https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/01/australians-back-labor-albanese-emissions-target-while-one-nation-support-doubles-guardian-essential-poll

Essential Poll indicates most Australians back Labor’s 2035 emissions targets, but are skeptical that they’ll be met.

Tbh, same.

LNP is also losing support to ONP. I would hope they are not too spooked by this because those votes will come back to them anyway via preferences.

dv said:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/01/australians-back-labor-albanese-emissions-target-while-one-nation-support-doubles-guardian-essential-poll

Essential Poll indicates most Australians back Labor’s 2035 emissions targets, but are skeptical that they’ll be met.

Tbh, same.

LNP is also losing support to ONP. I would hope they are not too spooked by this because those votes will come back to them anyway via preferences.

agree if positive influence from CHINA comes to pass they will far exceed rather than meet the targets

SCIENCE said:

dv said:

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/01/australians-back-labor-albanese-emissions-target-while-one-nation-support-doubles-guardian-essential-poll

Essential Poll indicates most Australians back Labor’s 2035 emissions targets, but are skeptical that they’ll be met.

Tbh, same.

LNP is also losing support to ONP. I would hope they are not too spooked by this because those votes will come back to them anyway via preferences.

agree if positive influence from CHINA comes to pass they will far exceed rather than meet the targets

see these bastards

Rio Tinto has told workers the Gladstone Power Station could retire early. The station, which is Queensland’s largest and oldest coal-fired power station, was scheduled to close in 2035, but could now close in 2029.

what you lazy bastards

The Queensland Conservation Council (QCC) said the potential early retirement was evidence that heavy industry and the private sector were getting on with the transition to cheaper renewable energy.

what a load ¿ can’t the Corruption government just bankroll massive and necessary subsidies ? to keep koal kompetitive

Federal Coalition Member for Flynn Colin Boyce criticised Rio Tinto’s announcement, but said he was not surprised.

oh right of course

In a statement, Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said he wanted to see the power station operate beyond 2029. “Gladstone Power Station has powered Queensland industry and supported thousands of local families for nearly five decades,” he said. He said he would work with power station operators and the state and federal government to ensure the station remained operational.

¡ they ! can ¡

roughbarked said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

roughbarked said:

Barnaby Joyce is calling net zero a “lunatic policy” after a snow dump on NSW’s New England region.

Mr Joyce also lashed the Productivity Commission, which has called for an expanding of the safeguard mechanism in their latest interim report.

In case any others here share my ignorance of what the safeguard mechanism is:

The Safeguard Mechanism.

Sounds like a sensible implementation of standard engineering practice to me.

But then, Barnaby has never claimed to adhere to standard(or sound) engineering practices.

how is getting so wasted that you fall over in public not a standard engineering practice

roughbarked said:

so it’ll cost more than Turnbull’s nice little barrier reef bursary, then

Albanese has stated there will be no more referenda while he is PM.

I wonder how long he’ll stick around. I doubt he wants to tap Howard’s record. Wouldn’t be surprised if he bows out mid-third term to give his replacement a runin.

hey remember when all the news were trying to make something out of this and paint it as a big Anthony Albanese fail and see CHINA bad and everything

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-02/papua-new-guinea-australia-pukpuk-treaty-signed/105843900

oh they really did do what they promised oh wow

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-02/papua-new-guinea-australia-pukpuk-treaty-signed/105843900

Share
Papua New Guinea’s cabinet approves ‘Pukpuk’ defence treaty with Australia
By the Pacific Local Journalism Network’s Nick Sas and foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic
Topic:Defence and National Security

7h ago
7 hours ago

The landmark defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea has been agreed to by PNG’s cabinet. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)

Link copied

Share
A landmark defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea has been approved, with PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape saying it will elevate the two countries’ security relationship to “its highest level in history”.

The treaty, known as the Pukpuk treaty, is Australia’s first new alliance in more than 70 years, and will see the two countries agree to defend each other in the event of a military attack.

In a statement released this afternoon, Mr Marape confirmed his cabinet had agreed on the treaty, which he said would ensure Papua New Guinea was “safe, secure, and prepared to protect its people and borders”.

He also revealed plans under the treaty for as many as 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve with the Australian Defence Force, under “dual arrangements”.

—-

dv said:

SCIENCE said:

hey remember when all the news were trying to make something out of this and paint it as a big Anthony Albanese fail and see CHINA bad and everything

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-02/papua-new-guinea-australia-pukpuk-treaty-signed/105843900

oh they really did do what they promised oh wow

Share
Papua New Guinea’s cabinet approves ‘Pukpuk’ defence treaty with Australia
By the Pacific Local Journalism Network’s Nick Sas and foreign affairs reporter Stephen Dziedzic
Topic:Defence and National Security

7h ago
7 hours ago

The landmark defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea has been agreed to by PNG’s cabinet. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)

Link copied

Share
A landmark defence treaty between Australia and Papua New Guinea has been approved, with PNG’s Prime Minister James Marape saying it will elevate the two countries’ security relationship to “its highest level in history”.

The treaty, known as the Pukpuk treaty, is Australia’s first new alliance in more than 70 years, and will see the two countries agree to defend each other in the event of a military attack.

In a statement released this afternoon, Mr Marape confirmed his cabinet had agreed on the treaty, which he said would ensure Papua New Guinea was “safe, secure, and prepared to protect its people and borders”.

He also revealed plans under the treaty for as many as 10,000 Papua New Guineans to serve with the Australian Defence Force, under “dual arrangements”.

—-

that’ll stick it to them enemies out there

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/more-than-100-guns-seized-in-police-raids-on-sovereign-citizens-20250930-p5mz2e.html

Missed this news yesterday

dv said:

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/more-than-100-guns-seized-in-police-raids-on-sovereign-citizens-20250930-p5mz2e.html

Missed this news yesterday

Our gun laws probably wouldn’t apply to sovereign citizens then?

roughbarked said:

dv said:

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/more-than-100-guns-seized-in-police-raids-on-sovereign-citizens-20250930-p5mz2e.html

Missed this news yesterday

Our gun laws probably wouldn’t apply to sovereign citizens then?

anyway good

SCIENCE said:

roughbarked said:

dv said:

https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/more-than-100-guns-seized-in-police-raids-on-sovereign-citizens-20250930-p5mz2e.html

Missed this news yesterday

Our gun laws probably wouldn’t apply to sovereign citizens then?

anyway good

better

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-05/man-arrested-after-shooting-in-sydney-croydon-park/105854454

SCIENCE said:

SCIENCE said:

roughbarked said:

Our gun laws probably wouldn’t apply to sovereign citizens then?

anyway good

better

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-05/man-arrested-after-shooting-in-sydney-croydon-park/105854454

I have truble seeing what was better about that.

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

SCIENCE said:

anyway good

better

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-05/man-arrested-after-shooting-in-sydney-croydon-park/105854454

I have truble seeing what was better about that.

well having guns out there is the definition of free democracy right

sorry they were probably being sarcastic

So apparently it wasn’t Dutton who was the main reason for the Libs failure at the last election, it was Hastie.

And how do I know this?

Dutton told me (via SMH).

The Rev Dodgson said:

So apparently it wasn’t Dutton who was the main reason for the Libs failure at the last election, it was Hastie.

And how do I know this?

Dutton told me (via SMH).

A bit of bile spill?

Hastily after the leadership

SCIENCE said:

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

better

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-05/man-arrested-after-shooting-in-sydney-croydon-park/105854454

I have truble seeing what was better about that.

well having guns out there is the definition of free democracy right

sorry they were probably being sarcastic

oh how nice

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has argued Australia only provides “non-lethal” parts for F-35s, and has placed responsibility for any transfers to Israel on US arms companies.

unpopular and inconvenient truth: guns are non lethal parts

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

Self-appointed sheriffs, no doubt. Probably wearing plastic sheriff badges they found on Temu.

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

Fair comment by Mr Blanch.

Divine Angel said:

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

Self-appointed sheriffs, no doubt. Probably wearing plastic sheriff badges they found on Temu.

I doubt they would trust Temu, they probs 3d printed them

ChrispenEvan said:

Divine Angel said:

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

Self-appointed sheriffs, no doubt. Probably wearing plastic sheriff badges they found on Temu.

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

well look at all yous fine civic souls coming here and rejoicing about the rights of free people being violated

Michael V said:

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

Fair comment by Mr Blanch.

It is the law.

SCIENCE said:

ChrispenEvan said:

Divine Angel said:

Self-appointed sheriffs, no doubt. Probably wearing plastic sheriff badges they found on Temu.

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

well look at all yous fine civic souls coming here and rejoicing about the rights of free people being violated

If they were trully free, why would they need guns?

ChrispenEvan said:

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

wait, so they are sovcits, but they need sheriffs? which sounds like an appointed leader to protect them… which sounds like the very thing they are trying to escape from…

Arts said:

ChrispenEvan said:

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

wait, so they are sovcits, but they need sheriffs? which sounds like an appointed leader to protect them… which sounds like the very thing they are trying to escape from…

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-18/sovereign-citizen-movement-law-court-four-corners/105655100

It’s a wild ride.

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

ChrispenEvan said:

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

well look at all yous fine civic souls coming here and rejoicing about the rights of free people being violated

If they were trully free, why would they need guns?

Arbroath Macht Frei

Divine Angel said:

Arts said:

ChrispenEvan said:

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

wait, so they are sovcits, but they need sheriffs? which sounds like an appointed leader to protect them… which sounds like the very thing they are trying to escape from…

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-18/sovereign-citizen-movement-law-court-four-corners/105655100

It’s a wild ride.

LOL inevitability strikes again eh, that’s the beauty of the Natural SCIENCEs, yous can check out anytime yous like, but yous can never leave.

SCIENCE said:

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

well look at all yous fine civic souls coming here and rejoicing about the rights of free people being violated

If they were trully free, why would they need guns?

Arbroath Macht Frei

a scottish town will set you free?

SCIENCE said:

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

well look at all yous fine civic souls coming here and rejoicing about the rights of free people being violated

If they were trully free, why would they need guns?

Arbroath Macht Frei

What does Scotland have to do with it?

Arts said:

ChrispenEvan said:

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

wait, so they are sovcits, but they need sheriffs? which sounds like an appointed leader to protect them… which sounds like the very thing they are trying to escape from…

can’t run a good anarchy without a committee.

ChrispenEvan said:

SCIENCE said:

roughbarked said:

If they were trully free, why would they need guns?

Arbroath Macht Frei

a scottish town will set you free?

Perhaps he means the 60’s Fiat go-fast parts.

ChrispenEvan said:

Arts said:

ChrispenEvan said:

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

wait, so they are sovcits, but they need sheriffs? which sounds like an appointed leader to protect them… which sounds like the very thing they are trying to escape from…

can’t run a good anarchy without a committee.

this is how splinter groups start… one day the sovcits cult will start disagreeing with each other and then there will be subsovcits and sidesovcits

Michael V said:

Michael V said:

ChrispenEvan said:

SCIENCE said:

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

roughbarked said:

ChrispenEvan said:

Divine Angel said:

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

Self-appointed sheriffs, no doubt. Probably wearing plastic sheriff badges they found on Temu.

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

well look at all yous fine civic souls coming here and rejoicing about the rights of free people being violated

If they were trully free, why would they need guns?

Arbroath Macht Frei

If they were trully free, why would they need guns?

Arbroath Macht Frei

a scottish town will set you free?

What does Scotland have to do with it?

Perhaps he means the 60’s Fiat go-fast parts.

sigh does nobody

The Declaration was intended to assert Scotland’s status as an independent, sovereign state and defend Scotland’s right to use military action when unjustly attacked. Submitted in Latin, the Declaration was little known until the late 17th century, and is unmentioned by any of Scotland’s major 16th-century historians. In the 1680s, the Latin text was printed for the first time and translated into English in the wake of the Glorious Revolution, after which time it was sometimes described as a declaration of independence.

study the

The slogan Arbeit macht frei was first used over the gate of the Oranienburg concentration camp, which was set up in an abandoned brewery in March 1933 (it was later rebuilt in 1936 as Sachsenhausen). The slogan’s use was part of the 1937–1938 reconstruction by Schutzstaffel (SS) officer Theodor Eicke at Dachau concentration camp.

classics any more

Arts said:

ChrispenEvan said:

dv said:

Sovereign citizen ‘sheriffs’ demand meeting with Col Blanch after Dezi Freeman hunt sparks gun seizures in WA

A so-called sovereign citizen group left reeling after “half a dozen sheriffs” had their guns taken away in a State-wide police crackdown have pleaded for a sit-down with the Police Commissioner.
Members of the Sovereign Peoples Assembly of WA (SPAWA) broke their silence after being deemed not fit and proper to hold a firearms licence by Commissioner Col Blanch on Sunday.
Mr Blanch said “most” of the individuals who were targeted owned firearms legally under the previous firearms act for various means, but that their views made them “not fit and proper” to hold a licence.

“If you have made it very clear that you do not abide by the laws of Western Australia, set by the Parliament, then there is no way that you can be a fit and proper person to hold a firearm in Western Australia,” Mr Blanch said.

—-

https://thewest.com.au/news/police/sovereign-citizen-sheriffs-demand-top-cop-meeting-after-dezi-freeman-hunt-sparks-firearms-seizures-in-wa-c-20247016

LOL, their individualism comes and bites them on the arse.

wait, so they are sovcits, but they need sheriffs? which sounds like an appointed leader to protect them… which sounds like the very thing they are trying to escape from…

Sounds like freedom fighters in various existence throughout history that don’t fight from freedom but some other form of repression

Arts said:

ChrispenEvan said:

Arts said:

wait, so they are sovcits, but they need sheriffs? which sounds like an appointed leader to protect them… which sounds like the very thing they are trying to escape from…

can’t run a good anarchy without a committee.

this is how splinter groups start… one day the sovcits cult will start disagreeing with each other and then there will be subsovcits and sidesovcits

Schism! It’ll take a lot to catch up to the Omnians (Tamb will appreciate this)

“About one hundred and sixty, since the Schism of ten-thirty am, February twenty-third. That was when the Re-United Free Chelonianists (Hubward Convocation) split from the Re-United Free Chelonianists (Rimward Convocation). It was rather serious.” “Blood spilled?” said Agnes. She wasn’t really interested, but it took her mind off whatever might be waking up in a minute. “No, but there were fisticuffs and a deacon had ink spilled on him.” “I can see that was pretty bad.” “There was some serious pulling of beards as well.” “Gosh.” Sects maniacs, said Perdita.

– UGH | Terry Pratchett, Carpe Jugulum

SCIENCE said:

Michael V said:

Michael V said:

What does Scotland have to do with it?

Perhaps he means the 60’s Fiat go-fast parts.

sigh does nobody

The Declaration was intended to assert Scotland’s status as an independent, sovereign state and defend Scotland’s right to use military action when unjustly attacked. Submitted in Latin, the Declaration was little known until the late 17th century, and is unmentioned by any of Scotland’s major 16th-century historians. In the 1680s, the Latin text was printed for the first time and translated into English in the wake of the Glorious Revolution, after which time it was sometimes described as a declaration of independence.

study the

The slogan Arbeit macht frei was first used over the gate of the Oranienburg concentration camp, which was set up in an abandoned brewery in March 1933 (it was later rebuilt in 1936 as Sachsenhausen). The slogan’s use was part of the 1937–1938 reconstruction by Schutzstaffel (SS) officer Theodor Eicke at Dachau concentration camp.

classics any more

I know a bit about the German bit, but have no idea about the Scottish bit.

