Australian Politics General...

[sptrawler]

I think you have totally lost the plot West has nothing to do with cars?

But he does rip Morrison to shreds.

Check out his presentation, it is a rip off of the other blokes presentation and as for ripping Morrison to shreds, don't you think that has been done by everyone?
So what's new. Lol
You seem to dwell on the past, when the present isn't actually going that well and I've lost the plot? Really.

 

[wayneL]

Check out his presentation, it is a rip off of the other blokes presentation and as for ripping Morrison to shreds, don't you think that has been done by everyone?
So what's new. Lol
You seem to dwell on the past, when the present isn't actually going that well and I've lost the plot? Really.

West and Cadogan are bum buddies and both Labor shills (as much as I enjoy Cadogan's ghetto engineering and car commentary), hence the style "sharing". Just look at the commenters in West's vid, Komrades to a man, lol.

Scotty really is low hanging fruit for a polemic and that vid was really only to titillate the luvvies.

Unwatchable for normal folk.

 

[wayneL]

Credlin comments on Nemesis and gives most of the Liberals a spray.

Shorten and Albo do get an honourable mention for a bit of humanity.

Interesting

 

[mullokintyre]

Credlin comments on Nemesis and gives most of the Liberals a spray.

Shorten and Albo do get an honourable mention for a bit of humanity.

Interesting

Yes, I read the piece in the Australian, and was intrigued about her comments on Albo and Shorten when Clive Palmer behaved the fat porcine ar$e hole that he is.
Big kudos to those two.
She also mentioned that none of the so called sisters from any side of politics made any approach.
Says a lot about both men, and also a lot about the so called caring women.
Mick

 

[Tisme]

The Australian flag waving BS is relatively new, Australians used to be totally cincal about the grandstanding false patriot BS as in politicians now standing in front of walls of flags, total vomit IMHO.

Australian values were about what you did nothing to do with images that are now served up as some sort of representation of your beliefs that don't exist.

My days in primary school included we boys parading around with one finger under our noses and giving the Sieg Heil.... no one seemed to mind, now 79 years on from the EoWII ..... it's a legislated offence . I use that as example of how Oz is not the same resilient knock about brand it once was.

The only flags I recall as a boy were at school assembly, Anzac Day and the Queen visiting, but as a narly Strayan I admit to flying a permanent Oz flag from my top balcony flagstaff, if only to give the ashamed Oz people the schitz and the patriots a chubby.... it's fair dinkum use is when Anzac and Remembrance comes around as a mark of respect and observance.

I am toying with idea of getting in with the halfwit 'Proles' vibe and flying the Palestinian flag modified with Trans, rainbow and Israeli cantons, but even then the numbskull proletariate seem rather luke warm with that concept for some reason.

 

[SirRumpole]

My days in primary school included we boys parading around with one finger under our noses and giving the Sieg Heil.... no one seemed to mind, now 79 years on from the EoWII ..... it's a legislated offence . I use that as example of how Oz is not the same resilient knock about brand it once was.

The only flags I recall as a boy were at school assembly, Anzac Day and the Queen visiting, but as a narly Strayan I admit to flying a permanent Oz flag from my top balcony flagstaff, if only to give the ashamed Oz people the schitz and the patriots a chubby.... it's fair dinkum use is when Anzac and Remembrance comes around as a mark of respect and observance.

I am toying with idea of getting in with the halfwit 'Proles' vibe and flying the Palestinian flag modified with Trans, rainbow and Israeli cantons, but even then the numbskull proletariate seem rather luke warm with that concept for some reason.

I can see one Fawlty Towers episode being banned if this carries on.

 

[Tisme]

I can see one Fawlty Towers episode being banned if this carries on.

There's a few of us who, on the odd occasion, decide we need a bit of realignment and meetup, smoke cigars, eat prawns and drink bad stuff while watching Monty Python and it's offsprings like Fawlty Towers and Ripping Yarns.

