Australia - you're standing in it
I just reckon if a fella can't be blind drunk and ride his mower down the main road in a bum-fuck town like Ingham, well, where can he do it??
Surely he doesn't have to move to Lucinda or even Halifax.
Bureaucracy gone mad.
Trailer looks good Basesix, in that slightly over-ripe American way.
Thats right next to my Uncles butcher shop.
Haha, very overripe. I don't mind a bit of cheesy sentimentality.
Also nice for Lynch to get some of that Mouse money, and flipping us little Lynch-language easter eggs throughout, like the bypassed hitchhiker in the clip.
My fave of these is quite a long shot of road-lines passing slowly beneath the mower at 2 mph, shot from the mower bonnet.. self-reference to his early-career shots of road-lines whipping beneath a T-bird at 100 mph. Lynch likes a bum-fuck town too, so he does..
Probably barely related, but that made me think of this guy whom I have regular chats with.
The word legend does a lot of heavy lifting these days, but Norm is worthy of the title.
5500km on a backhoe to raise money and awareness around kids who have had a rough time, and helping them to change their mindset.
"I was looking for validation from everyone else but not me, because deep down I believed that the things that happened to me in my childhood were because I wasn't worthy."
"Once I found that I am responsible for my own happiness, and once I realised, I am worthy, my life changed."
"People who feel worthy, think worthy, say and do worthy things. Those things we say and do, reinforces a belief system about worth which reinforces worthiness inside."
https://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/5884145/normans-journey-from-to...
https://nit.com.au/25-09-2020/1399/wakka-wakka-man-helps-to-heal-childho...
freeride76 wrote:Thats right next to my Uncles butcher shop.
Nice corner of the world, especially if you have a decent boat.
Yep, pretty nice up that Hinchinbrook channel.
basesix wrote:haha, pretty high production values on Qld police clips Andy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0zb_baTzkk&t=117s
(this is a beautiful film, pathossy as - david lynch does disney family movie)
Great movie!!
AndyM wrote:I just reckon if a fella can't be blind drunk and ride his mower down the main road in a bum-fuck town like Ingham, well, where can he do it??
Surely he doesn't have to move to Lucinda or even Halifax.
Bureaucracy gone mad.
Even if they weren’t the local coppers surely they just could have just taken him home. That cop’s attitude and voice gave me the irrates. Coont from Brownsville.
What can a ride on do? 5-10kmph? What risk was he posing to himself or the public? The streets looked empty to me and he was way off the road. He had his high vis on :) .
Just typical QLD cop mentality. Protecting the public and upholding the law. Pfft..
haha Hardly the fast and furious. I don't know what powers of discretion they could have used but I reckon the arresting officer is a bit of a humourless prick.
They should have made him mow the local footy field by sunrise or something.
How to solve the east coast gas crisis:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-28/victoria-bans-gas-new-homes-housi...
dan, dan, dan...
the all kinds of dumb is just atounding
Already happened in NZ. Meanwhile, we're importing more (dirty Indonesian) coal than ever before.
To be fair i dont think a ban on new gas appliances is a bad thing, i think its weird that anyone would even want to put in gas oven etc or even hot water system.
Shit i didn't know NZ imported Indo coal?
Heaps lower quality than Australias and without all the strict environmental regulations we have too.
Agree - replacement of gas should be done by end of year here, anyway.
Politics - potential early double dissolution election? That would keep our threads busy!
https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/pm-to-seek-housing-bill-double-diss...
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/446845/nz-imported-more-than-a-milli...'s%20imported%20more%20than,achieve%20the%20same%20energy%20output.
NZ has plenty of natural gas, but because that's 'bad', we must phase it out. To make up for it, we import dirty Indo coal.
You can't make this shit up.
20% fall in WA ALP vote in poll mentioned here
Libs (who were recently eviscerated in election) at 54% in two party preferrred - that's enough to form government. Wow.
velocityjohnno wrote:20% fall in WA ALP vote in poll mentioned here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbKE8eHeoLI
Libs (who were recently eviscerated in election) at 54% in two party preferrred - that's enough to form government. Wow.
Still leaving around 62 % majority .
WA Libs are leaderless , directionless and will be in opposition for a long time to come
Wonder how long Spud has got before he is roasted???
Corrupt rabble....
https://www.smh.com.au/national/scandal-has-stuck-to-morrison-but-offsho...