Michael V said:

SCIENCE said:

Michael V said:

Perhaps he means the 60’s Fiat go-fast parts.

sigh does nobody

The Declaration was intended to assert Scotland’s status as an independent, sovereign state and defend Scotland’s right to use military action when unjustly attacked. Submitted in Latin, the Declaration was little known until the late 17th century, and is unmentioned by any of Scotland’s major 16th-century historians. In the 1680s, the Latin text was printed for the first time and translated into English in the wake of the Glorious Revolution, after which time it was sometimes described as a declaration of independence.

study the

The slogan Arbeit macht frei was first used over the gate of the Oranienburg concentration camp, which was set up in an abandoned brewery in March 1933 (it was later rebuilt in 1936 as Sachsenhausen). The slogan’s use was part of the 1937–1938 reconstruction by Schutzstaffel (SS) officer Theodor Eicke at Dachau concentration camp.

classics any more

I know a bit about the German bit, but have no idea about the Scottish bit.

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/learning-and-events/the-declaration-of-arbroath/

SCIENCE said:

Michael V said:

SCIENCE said:

sigh does nobody

The Declaration was intended to assert Scotland’s status as an independent, sovereign state and defend Scotland’s right to use military action when unjustly attacked. Submitted in Latin, the Declaration was little known until the late 17th century, and is unmentioned by any of Scotland’s major 16th-century historians. In the 1680s, the Latin text was printed for the first time and translated into English in the wake of the Glorious Revolution, after which time it was sometimes described as a declaration of independence.

study the

The slogan Arbeit macht frei was first used over the gate of the Oranienburg concentration camp, which was set up in an abandoned brewery in March 1933 (it was later rebuilt in 1936 as Sachsenhausen). The slogan’s use was part of the 1937–1938 reconstruction by Schutzstaffel (SS) officer Theodor Eicke at Dachau concentration camp.

classics any more

I know a bit about the German bit, but have no idea about the Scottish bit.

https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/learning-and-events/the-declaration-of-arbroath/

Thank you. I had heard of Robert the Bruce, but not of the Declaration of Arbroath. So, TIL. I hope I can remember.

Might be a Clever Meme but I’m sticking it here instead.

I wonder if the defence treaty with PNG might be a feeler for a wider agreement with more of our Pacific friends. If it works with PNG there’s no reason it wouldn’t with Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Solomons etc

Expanding our engagement with Pacific nations militarily, economically and socially not only benefits both parties, but can be a major driver of humanitarian aid to the region with greater free trade and mutual migration lifting the standard of living for millions in the Pacific.

Our relationship can be so much more than flying in for a beach/Island holiday every few years or sending in the army or AFP to manage unrest which is usually a direct result of economic disengagement. Obviously NZ has a big part to play as well.

Divine Angel said:

Might be a Clever Meme but I’m sticking it here instead.

Like!

Michael V said:

Divine Angel said:

Might be a Clever Meme but I’m sticking it here instead.

Like!

Wait what

dv said:

Michael V said:

Divine Angel said:

Might be a Clever Meme but I’m sticking it here instead.

Like!

Wait what

Crisafuli et al changed the state coat of arms colour from maroon to blue – to more accurately represent the LNP colour. June this yer to start in July. It seems he thinks maroon is Labour’s colour.

Michael V said:

dv said:

Michael V said:

Like!

Wait what

Crisafuli et al changed the state coat of arms colour from maroon to blue – to more accurately represent the LNP colour. June this yer to start in July. It seems he thinks maroon is Labour’s colour.

Please excuse my typos and poor editing.

There you see, corrupting small amounts is stupid

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-03/nt-opposition-leader-selena-uibo-vip-chauffeur-service-foi-/105849478

if you want to get away with it you have to corrupt more like 1000 times that and then it starts getting viable.

Nothing secedes like secess

dv said:

Nothing secedes like secess

lol, nice work.

dv said:

Nothing secedes like secess

‘…standalone defence agency…’

Oh, yeah, where you getting the money from, Roger?

Let me guess: you’re going to demand that the federal govt pay for it, right?

‘standalone’, my arse.

captain_spalding said:

dv said:

Nothing secedes like secess

‘…standalone defence agency…’

Oh, yeah, where you getting the money from, Roger?

Let me guess: you’re going to demand that the federal govt pay for it, right?

‘standalone’, my arse.

Careful, the only reason that we haven’t seceded yet is that Canberra taxes us just less than it costs to secede.

The rest of the country relies on WA to support it, with the exception of QLD, and maybe NSW*.

*I haven’t checked the cash flows lately.

dv said:

Nothing secedes like secess

Huh, what?

No state can maintain military or naval forces without the express approval of the Federal parliament. I can’t see this being approved any time soon.

party_pants said:

dv said:

Nothing secedes like secess

Huh, what?

No state can maintain military or naval forces without the express approval of the Federal parliament. I can’t see this being approved any time soon.

it is just an agency not a force as such.

ChrispenEvan said:

party_pants said:

dv said:

Nothing secedes like secess

Huh, what?

No state can maintain military or naval forces without the express approval of the Federal parliament. I can’t see this being approved any time soon.

it is just an agency not a force as such.

what’s it gunna do, then?

party_pants said:

dv said:

Nothing secedes like secess

Huh, what?

No state can maintain military or naval forces without the express approval of the Federal parliament. I can’t see this being approved any time soon.

We are a sovereign state*. Their laws don’t apply to us**. They can’t take the guns that we haven’t bought yet, off us.

• I haven’t read the constitution.

• Therefore I have no idea what laws apply to anyone.

But otherwise, I’m hungry and gonna find something to eat.

Oh, hang on, Canberra wants to allow WA some of it’s money back to refurbish fake nuke subs.

Yeah, we’ll take their nuke subs that they don’t have with our guns that we don’t have, and ask DV if there is an endgame to this stupid chess match.

ChrispenEvan said:

party_pants said:

dv said:

Nothing secedes like secess

Huh, what?

No state can maintain military or naval forces without the express approval of the Federal parliament. I can’t see this being approved any time soon.

it is just an agency not a force as such.

Aren’t they gunna build all them AUKUS submarine bases in Perth? In 40 years time or sumfin’? Nice cushy job for the next 40 years if you can get it.

Woodie said:

ChrispenEvan said:

party_pants said:

Huh, what?

No state can maintain military or naval forces without the express approval of the Federal parliament. I can’t see this being approved any time soon.

it is just an agency not a force as such.

Aren’t they gunna build all them AUKUS submarine bases in Perth? In 40 years time or sumfin’? Nice cushy job for the next 40 years if you can get it.

No, Adelaide is where all the high-end stuff gets built. Subs and Tier 1 surface combatant ships.

WA is going to build the second tier general purpose frigates, and the various patrol boats, including the ones we build and donate to the South Pacific countries. Still lots of contracts and local jobs, including some of our customersd at work.

The nuke subs are going to be based half in WA and half in NSW, but will be built in SA.

https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/defence-west

Link

Defence West is responsible for the implementation of the State Government’s Defence and Defence Industry Strategy. The team are focused on growing the State’s defence industry eco-system in preparation for AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines, continuous naval shipbuilding and supporting defence innovation and veterans.

party_pants said:

ChrispenEvan said:

party_pants said:

Huh, what?

No state can maintain military or naval forces without the express approval of the Federal parliament. I can’t see this being approved any time soon.

it is just an agency not a force as such.

what’s it gunna do, then?

Be an agent for de fence?

party_pants said:

ChrispenEvan said:

party_pants said:

Huh, what?

No state can maintain military or naval forces without the express approval of the Federal parliament. I can’t see this being approved any time soon.

it is just an agency not a force as such.

what’s it gunna do, then?

age

Carrick Ryan

Why has right-wing populism become such a formidable political force in the USA, UK, France, and Germany… yet, electorally impotent in Australia?

There are several factors; compulsory voting, preferential vote counting, and even some cultural differences. But more than anything… it could just be our demography.

Consider this fact: in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 US Presidential election, Trump did not win a single city with a population of over one million. In fact it hasn’t even been close.

In 2024, Trump lost Philadelphia by 58 points, Chicago by 56 points, even Dallas, Texas, in the Republican heartland, voted for Kamala Harris by a margin of 31 points.

But this phenomenon is not unique to the US.

In the UK, Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist Reform Party is currently leading national polls at 35%, but in London, it’s less than 19%.

Similarly, the AFD in Germany performed substantially better in rural areas than it did in any of the major metropolitan centres. In the 2024 legislative elections, Marine Le Pen’s party got only 28% of the vote in large cities (200,000+ inhabitants), compared to 40% in communes under 2,000 inhabitants.

It’s a well established phenomenon in political science and sociology called the Urban-Rural Political Divide, and it’s something scholars have investigated for decades. Consistently across modern democracies, metropolitan populations consistently lean more progressive or liberal, and rural areas more conservative or populist.

There are multiple theories to explain the phenomenon, and all are likely true to varying degrees. One theory is that urban life exposes people to greater diversity – ethnic, religious, cultural, sexual – normalising tolerance and weakening fear of difference.

Cities also attract people with higher educational attainment and knowledge-based jobs; with education tending to correlate with openness to new experiences and progressive values.

So, is Australia any different? No. In the 2025 federal election, Labor won the two-party vote in metropolitan seats by 60.7%–39.3%. In non-metropolitan seats, the Coalition won the two-party vote by 52.3%–47.7%.

So why did Australia avoid Dutton while the US got Trump and the UK, France, and Germany face the very real prospect of a right-wing populist government at their next election?

It could be because Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world.

Consider this – 47% of Americans live in metropolitan areas of over one million people. In Germany, that figure is 46%. In the UK it’s 45%. In France it’s 43%.

In Australia… it’s 61%.

In fact, 54% of federal parliamentary seats are based in just five cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide). If you add in the urbanised population centres of Canberra, Hobart, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Wollongong, and Geelong, that figure rises to 64%. Which means that Australia is one of the only democracies where national elections can be won without winning a single rural seat.

It’s not that Australia is more progressive than other nations in the West, it’s just one of the most urbanised nations on earth. This makes right-wing populism less likely… but certainly not impossible.

It does mean, though, that the Coalition face continued political exile unless they consider policies designed to appeal to the “latte sipping urban elites” they so viscerally despise; because in Australia… the cities hold the power.

ChrispenEvan said:

Carrick Ryan

Why has right-wing populism become such a formidable political force in the USA, UK, France, and Germany… yet, electorally impotent in Australia?

There are several factors; compulsory voting, preferential vote counting, and even some cultural differences. But more than anything… it could just be our demography.

Consider this fact: in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 US Presidential election, Trump did not win a single city with a population of over one million. In fact it hasn’t even been close.

In 2024, Trump lost Philadelphia by 58 points, Chicago by 56 points, even Dallas, Texas, in the Republican heartland, voted for Kamala Harris by a margin of 31 points.

But this phenomenon is not unique to the US.

In the UK, Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist Reform Party is currently leading national polls at 35%, but in London, it’s less than 19%.

Similarly, the AFD in Germany performed substantially better in rural areas than it did in any of the major metropolitan centres. In the 2024 legislative elections, Marine Le Pen’s party got only 28% of the vote in large cities (200,000+ inhabitants), compared to 40% in communes under 2,000 inhabitants.

It’s a well established phenomenon in political science and sociology called the Urban-Rural Political Divide, and it’s something scholars have investigated for decades. Consistently across modern democracies, metropolitan populations consistently lean more progressive or liberal, and rural areas more conservative or populist.

There are multiple theories to explain the phenomenon, and all are likely true to varying degrees. One theory is that urban life exposes people to greater diversity – ethnic, religious, cultural, sexual – normalising tolerance and weakening fear of difference.

Cities also attract people with higher educational attainment and knowledge-based jobs; with education tending to correlate with openness to new experiences and progressive values.

So, is Australia any different? No. In the 2025 federal election, Labor won the two-party vote in metropolitan seats by 60.7%–39.3%. In non-metropolitan seats, the Coalition won the two-party vote by 52.3%–47.7%.

So why did Australia avoid Dutton while the US got Trump and the UK, France, and Germany face the very real prospect of a right-wing populist government at their next election?

It could be because Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world.

Consider this – 47% of Americans live in metropolitan areas of over one million people. In Germany, that figure is 46%. In the UK it’s 45%. In France it’s 43%.

In Australia… it’s 61%.

In fact, 54% of federal parliamentary seats are based in just five cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide). If you add in the urbanised population centres of Canberra, Hobart, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Wollongong, and Geelong, that figure rises to 64%. Which means that Australia is one of the only democracies where national elections can be won without winning a single rural seat.

It’s not that Australia is more progressive than other nations in the West, it’s just one of the most urbanised nations on earth. This makes right-wing populism less likely… but certainly not impossible.

It does mean, though, that the Coalition face continued political exile unless they consider policies designed to appeal to the “latte sipping urban elites” they so viscerally despise; because in Australia… the cities hold the power.

Makes sense.

ChrispenEvan said:

Carrick Ryan

Why has right-wing populism become such a formidable political force in the USA, UK, France, and Germany… yet, electorally impotent in Australia?

Why Do Commentators And Media Outlets All Seem So Ready To Sell Complacency

Bubblecar said:

ChrispenEvan said:

Carrick Ryan

It could be because Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world.

Consider this – 47% of Americans live in metropolitan areas of over one million people. In Germany, that figure is 46%. In the UK it’s 45%. In France it’s 43%.

In Australia… it’s 61%.

In fact, 54% of federal parliamentary seats are based in just five cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide). If you add in the urbanised population centres of Canberra, Hobart, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Wollongong, and Geelong, that figure rises to 64%. Which means that Australia is one of the only democracies where national elections can be won without winning a single rural seat.

It’s not that Australia is more progressive than other nations in the West, it’s just one of the most urbanised nations on earth. This makes right-wing populism less likely… but certainly not impossible.

Makes sense.

So Australia Should Be More ASIAN You Got That Right

SCIENCE said:

Bubblecar said:

ChrispenEvan said:

Carrick Ryan

It could be because Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world.

Consider this – 47% of Americans live in metropolitan areas of over one million people. In Germany, that figure is 46%. In the UK it’s 45%. In France it’s 43%.

In Australia… it’s 61%.

In fact, 54% of federal parliamentary seats are based in just five cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide). If you add in the urbanised population centres of Canberra, Hobart, Newcastle, Gold Coast, Wollongong, and Geelong, that figure rises to 64%. Which means that Australia is one of the only democracies where national elections can be won without winning a single rural seat.

It’s not that Australia is more progressive than other nations in the West, it’s just one of the most urbanised nations on earth. This makes right-wing populism less likely… but certainly not impossible.

Makes sense.

So Australia Should Be More ASIAN You Got That Right

Obviously Asian nations don’t fit that pattern, the most recent example being the Japanese election result.

LOL

Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson is asking whether it was appropriate for comms minister Anika Wells to go to New York for a scheduled UN event about the social media ban, which she did in the aftermath of the Optus outage. Department Deputy Secretary James Chisholm has defended her travel, saying Wells pushed the trip back by two days and worked “24/7” in response to the outage, including being in touch with the department and with industry while she was in New York. “We think that’s appropriate,” he says, noting his department is also responsible for the social media ban, and that “her support for that in New York is critical to getting international cooperation”. Henderson has asked whether “24/7” means “she didn’t sleep”. “It’s a turn of phrase, senator. She worked incredibly hard,” Chisholm replies.

so many water boilers, so little soot

The pair initially took aim at prosecutors, by trying to have information thrown out that had been gathered against them via the app. Without that information, there would likely have been no case. Their appeals to local courts fell flat, but before the High Court could hear the case, the government changed laws to back in legal support for the use of AN0M.

By the time the High Court heard the case, it had morphed into two cases: one challenging the gathering of the material from AN0M and a special case challenging the new laws. The men argued the new regime breached the constitution through an impermissible exercise of power by the Commonwealth, which also impaired the institutional integrity of the courts. But, in a unanimous decision, the High Court ruled that was not the case. “Those provisions do no more than reflect the law,” the judgment said. On the original case lodged with the court — about the gathering of the material using AN0M — the full bench found it was a moot point and decided not to hear the case.

