
Coffee afterwards in the clubhouse and a fkn Yessir in the group starts “engaging”.
Pretty obvious no-one wanted to go there. It’s not my social group so I tried to stay out (no-one was changing opinions imho) but when pressed I said “I’m a no, because Albo hasn’t spelled out how it would work”.
Conversation ended abruptly when the retired car-dealer (a man of few words who spent a lifetime not offending people) finally spoke up. “I got two words for you mate … Geoff Clark”.
Some memories don’t fade.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 1:54 pm

Former prime minister Tony Abbott has warned Voice opponents not to take the possible defeat of the Voice for granted despite ‘encouraging’ poll results

Tony Abbott has said No voters cannot be “complacent” ahead of the referendum, warning that despite recent disastrous polls for the Voice the “weight of money” was behind the Yes campaign.

“A lot of people have obviously made up their mind, and I think a lot of people have made up their mind to say No. But again, there’s still nine days to go,” Mr Abbott said.

“And I only have to turn on my television or turn on my radio to see where the money is flowing.

“That’s why I don’t think anyone can be complacent, even though I don’t think the Yes campaign has gone well, and I don’t think the Yes argument is really anything other than you’ve got to do it because that’s the vibe.”

“Given the moral pressure and the weight of money behind the Yes campaign, I’m certainly doing everything I possibly can to remind my fellow Australians that this Voice would be wrong in principle and very bad in practice,” he said.

“And the point I keep making is that constitutional change is for keeps – this matters. You can change a bad law you can change a bad government, but gee whiz, if you make a mistake with the constitution, you’re stuck with it forever.”

When Credlin asked what similarities he saw between the two referendums, the former prime minister said both the Republican issue and Voice Yes case were “pushed by the elites”.

“People are entitled to their view… But in the end, the constitution has got to belong to everyone,” he said.

“I want our constitution to have all Australians as equals. I certainly don’t want to see our constitution change so that we’ve got different classes of citizen in effect, depending upon how long some of your ancestors have been in this country.”

The former Liberal leader also claimed that the constitutional recognition process he had set up as prime minister had gone “off the rails” after he left office.

“What I had intended to be a process involving all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, and including a constitutional convention involving a broad range of people, became very much a hand-picked process of people who could be counted upon to support the Uluru Statement ideals of voice treaty, truth,” he said.

“I think the kindest thing you can say about the Uluru process is that it was guided. Certainly, I think there was a predetermined outcome that the activist class had in mind.

“They don’t just want Voice, they want treaty and truth. But just at the moment, that’s not what they want to admit, because they know that the public are very, very averse to anything that involves reparations and retelling Australia’s history is a story of shame.”

Mr Abbott said that his plan for constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians was to change the preamble of the constitution.

“After the words one indivisible federal Commonwealth (I planned) to add these words ‘with an Indigenous heritage, a British foundation, and an immigrant character’.

“Because we do have an Indigenous heritage, we did have a British foundation, we do have an immigrant character.

“I think this is a nice shorthand description of our country, and importantly, it’s got something for everyone – because the constitution has got to belong to everyone.

“As Bob Hawke famously said, all those years back: This is a country with no hierarchy of descent. This is a country with no privilege of origin.

And I reckon that’s well preserved by the proposal that I was working towards back in 2015.”

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 1:55 pm

Other Bondi Partners staffers include former senior Trump administration officials Mick Mulvaney and Emma Doyle, as well as Australia’s first astronaut, Paul Scully-Power.

I had a fleeting exposure to “Australia’s first astronaut” in a previous life.
Underwhelming.

Jorge
Jorge
October 6, 2023 1:57 pm

Those seventy one academic experts who say a Yes is not constitutionally risky ….

WTF does that mean ? Who said it was ?

If later outcomes depend upon the High Court there’s no knowing how things may go.

caveman
caveman
October 6, 2023 2:01 pm

“Hey you dickheads and dinosaurs have ya googled it ,ya lazy mongrels.”

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 2:06 pm

Adam Briggs and Nathan Buckley who backs the referendum despite admitting in the 86-second clip that he doesn’t know how it will work.

And that reminds me of “Man Tits (Boobs) Short-On-Brains” and this comment –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf4nlIEHfaU

LayBore in ‘action’ wiv’ yer’ money. FFS.

feelthebern
feelthebern
October 6, 2023 2:08 pm

Give me one ping, Vasily.

Pratt also said Trump told him about a Russian sub move called “The Crazy Ivan”.

Speedbox
October 6, 2023 2:11 pm

Robert Sewell
Oct 6, 2023 1:44 PM

The repayment on a $500,000 loan over 25 years at 7% is $3533.84 per month. What are the terms for the repayment you quoted?

Robert Sewell
October 6, 2023 2:12 pm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia-class_submarine
Armament: 12 VLS & four torpedo tubes, capable of launching Mark 48 torpedoes, UGM-109 Tactical Tomahawks, Harpoon missiles[111] and the new advanced mobile mine when it becomes available.[112] Block V boats will have the additional VPM module which contains four large diameter tubes which can accommodate seven Tomahawk cruise missiles each. This would increase the total number of torpedo-sized weapons (such as Tomahawks) carried by the Virginia-class design from about 37 to about 65—an increase of about 76%.[113]

Megan
Megan
October 6, 2023 2:12 pm

Sitrep for Major General Fogerty AO (Ret).

Your long-winded missive of yesterday evening disclosing the carefully planned rearguard action with the aim of reclaiming the previously undamaged reputation of the mighty Defence Health Battalion hit a deep trench immediately the order to Charge was given, and has clearly failed to reach the front-line troops.

The situation has significantly worsened in the last 18 hours with communications lines breaking down under the increasing weight of enemy personnel numbers attempting to (a) clarify previous messages, and (b) find out what the hell is going on Inquire as to the nature and aim of the current mission.

I also draw your attention to the highly specialised technical machinery, code name HICAPS, has ceased operation despite the 8 attempts made by Private Footsore to receive repayment of expenses and get it going earlier this afternoon. Punching it, swearing at it and tossing it out into Burgundy St traffic all failed miserably. The Battalion awaits your orders as to recovery or salvage.

I wish you good day and a weekend of respite from ploughing through the bog into which you and your 2IC have driven our previously unblemished and highly efficient unit.

Kind regards,

Lt.Col. Fleur Pettite. AOhoh, DMC with bar (Ret. X2) Headquarters.

Megan
Megan
October 6, 2023 2:13 pm

Aaarrrggghhh! Strikeouts have made a run for it! Duck!

Speedbox
October 6, 2023 2:14 pm

feelthebern
Oct 6, 2023 2:08 PM

Hahaha. I actually quite enjoyed that movie although a Russian submarine captain with a distinct Scottish accent was a bit hard to accept.

Megan
Megan
October 6, 2023 2:16 pm

HTML has come to the assistance of HICAPS. The revolution has begun.

Vicki
Vicki
October 6, 2023 2:18 pm

‘Exhausted’ McGowan has four jobs, including one with Joe Hockey

They don’t let grass grow under their feet, do they? But I note that they don’t enter the “not for profit” sector, either.

Perhaps I am being too hard.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 2:18 pm

Sancho Panzer
Oct 6, 2023 1:55 PM

Other Bondi Partners staffers include former senior Trump administration officials Mick Mulvaney and Emma Doyle, as well as Australia’s first astronaut, Paul Scully-Power.

I had a fleeting exposure to “Australia’s first astronaut” in a previous life.
Underwhelming.

