Open Thread – Mon 30 Sept 2024


Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Viktor Vasnetsov, 1887

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Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 1, 2024 7:01 pm

I’m not even going to ask what “goat therapy” is.

NDIS overhaul axes crystals, tarot reading and goat therapy (Sky News mainpage headline, 1 Oct)

The government has banned reiki, vapes, psychic readings, goats and cuddle therapy from the list of approved NDIS expenses after it was revealed up to $2 billion of taxpayers’ money had been spent inappropriately.

“I see in your future a great deal of taxpayers’ money coming to you” said the psychic tarot card reader.

JC
JC
October 1, 2024 7:06 pm

FMD, if true it sounds like a fcking slaughterhouse.

Ukraine’s Army Is In Bad Shape, Over Half Of Recruits Survive Just For A Few Days

The Ukrainian army is suffering from a steady decline in the capabilities of its front-line units, according to Polish news outlet Do Rzeczy, citing a report in the London Financial Times that between 50 and 70 percent of recruits survive only a few days on the frontlines.

It has to stop asap.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
October 1, 2024 7:26 pm

Daily Tele.
Planned Monday march just rubbing salt in wounds of Sydney’s Jewish communityOn the anniversary of an attack by Hamas terrorists designed to inflict as much cruelty upon innocent Israelis as possible, pro-Palestine activists are taking the line that it’s all Israel’s fault.

Pogria
Pogria
October 1, 2024 7:27 pm

aaaargh! Caught a bit of Antiques Roadshow, and they are discussing stuff with a really ugly tranny. sigh…

Roger
Roger
October 1, 2024 7:34 pm

Hello…

Police promise action at weekend’s anniversary protests if [Hamas & Hezbollah] flags are flown

SMH

It’s amazing what some public pushback can do.

Now, let’s see what transpires.

Meanwhile, why is it that what was deemed within the law on 29 September shall be outside of it on 7 October?

Is enforcing the Commonwealth criminal code and related state laws a moveable feast?

Is it to placate the longsuffering Jewish community? And then, after 7 October, it’s back to giving the anti-semitic rabble a free hand?

That’s not the rule of law…if anyone in authority knows what that is meant to be anymore.

Last edited 2 days ago by Roger
JC
JC
October 1, 2024 7:35 pm

The real issue isn’t about defining ‘recruits’—it’s whether 50% of these new soldiers are really falling once they hit the front lines after a few days . That’s the alarming part. And frankly, I wouldn’t be too confident that the Ukrainians aren’t cutting corners either.

Last edited 2 days ago by JC
JC
JC
October 1, 2024 7:49 pm

Huh huh

Due to the urgency created by the ongoing war, some soldiers have been given fast-tracked or shortened training periods, sometimes as brief as 2 to 4 weeks, especially during times of high demand for reinforcements on the front lines.

Arky
October 1, 2024 7:51 pm

Every day there is a story about how Russian troops are “cut off, without water and food and sending video homes to beg for intervention in their hopeless situation”.
You can safely ignore these stories, they are obvious propaganda.
Likewise, when a story comes out about Ukrainian “recruits” being cut down within minutes of reaching the front, you can ignore that, it’s obvious propaganda designed to elicit exactly the response you gave.
No civilian knows the casualty figures for either side.
You’ll know who had the greater losses once one side has to give in.

Last edited 2 days ago by Arky
Rabz
October 1, 2024 8:01 pm

Cats, if the ALPBC didn’t exist, it wouldn’t be a hotbed of racism.

Cassie of Sydney
October 1, 2024 8:07 pm

Tomorrow night Rosh Hashanah begins and I will be attending synagogue on Thursday, Friday and on Shabbat. I will also be attending a number of community engagements to commemorate the atrocities of 7 October, both on Sunday evening and on Monday.

I need to be honest here, whilst nothing will keep me away I am quite concerned about the prospect of violence from the Ishmaelites and their leftist allies.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
October 1, 2024 8:07 pm

Breaking, from the Daily Tele.
Police file court order to stop pro-Palestine October 7 protestsA pro-Palestinian gathering planned in Sydney CBD for October 7 may not go ahead after NSW Police made the decision on Tuesday night to apply to the NSW Supreme Court for an order preventing the event.

cohenite
October 1, 2024 8:14 pm

Since 1955 global temp has risen by 1.5C; CO2 increased by 35%; per capita GDP increased 300%; world literacy rate increased 50%; child mortality decreased by 82%; death rate from starvation decreased by 99%.

So much for the climate crisis.

Old Lefty
Old Lefty
October 1, 2024 8:15 pm

Meanwhile from the UK, an insight into the ethics (or lack of them) of a ‘human rights lawyer’:

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvyndm8y4no

Arky
October 1, 2024 8:17 pm

J.C.

It has to stop asap

I agree with that sentiment 100%
Trump will hopefully get his chance to do just that.

Last edited 2 days ago by Arky
Muddy
Muddy
October 1, 2024 8:17 pm

If the LNP were your spouse, how would you describe your relationship?

Dunny Brush
Dunny Brush
October 1, 2024 8:19 pm

On the Deeming outrage: Soft-shoeing around Mr Pesutto’s boring Boroondara today – the most unchallenging, uninteresting municipality in the entire universe – one couldn’t
help notice corn-flutes for a council drag men event ostensibly celebrating local Dani Minogue. I’d consider arguments that these men are confused and not just onanists more seriously if they didn’t ape appalling estimations of women and didn’t adopt grubby, ribald names like ‘Courtney Act”etc

Indolent
Indolent
October 1, 2024 8:35 pm

Jackie Lambi saying it’s not tough enough!!!!!

Labor’s misinformation bill could be ‘dead in the water’

Indolent
Indolent
October 1, 2024 8:46 pm

Apparently the link didn’t work the first attempt to post this.
A Principality Falls in an Avalanche of Scum, Body Parts, and Anguish – Hollywood in Crisis

Indolent
Indolent
October 1, 2024 9:05 pm
Indolent
Indolent
October 1, 2024 9:06 pm

@RealJamesWoods

Because she doesn’t have a clue and couldn’t care less. This entire campaign is a dog and pony show, because she knows that the “harvested” mail-in ballots will be sitting in the trunks of cars in every Democrat city waiting to tilt the election at two in the morning.

Indolent
Indolent
October 1, 2024 9:08 pm
Indolent
Indolent
October 1, 2024 9:09 pm
Indolent
Indolent
October 1, 2024 9:11 pm

@elonmusk

Since the Hurricane Helene disaster, SpaceX has sent as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need.

Earlier today, @realDonaldTrump alerted me to additional people who need Starlink Internet in North Carolina. We are sending them terminals right away.

Top Ender
Top Ender
October 1, 2024 9:11 pm

Things you can’t claim any more under the NDIS:

Day-to-day living costs e.g. rent, mortgage, furniture, groceries, pet care

Lifestyle costs e.g. cigarettes, vapes, legal cannabis, gambling, phone, computer, recreational sport, relationship services, concert tickets, weddings, funerals, musical instruments, general gym membership

Clothing & beauty e.g. standard footwear, hair treatments, manicures, body piercings and tattoo services

Holiday expenses e.g. cruises, airfares, passport fees, accomodation and recreational activities

Alternative and complimentary therapies e.g. crystal therapy, tarot card reading, psychics, cuddle therapy, reflexology, aromatherapy, yoga, wilderness therapy, animal therapy – including puppy therapy and goat therapy.

Wellness and coaching e.e. non-allied health massage, sports supplements, life coaches, hypnotherapy

Energy and healing practices e.g. reiki, scalar lounge, shamanic healing

Day-to-day health expenses e.g. dental, pharmaceuticals, prescription glasses, ambulance, mental health

School education e.g. childcare fees, tuition, standard uniforms and other equipment, tutors, school camp

Child protections and family support

Justice e.g. supervision and monitoring off justice-system imposed conditions

Transport e.g. public transport, airline lounge membership, road and footpath infrastructure

Unlawful goods and services e.g. sexual services, drugs

Aged care e.g. basic daily care fees, any services provided in residential care

Income replacement e.g. income support payments, rent subsidy

You realise what this means don’t you? People have been claiming them!

Daily Tele

JC
JC
October 1, 2024 9:16 pm

Indolent

October 1, 2024 9:05 pm

@RealHickory

Trump’s right, NY POST gets it!

The NYPost suggests the photo was staged, claiming she wasn’t actually on the phone since the cord wasn’t connected. In the image, she appears to be taking notes, but a commenter says she was just doodling as s/he saw the page.
(Not work safe)
See here.

Wally Dali
Wally Dali
October 1, 2024 9:27 pm

Indo’s link…
So, Harris is signalling that she’s president right now, isn’t she? Sitting under that seal, on Air Force One, doing Getting Briefed cosplay?
And what the f is it with takeaway covfefe cups? Do they come from costume and makeup dept as a marker of common touchiness?

JC
JC
October 1, 2024 9:36 pm

So, Harris is signalling that she’s president right now, isn’t she?