CHANZUKUS review (One of Those)
25% Oz have zero Anglo Ancestry
45-50% Oz don't identify with Anglo Heritage
Meaning : SEATO or Oz NATO is headed south before it begins
2040 ~ 25% of NZ will be Asian born (Higher than 21% Maori Pop)
Largest % of Chinese Pop (Outside Asia) Oz > NZ
Chinatown in every major city.
World Sport organizations slot Oz into Asia.
Oz just ditched Commonwealth Games.
China owns Islands off WA / Qld (5 islands) / NZ
Fed Govt are denying PNG island sales
Qld Govt are trying to resume Double Island.
Oz Ports ~ China owns 20% Melbourne 50% Newcastle 100% Darwin
Aukus are now demanding Oz invade & recapture Aussie Chinese Ports of Newcastle / Darwin.
Just coz US has rights to dump shit & contaminate drinking water in ALL world port cities.
Oz have just banned further Mining rights by Chinese railed & shipped thru Port of Darwin.
China now owns & runs majority of Oz Power Grid & can deny Tech / AUKUS supply lines
Oz Solar / Gas power supply grids are hooked / monitored / rationed by Chinese.
This is how China Work...they run inventory on our Peak trade then carefully select winners!
Once this Tech intel is known they up the bidding on prime Port / Rail to boss the peak Payloads.
None of this surprises Nato / US as they're in the same boat so to speak.
China owns / makes / itemises / distributes / rations EU commerce for eternity.
Be hard to think of a nation that hasn't got Chinese interest itemizing Port Activities.
NATO / AUKUS fight to keep perceived Chinese Toll Straits & Trade lifelines open.
NATO maybe increasing Members / Pooling Weapons Water Supplies but pop is waning!
It's quite clear to world outside that by the time the first AUKUS sub is built...
$368B Anglo Oz Super Subs will be built & manned by majority non Anglo > Asian Population
Bizarrely for a proposed WAR between Old world Asia (vs) Youthful Australasia
Noting only China has signed the international No First Strike Nuke Policy.
2050 ~ 50%+ Ozasia Nukes their Motherland...that's some pretty fucked up NATO warmongering.
Clear to all Gromz that our majority Asian Oz Pop won't be needing US Subs to Nuke their parents!
[ Computa Says No ]
No display of Talisman Sabre rattling can change that fact...
China increasingly freely participates & referees every Talisman Sabre War Game.
Oz defence minister is fine with entertaining his VIP guests!
Chinese International Defence / Coalition (Lists are exclusive to #1 swellnet)
2006-2018 S&SD (US Strategic Defence)
2005-2019 ADME (US Annual Disaster Management Exchange)
2009 - Ongoing MOOTW ( UN Aid - Non war Defence)
2014 / 2016 RIMPAC (Pacific Defence) Banned China from 2018 >
2017 - Current (18 nation Talisman Sabre -China now Monitors All North / East Oz coastline)
Trigger that broke the Alliance was not Taiwan but territorial claims over Spratly Islands
(see above) The west are fighting to salvage final supply line being hemmed in by Chinese!
OZ / NZ / China exercises
2012 (ongoing) Cooperation Spirit OZ/NZ /China
2014-2019 KOWARI ( Oz / US / China )
2015-2019 PANDAROO ( China / Oz)
2012-(ongoing) SDD (NZ / China)
Naval Defence 'most recent' Port Visits (Exclusive to #1 swellnet)
Dec 2007 NZ > China (Anniversary) > 2011 NZ Ship breaks down
Sept 2012 NZ > US lifts ban on NZ ships
Nov 2015 China 3 ships > US (Florida)
Oct 2015 China > Hawaii (Pearl Harbour)
Jan 2016 China 3 ships > Brisbane
Aug 2016 US > China
Nov 2016 US > NZ (First US Naval Ship since 1980's Nuke Ban)
June 2017 US > Taiwan (1st Navy Port vessel since 1979)
Nov 2018 China > PNG
Sept 2018 US (Naval Ban) by Hong Kong
April 2019 NATO > China
May 2019 Oz > China (PLAN 70th Anniversary)
June 2019 China (3 ships) > Oz (On the down low > A2 Platinum Drug Run)
Oct 2019 China > NZ ( Vic Uni VIP tour of Vessel)
Dec 2019 US (Naval Ban) by China
Nov 2021 US > NZ (War Ship) NZ PM must sign off > NO Nukes (Cough!) War Games!