It had been a nervous wait for law enforcement bodies, with hundreds of prosecutions at stake. Today’s ruling has clarified that the material from AN0M can be used.

well there you go

SCIENCE said:

The pair initially took aim at prosecutors, by trying to have information thrown out that had been gathered against them via the app. Without that information, there would likely have been no case. Their appeals to local courts fell flat, but before the High Court could hear the case, the government changed laws to back in legal support for the use of AN0M.

By the time the High Court heard the case, it had morphed into two cases: one challenging the gathering of the material from AN0M and a special case challenging the new laws. The men argued the new regime breached the constitution through an impermissible exercise of power by the Commonwealth, which also impaired the institutional integrity of the courts. But, in a unanimous decision, the High Court ruled that was not the case. “Those provisions do no more than reflect the law,” the judgment said. On the original case lodged with the court — about the gathering of the material using AN0M — the full bench found it was a moot point and decided not to hear the case.

It had been a nervous wait for law enforcement bodies, with hundreds of prosecutions at stake. Today’s ruling has clarified that the material from AN0M can be used.

well there you go

Excellent.

Good that the baddies are not so likely to get off now.

Police said officers would be stationed at the entrance to the Opera House forecourt and would prevent protesters from gathering there. Assistant Commissioner McKenna declined to explain how police would determine who was and was not allowed to enter the area.

surely they could use 爱 for this

Tau.Neutrino said:

Divine Angel said:

I think my favourite SovCit BS is the belief that the govt puts away money when you’re born and at some point, by saying the right words, you’ll claim it, plus interest.

Seems to be only in the US though.

Can we do that, that sounds great.🙂

yes we can because we actually do that here in this Free Australian Socialist Country In Southern Tropics place, and you can claim it when you say “yes, here is my card” in response to “Do you have a Medicare card?” when you would otherwise need to pay fuckloads for excellent healthcare

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/11/nsw-police-wrongly-categorise-significant-number-of-incidents-as-antisemitic-ntwnfb

Yeah

Have we covered Tony Abbotts new book Australia A History yet.
It’s an eclectic body of work. something of a Magnum Opus.
The book and documentary were officially launched by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia and the Honourable Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales.
Looking forward to reading it, should be a ripper.
I won’t buy it now because I might get it from one of yous as a Christmas present.

Peak Warming Man said:

Have we covered Tony Abbotts new book Australia A History yet.
It’s an eclectic body of work. something of a Magnum Opus.
The book and documentary were officially launched by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia and the Honourable Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales.
Looking forward to reading it, should be a ripper.
I won’t buy it now because I might get it from one of yous as a Christmas present.

Tony has, or, at least, had, a first-class mind.

Rhodes scholar, and all that.

Maybe he makes a better hiistorian than he does a leader of Australia.

captain_spalding said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Have we covered Tony Abbotts new book Australia A History yet.
It’s an eclectic body of work. something of a Magnum Opus.
The book and documentary were officially launched by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia and the Honourable Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales.
Looking forward to reading it, should be a ripper.
I won’t buy it now because I might get it from one of yous as a Christmas present.

Tony has, or, at least, had, a first-class mind.

Rhodes scholar, and all that.

Maybe he makes a better hiistorian than he does a leader of Australia.

I wonder what philosophical approach the book will take.

captain_spalding said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Have we covered Tony Abbotts new book Australia A History yet.
It’s an eclectic body of work. something of a Magnum Opus.
The book and documentary were officially launched by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia and the Honourable Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales.
Looking forward to reading it, should be a ripper.
I won’t buy it now because I might get it from one of yous as a Christmas present.

Tony has, or, at least, had, a first-class mind.

Rhodes scholar, and all that.

Maybe he makes a better hiistorian than he does a leader of Australia.

He can be Australia’s answer to Heather Cox Richardson.

Divine Angel said:

captain_spalding said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Have we covered Tony Abbotts new book Australia A History yet.
It’s an eclectic body of work. something of a Magnum Opus.
The book and documentary were officially launched by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia and the Honourable Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales.
Looking forward to reading it, should be a ripper.
I won’t buy it now because I might get it from one of yous as a Christmas present.

Tony has, or, at least, had, a first-class mind.

Rhodes scholar, and all that.

Maybe he makes a better hiistorian than he does a leader of Australia.

He can be Australia’s answer to Heather Cox Richardson.

LOL.

ChrispenEvan said:

Divine Angel said:

captain_spalding said:

Tony has, or, at least, had, a first-class mind.

Rhodes scholar, and all that.

Maybe he makes a better hiistorian than he does a leader of Australia.

He can be Australia’s answer to Heather Cox Richardson.

LOL.

He might nominate DJT for a knighthood, phoaw, imagine that, for services to Palestine by Making Gaza Great Again.
Arise Sir Donald.

party_pants said:

captain_spalding said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Have we covered Tony Abbotts new book Australia A History yet.
It’s an eclectic body of work. something of a Magnum Opus.
The book and documentary were officially launched by Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia and the Honourable Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales.
Looking forward to reading it, should be a ripper.
I won’t buy it now because I might get it from one of yous as a Christmas present.

Tony has, or, at least, had, a first-class mind.

Rhodes scholar, and all that.

Maybe he makes a better hiistorian than he does a leader of Australia.

I wonder what philosophical approach the book will take.

He’s all up with the Advance Australia nutters so I presume he thinks we should look to America for philosophical inspiration.

Witty Rejoinder said:

party_pants said:

captain_spalding said:

Tony has, or, at least, had, a first-class mind.

Rhodes scholar, and all that.

Maybe he makes a better hiistorian than he does a leader of Australia.

I wonder what philosophical approach the book will take.

He’s all up with the Advance Australia nutters so I presume he thinks we should look to America for philosophical inspiration.

That’s sort of what I mean. There are two approaches to American history, one is the great Enlightenment Experiment. The other is this Judeo-Christian re-enactment of the exodus and conquest story of the old testament, that white Christians were somehow chosen by God to inhabit the new promised land and set up a new perfect Christian society. I think it is the root cause behind so such of the exceptionalism, deep-seated racism and all the rest of it. The belief that if the nation strays from the puritan ideals then God will punish them for breaking the covenant.

I see only a very limited application of that philosophy to Australia. This promised land is not all that promising apart from the bits near the coast. I am not sure that sort of exceptionalism applies to us, sure there was an element of it in some of the early settlers, but it never really took such deep root here. There was no “manifest destiny” sort of concept.

party_pants said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

party_pants said:

I wonder what philosophical approach the book will take.

He’s all up with the Advance Australia nutters so I presume he thinks we should look to America for philosophical inspiration.

That’s sort of what I mean. There are two approaches to American history, one is the great Enlightenment Experiment. The other is this Judeo-Christian re-enactment of the exodus and conquest story of the old testament, that white Christians were somehow chosen by God to inhabit the new promised land and set up a new perfect Christian society. I think it is the root cause behind so such of the exceptionalism, deep-seated racism and all the rest of it. The belief that if the nation strays from the puritan ideals then God will punish them for breaking the covenant.

I see only a very limited application of that philosophy to Australia. This promised land is not all that promising apart from the bits near the coast. I am not sure that sort of exceptionalism applies to us, sure there was an element of it in some of the early settlers, but it never really took such deep root here. There was no “manifest destiny” sort of concept.

We were a penal colony.

roughbarked said:

party_pants said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

He’s all up with the Advance Australia nutters so I presume he thinks we should look to America for philosophical inspiration.

That’s sort of what I mean. There are two approaches to American history, one is the great Enlightenment Experiment. The other is this Judeo-Christian re-enactment of the exodus and conquest story of the old testament, that white Christians were somehow chosen by God to inhabit the new promised land and set up a new perfect Christian society. I think it is the root cause behind so such of the exceptionalism, deep-seated racism and all the rest of it. The belief that if the nation strays from the puritan ideals then God will punish them for breaking the covenant.

I see only a very limited application of that philosophy to Australia. This promised land is not all that promising apart from the bits near the coast. I am not sure that sort of exceptionalism applies to us, sure there was an element of it in some of the early settlers, but it never really took such deep root here. There was no “manifest destiny” sort of concept.

We were a penal colony.

“The US got the puritans, we got the convicts”

but seriously, the American colonies was where British convicts were sent for decades, until they declared independence in 1775 and fought a war that lasted till 1783. The first fleet arrived in Australia just 5 years later in 1788, looking for a new place to dump convicts.

party_pants said:

roughbarked said:

party_pants said:

That’s sort of what I mean. There are two approaches to American history, one is the great Enlightenment Experiment. The other is this Judeo-Christian re-enactment of the exodus and conquest story of the old testament, that white Christians were somehow chosen by God to inhabit the new promised land and set up a new perfect Christian society. I think it is the root cause behind so such of the exceptionalism, deep-seated racism and all the rest of it. The belief that if the nation strays from the puritan ideals then God will punish them for breaking the covenant.

I see only a very limited application of that philosophy to Australia. This promised land is not all that promising apart from the bits near the coast. I am not sure that sort of exceptionalism applies to us, sure there was an element of it in some of the early settlers, but it never really took such deep root here. There was no “manifest destiny” sort of concept.

We were a penal colony.

“The US got the puritans, we got the convicts”

but seriously, the American colonies was where British convicts were sent for decades, until they declared independence in 1775 and fought a war that lasted till 1783. The first fleet arrived in Australia just 5 years later in 1788, looking for a new place to dump convicts.

OK. But we didn’t get the puritans.

ChrispenEvan said:

Oaf Huck. I cannot unsee that.

Michael V said:

ChrispenEvan said:

Oaf Huck. I cannot unsee that.

wholly wtf

SCIENCE said:

Michael V said:

ChrispenEvan said:

Oaf Huck. I cannot unsee that.

wholly wtf

About Peter Lyndon James

Lidia Thorpe threatens to burn down parliament house at a pro Palestine rally and is cheered wildly.

Peak Warming Man said:

Lidia Thorpe threatens to burn down parliament house at a pro Palestine rally and is cheered wildly.

FCOL… It’s just going to be a very elaborate smoking ceremony.

Witty Rejoinder said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Lidia Thorpe threatens to burn down parliament house at a pro Palestine rally and is cheered wildly.

FCOL… It’s just going to be a very elaborate smoking ceremony.

Burn down Parliament?

I’ll go for that.

Especially if Lidia is locked inside.

Witty Rejoinder said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Lidia Thorpe threatens to burn down parliament house at a pro Palestine rally and is cheered wildly.

FCOL… It’s just going to be a very elaborate smoking ceremony.

Burn down Parliament?

I’ll go for that.

Especially if Lidia is locked inside.

Witty Rejoinder said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Lidia Thorpe threatens to burn down parliament house at a pro Palestine rally and is cheered wildly.

FCOL… It’s just going to be a very elaborate smoking ceremony.

Burn down Parliament?

I’ll go for that.

Especially if Lidia is locked inside.

Witty Rejoinder said:

Peak Warming Man said:

Lidia Thorpe threatens to burn down parliament house at a pro Palestine rally and is cheered wildly.

FCOL… It’s just going to be a very elaborate smoking ceremony.

LOL

Liberal Are Such Bastards

In September 1996, Bob Dent became the first person in the world to die through legally accessible voluntary assisted dying (VAD). He was able to access the health service after the Northern Territory — under then-chief minister Marshall Perron — passed the Rights of the Terminally Ill Act in 1995.

CRPD = United Nations’ Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability, of which Australia is a signatory.

Divine Angel said:

CRPD = United Nations’ Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability, of which Australia is a signatory.

so the dirty communists used words to signal commitment but they didn’t actually do any more than that eh

Divine Angel said:

CRPD = United Nations’ Convention on Rights of Persons with Disability, of which Australia is a signatory.

Things might be improving, a bit.

In context, this is discussing the right for everyone to have an inclusive and quality education regardless of ability.

Divine Angel said:

In context, this is discussing the right for everyone to have an inclusive and quality education regardless of ability.

I would like to replace “education” with “life” in the sentence above.

look really a few koalas

Work on the first of three koala underpasses promised by the NSW government has been at a standstill for months due to a squabble over access between developers Stockland and Lendlease, who own the land on either side of the tunnel. “We see greenwashing, we see finger-pointing from different government departments, we see finger-pointing from the developers, it’s really exhausting,” Ms Carrick said. “Since day one, we have always said koala protections need to come before development or koalas will die and koalas are dying.”

massive bushfires killing thoumillions of larger animals, coal bleaching, genocides, these are all small prices to pay for progress and development and convenience and a favourable environment for private enterprise and big corporations

Treasurer announces rework of stalled superannuation tax increase plan

>>Treasurer Jim Chalmers has confirmed several concessions to the government’s “contentious” superannuation tax proposal have been made.

The proposed new threshold at which tax on earnings would be doubled will now be indexed to inflation, and the measure will not apply to unrealised capital gains.<<

Come on people, have we forgotten about ambit claims? The unrealised capital gains bit was always a possible throwaway.

Adopting a ‘she’ll be right’ attitude to Australian politics may be seductive, but it certainly isn’t guaranteed

yes

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/oct/12/australian-politics-election-process-democratic-certainly-isnt-guaranteed

It’s important to have principles and the Liberal leadership have been very firm on their lack of mercy towards rape victims.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/culture/inside-parliament/linda-reynolds-has-launched-bankruptcy-proceedings-against-brittany-higgins/news-story/2d486946087c197569a8ced1ab7fcbc1

dv said:

It’s important to have principles and the Liberal leadership have been very firm on their lack of mercy towards rape victims.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/culture/inside-parliament/linda-reynolds-has-launched-bankruptcy-proceedings-against-brittany-higgins/news-story/2d486946087c197569a8ced1ab7fcbc1

Reynolds is an utter bitch.

kii said:

dv said:

It’s important to have principles and the Liberal leadership have been very firm on their lack of mercy towards rape victims.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/culture/inside-parliament/linda-reynolds-has-launched-bankruptcy-proceedings-against-brittany-higgins/news-story/2d486946087c197569a8ced1ab7fcbc1

Reynolds is an utter bitch.

I’m glad we are both on the same side here.

dv said:

It’s important to have principles and the Liberal leadership have been very firm on their lack of mercy towards rape victims.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/culture/inside-parliament/linda-reynolds-has-launched-bankruptcy-proceedings-against-brittany-higgins/news-story/2d486946087c197569a8ced1ab7fcbc1

Yes. I think perusing this civil case to the point of bankruptcy is going to do more harm to her reputation than whatever was said on social media some years ago.

party_pants said:

dv said:

It’s important to have principles and the Liberal leadership have been very firm on their lack of mercy towards rape victims.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/culture/inside-parliament/linda-reynolds-has-launched-bankruptcy-proceedings-against-brittany-higgins/news-story/2d486946087c197569a8ced1ab7fcbc1

Yes. I think perusing this civil case to the point of bankruptcy is going to do more harm to her reputation than whatever was said on social media some years ago.

I reckon it shows exactly who she is, and always has been. Vindictive and unreasonable.

Kingy said:

kii said:

dv said:

It’s important to have principles and the Liberal leadership have been very firm on their lack of mercy towards rape victims.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/culture/inside-parliament/linda-reynolds-has-launched-bankruptcy-proceedings-against-brittany-higgins/news-story/2d486946087c197569a8ced1ab7fcbc1

Reynolds is an utter bitch.

I’m glad we are both on the same side here.

Any normal person with any compassion sees this.

kii said:

party_pants said:

dv said:

It’s important to have principles and the Liberal leadership have been very firm on their lack of mercy towards rape victims.

https://www.news.com.au/finance/culture/inside-parliament/linda-reynolds-has-launched-bankruptcy-proceedings-against-brittany-higgins/news-story/2d486946087c197569a8ced1ab7fcbc1

Yes. I think perusing this civil case to the point of bankruptcy is going to do more harm to her reputation than whatever was said on social media some years ago.

I reckon it shows exactly who she is, and always has been. Vindictive and unreasonable.