Well truth be told, she is, judging by fact that dementia’s brain function would be that of a houseplant or less.

cohenite
October 1, 2024 9:37 pm

Since Elon has gone FTL and the Universe beckons I thought a space cute owl was called for:

space-girl
JC
JC
October 1, 2024 9:44 pm

You know, if/when the cheating lands Kamaltoe in the Oval Office, there’s a silver lining—aside from the potential for total world annihilation and mass starvation, of course. Just imagine what it will be like with this DEI genius playing pretend as president! Imagine the circus!

JC
JC
October 1, 2024 9:50 pm

dover0beach

October 1, 2024 9:35 pm

What can Trump do that is going to look half as good as the ceasefire agreement back in ‘April ’22?

He may actually do something now and become the October surprise.
He could tell the Z man that he won’t be getting any assistance if he wins the presidency. He could tell the Russian Klepto that he needs to head back to the first spot he claimed is Russian, and if he gets too greedy, he’ll ramp up support for the Ukes. And he could also remind Z that he needs to return that Russian land.

Rosie
Rosie
October 1, 2024 10:11 pm

“Individuals who post ‘From the River to the Sea’ to be denied German citizenship”
https://m.jpost.com/international/article-822454

JC
JC
October 1, 2024 10:47 pm

Re 1, not sure how cutting the funding works against Putin.

It wouldn’t, it would work against z. How did you conclude I was suggesting it would work against Putin?

Last edited 2 days ago by JC
Wally Dalí
Wally Dalí
October 1, 2024 10:53 pm

“Individuals who post ‘From the River to the Sea’ to be denied German citizenship”
I like the French standard more- individuals shouting Allahu Etcetera! anywhere outside a mosque will be immediately shot.

Wally Dalí
Wally Dalí
October 1, 2024 10:57 pm

Democracy in danger: AI a threat to Aussie electionsTL:DR- the Blob is threatened by free speech.
Get a load of this noodle-armed hero’s record of heroic heroism-
It upped its social media presence in 2019, risking trolling and backlash to maintain a stronger presence on digital platforms.

Indolent
Indolent
October 1, 2024 11:00 pm

How pathetic that something like this is even necessary. The world has truly gone mad.
EXCLUSIVE: Babylon Bee Sues California Over Unprecedented Crackdown On Satire, Parody

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
October 1, 2024 11:00 pm
JC
JC
October 1, 2024 11:05 pm

Dover

I’m surprised you haven’t mentioned anything about the start of the leb ground invasion, unless I missed the comment? You’re usually very early with the latest news.

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
October 1, 2024 11:12 pm

Zulu Kilo Two Alpha
October 1, 2024 11:11 pm
Awaiting for approval

EXCLUSIVE
‘I’m not scared of cops’, says pro-Hezbollah marcher
Mohammad Alfares
2 hours ago.
Updated 2 hours ago.
Listen to this article
7 min
A pro-Hezbollah activist who waved the terrorists’ flag during a protest in Melbourne on Sunday has declared he is not scared of police or prosecution, and has celebrated the group as a “resistance organisation”, despite its decades-long reign of terror in the Middle East.

JC
JC
October 1, 2024 11:28 pm

Hard to say if anything has in fact started. No footage. Hezbollah saying that IDF still hasn’t crossed into Lebanon. I think its still at the preparation stage.

.

BBC

Israel launches ground invasion of southern Lebanon

The Oz

Israel launches ‘limited’ attack amid claim of ‘October 7-style’ Hezbollah plan

WSJ

Israeli Forces Conduct Operations in Lebanon

The operations could continue for days or weeks, as Israel aims to push the militant group away from its border.

NYtimes

Targeting Hezbollah, Israel Invades Southern Lebanon

Israeli troops crossed the border for the first time since 2006 in a ground operation. The Israeli military called for evacuations in southern Lebanon.

Telegraph

Israel releases footage of raids inside Lebanon

Jerusalem Post

IDF invasion of southern Lebanon meets no Hezbollah resistance

The invasion is expected to end within weeks, and should consist of several short special forces missions into southern Lebanon.

Just bullshit, you think? pyschop

JC
JC
October 1, 2024 11:42 pm

US officials say they are seeing preparations from Iran to launch a major ballistic missile attack to Israel in the immediate timeframe.

Steve trickler
Steve trickler
October 2, 2024 2:49 am

Mass shooting In Tel Aviv and Iranian rockets fill the skies. Iron Dome is cranking and seems to be holding up well.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
October 2, 2024 3:10 am

BBC TV news currently reporting that 140 ballistic missiles have been fired from Iran towards Tel Aviv – most shot down, but not all.

No casualties reported.

Dr Faustus
Dr Faustus
October 2, 2024 3:20 am

The US reportedly engaged in shooting down Iranian ballistic missiles.

Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 4:00 am
Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 4:01 am
Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 4:01 am
Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 4:02 am
Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 4:03 am
Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 4:04 am
Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 4:04 am
Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 4:05 am
Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 4:06 am
KevinM
KevinM
October 2, 2024 4:30 am

A few musings on the future that was there for all to see but only the true visionaries did manage.

Like cars;

——————–

In 1900, two ladies enjoy a leisurely ride in an early car model, embodying the spirit of innovation and change of the era.

Dressed in fashionable attire, they represent a new wave of mobility that was beginning to transform society.

As automobiles started to gain popularity, women began to break traditional barriers, embracing newfound independence and freedom. This moment captures not only a technological advancement but also a shift in social dynamics, as more women sought to engage in activities previously dominated by men.

The image reflects a sense of adventure and progress, showcasing the excitement that came with early automobiles as they paved the way for the future of transportation.

This snapshot of history reminds us of the journey toward modernity and the role of women in shaping it.

1900
KevinM
KevinM
October 2, 2024 4:31 am

Mobile phones,

In his 1954 novel Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury predicted the universal and almost constant use of wrist worn video phones. In his prediction people were rarely off their phones having pointless conversations about nothing important. Sound familiar. And that was written over 70 years ago!

461731934_122170423250185946_1257094756435287777_n
KevinM
KevinM
October 2, 2024 4:36 am

Run Mike run!
(mic?)

Spelling matters.
(not my strong point, amongst others)

Run-Mike.RUN
Beertruk
October 2, 2024 4:39 am

Clamidiot Ford copping a bit.

Todays Tele:

A SWIFT REBUKE FOR FORD

SARAH KEOGHAN
2 Oct 2024

Attendees at a Taylor Swift tribute concert are demanding refunds after a “bizarre” event where performers appeared to read lyrics from the floor and made the crowd sing songs because the lyrics were “too hard’’ for the performers.

The tribute night last Sunday, part of Manly’s Night At The Barracks concert series with tickets ranging from $80-$150, was organised by women’s activist Clementine Ford.The night featured artists Alex the Astronaut, Charley, Clare Bowditch and Lucy Durack. The line-up was also supposed to include Emily Wurramara, but the singer dropped out the last minute.

Since the concert on Sunday night, attendees have flooded to the organiser’s Facebook, Instagram and Google pages s to express their disappointment with the event. Concertgoers said some of the performers read lyrics from the ground and made the crowd sing the songs at one point as the lyrics were “too hard”.

Ms Ford performed a number of the songs herself and also gave “speeches” throughout the concert.

Attendee Savannah Brown, 25, said: “It was so weird. At the start, Clementine got up and said she basically organised it because she didn’t get Taylor Swift tickets. She’d sing a (Taylor Swift) song about heartbreak and then be like, ‘don’t let people hurt you kids!’ “It was so bizarre.

On the bus home, my friend turned to me and said is this our Willy Wonka experience?”

Tintarella di Luna
Tintarella di Luna
October 2, 2024 4:54 am

Things you can’t claim any more under the NDIS:…

You realise what this means don’t you? People have been claiming them!

Unbelievable — simply unbelievable — I heard of someone who claimed from the NIDS (and was given) conveyancing expenses, and moving expenses (and who knows possibly much more given the list of what is NOT now claimable) – the person wanted to change residences because of a physical disability. As I have said many times the legislation is loosey-goosey — but of course, it’s a Labor programme.

Last edited 1 day ago by Tintarella di Luna
Beertruk
October 2, 2024 5:02 am

Tintarella di Luna
 October 2, 2024 4:54 am

Things you can’t claim any more under the NDIS:…

Cartoon in today’s Daily Tele:

clipping_2
Beertruk
October 2, 2024 5:31 am

Daily Tele:

DUTTON LASHES ABC REPORTER OVER HEZBOLLAH QUERY

JOSEPH OLBRYCHT-PALMER
2 Oct 2024

Liberal leader Peter Dutton says the ABC is in “greater trouble” than he thought after a reporter questioned him over Australia’s listing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.

Speaking to the media in Sydney on Tuesday, Mr Dutton was asked by an ABC reporter why Hezbollah flags should be banned from the city’s streets if Israeli flags were not.

“Israel is a democracy,” he replied.

“It’s not run by a terrorist organisation. Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation.

“They’re a listed terrorist organisation, and if people are in favour of a terrorist organisation, they should declare it and authorities should deal with it.”