It pays to centre onself now and again, even only to reinforce how right you are about everything.

Talking of Ripping Yarns, a snatch from the episode of the most boring man in the world in the " The Testing of Erice Olthwaite"

​

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0686866/​

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0686866/
:

 

[Dona Ferentes]

My days in primary school included we boys parading around with one finger under our noses and giving the Sieg Heil.... no one seemed to mind, now 79 years on from the EoWII ..... it's a legislated offence . I use that as example of how Oz is not the same resilient knock about brand it once was.

The only flags I recall as a boy were at school assembly, Anzac Day and the Queen visiting, but as a narly Strayan I admit to flying a permanent Oz flag from my top balcony flagstaff, if only to give the ashamed Oz people the schitz and the patriots a chubby.... it's fair dinkum use is when Anzac and Remembrance comes around as a mark of respect and observance.

I am toying with idea of getting in with the halfwit 'Proles' vibe and flying the Palestinian flag modified with Trans, rainbow and Israeli cantons, but even then the numbskull proletariate seem rather luke warm with that concept for some reason.

do you remember 'war comics' .
.. Donner unt blitzen

 

[Tisme]

do you remember 'war comics' .
.. Donner unt blitzen

You mean like Gotten Himmel!

 

[sptrawler]

IMO it is good to see the 'Greens' taking a stand on something relevant and mainstream, for a change.
Who knows they may at last be growing up and coming of age, time will tell.
I think they need to broaden their rhetoric, to include the fact that it isn't just affecting home buyers and renters, it is affecting the investment climate in Australia where way too much debt is non productive.

Greens leader says Labor needs to phase out tax handouts to property investors​

Adam Bandt says Labor needs to phase out billions of dollars in tax handouts to property investors, as it is denying millions of renters a chance at buying their own home.

"Labor's scheme helps just 0.2 per cent of first home-buyers, at the same time that it pushes up prices for everyone else.

"We need to see across-the-board change to help renters buy a home," Mr Bandt told News Breakfast this morning.


At least mainstream media is getting on board with the reality that the tax system is no longer fit for purpose, which we on ASF have been saying for a long time, obviously it wasn't fitting in with the narrative until now.

'It's not just unfair but immoral': Why experts say Australia's tax system is broken and what can be done to fix it

Workers shoulder the burden of paying for the things we want: schools, hospitals and a civil, safe society. But as our population ages and more people need support, can income tax continue to fund our needs?

www.abc.net.au

 

[mullokintyre]

IMO it is good to see the 'Greens' taking a stand on something relevant and mainstream, for a change.
Who knows they may at last be growing up and coming of age, time will tell.
I think they need to broaden their rhetoric, to include the fact that it isn't just affecting home buyers and renters, it is affecting the investment climate in Australia where way too much debt is non productive.

Greens leader says Labor needs to phase out tax handouts to property investors​

Adam Bandt says Labor needs to phase out billions of dollars in tax handouts to property investors, as it is denying millions of renters a chance at buying their own home.

"Labor's scheme helps just 0.2 per cent of first home-buyers, at the same time that it pushes up prices for everyone else.

"We need to see across-the-board change to help renters buy a home," Mr Bandt told News Breakfast this morning.


At least mainstream media is getting on board with the reality that the tax system is no longer fit for purpose, which we on ASF have been saying for a long time, obviously it wasn't fitting in with the narrative until now.

'It's not just unfair but immoral': Why experts say Australia's tax system is broken and what can be done to fix it

Workers shoulder the burden of paying for the things we want: schools, hospitals and a civil, safe society. But as our population ages and more people need support, can income tax continue to fund our needs?

www.abc.net.au

I would take them seriously if they also demanded that states phased out stamp duty.
Mick

 

[SirRumpole]

I would take them seriously if they also demanded that states phased out stamp duty.
Mick

And payroll tax.