In those posts, outlined in Thursday’s damages order, Sharaz accused Reynolds of “bullying” Higgins and interfering in Lehrmann’s criminal trial.

In a tweet responding to a post Reynolds had made, Sharaz said: “I’m aghast that despite everything you put a staffer through you’re still a minister, but we can all be surprised.”

Sharaz later shared that exchange as an Instagram story, adding the caption, “Linda, I see you”, which Justice Paul Tottle said was a statement with “intimidatory overtones”.

“It was a sentiment repeated with a slight variation in a social media post published by the defendant on 3 December 2022,” Tottle said in his decision.

Doesn’t really seem to be worth 2 million dollars but what would I know.

interesting article

The mobile numbers of Anthony Albanese, Sussan Ley and other prominent Australians have been made public on a free website. It is not clear when their details were first published but Ms Ley only found out about the incident when the media contacted her, a spokesperson said. Ms Ley has asked for her number to be removed from the website and authorities are investigating the matter.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-14/why-santos-is-behind-your-soaring-electricity-and-mortgage-costs/105885202

Link

JudgeMental said:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-14/why-santos-is-behind-your-soaring-electricity-and-mortgage-costs/105885202

Link

But an effective tax on CO2 emissions is a good thing isn’t it?

And they didn’t even try to substantiate the link to mortgage costs.

The Rev Dodgson said:

JudgeMental said:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-14/why-santos-is-behind-your-soaring-electricity-and-mortgage-costs/105885202

Link

But an effective tax on CO2 emissions is a good thing isn’t it?

And they didn’t even try to substantiate the link to mortgage costs.

well if gas is expensive then people can’t escape the pits so they’re stuck in areas of high housing demand

SCIENCE said:

interesting article

The annual operating income of Newcastle Uni is the best part of $1B.

In that context $76M doesn’t seem like an overly unusual amount of money to spend on service providers.

diddly-squat said:

SCIENCE said:

interesting article

The annual operating income of Newcastle Uni is the best part of $1B.

In that context $76M doesn’t seem like an overly unusual amount of money to spend on service providers.

37,200 students, according to the Internet.

Quite a lot for a small town uni. :)

diddly-squat said:

SCIENCE said:

interesting article

The annual operating income of Newcastle Uni is the best part of $1B.

In that context $76M doesn’t seem like an overly unusual amount of money to spend on service providers.

I guess it depends how much they’re spending compared to similarly sized Australian universities.

Witty Rejoinder said:

diddly-squat said:

SCIENCE said:

interesting article

The annual operating income of Newcastle Uni is the best part of $1B.

In that context $76M doesn’t seem like an overly unusual amount of money to spend on service providers.

I guess it depends how much they’re spending compared to similarly sized Australian universities.

sure, but I guess some unis would internalise those sorts of services as well

diddly-squat said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

diddly-squat said:

The annual operating income of Newcastle Uni is the best part of $1B.

In that context $76M doesn’t seem like an overly unusual amount of money to spend on service providers.

I guess it depends how much they’re spending compared to similarly sized Australian universities.

sure, but I guess some unis would internalise those sorts of services as well

No, they call for external consultants when they want unpopular things done, so that they can say “But that was what the consultant (who has long since departed with their fee) said we should do!” and no-one can follow it up.

anyway all we meant was that they published a stub of an article seemingly before it was ready

nice

The national icebreaker’s hull has scraped the ocean floor in an incident off the coast of Heard Island, 4,100 kilometres south-west of Perth, yesterday. The Australian Antarctic Division said no-one was injured, and that there are no ongoing safety risks. The ship has headed to deeper waters while assessments are undertaken to see if the hull has suffered any damage.

SCIENCE said:

nice

The national icebreaker’s hull has scraped the ocean floor in an incident off the coast of Heard Island, 4,100 kilometres south-west of Perth, yesterday. The Australian Antarctic Division said no-one was injured, and that there are no ongoing safety risks. The ship has headed to deeper waters while assessments are undertaken to see if the hull has suffered any damage.

Australians can’t handle icebreakers.

SCIENCE said:

nice

The national icebreaker’s hull has scraped the ocean floor in an incident off the coast of Heard Island, 4,100 kilometres south-west of Perth, yesterday. The Australian Antarctic Division said no-one was injured, and that there are no ongoing safety risks. The ship has headed to deeper waters while assessments are undertaken to see if the hull has suffered any damage.

is the ocean floor ok?

Arts said:

SCIENCE said:

nice

The national icebreaker’s hull has scraped the ocean floor in an incident off the coast of Heard Island, 4,100 kilometres south-west of Perth, yesterday. The Australian Antarctic Division said no-one was injured, and that there are no ongoing safety risks. The ship has headed to deeper waters while assessments are undertaken to see if the hull has suffered any damage.

is the ocean floor ok?

It’s pretty big and tough.

It can take it.

Arts said:

SCIENCE said:

nice

The national icebreaker’s hull has scraped the ocean floor in an incident off the coast of Heard Island, 4,100 kilometres south-west of Perth, yesterday. The Australian Antarctic Division said no-one was injured, and that there are no ongoing safety risks. The ship has headed to deeper waters while assessments are undertaken to see if the hull has suffered any damage.

is the ocean floor ok?

that was my first thought.

The Rev Dodgson said:

Arts said:

SCIENCE said:

nice

The national icebreaker’s hull has scraped the ocean floor in an incident off the coast of Heard Island, 4,100 kilometres south-west of Perth, yesterday. The Australian Antarctic Division said no-one was injured, and that there are no ongoing safety risks. The ship has headed to deeper waters while assessments are undertaken to see if the hull has suffered any damage.

is the ocean floor ok?

It’s pretty big and tough.

It can take it.

Aways has room for one more wreck.

captain_spalding said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

Arts said:

is the ocean floor ok?

It’s pretty big and tough.

It can take it.

Aways has room for one more wreck.

yeah if anyone needs icebreakers it’s the USSA right now

SCIENCE said:

captain_spalding said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

It’s pretty big and tough.

It can take it.

Aways has room for one more wreck.

yeah if anyone needs icebreakers it’s the USSA right now

can’t everyone just go around the room and tell two truths and a lie?

Neophyte said:

diddly-squat said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

I guess it depends how much they’re spending compared to similarly sized Australian universities.

sure, but I guess some unis would internalise those sorts of services as well

No, they call for external consultants when they want unpopular things done, so that they can say “But that was what the consultant (who has long since departed with their fee) said we should do!” and no-one can follow it up.

In this instance it was mentioned that the services that were outsourced were security, recruitment and some IT management.

“Roblox is and always has been an immersive gaming platform, not a social media platform,” the company has told the ABC.

because gaming are not media and immersion does not include social

SCIENCE said:

“Roblox is and always has been an immersive gaming platform, not a social media platform,” the company has told the ABC.

because gaming are not media and immersion does not include social

Seems they are using blocking tactics?

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

“Roblox is and always has been an immersive gaming platform, not a social media platform,” the company has told the ABC.

because gaming are not media and immersion does not include social

Seems they are using blocking tactics?

we’re not really sold on the claims that not having access to these gaming platforms that children haven’t accessed for 40000 years will harm them significantly

ah but isn’t it better than

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-15/queensland-health-minister-knew-about-caboolture-/105890580

knowing of hospital failures after going on leave

¿ is speculation = defamation ?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-15/herald-sun-defends-sam-brittany-groth-defamation-lawsuit/105891364

JudgeMental said:

Good.

Michael V said:

JudgeMental said:

Good.

also what infringe on speech does leaving the arsehole able to be loud on social media anywhere else constitute

so in that other fascist place they exaggerate skyrocketing crime rates but then in communist Australia they play it down

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-15/qld-government-apologises-victim-of-crime-data-incorrect/105896620

Barnaby Joyce in advanced talks with Pauline Hanson to join One Nation
By Mike Foley and Paul Sakkal
October 17, 2025 — 5.12pm

Barnaby Joyce is in advanced talks to defect from the Nationals to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.

Joyce, who represents the NSW regional electorate of New England, declined to comment when asked if he would change parties.

Hanson did not deny the ongoing discussions when asked by this masthead on Friday afternoon.

“If Barnaby wants to come to One Nation, I’d be happy to have him,” she said, also suggesting other MPs in the Coalition who were disaffected could join her party.

This masthead reported in February that Hanson had asked Joyce to join her party.

A shock defection by the former Nationals leader to Hanson’s party would cause another headache for the Coalition after the recent loss of Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to the backbench. It would also elevate Joyce’s already high profile and bolster One Nation’s position as a right-wing alternative to Sussan Ley’s more moderate Coalition.

There has been speculation inside the Coalition about the prospect of a populist movement in the mould of the UK’s Reform, led by Nigel Farage, although most MPs believe such a party would fail because of Australia’s preferential and compulsory voting system.

Joyce has a reputation as a firebrand and has mounted vehement opposition to the development of wind and solar farms in regional areas.

This masthead reported in February that Nationals leader David Littleproud implemented a rule to hide Joyce during the election campaign, effectively barring him from conducting political trips outside his electorate and further alienating him within the party.

‘I like what he stands for’: Hanson says she did try to woo Joyce for One Nation
Littleproud declined to comment. Ley’s office was contacted for comment.

Since the Coalition’s comprehensive loss at the May 2025 election, Joyce has campaigned against Australia’s net zero emissions targets.

Joyce’s move follows that of a senior NSW Nationals official in Joyce’s New England electorate, Steve Coxhead, who last week quit from his position as Tamworth branch chairman to join One Nation.

“I have resigned as I believe the party does not adequately represent NSW regional and rural voters any more,” said Coxhead, who listed climate policies and environmental restrictions on farmers as major concerns.

“One Nation is filling the void that has been left by major political parties.”

Joyce applauded Coxhead’s move, saying: “My great fear is not people changing parties but rather the loss of the freedom to do so.”

While Joyce has been viewed as a potential leadership challenger to Littleproud, he no longer has enough support in the party room due to the retirement of key allies.

Joyce was first elected Nationals leader in 2016, following the resignation of Warren Truss from the post. Joyce stepped down in 2018 following revelations he was having an affair and was expecting a child with his former communications staffer, and now wife, Vikki Campion. Joyce once again led the party after deposing Michael McCormack in 2021. Joyce lost the leadership to Littleproud in May 2022.

His standing in the party was once again diminished after an incident in February 2024, when he was filmed stumbling and apparently intoxicated on a footpath about 11.30pm after attending functions in parliament.

Then-leader of the opposition Peter Dutton suggested he retire after the incident, and Joyce held lengthy talks with Hanson about joining One Nation at that time.

However, the talks did not lead to action, and Joyce continued to serve on the frontbench of the Dutton-led opposition as spokesman for veterans’ affairs.

Since the May election, Joyce has been relegated to the backbench.

One Nation’s vote is surging, according to opinion polling. The party gained two senators – up to a total of four – at the last election, but its lower house vote did not grow as predicted.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/joyce-in-talks-with-pauline-hanson-to-join-one-nation-20251017-p5n3cq.html

Witty Rejoinder said:

Barnaby Joyce in advanced talks with Pauline Hanson to join One Nation
By Mike Foley and Paul Sakkal

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows…

Witty Rejoinder said:

Barnaby Joyce in advanced talks with Pauline Hanson to join One Nation
By Mike Foley and Paul Sakkal
October 17, 2025 — 5.12pm

Barnaby Joyce is in advanced talks to defect from the Nationals to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.

Joyce, who represents the NSW regional electorate of New England, declined to comment when asked if he would change parties.

Hanson did not deny the ongoing discussions when asked by this masthead on Friday afternoon.

“If Barnaby wants to come to One Nation, I’d be happy to have him,” she said, also suggesting other MPs in the Coalition who were disaffected could join her party.

This masthead reported in February that Hanson had asked Joyce to join her party.

A shock defection by the former Nationals leader to Hanson’s party would cause another headache for the Coalition after the recent loss of Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to the backbench. It would also elevate Joyce’s already high profile and bolster One Nation’s position as a right-wing alternative to Sussan Ley’s more moderate Coalition.

There has been speculation inside the Coalition about the prospect of a populist movement in the mould of the UK’s Reform, led by Nigel Farage, although most MPs believe such a party would fail because of Australia’s preferential and compulsory voting system.

Joyce has a reputation as a firebrand and has mounted vehement opposition to the development of wind and solar farms in regional areas.

This masthead reported in February that Nationals leader David Littleproud implemented a rule to hide Joyce during the election campaign, effectively barring him from conducting political trips outside his electorate and further alienating him within the party.

‘I like what he stands for’: Hanson says she did try to woo Joyce for One Nation
Littleproud declined to comment. Ley’s office was contacted for comment.

Since the Coalition’s comprehensive loss at the May 2025 election, Joyce has campaigned against Australia’s net zero emissions targets.

Joyce’s move follows that of a senior NSW Nationals official in Joyce’s New England electorate, Steve Coxhead, who last week quit from his position as Tamworth branch chairman to join One Nation.

“I have resigned as I believe the party does not adequately represent NSW regional and rural voters any more,” said Coxhead, who listed climate policies and environmental restrictions on farmers as major concerns.

“One Nation is filling the void that has been left by major political parties.”

Joyce applauded Coxhead’s move, saying: “My great fear is not people changing parties but rather the loss of the freedom to do so.”

While Joyce has been viewed as a potential leadership challenger to Littleproud, he no longer has enough support in the party room due to the retirement of key allies.

Joyce was first elected Nationals leader in 2016, following the resignation of Warren Truss from the post. Joyce stepped down in 2018 following revelations he was having an affair and was expecting a child with his former communications staffer, and now wife, Vikki Campion. Joyce once again led the party after deposing Michael McCormack in 2021. Joyce lost the leadership to Littleproud in May 2022.

His standing in the party was once again diminished after an incident in February 2024, when he was filmed stumbling and apparently intoxicated on a footpath about 11.30pm after attending functions in parliament.

Then-leader of the opposition Peter Dutton suggested he retire after the incident, and Joyce held lengthy talks with Hanson about joining One Nation at that time.

However, the talks did not lead to action, and Joyce continued to serve on the frontbench of the Dutton-led opposition as spokesman for veterans’ affairs.

Since the May election, Joyce has been relegated to the backbench.

One Nation’s vote is surging, according to opinion polling. The party gained two senators – up to a total of four – at the last election, but its lower house vote did not grow as predicted.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/joyce-in-talks-with-pauline-hanson-to-join-one-nation-20251017-p5n3cq.html

I wish he would just go away.

Witty Rejoinder said:

Barnaby Joyce in advanced talks with Pauline Hanson to join One Nation
By Mike Foley and Paul Sakkal
October 17, 2025 — 5.12pm

Barnaby Joyce is in advanced talks to defect from the Nationals to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.

Joyce, who represents the NSW regional electorate of New England, declined to comment when asked if he would change parties.

Hanson did not deny the ongoing discussions when asked by this masthead on Friday afternoon.

“If Barnaby wants to come to One Nation, I’d be happy to have him,” she said, also suggesting other MPs in the Coalition who were disaffected could join her party.

This masthead reported in February that Hanson had asked Joyce to join her party.

A shock defection by the former Nationals leader to Hanson’s party would cause another headache for the Coalition after the recent loss of Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to the backbench. It would also elevate Joyce’s already high profile and bolster One Nation’s position as a right-wing alternative to Sussan Ley’s more moderate Coalition.

There has been speculation inside the Coalition about the prospect of a populist movement in the mould of the UK’s Reform, led by Nigel Farage, although most MPs believe such a party would fail because of Australia’s preferential and compulsory voting system.

Joyce has a reputation as a firebrand and has mounted vehement opposition to the development of wind and solar farms in regional areas.

This masthead reported in February that Nationals leader David Littleproud implemented a rule to hide Joyce during the election campaign, effectively barring him from conducting political trips outside his electorate and further alienating him within the party.