Agreed – I knew him at St John’s College Sydney Uni and in Distinction Maths Class I
1962

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 2:19 pm

Alamak!
Oct 6, 2023 1:42 PM
Sounds like a King

It’s quite literally meant to

working with a legislature but not inferior or superior to it.

there are three not two branches of government in the USA.

Your comments today are low IQ trolling.

No one denied how the Polybian tradition of the separation of posts worked. Your ignorance regarding the status of the President was being relieved. It still needs to be massaged.

As for the courts, they declassify a tiny proportion of documents as part of discovery and so on. They have no reason nor inherent power to do so. They’re not relevant you twit and no one ever entertained the idea the courts don’t exist.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 2:19 pm

caveman
Oct 6, 2023 2:01 PM
“Hey you dickheads and dinosaurs have ya googled it ,ya lazy mongrels.”

Yes and T-Rex (and the rest of the family) says that he/she/others will eat ‘Yes’ on October the 14th.

It’s all in the rocks if you look hard enuf’.

And those rocks are at least 150 million years old. Or even older. My geology is a bit rusty.

BTW – Tennis Elbow, Ray Martin ‘Hartin Fartin’ and many others have rocks for brains.

Megan
Megan
October 6, 2023 2:23 pm

The retired Mjr.Gen reads the Cat. Just recieved grovelling and apologetic phone call from lowly Private on the comms front line at Defence Health.

SNAFU is the short version.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
October 6, 2023 2:24 pm

Yes vote honours longtime Muslim-Indigenous ties: PM
Staff writers
Staff writers

Anthony Albanese has urged the Muslim community to support the Yes vote to “show Australia our best”, and to continue a “relationship of equals, built on equal respect” between the two cultures.

In a speech at Lakemba Mosque, Sydney, the Prime Minister spoke about the long history of Muslim and Indigenous people working together, which he noted predated British colonisation.

“The truth is, that since then the relationships between Aboriginal people and Muslims across Australia has been present for centuries,” he said.

The Muslim community was encouraged to engage with “neighbours, to speak to your friends, to speak to your community”.

“Explain what this is about,” Mr Albanese said. “And it’s about just two things. One: recognising that this land did not begin in 1770, but goes back some 65,000,000 years, with the oldest continuous culture on Earth. A culture we share on this great continent of ours.

“And the second thing is the form of recognition is the form of recognition that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have asked for.”

Robert Sewell
October 6, 2023 2:24 pm

Old Ozzie:

The head of NATO’s Military Committee is urging the alliance to increase arms production, warning the “bottom of the barrel” of NATO’s stockpiles is now visible due to the massive amounts of weapons and ammunition that have been shipped to Ukraine.

So now would be the time for Putin – if he was as mad as the Western Press would have us believe, to launch an across the Front assault on Western Europe when their fuel supplies are at rock bottom levels, when their munitions barrels are empty, the manpower levels are at the lowest in decades, and the majority of Europe’s governments are pro socialist and we would run out of our munitions in 3 days.
It seems like a good indicator the Poot isn’t as mad as he’s made out doesn’t it?

JC
JC
October 6, 2023 2:28 pm

Alamak!
Oct 6, 2023 1:49 PM

The argument is NOT that POTUS can do anything, nor that he is not accountable, rather it is that POTUS is the head of the executive branch of Gov and has the power to de-classify docs. Period.

That may be your argument and its possible that Trump will argue that case in his defence, but the charges laid for 184 documents found at his personal address are not based on that power or the documents being classified. So its a moot point which the higher courts may allow to be resolved, depending if Trump lawyers raise it formally.

And we head back to your suggestion of conventions and protocols again, albeit this time indirectly. If he deems those documents to be declassified during his period in the presidency, then they are. If he bundles them up and takes them with him after leaving, they still remain unclassified, and that’s that. You keep walking through all these tunnels inside this burrow, and you end up where Dot explained it to you.

And if the lower court finds him guilty, please don’t come on here boasting about your prescience because lower courts in American cities are demon rat holes. Just wait until the appeals are over.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 2:35 pm

as well as Australia’s first astronaut, Paul Scully-Power.

I had a fleeting exposure to “Australia’s first astronaut” in a previous life.
Underwhelming.

Agreed – I knew him at St John’s College Sydney Uni and in Distinction Maths Class I
1962

I was doing some consulting work for a company where he was “Chief Technology Officer” and attended a few management conferences where he was also in attendance.
“In attendance” is the kindest spin I can put on it.
I mean, it was a part-time figurehead PR role, I get that. No-one was expecting him to develop any whizz-bang IP. But it probably wasn’t too much to ask to stay awake and give the captive audience bit of an inspirational speech about the Golden Years of NASA.
All we got was a disinterested monotone monologue heavily featuring the first person singular.
Very Kruddy.

Rosie
Rosie
October 6, 2023 2:36 pm

Albanese is making me very uneasy.

I don’t trust him and I certainly don’t trust the authors of the Ayer’s Rock statement.

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 2:37 pm

That may be your argument and its possible that Trump will argue that case in his defence, but the charges laid for 184 documents found at his personal address are not based on that power or the documents being classified. So its a moot point which the higher courts may allow to be resolved, depending if Trump lawyers raise it formally.

If they’re not classified then there is still no offence.

This is like telling a kid their sandcastle is going to be knocked over by the waves, but they keep on rebuilding it.

The only way Trump wasn’t authorised to take them would be if he broke into the White House AFTER Biden was sworn in.

Who authorised Trump to take them?

Donald Trump, as President, the only executive officer with any constitutional power and also commander in chief.

My god. This is just pathetic.

Trump – like any President, could/can declassify documents and run the military as he pleases.

This is all deflection away from Biden’s criminality.

Sniffing little girls.
10% for the big guy.
Unauthorised documents kept as Vice President.

Remember in the last week it was pointed out that multiple US agencies demanded to have the documents sent back to them, at the same time?

Which department was right? Trump has a right not to cause anyone else to commit a criminal act. If each department contended they were the rightful owners then someone would break the law.

It’s an absolute sham, defence documents belong in the national archives. Some of which were Trump’s own event planning documents.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 2:37 pm

Your comments today are low IQ trolling.

How so?

Alamak!
Oct 6, 2023 1:42 PM
Sounds like a King

It’s quite literally meant to

working with a legislature but not inferior or superior to it.

there are three not two branches of government in the USA.

Alamak is quite correct.

Get back in yer’ box Dotty Dot of Dottiness.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 2:39 pm

Speedbox

Oct 6, 2023 2:11 PM

Robert Sewell
Oct 6, 2023 1:44 PM

The repayment on a $500,000 loan over 25 years at 7% is $3533.84 per month. What are the terms for the repayment you quoted?

Potatonomics.

Rosie
Rosie
October 6, 2023 2:39 pm

Albanese seems to be suggesting that muslims might get back-door access to the invoice.

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 2:40 pm

Damn you autocorrect

“of how the separation of powers worked”

Black Ball
Black Ball
October 6, 2023 2:44 pm

Labor maaattteeesss. Daily Telegraph with Adelaide Lang reporting:

Disgraced former NSW MP Eddie Obeid, his son Moses and former NSW mining minister Ian Macdonald have lost their bid to have their corruption convictions overturned.

The trio were sentenced to jail time in October 2021 after they were found guilty of conspiring to commit wilful misconduct in public office over a $60m mine licence.

Justice Elizabeth Fullerton found the Obeids had conspired with Macdonald, who was NSW minister of mineral resources, in 2008 about the grant of a lucrative mining exploration licence.

In 2008 and 2009, Macdonald passed on confidential information about the government tender for the licence over the Obeid family property at Mount Penny in the Bylong Valley.