Dec 2021 US (Naval Ban) by Cambodia
March 2023 China Naval Base Cambodia
June 2023 China Naval Base Philippines
June 2023 ~43 World Embassies tour PLA Garrison Bejing
July 2023 Oz Talisman Sabre 18 nation's navies.
Pacific Presidential 'most recent' Visits (Exclusive to #1 swellnet)
Add on the past cancels & o/n stop overs...not easy to dig this out!
Ally PM Visits Timeline spans 37 years of research (Who knew!)
Bewildering to think NZ are still decorating silly season with last century's Xmas Cards...WOW!
With friends like that...who needs enemies! World should send more messages in bottles to NZ
Nov 1986 India > NZ
Sept 1999 US > NZ
March 2006 UK > NZ
Oct 2011 UK > NZ (Last minute Cancel) see - 2023 US > Oz ( Last minute cancel)
April 2013 Oz > China
July 2014 Japan > NZ
Nov 2014 UK > Oz (Nov / re: Brisbane G 20)
Nov 2014 US > Oz
Nov 2014 China > Oz
Nov 2014 China > NZ
Oct 2015 China > UK
Oct 2016 NZ > India (Return Invite > see 2022/23)
April 2017 China > US (Winter Whitehouse)
Nov 2017 US > China
Jan 2018 UK > China
Nov 2018 China > PNG
Nov 2021 China > EU (Rome G20)
April 2022 UK > India
Sept 2022 World Leaders (UK Queen's Funeral)
Sept 2022 World Leaders (Japan PM Funeral)
Oct 2022 NZ invites India
Oct 2022 Japan > Oz
Jan 2023 Japan > UK
Jan 2023 Japan > US
March 2023 Oz > India
May 2023 India > PNG (Return invite extends to NZ )
May 2023 India > Oz
May 2023 US (Debt crisis Cancels) Oz visit
June 2023 NZ > China
Upcoming PM / Prez Tours
Oz -NZ (Outbound visits to UK-US remain constant)
One can easily plot them in for last month / Now / Next month as ever!
Oct 2023 Oz > China (31st marks 50th Anniversary of Gough's Visit)
Late 2023 China (tba) > US
NZ < (Open Invitations) > India
Of interest is this Icy Cold shoulder by India / US / UK toward NZ No nuke stance
AUKUS Commemorative Souvenir for Aug ALP Peace Rally.
Qldurrz Talisman Sabre Bumper Issue ... happy to share.
Why do you conflate ‘Asian’ with ‘Chinese’?
Btw - China has a range of territorial and maritime boundary disputes with almost all of its (Asian) neighbours.
No! Not tbb doin that...ABS does that...that's how the stats come out...(Asian! Then breaks it down!)
Asian angle is to show how fast Oz Feds fav migration demographic will override Anglo context.
tbb could add that migrant Asians have children 20 years earlier than Oz...
Main reason Oz wants them...saves on Maternity Leave..
Asian Mums then rocket thru employed-degrees to boss their work places...just ask them.
Oz is slowing Chinese investment & migration...in favour of India / Nepal / Philippines.
Note we don't have Indian Town Centres / Celebrations
Sure! Could run Asian Pacts with India swingin' both ways ... be a pretty long review...
Just kept it to recent players on Oz / Asian Defence Front...
The idea being to provide a decisive priority reference list not available with wiki or other...
One can then gauge the politics or the urgency or lack of it in regard to US / UK / India
So when AUKUS or QUAD say they need NZ ...you look at the last visit & laugh at the hypocrisy!
All would rather deal with China 100x over than once dare Visit NZ PM...(So! Not that urgent after all!)
Another valid reason for sharing Chinese / Oz in timeline plays out here & now in tbb's Qld!
Breaking News ~ More Talisman Sabre tragedy continues to unfold...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12350369/Exercise-Talisman-Sabr...
Following Hwy (1) Closure from Tank Convoy Explosion.
Now this Witsunday's Chopper Crash tragedy > shock impact on Resort Islands.
Best wishes for 1,000 man search for any survivors...
Above tbb informed of Chinese owning Qld Islands > most in the Witsundays.
Of all places & Timelines...
Oz Chopper falls at the feet of recently acquired Chinese Resorts with Spy Ship just cruisin'!