‘I like what he stands for’: Hanson says she did try to woo Joyce for One Nation
Littleproud declined to comment. Ley’s office was contacted for comment.

Since the Coalition’s comprehensive loss at the May 2025 election, Joyce has campaigned against Australia’s net zero emissions targets.

Joyce’s move follows that of a senior NSW Nationals official in Joyce’s New England electorate, Steve Coxhead, who last week quit from his position as Tamworth branch chairman to join One Nation.

“I have resigned as I believe the party does not adequately represent NSW regional and rural voters any more,” said Coxhead, who listed climate policies and environmental restrictions on farmers as major concerns.

“One Nation is filling the void that has been left by major political parties.”

Joyce applauded Coxhead’s move, saying: “My great fear is not people changing parties but rather the loss of the freedom to do so.”

While Joyce has been viewed as a potential leadership challenger to Littleproud, he no longer has enough support in the party room due to the retirement of key allies.

Joyce was first elected Nationals leader in 2016, following the resignation of Warren Truss from the post. Joyce stepped down in 2018 following revelations he was having an affair and was expecting a child with his former communications staffer, and now wife, Vikki Campion. Joyce once again led the party after deposing Michael McCormack in 2021. Joyce lost the leadership to Littleproud in May 2022.

His standing in the party was once again diminished after an incident in February 2024, when he was filmed stumbling and apparently intoxicated on a footpath about 11.30pm after attending functions in parliament.

Then-leader of the opposition Peter Dutton suggested he retire after the incident, and Joyce held lengthy talks with Hanson about joining One Nation at that time.

However, the talks did not lead to action, and Joyce continued to serve on the frontbench of the Dutton-led opposition as spokesman for veterans’ affairs.

Since the May election, Joyce has been relegated to the backbench.

One Nation’s vote is surging, according to opinion polling. The party gained two senators – up to a total of four – at the last election, but its lower house vote did not grow as predicted.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/joyce-in-talks-with-pauline-hanson-to-join-one-nation-20251017-p5n3cq.html

I hope he does it.

I doubt New England would re-elect him.

The site of a glass factory in Brisbane’s inner city is set to be transformed into a new riverfront precinct that could feature thousands of homes, as well as entertainment spaces.

The Queensland government will go to market on Friday to find private sector proponents to overhaul and redevelop the 7.1-hectare, partially flood-prone South Brisbane property.

Labor had intended to use the site for an international broadcast centre during the 2032 Games, but the incumbent LNP government has scrapped those plans.

Instead, the LNP wants the industrial site, which is located on the Brisbane River close to South Bank, turned into a new mixed-use precinct.

The government said construction could begin from March 2027 and suggested the site could feature over 4,000 homes, as well as “event lawns” and promenades.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-17/qld-riverfront-precinct-south-brisbane-private-sector/105902488

Please note the “flood prone” bit.

Michael V said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

Barnaby Joyce in advanced talks with Pauline Hanson to join One Nation
By Mike Foley and Paul Sakkal
October 17, 2025 — 5.12pm

Barnaby Joyce is in advanced talks to defect from the Nationals to Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party.

Joyce, who represents the NSW regional electorate of New England, declined to comment when asked if he would change parties.

Hanson did not deny the ongoing discussions when asked by this masthead on Friday afternoon.

“If Barnaby wants to come to One Nation, I’d be happy to have him,” she said, also suggesting other MPs in the Coalition who were disaffected could join her party.

This masthead reported in February that Hanson had asked Joyce to join her party.

A shock defection by the former Nationals leader to Hanson’s party would cause another headache for the Coalition after the recent loss of Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to the backbench. It would also elevate Joyce’s already high profile and bolster One Nation’s position as a right-wing alternative to Sussan Ley’s more moderate Coalition.

There has been speculation inside the Coalition about the prospect of a populist movement in the mould of the UK’s Reform, led by Nigel Farage, although most MPs believe such a party would fail because of Australia’s preferential and compulsory voting system.

Joyce has a reputation as a firebrand and has mounted vehement opposition to the development of wind and solar farms in regional areas.

This masthead reported in February that Nationals leader David Littleproud implemented a rule to hide Joyce during the election campaign, effectively barring him from conducting political trips outside his electorate and further alienating him within the party.

‘I like what he stands for’: Hanson says she did try to woo Joyce for One Nation
Littleproud declined to comment. Ley’s office was contacted for comment.

Since the Coalition’s comprehensive loss at the May 2025 election, Joyce has campaigned against Australia’s net zero emissions targets.

Joyce’s move follows that of a senior NSW Nationals official in Joyce’s New England electorate, Steve Coxhead, who last week quit from his position as Tamworth branch chairman to join One Nation.

“I have resigned as I believe the party does not adequately represent NSW regional and rural voters any more,” said Coxhead, who listed climate policies and environmental restrictions on farmers as major concerns.

“One Nation is filling the void that has been left by major political parties.”

Joyce applauded Coxhead’s move, saying: “My great fear is not people changing parties but rather the loss of the freedom to do so.”

While Joyce has been viewed as a potential leadership challenger to Littleproud, he no longer has enough support in the party room due to the retirement of key allies.

Joyce was first elected Nationals leader in 2016, following the resignation of Warren Truss from the post. Joyce stepped down in 2018 following revelations he was having an affair and was expecting a child with his former communications staffer, and now wife, Vikki Campion. Joyce once again led the party after deposing Michael McCormack in 2021. Joyce lost the leadership to Littleproud in May 2022.

His standing in the party was once again diminished after an incident in February 2024, when he was filmed stumbling and apparently intoxicated on a footpath about 11.30pm after attending functions in parliament.

Then-leader of the opposition Peter Dutton suggested he retire after the incident, and Joyce held lengthy talks with Hanson about joining One Nation at that time.

However, the talks did not lead to action, and Joyce continued to serve on the frontbench of the Dutton-led opposition as spokesman for veterans’ affairs.

Since the May election, Joyce has been relegated to the backbench.

One Nation’s vote is surging, according to opinion polling. The party gained two senators – up to a total of four – at the last election, but its lower house vote did not grow as predicted.

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/joyce-in-talks-with-pauline-hanson-to-join-one-nation-20251017-p5n3cq.html

I hope he does it.

I doubt New England would re-elect him.

+1

i hope all the climate change deniers and immigrant basher all defect and join some other party. Then the coalition might be a bit more progressive without that deadwood dragging them down.

Divine Angel said:

The site of a glass factory in Brisbane’s inner city is set to be transformed into a new riverfront precinct that could feature thousands of homes, as well as entertainment spaces.

The Queensland government will go to market on Friday to find private sector proponents to overhaul and redevelop the 7.1-hectare, partially flood-prone South Brisbane property.

Labor had intended to use the site for an international broadcast centre during the 2032 Games, but the incumbent LNP government has scrapped those plans.

Instead, the LNP wants the industrial site, which is located on the Brisbane River close to South Bank, turned into a new mixed-use precinct.

The government said construction could begin from March 2027 and suggested the site could feature over 4,000 homes, as well as “event lawns” and promenades.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-17/qld-riverfront-precinct-south-brisbane-private-sector/105902488

Please note the “flood prone” bit.

Mates can buy it at mates rates and get mates to bend the rules a bit. Win-win.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-18/barnaby-joyce-will-not-recontest-new-england-at-election/105907524

Barnaby has decided not to contest his seat of New England at the next election

he might still run for One Nation in the Senate

lunk

Have to hand it to Malcolm Roberts. He’s the only one who has stuck with ONP for a decent amount of time.

I would suppose that BJ would go back to Qld for a senate run.

Rofl

dv said:

Rofl

FMD

dv said:

Rofl

FFS …

dv said:

Rofl

Three budding Elmer Gantry’s

dv said:

Rofl

Faaark…🙄

Peak Warming Man said:

dv said:

Rofl

Three budding Elmer Gantry’s

https://youtu.be/z73HAUbQNp4

Real Aussie Blokes

Nationals do not fear ‘contagion’ effect if Barnaby Joyce defects to One Nation

Nobody Fears Anschluss

how

In-receivership hospital group Healthscope is taking radical steps to stay alive, converting to a charity and proposing to take 90 per cent of a benefit intended to reduce workers’ taxable income.

convenient

‘You have no credibility’: Police Association boss slams left-wing protest group’s ‘rubbish’ claims.
This follows a senior police spokesman for condemning these leftwing activists for violence at protest on the weekend.

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/other/you-have-no-credibility-police-association-boss-slams-left-wing-protest-group-s-rubbish-claims/ar-AA1ONmbz?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=68f5cbfee84f487d8eb54d2d974d5828&ei=38

Barnaby not gonna be salami sliced.

It looks like our Prime Minister survived his encounter with the American President.

Trump praises Australia and takes swipe at Rudd during White House meeting with Albanese

buffy said:

It looks like our Prime Minister survived his encounter with the American President.

Trump praises Australia and takes swipe at Rudd during White House meeting with Albanese

what a great guy

seems like a dried grass dude, we don’t know anyone who cites the number and criticises and accuses or detracts AAA in that way

Donald Trump has been back in the White House for 273 days. It is the number cited by critics who have accused Anthony Albanese of neglecting Australia’s most important alliance. It took less than 40 minutes for Albanese to prove his detractors wrong and demonstrate, in real time, that good things can come to those who wait. He leaves Washington with everything he came for: a deal on critical minerals, an assurance on AUKUS, and an alliance reaffirmed.

but then we suppose we don’t hang out in those circles so what would we know

SCIENCE said:

seems like a dried grass dude, we don’t know anyone who cites the number and criticises and accuses or detracts AAA in that way

Donald Trump has been back in the White House for 273 days. It is the number cited by critics who have accused Anthony Albanese of neglecting Australia’s most important alliance. It took less than 40 minutes for Albanese to prove his detractors wrong and demonstrate, in real time, that good things can come to those who wait. He leaves Washington with everything he came for: a deal on critical minerals, an assurance on AUKUS, and an alliance reaffirmed.

but then we suppose we don’t hang out in those circles so what would we know

Kevin Rudd was the whipping boy, how they laughed.

Annabel Crabbe: When Donald Trump was ready to take his pound of flesh, Kevin Rudd was here to help

This is worth reading.

buffy said:

Annabel Crabbe: When Donald Trump was ready to take his pound of flesh, Kevin Rudd was here to help

This is worth reading.

what’s the precis

SCIENCE said:

buffy said:

Annabel Crabbe: When Donald Trump was ready to take his pound of flesh, Kevin Rudd was here to help

This is worth reading.

what’s the precis

You can’t precis it. You have to read it and enjoy the artistry.

fuck off

SCIENCE said:

fuck off

surely placebo vaccinations are being studied by the anti-vaxxers?

ChrispenEvan said:

SCIENCE said:

fuck off

surely placebo vaccinations are being studied by the anti-vaxxers?

and bleach

SCIENCE said:

fuck off

Antic by name, antic by nature

Capitalist CHINA Saves Australian Industry Again ¡

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-23/australia-us-join-china-in-race-to-bottom-on-rare-earth-prices/105921278

SCIENCE said:

fuck off

?

ruby said:

SCIENCE said:

fuck off

Antic by name, antic by nature

Sounds like no schooling was had.

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

fuck off

?

Fair call by SCIENCE.

The reason we have those low infection stats is because we immunise most youngsters.

The reason those infections are prevalent in various social groupings is because those social groups don’t immunise most youngsters.

Michael V said:

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

fuck off

?

Fair call by SCIENCE.

The reason we have those low infection stats is because we immunise most youngsters.

The reason those infections are prevalent in various social groupings is because those social groups don’t immunise most youngsters.

Agree.

ChrispenEvan said:

SCIENCE said:

fuck off

surely placebo vaccinations are being studied by the anti-vaxxers?

Ha!

SCIENCE said:

ChrispenEvan said:

SCIENCE said:

fuck off

surely placebo vaccinations are being studied by the anti-vaxxers?

and bleach

Snigger.

Michael V said:

SCIENCE said:

ChrispenEvan said:

surely placebo vaccinations are being studied by the anti-vaxxers?

and bleach

Snigger.

Then there’s the ketamine.

Make Him The Prime Minister

The ‘sensible’ centre? Tell that to the giants of The Rocks and Eureka

Amy Remeikis

“I went to a centrist rally. Amazing turnout. Thousands of people chanting and holding up signs ‘we can’t hope for anything better!’ ”

So goes one of the classic tweets, which hits because it’s funny because it’s true.

We have just seen The New York Times lecture its readers about the need to elect centrist representatives, as if the US hasn’t done that since the 1950s with the inevitable end point what we are witnessing now. Its evidence was the “moderates” who won their electoral contests, but there was no examination of the “moderates” who lost.

Putting aside that centrists are usually the worst people you know – who only seem to find conservative policies “sensible” (centrist is usually the name for someone who just doesn’t want to admit they are a conservative) – the idea that people protesting against fascists, increasing authoritarian government, and the loss of what is left of the government-social contract, is just as dangerous as the people they are protesting about, is nuts.

And yet here we are.

The idea that we “all have to learn to get along together”, which the Ezra Kleins of the world love to harangue people with, and which weak-hearted politicians love to adopt because it means they don’t actually have to do anything, means accepting getting along with people who don’t think some people should be allowed to exist, or have any rights.

“Well, guess we just need to learn to get along with them, once they’ve finished all those people who aren’t us,” the centrists shrug, as if believing human life has value and what it means to be human is varied and beautiful, is an inconvenience.

Centrists will tell you that Zohran Mamdani’s policy to make New York City buses free will be a disaster, because homeless people might ride the vehicles for shelter. The fault there lies in someone attempting to change a city so it works for its people, and not with a city that has allowed so many to become homeless, of course.

Centrists will tell you that it is right and proper for Anthony Albanese and Australia to prostrate itself in front of Donald Trump and America, because that is how it’s done, and any talk of what is actually in the best interests for Australia is just radical nonsense.

Of course it makes sense to spend close to $400 billion in a strategic defence deal that gives money to the US and UK to build their submarines and ships, but offers no guarantees Australia will receive what has been conditionally promised, while telling Australians the country can’t afford to raise welfare or reinstate universal healthcare and education. It’s repeatedly asking people to meet them in the middle, while they keep taking two steps further to the right.

That’s the centrist way.

the rest

But we didn’t just get here by accident.

There have been decades of sanitising any radical progressive action in Australia, to make those successes seem as if they were just the sensible position everyone agreed on, and not the work of people pushing against the tide to fight for what was morally and ethically right.

The green bans in Sydney in the 1960s and 1970s saved The Rocks at a time when there were calls to demolish any historical and green space to build, build, build (which included, at one point the “eyesore” that is the Queen Victoria Building). This wasn’t YIMBY-ism, it was vandalism.

When the politicians refused to move, communities turned to the union movement, and giants like Jack Mundey answered the call. What happened? Politicians and police sided with the developers, until the public shift in attitude moved the politicians. Now everyone was against developing The Rocks.

It was a fight to establish Medicare (that had to happen a few times) and it was a fight to for no-fault divorce and equality laws like the sex and racial discrimination acts.

These shifts didn’t come from listening to centrists telling you to accept your lot, but from people who put their jobs, bodies and reputations on the line. It was never easy. And it wasn’t the “sensible” position, until it was.

It would be political suicide for a political party to go to an election saying it was planning on abolishing Medicare (the death by a thousand cuts of universal healthcare is for another day) and yet, at one point, John Howard vowed to do just that.

Now we see centrists attempt to sanitise the Eureka Stockade, one of Australia’s most famous early protests, where gold miners revolted against the administrators of the Victorian colony.

Eureka was not a group of people calmly writing letters asking for lower taxes and more cost-effective mining permits. It was a bloody, desperate and messy campaign borne of a government imposing too much upon the common (white) man. The government at the time considered it mob revolt and responded in kind.

But now, according to former Victorian Labor minister Philip Dalidakis, it was just a very effective afternoon tea that protesters in Melbourne who pushed back against anti-immigration marches supported by fascists should take note of.