The reporter appeared to go on to question Hezbollah’s listing, prompting rebuke from Mr Dutton.

“What, sorry? Where are you from, I’m sorry? Which organisation?” he asked.

The reporter said she was from the ABC and made several attempts to ask another question, prompting an increasingly irate Mr Dutton to demand she repeat her query.

“No, that wasn’t the question you asked,” he said.

“What was the question you asked?”

After some back and forth, the reporter eventually repeated her question about why Hezbollah was designated a terrorist organisation, sparking a scathing response from the Opposition Leader.

“Well, I had presumed, up until this point, at least, that the ABC supported the government’s laws,” he said.

“And the government has passed laws, supported on a bipartisan basis, but not by the ABC it seems, in relation to the proscribing or the listing of a terrorist organisation.”

He said if the broadcaster did not support terrorist designations it “should be very clear about it, because … that’s quite a departure.”

Tintarella di Luna
Tintarella di Luna
October 2, 2024 5:34 am

That’d be right Beertruck —

KevinM
KevinM
October 2, 2024 5:38 am

Don’t know what to make of this, Iran apparently launched hundreds of ballistic missile at Israel.

I think it’s a serious affair.

Beertruk
October 2, 2024 5:53 am

TheirTealsGreensALPBC trying to limit more damage due to incompetence.

The Paywallion in a bit more detail:

ABC disowns questions to Peter Dutton over Hezbollah’s status as a terrorist organisation
Sophie Elsworth
2 Oct 2024

The ABC said an exchange between a female reporter and Peter Dutton was “not a piece of reporting” or a position taken by the ABC after she asked him to explain why Hezbollah was a terrorist organisation and Israeli flags were not banned.

At a tense lunchtime press conference on Tuesday, ABC reporter Anushri Sood asked the Opposition Leader why particular groups were listed as terrorist organisations and to respond to claims of hypocrisy in Australia over the treatment of Hezbollah supporters. “Just on that point with Hezbollah, you’re saying being responsible for the deaths of women and children,” Sood said.

“Groups have commented on the hypocrisy of that situation because there are no bans currently on Israeli flags being raised, despite 45,000 people dying at the hands of the Israeli government.”

A visibly frustrated Mr Dutton replied: “Well, Israel is a democracy. It’s not run by a terrorist organisation. Hezbollah is a terrorist organisation.”

He asked the reporter to repeat her questions and to name the media outlet she was from.
Sood replied: “ABC.”

The Australian contacted ABC news director Justin Stevens but he did not comment directly; instead, a statement was issued by a spokeswoman. “Questions at a press conference today were not a piece of reporting nor a position being taken by the ABC,” she said.

“Hezbollah is listed as a terrorist organisation by the Australian government and the ABC recog­nises that in its coverage.”

Mr Dutton also explained to the reporter during the tense exchange: “Hezbollah under Australian law is a listed terrorist organisation. Now if the ABC doesn’t support that, they should be very clear about it because I think that’s quite a departure …”

Sood replied: “That’s not what I’m saying.”

Mr Dutton said during the press conference – which was broadcast live on TV, including on Sky News Australia – that he was concerned by the ABC’s line of questioning.

“You asked me why our country has listed Hezbollah,” he said.

“They’re a terrorist organisation, they organise terrorist attacks and if that is not clear to the ABC, then I think the ABC is in greater trouble than even I first imagined.”

He also asked the reporter if her questions were “from Canberra” before he criticised the public broadcaster.

“Well, I had presumed, up until this point at least, that the ABC supported the government’s laws and the government has passed laws – supported on a bipartisan basis, but not by the ABC it seems – in relation to the prescribing or the listing of a terrorist organisation,” he said.

Last edited 1 day ago by Beertruk
lotocoti
lotocoti
October 2, 2024 5:55 am

Should’ve prepped al-aqsa with a tonne or two of the ‘splodey stuff, just for this moment.

Bungonia bee
Bungonia bee
October 2, 2024 6:21 am

Jo Nova again has the goods! To feed the “baby AI gargoyle” companies like Google and Microsoft have had to admit that more nuclear energy will be needed. Meanwhile here in Australia we have Bowen continuing to spout ridiculous anti-nuclear misinformation on a daily basis.
We are governed by incompetent ideologues, who are supported by complicit and often ignorant jismists in the MSM.
The other tell-tale sign that we have been sold a pup is the decreasing feed-in amounts we get from this solar panels that just had to be connected to the grid.
It’s because they tend to produce more energy than is needed in the middle of the day, but nothing at night.
We need to be given a switch that allows us to use our solar power whenever there is a blackout – coming sooner than you think. As things stand, your solar power switches off whenever there is a blackout so the power workers don’t get zapped as they try to fix things.

Beertruk
October 2, 2024 6:31 am

Paywallion:

Yes voters still cannot see that their country voted for equality
Janet Albrechtsen
2 Oct 2024

“The story of the referendum matters and history matters.” So said Indigenous professor of law Megan Davis. It’s a terrible shame, then, that Davis and others interviewed by this newspaper last week have, a year on, still ignored why Australians voted against the voice.

History matters when it is accurately told. That is what John Roskam has done in his report Why Australians Voted to Be Equal, to be published on Friday.

The report sets out the results of the most comprehensive polls of Australians after last year’s constitutional ballot.

The Australians Speak survey, commissioned by the Institute of Public Affairs and Advance Australia, the two groups that spearheaded the No side, asked 3526 Australians a week after the referendum why they voted against the proposal to alter the federal Constitution to create a permanent Indigenous-only body.

The real story of the 2023 referendum is brimming not with emotion but data.

When asked to nominate any of eight reasons that best explained their decision to vote No, 70 per cent of Australians surveyed said the voice would divide Australia. Sixty-six per cent said there was not enough detail. Sixty per cent of Australians surveyed said the voice would make Australians unequal.

Last October’s referendum was a defining moment for the country. The vote against the voice was a rejection by a large swath of the country of identity politics, and an embrace of that fundamental civic value of equality over separatism.

Roskam notes that while there were more than 50 published polls before the referendum asking Australians how they might vote, only three comprehensive polls since the vote have asked Australians why they voted the way they did.

Analysis deliberately bereft of data is just waft. That’s what most Yes campaigners have offered since the referendum. Evidence would get in the way of them blaming the result on racism and ignorance, or on other equally spurious grounds – for example, claiming that Labor MPs and unions didn’t do enough to help, that infighting killed the voice and, even less credulously, that the voice failed because of insufficient money and time.

Are they serious? More than $50m was spent by the Yes campaign – a lot of it swiped from shareholders – to try to convince Australians. Hard data wouldn’t allow them to blame the loss on Peter Dutton either.

Their responses tell their own story, not one about the referendum result.

The publication of Roskam’s report and the Australians Speak survey by polling company Insightfully lays bare the real reason the voice failed.

While the poll shows that 60 per cent of Australians still support Indigenous recognition in the Constitution, entrenching inequality in the Constitution was a bridge too far.

Roskam is correct to conclude “the outcome of the voice referendum was the most decisive result of any significant political contest in Australian history”.

His analysis reveals that the thumping defeat of the 2023 referendum proposal surpassed defeats of earlier important referendum proposals – from conscription in 1916 (52 per cent against) to banning the Communist Party in 1951 (51 per cent against) to the republic referendum in 1999 (55 per cent against). Nor has any federal election contest since Federation attracted a 60 per cent voting bloc of Australians akin to the No vote last year.

While some previous referendum proposals attracted a higher No vote, as Roskam details, none of them had to counter a tidal wave of support from high-profile political, media, business, religious, education and arts elites as the Yes case did for the voice.

That made the No vote in favour of equality even more telling – even if it wasn’t surprising to Roskam. “The ‘seductive idea’ – that everyone is equal – is the foundation of the modern world and of liberal democracy,” he writes. “It is also an idea at the heart of Christianity. In his Epistle to the Galatians, Paul writes, ‘There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ ”

Under Roskam’s leadership, the IPA prosecuted the case for equality when the voice concept was first raised in 2015. The IPA’s message in its Race Has No Place research program was clear: “Changing the Constitution by dividing Australians according to race or ethnic background makes us all unequal.”

As Roskam writes in his soon-to-be-published report, “Nearly 10 years later (equality) was the reason a majority of Australians voted No.”

Those foolish enough to quip that “Roskam would say that, wouldn’t he” must deal with overwhelming evidence. As Roskam says, the Australians Speak data is confirmed in two other surveys done in the weeks after the October 14 referendum last year.

In a poll of 4200 people by the ANU Centre for Social Research and Methods immediately after the referendum vote, 66.1 per cent of respondents said dividing the country was a “very important” factor in deciding how they voted. ANU’s Australian Constitutional Referendum Study concluded: “The data suggests that Australians voted no because they didn’t want division and remain sceptical of rights for some Australians that are not held by others.”

The poll commissioned by The Australian Population Research Institute in December last year of 3001 respondents found 53 per cent of people who voted No chose this reason: “We are one country, and no legal or political body should be defined on the basis of race or ethnicity.”