Given that Oz (vs) China play sport with each flyover...one has to ask...why fly near Chinese Islands.
China Capital Investment Group own Islands fronting this Chopper Crash + other near Chinese Islands!
Not sure why Talisman Sabre is hovering about Chinese owned Island Resorts!
Considering Chinese are closely monitoring defence maneuvers from nearby ship.
No! tbb is not drummin' up nothin' that isn't obvious to all Qld Tourism operators!
Search & Rescue need access to these Chinese Islands that are renowned for denying access.
Why are Tanks exploding on priority Oz Hwy & now Resort Chopper crashes...
How is exploding War Machines thru our Peak Transit points defending our shore?
Defence Response...
ADF put pause on Chopper Squad...Salute...Good Idea!
US General :
* Oz must Fast Track Missile Production
* Oz must Patch up & Mop up our Exceptional US Defence Waste!
Yep! He's the good guy & he's on our side!
China prepares for war
Interview with Kyle Bass, hedge fund manager; recent, 2 weeks ago. Kyle speaks about 3:00 to 39:00. Takes questions afterward.
What he reveals divided into segments
1) Military preparations - self explanatory, idea that amphib exercise needs to complete before actual Taiwan venture will be considered
2) Key Changes to legal system: Nationalisation of foreign assets/investments. All companies as extensions of the government.
3) Physical structures including hardened shelters being built, world's largest combat hospital built, power outage stress tests, blood bank
4) Xi's communication hardening - Kyle suggests read him at his word, rather than Western interpretations. "Prepare for war." Replacement of market friendly politicians with military.
Bass is a financial guy so the following is of most interest:
6) Non-economic financial market activities - not buying treasuries when they're at 5% and knowing their rise has coincided with massive treasury buying. Kyle suggests what happened to offshore Russian assets may give a clue to why. Discussion of trade balance which had fallen greatly just before covid. Severing of economic data to the West, offshore dollar bond defaults ("and it's gone"), huge cancelling of airplane orders, raids of due diligence companies.
7)Commods: solidifying oil commitments, coal to replace Aussie gas Kyle suggests, leads to huge order book for new coal fired power plants (starts 6x rest of world last year) and increase in coal imported, huge grain stockpile, 70% of world's reserves. 1.5yr stockpile.
8) ICBM launchers - 100 2020, 450 2022!
---
At the very least, you could conclude a separation of economic systems. I've followed the military hardware buildup and positioning and think the threat of conflict is real. We won't get the new subs fast enough.
velocityjohnno needs a wingman for such a big warcry.
Yes tbb reluctantly admits...we are seeing a ramp in the war effort...
Aukus Pillar 2 involves Albo signing over Oz Sovereignty to US...
https://www.csis.org/analysis/aukus-pillar-two-advancing-capabilities-un...
Yes!
Oz is designated & Fasttracked as a Domesticated US Military plaything or a Vassal State
This is why Albo walks with a swagger & spits on us as he laughs at our rights being eroded.
It works both ways...Prez Albo to you fuckers...this be why he's so above us Aussies...One of them now!
Also why the faithful are leaving in droves...Briz vegas is lighting up way too fast & will soon explode.
Gonna be a mass reverse migration of Qldurrz from US munition's Dump to Danistan!
It's also why these warmongers are whippin' their Qldurr slaves to punch out more WMD...
Albo...you all heard that Big Deep Voiced Bully ...he said more...more...faster...faster!
Anyone else catch Albo's sly barb as he left the stage...coz they edited it out...'Consensus..he Laughs!'
Also why US just banned Chinese from sucking dry Oz Lithium mines thru Darwin as tbb said above!
Lithium War that will likely deprive tbb of his bipolar meds...bastards!
Here comes the need for Oz Lithium...
https://www.sydneycriminallawyers.com.au/blog/albanese-has-agreed-to-aus...
Here comes the War on Oz Lithium + Ban on Chinese mining > Darwin Export
https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/7/21/australia-blocks-acquisition...
Here's the Brizzo Company installing Lithium into US defence Fleets.
All saw this High Powered visit to Brizzo geeks EV charger stations outfit...so wotz the big deal?
Now see how fast the Promo comes up on the Tritium Web Site...
This is alarming...who does this shit & why!
How the fuck is US top Brass wanking over Brizzo boffins...