“Melbourne was once the city that gave us Federation Square not riot squads, the Eureka spirit not mob rule. We can be that city again. But it will take courage – the kind that listens as well as leads, that welcomes disagreement without surrendering decency,” Dalidakis wrote in The Age.

“If there are protests for anything, let them be by the silent majority; the people who just want to be respected, to live without fear and to know that democracy is being used to protect them, not to abuse others.”

Despite what centrists will tell you, that’s what the progressive protesters are fighting for. It just won’t be acknowledged until the battle has been won. And then? Everyone will have been for it.

Amy Remeikis is a contributing editor for The New Daily and chief political analyst for The Australia Institute

dv said:

:)

We’re six months away from April fools day 🤔

Divine Angel said:

We’re six months away from April fools day 🤔

There are a couple of documentaries about this..The Games and Utopia.

:)

ChrispenEvan said:

PMSL

:)

Michael V said:

ChrispenEvan said:

PMSL

:)

Are we really sure there ever was a flicker of iintelligence? He was always red in the face from trying too hard to come up with an excuse?

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/march-for-australia-neo-nazi-propaganda-anti-immigration/105741154

ah well guess nobody should be complaining about social media bans then

Shylah started Year 7 in 2020. Australia’s first case of COVID-19 infection was announced the week before she walked through the gates of Maribyrnong College, in Melbourne’s west. When lockdown hit, Shylah watched a lot of television. She saw fictional high schools that were nothing like what she was experiencing. “Not being able to have a social life at such a young age, you felt so isolated that you didn’t really know what to do,” she says.

since there will never ever be a lockdown again and young people don’t have a social life outside of real physical bricks and mortar in person school

SCIENCE said:

ah well guess nobody should be complaining about social media bans then

Shylah started Year 7 in 2020. Australia’s first case of COVID-19 infection was announced the week before she walked through the gates of Maribyrnong College, in Melbourne’s west. When lockdown hit, Shylah watched a lot of television. She saw fictional high schools that were nothing like what she was experiencing. “Not being able to have a social life at such a young age, you felt so isolated that you didn’t really know what to do,” she says.

since there will never ever be a lockdown again and young people don’t have a social life outside of real physical bricks and mortar in person school

Love those comma links

sorry we didn’t mean to be intrusive

alleged

SCIENCE said:

alleged

Wind farms are endangering koalas?

I didn’t even know they could fly.

Gutless Communist Labor Stand Up For Something For Once WTF

Labor has ruled out changing copyright laws to give tech giants free rein to train artificial intelligence models on creative works, after the proposition was met with widespread backlash from artists. The government’s copyright and AI reference group will meet early this week to examine whether the laws need to be refreshed, but Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stressed that any changes would not include a carve-out for developers to train their systems on Australian works. Such an exemption has been called for by parts of the tech sector and floated by the Productivity Commission in their interim report into harnessing data and digital technology, which estimated that AI could deliver a $116 billion boost to the economy over a decade.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-27/labor-rules-out-ai-training-copyright-exceptions/105935740

The Rev Dodgson said:

SCIENCE said:

alleged

Wind farms are endangering koalas?

I didn’t even know they could fly.

well they have to drop from somewhere

SCIENCE said:

Gutless Communist Labor Stand Up For Something For Once WTF

Labor has ruled out changing copyright laws to give tech giants free rein to train artificial intelligence models on creative works, after the proposition was met with widespread backlash from artists. The government’s copyright and AI reference group will meet early this week to examine whether the laws need to be refreshed, but Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stressed that any changes would not include a carve-out for developers to train their systems on Australian works. Such an exemption has been called for by parts of the tech sector and floated by the Productivity Commission in their interim report into harnessing data and digital technology, which estimated that AI could deliver a $116 billion boost to the economy over a decade.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-27/labor-rules-out-ai-training-copyright-exceptions/105935740

How would this be enforced
Could you just not feed the AI millions of images and no one would even be aware

team sports are such a serious pursuit

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/28/sussan-ley-goes-after-anthony-albaneses-joy-division-t-shirt-as-the-coalition-tears-itself-apart-again

Fixing housing’s a vote winner. But which fix and which voter?

Matt Wade
Senior economics writer
October 28, 2025 — 5.27pm

We hear a lot about Australia’s housing problems from politicians, developers, economists, NIMBYS and YIMBYS. But what about voters?

What do they make of our housing affordability challenges? And which policies to fix the problem have popular support?

A new deep-dive into what Australians think about housing has helped answer those questions. The study by Macquarie University’s Housing and Urban Research Centre draws on the 2025 Australian Cooperative Election Survey which interviewed about 4000 voters on a range of issues during this year’s federal election campaign.

A subset of more than 1000 respondents was then asked a series of detailed questions about housing.

Perhaps the most striking finding was the near-universal view that Australia is in a housing crisis: 89 per cent concurred with that assessment, with just 2 per cent disagreeing.

That’s good news; such a high level of agreement on any issue is very unusual in our contested politics. It shows voters acknowledge we have a big housing problem that needs fixing.

But the second big takeaway from the study underscores why the politics of housing is so tricky.

There’s a yawning gap between what voters and experts think should be done about the crisis.

When respondents were asked to rank eight major policies to address the housing crisis, the most popular was an increase to first home buyer grants (69 per cent support).

But that approach is loathed by economists – they claim it boosts demand for housing (by putting more money in the pockets of first-time buyers) while doing nothing to boost the supply of housing available for purchase. That just helps to push up prices. Those who benefit most from policies like this are existing home owners, not new buyers.

There’s a similar mismatch over planning reforms.

Most experts advocate for policies that will lift housing supply. One way to do this is by changing planning rules to allow higher housing density, especially in well-located parts of our big cities. State governments back this approach – the NSW and Victorian governments have announced major policy changes to lift the supply of new dwellings.

And yet, changing planning and zoning rules to allow more high-density housing was the least popular of the eight policies put to voters; only 11 per cent gave this option strong support.

Property market commentary often pits aspiring first home buyers against NIMBY property owners who oppose planning changes that would allow more dwellings in their suburb.

But young voters don’t seem to view the housing crisis this way – only 48 per cent of those aged 18-34 supported changing planning and zoning rules to allow more high-density housing (only 6 percentage points higher than those aged over 65).

For all the recent talk among politicians and experts about the need for planning reform to boost the number of available dwellings, only 29 per cent identified a lack of new housing supply among the biggest contributors to our housing problem.

The report concludes that deregulating planning to aid supply “excites few voters”.

Policies to regulate rents also divide experts and voters. A clear majority of voters (57 per cent) supported limiting rental increases for private tenants. But economists also abhor this approach – perhaps even more than first homebuyer grants. They argue limiting rental increases (sometimes called rent caps) would do more harm than good by discouraging investment in rental properties. That would in turn reduce the number of affordable options for new entrants and could lower the quality of the existing rental housing.

More investment in social housing (affordable to those on low incomes) attracted the support of almost two-thirds of voters (64 per cent) but even that is not seen as the best way to help low-income families into accommodation by many economists. They say Commonwealth rent assistance is a more efficient alternative.

The mismatch between public and expert opinion shows there’s much more explaining to do if Australia is to deal with the housing crisis.

It is up to politicians and experts to build voter support for the most effective and efficient solutions.

There’s no time to waste. The Macquarie University study warns its findings “suggest the foundations of Australia’s home-owning democracy remain under increasing pressure. Renters no longer believe that working hard and saving is enough to enter home ownership”.

On some housing issues, the study found a clear left-right divide, especially on effects of immigration. Among Coalition voters and those who supported “populist right” parties (mostly supporters of One Nation and Trumpet of Patriots), a majority said immigration was a major contributor to housing problems. That fell to 28 per cent for Labor voters and 18 per cent for Greens supporters.

But the affordability crunch has created unexpected political alignments.

There was strong support for interventionist housing policies such as limits on rental increases from voters on the left of politics (85 per cent of Greens voters) and voters on the populist right (58 per cent). Four out of five tenants also supported this policy.

Greens voters and populist right voters – from opposite ends of the political spectrum – had the highest share saying housing had influenced their vote in the 2025 federal election. They also had the biggest majorities that “strongly” agreed Australia is in the grip of a housing crisis.

Macquarie University’s Dr Shaun Wilson, who co-authored the report, said there was an “overlap in demand” for those more interventionist housing policies from both the right and the left of politics.

“This might be a sign those parties are appealing to people who feel like they’ve missed out,” he said.

It also points to a split between “insiders” who own property and “outsiders” who feel locked out of the housing market.

That insider-outsider housing divide looms as an important future driver in Australian politics.

Matt Wade is a senior economics writer at The Sydney Morning Herald.

https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/there-s-a-lot-of-talk-about-housing-but-what-do-the-voters-think-20251028-p5n5t5.html

Witty Rejoinder said:

Fixing housing’s a vote winner. But which fix and which voter?

Matt Wade
Senior economics writer
October 28, 2025 — 5.27pm

We hear a lot about Australia’s housing problems from politicians, developers, economists, NIMBYS and YIMBYS. But what about voters?

What do they make of our housing affordability challenges? And which policies to fix the problem have popular support?

A new deep-dive into what Australians think about housing has helped answer those questions. The study by Macquarie University’s Housing and Urban Research Centre draws on the 2025 Australian Cooperative Election Survey which interviewed about 4000 voters on a range of issues during this year’s federal election campaign.

A subset of more than 1000 respondents was then asked a series of detailed questions about housing.

Perhaps the most striking finding was the near-universal view that Australia is in a housing crisis: 89 per cent concurred with that assessment, with just 2 per cent disagreeing.

That’s good news; such a high level of agreement on any issue is very unusual in our contested politics. It shows voters acknowledge we have a big housing problem that needs fixing.

But the second big takeaway from the study underscores why the politics of housing is so tricky.

There’s a yawning gap between what voters and experts think should be done about the crisis.

When respondents were asked to rank eight major policies to address the housing crisis, the most popular was an increase to first home buyer grants (69 per cent support).

But that approach is loathed by economists – they claim it boosts demand for housing (by putting more money in the pockets of first-time buyers) while doing nothing to boost the supply of housing available for purchase. That just helps to push up prices. Those who benefit most from policies like this are existing home owners, not new buyers.

There’s a similar mismatch over planning reforms.

Most experts advocate for policies that will lift housing supply. One way to do this is by changing planning rules to allow higher housing density, especially in well-located parts of our big cities. State governments back this approach – the NSW and Victorian governments have announced major policy changes to lift the supply of new dwellings.

And yet, changing planning and zoning rules to allow more high-density housing was the least popular of the eight policies put to voters; only 11 per cent gave this option strong support.

Property market commentary often pits aspiring first home buyers against NIMBY property owners who oppose planning changes that would allow more dwellings in their suburb.

But young voters don’t seem to view the housing crisis this way – only 48 per cent of those aged 18-34 supported changing planning and zoning rules to allow more high-density housing (only 6 percentage points higher than those aged over 65).

For all the recent talk among politicians and experts about the need for planning reform to boost the number of available dwellings, only 29 per cent identified a lack of new housing supply among the biggest contributors to our housing problem.

The report concludes that deregulating planning to aid supply “excites few voters”.

Policies to regulate rents also divide experts and voters. A clear majority of voters (57 per cent) supported limiting rental increases for private tenants. But economists also abhor this approach – perhaps even more than first homebuyer grants. They argue limiting rental increases (sometimes called rent caps) would do more harm than good by discouraging investment in rental properties. That would in turn reduce the number of affordable options for new entrants and could lower the quality of the existing rental housing.

More investment in social housing (affordable to those on low incomes) attracted the support of almost two-thirds of voters (64 per cent) but even that is not seen as the best way to help low-income families into accommodation by many economists. They say Commonwealth rent assistance is a more efficient alternative.

The mismatch between public and expert opinion shows there’s much more explaining to do if Australia is to deal with the housing crisis.

It is up to politicians and experts to build voter support for the most effective and efficient solutions.

There’s no time to waste. The Macquarie University study warns its findings “suggest the foundations of Australia’s home-owning democracy remain under increasing pressure. Renters no longer believe that working hard and saving is enough to enter home ownership”.

On some housing issues, the study found a clear left-right divide, especially on effects of immigration. Among Coalition voters and those who supported “populist right” parties (mostly supporters of One Nation and Trumpet of Patriots), a majority said immigration was a major contributor to housing problems. That fell to 28 per cent for Labor voters and 18 per cent for Greens supporters.

But the affordability crunch has created unexpected political alignments.

There was strong support for interventionist housing policies such as limits on rental increases from voters on the left of politics (85 per cent of Greens voters) and voters on the populist right (58 per cent). Four out of five tenants also supported this policy.

Greens voters and populist right voters – from opposite ends of the political spectrum – had the highest share saying housing had influenced their vote in the 2025 federal election. They also had the biggest majorities that “strongly” agreed Australia is in the grip of a housing crisis.

Macquarie University’s Dr Shaun Wilson, who co-authored the report, said there was an “overlap in demand” for those more interventionist housing policies from both the right and the left of politics.

“This might be a sign those parties are appealing to people who feel like they’ve missed out,” he said.

It also points to a split between “insiders” who own property and “outsiders” who feel locked out of the housing market.

That insider-outsider housing divide looms as an important future driver in Australian politics.

Matt Wade is a senior economics writer at The Sydney Morning Herald.

https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/there-s-a-lot-of-talk-about-housing-but-what-do-the-voters-think-20251028-p5n5t5.html

Many people are blaming immigrants illegal or otherwise for the housing crisis.
Seems to me a rather simplistic take on the situation.

Cymek said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

Fixing housing’s a vote winner. But which fix and which voter?

Matt Wade
Senior economics writer
October 28, 2025 — 5.27pm

We hear a lot about Australia’s housing problems from politicians, developers, economists, NIMBYS and YIMBYS. But what about voters?

What do they make of our housing affordability challenges? And which policies to fix the problem have popular support?

A new deep-dive into what Australians think about housing has helped answer those questions. The study by Macquarie University’s Housing and Urban Research Centre draws on the 2025 Australian Cooperative Election Survey which interviewed about 4000 voters on a range of issues during this year’s federal election campaign.

A subset of more than 1000 respondents was then asked a series of detailed questions about housing.

Perhaps the most striking finding was the near-universal view that Australia is in a housing crisis: 89 per cent concurred with that assessment, with just 2 per cent disagreeing.

That’s good news; such a high level of agreement on any issue is very unusual in our contested politics. It shows voters acknowledge we have a big housing problem that needs fixing.

But the second big takeaway from the study underscores why the politics of housing is so tricky.

There’s a yawning gap between what voters and experts think should be done about the crisis.

When respondents were asked to rank eight major policies to address the housing crisis, the most popular was an increase to first home buyer grants (69 per cent support).

But that approach is loathed by economists – they claim it boosts demand for housing (by putting more money in the pockets of first-time buyers) while doing nothing to boost the supply of housing available for purchase. That just helps to push up prices. Those who benefit most from policies like this are existing home owners, not new buyers.

There’s a similar mismatch over planning reforms.

Most experts advocate for policies that will lift housing supply. One way to do this is by changing planning rules to allow higher housing density, especially in well-located parts of our big cities. State governments back this approach – the NSW and Victorian governments have announced major policy changes to lift the supply of new dwellings.

And yet, changing planning and zoning rules to allow more high-density housing was the least popular of the eight policies put to voters; only 11 per cent gave this option strong support.

Property market commentary often pits aspiring first home buyers against NIMBY property owners who oppose planning changes that would allow more dwellings in their suburb.

But young voters don’t seem to view the housing crisis this way – only 48 per cent of those aged 18-34 supported changing planning and zoning rules to allow more high-density housing (only 6 percentage points higher than those aged over 65).

For all the recent talk among politicians and experts about the need for planning reform to boost the number of available dwellings, only 29 per cent identified a lack of new housing supply among the biggest contributors to our housing problem.