Roskam is right that before the October 14 ballot, “supporters of the voice never came to terms with the key argument against the voice which was its creation would overturn the principle of equality of citizenship and so would divide Australians”.

The senior fellow at the IPA told me this week that voice advocates refused to engage with real constitutional conservatives like him because they had no satisfactory response to concerns that “the voice created ‘separate Aboriginal rights’ and so divided Australians and overturned equality of citizenship”.

Some simply ignored it. Roskam points to law professors Davis and George Williams, who made no mention of equality in their 200-page book Everything You Need to Know About The Uluru Statement From the Heart.

Others advanced woefully unconvincing arguments. The constitutional expert group – chaired by Labor Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and comprising six professors of law, a former High Court judge and Noel Pearson – claimed “the voice does not confer ‘rights’ much less ‘special rights’ on Indigenous people”.

You didn’t need a law degree to understand that a proposal to cement into the Constitution a body for Indigenous people only was a fundamental breach of the civic value that everyone have equal rights.

To their credit, says Roskam, former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, former High Court chief justice Murray Gleeson and Father Frank Brennan had a serious crack at answering the voice’s fundamental flaw of infringing equality.

Turnbull said he would vote Yes despite his misgivings that the voice was inconsistent with his “republican and egalitarian principles” that all offices in a constitutional democracy should be open to every Australian.

Brennan was the most intellectually honest. Roskam says the Jesuit priest and law professor acknowledged the “concept of the voice does positively discriminate in favour of Indigenous Australians, that it does provide Indigenous Australians with special rights, and it does provide those special rights to Indigenous Australians by virtue of their group identity. For Brennan the voice is a measure necessary to address the disadvantage experienced by Indigenous Australians.”

Still, the resounding belief among grassroots Australians in unity and equality was a wake-up call to the vast number of religious leaders who supported the Yes side. With the Australians Speak poll revealing that 74 per cent of religious voters rejected the voice, “it’s clear,” writes Roskam, “that those religious organisations did not speak for their members”.

The Australians Speak data also buries the fallacy that bipartisan support would have ensured the voice won.

More than one-third of Labor voters – 37 per cent – rejected the voice. Eighty-two per cent of all respondents said Coalition opposition to the voice “made no difference” to how they voted on October 14. Similarly, 70 per cent said Labor’s support for the voice “made no difference”. As Roskam points out, some referendums (in 1937, 1967 and 1977) have failed with bipartisan support and one passed (in 1946) without bipartisanship. In any case, plenty of premiers openly supported the voice, along with other state and federal Liberal MPs.

As Roskam writes: “Yes advocates should not have been ‘shell-shocked’ by the power of words such as ‘equal’ and ‘equality’.”

Many of them, after all, had worked on the same-sex marriage postal survey in 2017 where the theme of “marriage equality” convinced 62 per cent of Australians to vote Yes. A similar number of Australians voted in favour of equal rights under the Constitution for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

“To some it might have appeared that those who argued for ‘equality’ in 2017 were arguing against ‘equality’ in 2023.”
The Australians Speak poll contains other nuggets about the nation. Go read it.

The final word goes to Roskam: “At a time when social cohesion is under unprecedented strain and our way of life under assault, we chose unity over division. The referendum result should give Australians the confidence to speak freely about issues that for too long have been deemed off-limits.”

Too many good points to highlight all of them.

Cassie of Sydney
October 2, 2024 6:33 am

The train wreck that is Two Tier Free Gear Keir Sturmer is falling off the tracks and crashing bigtime.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 6:34 am

Two Filthy Butchers committed a massacre in Tel Aviv
https://x.com/MOSSADil/status/1841152574055203218?t=xMcCxl9ZNH5puuwzVZYWdQ&s=19

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 6:35 am
Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 6:36 am

I suppose Israel should just take it on the chin.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-october-1-2024/

Last edited 1 day ago by Rosie
Vicki
Vicki
October 2, 2024 6:39 am

We are waking up to news of an Iranian missile attack on Israel. Seems like a good excuse for Israel to finally take out Iran’s developing nuclear facility.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 6:40 am

Have to say Biden is on the right message about Iran’s excuses for this attack.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 6:42 am

“Iranian report: 5 dead, 12 wounded IRGC forces from the Yanbarkaf unit in the explosion of a Segil missile before firing (therefore the launch) at Mallard.

Also: A Palestinian from Gaza living in Jericho was the only reported death in the IRGC attack.

The Islamic Regime only killed IRGC members and Palestinians in this attack”
https://x.com/TheMossadIL/status/1841204215903121898?t=4wS60preR8bDBicHXY-2Tg&s=19

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 6:45 am

“You may benefit from reading about how the iron dome works. If a missile is going to fall into an empty area, it will not be intercepted. It is difficult to look at the video footage and have any idea of whether or not the ballistic missile strikes have any meaning”
Hopefully this poster who responded to Fouad Alkhatib is correct.
Though the IDF has censored anyone posting footage of strikes.
No need to aid the enemy.
https://x.com/afalkhatib/status/1841173378683867364?t=qOPal8ubRPbSM69jL8e1gg&s=19

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 2, 2024 6:53 am

The Islamic Regime only killed IRGC members and Palestinians in this attack

Apparently some casualties in Jordan as well.

https://x.com/sentdefender/status/1841206064336850977

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 6:55 am

That jolly old fellow Nasrallah had some lovely gift ideas for Israel.
https://x.com/JewishWarrior13/status/1841219523795398752?t=S5_KO4eK0YBfvg1KF5uwIg&s=19

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 6:57 am
Winston Smith
Winston Smith
October 2, 2024 6:59 am

Beertruk/Jo Albrechston:
In reply to one of the arguments:

Brennan was the most intellectually honest. Roskam says the Jesuit priest and law professor acknowledged the “concept of the voice does positively discriminate in favour of Indigenous Australians, that it does provide Indigenous Australians with special rights, and it does provide those special rights to Indigenous Australians by virtue of their group identity. For Brennan the voice is a measure necessary to address the disadvantage experienced by Indigenous Australians.”

When you hand feed adults, they become dependent on hand feeding.
Refusing to hand feed them means that they will feed themselves or starve.
Hand feeding, like confiscating food from a country is the mark of an evil government that wants to keep a people in thrall to them.
It is not an act of beneficence, rather an act of a Totalitarian mindset.

Vicki
Vicki
October 2, 2024 7:00 am

Hearing on Al Jazeera ( yes, sometimes you have to access them) that Netanyahu is calling to Iranians to effect regime change in Iran. Seems it is possible that there is unrest there as war in the ME looks likely.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 7:04 am

“Breaking: Iran fired tens of missiles on Israel’s Dimona nuclear reactor. All were intercepted (source: N12).

I wonder how many of Israel’s missiles on Iran’s nuclear plants will get intercepted…”

https://x.com/DrEliDavid/status/1841181150548804057?t=0uBzdnz0aAN6ySmQtay6tg&s=19

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 7:08 am

“IDF completely took over this Hezbollah tunnel and position.

Zero resistance. Wild footage”
https://x.com/Osint613/status/1841098225052229884?t=PHUiVYaBs0HjzOuF0j8-3Q&s=19

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 7:09 am

Jihadis gotta jihad.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 7:12 am

“Here are the full details that can now be shared regarding the IDF’s covert operations in southern Lebanese villages over recent months:”
More at link
https://x.com/Osint613/status/1841090150689911260?t=nqOMOqhfxomnbkFlJxinMA&s=19

Vicki
Vicki
October 2, 2024 7:23 am

Just saw an interview with some US dude with years of experience in the ME. He reckons that in Lebanon, where he was stationed for years, Hezbollah are not just in STH Lebanon but all over the city. He reckons it will be impossible for Israel to eliminate them.

He said although the US have battleships off Israel which helped in the overnight assault from Iran, he said the US is not in any shape to help in a complete out and out war in the ME.

Meantime, Sarah Abo, the anchor on Ch 9, who is of Lebanese background, burst into tears on the Breakfast show re the attacks on Lebanon!

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 7:24 am

“Iran has announced that it is now in a “state of war.”

“The country has entered a state of war and any content in favor of the enemy and weakening the country, the government, and the army is considered treason and the managers of the channels and groups are warned not to publish this content.”
I guess Iranians should now be extra careful not to upset their islamic dictatorship.
Says much about the state of Iran.
https://x.com/stillgray/status/1841175672716190134?t=pELU861XepF2CwpVEeeG4A&s=19

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 2, 2024 7:31 am

One for keen travel Cats.

New Study Finds Travel Slows Aging (30 Sep)

Forget the Botox. Call a travel agent and book a vacation to help turn back the clock on premature aging. That’s the conclusion of a new research paper that explores how tourism affects our health.

Researchers at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia found that positive travel experiences help protect against signs of aging, both mentally and physically.