Check it out...Brizzos plan to electrify the Whole US Fleet of 225,000 vehicles in 33 countries + ALL USA.
Guessing the War is over Lithium powered War Machines not Oil.
https://thedriven.io/2021/04/30/tritium-scores-deal-to-help-electrify-us...
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/an-australia-charger-company-...
https://tritiumcharging.com/us-secretary-of-state-antony-blinken-and-us-...
https://tritiumcharging.com/
2023 Talisman Sabre Exercise Area
20 June [ Bowen > Stone Is < Middle Is ] (100km north of Key Resort crash site)
https://www.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au/news/article/221/exercise-talisman-s...
26th July Bowen is confirmed as Exercise Area
https://whitsundaynews.net.au/talisman-sabre-comes-to-town/
Sure...so this incident seems outta place...tbb did raise this...so we gotta check on that!
Only fair to clear the ADF & Feds if things seem outta place coz world are watchin'
Backtrack...the answer lies further back in time.
[FACTCHECK] tbb is confirming that Fed Govt did consult for Chopper Exercise in this Resort Area.
Sure it equally sounds odd...but it was a Special Ops...(Yes! Exactly how that sounds & plays out!)
This was approved as a 'separate' Night Operation...we can bring that up to share as it is a Public notice!
Pause : One could argue that suss Chopper is not the best option for High Risk Night Ops!
Feds also knew the outcome of exactly what might happen in Qld Tourism Heart!
Exactly how & why we can share their notification consult!
23 Feb > 10 March Fed Govt Consultation
This is the proposal outlining the Late Night special ops.
https://www.avsef.gov.au/consultations/exercise-talisman-sabre-2023-pros...
28-30 July Lindeman Island 60 min Night Parachute Drop
Required to 'Safely Segregate Military Parachute Drop Ops' around Lindeman Island Drop Zone
It seems to read that Hamilton Island was the 60 min Check Point
Lindeman Island is owned by Chinese White Horse Group (Clive was rival bidder!)
Chinese Cable TV operator / AustSino > WA Iron / Magnetite Mining.
https://aust-sino.com/
(Important) When Feds released Consult Lindeman was under contract to Qld Whiteshoe.
2 March (Mid Consultation) ~ Deal fell thru & Lindeman Island returned to Chinese White Horse...
4 April Lindeman is resold to 'Singaporean' Jack Jia - Chinese News Group
Basically the Fed's (secure) Night Ops Drop Zone changed ownership 4x from Consult to Exercise.
Sure! That sounds normal for Qld resorts...not sure if or when to press abort on that Aukus exercise.
Just saying it is important to share / inform as Island Resort is abandoned & may not have Telco if group are injured!
Qld Govt want Chinese off the Islands > Possible that Govt thwart Development Plans.
For 2 reasons...Chinese security patrols Islands & removes visitors + the Islands are being run down.
There is a current fire sale $10m to Jack Jia Chinese News Group...awaits foreign investment review!
Jack Jia also runs Well Smart Oz resorts...promises to upgrade to get tick from Qld Govt!
Can share an image of Lindeman Island...can see why ADF might wanna use the handover for exercise...
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/05/04/69491901-11939781-It_s_unders...
Let's face it...few bullet holes ain't gonna hurt + Govt know it is Vacant for Aukus exercise.
Let's just say...looks like a trap or pretty vacant...not very welcoming either way!
Again...why parachute drop behind enemy lines when 'Whole of Oz ' is a more secure option.
Also why land on Chinese Island under the cover of night with dodgy chopper.
The Search Area now extends to waters off this Chinese owned Lindeman Island.
Widely reported that Talisman Sabre is designed as a Chinese exercise
After many years one can't rule out Qld Chinese Spy Ships / Islands are now included in exercises!
Well! It's not like they can move the Chinese Spy Ship/s or Islands ...why not simply include them?
Aukus Search and Rescue Exercise may need to ring the doorbell on China's front doorstep.
Think Albo's Musclular Memory skipped Aukus phase 2 > Now wingin' Phase 100.
Just how does a US General ask Chinese Qldurrz to check their back yard for Aukus Soldiers
Crew send best wishes to all in the search...fingers crossed!
Can someone organise some tissues for Scotty....
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/31/scott-morrison-ac...
andy-mac wrote:Can someone organise some tissues for Scotty....
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/31/scott-morrison-ac...