The coal exploration licence was granted in 2009 by Macdonald’s ministerial department and the Obeids raked in $30m.

Another $30m was in the pipeline before the Independent Commission Against Corruption intervened and cancelled the licence.

The trio were charged following an inquiry by ICAC and found guilty of the multimillion-dollar conspiracy.

Eddie Obeid was sentenced to a maximum prison term of seven years, Moses Obeid received a maximum of five years, and Macdonald was jailed for a maximum of 9 years and six months.

The trio launched an appeal to quash their convictions, with their lawyers arguing the prosecution had not shown they had plotted together to commit a crime.

They claimed the guilty verdicts handed down two years ago were “unreasonable or unable to be supported by the evidence”.

NSW Chief Justice Andrew Bell, Acting Justice John Basten and Justice Richard Button disagreed in a written judgment handed down on Friday.

“The court is of the view that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt the existence of a conspiracy as alleged in the indictment, and that each of the co-accused were participants in it,” they wrote.

All three conviction appeals were dismissed by the panel of judges in the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.

Macdonald also failed in a separate appeal against the severity of his minimum five-year prison sentence, which his lawyers maintained was “manifestly excessive”.

The appeal judges determined the jail term was appropriate given the “serious breach of public trust” engendered by Macdonald’s misconduct.

“Actions utterly corrosive of public trust by a minister of the Crown do unquantifiable damage to our democracy,” Chief Justice Bell wrote in the judgment.

Macdonald will be eligible to apply for parole on January 20, 2027.

The Obeids will also remain behind bars for at least a year until they have served their minimum jail terms.

Top Ender
Top Ender
October 6, 2023 2:45 pm

Albo: “…goes back some 65,000,000 years, with the oldest continuous culture on Earth”

Prolly needs to shut up on that point. It simply invites criticism as to why the culture wasn’t further along when whitey arrived.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2023 2:45 pm

Tom Fitton
@TomFitton

Breaking: I’ve carefully reviewed the latest brief filed by Trump’s legal team which alleges that the US Constitution prohibits the Biden regime’s unprecedented attack on our constitutional system through a crazed prosecution of Trump for daring to question Biden’s election victory. Trump’s legal team makes a powerful and persuasive constitutional case to DISMISS Biden regime’s effort to jail him for simply doing his job as president to try to ensure the laws concerning elections were faithfully enforced and followed. The brief’s introduction:

The President of the United States sits at the heart of our system of government. He is our Nation’s leader, our head of state, and our head of government. As such, the founders tasked the President—and the President alone—with the sacred obligation of “tak[ing] Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.” U.S. CONST. art. II, § 3.

To ensure the President may serve unhesitatingly, without fear that his political opponents may one day prosecute him for decisions they dislike, the law provides absolute immunity “for acts within the ‘outer perimeter’ of [the President’s] official responsibility.” Nixon v. Fitzgerald 457 U.S. 731, 756 (1982) (quoting Barr v. Matteo, 360 U.S. 564, 575 (1959) (plurality opinion)).

Breaking 234 years of precedent, the incumbent administration has charged President Trump for acts that lie not just within the “outer perimeter,” but at the heart of his official responsibilities as President. In doing so, the prosecution does not, and cannot, argue that President Trump’s efforts to ensure election integrity, and to advocate for the same, were outside the scope of his duties. Instead, the prosecution falsely claimsthat President Trump’s motives were impure— that he purportedly “knew” that the widespread reports of fraud and election irregularities were untrue but sought to address them anyway. But as the Constitution, the Supreme Court, and hundreds of years of history and tradition all make clear, the President’s motivations are not for the prosecution or this Court to decide. Rather, where, as here, the President’s actions are within the ambit of his office, he is absolutely immune from prosecution. Spalding v. Vilas, 161 U.S. 483, 494, 949 (1896) (“The ‘allegation of malicious or corrupt motives’ does not affect a public official’s immunity and “[t]he motive that impelled [the official] to do that of which the plaintiff Case 1:23-cr-00257-TSC Document 74 Filed 10/05/23 Page 7 of 52 2 complains is … wholly immaterial.”). Therefore, the Court should dismiss the indictment, with prejudice. Midland Asphalt Corp. v. United States, 489 U.S. 794, 801 (1989) (“Dismissal of the indictment is the proper sanction when a defendant has been granted immunity from prosecution…”) (citation omitted).

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 2:46 pm

The head of NATO’s Military Committee is urging the alliance to increase arms production, warning the “bottom of the barrel” of NATO’s stockpiles is now visible due to the massive amounts of weapons and ammunition that have been shipped to Ukraine.

They need more than “arms” production. They need legs and many other body parts. The poor devils are cannon fodder for the US Neocons and ‘Z’ the UKR clown in a silly military uniform. What a dressed up crook.

Crossie
Crossie
October 6, 2023 2:46 pm

Sancho Panzer
Oct 6, 2023 1:55 PM
Other Bondi Partners staffers include former senior Trump administration officials Mick Mulvaney and Emma Doyle, as well as Australia’s first astronaut, Paul Scully-Power

Mick Mulvaney is greatly admired by James Morrow from The Outsiders and The US Report because he loves to dump on Trump. Morrow also hates Trump so hardly an unbiased US report.

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 2:48 pm

working with a legislature but not inferior or superior to it.

there are three not two branches of government in the USA.

Alamak is quite correct.

Except that Kamala and Biden loving shill was wrong and taking me out of context.

What was being explained was the peculiar status of the US President, which is like the late Stuart era King (post 1689) before Parliamentary government came into being more or less as we know it now which happened under Queen Anne’s reign.

No one was asserting the US government doesn’t have three branches.

The judiciary’s role on document declassification is minute and virtually irrelevant.

It is annoying to have repeat myself but some people are slow learners.

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 2:48 pm

Your comments today are low IQ trolling.

No one denied how the Polybian tradition of the separation of posts worked. Your ignorance regarding the status of the President was being relieved. It still needs to be massaged.

As for the courts, they declassify a tiny proportion of documents as part of discovery and so on. They have no reason nor inherent power to do so. They’re not relevant you twit and no one ever entertained the idea the courts don’t exist.

Whoosh. You haven’t understood the argument at all. Nobody at all suggested that courts do the “declassification” thingy – just that the Judiciary might offer guidance and rulings if asked on how/who/when.

Roger
Roger
October 6, 2023 2:48 pm

Albanese is making me very uneasy.

I don’t trust him and I certainly don’t trust the authors of the Ayer’s Rock statement.

Amazing that one week out from the vote we’re back to “Don’t worry about the details; this is just about recognition.”

Albo makes Bill Shorten look like a model of probity.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
October 6, 2023 2:49 pm

Vicki, politicians have already been in the “not for profit” sector. Why anyone employs them afterwards who knows. It can only be to suck in others with no idea. Shirley it can only be to get more government work at inflated prices. We never stop paying for these vermin.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 2:51 pm

Macdonald will be eligible to apply for parole on January 20, 2027.

The Obeids will also remain behind bars for at least a year until they have served their minimum jail terms.

Keep them all in the Slammer and only let them out when they have broken 9,999,999 rocks each.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2023 2:51 pm

Live look at the Republican House.

Someone has no sense of humour or, more likely, pressed downtick without even looking.

JC
JC
October 6, 2023 2:52 pm

just that the Judiciary might offer guidance and rulings if asked on how/who/when.

They can’t, FFS.

The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.

You cannot curve ball that, posted by Dot. You’re trolling now.

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 2:52 pm

Whoosh. You haven’t understood the argument at all. Nobody at all suggested that courts do the “declassification” thingy – just that the Judiciary might offer guidance and rulings if asked on how/who/when.