On the down side an increasing number of places are becoming unwise to visit, and that has crowded many of the safer destinations like Greece and the Balearics.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 7:31 am

“Hezbollah are not just in STH Lebanon but all over the city.”
This is news?
Hezbollah control suburbs in south Beirut.
Where do people think Nasrallah was hiding?
In a teapot?
They’re also in the Bekaa Valley.
Unlike Gaza though, there might be other Lebanese willing to point out where they are.
Not that it matters.
I think Israel just want the south Hezbollah free and the UN thingy enforced so Israelis from the north can return home.
They aren’t in the business of making all of Lebanon Hezbollah free.
That’s Lebanon’s responsibility.
Iran provide the bulk of Hezbollah funding, they would be nothing otherwise, all eyes should now turn to that Sauron.

Last edited 1 day ago by Rosie
Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 7:33 am

Look at all of them, Iran, Hezbollah Hamas, houthis spending billions on killing the Jews while so many of their people live in abject poverty even suffering outright starvation.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 7:37 am

Sarah Abo was born in Damascus.
I guess that’s close to Lebanon.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 2, 2024 7:41 am

Jihadis gotta jihad.

And Karens gotta Karen.

A Licence for Everything: British Government Creates Mandatory Chicken Register (1 Oct)

“Do you keep chickens in your back garden? Register them now or break the law”, Britons are warned by state media as new rules pulling back yard flocks into industrial bureaucracy that takes force today. …

People who have chickens in their garden and don’t comply with the mandatory register, the purpose of which is to allow “more effective surveillance”, risks “being fined or even imprisoned”.

Will there be a snitch hotline to report unauthorized hens? Plod is going to be unhappy when they keep getting called out to illegal chicken coops.

vr
vr
October 2, 2024 7:43 am

Happy New Year to Cassie and all the Jewish folk that visit this blog.

Shana Tova!

Last edited 1 day ago by vr
Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 7:45 am
calli
calli
October 2, 2024 7:45 am

Anushri Sood

From Sydney University to the ABC. Asks why Israel’s flag can be dIsplayed but not Hezbie’s. In all the clips, this first question appears to be missing.

I won’t state the bleedin’ obvious, except that she’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. But definitely a tool.

calli
calli
October 2, 2024 7:51 am

Yes, a sweet New Year to all!

Let those mighty shofars blow all the missiles and darts away.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 7:54 am

Julian Hill (Labor) running the stupid Labor line that what’s needed is “de-escalation, diplomacy, and a Palestinian state.”
Israel has been attacked ever since it became a nation.
There is no diplomatic solution, no two-state solution.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 7:54 am
Muddy
Muddy
October 2, 2024 7:55 am

My response to Beertruk’s 5:31 a.m. post:

I’ve made the point previously, in relation to G@Z@ (applying equally to hezb@ll@cks in this case), that much of the international media consciously provides material support to these paid murderers via the promulgation using media network resources (infrastructure) of the terrorists’ propaganda programs.

Without such support, I would posit that a far greater number – if not the entirety – of the hostages snatched during 7 Oct would have been released alive. (Deprive the (simple) fire of oxygen).

I believe there needs to be a means of quantifying the propaganda distribution efforts of the international media, so Israel might then – if only in the PR arena – seek (significant) financial compensation* from the same networks.

(The intention being to damage these businesses reputationally, rather than financially. The key lies in quantifying in financial terms the assistance the media has provided to these murder-gangs, and using that as the ‘headline’ to connect with the public).

Cassie of Sydney
October 2, 2024 7:57 am

Shana Tova. At the moment I feel very apprehensive.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Beertruk
October 2, 2024 7:58 am

Winston Smith
October 2, 2024 6:59 am

Winston, I read this Paywallion article the other day. Here is an part of it with linky to full article :

Don’t blame 1788: the Whitlam years undermined Aboriginal Australia
Alex McDermott

In the 1950s and 1960s Aborigines had been employed at remote settlements and missions in government-run enterprises, which enabled them to work and live there. Piggeries, orchards, chicken runs, vegetable gardens, sawmills, bakeries and butcheries flourished. After 1972 young people knew they could get paid more money by not working – “sit-down money”, or the dole. The enterprises collapsed.

In many areas self-determination’s wave of social destruction was made worse by the equal wages decision of 1967. On pastoral stations Indigenous cattlemen worked in a largely cashless economy. They were paid for work largely in rations, clothes and basic accoutrements, while continuing to work and live with their families on traditional country. The rations were often paid to the women, giving them considerable influence.

Once equal pay came in, pastoralists switched even more quickly to new technology, and to more skilled workers to run their stock. Combined with the total loss of incentive to work from sit-down money, and the new ubiquity of the modern cash economy – including guns, grog, pornography and drugs – the traditional societies of remote Australia began to rapidly disintegrate, precipitating a dramatic rise in rates of offending and incarceration.

Crossie
Crossie
October 2, 2024 8:01 am

Turnbull said he would vote Yes despite his misgivings that the voice was inconsistent with his “republican and egalitarian principles” that all offices in a constitutional democracy should be open to every Australian.

This is from Janet’s article. Turnbull is the epitome of the rot at the heart of the elites and monied classes. They know their decisions are horrible but still persist as they feel the negative effects will only be felt by the people who don’t matter, they and their families will be fine as they are insulated by their wealth and positions. This is what evil looks like.

Gabor
Gabor
October 2, 2024 8:02 am

Bruce of Newcastle

 October 2, 2024 7:41 am
   Jihadis gotta jihad.

And Karens gotta Karen.

A Licence for Everything: British Government Creates Mandatory Chicken Register (1 Oct)

How quickly things change, only a minute ago in historical terms, Brits were encouraged, nay, urged to grow food and keep livestock, and now they will be fined if they do it without a license.

Strange times we live in.

Cassie of Sydney
October 2, 2024 8:03 am

I note that a Palestinian terrorist was terminated by the IDF yesterday in Lebanon. Good riddance This cockroach was employed by UNRHA and moonlighted as a teacher of children.

I am wondering if Svengali Simon’s whores, including the whore of Wentworth, have anything to say about this? Any mea culpas from the whores? After all, I recall how all of these whores signed a letter back in March of this year begging Pong to resume financial aid to this organisation of Jew killers.

I note the silence from the whores.

Crossie
Crossie
October 2, 2024 8:07 am

With the Australians Speak poll revealing that 74 per cent of religious voters rejected the voice, “it’s clear,” writes Roskam, “that those religious organisations did not speak for their members”.

Some more from Janet’s article. The leaders of those religious organisations didn’t speak for Jesus either but for themselves, they succumbed to vanity and wish to appear modern and with the cool crowd. Epic fail.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 8:22 am

I note that the Socialist left appears in those videos of the pro-Pali demos, meaning that they endorse the most misogynistic cultures on the planet.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 2, 2024 8:23 am

The propaganda! It’s not working! What shall we do!!

Ford Hopes to Boost Electric Car Sales by Giving Away Free Charging Stations (1 Oct)

Ford Motor Company is hoping to boost sales of its electric vehicles (EVs) by giving away free at-home charging stations, executives announced this week.

Meat Substitutes Still A Tiny Sliver Of US Meat Market (1 Oct)

Another reason cited is that plant-based meats have become a part of the U.S.’s culture war, labeled as a symbol of left-wing politics and a binary to “real” meat. … Not counting insect-based meat alternatives or cultured, i.e. lab-grown meat, meat substitute sales amounted to $1.4 billion in 2023, while sales of fresh and processed meat added up to almost $124 billion.

The proles are increasingly turning away from woke green WEF ideology. I wonder if Ford will survive?

Crossie
Crossie
October 2, 2024 8:34 am

Iran provide the bulk of Hezbollah funding, they would be nothing otherwise, all eyes should now turn to that Sauron.

Rosie, the best long term solution to the Middle East terror organisations is to starve them of funding which means Iran must be bankrupted so it is no longer able to provide that funding.

This is where the US comes in with economic and trade sanctions though not likely under any Democrat government. No wonder Iran has assassination teams in the US aiming at Trump, they know what will happen if he wins.

As to what happens to Iran internally, that is the Iranians’ problem but the west must help if they make another move against the mullahs. I think they have also learned not to try it when Dems are in power. Funny how American internal politics affect the world, oh for those long ago days when their domestic politics ended at the water’s edge.

2dogs
2dogs
October 2, 2024 8:34 am

I think XKCD’s calculation today may be out by a factor of 1,000.

https://www.xkcd.com/2992/

Difference between UK and US billion, perhaps?

Roger
Roger
October 2, 2024 8:42 am

QLD Premier Steven Miles sups with the devil:

Says he will share power with the Greens.

You know what to do, regional QLD voters!

Crossie
Crossie
October 2, 2024 8:44 am

All those Christians and their churches who are all bent out of shape over “Palestinians”, Hamas and Hezbollah don’t seem to realise that they are not the Good Samaritans but the attackers who left Israel bleeding in the road.

P
P
October 2, 2024 8:48 am

Today is the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

“For he hath given his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.”

Psalm 90:11

It will be four weeks tomorrow since C.L. has posted on his blog, so please pray today that C.L.’s guardian angel will bring him back to his blog where he is sorely missed.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare
October 2, 2024 8:54 am

“Iran has announced that it is now in a “state of war.”