 

[moXJO]

I would take them seriously if they also demanded that states phased out stamp duty.
Mick

What's their stance on immigration again?
Greens are just populist retards that blow in the wind on most policies

 

[basilio]

Thought this was priceless take on Peter Duttons response to Barnaby Joyces "mistake".

“Wrong of Passer-By to Walk Past Drunk Barnaby Joyce”, Say LNP Politicians Who’ve Spent Years Walking Past Drunk Barnaby Joyce​

Peter Dutton has slammed the person who turned a blind eye to an alcohol-affected Barnaby Joyce last week, saying that was something reserved for him and his party colleagues.

“We’ve been walking past Barnaby Joyce half-pissed in Question Time for years. So for some member of the public to all-of-a-sudden think that it’s up to them to do this is a bit rich,” Mr Dutton said.

The Opposition Leader said the unknown member of the public didn’t observe the correct protocol when dealing with someone in need.
“When you see someone who clearly has a problem with alcohol, you don’t take a video of them and sell it to a news outlet for goodness sake. You promote them to Deputy Prime Minister. That’s what we’ve always done.

“It’s pretty rough when people are walking past somebody who may be in need of support, without checking to see whether they’re up for taking on a cabinet ministry”.

“Wrong of Passer-By to Walk Past Drunk Barnaby Joyce”, Say LNP Politicians Who’ve Spent Years Walking Past Drunk Barnaby Joyce — The Shovel

“When you see someone who clearly has a problem with alcohol, you don’t take a video of them and sell it to a news outlet for goodness sake. You promote them to Deputy Prime Minister. That’s what always we’ve done"

theshovel.com.au

 

[sptrawler]

Thought this was priceless take on Peter Duttons response to Barnaby Joyces "mistake".

“Wrong of Passer-By to Walk Past Drunk Barnaby Joyce”, Say LNP Politicians Who’ve Spent Years Walking Past Drunk Barnaby Joyce​

View attachment 170686


Peter Dutton has slammed the person who turned a blind eye to an alcohol-affected Barnaby Joyce last week, saying that was something reserved for him and his party colleagues.

“We’ve been walking past Barnaby Joyce half-pissed in Question Time for years. So for some member of the public to all-of-a-sudden think that it’s up to them to do this is a bit rich,” Mr Dutton said.

The Opposition Leader said the unknown member of the public didn’t observe the correct protocol when dealing with someone in need.
“When you see someone who clearly has a problem with alcohol, you don’t take a video of them and sell it to a news outlet for goodness sake. You promote them to Deputy Prime Minister. That’s what we’ve always done.

“It’s pretty rough when people are walking past somebody who may be in need of support, without checking to see whether they’re up for taking on a cabinet ministry”.

“Wrong of Passer-By to Walk Past Drunk Barnaby Joyce”, Say LNP Politicians Who’ve Spent Years Walking Past Drunk Barnaby Joyce — The Shovel

“When you see someone who clearly has a problem with alcohol, you don’t take a video of them and sell it to a news outlet for goodness sake. You promote them to Deputy Prime Minister. That’s what always we’ve done"

theshovel.com.au

The shovels right, it isnt the first drunk politician we've had and he wont be the last.
Lucky he wasn't sexually assaulted.

 

[basilio]

The shovels right, it isnt the first drunk politician we've had and he wont be the last.
Lucky he wasn't sexually assaulted.

I think the observations by The Greens and Lydia Thorpe are astute. Imagine if it was a women MP who was drunk and on her back screaming obscenities into their phone ? Honestly the sky would truly fall in . The shame of it al. The degradation of public office ectera and so forth.

The reality is that almost everyone is aware that Parliament is a hard drinking, testosterone fuelled pit. Barnaby's drinking is no secret. There would be more than a few other MHR's who fall in the same category. The recognition of the boys club mentality of both Parliament and the community kicks in a bit with this incident. "Yes its wrong. Must support them. Not a good look. Must do better." Normal platitudes.