That’s not how common law courts work.

/whoosh!

Fair Shake
Fair Shake
October 6, 2023 2:54 pm

Albo: “…goes back some 65,000,000 years, with the oldest continuous culture on Earth”

The powerful European Millner industry upon invasion destroyed Aboriginal R&D labs that were on the cusp of developing a device for head covering to be known as a ‘hat’.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
October 6, 2023 2:55 pm

Backward Kamala it is you that doesn’t understand, capiche.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 2:55 pm

Albanese seems to be suggesting that muslims might get back-door access to the invoice.

The muzzies don’t like the back door. Look at how many ‘shirtlifters’ get thrown off the roof.

Frank
Frank
October 6, 2023 2:57 pm

Amazing that one week out from the vote we’re back to “Don’t worry about the details; this is just about recognition.”

Makes you wonder about competence doesn’t it. Either that or the real game of government is knobbing staffers, drinking the parliamentary bar dry and organising graft. All else: details, details… for the little people.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2023 2:58 pm

Tom Fitton
@TomFitton

Judicial Watch Sues Secret Service for Records of Attacks by Biden German Shepherd ‘Commander’

(Washington, DC) – @JudicialWatch announced today that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Secret Service for records regarding incidents of aggression and bites involving President Joe Biden’s Dog, Commander (Judicial Watch Inc, v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (No. 1:23-cv-02960)).

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia after the Secret Service (a component of the Department of Homeland Security) failed to respond to a July 31, 2023, request for all records involving the “Biden family dog, ‘Commander,’ including but not limited to communications sent to and from [Secret Service] officials in the Uniformed and Non-Uniformed Divisions involved in White House operations and the Presidential Protection Division.”

(Acquired in December 2021, Commander, a pure-bred German Shepherd, replaced another German Shepherd, Major, which was reportedly “given to family friends” following a series of attacks on Secret Service and White House staff. In April 2022, Judicial Watch released records detailing multiple attacks and damages to Secret Service members by Major at both the White House and Biden’s lake home in Wilmington, DE.)

In July, Judicial Watch uncovered records from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a related lawsuit revealing 10 attacks by Biden’s German Shepherd, Commander, on officers of the Secret Service between October 2022 and January 2023. In several cases the agents required medical care, including at a hospital.

The records included a November 5, 2022, email exchange between a Uniformed Division officer and the November 3 attack victim, the first officer asked, “Doing alright [redacted]? That’s freaking crazy that stupid dog – rolling my eyes [redacted].” The victim replied, “My leg and arm still hurts. He bit me twice and ran at me twice.” The colleague replied, “What a joke [redacted] – if it wasn’t their dog he would already have been put down – freaking clown needs a muzzle – hope you get to feeling better [redacted].”

The dog reportedly has been removed from the White House after its most recent attack on a Secret Service agent and other White House staff. According to a Judicial Watch source, President Biden has mistreated his dogs. Judicial Watch has learned he has punched and kicked his dogs.

“It is beyond belief that, even after Judicial Watch exposed their attacking 10 Secret Service personnel, Joe and Jill Biden have continued to let their dog menace and attack Secret Service and White House staff. Let’s be blunt: the dangerous dog could kill someone,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The ongoing Biden administration cover-up of the Biden dog attacks on Secret Service agents is dangerous corruption.”

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 3:01 pm

You cannot curve ball that, posted by Dot. You’re trolling now.

If listing EO’s and pointing to specific laws is trolling then I must be using an outdated thesaurus …

Good that we both agree the US legal appeals process, if used by Trump & his team, could throw some light on the novel theories posted online about how declassification should work and why his sharing of secrets post-presidency should be allowed.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 3:02 pm

Potatonomics.

Bidenomics or Comics?.

Keep those borders open Rawhide –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdR6MN2jKYs&t=123s

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
October 6, 2023 3:07 pm

News
Breaking News

Richard Marles defends AFP amid claims they ‘failed to protect’ Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe

The Deputy Prime Minister has responded to revelations that neo-Nazis have threatened Indigenous senator Lidia Thorpe ahead of the Voice referendum.

I’m still calling “Bullsh!t” over Lidia Thorpe’s claims.

Roger
Roger
October 6, 2023 3:08 pm

Albo: “…goes back some 65,000,000 years, with the oldest continuous culture on Earth”

Prolly needs to shut up on that point. It simply invites criticism as to why the culture wasn’t further along when whitey arrived.

It’s also not true.

The last of the Pintubi Nine who walked out of the Gibson Desert 40 years ago now live in houses with all mod cons and listen to popular forms of Western music.

I dare say there is nobody now living the traditional life (based on their totemic cultural beliefs) as the indigenous were before white settlement.

Cassie of Sydney
October 6, 2023 3:09 pm

Albanese is making me very uneasy.

I don’t trust him and I certainly don’t trust the authors of the Ayer’s Rock statement.”

Same. He’s getting desperate and he’s playing identity politics.

As for this rot…

“In a speech at Lakemba Mosque, Sydney, the Prime Minister spoke about the long history of Muslim and Indigenous people working together, which he noted predated British colonisation.”

Absolute bullshit. In fact, if he wants to go down the road of using minorities to parrot his vanity project, it’s actually the Australian Jewish community that has long been vocal, and has long advocated for this country’s indigenous people, far more than any Muslim community, recent or old. But Jews don’t suit Sleazy’s hard-left narrative. Here’s a fact, he’s always been a Trot, and an anti-Semite. A quite despicable individual.

As for Sleazy’s statement about a “long history”….what long history? Indonesian fisherman probably arrived in northern waters in the 1500s, no earlier, they came for fish, but nothing else inspired them. However, the truth is that any Indonesian Muslims sailing through the Torres Straits arrived later, probably in the 1600s and early 1700s. And I suspect that any knowledge they had about parts of northern Australian they had probably gleaned from the Dutch. And anyway, Islam isn’t historically old in Indonesia, it only arrived with missionaries at the end of the 13th century, it spread slowly, not rapidly. The older religion in the Indonesian archipelago was Hinduism, later, much later, supplanted by Islam. Hinduism arrived in Indonesia around the time of the birth of Jesus. So perhaps the very sleazy, pig ignorant member for Grayndler should acknowledge the long association between Hinduism and this country’s indigenous, because that would likely be more factual.

Sleazy does shit very well, but this shit he’s propagating is dangerous.

Vote NO, and use a PEN.

Frank
Frank
October 6, 2023 3:10 pm

According to a Judicial Watch source, President Biden has mistreated his dogs. Judicial Watch has learned he has punched and kicked his dogs.

Dems must be serious about ridding themselves of the Bidens for the next election if that one got out. Cruelty to dogs would be one of the worst things to be accused of in modern America. Being a serial sexual predator gets a pass however.

calli
calli
October 6, 2023 3:12 pm

Did he really say that? Sixty five million years?

He does know that it’s the borderline between dinosaurs and mammals in Oz, still part of Gondwana.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 3:14 pm

Alamak!
Oct 6, 2023 3:01 PM
You cannot curve ball that, posted by Dot. You’re trolling now.

BS “Jer Cough Cretin”. The Russians and the Chinese have enough Sexy lady spies in the USA and other places to know what is going on. Maybe a few “Shirtlifters” as well for those that like it up the “back alley” LOL.

Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 3:15 pm

Good that we both agree the US legal appeals process, if used by Trump & his team, could throw some light on the novel theories posted online about how declassification should work and why his sharing of secrets post-presidency should be allowed.

No one agrees with you here, buddy.