Despite speculation that Morrison could exit parliament mid-year, the member for Cook said he was “pleased to continue to serve” his electorate………… geez saint scotty loves taking the piss
andy-mac wrote:Can someone organise some tissues for Scotty....
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/31/scott-morrison-ac...
Tissues????
Give the man some bogroll to wipe his mouth with!!!
garyg1412 wrote:andy-mac wrote:Can someone organise some tissues for Scotty....
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/31/scott-morrison-ac...
Tissues????
Give the man some bogroll to wipe his mouth with!!!
Haha, true that!
andy-mac wrote:Can someone organise some tissues for Scotty....
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/31/scott-morrison-ac...
Smirko
Mr Morrison, you are a bottomless well of self-pity with not a drop of mercy for all the real victims of Robodebt pic.twitter.com/tdDiK6O6TK
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) August 1, 2023
The Fordham Effect
By Joel Jenkins and The Shot
In its year-and-a-bit of government, after a decade of playing the small target in Opposition, senior members of the Australian Labor Party have tried their hand at rapprochement with an innately hostile corporate media. From a secret meeting with Rupert Murdoch in the early hours of its term, to its clear strategy of attempting to win the favour of the Sunrise and 2GB voting blocs, the Albanese Labor Government puts itself in danger of being spreading too thin, attempting to appease the unreasonable populist shock jocks at the expense of its traditional voting base, ultimately restricting itself from making any of the big, bold reforms that are needed.
Just the other week, Richard Marles joined his friend Peter Dutton for a chat on Nine’s Today show, hosted by court jester-in-chief Karl Stefanovic. It was Marles’ birthday. After being handed a convenient cake from the crew, Dutton held up his ‘unscripted’ present. ‘What is it? It’s not fake tan again, is it?’ grinned Marles, Stefanovic belly laughing as Dutton produced a small walking stick, quipping it could be used as a ‘sabre-type tool to take care of Albo, take care of Tanya Plibersek and Bill Shorten’, before demonstrating a sword-like thrusting motion, exemplifying the ghoulish sense of humour we have become accustomed to from him.
Labor may think it is getting good press, but in this instance on Today, Marles looked like a simpering twit and Peter Dutton got another (albeit unsuccessful) opportunity engineered by Peter Costello to demonstrate his humanity in public again. All the public sees, if it is paying enough attention, is an incestuous political class with seemingly more in common with each other than they will ever have with us.
While this Labor government might be content attending interviews with disingenuous interviewers on corporate media networks, it takes some serious gymnastics of self-delusion to ignore that the corporate world strongly prefers working with their LNP opponent as their partner of choice and will back it as soon as it is viable to do so again. The modern ALP walks away from its traditional base and towards the uninspiring ideas of the centre-right, endangering the few uniquely progressive points of difference the party still somehow clings onto in the process.
A Labor government slowly emerging from a decade of small target perma-opposition no longer represents the bold ideas of Whitlam, Hawke, or these days even Gillard. Feeling a cacophony of disappointment from the bread-and-butter heartland on climate, cost of living, housing and AUKUS, and afraid to implement so much as a tax reform, or even allow debate on it in their upcoming conference in Brisbane, the party has turned to Kyle and Jackie-O, Kieran Gilbert and Ben Fordham to sell its message. Like the supermarket duopoly, major party politicians from both sides of the aisle stifle competition and price-fix inspiration, weaving around each other to deliver the counterintuitive goals of the corporate donor class that has so captured their parties.
This government seems to forget the marginalised everyday Australians who delivered them to power, and chooses to ignore that every note sung by the combined choirs of angels in the corporate media came from the same corporate songsheet, all pulling together in the service of delivering the Coalition the last election. They must have forgotten the Josh Frydenberg puff pieces, the odes to Jenny Morrison, the Scomo Ukulele curry nights – endless and shameless and overt – accompanied by the Clive Palmer UAP and Harvey Norman ads.
After a decade of government-media fusion under the Coalition, misinformation and deception around bushfires, pandemics and corruption by the press amidst the shame of Robodebt, the cries for an ICAC, and the calls for a Murdoch Royal Commission – Australians went to the polls and installed the lowest primary vote Labor government in history with an expectation for real change. With barely seventy-six seats, in a sea of teal and crossbench, and the bushfires, floods and pandemics forever changing our collective priorities, Australians were looking for a government that would be brave enough to change the status quo. They got the Albanese Government instead.