“The country has entered a state of war and any content in favor of the enemy and weakening the country, the government, and the army is considered treason and the managers of the channels and groups are warned not to publish this content.”

We watched a major speech by Netanyahu last night. It was amazing and so very good. He addressed Iran. He enticed with a vision of how wonderful the Middle East could be without Iran’s proxy interventions, and how wonderful Iran could be if the Jews and ‘the Persians’ could return to being the old allies they once were and the funds for proxies and terror could be put into improving the lives of the citizenry of Iran. I’ve never seen a more blatant appeal for a population to reconsider its dictators and thrive.

A swords into ploughshares suggestion.

The Mullahs have all gone into hiding. Much good it will do them, for Israel ‘knows’ how to find them and they know it.

Hairy and I think Iran is now going to be the main game for Israel.
Bring it on.

Roger
Roger
October 2, 2024 8:55 am

The Coalition will deliver a misinformation and disinformation policy prior to the election

Flat White, The Spectator (Australia), 1 October 2024

We were right to be sceptical of the Liberal Party’s denouncement of Labor’s Misinformation and Disinformation Bill. Having gained the first positive political traction from the Blue Ribbon base since their opposition to the Voice to Parliament, Senator Jane Hume has summarily dismantled any delusions that the Liberals have learned their lesson or committed themselves to civil liberty.

(And if the following is a mistake, or a misspoken reply, by all means let us have the Coalition step forward and forever promise to leave this legislation in the shredder.)

Speaking to the current bill on Sky News Australia yesterday, Senator Hume said:

‘The Coalition will deliver its own policy prior to the election, but our priority right now must be to defeat this very bad bill.’

The Liberals were told that the only way to salvage their battered reputation would be to publicly denounce their former role in the creation of this ‘very bad bill’.

Voters have begged the Liberal Party to abandon, in its entirety, any Parliamentary desire to curate the public conversation through various censorial laws disguised as ‘misinformation and disinformation’, ‘digital safety’, or the ‘protection of children’.

The wider Australian community has expressed, through thousands of submissions to this bill, an overwhelming demand that the government stop messing around in the public forum where they are not needed, invited, or wanted. Their problem is not with this specific bill, it is with the lurch within politics to obsess about public speech.

Nobody trusts the government with censorship powers. News that the Coalition will be busy drafting Misinformation and Disinformation 2.0 once they finish voting down Labor’s bill comes as a cold chill through conservative politics.

This refusal to give up on digital censorship sadly fits with the pattern seen in the leadership of the Opposition, where Peter Dutton frequently voices his approval for various infringements on digital liberty. Some of the worst thought bubbles in this field are his.

The most dangerous of these is the age restriction of social media via facial recognition – something Labor has taken and run with. Turning social media access into something done at the pleasure of the government (first through age, then through whatever it likes) paves the way for government to grant access to the public forum. It is a provision that effectively erases the concept of a free and open environment for speech.

Citizens may like to remind the government that it did not create social media, nor would it ever be visionary enough to do so. Attempts to regulate social media come from an allergy to the chaos of unfiltered thought which Parliament wrongly sees as a threat to stability. It remains my hope that with enough vocal opposition to these censorial bills, the Coalition will finally drop the bone that is censorship from their policy portfolio.

As for the views of Senator Hume, if I were able to interview her, I have some questions in relation to the protection of medical freedom and ensuring that government opinion regarding medical ‘misinformation’ is not allowed to silence whistle-blowers and victims who expose drug companies on social media.

I notice that in the past, Senator Hume has expressed a negative view of ‘dangerous’ medical information that appeared on social media during the pandemic.

On August 27, 2021, Senator Hume said:

‘Misinformation is dangerous. Ignore those pushing it, like Clive Palmer. Let’s stick to the National Plan, get vaccinated and get back to the lives that we want.’

Those left permanently injured or dead from vaccine side effects of course, cannot return to the lives ‘they want’. During the pandemic, most of what the government and its health authorities published turned out to be misleading, fictitious, or false. Admissions have been made that many of the pedantic pandemic rules were employed to manipulate public behaviour and compliance. That, to me, is a misuse of government trust. In everything from social distancing rules, to contact tracing, to safety and efficacy claims – the government has acted as a purveyor of misinformation. Meanwhile, the truth found on social media was wrongly misidentified. Why should the government have a say in the truth when its current track record is in tatters? Trust is earned, not legislated.

Senator Hume also said in March of 22, ‘The tech giants – the largest digital platforms – have transformed from tools that index context or enable communication, to surveillance platforms and gatekeepers of innovation.’

Remind me, is it X or the former Liberal government that drafted Digital ID legislation to track citizens through the digital world and tried to claim that there was no safe way forward for the digital economy following Covid except through the gatekeeping of government ID?

The point here is not to drag Senator Hume over the coals but to point out what an increasing number of health experts are saying in response to Labor’s current bill – the government is not fit to make decisions on truth and that it made serious mistakes during the previous pandemic.

No matter what their ‘good’ intentions are, the Coalition should not be seeking to replace Labor’s Misinformation and Disinformation Bill with another one of their own. Even if their next bill were ‘perfect’, it would set in law the ability to censor public speech and open the door to constant amendments which would, over time, create a tyrannical mechanism for government to misuse. Just. Stop.

You wouldn’t know that the Liberal Party is officially committed to freedom of speech and minimising government interference in our lives.

Evidently Dutton & Hume don’t.

Last edited 1 day ago by Roger
Gabor
Gabor
October 2, 2024 8:55 am

Winston Smith
October 2, 2024 8:33 am

However that’s just me – I think Iran should be nuked into the same condition we left Germany and Japan after WW2 as a lesson in “Don’t Fool With Us”.

That’s because I believe the total and utter defeat of an enemy is cheaper in lives and treasure than the prolonged 76 year old war that has burnt out the cradle of human civilisation.

There is no point – or kindness – in hanging a man or a people slowly.

Unless you shoot the rope, at the last minute ala C Eastwood films.
Since the last world war it only worked with Japan, a civilised people who saw the error of their ways, or realised that complying is less painful and more profitable than being rebellious and resisting. I’d still be weary of them though.

Germany simply took advantage and prospered, smart baskets they were once, not so much now.

Trying to civilize the Mid Eats was a total failure, you cannot civilize people who think they are already superior to you.

Indolent
Indolent
October 2, 2024 9:00 am

This time I’m on the side of the Horsemen. (Beautiful horses, by the way).
ROOKE: Four Horsemen Of Harris’s Campaign Apocalypse Have Arrived

Indolent
Indolent
October 2, 2024 9:03 am
Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 9:03 am

Has anyone opened a book on what in Iran the Israelis will hit?

Indolent
Indolent
October 2, 2024 9:03 am
Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 2, 2024 9:05 am

Too cheap to meter.

Floating Wind Farm Lost £30m Last Year (1 Oct)

Kincardine produced 144 GWh last year, so the total cost equates to £562/MWh.

I don’t like Bowen’s chances to get a horde of offshore bird choppers built.

The graphic with the story shows just how bad the financials are: subsidies make up a full three quarters of revenue and yet even with that enormous chunk of taxpayers’ money operating costs are still 50% higher than revenue.

comment image

Indolent
Indolent
October 2, 2024 9:06 am

@amuse

HURRICANE: Communities across the south are being told to prepare for extended power outages as a result of a massive short of critical electrical equipment. It turns out the Biden-Harris regime hasn’t just sent the bulk of our artillery shells to Ukraine – they’ve also sent them our nation’s stockpile of critical electrical equipment.

The U.S. has always kept a stockpile of critical electrical equipment—like transformers and switchgear—to quickly restore power in the aftermath of disasters such as Hurricane Helene.

Now, with 360 substations in desperate need of new transformers, the country should be ready to respond. But here’s the catch: the Biden-Harris administration recklessly drained our stockpile by sending these crucial resources to Ukraine.

So while they’re prioritizing foreign aid, millions of Americans could be left in the dark for months, suffering through extended power outages because of their poor decision-making. Once again, it’s America last under this regime.

Oh and don’t get me started on selling our nation’s strategic petroleum supply to China…

Crossie
Crossie
October 2, 2024 9:38 am

Now, with 360 substations in desperate need of new transformers, the country should be ready to respond. But here’s the catch: the Biden-Harris administration recklessly drained our stockpile by sending these crucial resources to Ukraine.

I believe North Carolina and Georgia are swing states electorally. Let’s see how this disaster and the Biden/Harris admin’s response to it works out for them. I suppose they can always make it up with the illegal immigrants’ votes.

Gabor
Gabor
October 2, 2024 9:52 am

Crossie
October 2, 2024 9:29 am
Reply to Gabor

Trying to civilize the Mid East was a total failure, you cannot civilize people who think they are already superior to you.

All Israel’s neighbours have so little to feel superior about, I believe viciousness does not count.

I think you are mistaken, they do indeed feel superior to us poor schmucks in every way.
And currently they have every right to do so.