We all know how it works already. It’s a mystery to you because you think Article II of the US constitution does not exist. The separation of powers exists to constrain Congress, except when Trump is involved; the military suddenly is only ultimately answerable to the legislature and Trump becomes a responsible government executive, despite not actually sitting in Congress. Amazing! Novel!

Not as novel as asking for friendly advice from the bench in a common law country on how to declassify a document, but still.

If listing EO’s and pointing to specific laws is trolling then I must be using an outdated thesaurus …

You are indeed trolling. You didn’t cite any specific EOs.

If a President can make an executive order modifying legislation, then the legislation has no binding effect. Bringing this up is a red herring. The idea that a President is bound to their own EO or a prior President’s EO is bizarre.

JC
JC
October 6, 2023 3:15 pm

If listing EO’s and pointing to specific laws is trolling then I must be using an outdated thesaurus …

You’re not even using an outdated one. You’re making shit up as you go along.

Good that we both agree the US legal appeals process, if used by Trump & his team, could throw some light on the novel theories posted online about how declassification should work and why his sharing of secrets post-presidency should be allowed.

I’m not seeing here that you agree,and it’s just another one of your smartarse comments.

Look, if docs that are unclassified by virtue of the office of the president require protocols to be followed before they’re taken, it negates the point that there are no limitations on the executive head in this regard. It would logically follow. There aren’t, and any protocols and conventions are just that.

(A side note.)
I’ll remind you that Clinton took numerous documents with him, and he wasn’t indicted under the Espionage Act. The Kenyan certainly took documents with him, and presumably so did Bush Jr.

P
P
October 6, 2023 3:16 pm

The Voice will provide advice to the parliament and executive government on matters relating to Indigenous peoples.

And if those matters also relate to nonindigenous persons,
e.g. the Flag, the Anthem, what then?

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 3:19 pm

Dems must be serious about ridding themselves of the Bidens for the next election if that one got out. Cruelty to dogs would be one of the worst things to be accused of in modern America. Being a serial sexual predator gets a pass however.

Imagine Dildo Biden as a dog sniffer and not having a sniffer dog.

And if that ever got out. Sorry people, Fake News. Nothing to see or smell here. LOL.

Robert Sewell
October 6, 2023 3:20 pm

Robert Sewell

Oct 6, 2023 1:44 PM
Commonwealth Bank Home loan:
$500,000 (Average home loan)
$7,536 repayment per month.
$2,712,754 total loan repayment.
$2,212,754 Total Interest repayment.

That’s the numbers for 18% interest rates as quoted elsewhere.

JC
JC
October 6, 2023 3:22 pm

Wodney, don’t insinuate yourself into a perfectly good trouncing discussion in order to ruin it. Remain silent. Go talk bedroom whispers to the ladyboy.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 3:22 pm

AFR Announcements

Joe Aston to leave the Financial Review

Joe Aston has decided to resign from The Australian Financial Review following an extraordinary 12 years in which he turned the masthead’s Rear Window into the nation’s most riveting daily column and among its most compelling journalism.

The Financial Review’s Editor-in-chief, Michael Stutchbury, said Aston was leaving at the top of his game as he took a break from the daunting mission of holding power and hypocrisy to account day in and day out and to open up the options for the next phase of his career.

“He took the helm of the Rear Window gossip column in late 2011 as a 28-year-old,” Stutchbury said in a note to staff.

“Over the next dozen years, he turned it into Australia’s must-read business and political column, capped by his sustained dissection of Alan Joyce and Qantas over the past year.

“Joe graduated from corporate star spotting at Global HQ, aka Rockpool Bar & Grill, to high-level corporate analysis. He turned a ‘gossip column’ into a form of journalism never seen before in Australia, and arguably the world.”

Stutchbury said Aston took Rear Window to a new level in 2017 when his justified discrediting of Alex Malley led to the firing of the chief executive of the accountants’ body CPA Australia and the mass resignation of its board.

“A gossip column had become public interest journalism,” he said.

The Alex Malley episode followed his pursuit of Murray Goulburn’s Gary Helou, who was ultimately disqualified by the Federal Court from managing corporations for three years.

And it gave way to his relentless coverage of Rio Tinto chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques over the Juukan Gorge destruction, and his revelations surrounding the decline of Magellan and its co-founder Hamish Douglass.

“It became an adage that, under Joe, Rear Window was the column business and political figures loved to read – so long as they weren’t mentioned in it,” Stutchbury said.

Aston said: “It’s been the most tremendous privilege to write Rear Window for the past 12 years. To get paid for doing this job is an outrageous racket, for which I am thankful.

“I will really miss working with so many talented and devoted colleagues at the Financial Review, whose work is so important for our capital market and our democracy.

“You cannot speak truth to power so unflinchingly without having an unwavering editor behind you. In that regard, there is no editor in Australia like Michael Stutchbury, and I am supremely grateful for his backing over the years.

“Thank you, as well, to the Financial Review’s awesome, loyal readers for their encouragement, feedback and support.”

Aston will file for Rear Window for another week. The Financial Review will appoint another top writer to join Myriam Robin, Aston’s trusted Rear Window partner for the past six years.

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 3:24 pm

if decisions re declassification are the purview of the executive than its outside judicial oversight. Otherwise, it would compromise separation of powers.

Separation of powers is built into the structure of the US Govt by way of division into the three branches of state. Nothing is outside legal adjudication if it’s related to legislation passed by Congress or can be linked to the Constitution with possible exception of the FISA courts and their warrants.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 3:26 pm

Revealed: who’s inside the Qantas Chairman’s Lounge

Ayesha de Kretser – Senior reporter

Qantas says it has extended a Chairman’s Lounge membership to every secretary and deputy secretary in the federal bureaucracy, as well as the chairmen and chief commissioners of key government agencies.

While the airline has declined to reveal the membership list for the exclusive – and notoriously secretive – club, Qantas confirmed in written responses to a Senate inquiry that it included “secretaries and deputy secretaries of Commonwealth departments, the chairs, chief commissioners and CEOs of key agencies and senior members of the military”.

There are six Qantas Chairman’s Lounge locations – in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and Perth airports; they were designed to bring the luxury of international first-class lounges to domestic travellers. Membership of the Chairman’s Lounge is for two years, renewed at Qantas’ discretion. No fees are charged.

Both Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairwoman Gina Cass-Gottlieb – and several commissioners – and Australian Securities and Investments Commission chairman Joe Longo, and his two deputies – are members of the Chairman’s Lounge despite regulating the airline.

Since Qantas executives were asked the membership of the Chairman’s Lounge at a Senate hearing, several senior public servants have disclosed they have been gifted access. That includes Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet secretary Glyn Davis and deputy secretaries Nadine Williams, Liz Hefren-Webb, Rachel Bacon and Scott Dewar, who was appointed Australia’s next ambassador in Beijing last month.

The airline also declined to say how many free upgrades have been given to politicians as part of their membership over the past 12 months, suggesting politicians should disclose these.

“For privacy reasons, we are unable to disclose personal information regarding flights taken by individuals,” it said. “It is up to members and senators to update their register of interests, as appropriate.”

The Australian Financial Review Rear Window column reported that Anthony Albanese’s, son, Nathan was conferred membership to the club, raising questions about the prime minister’s relationship with Qantas after the unexplained blocking of Qatar Airways? bid to expand in Australia.

Qantas would not say exactly when it arranged for Mr Albanese to attend its August 14 launch of support for the Yes campaign, revealing the meeting was set in “early July”.

A Qantas spokesman declined to comment when asked exactly how the meeting was set up, or the date.

The government told a group of women who are engaged in legal action against Qatar Airways on July 10 that the Middle Eastern carrier’s request to fly more planes to Australia was “not being considered.”