From Howard to Morrison, every Coalition Prime Minister has had to be dragged into interview situations on ABC radio and television, but this neoliberal Labor government doesn’t bat an eye to appear on Sky News or 2GB and get slammed with bad faith questions by people that cannot wait until there is a coherent iteration of the Coalition they can back to the hilt.
Australia is running on a bipartisan autopilot on most issues: around the cost of living and retaining mechanisms that propel year-on-year corporate profits. Regarding the environment and the housing crisis, the major parties agree first on most issues. Because many of its policy trajectories do not align with the expectations from many in its traditional base, the Albanese government is breaking bread with the corporate media in the hope that it can promote its mediocrity. It should be clear to all that a government can’t change the world when it needs the approval of Ben Fordham.
In the days leading up to Anthony Albanese’s appearance on his program, in-between calling for the banning of books promoting sexual education for youth, and riling people up about the ‘trans-debate’, Ben Fordham had been stirring the pot on the Voice, taking a predictably firm ‘No’ position. What started with a hopeful Tweet from the Prime Minister on the morning of the interview, resulted in him being trapped in a intellectually dishonest conversation with the Jerry Springer of Sydney talkback radio, ending with several 2GB clips showing the stumbling PM ‘pwned’ by a belligerent Fordham on the matter of the Voice, including flustering the man to say he wouldn’t act on advice from a potential panel if they recommended changing the date of Australia Day.
Fordham and 2GB spent the week after Albo’s friendly visit picking holes in every word the Prime Minister said, ‘fact checking’ him, questioning T-shirts he wore, applauding the decisions of retailers to pull out of supporting the ‘Yes’ campaign, and having Tony Abbott on to talk uninterrupted about the ‘power grab’ that is the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. Did they really expect anything else to happen?
By kowtowing to the entrenched interests of the centre-right, the government robs itself of any visionary ambition. By signing itself up to get punked on air by disingenuous shock jocks, it shirks the progressive votes that saw it elected. And by competing for the disinterested votes on the right with the opposition – who are more than happy to have them drift further into the territory it is redefining on the far end of the spectrum – it trades its legacy for a kiss of the ring and a chuckle with Karl.
When the government takes centrist positions on issues that need transformative and inspirational leadership, it gets bogged down trying to defend against bad faith actors who dog-whistle ‘communism’ at anything that threatens their paymasters’ interests, instead of leading from the front on reforms and policies that rise above populist fearmongering and deliver to Australians what they unequivocally voted for.
Supafreak wrote:https://twitter.com/shitfuckery1/status/1686481541491458051?s=46&t=5Rczx...
Na reckon he should stay member for Cook. Great asset to the ALP.
What a joke he was PM....
Yeah.
Spot on from The Shot.
Thanks Westy.
Govt are drafting Misinformation Bill
20th Aug 2023 Cut off to Have yer Say / submissions
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/new-acma-powers-combat-m...
tbb did read thru a fair chunk of it...Kinda waffles on about nuthin' much but grants them flexi power.
In our case...Ben already said as much!
Mostly directed toward swellnet to Flag us ruffians rather than ACMA deleting our comments.
Bill innocently seems to offer Govt flexi power to cover all IT changes for all manner of Events...
Meaning they can change directive to suit their needs.
Like during an election...Ruling Govt lays down their weakest link as a no go zone & removal fasttrack.
[Factchecker] : 'Pork Barrel' or 'Rort' are not relevant to our honest Serving PM...$50,000 fine...each!
Throw as much shit at the PM's electoral bubble but it won't stick...simply slides off.
But! Govt / News / Pro Satire are exempt & can spread & print as many lies as they like...sounds fair!
Kinda like the Govt's Prime Time Court Jester can undermine opposition by saying any shit he likes!
No rules for them & heaps more rules upon us...just the we like it & the way it should be...All say Aye!
More of the same...Like who'd wanna change that!
Another broad brush...(Serious Harm) Sounds scary!
As in harming the economy...you brute! Ok ...which one of you swellnet louts just harmed our economy!
+
"Him...that swellnet Bully there...He undermined the Integrity of an Australian Democratic Process!"
Think the dobber means the crew can't say anything about The Govt...Oops! Does that count?
You bet that sounds serious! You'd better have yer say!
