Australian Politics General...

[sptrawler]

It is funny when the narrative, comes back to bite you on the ar$e LOL, the Queensland Premier called out having holidays and says everyone is entitled to have a holiday, maybe she forgot the band wagon she jumped on when the last P.M took his family to Hawaii.
Karmas a bitch when you live in a glass house.

The premier faced criticism for her holiday after the Courier Mail reported she will have spent 37 days on leave this year following the trip, while she spent 25 days sitting in parliament. "I am on leave. Everyone is entitled to leave. I ask that the media respects my privacy," Palaszczuk said on Facebook today.12 hours ago

 

[SirRumpole]

Everyone is entitled to leave.

Some people would think that's a good idea, permanently.

 

[mullokintyre]

I noticed that Bridget Mckenzie needling the Fed Labour over the QANTAS mess.

In a heated early morning debate, ALP president Wayne Swan has told Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie to “put a sock in it” following calls for the Prime Minister to distance himself from Qantas.

Mr Swan was asked if Qantas should consider a “board clean up” prior to a senate inquiry into the decision-making process of the government to deny additional flights for Qatar Airways.

With Ms McKenzie believing the question was not answered, she asked Mr Swan for a further response.

“I thought your question remains unanswered. We've got a prime minister with a really close personal and political relationship with Alan Joyce and with Qantas…” she said on Today on Friday.

“Put a sock in it,” Mr Swan replied.

Simmering tensions between the pair were only exacerbated when the former Deputy Prime Minister accused Ms McKenzie of previously supporting Qantas' decision to axe workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It is extraordinary that you should say that,” he said. “You supported what Alan Joyce did and the Labor Party opposed it.”

Mr Swan would conclude that it was “extraordinary rubbish” following Ms McKenzie's suggestion again that the Prime Minister should distance himself from the poor corporate behaviour of the national carrier.

Politics as usual, they will use anything to get at their opponents.
She copped a serve from ALP president Wayne Swan this morning and among other things, told her to put a sock in it.
I seem to recall that Alan Jones copped a fair bit of flak for suggesting that the then PM, Morrison, should tell Jacinda Arders to put a osock in it.
He was even reprimanded by the ACMA.
Twitter was abuzz with the twitterati condemning him for sexist language, being a bully blah blah.
I am going to bet that that Swan will not receive the same treatment by the permanently offended, despite the fact that Mackenzie is a woman, but she is the wrong kind of woman.
Mick

 

[wayneL]

I noticed that Bridget Mckenzie needling the Fed Labour over the QANTAS mess.

Politics as usual, they will use anything to get at their opponents.
She copped a serve from ALP president Wayne Swan this morning and among other things, told her to put a sock in it.
I seem to recall that Alan Jones copped a fair bit of flak for suggesting that the then PM, Morrison, should tell Jacinda Arders to put a osock in it.
He was even reprimanded by the ACMA.
Twitter was abuzz with the twitterati condemning him for sexist language, being a bully blah blah.
I am going to bet that that Swan will not receive the same treatment by the permanently offended, despite the fact that Mackenzie is a woman, but she is the wrong kind of woman.
Mick

And who can forget Albo's "Smash her" in reference to Susan Ley during question time?

Imagine if Dutton said that.

 

[farmerge]

And who can forget Albo's "Smash her" in reference to Susan Ley during question time?

Imagine if Dutton said that.

Kindegarten politics at best.

 

[mullokintyre]

Just when I thought liberal candidates had reached rock bottom in their ethical stands, one WA candidate has taken them to a new low.
From ABC News

The WA Liberal Party's candidate in the Rockingham by-election has apologised after it was revealed he asked a constituent to question whether his opponent would resign from parliament if she fell pregnant.

Key points:​

• Peter Hudson said it would be a "good question" to ask Magenta Marshall
• He said Rockingham could be "without an MP until she's finished having babies"
• A Labor MP said the remarks were unacceptable and offensive

Peter Hudson sent the message two and a half weeks before the July poll, which he lost to Labor's Magenta Marshall.

But it only came to light after Labor MP Kate Doust read it to parliament's upper house on Wednesday night, describing it as "appalling".