Qantas would not confirm what discussions it held with Mr Albanese about Qatar’s request or when, with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet also unwilling to disclose details of meetings with the airline in questioning last week.

Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson would not say whether the airline would yet again raise objections to Qatar expanding its services to Australia’s main airports.

Robert Sewell
October 6, 2023 3:27 pm

Speedbox
Oct 6, 2023 2:11 PM
Robert Sewell

Oct 6, 2023 1:44 PM

The repayment on a $500,000 loan over 25 years at 7% is $3533.84 per month. What are the terms for the repayment you quoted?

Yes – sorry about that – I forgot to put in the interest rate.
18% which is the rate someone else quoted this morning.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2023 3:29 pm
Dot
Dot
October 6, 2023 3:29 pm

Nothing is outside legal adjudication if it’s related to legislation passed by Congress or can be linked to the Constitution

Ever heard of the phrase “non justiciable”?

You are talking out of your rear.

JC
JC
October 6, 2023 3:29 pm

Turtlehead

Just give the guy the link to the interest calculator thing you’re using. That’s all you needed to do without attempting to impress folks. Go eat some of that frozen yam you have in the freezer.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 3:30 pm

Roger

Oct 6, 2023 2:48 PM

Albanese is making me very uneasy.

I don’t trust him and I certainly don’t trust the authors of the Ayer’s Rock statement.

Amazing that one week out from the vote we’re back to “Don’t worry about the details; this is just about recognition.”

The thing is, he has now screwed over any chance of a symbolic recognition in the preamble to the Conshishushin as well.
If Dutton continues with his hare-brained plan to have a “recognition only” referendum*, people will simply say, “Huh? Didn’t we already vote on this?” simply because of Luigi’s sleight of hand this time around.
Mind you, many who might have once voted for the symbolic “R” would vote against it now, given the noises from sections of the judiciary. They are starting to sound awfully like people looking for any peg to hang their activist hats on.

* I don’t think that is Dutton’s intent. It is a stupid attempt to prolong the issue as a wedge against Labor.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2023 3:31 pm
Robert Sewell
October 6, 2023 3:34 pm

ZK2A:

“The truth is, that since then the relationships between Aboriginal people and Muslims across Australia has been present for centuries,” he said.

If the Muslims and Aborigines were to be the only people in Australia, the Muslims would not tolerate the Aboriginal presence for any longer than the time it took to put together a punitive expedition to wipe them out.

Dino Saur
Dino Saur
October 6, 2023 3:34 pm

If the Yes vote is successful, the new section of the Constitution actually doesn’t make it mandatory for Voice representatives to be Aboriginal and or Torres Straight Islander .
There is no requirement at all about the ethnicity of those who will be on “the body”. There is no wording equivalent to “and they shall be ….”

https://www.aec.gov.au/referendums/learn/the-question.html

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 3:34 pm

Yes – sorry about that – I forgot to put in the interest rate.
18% which is the rate someone else quoted this morning.

That’s a big “forget” when you are talking loan repayments.
Who quoted 18% in any context other than credit cards or early 90’s mortgage rates.
Was it Marty Armstrong?

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 3:36 pm

Bob Hawke .. 1988 …….

“It doesn’t matter where you came from,” he said.

“Whether you’ve been here for 60,000 years, or you got here in chains in 1788, or you came as a free settler post the convict era finishing… it’s about your commitment to this country.
“I would like to think every Australian, Indigenous and non-Indigenous is committed to this country. Totally committed to it.”

He also said that by 1990 no child will be living in poverty. Or somefink’ like that.

And, that we will plant 6 billion trees. Or somefink’ like that

With the ‘Pollies’, talk is cheap and easy and sleazy.

And now we have Elbow Sleazy. FFS.

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 3:36 pm

Look, if docs that are unclassified by virtue of the office of the president require protocols to be followed before they’re taken, it negates the point that there are no limitations on the executive head in this regard. It would logically follow. There aren’t, and any protocols and conventions are just that.

Trump is the only one pushing the view that he can declassify docs with just a nod or a thought – not even a memo or any concrete evidence of the action.

His novel view on presidential powers can be tested in court as part of his defence and if the Justice(s) agree its related they can include that theory which can then be appealed. But the legal charges against Trump do not rely on his claimed actions to declassify and the relevant laws cover all docs, not only classified or unclassified.

(A side note.)
I’ll remind you that Clinton took numerous documents with him, and he wasn’t indicted under the Espionage Act. The Kenyan certainly took documents with him, and presumably so did Bush Jr.

Then same charges can be raised against them, for the relevant laws and standing EOs applying at the time. No issue applying laws to all.

P
P
October 6, 2023 3:37 pm

v1: For we are one and freee

v2: For those who’ve come across the seas

Ain’t working.

Perhaps this would be better:

Waltzing Matilda Territory style – Ali Mills

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 3:37 pm

Stutchbury said Aston took Rear Window to a new level in 2017 when his justified discrediting of Alex Malley led to the firing of the chief executive of the accountants’ body CPA Australia and the mass resignation of its board.

Jeez.
I’d almost forgotten that wanker Malley.
Had the CPA sponsor his own Sunday morning TV show and his (cough) “Leadership” books.
What a flog.

Speedbox
October 6, 2023 3:37 pm

Robert Sewell
Oct 6, 2023 3:20 PM
That’s the numbers for 18% interest rates as quoted elsewhere.

Ah yes, the good ‘ol days.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2023 3:42 pm

Thorpe is a lunatic. A vicious lunatic. And, perhaps, 1/4 aboriginal. Bolt does a good job here.

‘Please don’t ever do this to our nation again’: Barnaby Joyce fumes over Voice

Real Deal
Real Deal
October 6, 2023 3:42 pm

I hope the Oz pick up Joe Aston. His columns regularly eviscerate the pompous gits of the corporate and media world. He has single handedly destroyed the virtue-signalling reputation of Qantas.

Real Deal
Real Deal
October 6, 2023 3:45 pm

Joe Aston on FitzSimons:-

But FitzSimons’ leading objection to Franklin’s sensational recruitment was that “prima facie”, it represented a breach of the club’s ” ‘no dickheads’ selectorial policy”, which was “the whole shtick of the Swans for the past decade.”

“If you called Central Casting and said, ‘Send me over a prime dickhead’, and Buddy Franklin turned up… a tower of swaggering sneer and staggering hubris… you would hardly be inclined to ask for your money back.”

Welcome to Fitzy’s Self-Awareness Free Zone. The guy wearing a pirate hankie on his head for no explicable reason, hectoring Sydney with his witless attitudes, naming the dickheads among us.

There is no greater dickhead than Peter FitzSimons. Were there an All Australian team of dickheads, Fitzy would be its captain and its most capped player. His trophy cabinet would hold the Brownlow, the Coleman and the Norm Smith medals. Gary Ablett Sr would be supplanted as God … of the dickheads.

JC
JC
October 6, 2023 3:47 pm

Trump is the only one pushing the view that he can declassify docs with just a nod or a thought – not even a memo or any concrete evidence of the action.

Oh, possibly because he’s the first president to ever be indicted under the phony charge. Did you even consider this possibility or perhaps, the Atlantic and WaPo neglected to mention it?

His novel view on presidential powers can be tested in court as part of his defence and if the Justice(s) agree its related they can include that theory which can then be appealed. But the legal charges against Trump do not rely on his claimed actions to declassify and the relevant laws cover all docs, not only classified or unclassified.

I have no idea what you’re trying to convey with this gobbledygook. Try again, if you must.