The report concludes that deregulating planning to aid supply “excites few voters”.

Policies to regulate rents also divide experts and voters. A clear majority of voters (57 per cent) supported limiting rental increases for private tenants. But economists also abhor this approach – perhaps even more than first homebuyer grants. They argue limiting rental increases (sometimes called rent caps) would do more harm than good by discouraging investment in rental properties. That would in turn reduce the number of affordable options for new entrants and could lower the quality of the existing rental housing.

More investment in social housing (affordable to those on low incomes) attracted the support of almost two-thirds of voters (64 per cent) but even that is not seen as the best way to help low-income families into accommodation by many economists. They say Commonwealth rent assistance is a more efficient alternative.

The mismatch between public and expert opinion shows there’s much more explaining to do if Australia is to deal with the housing crisis.

It is up to politicians and experts to build voter support for the most effective and efficient solutions.

There’s no time to waste. The Macquarie University study warns its findings “suggest the foundations of Australia’s home-owning democracy remain under increasing pressure. Renters no longer believe that working hard and saving is enough to enter home ownership”.

On some housing issues, the study found a clear left-right divide, especially on effects of immigration. Among Coalition voters and those who supported “populist right” parties (mostly supporters of One Nation and Trumpet of Patriots), a majority said immigration was a major contributor to housing problems. That fell to 28 per cent for Labor voters and 18 per cent for Greens supporters.

But the affordability crunch has created unexpected political alignments.

There was strong support for interventionist housing policies such as limits on rental increases from voters on the left of politics (85 per cent of Greens voters) and voters on the populist right (58 per cent). Four out of five tenants also supported this policy.

Greens voters and populist right voters – from opposite ends of the political spectrum – had the highest share saying housing had influenced their vote in the 2025 federal election. They also had the biggest majorities that “strongly” agreed Australia is in the grip of a housing crisis.

Macquarie University’s Dr Shaun Wilson, who co-authored the report, said there was an “overlap in demand” for those more interventionist housing policies from both the right and the left of politics.

“This might be a sign those parties are appealing to people who feel like they’ve missed out,” he said.

It also points to a split between “insiders” who own property and “outsiders” who feel locked out of the housing market.

That insider-outsider housing divide looms as an important future driver in Australian politics.

Matt Wade is a senior economics writer at The Sydney Morning Herald.

https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/there-s-a-lot-of-talk-about-housing-but-what-do-the-voters-think-20251028-p5n5t5.html

Many people are blaming immigrants illegal or otherwise for the housing crisis.
Seems to me a rather simplistic take on the situation.

Well it’s certainly not illegal immigration which would only run in the low thousands each year. As to immigration in general it would be a factor but probably less though than negative gearing, planning regulations, non-residents buying properties, AirBnB etc

What would be great is if a substantial number of new migrants worked in construction industry roles so that their presence actively created more housing supply but unfortunately government programs to encourage this have been quite unsuccessful. IIRC a $10k incentive payment for new migrants such as these by the WA government has shown low take-up.

https://thenightly.com.au/politics/paid-parental-leave-bill-conservative-mps-andrew-hastie-barnaby-joyce-argue-late-term-abortion-risk-c-20507579

Link

Some conservative MPs have told Parliament they are concerned that legislation aimed at ensuring people who have stillbirths can take their pre-arranged paid parental leave while grieving could support or encourage people to have late-term abortions.

One said that “people who don’t wish to be parents” shouldn’t be allowed to take parental leave.

ChrispenEvan said:

https://thenightly.com.au/politics/paid-parental-leave-bill-conservative-mps-andrew-hastie-barnaby-joyce-argue-late-term-abortion-risk-c-20507579

Link

Some conservative MPs have told Parliament they are concerned that legislation aimed at ensuring people who have stillbirths can take their pre-arranged paid parental leave while grieving could support or encourage people to have late-term abortions.

One said that “people who don’t wish to be parents” shouldn’t be allowed to take parental leave.

well does it have zero contribution to the microeconomic analysis

The pork’s in the barrel and then rates are for mates¡

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-31/nbn-co-fast-tracked-upgrade-for-sky-news-host-news-corp-pundit/105953892

good to see the best energy option winning fair and square

Hostility towards farmers hosting renewable energy projects is increasing, fracturing rural communities. A Senate inquiry received submissions detailing threats of intimidation and violence amid worsening rhetoric. Farmers for Climate Action says sophisticated social media campaigns were designed to create the narrative that opposition to renewable energy in the regions was greater than it is.

wait it’s only domestic terrorism if it’s leftist wokist hippist bastards blocking roads

SCIENCE said:

good to see the best energy option winning fair and square

Hostility towards farmers hosting renewable energy projects is increasing, fracturing rural communities. A Senate inquiry received submissions detailing threats of intimidation and violence amid worsening rhetoric. Farmers for Climate Action says sophisticated social media campaigns were designed to create the narrative that opposition to renewable energy in the regions was greater than it is.

wait it’s only domestic terrorism if it’s leftist wokist hippist bastards blocking roads

Whack them with democracy sausages says Tony Abbott from the sidelines whist munching on an onion wearing his budgie smugglers..

The leaders you vote and pay for

¡

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-31/victorian-first-nations-treaty-legislation-passes/105954864
Australian-first treaty legislation passes in Victorian parliament

Australian-first treaty legislation passed in Victoria’s parliament to applause and tears late on Thursday night.

The Statewide Treaty Bill enshrines a democratically elected body for First Peoples.

dv said:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-31/victorian-first-nations-treaty-legislation-passes/105954864
Australian-first treaty legislation passes in Victorian parliament

Australian-first treaty legislation passed in Victoria’s parliament to applause and tears late on Thursday night.

The Statewide Treaty Bill enshrines a democratically elected body for First Peoples.

Good.

oh look more green hippie wokists trying to detail the great Australian economy and hurt poor decent Aussie battlers

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-31/hundreds-of-agl-power-station-workers-warned-of-job-losses/105958582

ChrispenEvan said:

It is called preferential.

roughbarked said:

ChrispenEvan said:

It is called preferential.

team sports

ChrispenEvan said:

So why would Ms. H be against a system that results in small parties like hers getting more seats in parliament?

The Rev Dodgson said:

ChrispenEvan said:

So why would Ms. H be against a system that results in small parties like hers getting more seats in parliament?

Probably because the other parties and independents don’t want to give preferences to One Nation?

The Rev Dodgson said:

ChrispenEvan said:

So why would Ms. H be against a system that results in small parties like hers getting more seats in parliament?

It’s one of her supporters, not herself.

Maybe he’s only just been told about “preference voting”.

Bubblecar said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

ChrispenEvan said:

So why would Ms. H be against a system that results in small parties like hers getting more seats in parliament?

It’s one of her supporters, not herself.

Maybe he’s only just been told about “preference voting”.

His/her education is sadly lacking. Which is probably why they suppport her.

The Rev Dodgson said:

ChrispenEvan said:

So why would Ms. H be against a system that results in small parties like hers getting more seats in parliament?

because they don’t understand how the australian voting system works. it is all a scam to keep the two main parties in power.

ChrispenEvan said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

ChrispenEvan said:

So why would Ms. H be against a system that results in small parties like hers getting more seats in parliament?

because they don’t understand how the australian voting system works. it is all a scam to keep the two main parties in power.

As it does.

roughbarked said:

ChrispenEvan said:

The Rev Dodgson said:

So why would Ms. H be against a system that results in small parties like hers getting more seats in parliament?

because they don’t understand how the australian voting system works. it is all a scam to keep the two main parties in power.

As it does.

well, the UK has first past the post and look at them…

ChrispenEvan said:

roughbarked said:

ChrispenEvan said:

because they don’t understand how the australian voting system works. it is all a scam to keep the two main parties in power.

As it does.

well, the UK has first past the post and look at them…

If we had first past the post, Labor would win hads down.

roughbarked said:

ChrispenEvan said:

roughbarked said:

As it does.

well, the UK has first past the post and look at them…

If we had first past the post, Labor would win hads down.

n

most of the time.

ChrispenEvan said:

roughbarked said:

ChrispenEvan said:

because they don’t understand how the australian voting system works. it is all a scam to keep the two main parties in power.

As it does.

well, the UK has first past the post and look at them…

They’ll reform.

roughbarked said:

ChrispenEvan said:

roughbarked said:

As it does.

well, the UK has first past the post and look at them…

If we had first past the post, Labor would win hads down.

and it would be a vision splendid of those sunlit uplands forever.

ChrispenEvan said:

roughbarked said:

ChrispenEvan said:

well, the UK has first past the post and look at them…

If we had first past the post, Labor would win hads down.

and it would be a vision splendid of those sunlit uplands forever.

Ha.

Labor True Believers, Political Analysis and Satire

Tony Abbott’s warped story of Australia

Tony Abbott’s history of Australia is a version that sanitises the worst effects of colonialism and immigration policy, and leans into the destructive doctrine of Trump. By Grace Tame.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, Murdoch’s The Weekend Australian Magazine promoted its interview with Tony Abbott on the release of his new book with a cover shot of him submerged in a sea pool from the neck down. Thankfully, the former prime minister’s budgie smugglers are hidden from view. He is surely kneeling because even with its sinister jingoistic undercurrent, the Christian nationalist myth he’s hoping to sell in Australia: A History is disturbingly shallow. We’re going to need a better book.

Jaws parody aside, this aquatic portrait of Australia’s great white political shark speaks less to his watered-down version of the past and more to the certain future of our warming, melting planet if we embrace his climate denialism. No prime minister since Harold Holt has waded so blithely into troubled waters.

Abbott’s Australia – specifically, the one that exists only inside his head – is so white it has to be read in the dark. The blurb inside the dust jacket would have you believe that “by the standards of a harsher time, the first governors tried to respect the original inhabitants”. Personally I have never tried to show respect to anyone by committing genocide against their people. That’s just me though.

The first line of the author’s note reads, “This is the book that should never have been needed.” More accurately, it’s the book nobody asked for. Tony Abbott – friend to the ironing housewives of the nation, Fox Corporation board director, cheerleader for George Pell and mortal enemy of raw root vegetables – evidently sees the world through rose-tinted onion goggles. His latest propaganda piece idolises the British colonial regime, downplays the impact of fossil fuels, decries Australia’s tolerance of immigrants and praises our torturous refugee policy.

None of these positions seem to perturb Governor-General Sam Mostyn, who hosted the official launch of Tony’s tone-deaf tome. Sadly, she did not launch it into space. “I believe that Mr Abbott’s desire to get Australians talking and caring about who we are and how we got here is a significant act of care in and of itself,” Mostyn’s official account posted on social media, beneath a photograph of her sandwiched between Abbott and Nova Peris. The same Nova Peris who once reposted a meme describing Muslims as “Satan worshipping cockroaches need to be eradicated” – she has since said she does not share these views – and recently posed with far-right provocateur Avi Yemini at a breakfast in Israel.

If we want to have an honest conversation about who we are and how we got here, we’d do well to look beyond the myopic perspectives of prime ministers preoccupied more with their personal legacies than the consequences of centuries of dispossession and the threat of planetary destruction.

From the outset of his revisionist project, it is abundantly clear Abbott has an agenda. He is trying to ride the global rise of right-wing populism signalled by the result of the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum, rising fascism in parts of Europe and South America, radicalised online networks and the catastrophic re-election of United States President Donald Trump.

Australia is a strategically timed, God-and-country conservative manifesto couched in academic language. Abbott’s intellect and eloquence do little to disguise the sense of white superiority that permeates the text. He sees Australia’s decision to vote “No” to enshrining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution as a high point in our history, and mischaracterises the Voice to Parliament as a body that would have had power over all Australians.

Continuing in this vein, he sanitises the White Australia policy by invoking the paternalistic notion that Western civilisation is the only antidote to the implied inherent instability of First Nations, as if colonial occupation has had no ill effects. Referring to neglect as “a highly subjective concept between two very different cultures”, he draws on a tired white saviour trope that the state has provided a better life for the world’s oldest surviving culture. Versions of this racist narrative still serve Australia’s corrupted child protection industry as illegitimate justification for the forced removal of children.

Political ideology is no substitute for science, or history. It’s certainly no substitute for truth.

And, as Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges says, we “can’t balance truth with lies”. Nor can we balance it with tactful omission. Brimming with decidedly mild accounts of settler violence and selective convict success stories, Australia paints a relatively glossy portrait of early colonial life in Eora/Sydney, where ex-prisoners were apparently empowered and Aboriginal elders received gifts from the thieves of their land. Abbott does not specify which gifts. Smallpox, perhaps?

In any case, we are to be thankful that our colonisers were British. “Whichever European people had settled Australia first, almost certainly the Indigenous population would have suffered from disease and occasional violence,” writes Abbott, adding, “indeed settler violence would almost certainly have been worse under any other European power”.

On the whole, the book is as unoriginal as it is biased and boring. Much like the glitchy AI systems that scrape the annals of the internet to generate content and pass it off as something new, Abbott has hallucinated a fragmentary history from existing works and filled the gaps with wishful thinking. From the gold rush to World War I, the Great Depression and beyond, there is little that can’t be found in a high-school curriculum. There are no revelations, no ground is broken.

When Abbott launches into his reflections on the governments of the past 50 years, all pretence of balance and objectivity falls away. The eras of Robert Menzies, Malcolm Fraser and John Howard are his obvious favourites. In his view, Gough Whitlam’s dismissal was an honest function of democracy.

Rare praise is given to former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke, while Paul Keating, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard are broadly criticised, along with former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who is far too left-leaning for Abbott’s liking. Scott Morrison is lauded for AUKUS but condemned for his approach to leadership during the pandemic.

While he rightfully casts Gillard’s famous misogyny speech as a performative defence of then speaker Peter Slipper, Abbott can hardly call himself an advocate for women. He nevertheless judges his own government as practically faultless. His warped nostalgia brings him to the conclusion that Australia is losing its way.

Like other nation states in the Anglosphere, we are reportedly suffering from spiritual poverty, despite our material wealth. Migrants aren’t as willing to assimilate as they once were, we are “culturally confused” and “drifting backwards”.

Fear not, for Abbott has the answers. All we need to do is abandon identity politics and climate science, cash in on fossil fuel exports, stop “giving special consideration to people on the basis of race and gender” and wait for the emergence of a handful of good leaders. There is no disadvantage by design, it’s just a symptom of bad luck.
And it’s not staggering wealth inequality, or environmental desecration driven by corporate greed, tax-evading billionaires, rigged markets and unregulated industries, that are eroding our sense of purpose and meaning. It’s our collective rejection of faith. Just ask the rapist George Pell, who is quoted in the final chapter. Ultimately, it is the all-but-dead Liberal Party, for which Abbott still acts as chief necromancer, that prevails as our supposed moral and economic compass.

Far from adding to Australia’s colourful story, Abbott has whittled it down to an outdated, destructive doctrine. One that reinforces already debunked socioeconomic theories borrowed from Trump and, worse, casts doubt on the efficacy of efforts to save the planet and repair the damage wrought by systemic discrimination.

I quickly descended into despair over these bleak contents. Before I had managed to claw my way to the end, I made the mistake of bringing Australia: A History into the home of a close friend, who proceeded to cleanse me and her property with sage. She almost set the book on fire in the process, possibly on purpose. Thankfully, there are those of us who can resist the temptation to sink so low.

The Rev Dodgson said:

ChrispenEvan said:

So why would Ms. H be against a system that results in small parties like hers getting more seats in parliament?

Guess…

ChrispenEvan said:

Stupid Bitch.

Witty Rejoinder said:

ChrispenEvan said:

Stupid Bitch.

It’s one of her supporters.

Bubblecar said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

ChrispenEvan said:

Stupid Bitch.

It’s one of her supporters.

Yeah I know that now. We’ll probably get to hear Pauline’s thoughts on the matter hopefully.