"I notice that Magenta keeps spruiking that she wants to start a family in the electorate soon," the text message, which the ABC has seen, begins.

Its bad enough that in this day and age, the perception of women not being able to do a job because they have children is still around.
But then to be guilty of not having the guts to ask it himself, but trying to get someone else to do it for him reeks of the low ethical standards that politicians seem to descend to.
Mick

 

[sptrawler]

Just when I thought liberal candidates had reached rock bottom in their ethical stands, one WA candidate has taken them to a new low.
From ABC News


Its bad enough that in this day and age, the perception of women not being able to do a job because they have children is still around.
But then to be guilty of not having the guts to ask it himself, but trying to get someone else to do it for him reeks of the low ethical standards that politicians seem to descend to.
Mick

Huge case of foot in mouth, I bet he wont be contesting the next election, it is hard to shake of the smell of faux pas like that.

 

[mullokintyre]

The problem is not that the Richard head went ahead and did it, or even that he was dumb enough to send it to a female constituent without even thinking she might think this was a less than good idea.
The problem is that he thought the idea was "good politics".
As we have seen so often in the past, operators who are very good at 'politics", so often have the ethics of a mafia hitman and the good sense of a 13 year old biy.
Mick

 

[sptrawler]

The problem is not that the Richard head went ahead and did it, or even that he was dumb enough to send it to a female constituent without even thinking she might think this was a less than good idea.
The problem is that he thought the idea was "good politics".
As we have seen so often in the past, operators who are very good at 'politics", so often have the ethics of a mafia hitman and the good sense of a 13 year old biy.
Mick

Very few with good sense get into politics, as can be seen by their performance and when there is a good one they are usually cancelled by the media or leave on a high.
But there aren't many of them, the three recent ones that spring to mind IMO are McGowan, Ben Wyatt and Josh Frydenberg.
The rest you may as well have Ronald McDonald in there.
Just my two cents worth.

 

[sptrawler]

Another classic in the making.

Lockdowns and border closures omitted in scope of inquiry into government COVID-19 pandemic response

An inquiry into government response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been announced, but state and territory local lockdowns and border closures are likely to avoid scrutiny.

www.abc.net.au

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Health Minister Mark Butler announced the inquiry and its scope at a press conference in Adelaide this morning.

The inquiry will not have the same powers as a royal commission but will be able to call witnesses and examine the response of governments during the pandemic

The scope of the inquiry will cover COVID-19 responses since the pandemic began in January 2020, including governance and key health response measures, as well as advice for dealing with future pandemics.

However, decisions made solely by state and territory governments during the pandemic response, such as lockdowns and border closers, will be omitted from the scope.

 

[mullokintyre]

Another classic in the making.

Lockdowns and border closures omitted in scope of inquiry into government COVID-19 pandemic response

An inquiry into government response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been announced, but state and territory local lockdowns and border closures are likely to avoid scrutiny.

www.abc.net.au

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Health Minister Mark Butler announced the inquiry and its scope at a press conference in Adelaide this morning.

The inquiry will not have the same powers as a royal commission but will be able to call witnesses and examine the response of governments during the pandemic

The scope of the inquiry will cover COVID-19 responses since the pandemic began in January 2020, including governance and key health response measures, as well as advice for dealing with future pandemics.

However, decisions made solely by state and territory governments during the pandemic response, such as lockdowns and border closers, will be omitted from the scope.

You know the old saying, never set up an enquiry unless you know what the outcome will be.
And to know what the outcome will be, you do a minimum of 3 things.
One limit the scope of the inquiry to make sure that things you don't want discussed are excluded.
2. Don't allow some of the people to be called - eg. ministers, public servants etc
3. Make sure that the person you appoint to head the enquiry is sympathetic to the cause.

Mick

 

[mullokintyre]

Very few with good sense get into politics, as can be seen by their performance and when there is a good one they are usually cancelled by the media or leave on a high.
But there aren't many of them, the three recent ones that spring to mind IMO are McGowan, Ben Wyatt and Josh Frydenberg.
The rest you may as well have Ronald McDonald in there.
Just my two cents worth.