Then same charges can be raised against them, for the relevant laws and standing EOs applying at the time. No issue applying laws to all.

The demons can’t because their idea of the law is to get Trump. What aren’t you seeing here, champ?

Real Deal
Real Deal
October 6, 2023 3:48 pm

And Aston on Penny Wong:-

in the 20 years since she entered the Australian Senate, radiating superciliousness and bringing not so much as a subatomic particle of self-deprecation. Hers is the most deeply misplaced sense of intellectual superiority in federal politics since, well, probably Angus Taylor.

Wong does have one major thing going for her, of course: she’s not Kristina Keneally.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 3:50 pm

That’s a big “forget” when you are talking loan repayments.
Who quoted 18% in any context other than credit cards or early 90’s mortgage rates.
Was it Marty Armstrong?

Well, Mrs Stencho Panty Hose, the variable rate mortgage on our house on the lower North Shore in Sin City went to 19% pa in the late 1980s. And that’s because Paul Bleating gave a subsidy to the Big 4 Banks (his Maaaaates). And kept the mate’s rate at 18% pa.

We were with the Advance Bank, a small bank and not one of Bleating’s Maaaaaaates.

So our variable rate mortgage went to 19% pa.

What a farking crook he was and a clock watcher. Probably a ‘shirtlifter’ by all accounts as well.

‘Pollies’ are all the same. With their fat pig snouts in the trough. Oink, farking oink.

Martin Armstrong rules OK.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 3:51 pm

Labor Blackout Bowen continues to make Australia safe with Renewables

Emergency at high-tech NSW energy plant sparks evacuation – Businesses evacuated after fire machinery at Tomago electrical plant overheats by 700 degrees during blaze

Businesses were sent into an evacuation scramble after a fire broke out at a major electrical plant, with machinery overheating to extreme temperatures of up to 1200 degrees.

Firefighters have called in expert technicians to help deal with a dangerous heat build-up at a cutting-edge renewable energy storage plant.

MGA Thermal is behind a new form of thermal energy storage that allows retrofitted coal-fired power stations to distribute renewable energy long after it was produced.

But the company had to call in firefighters on Friday morning at its demonstrator plant in the Tomago industrial area, north of Newcastle. Initial assessments led to the evacuation of 15 businesses.

Hazardous materials crews in breathing apparatus later detected smoke emanating from power cables in 14m-long electrical machinery.

A Fire and Rescue NSW spokesman said the incident and factory was not something the crews had encountered previously, and they expected it to be protracted.

“That’s why we have called in our scientific team too, and we’re working with their engineers who are the experts in their field,” he told AAP.

Three businesses were still inside a reduced, 400m exclusion zone on Friday afternoon.

Developed by University of Newcastle scientists and backed by several government agencies, MGA Thermal’s blocks are about the size of two bread loaves and allow renewable energy to be transported and used on demand.

The alloy inside the blocks traps heat almost indefinitely, the company’s chief executive Erich Kisi told reporters last year.

“They sit at around 600C storing heat almost indefinitely, (losing) very little heat over time,” Professor Kisi said.

“The energy is then dispatched by making high-temperature, high-pressure steam for power generation, or we can de-rate it to address the hard-to-abate markets.”

Robert Sewell
October 6, 2023 3:52 pm

Seeing that you’ve asked so nicely, Bignose, it’s the Commonwealth Bank Repayment Calculator:
https://www.commbank.com.au/digital/home-buying/calculator/home-loan-repayments
But any interest rate calculator will give the same figures, you dumbarse.

Indolent
Indolent
October 6, 2023 3:53 pm
Vicki
Vicki
October 6, 2023 3:54 pm

Albanese is making me very uneasy.

Fact is – he is way underneath his pay grade. It has always appeared to me that Albo got where he is in Labor because he is a time server from way back. Further, he has the “right story” – the Housing Commission childhood, single mother etc etc. When Shorten, who failed to make the grade with the voters, went belly up, they turned to the man who wouldn’t scare the horses.

Stupid decision. He doesn’t have the cred for the international stage. Embarrassing, really. Time is increasingly revealing his inadequacy. Interestingly, it is his bloomers regarding The Voice – such as his confession that he had not read the Uluru Statement (“Why would I?”) – that are really startling. Voters must conclude – he is either a charlatan or contemptuous of the Australian public.

Robert Sewell
October 6, 2023 3:57 pm

The interesting thing about The Amazing Luigi statement is that he’s trying to tie the two goups – Islam and Aboriginal – together.
Is this a version of an Islamic Voice being floated?
Some would say yes, some would say no.
But the idea has certainly garnered my attention.

JC
JC
October 6, 2023 3:57 pm

Seeing that you’ve asked so nicely, Bignose, it’s the Commonwealth Bank Repayment Calculator:
https://www.commbank.com.au/digital/home-buying/calculator/home-loan-repayments
But any interest rate calculator will give the same figures, you dumbarse.

I did ask nicely. I couldn’t be any nicer to you, Turtlehead.
I never suggested interest calculators would give a different result. Again, with the bullshit. The yam’s melting, now go!.

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 3:59 pm

Oh, possibly because he’s the first president to ever be indicted under the phony charge. Did you even consider this possibility or perhaps, the Atlantic and WaPo neglected to mention it?

Or, possibly, Trump believes a bit too much of his own Koolaid and thinks he can do anything because PREZ. You’re correct that other ex-presidents took documents from the White House, which were then queried by the government and returned. Trump is only one asserting the “auto-declassification” power and the only one who refused to return government docs despite many requests over a long period.

The demons can’t because their idea of the law is to get Trump. What aren’t you seeing here, champ?

Lets see what the legal system says. And lets see if Trump raises the “auto-declassification” power as a defence which would allow it to be confirmed or rejected by the courts.

JC
JC
October 6, 2023 4:05 pm

Trump is only one asserting the “auto-declassification” power and the only one who refused to return government docs despite many requests over a long period.

Which results of massive indictments under the Espionage Act? LOL

You’re correct that other ex-presidents took documents from the White House, which were then queried by the government and returned.

One that I know of. Dementia, only after Trump was indicted and it has no relevance because Dementia was VP and most certainly had no right to remove a single doc.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
October 6, 2023 4:05 pm

She copped a flogging.

Steve Inman:

She wanted the manager. She got the beast instead.

Wally Dalí
Wally Dalí
October 6, 2023 4:10 pm

Just clicked through a linky on CL’s site, Daily Mail on something something something.
Just under the right-hand sidebar of bikini pics was a video screen, rolling through- Army careers, Deakin Uni, AEC, just your taxpayer munni being spaffed on trinkets really, plus to underwrite the coming online content laws.
Out of the corner of my eye, the AEC ad has purple script in a black rectangle on buff background saying “yes”. Briefly. Could hardly believe it, so I refreshed, and sure enough, there it was, saying, follow the italics for what is cursive and what is typeface, “Your answer counts”.
So, why would the Lizard People choose a fancy long word in place of the three, or two-letter “yes” or “no”?
Because, subliminally, “answer” suggests “yes”.
Why place it as script?
Because, visually, cursive echoes the curls of y – e – s a lot more than the corners and circles on N – O.
Why not the word “vote”?
Because of the o. It rhymes, and looks like, no.
Why not emphasize “Your”?
Nope, this referendum is about THEM, not you.
Don’t need to be a plastic talking head on Gruen to see through it all.

Alamak!
October 6, 2023 4:13 pm

Fact is – he is way underneath his pay grade. It has always appeared to me that Albo got where he is in Labor because he is a time server from way back.

Exactly, Vicky. Albo is a midwit, at best. Chalmers, likewise.