But again. In no universe would such an approach be offered to a women MP. And everyone knows it.

 

[sptrawler]

I think the observations by The Greens and Lydia Thorpe are astute. Imagine if it was a women MP who was drunk and on her back screaming obscenities into their phone ? Honestly the sky would truly fall in . The shame of it al. The degradation of public office ectera and so forth.

The reality is that almost everyone is aware that Parliament is a hard drinking, testosterone fuelled pit. Barnaby's drinking is no secret. There would be more than a few other MHR's who fall in the same category. The recognition of the boys club mentality of both Parliament and the community kicks in a bit with this incident. Yes its wrong. Must support them. Not a good look. Must do better. Normal platitudes.

But again. In no universe would such an approach be offered to a women MP.

Weeeeeelll.

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/independent-senator-lidia-thorpe-doubles-down-on-controversial-strip-club-clash/news-story/e5045e20148a9eb8218ba6a8e0350900

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has accused female MPs of “staggering around drunk” at Parliament House and slamming speculation about her own health after her strip club fracas.

Senator Thorpe said some female Senators were so drunk at work she had to help them get home safely.

“I wonder about the mental health of Senators who are staggering around drunk by themselves – female – at night, where I have gone to their aid to make sure that they get back to their hotel safely,” she said.

Dramatic CCTV footage emerged this month of Senator Thorpe abusing a group of men outside Maxine’s Gentleman’s Club in Brunswick, Victoria, accusing them of stealing her land and making lewd comments about their genitalia.

Senator Thorpe said she had a “great time” at the strip club and it was only when she stepped outside there was a problem.

 

[basilio]

Weeeeeelll.

https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/independent-senator-lidia-thorpe-doubles-down-on-controversial-strip-club-clash/news-story/e5045e20148a9eb8218ba6a8e0350900

Independent senator Lidia Thorpe has accused female MPs of “staggering around drunk” at Parliament House and slamming speculation about her own health after her strip club fracas.

Senator Thorpe said some female Senators were so drunk at work she had to help them get home safely.

“I wonder about the mental health of Senators who are staggering around drunk by themselves – female – at night, where I have gone to their aid to make sure that they get back to their hotel safely,” she said.

Dramatic CCTV footage emerged this month of Senator Thorpe abusing a group of men outside Maxine’s Gentleman’s Club in Brunswick, Victoria, accusing them of stealing her land and making lewd comments about their genitalia.

Senator Thorpe said she had a “great time” at the strip club and it was only when she stepped outside there was a problem.

Nice one.. Honestly no surprise there either. By the way I wasn't saying women didn't get on the tear. I was simply saying that the political/public response to such activities would be far less forgiving/understanding.

 

[Smurf1976]

I would take them seriously if they also demanded that states phased out stamp duty.

Trouble is if they did that, they'd likely try and replace it with something even worse, an annual tax on the land, rather than seeing the solution as being to thoroughly review every cent of government spending.

I say a land tax would be worse because it's basically a limitless pot of money with the way government thinks since they know people will do whatever they can to not lose their home. Put the tax up and they know it'll be paid no matter what. Versus stamp duty that has a natural limit in terms of real estate transactions.

 

[sptrawler]

Getting back to business, quite a good expose on the state of the nation IMO.
Not saying things aren't going well, but also saying we aren't out of the woods just yet.

Chalmers is doing a fantastic job ... at ignoring the dire outlook

Barring an unforeseen shock, the economic signs appear reassuring. But probe deeper and things look disturbing.

www.smh.com.au

We are only in February, but already we have found a political winner of the year: Step forward Jim Chalmers.