I had some respect for Freydenburg, but it dissolved like sugar in hot water when he joined Goldman Sachs as an advisor a;most immediately after getting turfed out of parliament.
To add to the insult, he has just been announced as OZ chairman.
To join, much less head a US Merch bank that has such a poor reputation for governance shows his true colours.
Money to be made at all costs, regardless of the ethics.
A true blue Liberal.
Mick

 

[sptrawler]

I had some respect for Freydenburg, but it dissolved like sugar in hot water when he joined Goldman Sachs as an advisor a;most immediately after getting turfed out of parliament.
To add to the insult, he has just been announced as OZ chairman.
To join, much less head a US Merch bank that has such a poor reputation for governance shows his true colours.
Money to be made at all costs, regardless of the ethics.
A true blue Liberal.
Mick

Since when do politicians have to be nice? If they were they would probably be working in a charity shop and not Canberra.

I was referring to nouse, not personality.

Once your off the gravy train, you have to make a living, it's amazing how many politicians end up in well paid jobs outside of politics and it isn't party specific.

 

[mullokintyre]

You know the old saying, never set up an enquiry unless you know what the outcome will be.
And to know what the outcome will be, you do a minimum of 3 things.
One limit the scope of the inquiry to make sure that things you don't want discussed are excluded.
2. Don't allow some of the people to be called - eg. ministers, public servants etc
3. Make sure that the person you appoint to head the enquiry is sympathetic to the cause.

Mick

Well point 1 has been achieved.
While the role of the Commonwealth, national cabinet and responsibilities of state and territory governments were within the scope of the inquiry, decisions made by states during the pandemic were not.

Point 3 is achieved.
Lets look at the people running the enquiry.
Firstly, they all the correct gender. Everyone female.
(a) Angela Jackson a good party supporter, and already on record as saying the lockdowns were necessary.
So there will be no negative arguments from her.

Independent inquiry panel member Angela Jackson, an economist and former deputy chief-of-staff former Labor finance minister Lindsay Tanner, in July 2021 said that Victoria needed “a hard lockdown and a dose of luck to get through this”.

In another June 2021 tweet, Dr Jackson declared that “Melbourne has suffered its share of lockdowns helping to keep the rest of Australia Covid free”.

“Time to bloody step up Sydney because personally could do without lockdown 5.0. And yes would prefer that we had hit vaccination targets and this option was redundant,” she said.
After the Victorian Department of Health reported 450 new local cases in September 2021, Dr Jackson posted: “Really think they need to be thinking about some restrictions to slow this thing down – closing construction for two weeks for example?”

“A third of cases linked to it – it’s not essential and I’m not arguing for Covid zero just that we don’t overwhelm hospitals and delay the general reopening … which would have a bigger economic cost than closing construction for a two week circuit breaker.”

Ahead of flying to Sydney in May 2021, Dr Jackson asked followers if she was “stark raving mad to still be planning on jumping on a plane from Melbourne to Sydney? Note: I will be fully vaccinated”.

“Now thinking those Covid-19 passports are a great idea – however this has zero basis in any policy analysis, and 100 per cent basis in naked self interest.”
When asked by The Australian if she was personally supportive of Premier Dan Andrews’ decision to lockdown the state, Dr Jackson pointed out “the panel won’t be looking at this issue”.

“(It) would be fair to say that in my view the economic and health system impacts of letting Covid-19 run were such that lockdowns were a necessary tool,” Dr Jackson told The Australian.

(b) Angela Bennet has at least has some medical quals as she is an epidemologist.
Across 2020 and 2021, fellow panel member and epidemiologist Catherine Bennett was also publicly supportive of Melbourne’s lockdowns to allow contact tracers time to contain outbreaks.
(c) the Third member and chair of the panel os a retired NSW senior public servant, Robyn Kruk. Yep that bshould be fine.