Witty Rejoinder said:

Bubblecar said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

Stupid Bitch.

It’s one of her supporters.

Yeah I know that now. We’ll probably get to hear Pauline’s thoughts on the matter hopefully.

Probably an apt description of the supporter who wrote the post

shrug

“China is our largest trading partner on the one hand, and our biggest source of security anxiety on the other. And that’s just the way the world is,” he said.

blind and unimaginative, we could do better, they could be our largest trading partner on the one hand, and our biggest source of security assurance if we made the right choices

SCIENCE said:

“China is our largest trading partner on the one hand, and our biggest source of security anxiety on the other. And that’s just the way the world is,” he said.

blind and unimaginative, we could do better, they could be our largest trading partner on the one hand, and our biggest source of security assurance if we made the right choices

Thankyou Zhongha Renmin Gongheguo Zhengfu spokesperson.

Witty Rejoinder said:

SCIENCE said:

“China is our largest trading partner on the one hand, and our biggest source of security anxiety on the other. And that’s just the way the world is,” he said.

blind and unimaginative, we could do better, they could be our largest trading partner on the one hand, and our biggest source of security assurance if we made the right choices

Thankyou Zhongha Renmin Gongheguo Zhengfu spokesperson.

Have the PRC updated their fourteen points recently?

Witty Rejoinder said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

SCIENCE said:

“China is our largest trading partner on the one hand, and our biggest source of security anxiety on the other. And that’s just the way the world is,” he said.

blind and unimaginative, we could do better, they could be our largest trading partner on the one hand, and our biggest source of security assurance if we made the right choices

Thankyou Zhongha Renmin Gongheguo Zhengfu spokesperson.

Have the PRC updated their fourteen points recently?

and how do they compare to the other 14 out there

SCIENCE said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

Thankyou Zhongha Renmin Gongheguo Zhengfu spokesperson.

Have the PRC updated their fourteen points recently?

and how do they compare to the other 14 out there

I wouldn’t know. The Philippines didn’t even get the courtesy of a list.

dv said:

he forgot to thank us for our attention to this matter.

Witty Rejoinder said:

SCIENCE said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

Have the PRC updated their fourteen points recently?

and how do they compare to the other 14 out there

I wouldn’t know. The Philippines didn’t even get the courtesy of a list.

The 14 words we mean, just look at that nice kind senator just now,

dv said:

If there is killing and persecution of christians going on in Australia, how can I join in?

dv said:

Oh, just bloody fantastic.

Can Babet think for himself?

Arts said:

dv said:

he forgot to thank us for our attention to this matter.

LOL

party_pants said:

dv said:

If there is killing and persecution of christians going on in Australia, how can I join in?

LOL

Michael V said:

dv said:

Oh, just bloody fantastic.

Can Babet think for himself?

Clearly not. He has enslaved his mind to an ideology. So much less effort than working things out for yourself and coping with nuance and complexity.

party_pants said:

dv said:

If there is killing and persecution of christians going on in Australia, how can I join in?

We start by cancelling Christmas.

SCIENCE said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

SCIENCE said:

and how do they compare to the other 14 out there

I wouldn’t know. The Philippines didn’t even get the courtesy of a list.

The 14 words we mean, just look at that nice kind senator just now,

88

Divine Angel said:

party_pants said:

dv said:

If there is killing and persecution of christians going on in Australia, how can I join in?

We start by cancelling Christmas.

Nah, I’m looking forward to having a few days off around then.

dv said:

What happened to “America First”?

Michael V said:

dv said:

Oh, just bloody fantastic.

Can Babet think for himself?

Only when he’s got his head up his own arse.

If Babet had migrated to the US instead, he’d be one of those people they interview in the ICE detention centres who say “I’d still have voted for him”.

Witty Rejoinder said:

SCIENCE said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

I wouldn’t know. The Philippines didn’t even get the courtesy of a list.

The 14 words we mean, just look at that nice kind senator just now,

88

yeah CHINA people do love the number 8 seems to be a thing there

for the engineers

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-number-88-lucky-in-China-even-though-its-a-Nazi-dogwhistle

Always knew them dirty communists in CHINA were actually into fascism.

dv said:

If Babet had migrated to the US instead, he’d be one of those people they interview in the ICE detention centres who say “I’d still have voted for him”.

such noble sacrifice the world needs more like him

party_pants said:

Michael V said:

dv said:

Oh, just bloody fantastic.

Can Babet think for himself?

Clearly not. He has enslaved his mind to an ideology. So much less effort than working things out for yourself and coping with nuance and complexity.

Sure looks like that.

Witty Rejoinder said:

SCIENCE said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

I wouldn’t know. The Philippines didn’t even get the courtesy of a list.

The 14 words we mean, just look at that nice kind senator just now,

88

IDGI

Woodie said:

Michael V said:

dv said:

Oh, just bloody fantastic.

Can Babet think for himself?

Only when he’s got his head up his own arse.

Ah, of course.

Michael V said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

SCIENCE said:

The 14 words we mean, just look at that nice kind senator just now,

88

IDGI

88 is a white supremacy symbol associated with Hitler. Combine it with 14 and you’re a Nazi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Words

Michael V said:

party_pants said:

Michael V said:

Oh, just bloody fantastic.

Can Babet think for himself?

Clearly not. He has enslaved his mind to an ideology. So much less effort than working things out for yourself and coping with nuance and complexity.

Sure looks like that.

Mind clearly enslaved enough to get elected.

dv said:

If Babet had migrated to the US instead, he’d be one of those people they interview in the ICE detention centres who say “I’d still have voted for him”.

Ha!

SCIENCE said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

SCIENCE said:

The 14 words we mean, just look at that nice kind senator just now,

88

yeah CHINA people do love the number 8 seems to be a thing there

for the engineers

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-number-88-lucky-in-China-even-though-its-a-Nazi-dogwhistle

Always knew them dirty communists in CHINA were actually into fascism.

Interesting.

Divine Angel said:

Michael V said:

Witty Rejoinder said:

88

IDGI

88 is a white supremacy symbol associated with Hitler. Combine it with 14 and you’re a Nazi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Words

So much hate.

Shakes head.

Michael V said:

Divine Angel said:

Michael V said:

IDGI

88 is a white supremacy symbol associated with Hitler. Combine it with 14 and you’re a Nazi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Words

So much hate.

Shakes head.

88 is likely the IQ of most supremacists

Michael V said:

Divine Angel said:

Michael V said:

IDGI

88 is a white supremacy symbol associated with Hitler. Combine it with 14 and you’re a Nazi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Words

So much hate.

Shakes head.

A German 88

Cymek said:

Michael V said:

Divine Angel said:

88 is a white supremacy symbol associated with Hitler. Combine it with 14 and you’re a Nazi.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteen_Words

So much hate.

Shakes head.

88 is likely the IQ of most supremacists

A maximum or an average?

Michael V said:

Cymek said:

Michael V said:

So much hate.

Shakes head.

88 is likely the IQ of most supremacists

A maximum or an average?

Shall we go with maximum

I am not an expert on electoral strategy but I do tend to think the Liberals do not understand their position.

Every poll indicates a clear majority of Australians support an emissions trading or carbon tax system.
The Lowy poll this year gave 56% for, 41% against, 3% not sure. This is in line with other polls in recent years.

The Labor party is not mooting such strong measures and the Albanese has all but confirmed these will not be pursued while he is PM.

What this means is that on climate issues, the ALP is somewhat to the right of the centre of mass of Australian opinion.

Similarly, a plurality of Australians wanted the ALP to hold off on the stage 3 tax cuts, but the government’s position was that they had gone to the election without a policy to reverse them and so went ahead with them, while making some changes to benefit the lower middle class.

The Liberals often point to Labor’s low primary vote, but prinary vote isn’t worth a tin of beans. You could win the election with 32%, 30%. You win the election by hoovering up distributed votes including preferences. (The advent of the Teals complicates this picture a little but given that they are also to the left of the ALP on climate issues, their presence doesn’t help the Liberals).

Placing themselves to the right of the centre of gravity, it limits the Liberals’ ability to gain seats by manoeuvring. By abandoning Net Zero and leaning into various culture war aspects, the Liberals probably would take primary votes off the minor right wing parties. They might even get back a few Senate seats. It won’t help them improve their 2PP or get more seats in the House of Reps, which is where the government is formed, because there is literally only one seat held to their right in the House, which is held by Bob Katter.

We have complusory voting and compulsory preferences, so the Libs can’t hope to gain seats just by drumming up enthusiasm to drive turnout.

They are panicking about losing vote share to ONP, but those prefs will mainly flow back to them.

Spiny Norman said:

Noice.

:)

dv said:

I am not an expert on electoral strategy but I do tend to think the Liberals do not understand their position.

Every poll indicates a clear majority of Australians support an emissions trading or carbon tax system.
The Lowy poll this year gave 56% for, 41% against, 3% not sure. This is in line with other polls in recent years.

The Labor party is not mooting such strong measures and the Albanese has all but confirmed these will not be pursued while he is PM.

What this means is that on climate issues, the ALP is somewhat to the right of the centre of mass of Australian opinion.

Similarly, a plurality of Australians wanted the ALP to hold off on the stage 3 tax cuts, but the government’s position was that they had gone to the election without a policy to reverse them and so went ahead with them, while making some changes to benefit the lower middle class.

The Liberals often point to Labor’s low primary vote, but prinary vote isn’t worth a tin of beans. You could win the election with 32%, 30%. You win the election by hoovering up distributed votes including preferences. (The advent of the Teals complicates this picture a little but given that they are also to the left of the ALP on climate issues, their presence doesn’t help the Liberals).

Placing themselves to the right of the centre of gravity, it limits the Liberals’ ability to gain seats by manoeuvring. By abandoning Net Zero and leaning into various culture war aspects, the Liberals probably would take primary votes off the minor right wing parties. They might even get back a few Senate seats. It won’t help them improve their 2PP or get more seats in the House of Reps, which is where the government is formed, because there is literally only one seat held to their right in the House, which is held by Bob Katter.

We have complusory voting and compulsory preferences, so the Libs can’t hope to gain seats just by drumming up enthusiasm to drive turnout.

They are panicking about losing vote share to ONP, but those prefs will mainly flow back to them.

on the other hand the social engineering strategy is sound, Australia is only a few million people, but there are many more fascists in for example the USSA, so by habituating people to the right wing bullshit, even mere exposure will make the population more favourable for populist sociopaths with global reach

SCIENCE said:

dv said:

I am not an expert on electoral strategy but I do tend to think the Liberals do not understand their position.

Every poll indicates a clear majority of Australians support an emissions trading or carbon tax system.
The Lowy poll this year gave 56% for, 41% against, 3% not sure. This is in line with other polls in recent years.

The Labor party is not mooting such strong measures and the Albanese has all but confirmed these will not be pursued while he is PM.

What this means is that on climate issues, the ALP is somewhat to the right of the centre of mass of Australian opinion.

Similarly, a plurality of Australians wanted the ALP to hold off on the stage 3 tax cuts, but the government’s position was that they had gone to the election without a policy to reverse them and so went ahead with them, while making some changes to benefit the lower middle class.

The Liberals often point to Labor’s low primary vote, but prinary vote isn’t worth a tin of beans. You could win the election with 32%, 30%. You win the election by hoovering up distributed votes including preferences. (The advent of the Teals complicates this picture a little but given that they are also to the left of the ALP on climate issues, their presence doesn’t help the Liberals).

Placing themselves to the right of the centre of gravity, it limits the Liberals’ ability to gain seats by manoeuvring. By abandoning Net Zero and leaning into various culture war aspects, the Liberals probably would take primary votes off the minor right wing parties. They might even get back a few Senate seats. It won’t help them improve their 2PP or get more seats in the House of Reps, which is where the government is formed, because there is literally only one seat held to their right in the House, which is held by Bob Katter.

We have complusory voting and compulsory preferences, so the Libs can’t hope to gain seats just by drumming up enthusiasm to drive turnout.

They are panicking about losing vote share to ONP, but those prefs will mainly flow back to them.

on the other hand the social engineering strategy is sound, Australia is only a few million people, but there are many more fascists in for example the USSA, so by habituating people to the right wing bullshit, even mere exposure will make the population more favourable for populist sociopaths with global reach

Apparently the aim?

dv said:

I am not an expert on electoral strategy but I do tend to think the Liberals do not understand their position.

Every poll indicates a clear majority of Australians support an emissions trading or carbon tax system.
The Lowy poll this year gave 56% for, 41% against, 3% not sure. This is in line with other polls in recent years.

The Labor party is not mooting such strong measures and the Albanese has all but confirmed these will not be pursued while he is PM.

What this means is that on climate issues, the ALP is somewhat to the right of the centre of mass of Australian opinion.

Similarly, a plurality of Australians wanted the ALP to hold off on the stage 3 tax cuts, but the government’s position was that they had gone to the election without a policy to reverse them and so went ahead with them, while making some changes to benefit the lower middle class.

The Liberals often point to Labor’s low primary vote, but prinary vote isn’t worth a tin of beans. You could win the election with 32%, 30%. You win the election by hoovering up distributed votes including preferences. (The advent of the Teals complicates this picture a little but given that they are also to the left of the ALP on climate issues, their presence doesn’t help the Liberals).

Placing themselves to the right of the centre of gravity, it limits the Liberals’ ability to gain seats by manoeuvring. By abandoning Net Zero and leaning into various culture war aspects, the Liberals probably would take primary votes off the minor right wing parties. They might even get back a few Senate seats. It won’t help them improve their 2PP or get more seats in the House of Reps, which is where the government is formed, because there is literally only one seat held to their right in the House, which is held by Bob Katter.

We have complusory voting and compulsory preferences, so the Libs can’t hope to gain seats just by drumming up enthusiasm to drive turnout.

They are panicking about losing vote share to ONP, but those prefs will mainly flow back to them.

Fair comment.

roughbarked said:

SCIENCE said:

dv said:

I am not an expert on electoral strategy but I do tend to think the Liberals do not understand their position.

Every poll indicates a clear majority of Australians support an emissions trading or carbon tax system.
The Lowy poll this year gave 56% for, 41% against, 3% not sure. This is in line with other polls in recent years.

The Labor party is not mooting such strong measures and the Albanese has all but confirmed these will not be pursued while he is PM.

What this means is that on climate issues, the ALP is somewhat to the right of the centre of mass of Australian opinion.

Similarly, a plurality of Australians wanted the ALP to hold off on the stage 3 tax cuts, but the government’s position was that they had gone to the election without a policy to reverse them and so went ahead with them, while making some changes to benefit the lower middle class.

The Liberals often point to Labor’s low primary vote, but prinary vote isn’t worth a tin of beans. You could win the election with 32%, 30%. You win the election by hoovering up distributed votes including preferences. (The advent of the Teals complicates this picture a little but given that they are also to the left of the ALP on climate issues, their presence doesn’t help the Liberals).

Placing themselves to the right of the centre of gravity, it limits the Liberals’ ability to gain seats by manoeuvring. By abandoning Net Zero and leaning into various culture war aspects, the Liberals probably would take primary votes off the minor right wing parties. They might even get back a few Senate seats. It won’t help them improve their 2PP or get more seats in the House of Reps, which is where the government is formed, because there is literally only one seat held to their right in the House, which is held by Bob Katter.

We have complusory voting and compulsory preferences, so the Libs can’t hope to gain seats just by drumming up enthusiasm to drive turnout.

They are panicking about losing vote share to ONP, but those prefs will mainly flow back to them.

on the other hand the social engineering strategy is sound, Australia is only a few million people, but there are many more fascists in for example the USSA, so by habituating people to the right wing bullshit, even mere exposure will make the population more favourable for populist sociopaths with global reach

Apparently the aim?

no way we remember when everyone laughed at some rich fascist paying through the nose for a social media platform which was definitely a shit direct investment but ain’t nobody laughing at the influence and indirect profit they made from it now