Anyhow...if any think they can "Strike an Appropriate Balance"
Crew can always direct yer Fan Mail to The Big House...thanx for making a stand...Legend!
truebluebasher wrote:Govt are drafting Misinformation Bill
20th Aug 2023 Cut off to Have yer Say / submissions
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/new-acma-powers-combat-m...
tbb did read thru a fair chunk of it...Kinda waffles on about nuthin' much but grants them flexi power.
Dont know a lot about this but im really surprised this is the first mention of this here(ive seen), its a topic that deserves its own thread.
Letting a government decide and influence what is so called disinformation in any way is orwellian dangerous and down right scary no matter what side of politics suggest it or support's it.
If we have learnt anything from covid it should be this.
Be very very wary of that shit. Our govt has been down that track:
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern:
"We will continue to be your single source of truth… Unless you hear it from us it is not the truth."
If you’re concerned, get engaged with the process. That’s what makes for better laws.
Island Bay wrote:Be very very wary of that shit. Our govt has been down that track:
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern:
"We will continue to be your single source of truth… Unless you hear it from us it is not the truth."
Wow, apparently that really is a direct quote. Very concerning.
'If we have learnt anything from covid it should be this."
yep, terrifying
"We will continue to be your single source of truth… Unless you hear it from us it is not the truth."
even more terrifying
Tell you what though. In terms of influencing the government, there’s nothing like expressing your terror on swellnet!
It is a particularly shit statement from JA. What was the context?
indo-dreaming wrote:truebluebasher wrote:Govt are drafting Misinformation Bill
20th Aug 2023 Cut off to Have yer Say / submissions
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/new-acma-powers-combat-m...
tbb did read thru a fair chunk of it...Kinda waffles on about nuthin' much but grants them flexi power.Dont know a lot about this but im really surprised this is the first mention of this here(ive seen), its a topic that deserves its own thread.
Letting a government decide and influence what is so called disinformation in any way is orwellian dangerous and down right scary no matter what side of politics suggest it or support's it.
If we have learnt anything from covid it should be this.
I suggest you have a say. It is quick and easy using an online form and offers a choice of degrees of anonymity.
In terms of practicality, the dot points in the proposed bill that define "harm" are like an umbrella covering all possibilities. Anyone with an agenda could threaten legal action on a vast number of posts that went counter to their views or were deemed "unsafe" to their delicate sensibilities.
Forum moderators could spend hours a day considering the risk of many posts and striving to interpret the possibly pathways to harm to someone out there in the internet or to various government agendas and narratives covered by the 8 or 10 dot point harm definitions. They would most likely decide to censor all but the most innocuous comments or simply cancel the forum altogether.
Under the legislation, safe Swellnet comments would steer clear of any debate, controversial or non-narrative official opinion and probably be along the lines of:
"It was cold yesterday."
"Mini mals suck"
"I woke up at 6am this morning but went back to sleep"
Although on second thoughts:
"It was cold yesterday." - could imply that the post was denying climate change and encouraging Trumpian style politics, misinformation and threaten social justice for those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
"Mini mals suck" - could offend someone who has higher weight carrying body characteristics needing a bigger board or who thinks the word "suck" has misogynistic sexual dominance connotations and just re-enforces the historical lateral violence of the patriarchy.
"I woke up at 6am this morning but went back to sleep" - this might be interpreted as a form of lateral violence by disparaging social justice norms labelled unsafely as "woke" in that the poster "woke" up but then chose to "de-woke" and revert back to the old and dangerous stereotypes of the patriarchy by implying that they chose to put desirable social justice concepts back to sleep.
Not every social issue has a legal solution. Facts change and what was said by some experts to be misinformation on Covid in 2020 was accepted fact in 2022/3.
If a law is manifestly impractical to implement and interpret and has endless scope for unintended consequences, it should not be passed.
Either authoritarian communism creeping up on Australia or Australia is moving towards information control mode in preparation for military warfare with China.
etarip wrote:Tell you what though. In terms of influencing the government, there’s nothing like expressing your terror on swellnet!
It is a particularly shit statement from JA. What was the context?
During her Covid heyday, she did daily standups, and she was very keen to disparage all comments and opinions that diverged from hers and the govt. I'll see if I can find the video later.
But she meant exactly what it sounds like.
Turns out she was lying through her (impressive) teeth much of the time.
The "I can't believe it's not politics" thread.