How we see it is immaterial

What they lack at present is the power of numbers, but it’s coming, make no mistake.

Underestimating your enemy is the biggest mistake you can make.

Rabz
October 2, 2024 9:54 am

recklessly drained our stockpile by sending these crucial resources to ukraine

Deliberate malicious staggering incompetence – both of those despicable clowns should be executed for treason.

Their record is simply abominable – and the most infuriating aspect of it is they aren’t even a legitimate administration – they hold the presidency solely due to wholesale and blatantly obvious cheating – which they will repeat next month.

In the meantime, they’re doing all they can to either gaol or have their opponent killed.

I cannot articulate in mere words how much I utterly despise them.

Gabor
Gabor
October 2, 2024 9:59 am

Rabz

Their record is simply abominable – and the most infuriating aspect of it is they aren’t even a legitimate administration – they hold the presidency solely due to wholesale and blatantly obvious cheating – which they will repeat next month.

What is even more infuriating is that so many people do not see it or close their yes to it and deny deny!

Vicki
Vicki
October 2, 2024 9:59 am

Underestimating your enemy is the biggest mistake you can make.

So is overestimating them. Most of their prosperous ME neighbours despise them – eg the Emirati, Egypt, Saudis et al.

 Reply

Roger
Roger
October 2, 2024 10:02 am

HURRICANE: Communities across the south are being told to prepare for extended power outages as a result of a massive short of critical electrical equipment.

Even Democrats are scathing of the WH response:

“I’m speechless, having worked in a White House that was responsive… Vice President Harris and President Biden should have been in North Carolina. They should have been there for substantive reasons. They should have been there for political reasons and personal reasons. To show this level of cavalier indifference just literally takes my breath away.” 

Former Clinton adviser Doug Schoen on Fox News.

per PJMedia

Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 10:07 am

The U.S. has always kept a stockpile of critical electrical equipment—like transformers and switchgear—to quickly restore power in the aftermath of disasters such as Hurricane Helene.

Now, with 360 substations in desperate need of new transformers, the country should be ready to respond. But here’s the catch: the Biden-Harris administration recklessly drained our stockpile by sending these crucial resources to Ukraine.

There’s your October surprise right there — unfortunately for the Harris circus.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 10:08 am

Albo calls for appropriate moderation in difficult times.
For everything there is a season, and it’s not really a time for protests now.
(Power tool noise in background and no hi viz or hardhat!)

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 2, 2024 10:11 am

Should they ever manage to institute an insect-based diet how long would it be before holier than thou activists take up the cause of the insects who also live and have feelings bla, bla, bla.

Then plants!

Plants Are People Too? | Power Line (30 Sep)

The New York Review of Books has a book review by and follow-up interview with Elizabeth Kolbert, who up to this point has distinguished herself as one of the leading climate change hysterics. Her newest obsession might be called “the secret life of plants.” Because guess what? Plants are intelligent, and communicate! But since we eat them and trample on them, sounds like the next favored oppressed group for the Democratic Party.

Ok, it’s a fair argument that plants are more intelligent than Elizabeth Kolbert, there is that.

Gabor
Gabor
October 2, 2024 10:13 am

Roger
October 2, 2024 10:09 am
Reply to Vicki

   What they lack at present is the power of numbers, but it’s coming, make no mistake.

I can’t think of a geo-political region in the world that is more rent by internal divisions than the ME.

What makes you think they are interested in conquering the ME?

They already own it, just under different names.

Vicki
Vicki
October 2, 2024 10:15 am

The Green Line was supposed to be a bit of a border, but we’re all aware of what Islam thinks of borders – they only exist when they help Islam. Like China and the Soviet Union, borders are a construct of the bourgeois mindset, and are always open to advantageous realignment.

Until the recent campaign by the Israelis into southern Lebanon I did not know about the demilitarised zone created after the 2006 hostilities and supposedly patrolled by the UNIL forces of the United Nations.

What a total waste of time and UN money that was! The excellent videos posted by Rosie this morning show the extraordinary amount of ammunition stored in tunnels apparently throughout the zone.

I had once thought that a 2 State Solution may work if a United Nations force permanently patrolled the border between Israel and a Palestinian state. What naivety that was!!!

Israel must have the support of the “civilised” world in eliminating the scourge that is Islamic military extremists who seek to destroy them. Wherever they are.

Vicki
Vicki
October 2, 2024 10:19 am

Incidentally – thank you again Rosie – for the excellent stuff you extracted from X & other sources on the current conflict. Much appreciated. I have completed cow work and my daily walk today, and have friends arriving tomorrow – so have lots of cooking to do today. So only have time for a scan of the Cats posts, and some brief comments today!

johanna
johanna
October 2, 2024 10:19 am

Vice Presidential debate will be live on SKY and SBS from 11am.

Gabor
Gabor
October 2, 2024 10:22 am

Vicki
October 2, 2024 9:59 am

Underestimating your enemy is the biggest mistake you can make.

So is overestimating them. Most of their prosperous ME neighbours despise them – eg the Emirati, Egypt, Saudis et al.

And yet still here they are, and despite all the ‘liberating’ wars the west fought, they are thriving.

Don’t take the arabs’ word at face value. they may despise them and don’t mind them being cannon fodder.

Only hope is that the Israelis will contain them for a while.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 10:26 am

. “I’m hearing that Mossad HQ, Nevatim Air base, Hatzerim Air base, radar facilities, were targeted and hit as where military concentrations near Gaza. Also that maybe Dimona was hit as well. Possibly a gas facility too.”
Same source that had a Sufa shot down in Syria?

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 10:31 am
Gabor
Gabor
October 2, 2024 10:39 am

Roger
October 2, 2024 10:22 am

Reply to  Gabor

A house divided.

This is what not quite infuriates but annoys me, people just don’t get it.

But they are united against the common foe, the nonbelievers, until that foe is defeated.

After that they sort out their internal differences, at the moment it’s not in their interest, Saudi etc to combine forces and fight a proper war, no need to, the peaceful invasion works well enough for them.
They always said, time is on their side.

Matter of time and stupidity, timidity of the west works wonders.

Roger
Roger
October 2, 2024 10:42 am

But they are united against the common foe, the nonbelievers, until that foe is defeated.

Sigh.

They’re not united. Anyone familiar with the ME knows this. There are divisions along religious, sectarian, political, ethnic and national fault lines.

Last edited 1 day ago by Roger
Gabor
Gabor
October 2, 2024 10:56 am

Roger
October 2, 2024 10:42 am

Islam is Islam all conquering, has always been always will be.
It’s in the manual.

The different factions indeed fight each other, but look at the history of Islamic conquests and the participants.

I am not like Dover, banging my head against a brick wall, so I retire from this discussion.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 10:57 am

“Debate” on soon.
Fluffy Annalise and Laura Jayes seem to think the election comes down to kitchen table issues.
No fake ballot talk here. 2020 was safe and secure, doncha know?

m0nty
m0nty
October 2, 2024 10:58 am

I see that after chickening out of the third debate, Trump has now chickened out of the traditional 60 Minutes interview. Bok bok bwaaak!

Roger
Roger
October 2, 2024 11:03 am

Islam is Islam all conquering, has always been always will be.

It’s in the manual.

I’m well aware of the nature(s) of Islam.

I’ve read “the manual.”

…look at the history of Islamic conquests and the participants.

History teaches us that Islam has failed in its goals. That indeed explains, in some part, the resentful attitude so many of its adherents display.

As the poet wrote, between the idea and the reality falls the shadow. and in the case of Islam the darkness is profound.

That’s not to say Islam should be regarded with complacency, a belief which you seem to attribute to me.

Last edited 1 day ago by Roger
Barking Toad
Barking Toad
October 2, 2024 11:07 am

Watching the “debate”. Walz has been infected with the Kamala word salad disease.

A lot of words but they mean nothing – the words just go round and around.

Krudd was an expert at this.

Gabor
Gabor
October 2, 2024 11:08 am

But, as the poet wrote, between the idea and the reality falls the shadow.

Until the sun shines again.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 11:10 am

Didn’t take long for CBS to join the “Get Trump” approach of Walz.

Barking Toad
Barking Toad
October 2, 2024 11:16 am

CBS sheila asking stupid questions to prompt Walz. Climate change causing more hurricanes ala Helene.

FMD, the msm has no shame.

Walz given the opportunity to prattle about ruinables stopping the climate from changing. He’s on meth.

bons
bons
October 2, 2024 11:17 am

Without being judgemental, I have been surprised when watching videos of rural southern Lebanon to see the landscape covered with large luxury villas.

Very similar to areas of the Gold Coast reputed to host drug smugglers of a certain ethnicity – odd coincidence. There can be nothing in it. ‘Aussies’ living in Southern Lebanon are all struggling pensioners …….

calli
calli
October 2, 2024 11:18 am

I love that poem.