Figures
Figures
October 6, 2023 4:14 pm

Alamak

Lets see what the legal system says. And lets see if Trump raises the “auto-declassification” power as a defence which would allow it to be confirmed or rejected by the courts.

Do you support a DA in a 95% red county throwing bogus charges at Biden and, if convicted by said 95% red jurors, have him thrown in prison for 1000 years?

Is that what you want the “legal system” to do?

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 4:14 pm

Voters must conclude – he is either a charlatan or contemptuous of the Australian public.

He is both. But the second one is a tell tell and will be his ultimate demise.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2023 4:15 pm

Vicki

He doesn’t have the cred for the international stage. Embarrassing, really. Time is increasingly revealing his inadequacy. Interestingly, it is his bloomers regarding The Voice – such as his confession that he had not read the Uluru Statement (“Why would I?”) – that are really startling. Voters must conclude – he is either a charlatan or contemptuous of the Australian public.

That isn’t necessarily an “either/or” decision. Embrace the power of “and”.

Mother Lode
Mother Lode
October 6, 2023 4:16 pm

Albanese seems to be suggesting that muslims might get back-door access to the invoice.

Those late evenings in a desert tent, after the shared claustrophobic terror of the poison Simoon – late when the dunes have darkened to black behind which stars flare like diamonds beyond number scattered across sable – and as the evaporating heat, like a retreating tide, exposes upon the body of your reclining companion the countless beads of sweat which glisten a form like a constellation from the heavens come to Earth. As your body moves to celebrate that divinity in the way so many gods and goddesses which unions bore fruit in the form of races or nations or worlds, as you spray your breath with Camel’s Arse Listerine…

Damn it! Goodly Muslims have long learned to resist the allure of the back door!

Cassie of Sydney
October 6, 2023 4:19 pm

And it’s funny how Australia’s most prominent indigenous Muslim, Anthony Mundine, is very much a NO supporter.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 4:22 pm

Do you support a DA in a 95% red county throwing bogus charges at Biden and, if convicted by said 95% red jurors, have him thrown in prison for 1000 years?

Is that what you want the “legal system” to do?

YES. And why not?

As that is exactly what is happening now using the so called ‘legal system’.

Off with their heads was how it worked in the old days of a proper revolution.

And it is now coming very soon. The People are now fighting back. Big Time. And the YES will get booted into yesterday.

Roger
Roger
October 6, 2023 4:23 pm

The interesting thing about The Amazing Luigi statement is that he’s trying to tie the two goups – Islam and Aboriginal – together.
Is this a version of an Islamic Voice being floated?

I think it’s just him or his speechwriter looking for a point of contact between the two groups.

Whichever, it’s typical lazy Albanese thinking. A history of casual contact of a limited number of aborigines in discrete geographical areas with Makassan fishermen and cameleers from British India is a pretty thin foundation on which to build support for a constitutional amendment among present-day Muslims in Australia.

But I suppose he couldn’t play the anti-colonialism card without letting the cat out of the bag!

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
October 6, 2023 4:25 pm
Alamak!
October 6, 2023 4:27 pm

Do you support a DA in a 95% red county throwing bogus charges at Biden and, if convicted by said 95% red jurors, have him thrown in prison for 1000 years?

Is that what you want the “legal system” to do?

Except the charges Trump is facing can be appealed to Federal courts, which Biden could do as well assuming he had taken govt docs, refused to return them and mishandled content with sensitive info.

Your point is that the Trump charges are not legitimate and that might be the case, good thing the US legal system has checks, balances and avenues for appeal.

calli
calli
October 6, 2023 4:27 pm

Albo is a midwit, at best. Chalmers, likewise.

I want to see cartoons of Chalmers in a pale blue painted on mask and cape.

Where will we get the money?

Wallet Wizard!

Boambee John
Boambee John
October 6, 2023 4:31 pm

JR

Snap.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 4:34 pm

Robert Sewell
Oct 6, 2023 3:57 PM
The interesting thing about The Amazing Luigi statement is that he’s trying to tie the two goups – Islam and Aboriginal – together.
Is this a version of an Islamic Voice being floated?
Some would say yes, some would say no.
But the idea has certainly garnered my attention.

How about a Voice for all the workers here paying loads of taxes. Has anyone ever been listening?. No farking way. Guv’ment is all about take, take and more take with the big fat snout in the trough. Oink farking oink and lots more oink. Cretins.

And as for those camel and goat rooters. Well, send them back home. They have never integrated.

JMH
JMH
October 6, 2023 4:42 pm

NO, NO, NO and NO.

Too bad I am not dishonest enough to try and vote four times!

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 5:03 pm

Steve trickler
Oct 6, 2023 4:25 PM
Danger Dan Reviews:

Mr Steve T. Please keep those Danger Dan Reviews coming. Even though I am splitting my trousers larfing’ they are so farking good.

Top stuff. I fink’ it helps keep this Blog Top Notch.

And thank you Dover Beach for all that you do and put up wiv’.

OldOzzie
OldOzzie
October 6, 2023 5:03 pm

Ok Finishing Red and off downstairs to 2 yr old Neurotic Female Beagle sitting – relieving Wife, who gave me an extra hour today on iMac, and went down to spend an hour at the bewitching time – 4pm, especially as it is raining – side gate locked so Beagle won`t come to front and savage Wooolies Delivery at 5.32 pm which includes Bottle Bundy Rum, 30 Slab Pepsi Max, 10 bags Woolies Choc Peanuts – all in time for F1 Qatar tomorrow replay on Foxtel

Hopefully Wife does better than last time when Wollies Delivery Guy rang me and said where are you (need adult for Grog) and wife was sitting in room next to where he was standing – Audio test yesterday said she was not Deaf – Hmmm

Onward to Korean Rom Coms on Netflix downstairs on old Panasonic Plasma – must transfer my LG OLED 65in W7 Wall TV downstairs and replace with LG G3 85in OLED upstairs – Hmm “How to get by Wife?”

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 5:06 pm

Robert Sewell

Oct 6, 2023 3:52 PM

Seeing that you’ve asked so nicely, Bignose, it’s the Commonwealth Bank Repayment Calculator:
https://www.commbank.com.au/digital/home-buying/calculator/home-loan-repayments
But any interest rate calculator will give the same figures, you dumbarse.

Steady on, Mr Potato-Head.
We all know about calculators.
If you are going to publish a repayment figure you need to list the inputs:-
Principal
Loan Term.
Repayment frequency.
Interest rate.
Balance at maturity (usually zero for a mortgage).
Without those parameters, the monthly repayment figure is meaningless.

John Brumble
John Brumble
October 6, 2023 5:09 pm

Man. This is a tough one.

Tell you what, let’s move the conversation over to something that encompasses “real libertarians”, the police, and women. Then I’ll be able to make a call.

Sancho Panzer
Sancho Panzer
October 6, 2023 5:10 pm

The interesting thing about The Amazing Luigi statement is that he’s trying to tie the two goups – Islam and Aboriginal – together.
Is this a version of an Islamic Voice being floated?

Probably not too smart to raise this.
It will remind people of the unholy alliances formed in jails between Aboriginals and Mueslis.

Speedbox
October 6, 2023 5:12 pm

OldOzzie
Oct 6, 2023 5:03 PM

An orgy of motorsport this weekend with Bathurst on as well.

Johnny Rotten
October 6, 2023 5:16 pm

Where will we get the money?

LOL. The Guv’ment here will get it from the 3.5 Trillion Australian Dollar money bank in Australia. Get yer’ money out now while you can.

BTW this is not financial advice. It is common sense. Never trust any Guv’ment.

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