No clinical psychologists, no business representatives who had to deal with the inconsistent and overbearing rules determined by state governments, none from the coalface health practitioners, like nurses, or ED doctors.
No one from the private health sector, none from the aged care sector where so many died (especially in Victoria).
Not even someone from the Union movement.
I have no doubt most will come up smelling like roses.
mick

 

[farmerge]

Just when I thought liberal candidates had reached rock bottom in their ethical stands, one WA candidate has taken them to a new low.
From ABC News


Its bad enough that in this day and age, the perception of women not being able to do a job because they have children is still around.
But then to be guilty of not having the guts to ask it himself, but trying to get someone else to do it for him reeks of the low ethical standards that politicians seem to descend to.
Mick

Just reached scraping the bottom of the barrel with this little gem, I feel.

 

[farmerge]

The problem is not that the Richard head went ahead and did it, or even that he was dumb enough to send it to a female constituent without even thinking she might think this was a less than good idea.
The problem is that he thought the idea was "good politics".
As we have seen so often in the past, operators who are very good at 'politics", so often have the ethics of a mafia hitman and the good sense of a 13 year old biy.
Mick

@mullokintyre Actually more likely brain dead i think.

 

[farmerge]

Very few with good sense get into politics, as can be seen by their performance and when there is a good one they are usually cancelled by the media or leave on a high.
But there aren't many of them, the three recent ones that spring to mind IMO are McGowan, Ben Wyatt and Josh Frydenberg.
The rest you may as well have Ronald McDonald in there.
Just my two cents worth.

@sptrawler Certainly agree with the first two, the third well, um, err I'll have to sit and think about him for some time.

 

[farmerge]

Well point 1 has been achieved.
While the role of the Commonwealth, national cabinet and responsibilities of state and territory governments were within the scope of the inquiry, decisions made by states during the pandemic were not.

Point 3 is achieved.
Lets look at the people running the enquiry.
Firstly, they all the correct gender. Everyone female.
(a) Angela Jackson a good party supporter, and already on record as saying the lockdowns were necessary.
So there will be no negative arguments from her.



(b) Angela Bennet has at least has some medical quals as she is an epidemologist.
Across 2020 and 2021, fellow panel member and epidemiologist Catherine Bennett was also publicly supportive of Melbourne’s lockdowns to allow contact tracers time to contain outbreaks.
(c) the Third member and chair of the panel os a retired NSW senior public servant, Robyn Kruk. Yep that bshould be fine.

No clinical psychologists, no business representatives who had to deal with the inconsistent and overbearing rules determined by state governments, none from the coalface health practitioners, like nurses, or ED doctors.
No one from the private health sector, none from the aged care sector where so many died (especially in Victoria).
Not even someone from the Union movement.
I have no doubt most will come up smelling like roses.
mick

Well Mick that is what is wanted, no point in having an inquiry that is going to stink.

 

[mullokintyre]

Another classic in the making.

Lockdowns and border closures omitted in scope of inquiry into government COVID-19 pandemic response

An inquiry into government response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been announced, but state and territory local lockdowns and border closures are likely to avoid scrutiny.

www.abc.net.au

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Health Minister Mark Butler announced the inquiry and its scope at a press conference in Adelaide this morning.

The inquiry will not have the same powers as a royal commission but will be able to call witnesses and examine the response of governments during the pandemic

The scope of the inquiry will cover COVID-19 responses since the pandemic began in January 2020, including governance and key health response measures, as well as advice for dealing with future pandemics.

However, decisions made solely by state and territory governments during the pandemic response, such as lockdowns and border closers, will be omitted from the scope.

A cynic would suggest that by leaving the states out of the enquiry, it gives it a free rein to concentrate purely on the failings of the Morrison government which was in power during the pandemic.
Its all about the politics, nothing to do with finding out about what went wrong and how it could be improved.
The ba$tard$ just can't help themselves.
mick

 

[moXJO]

A cynic would suggest that by leaving the states out of the enquiry, it gives it a free rein to concentrate purely on the failings of the Morrison government which was in power during the pandemic.
Its all about the politics, nothing to do with finding out about what went wrong and how it could be improved.
The ba$tard$ just can't help themselves.
mick

The states are where the problems were. Probably not good pointing out how badly Labor states cracked down with the whip.
Now it's try and sweep it under the carpet.