Shape without form, shade without colour,

Paralysed force, gesture without motion;

In this hollow valley

This broken jaw of our lost kingdoms

The whole thing is marvellous. It reminds me of Lewis’ vast twilit plain in The Great Divorce. Those guys really knew how to write.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 11:22 am

The CBS larkies are feeding Walz lines now.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 2, 2024 11:28 am
Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 11:29 am

“It’s not the migrants, it’s the Wall Street speculators that are making houses unaffordable”.
CBS skated close to denying cat cuisine in Springfield. Vance is correct to pull them up on fact checking.

Tom
Tom
October 2, 2024 11:36 am

Haha. Tim Walz: Donald Trump was responsible for the US economic collapse caused by Kung Flu.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 2, 2024 11:47 am

Why yes, yes we are.

Israeli MP claims Australians are ‘paying the salary’ of terrorists amid uncovered UNRWA links to Hamas commander (Sky News, 2 Oct)

Maybe some Australian journalist could ask Bad Penny why we’re doing this.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 11:51 am

The right to control your own body!
We all lost that when we were told that we couldn’t refuse to have untried vaccines or we’d lose rights.

132andBush
132andBush
October 2, 2024 11:51 am

Iranians claim 400 launched.

Israel’s say ~180

No doubt someone will pop up here and say Iran was provoked.

Ordered another 2000lts of diesel for harvest and beyond just in case.

calli
calli
October 2, 2024 11:53 am

Time for some positive news. Our little pair of Willie Wagtails have finally raised a chick. Year after year their nest is raided by lace monitors and crows. Not this year.

Also, our Rail has a mate. The lonesome little thing has visited for several seasons, all alone. No longer. I can almost forgive them the mess they make with the garden mulch. Hopefully they too will produce a family.

Bruce of Newcastle
Bruce of Newcastle
October 2, 2024 11:57 am

Albo lying again.

Albanese weighs into Qld election battle with savage LNP swipe and says he has ‘no doubt’ he’ll make campaign trip for Miles (Sky News, 2 Oct)

Mr Albanese on Tuesday took a savage swipe at the opposition LNP amid polls showing Queensland Labor is set to be turfed from office after almost a decade in power.

“We saw what happened last time the LNP got into power in Queensland, which is tens of thousands of jobs disappeared in education, in health, in services, and I don’t want to see that happen,” the Prime Minister told reporters.

The disappearing tens of thousands of jerbs were pubic serpents. Who are being paid by government borrowing, now up to about $120 billion.

Wally Dali
Wally Dali
October 2, 2024 12:02 pm

Vance looking terrible on abortion, repeating “we’ve got to do better, we’ve got to win back trust” about four times against a well drilled Walz who bought some subtly broad case studies.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 12:02 pm

“Video footage verified by The New York Times also showed Iranian missiles on the Israeli air base of Nevatim, in the Negev desert in the south of the country — one of those Iran said it had targeted. Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, Israel’s chief military spokesman, said in a statement that the attack had had “no impact” on the air force’s operational capability and that it would “continue to strike in the Middle East powerfully.””
Might be paywalled.

Live Updates: Iran Launches About 180 Ballistic Missiles at Israel https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/10/01/world/israel-lebanon-hezbollah?smid=nytcore-android-share

Arky
October 2, 2024 12:08 pm

Waltz almost sounds reasonable at times.
But then the crazy eyes satanically possessed expression crosses his face and you go: “Ohhh, he’s lying his arse off”.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 12:12 pm

“Iran humiliates itself again, firing around 180 ballistic missiles at Israel with minimal effect. Israel should now hit back with a devastating response”
https://x.com/COLRICHARDKEMP/status/1841202082499477617?t=XM-79EFpTMulnKyEskSl_g&s=19

Arky
October 2, 2024 12:14 pm

What is it about the left and that sudden, random, wide eyed startled expression as if Satan had just snuck up behind them and goosed them with a scaly, hot claw?

Last edited 1 day ago by Arky
JC
JC
October 2, 2024 12:14 pm

Walz looking joyous in the debate. Filled with joy.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 12:21 pm

The implication was that the missiles were targeted only? at military sites and successfully so.
Of course Iran would target those sites, they know they are going to get backsies.
Israel has said no impact on military capability.
At the very least Britian, Jordan and the US assisted in defending her.
Good.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 12:24 pm

Another “debate” another partisan MSM hit job.

Rosie
Rosie
October 2, 2024 12:27 pm
Top Ender
Top Ender
October 2, 2024 12:29 pm

Suggestions, ladies and gents?

Victoria potato cake

NSW ????

Qld potato scallop

South Aus potato fritter

Western Aus ????

Tas potato cake

Eyrie
Eyrie
October 2, 2024 12:33 pm

We need to be given a switch that allows us to use our solar power whenever there is a blackout – coming sooner than you think. As things stand, your solar power switches off whenever there is a blackout so the power workers don’t get zapped as they try to fix things.

?Unless you have a remote area inverter, the inverter uses the mains 50Hz to synchronise itself. No mains, no working inverter. You can get around this with a home battery system type inverter and solar cells

Wally Dali
Wally Dali
October 2, 2024 12:35 pm

Sheeeeit.
Walz is smashing it.
Vance is rushed, trebly, no plan of attack.

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 12:36 pm

Walz finishes as he started, lying – this time about 2020, and adding a sauce of dishonesty about “imprisoning your opponents”.
Vance replies well to the accusation of not allowing election results to stand.
We know what we know.

Salvatore - Iron Publican
October 2, 2024 12:36 pm

Bruce of Newcastle  October 2, 2024 11:57 am

Albo lying again.

Albanese weighs into Qld election battle with savage LNP swipe and says he has ‘no doubt’ he’ll make campaign trip for Miles (Sky News, 2 Oct)

…“We saw what happened last time the LNP got into power in Queensland, which is tens of thousands of jobs disappeared in education, in health, in services, and I don’t want to see that happen,” the Prime Minister told reporters.

The disappearing tens of thousands of jerbs were pubic serpents. Who are being paid by government borrowing, now up to about $120 billion.

They phrase it thus, to give the impression that the jobs the Satanic LNP “disappeared” were Teachers, Doctors, Nurses, etc.

GreyRanga
GreyRanga
October 2, 2024 12:37 pm

WA, scallops, mate got caught when he came to visit. Went to get fish and chips for dinner. Spotted scallops on the menu and ordered a heap, never noticed the sea scallops also on the menu.

Top Ender
Top Ender
October 2, 2024 12:39 pm

And what so Queenslanders call a “milk bar” or “corner store”?

And no, the answer is not “don’t care”!

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 12:39 pm

They are running over time. Want to give Walz a bit more lube?

Top Ender
Top Ender
October 2, 2024 12:40 pm

And what do Queenslanders call a “milk bar” or “corner store”?

Rabz
October 2, 2024 12:43 pm

About ten minutes into the debate and the massive fatal coronary waiting to happen is lying his lard laden house sized backside off – about everything.

Meanwhile, bimbecile “moderator”: “Da scientistic consensus is that the planet is warming at an unprecedented rate.”

Well thanks for that fact and evidence free load of horse manure.

Arky
October 2, 2024 12:43 pm

The answer to “Did Trump lose the election” is “Did Hillary lose her election”? And “Well, you better let her know Tim, because she still insists she won”.

Last edited 1 day ago by Arky
Top Ender
Top Ender
October 2, 2024 12:45 pm

Weirdly, apparently WA residents call a choc-top ice cream – the sort you buy in cinemas – a “”choc-bomb”.

(Doing up a presentation on Australian icons….)

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 12:51 pm

If people are going to vote democrat just on the abortion issue it confirms my worst fear – that the USA is going down because there are too many bad actors in too many places.

Rabz
October 2, 2024 12:52 pm

WTF? WW pretending to be a Christian. “I don’t lie about my non-existent faith much …”

No need to start now then, is there, you bloated communist idiot.

Pogria
Pogria
October 2, 2024 12:52 pm

Lol! Awesome.

Ace of Spades @AceofSpadesHQ

if Vance weren’t so polite and personable, people might hold it against him that he’s a smarty-pants who’s absolutely bullying this fat, sweaty, stuttering mess of a Chinese agent.”

Wally Dali
Wally Dali
October 2, 2024 12:52 pm

Exactly Arky! How hard would it have been to war-game some zingers against the obama-biden-harris-walz record, the economies, the crime,
and anticipate the lies they’ll try to fly because they’ve got f*ck all else to talk about?????

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 12:54 pm

James Morrow doesn’t think Vance lacked anything. Kieran on Sky a bit too enthusiastic with the notion that we need to see less of Trump.

Pogria
Pogria
October 2, 2024 12:55 pm

Ace has some excellent quotes and memes on his debate thread.

https://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=411736

Pogria
Pogria
October 2, 2024 12:57 pm

comment image

Bungonia Bee
Bungonia Bee
October 2, 2024 12:59 pm

It certainly reinforced the point that the MSM can’t be trusted with debates.

  1. I think the punters are stirring, getting ansty. Normally letting politics of either persuasion slide by as we just get…

  2. Great stuff from the past. Visuals and audio are great. —— F r. David – Words Don’t Come Easy

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