The treasurer is politically stronger than at any stage since the 2022 federal election. His delivery is smooth and authoritative. He is excellent at attracting a positive press and eliciting the support of important voices in the media and the business community. He has grown as a parliamentary performer.
There is a reason why Chalmers has seized the political high ground: the Australian economy has performed better than most economists predicted a year ago. Wages are rising and unemployment remains near half-century lows. The government may record another budget surplus in May. Even the national debt increase has been much less than was projected at the height of the lockdowns. The good news has also fuelled a stock market rally.
As far as inflation is concerned, some pundits are speculating that the worst is over and that lower interest rates are coming sooner than expected. Barring an unforeseen shock, the economic signs appear reassuring.

However, probe deeper and things look disturbing.
It’s not just that many Australians continue to experience a fall in living standards. Or that inflation remains higher than most of OECD countries and well above the RBA’s 2 to 3 per cent target range (which means interest rates could be slow to fall or may even rise again).
Our dire outlook has more to do with our productivity drought and runaway government spending programs.
The consequences are being masked for now by the rebound from the pandemic, high immigration and a federal tax revenue boom. When these pass, we will see a return to budget deficits and stagnation or decline in living standards.
So what can Chalmers do to stop the rot? You might think that when you are in a hole, you stop digging; and if you’re really smart, you look for more than one way out. But neither the treasurer nor the prime minister understands just how bad things could get in coming years.
The IMF’s recent outlook for the Australian economy should have persuaded them. It was a warning to the political class to cut spending and move more of the tax burden away from workers’ incomes, which just dampens incentive, enterprise and growth. Without such an agenda, Chalmers will condemn the nation to the low-aspiration and dismal slow-growth future that last year’s Intergenerational Report highlighted.
Instead, Labor’s plans betray an extraordinary faith in the radical power of government to make a success of every project.
Take workplace re-regulation: new industrial laws to restore union bargaining muscle, increase wages by diktat and crack down on existing workplace flexibilities reflect Labor’s desire to curry favour with the unions, which account for not even 10 per cent of the private workforce.
Appeasement of the Maritime Union of Australia just allows the labour waterfront monopoly to impose costs on the economy that punish the rest of the workforce.
All this is a step back to Australia’s old IR club, with its legal protections of union power that preceded the Hawke-Keating prosperity-enhancing reforms of the 1980s.
Or take energy policy. It is one thing to legislate overly ambitious carbon emissions targets, it is another to revert to more interventionist government direction at an open-ended cost to deliver the required investment in large-scale renewables. That will lead to not just further price rises and less reliable base-load power, but, as former Productivity Commission head Gary Banks warns, price controls and other regulatory interventions that will just exacerbate supply side problems.

Meanwhile, in supporting the redistribution of income from the most highly taxed Australians to the less taxed by reshaping the stage 3 tax cuts, the government puts obstacles in the way of the efficiency and productivity Chalmers claims to prize.
Chalmers has simply resorted to a strategy of banking on inflated commodity export prices and income tax bracket creep that will – while it lasts – bring with it rising tax revenues and relief to the national finances.
Ponder that: a government that wants to decarbonise the economy relies on the mining and fossil fuel export sector to keep replenishing the coffers. But what happens when the resources boom ends?
The Reserve Bank knows what needs to be done, but no one in Canberra dares to do it: revive the economy through boosting its productive sectors and make the necessary cuts in the major spending programs, such as the unsustainable NDIS and Gonski schools funding that has not stopped classroom performance going backwards. There is no sign that Chalmers is having any success on these fronts – and maybe he is not even trying.
Free-spending budgets might sound reassuring to some people. But the costs will continue to be paid by our children and grandchildren. There is, after all, no such thing as a magic money tree — that growth is a given, that budgets don’t need to be balanced or that money can be borrowed indefinitely to subsidise unlimited spending.

Alas, the Coalition has not come close to recognising the gauntlet Chalmers has thrown down to it. Unless the opposition can discover a radical message of its own to distinguish itself, we should prepare to live under Chalmers’s radicalism for a long time to come.
If that happens – and our living standards further deteriorate – it is not just the political class that is in trouble. All of us will face very dark times indeed.